The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-10

with their long walk, that tney went
over by the river and are sleepine
on the bare ground One poor old fel.
low falnted away. A laborer took him
into his house. The academy prlnci-
pal says he'll make it warm for the
person who put up this cruel joke, and
I'm the one. Whatever shall | do?"
IN serious thought Danny reflected
over the situation in his practical
mature way for long time. Finally
he said:
You must go home as you had ar.
ranged. Leave it all to me, Rob. The
mscnief is done, but will mend some
OF its after effects if can
so Rob went his way and Danny
started an investigating tour. Down
near the river was the forlorn crew
Rob had told him about. Danny went
to the bank. From time to time his
uncle had given him money to save
up. Danny drew out fifty dollars.
He received the money in silver.
He returned to the motley camp near
the river. Danny went in and out
among them, discussing with them
their circumstances and necessities.
Then to each he apportioned sufficient
to purchase good meal, to pay the
iare to the city.
There were uproarious expressions
OF gratitude. Danny felt quite com.
Portable to note how he had after all
, worked some good out of an extreme
! ly bad situation. When he had seen
the crowd start on their journey, he
proceeded to hunt up the old man Rot
told him about, who had collapsed I'm
der the strain of hardship and disap
pointment
Danny found the invalid at the home
! Of laborer whose kind heart prompted
him to an act of humanity, poor as h
was. The sojourner was sleeping ant
he did not disturb him, but he lief
money with the wife of the laborer.
Take care of the poor old man,
directed Danny, and | will pay 70
your trouble"
Danny breathed more freely tina
evening. Rob had gone to his HON
in another town. The incident Of tn
hoax had lost some of its interest, a
though the academy people were yer
indignant over it.
Mr.. Rossiter was absent on som
business at distance Two morning
later Danny was surprised to receiv
from him the following letter:
My attorney writes me that 20
were known to have been instrumel
tai in getting out of town the victim
of your cruel hoax. Your late repen
ance does not mitigate that disgrac
full act. You will spend your vac
ton in seclusion at home"
Danny had made some pleasal
plans for the two weeks vacatio
He sighed resignedly
Il don't like uncles bad opinion
he reflected, but l shall protect Rob
The old man at the laborer's cottat
was quite ill for several days. OF
morning the woman caring for hi
came hurrying to the Rossiter home
my patient is acting strangely
she reported, in a state of great co
Germ. He happened to ask me yo
name. When | told him he BEGAN
positively frantic. left him insistil
upon dressing himself and leaving t
town at once. Not much danger, pc
fellow! He couldn't get ten feet, I
aided
What is this?" inquired Rossit'
who had reached home just an no
previous, and the woman explaint
Uncle, come and see If you ca
do something for this poor dereli
won't you?" pleaded Danny
Mr.. Rossiter saw a lesson to
supposedly guilty nephew In keep
before his eyes one OF his victir
Then. too, he was really pleased
trace the humanitarian element in
boy.
Mr.. Rossiter entered the ro'
o where the patient was alone. Excl
4. conversation, emotional utteran'
<. puzzled Danny. Then his uncle ca
out, white and trembling.
i. Boy" he said, his voice strair
"a and intense, and his hand rested t
a derly on Danny's shoulder, great e
: has come out of your mischievous
n. The man in there is-your fatne
v. It was true. Later, Danny knew
:. how his father heart-broken and
m couraged in a foreign country,
sent out the announcement OF
= own death when his wife died.
- had sent Danny to kindly care
:, comfort, he knew. Another mot
- influenced him. He felt that his brt
=. er. Perkins, rightfully deserved
=, fortune of their father. He had D
- given his share already. His de
~ would make Perkins the sole inn
at tor.
a. Ethan Rossiter was welcome, dou
welcome. They we're all happy, tn
- bappy. Rob Cleaver learned OF
~ false accusation against his loyal CT
and made the truth public. So, GU
a hoax came the GROWING JOY
Danny's young life.