The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-20

play. An SM61i1nce Was csll4d AID
the doctor took the man away to the
hospital.
Hell probably get WE'LL" he said.
Butt will be some time before he
can use his pen or do any work
again."
Allan, left alone in the Office, did
not know what to do. Therefore, he
started to do his work exactly as
though the unexpected had not hap
pened. He was hard on a biting edi-
torial when the shadow OF q man in
. silk hat fell across his desk and
caused him to start round.
Behind him, Immediately dressed,
his heavy jowl set in sneering smile,
stood Gregory himself.
well, sir" said Allan. rising.
This is bad news about Mr.. Smith. .
said the boss.
Il should hardly expect you to take
1t that way. sir" suggested Allan.
The old boss took a chair at his
side. so you are the young man that
has been holding me up before the
public gaze as scoundrel!" he said.
II am, sir" answered Allan, and !
believe conscientiously that"
The boss laid hand on his arm.
'Now, II l had a young man like
you with me-" he said, what wouldn't
be able to do?"
II can't be bought, Mr.. Gregory
said Allan.
Il don't need to buy you. my boy
answered the other. AT least, l don't
think do. But Smith can't talk, and
what's the good Of owning him."
II don't understand" Allan began
Il know you DON'T" answered the
other. Il never thought you did from
the beginning. Your editorials had the
ring Of truth; his didn't. Well. then
my friend-Jim Smith started this pa
per to get bought out. Understand
that? wouldn't buy at his price.
didn't believe he could hurt me. He
could. was wrong for once in my
life. When I came up to his terms
he went higher So We played teeteI
till four weeks before election day
Yesterday We agreed on terms. And
this is my paper"
Allan listened in horror, and grad
ually he began to understand many
things that had been mysteries te
him. No wonder Smith had encour
aged him to write more singing in
vective-till that same morning.
you will show me the agreement
suggested Allan.
mr.. Gray" said the boss, II nevel
bluff. It wasn't signed by Mr.. Smith
He was to have signed in my once
today, after lunch"
Then" said Allan calmly, Il shall
run the paper alone. l shall be true
to what l believed my employers
principles to be-"
wait minute" said Gregory, pull
ing letter out Of his pocket. "Reat
this-not so close, young man. Ok
you think this letter, offering to &C
cept my terms, would read well IL
the newspapers! And this, you see
is signed"
Yes, that was Smiths signature
Allan sank back helplessly in bill
chair. He could say nothing more.
Nov. my young friend" Gregor!
continued, how much influence d,
you suppose will remain to Smith,
Weekly when this letter is publishe,
and you are jointly involved with on
friend in what you would call :,
shameless conspiracy"
None" admitted Allan.
"Then," said the boss, will 70,
suspend publication or drag . dyinI
mans name down to infamy to gall
reputation for sincerity in whicl
no one will believer
Allan thought hard. Then, ri will
suspend for that letter." he answered
Now you're talking sense" ar
swered the boss. And he placed tn
letter in Allan's hands. He knew tina
he had not misjudged his man.
There was good deal Of quiet tall
about Smith during the period precet
ing the elections. The story of hi
dishonesty became gradually known
But nobody ever suspected the intei
rity Of Allan Gray.
That. doubtless, was why he secure
the election as sheriff by . majorit
of nearly four hundred votes. An
that. too, was why he was enabled {
write to Mildred just two days aftel
ward. Come. dearest" he said.
And when he saw Gregory anon
the spectators at the wedding he di
not feel anything but goodfellowshil
He even took the boss hand.
Ex-boss', rather. For Gregory woul
never hold power in Bender agail
even though Smiths Weekly had pc
ished.
tCopyrigbt, ~leA>hx II 80 chapman.)