The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-22
Are you drunk or sunstruckf" he

price. How about you?"
The young man clapped him on the
shoulder.
Listen to me-" he said quietly. You
must have been a man once, from all
I've heard of you. | recognize you
now from your photograph, although
that beard makes you look quite differ.
ent. Miss Dale's father is dead. He
has left her his whole fortune. She
wanted me to come and find you and
bring you back to her. She loves you,
and pride doesn't count. She knows
what you must have been through
and she's going to ask you to marry
her, once she gets you at her side.
Understand"
Jim understood. The thought of the
Dale millions at his command was
paralyzing; it galvanized him into life,
He looked up, to see the young man
reading his face.
Here's ten dollars!" he said sud.
denly. "No-wait!" He pulled out
the pocketbook again. Here's hun
! dred. Do you think you can get
washed and cleaned and have a new
suit and good linen on your back
ready to sail on the ship tomorrow
Jim pocketed the money mechan
ically. 81 suppose So" he muttered
whats your hurry?"
! Because" said the other gravely
| Miss Dale is on board That's why
And the best man in the world couldn't
deserve your luck"
Somehow the new clothes, the lux
ury of a bath, had put new manhood
into Jim. He lay in bed early in the
morning in the hotel and speculateG
what he would do with the Dale mil
lions. He would go to San Francisco
of course. He would build a palace
there. He would have automobiles
fine clothes, cigars. all the physica
luxuries which he had been denied
so long. And-he would marry Elsie
at the first opportunity, to keep hi:
hold on her.
He got up and dressed He was
young man entered. He surveyed jim
with grimmer smile than before.
You haven't shaved off your beard,
he said.
mo" said Jim thoughtfully, II
looks-more manly | think"
The other looked at him in con
tempt 1t penetrated the mans skin
Jim WINGED. 1t was the first momen
of Standardization in many year.
"Why have you done all this TO
me?" he asked, looking at the othe
curiously. do you know. | believe
l believe you are in love with Elsi
yourself"
Miss Dale from you, please re
piled the other Yes, | am in low
with her, if you wish to know it. An
if hadn't found YOU ] think sh
would have married me-"
"Then why did you find me?" mu
tered jim.
The other choked down an explicitly,
IF you're ready" he said coldl,
wen start right away"
Jim went out with him And nov
surveyed by the curious inhabitant
of the little settlement the target {
their sneering glances, Jim felt SUI
denly more ashamed than he had eve
felt before in all his life. And fc
the first time he really understood tn
depths of his degradation
He had been worthless beacl
comber, while she had waited for hin
believed in him. He was utterly wortl
less. He could not degrade that pur
life to the level of his own lie ha
thought of nothing but the Dale mi
had been true to him.
Unconsciously he held his hea
higher and flung back the scornfl
gestures, the looks. the thinly veile
jeers. They should learn some da
that there was that spark OF manhoo
| in him which would kindle the oil
| fires!
He knew that his past was utterl
, dead. And so, walking at the side {
, his companion, he boarded the boa
: There was delay, brief della
The young man turned to him an
> said:
: Remember. Bennett, my lips al
> sealed forever. You have your ow
4 future and hers to make or mar.
. , know her love for you, and that
why | shall remain silent. Can yO
v honor it? Promise me that from tn
day forward you will strive with migl
4 and main to be worthy of her"
r q promise" answered Jim humbl
and the man at his side looked at hi
. strangely This seemed to be a ne
Along the deck came a white-robe
figure. tripping gladly. Jim knew h,
at once. All his heart went out
:, her. Elsie had not changed a bit du
g ing those three years, except thi
), there was more of the woman in HI
e poise, her thoughtful eyes, and ju
: as much of the happy girl in her SIN
= ing face.
"John!" she exclaimed. Where
l. where is Jim, then? And who is tn
gentleman"
Suddenly Jim realized that she hs
> not recognized him. His tan, h
beard, the ineffaceable marks of thoi
: three years on his face.
= He turned little away
n Jim died last week." he said a.
3 city. 1--WE didn't dare to break q
y news to you at once He died. W;
his friend-he wanted me to tell you
He turned and walked with stead