The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-22
SOMETHING TANGIBLE
BY MAY BENNETT EARLE.

/ Copyright. 1915, by W. G. Chapman
| Something tangible! pronounce
f; Richard thorpe. with self SATISFIED
| smack of his fat sensual lips and
/ gloating glance around the establish
ment of which he was proprietor.
Something tangible, young man.
, he repeated unctuously-" property
| the visible evidence OF things ma
terial. That's my motto and business
! precept Something can weigh and
sell. You come to me with an airy
fairy story. Where's evidence, SIT
tie documentary evidence
His visitor looked embarrassed, con
fused and disappointed all at the
same time. He was little handsome
young fellow, with a clear ingenious
, face we'll burned by tropical sun.
Sir" he said. arising to his feet
II come to you in good faith from MI
Travis in far away Ceylon. He was
my employer, my true friend until
he died. He was your faitn Jul repre-
sentative there, as you know. When
the fire came that swept away your
entire establishment In Ceylon, In try
ing to save your property he sustained
a fall from the effects of which he
died. Before his last moments ar
rived he called me to his bedside and
gave me the message | have just de-
livered.'
THE fantasy of disordered brain!'
remarked Thorpe.
Il cannot think that" responded
Vernon Davis AMr. Travis was too
true to deceive and his mind was per-
fectly clear. All his thoughts were OF
his orphan daughter. He told me to
see you and recall to YOUR attention
the fact that when he went to Ceylon
he was to be considered a one-fourth
partner in that branch of your bust
ness, provided he made it succeed.
He did succeed. He waited for you to
make some recognition of the fact
He had written agreement that GOV.
cred the subject"
Produce it, suggested Thorpe
1T was destroyed in the fire."
Have you proofs of any,"
Only moral evidence. Sir, ! am
going to appeal to you in a new way
The last anxious thought of Mr. Travis
was concerning his daughter. Bertha
The disaster Of the fire makes her
penniless. She is left, a young girl
at school, without dollar or relative
in the world"
She cannot expect any assistance
from me-" declared the hard.hearted
merchant Il don't deal in sentiment.
want something tangible in my deal
ings, sir. Good day"
Within the next few hours Vernon
located Bertha at the school where
she had been placed by her father
He was surprised, pleased at the way
In which the brave little soul took
her rudely announced poverty. He
was attracted. nay, more, fascinated
by her pure, gentle spirit. He had
lost in the effort to secure to Bertha
her rights. He had gained, new and
fervent. that which was far more
priced than fortune-love.
Il shall leave the school at once"
decided Bertha, in her resolute won,
anly way.
orphans both, struggling each for
living. the pleasantest hours of his
lie came to Vernon Davis during the
ensuing few months. Bertha found
,ongenial work in an Office. Vernon
refused a position with Thorpe and
secured employment as a travelling
salesman.
One evening Bertha met him at the
loor OF the house where she was liy.
ng with more than ordinary eager.
less and excitement.
"A strange thing has happened.
me said. "A man, a stranger | think
rom Ceylon, called here an hour ago
re had been looking for you at your
boarding house and they must have
directed him her.. He is a tall thin |
nan and spoke our language broken |
y lie looked as though he had been
hrough a long period of illness q,
He was SO anxious to NEE.
gu and l SO pitied his wearied for.
orn condition, that asked him in.
moving you would be here later"
vernon Davis closed the door and
dvanced towards the half recumbent
gure. He touched the arm OF the
leeper. The latter aroused. He stared
Or moment conNsedly at his dis.
aroer. Then with gladstone eyes he
prang to his feet.
Master. young master," he cr;aa
thrilling tone, you thought mo
ead-or false? 1t is neither All,
ere my kind old friend. Mr.. Travis
ere to learn the glad news | bear,"
what the strange visitor had IN toll
ook over an hour. Both left tho
ouse, but not until Vernon had ex.
famed to Bertha that the man was
OLD employee Of her father in cev.
N. who had sought him out with a
lessage from that far away country
Inc next day Vernon and the Cev.
'nese appeared at the ONCE OF thu
lerchant.
MI. Thorpe" spoke Vernon. "here
former employee of Mr.. Travis
no also believes that there was soma
lrtnership agreement between YOU"
So!' snarled Thorpe, well. I an
,lutely deny it,"
Then" observed Vernon. "let no
wise you that Mr.. Travis staked this
an on venture that has turned ont
cry richly. presume he is able to
turn from the investment Soma. J
ing Ike hundred thousand dol
RS" uoi'