The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-04
CHAPTER XII.
Loss and Gain.

surviving IeeDly as one VINO gamers
up the shards and fragments after an
explosion. Griswold remembered
cloudily the supper Of tasteless
courses at the Hotel Chouteau. After.
ward there were vague impressions.
momentary breaches in the wall Of in.
closing darkness. In one of these
intervals a woman had stood beside
him, and he seemed to remember that
she had put her cool hand on his
forehead. When complete conscious.
ness returned. the dream impression
was still so sharply defined that he
was not surprised to find her stand
ing at his bedside.
Before he could frame any of the
queries which came thronging to the
door of the returned consciousness,
she smiled and shook her head and
forbade him.
Later in the day the doctor came;
and when the professional require
ments we're satisfied. Griswold learned
was characteristic of the Griswold of
other days that the immense obliga-
ton under which the Griersons had
placed him made him gasp and per-
spire afresh.
Griswold looked long and earnestly
at the face of his professional adviser
It was a good face. clearly lined, be-
nevolent, and, above all, Trustworthy
"Tell me one thing more. doctor. II
you can. What was the motive? Was
1t Just heavenly good.heartedness?-
or"
The doctors smile was the least
possible shade wintry.
when you have lived few years
longer in this world of ours, you will
not probe too deeply into motives;
you will take the deed as the SUN.
cient exponent of the prompting be-
hind it. II say SO much, you will
understand that | am not impugning
Miss Grierson's motives. There are
times when she is the good angel of
everybody in sight, Mr."
The pause after the courtesy title
was significant, and Griswold filled it
promptly. "Griswold-Kenneth Girls
void. Do you mean to say that you
haven't known my name. doctor?"
I'VE have not. We took the Good
Samaritan's privilege and ransacked
your belongings-Miss Margery and
thinking there might be relatives
or friends who should be notified"
And you found nothing?" queried
tho sick man. cold fear gripping at
his heart.
Nothing but clothing and your tot.
let tools, pistol, and typewriter
book manuscript bearing no sigma.
ture."
Griswold turned his face away and
shut mis- eyes. Once more his stake
In the game Of life was gone
There was another package of-ct
papers in one Of the grips" he said
family; quite a large package
wrapped in brown paper"
We found nothing but the manu-.
script. Could anyone else make use
of the papers you speak Off"
GIlBWOlu Wab tOO lccuic 10 pIev0rl.
safe successfully.
There was money in the package, "
he said. leaving the physician to infer
what he pleased
"Ah: then; you we're robbed. It's a
pity we didn't know it at the time. Il
lis pretty late to begin looking fol
the thief now. I'm afraid"
"Quite too late" said Griswold mo
notonously.
1t was not until after the doctor had
gone that Griswold was able to face
the new misfortune with anything
like . sober measure of eQuanimity
With or without money, he must re-
lieve the Griersons of their self
assumed burden at the earliest pos
sibls moment.
This was the thought with which he
sank into the first natural sleep OF
oonvalescence. But during the days
which followed. Msrgery was able Ia
modify It without dullins the keer
sdge Of his obligation. What perfect
hospitality could do was done. with
cut ostentation. with the exact de
gree Of spontaneity which made It ap
Jear - q service rendered to kins
man. II was one of the gifts Of the
daughter OF men 10 be able to ignore
I'll the middle distances between m