The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-14

we'll, say some diamond and. pearl
rings and brooches. will your"
Hi, now" hailed the reporter,
pricking up his ears; that has the
flavor of q SCOOP"
If it leads to that, you'll get 1t
hrst, believe me-" pledged Joel.
For two consecutive evenings Joel
visited his friend, to. learn that no
such event as that he described had
been reported to the police.
Not for q moment had the. thought
OF appropriating the money and jew
elry come to Joels mind. Being hon.
est, he kept his own counsel. but
went into bank one day and depos-
tied the one thousand dollars in his
own name. He made small package
Of the jewelry and tied it in a hand
kerchie', and secured this by q string
across his chest. That week he got
work and earned five dollars, and
twice he guardedly advertised; his
find-no result.
Many q time the possession of UNI
claimed wealth became a burden,
nearly temptation. Then Joel &C.
cepted his strange responsibility as q
matter OF course.
when get little money ahead. I
will see lawyer, and Learn the hon.
est limit l must go to as full duty
to seek to locate the owner Of the
money and the jewelry," he decided.
II he cannot be found, surely have
some claim in the matter"
But Joel did not accumulate the
money necessary to start this plan in
operation. A fall temporarily crippled
one limb He fell i'll and became unfit
return home, veritable prodigal son.
It was better to acknowledge defeat,
however, after all his high hopes and
bouts. Besides that, his relatives in
the home village cared little for him.
Joel made his way from the city
slowly, painfully. At town fifty
miles on his route he found unexpect.
ed comfort and rest. Applying for
what light work he could do at a mod
est little home, the patient-faced,
sweet-souled mistress pitied his for
lorn condition. There was some work
to do about the chicken house and
the garden. He might try week at
1t, and meantime he would be well
come to a cot in the garnet and all
the well-cooked food he could eat.
Joel worked with a will. so far as
his condition would permit. He be-
came acquainted with the daughter Of
widow next door. They were poor.
; but respectable. They grew to like
the bright-hearted young fellow, who
entertained them with stories of q
wandering career that showed deep
knowledge of human nature. From
them he learned that the Davis peo-
pie, for whom he worked, were under
a spell of trouble. Their son, about
to be married, had lost his position,
was forced to find new work He
was, furthermore, under suspicion,
and the wedding and his social re-
Mobilization must wait.
why! What is this?" exclaimed
Mr.. Davis one afternoon, as moving
a chair on the porch upon which
hung Joel's coat, handbook fell out.
II declare! A great object of charity
you've picked up, Nellie-a tramp
with a thousand dollars in bank"
Hes good all through, just the
same" declared Mr.. Davis. "A thou
sand dollars? Husband l can't un-
derstand THE told me he had no
money whatever"
Hell explain, or leave" decided
Mr.. Davis. And he called Joel. The
latter valued his pleasant environ.
ment. He told a'l his story. To his
establishment Mrs. Davis uttered q
shrek and tainted away at the re-
cital.
But an explanation of the mystery
! came speedily. 1t was the son of Mr.
Davis who had been robbed in the
city. He had gone to see his fiancee,
had drawn from the bank his savings
IN one large banknote, and had taken
from the jewelry establishment where
he worked number Of pieces of Jew.
elry from which his lady love might
select bridal gift.
Within a week young Davis was re.
stored to his old position. Gratitude
could do no less than find Joel good
position. AS he prospered. love kept
him stanch to the widows pretty
daughter. and the wanderer found the
safe anchorage Of coy, happy home
at last.