The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-09


the open door of the consulting room
silver scattered about the top of the
buffet. With one of those pieces
Lauras bill could be paid
Jenkins resolved to act upon the
thought. At nightfall he went softly
toward the doctors house. He knew
that there was back door, always
open, except for the flmsy screen that
covered it. He had seen that during
his visits, and remembered that, once
over the fence, he could not be seen
from the windows. He found the
fence. scaled it. and crouched cover
ing on the other side.
The house was dark, except for q
single light in the dining room. Jen-
kins could see the silver even now.
1t cleaned derlsively upon the buffet.
His gorge rose. He walked steadily
toward the back door. 1t stood wide
open. It was not even clasped.
Thieves were unknown, almost, In
prosperous Sequah.
Perhaps somebody was on the prem
Uses, though. There must be servants.
He knew the doctor had housekeep-
er. But it was not likely that she
would be on the first floor Jenkins
walked in very softly and took a sill
yer candlestick from the buffet. He
knew by the touch that it was Of pure
metal. That alone would more than
pay Lauras bill. No doubt he could
pawn it somewhere in town.
He stood irresolute. holding it in his
hands. Then, all at once, he heard
the front door click open Doctor
Evans was coming in. There was still
time to escape with his plumber
through the back. But fear paralyzed
jenkins; the irresolute man had found
himself again and the enterprising
criminal who had arisen in him. like
some Mr.. Hyde. had betaken himself
to the neither gloom from which he
sprang.
jenkins put down the candlestick
and sprang behind the curtains. He
heard Evans enter his office. Through
the open door ha saw him sit down
at his desk. The doctor pulled out a
pocketbook and heaped up an i'm
mense pile of bills before him. Jen.
kins could not see their denomination,
but he knew that each was for five
dollars, the spoils of his few hours of
Office work that day
There must have been three hun
dred dollars there. Jenkins felt his
fury rising again. The sleek, SNUG
devil! Counting his money. while
Laura would be put out of the hospital
the following day.
1t did not occur to him that she
would merely be transferred to the
free ward. The man was mad at the
moment The loss of his lifelong posi-
ton had bcrcit him of his senses. He
crept forward and watched the doctor
with parted lips. Ills hand, stretched
out. closed upon the candlestick.
That set a new thought running
through his head. With that candle
stick he could batter out the mans
from the dead hand and go. None had
seen him enter. and none would see
him leave in the darkness Money,
good money, was better than candle
sticks
Three hundred dollars, He had
never had so much money in his life
! before.
He clutched the candlestick in his
! hand; and Just then Doctor Evans
| looked up with a start.
! "Who Is there" he called
jenkins put down the weapon. He
| was the old man once more, the weak
man, incapable of anything but the
trained groovemoving thoughts.
Doctor Evans approached the dining
room and suddenly switched on an
electric light beside the door 1t re-
vealed jenkins, standing by the buff
fet, shaking and white The doctor
stared at him, and suddenly Jenkins
saw recognition in his eyes
why, Mr.. jenkins, how long have
you been waiting for me?" he asked.
And Jenkins perceived that his de-
| sign was unsupported. Doctor Evans
must have thought that the servant
had admitted him through the front
| entrance.
Were you anxious about your
wife," he asked There is nothing
to worry about. She is doing very
well. And, by the way, she asked me
to give you this. She expected you
| tonight and was sure that | would
| meet you on the way out OF the hos
| pital. She said 1t was important, and
| "a aH tn l.
BILE.
| And he handed Jenkins another let
ter from the leather company
jenkins took it and looked at the
| envelope. This one was typewriter
too. 1t could not be the check. Still,
check was due. Jenkins had for
| gotten that. The envelope was open;
Laura had read the contents.
Jenkins took out-the check and
letter. He read:
| Dear Mr.. jenkins:
We have decided to close our agen-
cy in Sequah. Poor business condi-
tions, and other affairs of which you
will learn on your arrival here, have
caused reorganization of our branch
| system. This requires the services of
superintendent with a thorough
knowledge OF tho business Will you
accept the post at salary of five
thousand"
Jenkins put the letter in his pocket
and shook hands with the doctor.
Thank you lin glad my wife