The Washington herald., 1916-06-18

His father, as stirred as she, took the
matter more stoically.
Here he said. curtly. Take this
| money. 1t is 500. Take IT and get out.
don't want a black sheep in my fold.
You have made your bed. Lie in it. I'm
done with you"
But. fatherw persisted Tom. Tive
done nothing wrong. I'm innocent"
They don't expel Innocent boys
from college," retorted his father.
II am innocent" insisted Tom. des-
perately. "T give you my word. Please
believe me. I've never lied to you.
Don't send me away like this. You
promised to take me into the business
and
THE business I built up" snapped
his father, "fs not for ne'er-do- wells
to tear down. I take back that prom
Use. You will leave the family you
have disgraced. I don't want you un-
der my roof another night"
While Tom was miserably packing
his few belongings a note was deliv-
cred to him. 1t was from Marjorie.
Tom read:
| "Dearest:-Tm a coward. and I don't
SUPPOSE you can ever forgive me. But
you don't know what Dad is. when
he's in one of his RACES. There s
nothing he wouldn't do II he found
out I'd disobeyed him. I couldn't help
you. Tom; just couldn't. But there's
something / can do. And I've done IL.
Uncle Roger was my godfather, and
he loves me better than anyone else.
I've just been to him and told him all
the whole story.
He was splendid about it He said:
ITll help you both out. Send Tom
Blake to me and I'll give him a chance
in my own office. Since you believe
in him, so. will L And in a year you'll
be of age. Then you can marry any
one you want to. BY that time, IL
he's any good. he'll be making a mar
rying salary. Tell him to come and
Tom. It's our one chance
| "Heartbrokenly MARJORIE.
"P. 81 love you"
| The next year was one Of tireless work
and steady achievement for Tom Blake.
He more than justified the chance" that
| Roger Lampson gave him by bringing to
his new Job resistless energy, enthusi-
asm and adaptability that quickly won
his employers approval
| 'I thought / was doing You a favor,
| Marjorie" Roger Lampson said to the
girl one day. by hiring young Blake.
But 1t was you who did me a favor by
getting me such a man to work for me.
He's had two promotions this past year.
|
| ger raise next month
Next MONTH" echoed Marjorie why,
| that's June. The month Of weddings.
And the month of your birthday" sup
plemented her uncle. You'll be of age
the first of June, won't you? Well, take
my adIce-marry Tom Blake that day.
And I'll make your. peace with your
father afterwsrd.''
Marjorie sped to Tom with this inspired
suggestion. And the wedding date was
accordingly fixed for June l.
Tom, aglow with delight at the pros
pect. and a. the promise of a raise in
pay. hurried back to the office after his
lunch time chat with Marjorie.
1t was busy day. and. during the aft
ernoon a detail of work arrived that had
to be completed in haste. Tom at once
When the rest OF the star departed he
bent over his desk. unwesriedly tsckling
the overtime Job. His heart was light
his brain brilliantly active. He verify be-
lieved he was the happiest man in al
America. One year ago he had been dis.
graced and cast out OF his home. Today
he was a success, was on the highroad to
promotion, and in three weeks was to
marry the girl he adored. Small wonder
he whistled gayly over his work.
AS he at last laid aside the completed
task and reached for his hat and coat he
heard a rap at the door Of the outer Of
fee. Answer the summons he admitted
James Sullivan. a customer OF the firm.
Hello, Blake" the visitor greeted him
pulling a wallet from his pocket. Y sold
my old car this evening for $3.50 Here It
lis. In ffties. Please ask Lsmpson to
keep It on deposit here till I get back TO
town; in case he needs II to bolster up
any of my margins I don't like the way
lC. G. & X. closed today. And I don't
want to be wiped out This will more
than cover any drop while I'm gone. I'm
leaving on the 1880"
But" objected Tom, only Mr. Lamp
son and the cashier have the combination
of the safe. What shall do with this
overnight? Where shall put it,
''Oh, just take personal care OF It" sug-
gested Sullivan. That's all right.
You're rs safe as a bank Good night
I'll have to hustle If I want that 1O:3C
train"
He was gone leaving Tom looking down
lperplexedly at the $50 bills in his hand
Tom. after a moments thought. went to
the telephone and called up Roger Lamp
son at the latter's house, telling his en-
ployer of Sullvan's deposit
Put 1t somewhere for the night" re-
piled Lampson, and turn it over to cash.
Iier in the morning. Thanks. Just the
same, for calling me up to let me know. y
Tom opened drawer of his desk; then
reconsidered. and decided the money
would be safer in his own keeping. ONCE
Ithefts were not uncommon and there was
always the danger of fire.
So he took out a long envelope, wrote
his name and the firms address on It
put the money in the envelope, sealed Il
and placed It in the inside pocket Of
his vest. Then he locked the Office and
went out into the street
AS he emerged into the fresh air, Il
suddenly occurred to him that he had
eaten nothing since noon and that It was
now after 10 o'clock. All at once he felt
very hungry. He knew the dinner houl
at his boarding house was long past anG
he did not care to waste time and money
by going out of his way to the district
of the city where the larger restaurant:
were still open. So he walked along
keeping his eyes open for the sign OF
some cheap eating house on his home,
ward route.
The hour was late and he was sleepy
as we'll as hungry, 50 he took a shor-
cut through a network Of squalid street:
to bring him to his own boarding place
He had gone only few blocks when he
noticed on a curtained street window
the sign:
"Harding's cafe"