The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-13

other, with a contemptuous smuo'
Are you going to marry herr
THAT depends largely on the de-
cision of the Reno court" said the
millionaire.
Il guess there won't be any diff
Guilty about that" said Kane. your
money will get anything. Are you 60
ing to marry her when the court mas
decided?"
Il hope So" answered Jerrold. See
here, Kane, Tm-Tm sorry. But in this
life the riches and the women go to
the strong You've lost her. But I'll
make good to you I'll give you'-he
! hesitated-" thirty thousand dollars for
your wife. What do you say?"
You scoundrel!" shouted Kane,
shaking his fist at the others face.
You contemplate blackguard!"
Its more than any court would
give. Take it or leave it, Kane, said
Jerrold quietly.
Il accept" said Kane suddenly.
Three years later he saw his wife
again. They met in an elevated train,
going north after the days work was
over.
He was shocked at the woman's ap-
pearance. Jerrold could not have been
as kind a companion as she had ex-
pected, to judge from the sadness of
her expression. There was haunted
look upon her face.
They looked up and saw each other
across the aisle. He got off at the
next station but, when he reached the
| platform, she had followed him.
Il want to tell you, Dick, that Il
am sorry" she said in low voice.
At the remembered tone he felt the
old longing sweep over him; he longed
to take her in his arms, but he only
bowed and stood aside
Il want to give you my address in
case" she began.
Thank you, but | can find Mr.. Jer-
rold any time | wish" he replied. And
she shrank from him. crimson with
modification.
She had handed him the pasteboard
and automatically he had extended
his hand. The letters burned them
selves into his brain like fire. He
knew he could never forget that place.
All the way home he saw 313 Morti-
/ mer street craven against the heavens.
So she was firing of the new love!
He wondered whether she had heard
had heard that he, with the price of
her shame, was now well established
in Wall street. He had put the thir-
ty thousand into brokers' business;
with his knowledge acquired in Jer-
rolds office, he had soon become
wealthy. But she could not know that
the one purpose for which he lived
was nearing accomplishment.
Step by step he had logged Jerrold.
He had pursued him remorselessly,
had hammered his stocks, had learned
the secrets of his private speculations
and made good use of them. The
month of wild speculation that had
just ended had been a hard one for
Jerrold. 1t had left the little clerk a
millionaire.
Nv.
Jerrold sat in his office, utterly bro.
ken. Everything had gone up in
smoke, and at last he knew the name
Of the man who had ruined him.
He had learned too late. His own
place of power had fallen to the clerk.
He had lost seven million dollars, and
Kane must have made three times
hot nf ct,1
er than his rage.
"a gent, sir, wants to see you"
I'll see nobody"
Il think you'll see me, Mr. Jerrold,'
said Kane, who had followed hard on
the heels of the Office boy. It's five
added, quietly.
Jerrold sprang up with a snarl But
the clerk did not finch he seemed
transformed, and it was he who pos
sessed the ease, the confidence.
Yes, | have your money, Jerrold,
he said. in this life, Jerrold, the
riches and the women go to the strong
You BLACKBOARD" he burst out fiercely
I've brought you your seven millions
your dirty millions. Now take them
to your wife and tell her that's hel
first husbands wedding present tc
her second
And he flung check upon the Other
mans resk.
Jerrold stared at 1t, stared at the
man who had bested him, who wa:
already going. Suddenly he felt him
self choking; he realized that the
tragedy had eaten into Kane's soul
had branded it indelibly with shame
"Kane!" he muttered huskily Sc,
here! Didn't you know"
Know what?" cried Kane.
"Why-that she didn't marry me
l haven't seen her since that day
She went West and-and thought bet
ter of it, Kane. Lord, to think yo,
didn't know! The money"
; Damn the money!" yelled Kane
rushing from the office.
And in the heavens, dancing in luri,
red on their blue background, he saw
the number of the house on Mortime
street.
|
Anthrax a MaIiunart Disease