The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-12

dUle Deu away from the FUNDS in QueS-
ton, got up and dressed myself, In
tending to go to the Office and sleep on
a lounge there was in Mr.. Edsall's pri-
vlte room. where l would be near the
safe. On reaching my destination un-
locked the door to the main office and
went I'm with no light except what came
from the street. l feared that il |
switched on the electrics some police
man would come to investigate what
was going on. did not care to make
an explanation, and would not have it
known by any one connected with the
office that had been there.
Feeling my way to the lounge, lay
down. was some time getting to
sleep, for had new source of worry
In the fact that IL were found In the
Office my motive for being there might
be misinterpreted. However, 1 finally
dropped into light and troubled slum-
Der.
was awakened by sound In the
next room. / did not stir, but listened.
l family heard something drop in the
safe lock. Had my hearing not been
very acute 1 should not have detected
II. After hearing several such drops,
which recognized from having opened
the safe so many times, heard the
heavy door swing open. For a moment
It seemed that I was still asleep and
dreaming a dream that had been ex-
cited by my Imagination. Then 1
sprang up and, without thinking that
was liable to be shot down, switched
on an electric light
There stood Gregory facing me.
white as sheet, in his hand package
Of currency. We looked at each other
for moment, then Gregory, realizing
his position, broke down and began to
beg piteously that / would not expose
him.
told him to replace the package of
bills he had taken and close the safe.
Then he confessed that he had been
specializing and had got caught. He
was intending to take few thousand
dollars to tide him over for few DAYS.
trusting to the fact that he alone look
ed after the cash on hand to replace IL
before the deficiency should be discov-
cred.
l asked him how much money would
tide him over, and he told me that
$500 would do it. l had saved several
times that amount and told him that /
would let him have the money in the
morning. but he must leave 1t to me
to act toward him In other respects as
my conscience dictated. He declared
that this was the first time In his life
that he had appropriated money that
did not belong to him and assured me
that what / had offered to loan him
would put him beyond further need.
II 1t were not so he would not have
acted as he had. This did not influence
me. / told him that l would tell him
what would do as to making known
my having surprised him, and, leaving
the building. we parted on the side
walk.
1t was long past midnight when
got back into my own bed. I lay
awake wondering If my having gone
to the Office at the same time Gregory
had gone there to make loan of the
firms funds was a coincidence or
whether subconsciousness that he
was intending to do so had led me
there. 1t is said that no one can think
OF two things at the same time but
these thoughts did not interfere with
a dread that, no matter what course
I should pursue with Gregory, It would
result unfortunately for me-
The next morning he did not show
up. waited till noon, and since he
did not appear 1 laid the matter before
Mr.. Edsall An examination was made,
but no deficiency was found. But 1t
came out that Gregory was heavily in
debt and he had decamped to parts I'M
known.
l did not tell Mr.. Edsall that / had
offered to help Gregory, but l told
Lucia, and she told her father. The
morning after she did so he announced
that he had decided to incorporate his
business and would be vice president
and general manager. What else Lucia
said to him, whether she limited at the
conditions between her and me, l don't
know, but from that time he treated
me more like son than an employee.
And from that time forward l could
not possibly find anything to worry
about. except that l realized there is
many slip 'twixt the cup and the lip
and felt an uncertainty as to my pos =,
sessing the girl loved. However, she
did what she could to assure me that
all would be well and to relieve my
misgivings. But she had a hard time
convincing me that / would be accepta-
BILE to her father as a sutton for her.
One day told him that loved his |
daughter; that / had never spoken to |
her of my feelings for her and had en-
deavored to treat her as friend. But |
a time had come when considered 1t |
both unjust to her and 10 myself that |
the matter should remain as Il was be- |
tween us, and asked him II he would |
consent. 10 my proposing to her for her !
hand. When l had finished / waited |
with throbbing pulse for his reply |
It was not long delayed.
young man." he said, ''you have |
acted honorably in everything ever
since have known you. If Lucia is
willing l am"
That's the end Of the story. My ia
ther-in-law now relies upon me as
manager Of his business. He says that
the only thing against me as a good
business man is that 1 take things too
seriously. In other words, / am in-
elined to worry, and that wears ON
my physical capabilities. However,
since got out Of the false position in.