The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-05
Their FUND
BY cArHARINE cRANMER.


Williams & Company offered
prize of twenty dollars in gold for the
best name suggested by an employee
for their new line of graniteWare.
Harry Benton, salesman, and Amy
! Werner. cashier, tied for the prize. Inc
boss handed each of them ten-doliar
gold niece. but Benton knew that ms
annual salary reached in thousands
almost what Amy's did in hundreds.
Wont you let me add my gold to
! yours so you'll have enough to jingle"
he asked smilingly.
ooh, you couldn't think ! meant
really to take it, could YOU
Wont you? You really earned It
more than |. I've talked the goods SO
constantly for years that it was nat
ural for me to think up name cas-
! liz"
"Ah, now" said Amy, with a tiny
pout. don't intimate that thinking
! was such hard work for me; but
| can't accept what you earned by your
thinking even if it was easy to do.
viii you have dinner with me this
evening and help me think out way
to do something nice for somebody
with that piece of gold?'
"Ye-es," began Amy slowly. I'll
! help you if you'll let me contribute
my gold piece to the happiness fund.
And Harry agreed.
A few hours later, over their dinner.
| they discussed the possibilities OF their
fund
Il want our fund to bring happiness
to somebody who doesn't dream Of it,
and to bring it just at the psychology
cal moment when it means every
| thing" Amy was charming when she
was serious.
That's the idea, exactly agreed
| Harry, and the best way to distribute
happiness is to go where there is
lack Of it. What do you say to our
! taking a stroll through the outskirts2'
That's where there are extremes Of
happiness and unhappiness, I've heard.
All right, let's go, that is, il you think
ooh you'd attract your share of at
tenton anywhere but I'm plain enough
to offset your charms" This was said
without any palaver of gallantry and
was accompanied by such a genial
smile that Amy laughed, too, although
she thought Harry's clear eyes and
honest face and broad shoulders very
satisfactory kind Of plainness.
AS they passed through the district
of the downtown poor, they distributed
various bits of happiness in unexpect-
ed dimes given to small tots who were
standing disconsolately in doorways or
tagging each other on the brick paved
sidewalks.
Look who's here No need for our
happiness fund in that party" said
Harry, Z thay saw approaching them
a festive y rty consisting of an ltal-
ian gil still in her teens, her swag-
gering young escort who pulled at his
sunburne 1austache. some dark
gowned yanen with scarfs over their
heads, 4 few piodding men and chill
uItU "a CSSotltil SlLtS ttiiu Val tIlS tt'
s.ces o. unelean'iness From one OF the
children Harry learned that the young
couple had been married that day and
were on their way to their new home
of two rooms in a nearby roomine
house.
At that instant. the clang of the fire
bell was heard. and with each stroke
the sound grew louder until around the
corner came the galloping horses and
rafting hose wagons and the scream
ing engine leaving its trail of sparks
on the uneven cobblestones of the mar
row street. Amy and Harry stood on
the curb, and down Amy's spine went
the chilly creep and into her eyes
came the unshed tears that the sight
and sound of a fire department in &C
ton always brought to her.
She became conscious, in the midst
of it. that Harry was holding her arm
protectingly. Two blocks away the
engine stopped. the wagons sought the
curb, and the lately happy group OF
people began to scream excitedly. The
.OuiiS Slooui u leu W tllCl TIC
ing house and the protesting bride
threw herself before him to prevent
the risk. The fire was in the house
where their two rooms had been fur
nished.
The lamentations of the bridal party
made a babel but Amy and Harry
looked Understandings at each other
Gould we find better place for q
happiness fund.-" asked Amy
I'VE won't look for a better, will
WEI" And Harry put his hand in the
pocket where the happiness fund re
posed
No; this is the psychological no
ment we wanted" answered Amy. and
together they approached the dis
tressed young couple
This is hard luck. my boy" began
Harry. but this lady and | had a BIZ
of good luck today and we'd like to
share it with you and your bride
Won't you take this"-handing him
the money-"and get other lodgings
and such furniture as it will buy"
The outburst of gratitude from both
the bride and groom and from their
kinsmen made Amy and Harry wonder
how they could escape, but just then a
taxicab came along and Harry hailed
it and hurried Amy into it As they
bumped away over the cobbles there
was a chorus OF cheers.
They looked at each other and
laughed happily and without emhar.
rassment. Cor that littla hanniness