The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-05

able bed away from the funds in queS-
ton. got up and dressed myself, IN
tending to 60 TO the Office and sleep on
a lounge there was in Mr.. Edsalfs pri-
vate room, where l would be near the
safe. On reaching my destination IN
locked the door to the main office and
went In with no light except what came
from the street. / feared that III
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 1t
known by any one connected with the
Office that had been there.
Feeling my way TO the lounge, lay
down. was some time getting 10
sleep. for had a new source Of worry |
in the fact that If l were found In the
Office my motive for being there might
be misinterpreted. However, / finally |
dropped into a light and troubled slum- |
Der.
l was awakened by a sound In the
next room. / did not stir, but listened
I family heard something drop In the
safe lock. Had my hearing not been
very acute / should not have detected
It. After hearing several such drops.
which recognized from having opened
the safe so many times, l heard the
heavy door swing open. For q moment
it seemed that was still asleep and
dreaming dream that had been ex-
cited by my imagination. Then
| 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 a 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 a 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 1t
before the deficiency should be discov-
cred.
/ asked him how much money would
tide him over, and he told. me that
$500 would do 1t. 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 I had offered to loan him
would put him beyond further need.
IL 1t were not so he would not have
acted as he had. This did not influence
me. | told him that would tell him
! what / would do as to making known
: my having surprised him, and, leaving
. the building, we parted on the side
: walk.
:. It was long past midnight when
+ got back into my own bed. lay
: awake wondering If my having gon'
y to the office at the same time Gregor!
i had gone there to make loan Of tn,
firms funds was a coincidence O
s whether a subconsciousnes that h
+ was intending to do SO had led M
/ there. 1t Is said that no one can thinl
o OF two things at the same time, Blu
70 these thoughts did not interfere wit
t. a dread that, no matter what cours
e / should pursue with Gregory, it woul
; result unfortunately for me-
n The next morning he did not shoy
,r up. / waited till noon, and since
h did not appear laid the matter befor
,e Mr.. Edsall An examination was made
,e but no deficiency was found. But
O. came out that Gregory was heavily !
debt and he had decamped to parts III
a known
e. 1 did not tell Mr.. Edsall that ha
lg offered to help Gregory, but / toll
N Lucia, and she told her father. Th
Id morning after she did so he announce
I'd that he had decided to incorporate h
lie business and would be vice presideI
at and general manager. What else Luci
TO said to him, whether she limited at II
s. conditions between her and me, don
/ know, but from that time he treats
at me more like son than an employee
ed And from that time forward l coul
not possibly find anything to worl
lis about, except that realized there
be many slip 'twixt the cup and the lii
ne and felt an uncertainty as TO my pc
ne sessing the girl loved. However, 81
IS. did what she could TO assure me tn
nv all would be well and to relieve n
tic misgivings. But she had hard tin
ng convincing me that would be accept
on BILE to her father as o sutton for her.
One day | told him that loved
of daughter; that l had never spoken
lei her of my feelings for her and had G
nd deavored to treat her as a friend. B
nd a time had come when considered
he both unjust to her and to myself {
IN the matter should remain as 1t was
or tween us, and asked him If he woI
me consent to my proposing to her for
full hand. When l had finished / wait
with a throbbing pulse for bis rep
Ids 1t was not long delayed.
emit Young man." he said, you hs
acted hOnorably in everything e.
u.s. since L have known you. II Lucia
the willing l am"
ae. That's the end Of the story. My
INK ther-In-law now relies upon me
md manager of his business. He says I
ght the only thing against me as g
fine business MAJ is that take things
re- seriously. in other words, am
the clined to worry. and that wears
Inn. my physical capabilities. Howe
ros. since got out of the false position
,aan duced by my love affair l have d
Is much better thah Ao..netV.