The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-10
Story Of a
Spendthrift
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

| very rlcn man and inherited at his
fathers death large fortune. This
was at the beginning Of the nineteenth
century, when 100000 was considered
a gigantic sum. But it was not too
big for Jimmie to get away with in a
few years. He spent it in every con-
ceivable way. First and foremost, he
was devoted to horses second, he
dotted on dogs; third, he was fond of
cards; fourth, he was always want
ing to fight some one. Jimmie veered
between these attractions as wealth
er cock swings between the four points
Of the compass. BY the by, this re-
minds me that he was also given to
cockfighting.
| Well, after Jimmie had run through
| all his money he continued to spend
on tick. This lasted till he heard the
bailiffs were after him. when, in order
to escape them he enlisted in the cav
airy and was sent to his regiment fight
ing Indians in territory which Is now
called the middle west. This gave him
| one of his favorite amusements for he
was on horse all the while. Occa-
sionally there were races at the post.
and he figured as jockey.
There was no reason why Jimmie
Temple should not have continued to
serve indefinitely In the army, where
he was very happy, for he secured a
commission, except that he loved
girl In Baltimore. Miss Belle Ashurst
was the daughter of rich man, but
his wealth didn't do her any good, so
far as uniting her to Lieutenant Tenn
pie, for her father had no idea of per-
hitting his daughter to marry such a
scapegrace. But the lovers pinned for
each other, and Belle was continually
writing Jim to come back, just as If
he could 60 where he pleased.
So It was that in time Jim resigned,
and when his resignation was accept
ed headed straight for Baltimore.
Naturally enough. Jim's creditors
were on the lookout for him, and as
soon as he appeared in Baltimore some
Of them got wind Of the fact. Jim
realized that II he was to enjoy the SO.
ciety Of his girl he must keep out of
limbo, SO he went into hiding He
kept dark during the daytime and. like
the animals Of the forest, did his PROV
ling at night. An attorney employed
by his creditors discovered his lair. but
dare not force an entrance, for this
would render him liable to action fol
trespass.
This attorney-Markham was his
name-having learned about Jim's lido
syncrasies, especially his fondness FOL
horses, one morning sent boy In thu
uniform Of jockey to ride horse
that was anything but racer bacl
and forth before the debtors abode.
was not long before Jim threw up {
window and called out: "Hi, you. there
Do you expect to win race with that
bundle of bones" Markham, who wa
under the window, began to read jim
> summons, but he had not read hal
q dozen words before down came tn,
sash.
This ruse having failed, MARKHAM
bethought himself Of another. ON
bright morning he and deput.
brought a couple of cocks to a vacan
;; lot beside Jim's hiding place and Sc
them to fighting. The cocks were fur
nished with steel spurs, but sEur OF
one Of the cocks was turned so tina
1t was useless to the bird who wore II
Jim watched the fight from behint
blinds, and when he saw one Of tn,
birds being slaughtered for the lack o
properly fixed spur It was too mucl
for him. Throwing open the blinds, h
called out: "What do you want t
treat cock that way for? Don't yo'
see"-
He got no further. Some one on tn,
i, ground beneath the window thrust
pole under the sash so that Jim coult
not lower 1t. and voice began to reat
legal document. Jim jumped out tn
window, knocked the paper out of tn,
hands of the reader sent the man VIII
, held the pole sprawling, In jiffy wa
back through the window, and tn,
sash came down.
One night when he was leaving Miss
Ashurst's home he was accosted on til,
street by a gentleman. who said t.
I. him:
"My friend, | have been playing tn,
bank at Watson's recently. have in
, vented system by which l expect t.
break 1t. l am In love with youni
, lady whose father has Informed mi
that II ever enter gambling house
again 1t shall be all up between m,
and his daughter. Would you kindl,
! consent to play for me tonightT"
The man gave Jim his system, an(
Jim was seized with desire to Sc,
how It worked He took 500 the maj
gave him and suffered himself to b.
conducted to Watson's. He had scarce
ly entered the well lighted room.
when he was bereft of his disgu4s,
and, being recognized, was forced Il
listen to the reading of summons
; for the door was locked behind him.
Jim spent term in the debtors
prison, which was ended by the dealt
Of his girls father. The day after the
funeral Belle paid her lovers debts