The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-16
IT PAID
AFTER ALL
Bv WILLIAM CHANDLER

n,oh+ or Ruffalo and discovered 10 Ms
,,emor thar he could go no farther (
tir the next evening. Not only was
Astronomical at having TO wait III
STRANGE town over Sunday. but norlol
stricken at remembering that ne was
short of cash, having proVlueu yu.
enough to take him to MS JOURNEY
end His hotel bill for one day woulu
use up all he had, with none le'' n r.
his sleeping berth to Chlcaso'
tickets were to that city
Bob put up at hotel ana Went ~
he'd In the morning be Detnousn'
himself as TO how he should get away
with the day and provide means .oi \"
s,eeninp berth for the balance OF the
trim for he had no mind to SIT up an
night Then suddenly he rememoeieu
that his chum. Tom Atkinson, was
Buffalo boy and his parents lived 'nere'
Toms father had visited his son IN
Chicago, and Bob had been introduced
to him. He might call on MT. Athin'
son. state his necessities and secure
the loan of the few dollars Seeded'
Rob spent the morning reading tue
newspapers and the afternoon walking
the streets His train did not leaVe
till IL O'Clock After dark he pluckeu
m courage to go to the Atkinsons TOT
his loan. So after getting the auuress
from a directory be turned his steps to
the house On his arrival he found tue
premises dimly lighted. He hesitateu'
He was tempted to give it up and slt
up all night in day car. But the pros
pect of a sleepless night urged him on
and he went up the steps and rang the
bell. After waiting some time ne sa"
the light in the hall turned higher;
then a feminine voice asked who was
there.
Bob was staggered. How could he
explain who he was? He could not
very we'll say that he was Tom Atkln-
sons friend and he had called to Dor
row a few dollars on the strength OF
that friendship. He said nothing,
standing in the vestibule irresolute,
"Who's thereY asked the voice again
in a more resolute tone.
Still Bob. not knowing what to say,
said nothing Then he thought he
heard light step within retreating,
then returning. Suddenly the door
was opened a few inches, and the muZ-
zle Of pistol was poked through. Be
You'd he could distinguish the figure Of
girl.
IF you think that | am alone" said
a quavering voice, you are mistaken.
There are three men upstairs"
I-I-have come to make call on
Mr.. and Mrs Atkinson. Do they live
hereT
Eyes, they live here. They're out at
church. They haven't got back yet.
You can't come in"
Certainly not If you don't wish it.
May l leave q card?"
The girl made no reply to this. Bob
held out a card and, pOking it at the
girl just below the pistol, said:
I'm a friend of Tom Atkinson, in
Chicago. Happening to be in Buffalo,
l concluded to pay my respects to his
parents"
"Oh, merciful goodness exclaimed
the girl, Withdrawing the weapon
What have done"
1T doesn't matter" said Bob apollo
getically. ITS my fault anyway.
shouldn't have called so late"
Are you Robert SanfordT
YES"
"Oh. dear! Papa and mamma left
me all alone. and I'm 'fraid of bur
glars. I've made a ninny of myself
Come in."
Bob entered. asking If the girl was
Toms sister. and she assured hin
that she was and had often heard Ton
speak of his friend Mr.. Sanford.
Papa and mamma will be so compli
mented that you have called on them,
said Miss Atkinson, land will be de
lighted to see one Of Toms intimat,
friends. They will be home in a few
minutes, The services are over at Q
and it takes them about fifteen minute,
to come from the church. Here the,
are now"
Bob wished 1t had taken them long
er to come, for Toms sister was yer,
pretty and he would have liked q long
er sitting with her alone. The from
door opened, and Mr.. and Mrs. Atkir
son. after leaving their wraps in tn
hall, entered.
This is Toms friend Mr.. Sanfor
of Chicago" said Miss Atkinson.
well, upon my wordr exclaime
MI. Atkinson. Delighted to see Vol
l remember very well meeting you il
Toms rooms in Chicago"
How nice of you to come and So
u.s." said Mrs. Atkinson. 81 assur
you we appreciate the attention"
Bob remained for an hour, durin
which the fond parents talked ince,
.. sanity about their son. and Bob prai,
ed him to the skies. All the while b
was trying to muster up courage T
/, speak of the loan of 50 for sleepin
l berth. But to tell Toms parents 1
the presence of Toms sister that :
L had called for that purpose was n
much for him. So, saying that he mn
go for his train, he babe them all goo
) by, and, followed by a shower Of thanl
Tor the attention he had shown the,
IN calling. he took his departure.
The next evening he appeared
Tom Atkinson's and told the story
wen, I'll be jingedr' said Tor
I After facing death at the muzzla Of
pistol you were obliged to sit un .
night!' Op
Yes" replied Bob, but it was wort
night like that"
8 What do you mean?"
t Bob never explained till be bacar
engaged to Miss Atkinson.
& Possibly True.