The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-26

| locked the QOOf 10 Lue uldlu OIuSe anu
went in 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. l 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 l were found in the
office my motive for being there might
be misinterpreted. However, l finally
dropped into light and troubled slum-
Der.
l was awakened by sound In the
next room. l did not stir, but listened.
| I family heard something drop in the
safe lock. Had my hearing not been
very acute I 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 a moment
it seemed that was still asleep and
| dreaming a dream that had been ex-
cited by my imagination. Then I
| sprang up and, without thinking that I
was liable to be shot down. switched
on an electric light.
There stood Gregory facing me,
white as a 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 l 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 a 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.
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 l
would let him have the money in the
morning, but he must leave it 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.
If it were not so he would not have
acted as he had. This did not influence
me. I 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 II my having gone
to the Office at the same time Gregory
had gone there to make a loan Of the
firms funds was a coincidence OF
whether a subconsciousness that he
was intending to do SO had led nae
there. 1t is said that no one can thinH
Of two things at the same time, but
these thoughts did not interfere will
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. l waited till noon, and since he
did not appear laid the matter before
Mr.. Edsall. An examination was made
but no deficiency was found. But Il
came out that Gregory was heavily II
debt and he had decamped to parts un
known.
did not tell Mr.. Edsall that hat
offered to help Gregory, but 1 tolt
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 Lucis
said to him, whether she limited at the
conditions between her and me, dom
know, but from that time he treatet
me more like a son than an employee.
And from that time forward i coult
not possibly find anything to worry
about except that 1 realized there /.
many slip 'twixt the cup and the lip
and felt an uncertainty as to my pos
sessing the girl loved. However, sht
did what she could to assure me thai
all would be well and to relieve my
misgivings. But she had a hard tim,
convincing me that would be accepta
BILE to her father as a sutton for her.
One day told him that loved hi
daughter; that l had never spoken t,
her of my feelings for her and had en-
deavored to treat her as friend. Blu
time had come when I considered
both unjust to her and TO myself tina
the matter should remain as It was be
tween us, and l asked him If he would
consent to my proposing to her for he
hand. When / had finished l waitet
with a throbbing pulse for his reply
1t was not long delayed.
young man." he said, you hav,
acted honorably in everything eve
: since 1 have known you. II Lucia 4
willing am"
: That's the end Of the story. My ia
ther-in-law now relies upon me a
manager Of his business. He says tina
the only thing against me as a goo'
, business man is that l take things to,
: seriously. In other words, am in
} clined to worry, and that wears Of
: my physical capabilities. However
: since got out Of the false position in
! duced by my love affair have don
4 much better than formerly.
. had become president OF the com
: pany when Gregory returned. a.