Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-21
The Beloved
One
,epyrisht. 1917. western Nswspspsr
B, JASPER WRIGHT MARLowE

.
Whenever Miss Aida Worth visited
tho law Office Of Wade Guthrie she ex-
hibited q hauteur and mandatory In
civiiity that cut the young attorney TO
the quick. Not that he cared for the
young lady In the least. but Il hurt his
sensitive nature to realize how faith
fuFhe had been to the interests OF the
lu1pfE;eus beauty and how unapprecl-
nted were his efforts.
There was a manifest contempt on
her part. certain latent threat In her
cold glance. as though she knew some
thing OF his. past. Her younger sister.
Jessica. was quite the reverse. She
had never forgotten the day when her
father died. As she leaned over him
to kiss him. he said solemnly:
MY child. II has been necessary to
leave Wade Guthrie with full power
TO manage my estate. Trust him Inn
piicify. He Is q man among men, and
our family owes to him lasting re-
spest and gratitude"
More than once Jessica had remon-
strated with her sister for her treat
ment Of Wade Guthrie. HE Is the
hired servant OF our father" Aida
said. indifferently. "Besides-" but
there she paused and failed to enlight-
"a Jessica a. to what further was In
her mind. Now, Aida was about to
marry, and her money exactions from
the estate had become extensive. She
fiounced Into the ONCE OF Guthrie one
afternoon. a red spot on either cheek,
m angry expression In her eyes.
I Il sent for some money yesterday"
she began. stormlly. 4
Yes. Miss WORTH" responded
Wade. and very much regre. that
could not supply It."
Gould not supply itr repeated
Aida. contemptuously. "You perhaps
forget that the estate you handle for
my father 10 the property Of myself
and my sister"
Miss Worth" spoke v4de. gravely,
you have forced a criL . that I have
hoped to avoid. Not only has the es-
tate exhausted all Of Its present ready
cash. but Is 70 debt. and only by the
ms2 rigid economy aud careful man
ngement can we be able 10 carry Il to
APPOINT where II will pay out"
bliss Worth grew white to the lips.
but with anger. suspicion and resent
ment.
"Mr. Guthrie" she said, 1T is your
business to have money on hand. You
win either get me what require or
shall secure another lawyer. 60 to
court and demand an accounting of
the Affairs OF the estate"
Nov he. too. had a bioodless face.
VI - OF you not TO do that" he
said. Vas to resigning my trust and
making a full private accounting you
haye only to send me your lawyer"
"you are trying to avoid the direct
Issue" snapped out Aida. "but I shall
force you to the wall and expose you"
'you will expose mers repeated
Guthrie. vaguely.
Yes. know your position precise
". know that you are an ex-convict
upon whom my father. took pity. Why
a man Of his judgment was swayed to
place his estate In your charge / can
not imagine"
Wade Guthrie gripped his hands and
set his face In a rigid mask. The
deadly Insult OF the moment. the en-
venomed fury of his client stirred him
to the depthf 4
~But for your sister. whose Interests
must not be imperiled by your rush
act" he responded. II would summar-
lily 20 into court and surrender my
charge OF the estate. As II Is. you will
please send me your legal representa-
tive and will satisfy him."
II was n remarkable story which
Wade Guthrie recited TO the new con-
fidential advisor Of Aida Worth. II
told Of how he had for three years
made up for q continuous deficiency In
the estate income. His own money
had gone TO enter TO the expensive
OF the elder sister. There was
no promise Whatever Of the estate pay
Ing out unless collection could be made ,
Of a decidedly desperate claim.
For the sake of Miss Jessica
WORTH" said Guthrie. II am willing to
70 bear the burden Of main-
lnining the estate. I viii give her sis
Ter five thousand dollars 10 rellnqulsh
her claiHl TO the estate. out OF my own J
means"
Aida accepted the tender. She mnr-
He'd. Then II became the one impell-
ing motive OF Wade Guthries life 10
see that the Interests Of Jesslcn Worth
we're cared for. He saw her rarely.
because he loved her. little knowing
hat she esteemed him as her true and
nearest friend
The desperate claim unexpectedly
paid out. Just after that Jesslca came
% his Office one day Ia u state of con-
agitation.
mr., Guthrie" she said. tremulous-