The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-11-21
Beecher Street
o>Sa
BY r. RAY BAKER

II / 10y IL MAJ 0AhEAs u
&SSSSss ). 80.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure NeWspa-
per Syndicate)
If Ethel Drayton had done some real
reasoning instead of leaping at con-
illusions and acting on impulse, 1t Is
likely that her bark of romance, with
Cliff Naridge in command, would have
sailed serenely down the river Of agree
ableness into the sea Of matrimony
without encountering a storm. On the
other hand, that kind Of journey would
not have been real romance--lt would
have lacked zest-so perhaps 1t Is just
rs well that Herman Hartell came over
% Ethel's desk that dreary, rainy AFTER
noon in April and unfolded the secret.
II have something to say that Is
very disagreeable to me-" began Har.
tell as he brushed hand caressingly
over his miniature moustache and
looked down at Ethel's curly brown
hair COiled on the back of her head In
q business-llke knob that served as
pencil holder. Nevertheless" he went
on, 81 feel In duty bound to say It."
Ethel jerked sheet Of paper from
her typewriter and turned her black
eyes up at the head shipping clerk.
The tiny, bristling ridge Of hair on
Hartelrs upper lip forced q smile to
her face, but this was dispelled when
Hartell explained:
"It's about Clifford. You see, last
night"
While this conversation was taking
place, the subject of the remarks sat
on q high stool at the other side Of
the Lewis Wholesale Paper company's
shipping office and poured over a file
Of orders. Out of corner Of his eye
he saw the head shipping clerk ap-
preach the sten0grapher's desk, and
he frowned.
Hartell leaned over Ethels chair as
he revealed the secret, and Cliff rufhed
his flaxen hair with one hand and
thrummed on his desk with the other.
Half an hour later Cliff slipped from
his stool and into his light overcoat.
Carrying his hat, he approached Ethel.
who was still busy at the typewriter.
He passed and smiled pleasantly, but
ahe continued rafting the keys.
~YOu needn't trouble yourself to
walt for me-" she informed him in Icy
tones without pausing in her work or
looking up. "I'll be little late, and
Mr.. Hartell has promised to see me
home"
Cliffs smile vanished. Before he had
a chance to reply, she had slipped a
ring from finger Of her left hand and
extended 1t toward him. She looked
into his eyes with stare encrusted
with Ice.
II can't wear this any longer" she
said, "after the way you have acted
lately. have heard that all men must
SOW wild oats, but l assure you that
my man won't. If you must gamble
and carouse, you can't expect to be-
come my husband. l have learned all
about your going to a saloon or gam
bling den on Beecher street almost ev
cry night, and that's enough for me
Goodnight"
Cliff stumbled down the steps to the
street and walked three blocks, heed
less of the pouring rain, before hi
came to himself and found the rims
clasped In his hand. Then he stopped
dead still in the middle Of stree
crossing, undecided whether to leap IL
the river or go back and throw Her
man Hartell from the roof of the six
story Lewis building. lie decided t.
do neither; instead, he headed TO
Beecher street.
Ethel completed her work and wa
escorted to her roomlng place by Har
tell At the door she took his ham
and said earnestly:
"You don't know how l appreciat
the revelation you have made to mt
I know it must have been hard 70
you to come and tell me about seem
Clifford go into that terrible place S
many times; and am grateful
'@Don't mention 1t, please" proteste
Hartell, striving unsuccessfully toreac
his mustache with his tongue.
couldn't bear to see you throw YOU
self away on worthless fellow.
save a good many blocks by cuttin
through Beecher street on the wa
home and that's how l happened
notice him there"
=, The next day Ethel failed to appei
at the Office, telephoning that she WI
suffering from headache. The su
ceeding day was Sunday. The RAJ
had ceased but the weather had turnt
chilly and the sun hid behind cloud
Ethel listened In vain for the doc
bell or the telephone, hoping Gil
would appear as he had done each Su
day for more than year. True, 81
had told him 1t was all over; neve
theleSs, she Lad expected him TO con
and make some kind of protest al
attempt an explanation. The mOrnll
passed very gloomily for her.
Early in the afternoon the landlat
summoned her to the telephone, al
Ethel tripped over chair in her has
10 answer the call.
"ThlS is Mr., Hartell," said the vol
m the wire. could / call on you Il