The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-02-15
THE BEACON
BY MARY RANDALL



was a light shining In the parlor al
cove window In the home of widow
Janet Graham.
The neighbors and townspeople gen.
orally related weird tale connected
with the familiar beacon. The widow
and her son, Verne Graham had come
to Roslyn and had rented the pretty
little cottage. The young man was
brisk, Industrious, always had a smile
on his face, and it was no wonder that
he attracted the attention of Marjorie
Dale, who was the nearest neighbor.
Her life was devoted to the case of a
crippled father and an invalid mother.
She was one Of those sweet, patient
souls whose face Is irradiated with a
purity and gentleness almost ethereal,
and when Verne was called to more
promising position In the city her pride
mingled with that Of the fond mother,
md they built great hopes as to his
BUSINESS future.
A year went by and twice Verne WIS.,
tied home, and each week he wrote to
both the dear ones. When he had first
left them Mrs. Graham had looked ear
| nestly into his eyes.
! 'Verne," she said, "you see the light
have placed in the window. 1t shall
be there on the darkest night, your
| beacon. Think Of it, cherish it."
One day Mrs. Graham and Marjorie
were seated conversing, when a keen
eyed, hard-faced man knocked at the
door. He edged his way into the room,
glancing about sharply.
II am looking for Verne Graham"
he announced in a tone of assurance
and command that somehow chilled
the hearts OF mother and fiancee.
"He is not here" Mrs. Graham ad-
vised the visitor. ut is three months
since we saw him last. Even his usual
letter missed us last week. Oh, sir
I trust there Is no trouble"
Sorry to say there is" bluntly re-
sponded the stranger, land I am de-
tective looking for him. He disap-
peared from his work ten days ago,
taking with him twenty thousand dol
lars of the funds of the company in
trusted to his charge"
"My son theft /" cried Mrs. Gra-
| ham, at is falser'
The man shrugged his shoulders in
differently.
II do not believe him!' breathed
Marjorie agitatedly. "There Is some
error, some plot, obi be assured of
that. Mother Graham, I am going
straight to the city to ferret out all
the details of this terrible thing"
Marjorie Dale was received at the
place where Verne Graham had been a
cashier by the manager, Mr.. Thorpe.
The man was coldly polite and matter
of fact. The money and Verne Graham
had vanished together, this man told
Marjorie.
Marjorie carried breaking heart
back to the little country village. She
told her story amid the tears to the
stricken mother. ION, it is vain r.
cried Marjorie. Verne will never
come back
"He will come" solemnly declared
the mother. ''Of his innocence or guilt
what can I say, but he is always my
son, always welcome, no matter how
black his sins may be. Some night
Verne will come back to the light in
the window"
Then came break in their eompan-
ionship. Marjorie's father died and q
brother insisted on Mrs Dale making
her home in his household. Marjorie
went to the city and became q nurse
In a public hospital. One night the
word went round that terrible rail
road accident would send in many suf
ferers for treatment. After the sur
geons had attended to one victim il
her ward, he delegated the patient tt
Marjorie's charge. The man was in
I sensible and had sustained frightfu
] injuries. Marjorie was startled as sh,
( recognized him. He was the plan
t manager, Mr.. Thorpe, whom Marjori
5 had called upon in regard to the dis
y appearance of Verne Graham.
q Marjorie sat down by the cot. Sh
q became conscious that the eyes of tn
q patient were fixed upon her. She ue
;. the glance.
y 4Pve seen you before" spoke Thorpe
'You were the sweetheart of Vern
q Graham"
''Try and keep quiet" directed Maj
: iorie gently. ut win harm you t
. talk"
1--WE got to talk ~ almost shoute
the man, in wild strain of excitement
II want you to send at once for Nj
:, Woodson, the head of our house
y is vital, it must be done, and more fo
= your sake than my own"
- Marjorie consulted the head nurs
. and Mr.. Woodson was sent for. II
arrived within the hoW. AS Marjorl
&c placed chair by the bedside of tn
u patient and moved out of hearing, til
lie latter called out mistakenly:
% 'No, no-she must hear, too. M
u Woodson, Verne Green never stole tn,
D. twenty thousand dollars. 1t was l WI
10 did ii. | worked out n plot against hi
e and hired some persons as wicked {
q myself to hold him in captivity. Tai
H. down my confession and the details
IL where this man whom / have so cruel
ar wronged can be found and rescued"
re Thorpe breathed his last the ne,