Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-05-03
The Beloved
One
By JASPER WRIGHT MARLOwE

the law ONCE or wade Guthrie Sne eXS
hibited a hauteur and mandatory in
civility that cut the young attorney to
the quick. Not that he cared for the
young lady in the least, but it hurt his
sensitive nature to realize how faith
full he had been to the interests of the
imperious beauty and how unappreci-
ated were his efforts.
There was a manifest contempt on
her part, a 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, it has been necessary to
leave Wade Guthrie with full power
to manage my estate. Trust him i'm
plicitly. He is a man among men, and
our family owes to him lasting re-
spect and gratitude"
More than once Jessica had emon-
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-
en- Jessica as to what further was in
her mind. Now, Aida was about to
marry, and her money exactions from
the estate had become extensive. She
f1ounced into the office of Guthrie M
afternoon, a red spot on either cheek,
an angry expression in her eyes.
II sent for some money yesterday"
she began, stormily.
Eyes, Miss WORTH" responded
Wade, "and l very much regret that I
could not supply it."
::Could not supply it?" repeated
Aida, contemptuously. "You perhaps
forget that the estate you handle for
my father is the property of myself
and my sister,"
Miss WORTH" spoke Wade, gravely,
'syou have forced a crisis that l have
hoped to avoid. Not only has the es-
tate exhausted all of it's present ready
cash, but is in debt. and only by the
most rigid economy and careful man.
agement can we be able to carry it to
a point where it will pay out"
Miss Worth grew white to the lips,
but with anger, suspicion and resent
ment.
"Mr. Guthrie she said, at is your
business to have money on hand. You
will either get me what 1 require or 1
shall secure another lawyer, go to
court and demand an accounting Of
the affairs of the estate"
Now he, too, had a bloodless face.
81 beg of you not to do that" he
said. "As to resigning my trust and
making a full private accounting you
have only to send me your lawyer"
"You are trying to avoid the direct
ISSUE" snapped out Aida, "but 1 shall
force you to the wall and expose you"
you will expose met" repeated
Guthrie, vaguely.
eyes. 1 know your position precise
ly. l 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 1 cam
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 depths.
""But for your sister, whose interests
must not be imperiled by your rash
act" he responded, 81 would summar-
lily go into court and surrender my
charge of the estate. AS it is, you~will
please send me your legal representa-
tive and I will satisfy him."
1t was a remarkable story which
Wade Guthrie recited to the new con-
fidential advisor OF Aida Worth. 1t,
told of how he had for three years.
made up for a continuous deficiency in
the estate income. His own money
had gone to cater to the expensive
caprices 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, 81 am willing to-
continue to bear the burden of main
tanning the estate. 1 will give her Sis
ter five thousand dollars to relinquiSh
her claim to the estate, out of my own
MEANS"
Aida accepted the tender. She mar
ried. Then it became the one impell-
ing motive of Wade Guthrie's life to
see that the interests Of Jessica Worth
were cared for. He saw her rarely,
because he loved her, little knowing
that she esteemed him IT'S her true and
nearest friend.
The desperate claim unexpectedly
paid out. Just after that Jessica came
to his office one day in h state of con-
siderable agitation.
"Mr. Guthrie" she. said, tremulous-
ly, 'my sister had more than once
limited to me of a certain dark passage
in your past life. Today I found
among my fathers papers a letter that