The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-31
THE BEACON
BY MARY RANDALL.
Copyright. 1917. western Newspaper union.)

was hSht oiihluB III lue puflOT Ill
cove window in the home of widow
| Janet Graham.
The neighbors and townspeople gem
| 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 q 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 q
crippled father and an invalid mother.
She was one of those sweet, patient
souls whose face is irradiatcd with a
purity and gentleness almost ethereal,
and when Verne was called TO a more
promising position in the city her pride
mingled with that of the fond mother,
and 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
l 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 keen
eyed, hard-faced man knocked at the
door. He edged his way into the room,
glancing about sharply.
Il am looking for Verne Graham"
he announced in tone Of assurance
and command that somehow chilled
the hearts of mother and fiancee.
"He is not here" Mrs. Graham adj
vised the visitor. ut is three months
since we saw him last. Even his usual
letter missed us last week. Oh, sirl
I trust there Is no trouble"
'Sorry to say there is" bluntly re-
sponded the stranger, land l am a 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 q thiefw cried Mrs. Gra-
ham. at is faiSe!"
The man shrugged his shoulders in
differently.
81 do not believe him." breathed
Marjorie, agitatedly. "There is some
error, some plot, oh 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 She
place where Verne Graham had been a
cashier by the manager, a 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 a breaking heart
back to the little country village. She
told her story amid the tears to the
stricken mother. "Oh, it is vain !"
cried Marjorie. "Verne will never
come back"
''He will come" solemnly declared
the mother. "Of his innocence or guilt
what can l 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 a break in their compan-
ionship. MarjOrie's father died and a
brother insisted on Mrs. Dale making
her home in his household. Marjorie
went to the city and became a nurse
In public hospital. One night the
word went round that q terrible rail-
road accident would send in many suf-
ferers for treatment After the sur
geons had attended to one victim in
ter ward, he delegated the patient to
Mariories charge. The man was in
sensible ard had sustained frightful
injuries. Marjorie was startled as she
recognized him. lie was the plant
manager, Mr.. Thorpe, whom Marjorie
had called upon in regard to the dis
appearance Of Verne Graham.
Marjorie sat down by the cot. She
became conscious that the eyes of the
patient were fixed upon her. She met
the glance.
'Tve seen you before" spoke Thorpe.
"You were the sweetheart of Verne
Graham"
"Try and keep quiet" directed Mar
jorie gently. ut will harm you to
talk"
GIVE got to talk ~ almost shouted
the man. in wild strain of excitement,
81 want you to send at once for Mr..
Woodson, the head of our house. 1t
is vital, it must be done, and more for
your sake than my own"
Marjorie consulted the head nurse
and Mr.. Woodson was sent for. He
arrived within the hour. AS Marjorie
placed q chair by the bedside of the
patient and moved out of hearing, the
latter called out iGsstently:
"No, no-she must hear too. Mr..
Woodson, Verne Green never stole that
twenty thousand dollars. 1t was l who
did 1t. worked out plot against him
and hired some persons as wicked as
myself to hold him in captivity. Take
down my confession and the details Of
where this man whom have so cruelty
wronged can be found and rescued"
Thorpe breathed his last the next
morning. The wealthy and humane
Mr.. Woodson ut once insisted that she
accompany him on the journey that
was to restore to loyal, faithful girl
her lover, to patient, loving mother
her cherished son.