Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-09
The Daily
Short Story
THE BELOVED ONE.
BY Jasper Wright Marlove


the law ONCE Of Wade Guthrie sha -.
hibited hauteur and mandatory g.,
civility that cut the young attornav -
the quick. Not that he cared for =.
young lady in the least, but it hurt n,
sensitive nature to realize how iaitA.
fnfhe had been to the interests Of -.
imperious beauty and how unapo,.,,
ated were his efforts. -
There was manifest contem.A
her part, certain latent threat n -
cold glance, as though she knew soms'
thing OF his past. Her younger nm,
Jessica, was quite the reverse ~
had never forgotten the day when ~,
father died. As she leaned over M, &
to kiss him, he said solemnly:
MY child, 1t has been necess.rv !. :
leave Wade Guthrie with full pcvss
to manage my estate. Trust hiin ~
plicitly. He Is a man among man. M
our family owes to him lasting recpert
and gratitude"
More than once Jessica had rsmo..
strated with her sister for her trest. i
ment Of Wade Guthrie. He q m.
hired servant of our father" ANs
said, indifferently. Besides" m
there she paused and failed to eolisht.
en- Jessica as to what further was n
her mind, Now Aida was ibout "a :
marry, and her money exactions ~,
the estate had become extensive. s.
fiounced into the Office Of Guthrie a.
afternoon, a red spot on either chesk.
an angry expression in her eyes.
Il sent for some money YESTERDAYS
she began, stormily.
Eyes, Miss WORTH" RESPONDED
Wade, land 1 very much regret tint
could not supply it,"
Gould not supply it!" repeated Ala
CONTEMPORARY. you perhaps forret
that the estate you handle for my fath-
er is the property of myself and nv
sister"
Miss WORTH" spoke Wade, grsyely.
"you have forced crisis that I haw
hoped to avoid. Not only has the e.
tate exhausted all Of its present ready
cash, but is in debt, and only by the
most rigid economy and careful MAJ
agement can we be able to carry It To
point where it will pay out"
Miss Worth grew white to the lips,
but with anger, suspicion and resent
ment.
"Mr. Guthrie" she said, ut is your
business to have money on hand. You
will either get me what I require or
shall secure another lawyer, 60 to-
court and demand an accounting q
the affairs of the estate"
| Now he, too, had a bloodless face.
Il beg of you not to do that" be
said. GAS to resigning my trust and
making full private accounting you
have only,to send me your lawyer"
You are trying to avoid the direct
ISSUE" snapped out Aida, "but shall
force you to the wall and expose YOU
you will expose me?" repeated
Guthrie, vaguely.
Eyes. know your position pre-.
cisely. I know that you are an *
convict upon whom my father took
pity Why man of his judgment was
swayed to place his estate in your
charge / cannot imagine"
Wade Guthrie gripped his hands and
set his face in a rigid mask. The dead
ly insult of the moment, theenvenom-
ed 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, Il would sumniar-
lily go into court and surrender my
charge of the estate. As 1t is, you VIII
please send me your legal represents
tive and I will satisfy him"
1t was a remarkable story which
Wade Guthrie recited to the new con
fidential advisor of Aida Worth. II
told of how he had for three yeau
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 Jesslca
WORTH" said Guthrie, Il am willing 70
continue to bear the burden OF main
tanning the estate will give her sae-
ter five thousand dollars to relinqulsn
her claim to the estate out Of my ovn
means"
Aida accepted the tender. She mar
ried Then it became the one impeiii
ing motive of Wade Guthrie's lie 70
see that the interests of Jessica worm
were cared for. He saw her rarely.
because he loved her, little known!
that she esteemed him as her true ana
nearest friend
The desperate claim UNEXPECTEDLY
paid out. Just after that Jessica CANS
to his Office one day in a state OF GU
siderable agitation.
MIR. Guthrie" she said, tremulous-
ly, my sister had more than ones
limited to me of certain DARK pa,
sage In your past life. Today ! ioun.
, among my fathers papers letter ~
enlightened me. To save my desu
J brother from the penalty OF Q CITE
| you assumed his guilt and TOOK ~
sentence. Oh. that you should nav
borne the contumely. Oh. how paSs
the ingratitude Of my sister,"
Her eyes were suffused with teels
Her hands. placed in his. remsine
there. Wade Guthrie had kept si'euu
through the years. He maintaineu
NOW
But Jessica Worth understood anu,
: understanding, venerated him, io,.s
him He knew it soon, ana III =.