Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-01-17
A Youthful
Croesus
By ALMA BLANCHE WARNER

ness, but her lips quiyered. Neal
Barker sighed and bowed his head.
AT least we must remain friends"
he said as steadily as he could. Il
shall not offend again, dear lady. but
my life's service is yours"
1t was well that just then Irene's
little brother called to her, or she
would have broken down utterly. She
had never admired a man as she had
this sterling, o~pen-hearted young fell
low.
1t was the next day that his sister
Blanche came to where he was swing
ing idly in a hammock.
Meal, dear" she spoke gently, Il
have a fancy that you have been fall
ing in love with our pretty next-door
%neighbor."
at is more than a fancy" replied
Neal-'it is a fact. Did Miss Ainslee
indicate it to your"
ooh, not at all" Blanche FASTENED
to say, 'but it has not been difficult
for me to surmise that you were at
tracted by her. Then, today she let
drop a few vague words that told me
of the situation. She has declined to
marry you, Neal?"
"Yes, sister"
"But she loves you"
Neal's face became a glow of sudden
joyfulness. "Oh, you cannot Know
that !" he cried, but hopefully.
"The knowledge should not encour-
age you to press your attentions"
spoke Blanche gravely. 81 can read
the heart of Irene, as well as your
own. You know that she is proud
of her independence and ability to care
for the two children left to her charge
when her widowed stepmother died.
4 The little home was left to Irene by
her father, who had married twice.
When his second wife died there was
Nettie, who is now sixteen, and Teddy,
your little favorite. Like the loyal,
true-hearted being that she is, Irene
promised her stepmother to care for
these helpless orphans.
"In a year Nettie will graduate and
be able to support herself as a teacher.
Until the last five hundred dollars is
paid that carries her through with her
education, Irene says she must allow
nothing to divert her from that pur-
pose"
"How gladly would 1 furnish the
money" began Neal.
Irene is too proud to accept 1t"
reminded Blanche.
Neal next day made little Teddy a
toy wagon he had promised him. He
acted without constraint with Irene
and made nc reference to his proposal
Teddy essayed a trip with his wagon.
He was two squares away from home
when an active, ~sleek-looking young
man came around the corner in a great
hurry. He stopped down over the
wagon, thrust a package out of view
in the sane it carried, and Teddy kept
on his way, all unconscious of the fact
that his load had suddenly become
very precious.
The young man lowered his pace and
looked surprised when two men on the
run came up with him and seized him
by the arms.
whats this?" he inquired, in a
seemingly bewildered way.
"You were in the bank a few min
utes SINGER" demanded one of the men.
"Why, yes, l changed q ten-dollar
bill there.
"And Immediately after you left a
ten-thousand-dollar money package was
found missing from the teller's desk"
1.-THE mischief - calculated the
smooth young man. "WhO took it?"
That's what we want to find out. If
you are an honest man you will have
no objection to our searching you"
Not the least in the world"
They found no ten-thousand-dollar
package on him and hurried back to
look I'D others who had been in the
bank. The young man started to get
a trace of the boy with the wagon,
who had disappeared.
Just about dusk Irene. coming into
the sitting room with Teddy, found the
young man in question just climbing
in through the open window.
Don't get scared" he spoke. 81
accidentally dropped a package into the
wagon of your little fellow here. Did
you find it,"
81 did" answered Irene t%ruthfully.
"Well, 1 want it."
"You must prove your ownership
first" said Irene. AZ opened 1t and
found it to contain a large amount Of
money"
young lady," said her visitor, pro-
ducing a revolver and placing it on the
window sill, you get that package
within two minutes, or I'll make you! 7"
Just at that moment Neal Barker
passed the window. The intruder
reached out to get the weapon. 1t had
disappeared, for Neal had secured 1t.
AS the amazed visitor leaned out to
see what had become of 1t, Neal seized
him by the shoulders and pulled him
into the open air.
sThe thief is in jail" reported Neal
|. --. Liar 10 Ironn t1Ihn hnnIr