The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-10-10
Hearts of Gold !
o1 !
By GEORGE ELMER COBB J

| PApoE OhtoAy
Eleanor Boyce trod the shady foot
paths of the park with eyes cast down
and heavy heart. She evaded the
gay groups, for her spirits were not
in accord with festivity or companion
ship. She came to where they had
been filling In refuse and rubbish. Dis
NAL and grewsOme as was the spot, at
least there she could be alone and
think out the problem of her sorry ex-
| istence.
For over month she had been out
OF work, and but for the kind hearted
ness Of her landlady she would have
| been without roof to shelter her.
1t was a poor place at the best, but
there were other struggling beings
! like herself. She was thinking just
now of one of these unfortunates, q
young man named Dexter Brill. In
his more flourishing days he had been
courteous and considerable to her, had
invited her to the theater once or
! twice, was player of the violin and
an excellent singer, and acquaintance
with him had been pleasure to
Eleanor.
For week he had been ailing and
Mrs. Booth and Eleanor had been
faithful nurses and friends. Eleanor
had exhausted her last dollar IN the
purchase of fruits and Ice. Brill had
laughed at the anxieties Of those two.
"Tll be all right in few days." he
told them, but for two days past a
sort Of lethargy had come over him
and Mrs. Booth had said to Eleanor:
"Mr. Brill is sick man, dearie, and
I'm afraid we will have to send him
to the hospital. He has no money
and ! am way behind in my rent and
oh! the poor good souls that a little
help in time Of need would help
along!" and Eleanor went out trying
to get position at any price and
failed. Then this gloomy isolation at
the edge Of the park.
She noted a frayed edge of the
wrap she wore, the broken shoe, and
poked at the dirt about 1t aimlessly
with the point of her umbrella. She
never took off it's case for fear the
tattered fabric would fall to pieces.
As she prodded she abruptly leaned
forward-a bright CLINT caught her
eye. She poked anew and drew
great long breath as a tiny but
gorgeous lady's watch came into view.
With eager, trembling hands Flea
nor brushed the dirt from the dainty
bit of jewelry. The case was encrust-
ed with diamonds.
1T must be worth" and Eleanor
figured out an eXtravagant value. Then
her face fell. "But 1t Is not mine,"
she whispered to herself. She arose
with some precipitancy, looking ex-
citedly all about her, holding tightly
to the priceless bundle with her hand
in her dress pocket.
"Oh, dearie! Mr.. Brill has had
very bad SPELL" greeted her as she
reached home. "We must either send
him away or get DOCTOR"
II will attend to that at once" said
Eleanor. Her lips compressed and
her statuesque face showed like
mask Of stern justice. Regaining the
street Eleanor entered the first pawn
shop she came to.
II wish to borrow twenty dollars
till I earn some money" she said.
II would buy the watch for much
larger price," limited the pawnbroker,
an avariciOus CLEAN In his selfish eyes
1T is a beauty-yes, and worth so
much as many hundred dollars"
mo, l do not wish to SELL" said
Eleanor, and on her way back home
left word for doctor.
1t seemed as though brighter skies
and new inspiring hopes were to be
awarded by fate all around after that.
Within week Dexter Brill was up
and well and on his feet in a business
way. Eleanor had secured work. At
the end of the month she visited the
pawnshop.
Il wish to pay ten dollars on the
watch" she said, contemplating its
full redemption later and meantime
advertising for an owner.
The pawnbroker made an ado about
OBTAINING her, He went to a rear
room and telephoned. AS Eleanor
was about to leave a man came in
from the street.
"You will excuse me, MISS" he said,
"but | am from the police depart.
ment of justice, and 1t is necessary for
me to question you. How came you
by that watch?"
Eleanor was fiustered somewhat. but
she narrated clean, convincing story.
Could she lead the detective to the
spot where she had found It? "Oh.
surely" and In the rubbish heap the
officer probed until he brought to light
a dozen similar pieces of valuable
jewelry.
He explained to Eleanor how the
jewelry had belonged to a wealthy so.
ciety woman. The receptacle holding
them, a silk bag, had disappeared
supposedly stolen by some servant
Now it appeared that in some manner
the bag had found its way into the
family dust heap and thence to the
park area.
Mrs. Randolph Drexel was a lin.
,~al x,,ipdod 1od~ CL -.