The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-10-20
"A
Broken Reed
0<p
BY ALVAH JORDAN GARTH

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Copyright, 1919, by the Western News
paper Union)
1T is pretty hard to become depend
ent on your sister Eunice after all
these years Of struggle and saving"
Take courage, DEAR" Mercy Lewis
comforted her detected husband. "Eu-
nice is only too glad and willing to
harbor us. Besides there. there is
Rodney"
1--WE may just as well know the
cold, clear truth, Mercy" spoke Joshua
Lewis. Rodney is broken reed"
There was no bitterness In the
words, but sorrowful tinge as though
Joshua Lewis were taking the blame
of the conviction he expressed. Let
us face the facts" he added. MY
brother has spoiled Rodney. 1t was
an unfortunate hour when we con-
scented to have Robert practically
adopt Rodney as his heir. Robert was
then a rich man and his one idea was
J to make Rodney a bookworm and stu
dent like himself. Now that Robert
has lost every cent he had and worst
of all, has involved our own little for
tune in the general crash, 1t simply
means that Rodney has to face life
probably without one practical idea in
his mind.
81 fear he will have a difficult time
of it earning his own living let alone
helping us in our poverty and home
| lessness."
Two weeks later husband and wife
had broken up their little home and
were domesticated and welcomed at
that of the spinster sister of Mrs.
Lewis, Dorothy Walton, shortly after
wards
Rodney Lewis appeared upon the
scene. He was a quiet, rather deli.
cate appearing young fellow, showing
signs of the retired life he had led.
There was family council. Rodney
listened attentively and thoughtfully
to what his father had to say.
Father-mother," spoke Rodney.
there is only one thing for me to do:
60 out into the world and earn the
money to re-establish you in home
! of your own. l shall shirk no hard
ship or duty that can make the path
. smoother for you two"
, Where to begin, there was the ques-
ton that most troubled Rodney Lewis.
He knew so little about anything but
books that he expected severe ap-
premiership before he found real
working level. He went back to the
city and looked around for employ
4 ment. 1t. or the prospect Of 1t, ma.
= terialized within week. An acQuaint-
/. ance, an old bookseller, advised Rod
}. ney Of Mr.. Alexander Hume, resid.
ing at town called Wadhams, who
was In need Of some one able to 60
> over an extensive library he had pur.
chased recently and classify and ar.
range it. Rodney wrote to the gentle
t man In question to receive a reply ask
Q ing him to come to WadhamS
The distance was about a hundred
8 miles and Rodney decided to make 9
!, jaunt Of 1t. On foot he started out
provided with suit case lightly
filed and vastly enjoying the variety
and novelty Of his trip. 1t was foul
days later when he awoke In the LOFT
n Of an old dismantled barn to evade 9
J. furious storm. When he awoke from
sound sleep he heard voices below
!. and peering down he made out two
rough looking men standing near Il
an automobile moving van. They, too
. 1t seemed, had sought shelter and wer,
now discussing their further plans
"We want to get to the city before tn,
n absence Of the girl is discovered" on,
s Of the duo was saying. my idea is tt
Il land her by some country road ant
make odf final DASH"
eyes, the main thing is to get rit
Of her and our plumber into SAT-
hands," responded the other man
well 60 down to the crossroads OF
foot and get an idea of location an(
(. route. The machine and the girl ar,
e all safe in this lonely spot" and tn
speaker saw to 1t that a hasp an,
catch securing the rear door. of tn
closely shut-in van were in place
d They left forthwith and Rodney de
/ scended from the loft to make al
IL astounding discovery. Opening tn
d door Of the van and staring within
d Rodney found 1t to be stored witt
! books, paintings and art rarities, an
lying bound and gagged upon som
blankets was lovely young girl
+" She was the daughter of the mai
% who had engaged Rodney as his liter
IS airy helper. The house had been loote
by the men owning the van, and Il
order that the alarm might not b
given they carried Alma Hume, tn
" only one In the house at the time
away with them.
= 1t was fortunate thing that Rod
. ney understood how to operate Al
9 automobile. At once he released tn
+ distressed girl and started the val
& in direction opposite to that 4
i which the two men had gone. Aim
I Hume told him enough to guide hi
IS courcp IN Wadhamc