, 1919-11-27

note which I was told must be given
you just as soon as possible. Would
you Ike II nowT
Her blurred eyes read: Dear Rose
Bee-Your luck has turned ! took
the check to a bank; they put it
through for me-; and the money came
back Old Pruit must have known
his time was short, and thinking OF
your kindness to him In an unkind
world. gave you all he had. He loved
you. So do l. Elmer" And in a
smaller envelope she found bills that
totaled $500. and a note: THE rest
you a have when you it. l
kept 1t In the bank"
The noises of her tumbling world
died away into peace. 1t was the old
mans gift. int there was nothing TO
do but accept IT. II meant weeks in
the country. strength regained. a new
desire to live.
She secured a private room. special
care. and spent two weeks in the hos
pital. Just once. Elmer came to see
her. She found his quiet. whimsical
ways very restful and enjoyable:
and she asked him to come again. He
failed to appear. sending a brief note
that he could not get away from his
work again and then she remembered
how pale and tired be looked. The
thought worried her. his failure to
come annoyed her. and in both fall
ure and annoyance she made a new
discovery of how much the awkward,
b~ig-hearted friend mean to her.
She went back to a village In the
hills. and there began, to regain rap
idly the strength she needed for her
work. Only n thing marred the
happy days-the money he had sent
her was about gone-surgeon's.
nurses. and the hospital bills had
mounted up more rapidly than she
thought. she reasoned; so she wrote
him.
Mr.. Stafford. in whose family she
was staying. happened t be going to
the city, and he volunteered to lake
the note In to Elmer.
Her first surprise came in the eve
ming. when she was called into the
front roo of the house and found FL
mer waiting. She went to him glad
ly, instinctively. and then paused. the
thrill in her heart dying. She want
ed to put her arms around his neck
and tell him just how much he had
been to her, but the look on his face
arrested her. The same old hungry
look of love was in his eyes. but his
haggard face was lined and changed.
Rose Bee. / have come to make
a confession" he said tensely. IL
didn't-er-there is no money"
"What-what-what do you meant"
There isn't any more money" he re-
peated desperately. 81 knew the check
was no good; / didn't have the cour-
age to take II to the bank. | borrowed
from the Observation-Disclosures night
and day TO raise the rest and pay
wouldn't take it-so / thought of this
scheme Of making believe the check
was good. I-I-had to tell you. |
couldn't get hold Of any money TO send
you. Do you-hate me for lit"
From establishment, amazement, to
tender understanding she wept as she
listened. at his last boyish question
she laid her face against his shoui-
der and drew his arm about her.
Hate you. my dear. great-hearted
boy" she said gently; why. let me
tell you what | have been learning
these weeks love youi"
Rose Bee"
A hoarse cough broke the spell.
Mr.. Stafford stood in the doorway.
Say, II you young folks will forgive
] want to tell you something. I
talked with Horton. and he told me
the story of the check. I'm a curious
old cuss. and just for the fun of It. |
cause I could understand how Pruit
loved this girl guess you do. too.
Horton-I had my bankers telephone
to that country bank the check was
on, while | was in the city and ! just
got home and I had TO give you the
news-that check just covers the bal
ice old Pruit had in his country
bankl Elmer should have tried to
cash 1t. but ] guess everything is all
right nowv"
Elmer looked at Rose Bee. and Rose |
Bee looked at Elmer. In the irnmor-
tai speech of heart to heart; and
then. as she kissed him. she an
nounced. smiling through the mist In
her eyes:
Dear. the Barker luck has busted I"
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