The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-19
DOPfR IN CHALK
By EVELYN LEE

ThurstOn and she wondered If ever
again the flowers would seem so love
ly. the birds sing as sweetly. the skies
look so bright. Would their promise
of renewal ever come true? Oh
surely sol for had not Norris Brown.
ing said it, and was he not the soul OF
honor. and did he not love her?
He had revealed to her his SOULS In
nermost secrets the last day they haC
but he would not ask her to bind her
self to any promise. He was simply q
poor. struggling artist, he frankly told
her. His chance meeting with her. the
rare natural beauties Of her environ.
ment had given him the Inspiration Of
q great picture. He was going back &c
his city garrett studio to toll for hei
and for fame!
Springtima had merged into sum.
mer. and now the landscape was sere
but for over two months Ava haA re
ceived no word from the man She
loved. Formerly every letter hac
breathed hope aad faith tn the success
Of his great life effort. Then there hat
come utter silence. The girl grew anx.
ious, distracted. fear filed. Was she
never to sea him again? Had failure
new object Of affection Influenced
him to forget her?
why do you not hear from Mr.
Browning any morer her brother
Walter. a lad OF sixteen. solicitously
inquired. you know. Ava. he was
surely to come to see us again."
But Ava only shook her head sadly
and went away with tears in her eyes
Walter had fastened his faith irrevoca,
bly, upon Browning, who had discerneC
prospective artistic genius in the lad
He had taken pains to direct and in,
struct Walter and the day he left had
made him present Of a set of cray
ons. 1t had been pleasant reminder
to Ava to watch her ambitious brother
with pencil and pad evenings making
some quite pretentious sketches OF
familiar home surroundings. Two pic
lures that he made. one Of Browning
from memory, and one Of Ava posing
for him. indicated what the forme,
had said Of him, that he possessed {
natural gift for portraiture.
But Walter had been ambitious an(
had cherished his aspirations secretly
even from Ava. At the rear Of thu
house was an old unused barn.
This space had become the studio O..
the young artist. for here he could un
dertake large efforts with his crayons
He had finished one or two can
vases and 1t was his delight to view
them. One rainy morning Walter creep
up into the barn attic. He was sur
prised to find there lying upon heal
of old horse blankets stranger. Hi.
pillow was bundle done up in a piece
of oilcloth. his attire half suggestive
of the tramp. At all events he ap
pealed to Walter as a picturesque sub
ject for portrayal. He was fast ASLEEP
and Walter set at work at Q vacan
space on the side wall 10 reproduc,
him In chalk.
Walter completed the portrait en-
tireIy to his satisfaction and left the
loft. He forgot all about the intrudfn,
stranger until later IN the afternoon
when he saw his father talking with {
man who had driven up in an automo
bile with two others. All Of them b
recognized as town officers.
1.-THE man got away with over lift,
thousand dollars in cash and securi
ties from the bank" the sheriff wal
saying as Walter came up. "He wa,
seen later by a farmer carrying {
package done up In oilcloth. We have
details of his Dress" and the speake,
described the subject Of Walters
morning portrait. Keep a keen look
out" proceeded the official. "a re
ward of five thousand dollars La Of
fered and we will divide 1t with any
one giving us a clue to the identity O.
the man."
"Suppose-suppose," burst out Wal
ter eagerly. "you could see a picture O
the man. would that mean anything t,
your"
"Would It be anything to usf' re
peated the sheriff excitedly. ''Why
that would be all we need"
"And II I can show you such q pic
ture, do get half the rewardr
"If 1t leads to the arrest Of the mar
yes"
"Come with me-" directed Walter
and as he revealed his last artistic eff
fort he explained the circumstance
Of its construction.
'"The rest is easy" proclaimed tn
sheriff 1ubilantfy, and sped away will
his men 10 overtake the fugitive with
in twenty-four hours.
1t was q proud moment for Waite
Thurstcn when htr father was given /,
check for half Of the reward.
"Father." he said. twill you let M
have some ct the money TO 20 to tn,
city and study ar+7 I want to sec Nj
Browning. tea It is the only work
like to do" and there was no gainsa,
ing the ambitious little fsliom.
Ava. babe him q nutteing rood-b,
write me everything" she whispere.
TO him, and only 90 far expresse.