Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-02-26

the check To a bank they put II
through for me; and the money came
back Old Pruit must have known
your kindness to him in an unkind
world. gave you all he had. He loved
you. so do !. Elmer" And In q
smaller envelope she found bills that
totaled $500, and a note: "The rest
you can have when you want 1t.
kept it in the bank"
The noises of her tumbling world
died away into peace. 1t was the old
mans gift. and there was nothing to
do but accept II. Ii meant weeks in
the country, strength regained, 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 resuul and enjoyable ;
and she asked him TO come again. He
failed TO appear. sending brief note
that he could not get away from his
work again; and then she remembered
how pale and tired he looked. The
thought worried her, his failure to
come annoyed her, and in both fail
ure and annoyance she made a new
discovery Of how much the awkward,
big-hearted friend meant to her.
She went back to village In the
hills, and there began to regain rap
idly the strength she needed for her
WORK Only one thing married the
happy days-the money he had sent
her was about gone-surgeons
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 to be going to
The city, and he volunteered to take
The note in to Elmer.
Her first surprise came in the eve
ming, when she was called into the
front room of the house and found Ell
mer waiting. She went to him glad
ly, instnctiyely. 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
Il confession" he said tenSely. 81
didn't--er there is no money"
"What-what-wh do you mean?"
There isn't any more money" he re-
peated desperately. 81 knew the check
was no good; l didn't have the cour-
age to take ii to the bank. | borrowed
from the firm--and-andI worked night
and day TO raise the rest and pay
back some | borrowed l knew you
wouldn't take it--so l thought of this
scheme Of making believe the check
was good. lind to tell you
couldn't get hold Of any money TO send
you. DO you-hate me for it?"
From establishment, Amusement. to
tender understanding she wept as she
listened. At his last boyish question
she laid her face against his shout
der and drew his arm about her,
Hate you. my dear. great-hearted
boy" she said gently; why, let me
tell you what I have been learning
these weelS--I love youl"
Rose Bee! !"
A hoarse cough broke the spell
Mr. Stafford stood in the doorway
Say, if you young folks will forgive
me- l want To tell you something.
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 | could understand how Pruit
loved this girl guess you do, too
HortOu--I had my bankers telephone
to that country bank the check was
on. while ! was in the city; and | just
got home and had to give you the
news-that check just covers the bal
ance old Pruit had in his country
bank Elmer should have tried to
cash it, but | guess everything is all
right noww
Elmer looked at Rose Bee. and Rose
Bee looked at Elmer, in the immor-
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 20