The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-02
Eoening Story
David Confesses.
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.


BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
David was a bachelor with SO much
money that he often fell to wonder
ing how he had accumulated it all and
why some chap with brains didn't get
some of it away from him. He him.
self couldn't use it all if he supported
a round dozen orphan asylums, hun
bred widows with half dozen chill
dren and ran thorebred stable.
AS a matter of fact, unknown to
most people David did all these things.
He supported widows and near-widows
and many charity organizations, but
lived most simply himself, .preferring
the service of single faithful valet
to a retfnue of servants.
1t was therefore with particular in
! terest that he read in the lost and
found column of the Daily Graphic
the folio wing notice:
.Lost-s10,0 1000 in 500 bills En-
tire account of widow with five chill
dren. Mrs. Miiward, West Seventy
/ seventh street"
David was straightway torn with
suffering for that little widow. Her
| own feeling must assuredly be pros
tfating. David grieved as if the loss
were his own.
| Ten thousand dollars was but a
small drop in the ocean of his wealth.
ana there was a poor little widow
making herself ill over the loss of that
amount.
ii
advertisement stated the money was in
| 500 bills. David would take that
! amount to her and say that he mad
| picked it up in an envelope on the
| street. The thing seemed easy<or &C
| com plishment.
| He Jumped into his yellow roadster.
went to the bank, drew the money and
proceeded toward the address of Mrs.
| Milward.
David was greeted at the door by
-trsaVN
summers, and behind her seemed
regular collection OF children, golden
| haired, violet-eyed and full of the joy
| of childhood.
They were a sad contrast to the
wan-eyed young mother who dra eyed
her tired feet forward to greet David.
The golden hair and Violet eyes were
there, but the cheeks were blanched
| end the eyes gle. David swallowed
hard when he beheld her. 1t seemed
to him impossible that the loss of
mere money should so rob a lovely
woman of her charm and life.
| Il found this he said gently, ION
the street near Seventy-fourth street.
1t must be your money, as it is most
unlikely two peepei could be" He
stopped suddenly, for the light in the
violet eyes was wonderful to behold.
OH she muttered softly, then
David was terrified, for the lovely
/
! fore he could decide what to do under
| so trying a situation one small voice
piped up with the demand:
why do you make my mummy cry
bad MANI" All five children were
Lswiftly grouped about their evidently
| precious mother in an effort to pro-
| tect her from further molestation
| from the bad man.
| But niummy's grief was short. In
| fact, it had only been the scattering
. of pent up suffering.
No, my pets the gentleman is not
a bad mamie is very, very Won
derful man. He has turned the
| shadows into brilliant sunlight for
your foolish mother"
Smiles seemed swiftly to hang in
every part of the room
From three-year baby smiles to
ban allurihg smile in the eyes of
metherhood-they were all there, and
David was curiously a vital part of
| the sunlight The mother had put her
! hand into his and was trying to thank
| him and saying something about
reward.
Mrs. Milward, I have more money
| than 1 can use Please don't speak of
a reward. My name is David Gleason,
and if you will just not mention it to
newspaper men I will appreciate it, /
hate notoriety. But if you will trust
| me l will be more than glad to invest
the greater part of that money for
you.' He looked straight and deep
into those ultra-feminine violet eyes
| and gently shook his head. II think
you need some one to watch out for
your-fii1ances.
Betty Milward flushed and looked
shyly back at David "If you would
only help ME to keep things straight
would appreciate it more than l can
tell: have no one at all to help
me in that way
For the first time in the whole of
David's life he felt pride in his knowl-
edge of. finance, his ability to double
and treble capital then treble it again.
rms he would do for Betty Aiilward
and her lovely authenticated flock.
David found himself many times
during the following days thinking of
the small family. and most of all the
strange light that had straightway
come into Betty's eyes with the return
of her money. He knew this was not
earthly nor material, but just mother
sense. She would not have been so
| tragic had it not been for her brood
and their loss by her stupidity. He
| realized that responsibility is a great
builder of character He had never
! that the turn of events had given him
| this family to care for in a personal
way.
| Weeks and months passed by David
! ana Betty became the closest OF
| friends. The children adored him and
many a wonderful picnic they had in
| his big touring car. The roadster was
practically forgotten in the garage.
Betty was exquisitely beautiful sitting
beside David as they SKINNED along
country roads. and the sunlight played
upon her golden hair and happy eyes.
Betty's account was of good1y proper
tons now, thanks to David's knowl-
edge of the markets.
| Then came the black dawn when a
| poor, sllifty-eyed creature stood at
Retty's door and demanded Ambulance.
The children were fearful and Betty
| herself felt a curious sense of both
| fear and pity.
81 never did a dishonest thing in
my life until found that money" the
Imam was mumbling. when I picked
| up that ten thousand dollars I was i'll
and my family in want. just couldn't
| return If and uaX-Mell. I can't live