The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-28
Duke Vernon's
Kind Act
By HAZEL SMITH.

promises and rewards to come; yet 4
at that supreme moment Of disappoint-
ment and loss, Lane Percival meant /
every word he spoke
He stood in the room where he and /
Duke Vernon had spent many a hope
full, happy hour during the past year. |
They had been like brothers Each !
had come to the city from q country |
home TO carve a way to fortune. To
one Of them, Lane Percival, had come
as well the glory Of yOuth-love, deep
tranquil. abiding. Even in that the
faithful Vernon seemed to share his
Joy and take Myra Little TO his hearts
thoughts as a cherished sister.
And now-thisi An opened disor-
dered drawer in the bureau, an over
turned tin box with its strong lock
broken-and empty Two days before
II had contained S4OO the savings of
two years Percival had got leave Of
absence for a day TO escort Myra TO a
town forty miles away. where she was
TO spend a week with an old school
friend. and he had returned to find
| Duke Vernon faithleSs.
she has taken it ALL" muttered Per-
civaI. ark browed. and his heart for
the moment was filled with cruel hate.
That night he wrote all the truth
| to Myra. with a heavy heart telling
her that he must begin all over again,
and they must-wait
| 81 guess 1t Is my fate to meet with
disappointment in my friends" he
wrote Myra. Next time I shall make
you my banker. and shut out from
my life every bit of human love ex-
cept for you"
messenger boy. Just as Percival was
sealing up this letter.
In wonder Lane Percival read a
brief message It was dated at a
point in Michigan and 1t was signed
Duke Vernon. 1t ran:
| "Better than left you word. We
have made IT."
What word-made what? In be-
wilderment Lane Percival sought vain.
" to read the riddle.
He slept a little towards morning
He arose dull and oppressed and
bothered. There was a knock at the
door.
"COme in" he directed.
SITS me-" announced the man who
cleaned the halls and washed the win
dows and kept the place generally In
order. 'I found a letter, and checE
guess It is. in the court Just now
I'm not much of a scholar but I spelled
out your name"
; "Afy nameT" repeated Perciva
vaguely.
"There they are" and the mai
I handed Percival a sheet Of paper ant
I a check.
t The latter was made out for $40
2 and signed by the missing Vernon.
a The letter bore the initials Of tn
q same signature. and ran:
:, ''Dear Lane:
n ST have a hurry call for funds. read
e cash. Urgent. A big thing. I hav
taken your money and leave yo
i check. Expect great news"
n Slowly the truth began to dawn
d the startled Percival.
d There was another summons at IN
!. door of his humble room the next ev'
, ming
n He flung the door open widely. The
]. he drew back The open happy fac
v the bluff. hearty tone of his friend r
,e turned. were reprOach that mad
v him shrink from the extended hand.
m 'T can't do IT. Duke" he said.
st have wronged you"
II 'wrOnged me?" rang out the cheer
tones of Vernon. "When? HowT'
is at believed you had stolen my mo
lie ey."
lie "rd have done 1t II there had bet
to no other wayr' cried Duke Verno
"Pve made It. No more scraping al
D. saving and creeping along. Lo'
y therer'
ne He drew forth and Haunted befo
the ewes Of his bewildered friend a ce
d. titled check.
"Ten thousand doIlars" were {
at words that dazzled the eyes OF {
m astonished Percival.
lie "See who it's made out to-"
aDuke Vernon and Rupert Perct-s
nj my brotherw
N, 'Yes-the ne'er-do-well. the "
VS. rover. the poor fellow you lost rai
Ell. I'm. But had faith. He was all go<
he only impulsIve and easily Influence
He lost YOUR money and his In an Q
1t and out swindle. But that was edu'
ng tion. I didn't tell you. but for We
m have been stalking him. OF and I
up in the copper mining district-as
- mariner. You wouldn't see him
It'll wear ago when he called here, 81
vernon. Hes made goOd-wont
IN see him nowT
OF Eyes" said Lane Percival humh
m sand ask you both TO forgive a
who needs to begin the study OF hum
In nature all over again. TO make hims
Ia worthy Of being called friend a
oh brother"
~ And Vernon went out and brou'
the wanderer hack with him. IT
lld not take long. even after his abb
me confessions. for Duke and Rupert
ley -. ~, +bogr ra0anfsnt rOmDaniOn