The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1922-10-20
"MR. BOB"
BY GEORGIA r. HARRIS
1C BY Mcclure Newspaper syndiesie.c

4
down the road, and he told me TO give
you this for your business"
AS Mrs. Merwin tore open the en-
velOpe. she gave quick start OF sur
prise. A large roll of bills lay before
herl
"Why, Bobbie, boy!" she exclaimed,
her pretty face showing her bewilder-
ment. tell mother everything that
happened"
Bobbie had now regained his
breath. II was pickin' daisies over In
Jenkins field. and when was comm
home, ! met Mr.. Bob"
Mrs. Merwin was silent for few
moments. "Did he ask you about your
fatherf" she finally asked.
"Yep. and ! told him my dad amt
been round here for ever SO long"
"What did he say when he gave you
the money!" interrupted Mrs. Merwin.
as she nervously fingered the large
roll of bills.
"He just told me to give II to you
for your business. then" Bobbie
hesitated. as II preparing for a confess
sion-"he kissed me-just like was a
girl-and told me to bring the en-
velope right home to you"
Lefty Merwin took the money from
the drawer She stared ut the large
roll Of bills, as n searching for an
answer TO the burning questions In
her brain.
Why had Bob Merwin, for surely II
was he. sent her this money? Mem.
cries OF her fathers anger when he
had driven Robert from the house, Of
her remorse because she had told her
father OF the quarrel with Robert. and
Of Roberts wrath as he swore never
TO look again at the wife who was
ruled by an unreasonable father. |
doomed up with startling clearness. as
she meditated.
Suddenly, with an apprehensive |
shiver. she snatched up the evening
paper and searched for a little item
which. earlier I'm the evening, had re-
ceived but a glance. Yes, there II
general store robbed
OF $1,000. Robert Smith. a clerk In
the store, very cleverly made away
with $1,000"
A strange. stern look crept into Let.
~ Merwin's eyes. When last she had
heard Of Robert he had been working
In Whlteton. Before she could put
the money into the drawer the door
opened and man stepped into the
room.
Robert Merwin !" burst from Let.
US trembling lips.
II couldn't 20 away, Lefty" muir.
nured the man brokenl,. II tried to.
'ut. somehow. I couldn't. I don't ex.
,ect your forgiveness" he went on.
Is she didn't speak. 'nnd I know I
houldnt come; but ] met little Bob
lie and" lie stopped, for his wife
lad hastily picked up the money and
vas silently offering It to him. ,
Il was afraid you'd Feel that way
ct | hoped" !
"You thought I'd take this moneyr' /
aid Lefty.
Il hoped, that Is. until" he paused,
or Lefty was holding before him the
ewspaper and was pointing to the
obbery Item with an accusing finger.
Does that mean anything 10 your"
he asked quietly-too quietly. 4
The man read the Item without be-
aging the slightest emotion. Il guess
deserve that-perhaps more" he re-
lied In low voice. lie took bank
Dok out Of his pocket and opened u
page which showed that 81, 900 n
nj been withdrawn a few days he
re. The book also showed regular n
eekly deposits for over two years. n
e then took bunch of pay envelopes
ON another pocket.
81 guess these will tell the story"
, said slowly, because the envelopes =,
eek up with the bank book de- u
sits"
An ashamed blush redeemed Letty's y
eeks as she read "Ridgeion Nation ~
Bank" on the book and noticed
single dollar IN the balance column.
why didn't you com. to me your
M" she falicrcd. after an awkward ~
use.
Il had been looking forward to n -
weeks. just waiting for INV money 10
reach the thousand mark. I was
arly home when met Robbie and
rned from him how things are.
nny-the prsr'llng Of little Young wi
r ran really mean n greet deal
nctimcs." ev
What did Bohhy tell youS' Letiy's
&c had suspicious iremar In II.
Tie Just repeated the gossip that Is
badly around the village. Evident. see
he heard sopn 81 them say that his
J. who had lren away for a long ma
%. would he 'sneakIng back now
{ his mother WAS successful I'm
.ineSs." The man turned toward
door.
The old gossips.- cried Lefty In ma
nanily. i didn't know-BolbIe
nj tell me all They don't know
understand"
Understand vlaty- The man "
Kit his breath sharply. nsi
Understand that I've always been "
ting fer YOU 20 come hack 70 Rob. Wit
and the" answered Lefty softly. briI
n rou forgive meT She pointed
he uewerafspr item