Smyrna times., 1932-08-17
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
"BETH'S GARDEN"
BY Clarissa Mackie


with her mother, before Uncle Jaff-
rey died. The flowers were so mar
velous and the gardens so weedless
that they appeared almost unnat-
ural to the young girl and her moth
er, who lived in small cottage
nearby.
When Uncle Jaffrey died, Beth
and her mother found that his
beautiful property had been left to
them, but there was not money
enough to keep it going. Every year
Mrs. Mordaunt divided the tiny in
come so that there was just enough
to live on carefully. and nothing
was ever left for the garden Peo-
pie whispered that there must have
been more money, for Uncle Jaffrey
was very rich. and grew quite miser-
ly in the last year of his life, and
they declared that somewhere about
the old place he had hidden either
one large sum or many smaller ones.
One day a good looking man
came to the door. Mrs. Mordaunt
met him and greeted him pleas
antly.
"Mr. Smith, who said he was your
lawyer, suggested that | come and
see you about clearing up your gar
den and lawns In return for my
board" he said to her frankly. Il
had pneumonia in the late winter
and | really need light outdoor work
to keep me Outside-regular farm
work is too vigorous just now-1 am
studying medicine at Blank univer-
sity, and | cannot afford to spend
money for a vacation Then his
pleasant voice grew wistful as he
scanned the delightful old neglected
garden. 1T would be a wonderful
opportunity for me- he added. but
you may have other plans"
Mrs. Mordaunt did not hesitate.
IF Mr.. Smith sent you here. you
are certainly welcome-my daugh
ter and ] were just discussing the
needs of the garden" Then she in
troduced Bruce Wayne to Beth.
Mother" said Beth, one August
morning, everything is so beautiful
do come out and witness the
cleaning out Of the large fountain.
Bruce is going to do that next"
Bruce whipped off his old hat
and grinned affectionately at the
woman who had been so kind TO
him for several months. He had
brought a deep wicker chair from
the front veranda. and soon Mrs.
Mordaunt was comfortably settled
and watching those two young peo-
pie who worked together so harmo
niously. She was wondering wheth.
er her daughter. Beth, cared at ali
for the embryo doctor. whose heart
was in his fine eyes, whenever he
glanced al the lovely girl. There
was no doubt that Bruce Wayne
had lost his heart to her gentle
Beth, and sighed little as they
worked so happily together. because
she was thinking about the lack OF
money and the years they would
have to wait.
Bruce had a large hammer and
was prying off the fitted boards OF
the 'tent-like" protection. "Hurrah,"
he shouted when the last sector
had been removed and the rusty
stained proportions of the fountain
were revealed.
"Are you going to paint the foun.
tain, Bruce" asked Beth's mother
1T should be painted. don't you
think, Mrs. Mordaunt?" And then
bending over the deep basin he lift.
ed out a dry and rusty steel box
"Why. what the dickens do you sup.
pose this can be-" he queried
Buried treasurer" He set 1t at
Mrs. Mordaunt's feet.
"Oh, Bruce, smash it open,n
begged Beth. Perhaps there Il
where poor Uncle Mordaunt hid bis
money!
A few blows OF the stout hammer
opened the rusty box. Inside OF
that was a huge rubber pocket
which held the missing wealth OF
Uncle Mordaunt- They sent Bruce
for Mr.. Smith. and during his alb.
senee, Beth confessed to her moth.
er that she and Bruce loved each
other and that he had asked her to
marry him. .And want to, moth.
er darling" sobbed the girl, "even II
we are quite poor at firstl You
understand, don't your"
Mrs. Mordaunt nodded happily,
and then the two men appeared and
Mr.. Smith checked up the contents
of the old box. "The missing Sc.
curities," he said. you see, there
was about a hundred thousand miss
ing-and here 1t isl"
Bruce Wayne looked very glum.
After the lawyer had left, Beth's
mother said to him:
"Well, Bruce. aren't you happy
over our good luck?'
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Mordaunt-of
course. Only-you see well. I'm
so poor-and Beth's rich girl now."
"But, Bruce" said Mrs. Nor
daunt, smiling understandIngly. "the
moneys really part yours-yon
II