Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1916 — The Friend in Need [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Friend in Need

By FRANCES LANYON

(Copyright. 1516. by W. G. Chapman.) •Fifty dollars Is a good deal of money to lend to an utter stranger. “It will make me your friend for life, sir. Anybody can see that you are prosperous. Desperately faced with the loss of all I have, I must appeal to someone." "H’m!” mused Guy Davis, thoughtfully. “Clown and columbine in the circus, circus broken up, everything seized, will release your costumes, your’s and your wife’s —” “And the little ones —they help in one of our acts,” reminded Marco Palos eagerly. “You see, sir, without the wardrobe we’re ruined. With it I can make an engagement at once with another circus.” “There’s your fifty dollars,” and Guy handed it out so suddenly that the other was overwhelmed with Joy. The tears of honest gratitude came into his eyes. “Oh, a blessing will come to you for the deed you have done this day!” cried the man. “Your name, sir?—do not doubt that every penny will be repaid.” Guy carelessly threw his card before the circus man. The latter read it. “Brownville,” he said. “It’s on the regular amusement circuit. ‘Guy Davis’—l’ll teach my children to reverence that name!” Guy smiled indifferently as he went his way. He was given to generous impulses. They had never brought much permanent recognition, but he did not care for that. Besides, Just now, money, time, his usual personal interests, were a bore to him. In a word —Tessie Delevan! In his inmost heart —Tessie! All he thought of, worried over, hoped for and feared he would never get—Tessie! He had money, an occasional auditing commission twice a year to various industrial plants which meant a liberal commission, but the Delevans,

outside of Tessie, had more money, more pride and a prejudice against Guy because he was “in the trade, while the last one of the haughty Delevans were “in the professions.” Then, too, the Delevans, father and mother, had determined to wed their daughter to a young sprig of society and fortune known as Bartley Grimm. And all this when Tessie loved him and had said so and they were pledged to one another. Mrs. Delevan had sent back the engagement ring to Guy with a curt, decisive note. Mr. Delevan had closed his doors against him. Twice the lovers managed to meet clandestinely, several letters passed between them. Then the maid ■who had carried the tender missives was replaced by a stern, faded old maid of a tyro. Tessie was not allowed to leave the place without this vigilant chaperon. Guy heard that arrangements for her marriage to Grimm were going on. They were forcing their poor, gentle girl to wreck her happy life for a man she could never love. Many a time Guy hovered about the vicinity of the Delevan home, hoping to catch a sight of Tessie. One day a young brother of her's *6161 him. "I say, Davis,” he observed, “I like you and I’m your friend. Cut out the moseying around here, or, ,the old man will send Tess away to a relative you won't be able to locate. That would be worse than having her here, even if you can’t see her, wouldn’t it? And Bay, I think that stuck-up Grimm •will get her, but once in awhile — mind you, only once in awhile —I’ll carry a note between you. You’re beginning to look like a ghost and poor Tess is crying most of the time.” Almost one month to the day Guy was seated In his office gloomily think- , ing of his wrecked heart romance, when who should enter but his pensioner of circus episode. He was brisk, prosperous looking, happy. “I suppose you know the great Amusement Combination and Conglomeration is in town,” he observed. "So am I. So is your fifty dollars. Ob, sir! I return it to you feeling

that I had ought to add some priceless gift Your generosity has placed u beyond want, for I have a steady regular contract for two years ahead! ” “I am glad,” spoke Guy, but with the apathy that was growing on him lately. His visitor noted this. “Will you excuse me, Mr. Davis,” he said, with humility and anxiety combined, “but you’re—you’re not looking well. And sir—you see—well, sir, by sheer accident, in hunting you up here, I heard about your love trouble. Oh, sir, don’t think me intrusive, but I would do anything to help you! ” “I fear you cannot do that,” murmured Guy. “Sir,” pronounced the circus clown confidently, “if thlngß are as I understand, the young lady is ready to fly to you if she can only get free. I am sure that I can solve the problem of all your troubles.” Somehow the sincere words, the earnest manner of the speaker impressed Guy. “Sir,” proceeded the clown, “if you could get the young lady to the circus, if you could get her to accept my invitation during the usual performance in my act of the floral chariot, the rest is done. Llßten, sir,” and the speaker lowered his tones and poured his plans into the ears of the interested Guy. It was Just after this conference, a new light of hope in his eyes, that Guy sought out the brother of Tessie. He handed him a note, which he felt sure the sympathetic young fellow would faithfully deliver. Its contents made Tessie aware of the details of a daring plot. She did not shrink from accepting the part in it her lover had suggested. The next day the clown made it a point to casually observe Tessie in the Delevan grounds so he would be sure to know her again. So delighted were the parents of Tessie when she showed some token of interest in an outside affair by being taken to the circus, that they insisted on accompanying her and the chaperon. The act of the clown came on about 9 o’clock in the evening. In it, arrayed as a cavalier with a mandolin, he entered the ring driving a small chariot that was perfectly covered with flowers. He halted the beautiful trained horses near to the row of seats where Tessie was. “There are so many lovely ladies here,” spoke Marco to the audience, “that I cannot select. Yet one must be the floral queen. Fair miss,” he added, extending his hand to Tessie, "will you honor the occasion?” The chaperon put out her hand to detain Tessie, shocked at the impropriety of the scene, as she sourly put it. Mr. Delevan, however, shallow, purse-proud and superficial, felt rather pleased than otherwise that his daughter should be selected out of an audience of several hundred to grace the occasion. Blushing divinely, Tessie was led to the floral chariot. The act was really a pretty one. The cavalier mounted the horse, playing his mandolin and singing a tender love song to Tessie. He knelt, he clasped his hands, swinging the mandolin behind him, all the time retaining a marvelous balance on the back of the horse. Then, amid loud plaudits, horse, chariot, Tessie, and all disappeared in a flash beyond the dress-ing-room curtain. “Why doesn’t Tessie return?” somewhat anxiously spoke Mr. Delevan, five minutes later. She never returned as Tessie Delevan. She was whirling along country roads in a Bwift automobile, her lover’s arm about her. At the first village a clergyman was awaiting them. Their arrangements worked out without a Jar and the happy honeymoon began.

He Was Brisk, Prosperous Looking, Happy.