Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-09-16

would have life and death Importance
bye and bye. The writing was the
work of Farley done to aid his memory,
and which he had intended sometime
to erase.
As the winter went on, Farley
though i'll much of the time, continued
to instruct his young friend, and lack.
under his tuition, was initiated into the
secrets of double-entry bookkeeping.
In the course of a month or two he
mastered most of them, and was proud
of his success. It seemed, too, to
have beneficial effect upon his per-
sonal habits. He took pains to polish
his shoes and to smooth his hair, and
to conduct himself like a gentleman
Though he still discharged his duties
as sweeping, he wore an old coat and
an old staw hat to protect himself from
the dust. In fact he began to be and
feel like new mar, land no attributed it
all to Farley.
Poor Farley! His tasks seemed to
grow more heavy every week, and he
bent under them SO perceptibly that
lack heart ached.
"Can't you go away, sir, for little
while on vacation ?" ask ed lack one
day.
mo, I'm afraid not, Zack," said Ears
lev. 81 don't think the officers would
let me"
'Then they must be brutes, that's
all r cried the boy.
"Sh-sh-sh!' whispered Farley, look'
ing around cautiously. "Don't say
such things, Zack!" and his thin hands
trembled from sheer nervousness.
d. wish," said lack, hardly able
to control his voice, shat l knew how
to do something for you, sir, you have
done so much for me. But l can't.
I'd like to give you thousand dollars
and let you go into the country for q
year or two-or do all work for YOU
or something's Farley gazed at him
with thankful earnestness in his dim
eyes, but made no reply. But lack
had a chance to help Farley IN way
he little dreamed Of
1t was late in the afternoon of Bit
terly cold day. The snow was blow
ing fercely without, and strong men
shivered as they glanced through the
windows into the bleak and darkening
streets. At four o'clock the occupants
of the offices began to lock up their
books, and wrap themselves for their
homeward walk or ride. Farley was
preparing to go home, and the office
boy was assisting him to put away his
folios in the safe, and secure every
thing for the night. Busy in the gath.
ering darkness, and supposing that all
was ready for the final locking up, the
boy shut tho great safe door and looked
about impatiently. expecting Farley to
tell him he might go. Not seeing
Farley, he concluded that he had gone
to the closet to wash his hands.
After waiting minute, feeling in
hurry, he went to look. There was no
one in the closet.
Perhaps Farley had gone away
No, there hung his coat and muller
and old fashioned hat.
The boy hunted through all the other
Offices, for he was anxious to go home,
and he was never permitted to do SO
unless Farley gave him permission.
The man was missing, no one could
account for him.
Two of the officers of the company
which employed Farley, elderly gen
tlemen, were still in the building; and
they now came from their private
Office, and joined in the search.
They began to feel some alarm. AL
at once the boy cried out: CLARK T.
A mufled noise, as of some one
pounding, seemed to come from the
wall. The three stared at each other
in silence. The noise was repeated, but
more family.
The boy ran to the safe. The ter
rible truth flashed upon him that he
had shut the door upon Farley. The
bolts had springs, and the poor clerk
had been locked inside.
He cried out in dlsmay, and turned
pale as ghost. The two gentlemen
were in despair. Farley undoubtedly
had the safe key in his pocket
"Run, run to the nearest machinist,
and cali some workmen, quick" cried
the oldest partner. And the fright
ened boy darted from the Office.
There were no sounds now from the
interior of the safe. Farley must be
suffocating.
While they waited in an agony OF
Impotence, lack came into the Office.
Both the old gentlemen knew how
friendly to each other he and the head
clerk were. and Selling upon the
smallest hone in their distress. thew