Richland beacon., 1881-07-16


me. Here, hand it over, or you'll wish
you had,' and the taller of tic two boys
raised one hand to strike, while lac made
a snatch at Dicks jacket with the other.
"Thc thin cloth parted, and the OBJ
iect Of dispute rollc,l upon the pave
ment
"You young rowd,v, what are you
striking that little boy i9r?
"The newcomer IVES middle-agcd,
benevolent-faced man, and, as hc SPOKE.
he emphasized his words by grasping
the rough boys shoulder with no gentle
hand.
"He's thief he's got nv pocket
book, was the sullen reply, with VAIN
| glance around for the companion, who
had lest no time in putting good dit
ance between himself and the scene of
action.
"That he hasn't. | have been
watching the whole occurrence from the
stoop just over the way. / saw this lit
tie lad find the pocket book, read the
card, and heard what passed between
him and you. 1t is you who are the
| thief-in intention, if not in actual
deed and now you had better 60 away
quickly, and be thankful you are let otr
so easily
"Then, taking Dicks hand, he looked
pityingly into the pale face. ali dis,ig-
urcd by his assailant', rude fist.
"Come with me, my little lad, lio
said 1T was my pocket-bcok which
you found, and | am going to show you
now that, no matter what comes. "hon-
esiy is the best policy" to follow
"And Dick. going willingly, was lei
to cozy home, where swcet-faced
woman with n babe in her arms came to
the door to greet her husband with the
same smile she might have worn when
he was her lover. And there, in that
home-nest, blessed by mutnal respect
and love, the poor orphan boy found a
shelter. His benefactor was a piiysl-
clan, and there was many way in which
Dicks active hands and limbs coulI
make themselves useful: and there NE
lived until the on-coming years brought
with them restless, ambitious longing
for independence. Then, with tears in
his eyes, he pressed the kind hanGs Of
his friends, and started ont in the world
TO carve his own fortune.
"He went West, to that land where
stout hands and hearts are SO much
needed and priced. Success does not
come without labor. and Dick worked
hard, and his excrtions were rewarded
So he felt when, ten years later, he was
able to invest in a safe business quite Il
little sum-the result of hrs own indus
try. Then, welding to an irresistible
impulse to return and look once more
upon the faces of his beneiactors, he
turned his steps eastward.
cit was late in the evening when he
aligh.ed at the station and walked ur
the familiar street which led to his old
home. But he found disappointment
awaiting him the house was vacant,
and sign To let was upon the door.
He turned away, intending TO inquire ii
the adjacent house, when sudden alarm
rang out upon the night air Fire
fre!' At tonce the bells changed, ant
with the usual hue and cry men anC
boys trooped ont to the rescue, ant
among them, catching their excitement,
went the traveller. The fire was onl,
some five blocks away, in large hand
some house, and it must have game
great headway before being discovered
for already the flames were licking th'
windows Of tie third story.
"'It is DR.. L. who lives here,
some one says. YES another answers
but he's away. He's my doctor, AM
he told me the other day that he wa
going into the country for a while wit
his family
al "The name acted like n shock of cleo
tricity upon one hearer i'll the GROVE
4, Throwing off his coat, disregardinS tn
cries that called him back, Dick rushc
i straight into the mass of smoke an
! flame which envelOped the otlicc-doo
i With superhuman strength he forced
open. All was dark inside, hut with II
S lurid light which glared into the vii
dows Dick saw o motionless form in Il
is chair before the desk, with his hes
a, sunk upon his breast, and his ey
closed. Seizing the inert figure in h
,e strong arms, he dragged rather th'
IL carried it from the room into the ba
and from thence out into the open al
il "A shout OF horror greeted him.
81 "'We raped and called and no o.
k answered, and so We thought it was tr
that he was away. He must have be
he suffocated before he could call fOr hel
ey Poor mani
as ".Leave me alone and attend to 70
duty.' Dick sait.. briefly. He Is
II =, L.; lo,,t ctil1 baats Eut ma