The National tribune., 1883-01-11

storm was threatening and Tommy thought
of his long. cold walk, and lonCCd Tor the home
fircsidc and the cakes that Aunt Patra loved to
keep hot for him. Then he remembered that
some of the next days work might be done
while he was waiting. But just as he sal down
at the desk and opened the GccOun5-bo0k the
door was suddenly thrown open.
Tommy arose with u sigh Of relief, but when
he turned, instead Of the cloTE, whom he ex-
pectcd 20 see, two rOugh-i00kIng men stood be-
fore him. One of them turned the key. Tommy
was sure they were mill hands, although he
could not see their faces.
All VIC want Of you, yOungsteT, is the key OF
the safe" said one Of them.
How they knew that he was ACQUAINTED with
the whereabouts of the key Of the sale Tommy
wondered, the natural suppo5itiOn being that
Mr.. Forbes carried it about his person, rs, IN
deed, he hahtually did; but from the fact
that some valuable papers which were kept il
the safe were being copied by tho clerk and
Tommy, The key was deposited in little secret
draw in 1Ir. FCrbes's desk.
What right have you to ask for the safe
key?" demanded Tommy. Ho was conscious
OF 2 little inward quaking, but his tone was
firm.
I'VE don't mean to waste words with you"
said ono of the men. wen trouble you 10
tell Us where that key is, or" and he drew a
pistol from his pocket and laid It down where
Tommy could see it.
Tommy remembered that ne was alone in
the building, everybody leaving at six o'clock,
therefore to call for help would be useless; but
even while he thought OF it one Of the men
thrust a gag into his mouth, while the other
tightly piniOnod his arms.
"Weu try our luck ct finding it, and if We
can't do that We'll nuke him tell" said one Of
them with fierce oath.
81. Z, IL -
and the ropes cut his arms so that the pain was
almost unendurable Footsteps sounded in the
corridor, and some one tried the door. On, If
lie could only cry out!
AS the footsteps died away IL seemed to
Tommy as if all his hopes OF seeing mother,
brothers. sisters and home went with them.
But d sentence from one Of Jiil's old stories
kept repeating itself in his mind: $50 Sir
CuChbert did his duty as q true knight, know
ing that God had created him for nothing less"
Sir Cuthbert fought dragons and scrpeut5
with innumerable heads, and forocious wolves.
Tommy wondered, vaguely, in the midst Of his
pain, whether Sir CuJhbcrt ever got home to
his mother: he didn't remember to have heard
the end OF the story.
The men were growing fiercely angry that
they could not find the key, and one was blam-
ing the other that they had not tools with
which to break open the safe. Tommy knew
that they would waste no more time but would
force him to tell now, if they could. Some
thing very like despair came over him, when,
suddenly pressed against o windoW-pane, he
saw a faCe-a black face, surnounted by 9
woolly p-knot-Linkum' face!
1t seemed to Tommy that he must have died
and gone to heaven when ho saw that face.
But it was only the beginning Of merciful
unconscioUsness.
There was a crash as if the whole world had
tumbled to pieces and when Tommy opened
his eyes it was upon Linlzum's face close beside
his, some officers putting handouts upon the
men, and crowd Of people pouring into the
office.
"YOu member what you done tole me behind
deshed dOOT?" Linkum was explaining. "HoW
if Gis here niger was dat homesick he couldn't
stand it nohow, to done fotch hisself home, an
you wouldn't eat bit but what he done had
his share OBJ? Dis niger was dat miserable
homesick he fought for sure he'd die, an he
done come home. He look all round de win
ders ob de house an couldn't see muffin OBJ yer,
an he hear 'em say mighty quar- yer done stay
50 late, AN he come to de Office, 'on he see light
an hear voices, but couldn't get ill., an it seem
mighty quar-, so he done climb up Dc spout an
look in de winderI Didn't take him long to
fotch d Ossiter an break in dat dol"
So the safe which contained a great deal of
money rs well as valuable papers, was untouched,
and Tommy was the hero OF the hour. Every
body was crowding around to have the priyi-
lege Of shaking hands with him. And Linkum
was not without his share of praise.
But the best is yet to tell. Mr.. Forbes made
Tommy q present of the mortgage deed can
celled He said Tommy had saved him a great
deal more than that, and it was only his due.
He also raised his salary, for he said the cont
pany could afford TO pay for such services as his.
And he gave Linkum situation in the mills,
so he didn't have to go away again. AIeck said
'it really was brand new year"-HaYpers
Young People.