Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-08-26


"Then, taking Dicks hand, he looked
pityingly into the pale face, all disfg-
ured by his assailant's rude fist.
"Come with me, my little lad, he
said. 1T was my pocket-book which
You found, and am going to show you
now that, no matter what comes, "hon-
esty is the best policy" TO follow
"And Dick, going willingly, was led
70 coy home, where sweet-faced
woman with babe in her arms came to
he door to greet her husband with the
,,mc smile she might have worn when
&c was her lover. And there, in that
nome-nest, blessed by mutual respect
nd love, the poor orphan boy found
shelter. His benefactor was physi-
i'm, and there was many way in which
Dicks active hands and limbs could
make tn mselves useful; and there he
we'd until the on-coming years brought
with them restless, ambitious longing
or independence. Then, with tears in
his eyes, he pressed the kind hands of
his friends, and started out in the world
o carve his own fortune.
"Ho went West, to that land where
stout hands and hearts are so much
coded and priced Success does not
an. Without l,hor, and Dick worked
ard, and lis tX,ltions were rewarded.
80 Il lei. When, ten years later, he Mas
little sum-lhe result Of his own indus
my. Then, yielding to an irresistible
impulse to return and look once more
upon the faces OF his benefactors, he
.urned his steps eastward.
at was late in the evening when he
llighted at the station and walked up
tho familiar street which led to his old
home. But he found disappointment
waiting Kim the house was vacant,
nj sign TO let was upon the door.
lie turned away, intending to inquire in
he adjacent house, when sudden alarm
ang out upon the night air. Fire |!
ire I Atonce the bells changed, and
Nth The usual hue and cry men and
uys trooped ont to the rescue, and
mcug them, catching their excitement,
vel. the traveller. The fire was only
one live blocks away, III large hand.
nmn housr, aud il must have gained
re,t l,radway before being discovered,
for ready the flames were licking the
windows of the third story,
"'It is DR.. l. who lives here
some one says. yes, another answers;
but he's away. He's my doctor, and
bo told me the other day that he was
going into the country for while with
his family.
"The name acted like n shock of cleo
tricity upon one nearer in the crowd.
Throwing off his coat, disregarding the
cries that called him back, Dick rushed
straight into the mass of smoke an
flame which enveloped the officc-door.
With superhuman strength he forced it
open. All was dark inside, but with the
lurid light which glared into the win
dows Dick saw motionless form in the
/ chair before the desk, with his head
sunk upon his breast, and his eyes
closed. Selling the inert figure i'll his
strong arms, he dragged rather than
carried it from the room into the hall,
and from thence out into the open air.
"a shout of horror greeted him.
"'We raped and called and no one
answered, and so we thought it was true
that lie was away. He must have been
suflocated before he could call for help.
Poor mani
"Leave me alone and attend to youl
duty Dick said, briefly. He isn'I
dead-his heart still beats. But make
sure there is no other inmate in thu
house
"'There can't be. Don't you SCI
the windows are all shut and barred?'
"The house was burned to ashes be
fore Dicks efforts, seconded by the sym
pathetic efforts OF the crowd of friends
who had by that time gathered at thu
spot, proved effectual to restore his ben
efactor's consciousness. Then, aliv
and breathing, though family like an in
FAINT, they bore him TO friends hone
where Dick, as soon as he had sent
telegram to the absent wife, tellin
of her husbands peril and safety, fol
lowed.
$3.50 you have saved my life, Dick
the doctor said, a day later. THAT wa
lucky day for me when l lost my pock
et-book.'
"Dicks eyes filled-man though h
was.
"'It was more than lucky day 70
me, he answered, 'and I am only gla
that 1 have been enabled to repay i
some measure the great debt that ow
to you.
"And the wife and daughter came
and Dick was overwhelmed by thei
gratitude, but what touched him mos
was when the daughter, whom he r,
membered little 10-year-old girl, no
a graceful young woman with all he
mothers beauty and her fathers goot
ness combined in her lovely face, too
his hand in her two fair ones, and, pres
: ing it to her soil, .red lips, said: Ho
can l ever repay you? But for you
would now be fatherless, and my moth'
: widow"
"And he married the daughter,
suppose" Tom says, breaking in.
eyes, you are right. She found
I wnv tn renav him and that ends n