Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-12-12
Kings that mother used to teach me to

AND Carberry, who didn't a about
style, but knew the city.
And Grab, who was hard and shrewd
and smart, and had stocks Of his own
already.
And Slower, who used to come with
red eyes and headaches and boast that
he'd been making n night of it.
was lonely enough in the great
city, and should have liked to have
joined company with Dumps and
walked home with him from church
sometimes, but l was afraid of meet
ing u of the boys, and l never did.
But | would bow to him, and we took
our hats off to each other always.
| had written to my mother that |
Was doing we'll and liked my business,
and would be down to see her on Sun
day, when | was sent for to into the
inner Office; and there-I can't 90
through with it can't even remem-
Der details, but | was charged with be-
ing a thief.
You'd have to understand our par
ticular business, AZ we'll as bookkeep-
ing, to know how l was supposed to
have done it; but they believed | had
robbed them of $500.
They urged me TO confess. ! was
innocent, and | said so. Then they
told me that they did not wish to be
hard on me. l was young. The city
was a bad place for boys. They would
BIO merciful and only dismiss me. Only
dismiss me without a recommends
ton.
All | could say had no effect. They
had proved me guilty before they ac-
cused me, they said; and at last |
staggered out into the Office. The boys
were getting ready to 90 home. | saw
they knew what had happened.
"None of yousbelieve this of meP"
said |. None of you who know me?,'
And Merrivale said: Look here.
Forester, you're very lucky to get of
So"
And Carberry said: Now, come. we
know too much to be fooled. It's al
ways your sly boots of "a good young
man that does these sort of things"
Aud Grab said: Il say, Forester,
don't talk too much; you'll give your
| self away"
And Slower said: "Oh, 90 take a
glass of brandy and water. and don't
20 on like a girl about it."
And what with the shame and rage
and grief, | could have died, when out
of his dusky corner came little old
Dumps, in his little snutf-colored ever
coat, and held out his hand.
Mr.. Forester" he said, I've
watched YOU ever since you've oeen
here. | know what you are. You are
Incapable of n dishonest act. and, what
is more, | will prove it before | rest.
The man who respects others always
respects himself. The man who rev.
God and bonors his mother
will do no ~dishonorable thing
He took my hand in his arm, and,
bowiDg TO the others. walked out into
the street with me / heard GraD and
Slower and Carberry laugh, but Merri-
vale gave Us IL furious look and stood,
white To the lips, looking after us.
MIR. Dumps" said |, Il thank YOU
for your confidence in me. | deserve
tin this, at least; but it saves my
heart from breaking under this dis
grace. HOW shall l tell my motherP"
Don't tell her yet" said he.
wait. Others shall think of you rs |
DO SOON
Then we went on in silence. He
took me 10 his own room, where he
kept bachelors hail. He made tea for
mo and served me with sliced potted
beet aud thin bread and butter.
The o was Il strange, old fash.
Toned place, enough like a room in u
story, and there was Il miniature OF "a
~ l., 4. lnty - fhn &C EN,k
years before on the wall over the man
tel; and on book shelves old calf-bound
volumes. and on Il staEd near the fire "A
prayer-bOok with a book-mark hang
ing from is.
And it WAS not until We had done
tea that h" said TO ne, very APOLOGIZE
cally, after I had called him MIR.
Dumps:
MIR Forester. excnse me-, but | am
named Dumps. That ~ the name
by which the Young men At the store
cred witty to call me confess
| could not see the wit; but it rather
hurt them than me-. / saw by your
THAT VOW had made q mistake.
NV name il Adams.
] was so much ashamed Ct having
iSN Va NiN III INV IIlBfOCutls III i u
IL. that 1 could have cried.
M, old friend 60 nforted me, / thiak
but for his 3 nipathy that night |
have taken my own life. / did
not believe he sou.d help me even
.hel.
But he did. / said I could not tea
you just what they accused me Of do
unless you knew the ms AID outs
If our business, and l cant tell yoE
low he did it for the same reason. But
one day he came Co mo flushed with.
triumph. and tooA both my hands, and
shook them hard, and said:
my hear boy it's all right. I'd
watched before snd had a clue. Your
character is clesred. The firm wei
come yea back, with regrets that they
nave suspected you. and real
is found. The real cniprit is
and Slower is his accoa-
nd Sc it really wyS. They had doe
tored my books and mrddled with my
They made me GU q thief ~
as though had been one. and
they never guessed that "Old Dumps"
with his suspicious all aroused, had
played detective. and vas able to !
come to nv rescue at the hour of need. |