The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-12-16

busy tonight; the telegraph wires are
down, so that nobody will be needed
to 90 to the Office. The mail is all in.
But guess if the boys want cigars
they can get them themselves for one
night; 50 you skip off some place and
90 to sleep
Dan did not know just where to 90
that night. He could not lie down in
the editorial rooms, for the editors
would work there until four O'Clock.
Some repairs were being made in the
engine room, and there was such Il
hammering and saving going on that
he could never sleep there. II he went
into the printers room they would play
some tricks on him.
Dan stood hesitating by the fore
man desk.
Don't know just where to 60 to
turn in, he said.
The foreman had little boy ut home
about Dams age. That little fellow
had been very sick for week, and did
not seem to be getting much better,
with all the care and tenderness that
could be lavished upon him. The
foreman thought of his own sick boy
as he looked at ragged, pale. trembling
Dan.
He took Dan down to the handsome.
bright business office, where the night
clerk was making preparations for
closing the doors.
..See here, Benson. said the fore
man, ..this youngStcr is sick tonight,
and has no place to sleep. He's pretty
nice little chap. and want to fix him
up comfortable like. There's that sofa
in the managers room, and here's a
lot Of the boys office coats and some
other things that'll make up into nice
bed. want to put the little chap on
that sofa for tonight, and I'll answer
for everything that isn't all right in the
morning"
.Oh 60 ahcad!'' was the clerks re-
ply. Put the kid in his little bed il
you want to. He'll be up and out be-
fore the manager gets here. rs he don't
come down until after ten in the morn
ing
Dan never in all his hard life had had
such bed as that. The comfort and
pleasure ofitwas SO great he triedto stay
awake to enjoy it. The sofa was wide
and very soft, and had Il pillow the like
Of which Dams head had never rested
upon before. The foreman had
covered him up SO snug and warm, and
had tied his own silk 'kerchief around
Dams throbbing temples. But tht
luxury and warmth Of his bed in thu
carpeted and handsome room did mo-
give Dan one-half the pleasure he fell
over something the foreman had said K
the clerk. Dan thought he never woult
forget these words;
i ..He's pretty nice little chap ant
I'll answer for everything that isn't al
right in the morning..
Il wouldn't take as much rs a pin O.
scrap Of paper after him a sayin' 0
that" thought Dan, as he went t
! sleep.
i He slept very soundly until nearl.
] four in the morning, when he suddenl..
!, became very wide-awake. He felt sur
that some one had passed by the sofa
which was in the furthest corner OF tn
room, near door.
; In the opposite corner was an irol
door opening into the vault, in whicl
the office safe was kept. Dan had ofte1
seen the night clerk putting rolls O
, bills and shining piles of silver into tn
, safe drawer at night.
q He could look toward the vault doc
without moving, and as he looked h
/: saw the reflection of dark lantern fal
OH the door. When he had becom
accustomed to the dark, he could Sc
the figure of man knceling before tn
| safe, and silently working at the doc
: of the vault.
Evidently the man had not seen Dan
9 and he felt sure that there was no on
+ in the room but himself.
/ Dan sat up in his bed, with his hear
Q beating wildly, and the blood running
G cold in his veins.
5 He thought of the foreman's kin
1 words.
I'll answer for ev'rything that ism
!, all right in the morning.
Those words gave Dan courage an
4 strength.
u His fear and trembling left him. H
!, gathered his scattered wits together
) and thought lawful hard as he sal
: afterward.
: There was police alarm box abov
: desk near him.
: He had seen it often, and had ono
or twice heard it rung. But it made
$ loud. whirring noise, and the burgla
5 would certainly hear and make HI
e escape before help came. While Da
: sat racking his brain, he was horriiie
i to see the great door Of the vault swim
/. slowly back, and the burglar enter
t begin work on the safe. When he In
stepped inside, Dan was left in tot;
t darkness.
!, A thought came to him snddenl.
2 He trembled little in spite of himse
J. at his boldnessin thinking ofsuch thin:
Summing up all his courage, Da
9 glided stealthily across the floor, put h
!, trembling hands against the door ,
|. the vault and closed it with ban!
z The lock had been broken by Il
r burglar, but there were bolts that wei
d easily turned by moving small sily'
y knob. Dan knew this, and slid Il
II bolts into their places. As lie did $
y he heard smothered curses inside, an
r felt the robber kicking against the doc
i Dan ran to the police alarm DO,
}. turned in an alarm, and then began
a scream Justify for help. He had cirie
is out but once or twice when he felt
It mans fingers close in vicc-like gri
n around his throat, and a mans han
a struck him cruel blow in the face.
81 '.Shut up!' gruff voice Missed
his ear. "Tllkill you dead if You OPP
# your mouth in even whisper
i The burglars assistant evident
thought Dan had locked the door. fl
y he said:
..How do We unlock that doorP 1
y kill you if you don't tell met
s He looscncd his grip long enough +
g Dan to answer. and the answer Il
plucky boy made was to cry, "Hel
:, help!'' in voice that penetrated to Il
Il.