The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-28

temples 1Ou Chu uuiSu Wy yOursou.
am going to trust you, Eric; and though
cannot remember when l. left stranger
here alone before, still trust you, and
you can have fifteen minutes longer to
look around"
And he was gone before Eric had a
chance to tell him he would much prefer
waiting until another day to finish his
visit.
"When Eric Chadford comes down,
Thomas, said Mr.. Hall, to his clerk, "you
can lock up, but you must not go home.
1 have received word that Barney, the
watchman, is sick, and you must watch
tonight"
Mr.. Hall was gone before Thomas re-
covered from his surprise, and when he
did he broke forth in anger:
"Stay herep not much I'll not stay an
other minute, and I'll lock that young
cub in as punishment for his insolence.
II Mr.. Hall finds it out, I'll lie out of
it somehow"
And seeing nothing ahead but the tri-
umph of a malicious revenge, he locked
the door and walked rapidly away, leav-
Eric prisoner.
Tired at last of roaming around alone,
and seeing by the clock that thirteen out
Of the fifteen minutes had gone, Eric de-
cided to 90 home, and accordingly start
ed downstairs.
1t was growing dark, and he wondered
little curiously how the young clerk
liked to be kept waiting for him; but
glance into the office and into the neigh
boring rooms showed him that no clerk
was visible, and that very evidently
Thomas had cooIly taken himself of, as
a quiet revenge for his (Eric's) supposed
misbehaviour.
Eric could not help smiling scornfully
as his quick brain calculated the result
of so daring proceeding on the part of
the clerk.
you're preparing nice kettle OF
hot water for yourself, my fine fellow;
but still suppose TIM prisoner, and
will have to make the best OF things"
But the smile vanished, as Eric, lean
ing his head on his hand. thought of the
home folks, and it moved him TO make
second effort to escape.
But all the doors were locked securely,
and the few windows that were accessi-
BILE we're on the third floor. It was too
dark now, too, for any one to notice sig
nal, and his voice would be as nothing
in the clamor and noise of the trains
that passed every few minutes.
With the darkness of the night came
new thoughts, and he experienced new
feeling of fear and q shrinking sensation
from every noise.
"He might have left me 80 much as
match TO light lamp" he thought indig-
nantly, after vain search for that arti-
Gle, and then, tired of roaming aimlessly
around the office, he decided to go up
stairs again, and if he felt inclined, after
awhile, to lie down by one of the win
dows, not occupied; but after reaching
the window, it looked even more dismal
than the office.
"It once eau get to sleep he mused,"
lying down on the hard floor on piece
of ticking, Everything will be well, only
haven't any pillow, and it's too cold to
take off my coat and use it for one."
And then he lay still, listening to every
creak and sound, and drawing quick
breaths as he fancied dim figures in the
dense darkness.
For the first time in all his young
healthy life Eric could not sleep; every
moment 1t seemed he became wider and
wider awake, and every moment more
fauciful of the least sound and shadow.
When eleven o'clock arrived, poor
Eric thought it was surely four or five.
and looked snxiously for the first signs
Of dawn.
~ wouldn't have played this trick on
a dog" he muttered, forgetting his fear
in his indignation. when slight noise,
very slight, fell upon his listening ears.
As he gradually drew himself up into
a sitting posture. the sounds were re-
peated-faint little scratching sounds,
different from any he had heard, follow
ed after while by the muffied whisper
OF voices, that for the minute made his
heart almost stop beating.
"Thieves, as 1 livel" he said in a half
whisper, his heart now beating so hard
and fast that it was almost painful.
But the fear was only temporary. 1t
soon passed away, and very cautiously he
tiptoed over to the widow.
All was serene that side of the house
but by the aid of the uncertain moon
Eric saw ladder and a large push cart
pressed up close against the house, that
he was very sure was not there before.
Then small window, on the same floor
as himself (he could not see it now, but
he remembered it,. was raised with a
stiff, grating sound, and the next in
slant the murmur of voices, and Eric
knew there was some one else besides
himself in all those desolate seven hun
dred rooms.
off could scare them away, now" he
thought, with all boys esgerness to be
up and doing. Sab, here they GOMEZ
and Eric shrank back into the nearest
corner.