The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-11-05
notes, signed his name to the receipt in
bold dashing hand, and the agent hurried

ldfl tue notes careluifE aslue- As lie
thrust this into his breast pocket he
chaDced to glance toward the window,
and encountered the hungry eyes Of the
tramp following his movements from
without As the man saw that he was
detected he paused, seemed about TO
speak, then changed his mind, and saun-
tered away carelessly. A vague anxiety
assailed John Proctor. 1t was long after
hours. There was No help for it-he must
be the custodian of bis treasure until
morning.
He sat up late that night The pay
ment Of this sum was all that was neces-
sary to make tripa definite and tangi-
BILE matter. There was pile of cores
pondenee to be turned of, AMI letter 10
be dispatched to that little woman in Illi-
nois, telling her to discharge her music
pupils and make ready for his coming.
When he had finished his letters he sat
quietly for while in his big armchair.
1t was vey late when he rose and, lock
ing the doors and windows, proceeded to
the little inner room, where he slept.
He drew off his coat, and folding it care
fully, placed it beneath his pillow Then
he examined the barrels of an English
bulldog pistol, which hung upon hook
beside his bed. Reassured by this pre-
canton, he sank into heavy sleep.
John Proctor awoke that night to find
himself assailed by foe mightier than
his feeble imagination had pictured.
He tried to rise, but found himself un-
able, oppressed by terrible sense of suf-
location from dense volumes of smoke
which filed the air, through which vast
sheets of fame darted their forked
tongues toward him. Suddenly the wall
of fame and smoke was parted, and the
face of the tramp bent over him. He
was roughly shaken, pulled cut of bed,
half-dragged, half-earried through the
little private office into the larger room
beyond, where the fire had begun its
work of devastation. Then voice and
memory came back, and lie shouted:
"My notes In my coat pocket-under
the pillow. Let me gor'
For an answer be was violently pro-
PEELED forward into the azns of some
men, eagerly crowding through the fam
ing doorway He struggled to free him
self from their grasp. He fought ferceiy
with them, and finally broke down and
cried ike child Maxon's tones recall
ed him to himself.
"Why, man, do you think we would lei
you go into that fiery furnace again
See, there goes the roof now
The fire ragged all night. John Proc
tor, after directing the efforts of the mer
who tried to quench it, walked YEARLY
away with Maxon.
"Maxon," he said abruptly, "did tina
fellow who got me out last night COM
out safely himself?''
Now think of it, returned Maxon
''he went back minute but he got on
all right-just as the roof fell in.
thought at the moment piece of faliin
timber hit him, but he scrambled off fas
enough"
A dread suspicion assailed John Proc
tors honest heart, but he repelled
sturdily. He had plenty to occupy hi
thoughts, for he knew, what not evei
Maxon had guessed, that this disaste
had wrought his irreparable ruin.
If he could only have saved that $500
or if he had not been so ambitious
Annie had been ready-poor girl. Sh
had even proposed bringing her piano t
this new Southern town, and eking OF
their income with the result of her ow
labors. On one point ne was resolved
whenever he got square with the worl
again he would put his pride in his pool
ct, and humbly presenting himself befor
the little woman, ask her to share hi
fortune, for better or worse. How Ion
will it be A sharp groan escaped h
lips.
Suddenly he rose and stood erect. H
quick ear had caught the sound of som
heavy body slowly moving over III
ground.
"Who is there ,"
"Only me. Is that you, boss ?"
John Proctor bent forward and pc
ceived man crawling along in the shaC
ow of a pile Of joists. As the fgul
emerged into the moonlight he saw thI
the fellow dragged one leg helplessly a
ter him. His suspicious melted ava
beneath the natural warmth of heart.
''Are you hGrt?'
"Only a falling timber, boss, but tt
fire got into my eyes, and l can't st
very we'll"
He had drawn himself to Proctor's fe
and stopped, turning little upon h
side, his head propped up with his han
"You see, when came through th
door something fell against me, ana n
seeing you, and not being able to get alor
very well, there were so many Of tho
Mexican thieves about, was afraid thG
might make off with this"-holding o.
a fiat leather pocket book, which job
Proctor seized with glad excitemer
The man went on talking in a sileI
, way.
81 wouldn't have liked to have "
think i'll of me you're the first man wi
gave me chance since got down.
want always loafer, sir. You spoke
nv knowing something about the bul
ness; and to be sure / ought, if fifte'
wears as a 'sorter' in the Wisconsin luI
Der regions can teach o man anything
lumber. But when nv wife died
struck off out West Its been hard lu
ever since--and my little girl .-ba'
there with her grandperents-"
/ His voice seemed to fail for weakne
"What have you eaten to-day ?" ask
l the other, sharply.
) The man answered reluctantly, alm'
in tone Of apology.
r Yes, see, sir-down there among t
t lumber piles-how could ?"
: John Proctor was a mar given more
action than to speech. He addressed {
e man now in clear, decided tones
:, @Do you think you conid hold on
2 my back while carried you down
o the hotel ?'