Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-07-30

Ter you When your BACK Sou broke. You
believe nue., don't you Jim2'
Soon the whole story was told in
broken words Ted had gone up town
on an errand, and met Mr. Farnum com
ing out of his club, who had stopped. and
accused the boy of stealing a ten dollar
bill, which he had missed on returning
home from the church. In vain Ted had
asserted his innocence. Mr.. Farnam,
thoroughly angry, called him good for.
nothing beggar, with the old story of a
bogus sick brother, and said that he had
great mind to have him arrested for
liar and thief.
DO you think he'll do it?" whispered
Ted
"You can't never tell, answered Jim,
"he might as like as not. "
but III tell the r'liceman didn't do
1t, cried the little fellow. HE can Z take
me. up if ! say | amt never seed his ten
dollarsl"
Guy what chance has we uns agin
swell, v replied jim bitterly.
Hour after hour the boys discussed the
problem in frightened whispers, starting
at each sound from below, expecting to
hear any moment the heavy tread of the
cop upon the stairs.
Then the greasy old pocketbook was
pulled out from under Jim's head and the
precious contents counted and re counted
jim looked little paler and the black
rings under his eyes were deeper when
they put it back, and Ted crept to bed
and lay shaking by his side far into the
night
Mr.. Farnum was i'll with bad attack
OF govt, and the great house was silent
as the grave.
All the morning a little figure had
lodged about the front door. 1t was very
cold, and the wind had whistled through
his torn shirt
Five times he had rung The bell ana
begged piteOusly TO see some one belong
in to the fam 'ly, and each time had been
sent harshly away.
Still be presevered, clasping little
package closely in half-frozen hands. |
Finally the c)achman, who had driven up, |
heard HE story and offered cJod-natured- !
ly to help him.
81 guess Thomas thought. you'd come to |
beg, he said. and he knows the |
masters death on beggars. Ill get in |
the house and open the door for you, and |
then you cut in and wait in the passage |
till the nurse comes, she'll tell the old gent |
about it.
The scheme worked well, and Ted drew
a long breath of wonder to find himself in
such a grand place.
The nurse passed through the hall as
he stood overawed and heaitating.
Ted started forward, putting up his
hand to claim her attention.
I've brought Tia, five dollars back" he
cried; "me and Jim won't take it"
''WhyP' she asked, stopping.
"'Cause he called nue. thief" indig-
nantly.
"Ah, yes, wait here a moment. And
she went quickly up stairs with a tray of
dainty Good
1t was some time before the nurse re.
turned.
Mr.. Farnum was sitting before the fire
in big arm chair. He looked old and sick
and miserable.
81 must beg pardon, he commenced,
as Ted stood awkwardly before him, " for
my harsh words the other day. The
sexton found the bill that | had lost in
.he church just afterwards. | am truly
sorry for what said Did you
mind it muchY' looking at him curl
)uslY
led met the glance boldly.
81 knowed ! hadn't done it, he an
Iwered, but ! minded for jim.
The moisture gathered in Mr.. Farnum S
eyes.
My boy" he said, you have opened
ny eyes to a new world--0ne in which The
avs of God are practised, not sneered at,
md in which unselfshness, strange to say,
S really the rule of life do you under
tand me?"
"No, sir" said Ted, slowly. IL
lon't know much about God 'ceptin he's
rood, and lives in heaven, an don't like
yin and cheatin' and cussin'; amt
lever been teached -
1--WE will teach each other, said Mr..
7arnum, "for | must learn all over again
if | m not too old" he said sadly.
I'm ten an Jim's twelve" replied
ed Jim kin read splendid, there amt
othin be don't get outer papers, about
murders and SIGH. Guy it's fine
Mr.. Farnum smiled.
DO you ever 90 to church," he asked
christmas times | does and when ,
lere's flowers and grand siugiD'." r5
'Ah, that reminds me, said Mr. Far
nm, 81 have an Grand for you to do, af-
sr you hove washed your face and changed
our clothes "-looking at the holes
trough which the wind had played at 2
ide and seek, the grimy face and shock of !
ght hair that seemed TO have grown out i
the crown Of his bat. i
why, it amt Sunday exclaimed Ted, 5
! surprise. !
''No, but | do not like dirt on week
avs, either, besides, it's a part Of Sc.
ret, which | will tell you when you come Q
lck hope you will take it, Q
lice tremble a little-''I am a lonely old 2
AN with no one to care for, or who cares
II me. | need Jim, too, to Work and !
Ian for-but go now, Mrs Black is wait
x" d
1t was a long time before Ted came &
ack, but be had had so far TO 90. He 5
az tired and hungry, and thought in dis !
ay of the long walk home from Fif-
eth street. He wondered if the secret /
as worth it. The butler grinned as he Q
oeued the door. walk in, youngster, /
on I drive yer off this time Here he is, 1
RS. Black.
Come right up, Ied,'s she called from )
Ie stairs, and then she led MIN up an
her fight, into large airy room. Ted