The record-union., 1894-10-13

toward the close of bank hours brought
him pile of letters and other documents
for his signature, his attitude to the lad
was altogether one of persistent interest
and fondness. Indeed it was almost as
though the banker were bent on repair
ing some secret injustice.
He took both of Harry's hands in his
own heartily and drew him into chair
close behind his desk.
mo, don't go, Harry" he insisted
when the lad in a moment more had
arisen to leave the room and await no.
tice OF return from the Presidents bell.
stay here while | run over and sign
these. l don't often get chance for
good visit with you, Harry"
The boys face beamed glowingly under
the kind words and kinder manner of the
banker.
''Thank you, sir" he answered pride
fully.
Getting along all right here at the
bank, Harry?"
"Oh. hope so, SIR"
well, you are, Harry, and it does my
heart good to know it. Keep right on as
you have begun and some day you'll
be IN my chair here, Harry"
II wouldn't want that, SIR" he re-
turned with blushing lace.
why not, Harry?''
well, 'twouldn't be the same place
then. sir. often tell mother We'll never
have another friend like Mr.. Billings
by"
And what does mother say TO that,
Harry?"
We'll, it's kind of strange about that,
sir. She always looks sad instead OF hap
py, sir: and says Barrett-thars your
christian name, isn't it Mr.. Billingsby?
was never less than q nobleman, sir!'
Mr.. Bllllngsby used quill nib for his
signatures. At this innocent remark by
10 r loI
the papers before him, and he sud-
denly made an exclamation OF impa-
tience.
Here, Harry, take this to the CORE
spondence clerk" he said confusedly,
''and have another written. have spoiled
that copy.n
The lad ran nimbly away on his brief
errand. Mr.. Billingsby stepped quickly
to the window and looked searchingly
down into the little court. When the
boy returned the banker was composedly
at his desk again, but meantime another
face had dimly but pitifully forced itself
beside that OF John Everett and his no.
ble boy.
Scratch, scratch, scratch went the
bankers pen for time as if the man be-
side him had been entirely forgotten.
| The signatures were at last done and the
pile OF papers were in Harry's hands
again. Mr.. Billingsby arose and with his
arm around the lads shoulder walked to
his office door with him.
And you are all happy from your
changed condition, Harry" he asked
patting his shoulder encouragingiy.
Sisters - they're the jOlliest romps
anywhere, Mr.. BillingsDy!-and l and
mother, sometimes, are the gladdest folks
that live!'
''And-mother-so asked the
banker musingly.
Well, you see, if it wasn't for two
things, she'd be so. too"
'Only two things?''
He seemed to be thinking aloud rather
than asking question, and the lad pratt
tied on innocently.
Its this way. Father isn't just what
he used to be, some ways. We can't jolly
him up like. Then he won't read any
thing more but those miserable books of
Pellamy's and Gorge's, and those tracts
he gets from Europe, in German and
French. Mother tries the best she can to
stop It; but he says we don't understand
the awful state Of things, and that he
must"
1.-The awful state of things, Harry"
''Ies, the millions that are kept down
by the rich, as he says, and the bloody
revolution that's coming something
like that Mr.. Billingsby."
The bankers arm tightened about the
lads shoulder with such force that be
looked up quickly and apologetically
with:
"But We'll have him out of all that,
MIR. Billingsby. See if we don'tl When
he gets healthier he'll be jollier mother
says. And she says, TOO, that by and by
when he don't have to work-quite so
much-nights at the bank
Work nights at the bankp
''On the books you know, sir?"
1.-The bookS"
The banker almost gasped this, and the
lad looked up at him so puzzled, regret
full and confused, lest he had let an un-
grateful implication escape mis- lips. that
MIR. Billingsby altered his tone and man
ner instantly.
"Oh, yes, yes, yes. OF course. The
books-at night, here at the bank. Well,
well, Harry. Say nothing to your mother
or father about having mentioned these
things to me. l ought TO have been more
thoughtful. Your father isn't a strong
man, Harry. Yes. yes! I'll see about it
directly, directly. But, mind now, not
a word of this; not a word to them that
you have spoken to mel"
He even bent down and pressed his
face against the boys fair head as though
the young worker had been his own.
child, saying, tenderly:
"Be brave, true lad yourself, Harry.
whatever happens, and all will be
well !"
click, and the proud, happy lad was
gone.
Well for him that he saw not the face
of the banker. for when it turned to the
window above the court it was as white
as the stone walls that shut the strong
place in.
Here was new and an overshadowing
complication.
The President of the Trust and Security
Bank was now plunged into an entirely
different and far more distressing series
of doubts and misgivings.
Old John Everett's unaccountable pre-
tense to his family regarding night work
at the bank, and his plainly hopeless
faulty in relation to certain social ques-
tions, as innocently revealed by Harry,
seemed far more alarming to Barrett Bill
lingsby than ali the petty depredations
that the bank had so far suffered.
Nor had these wholly ceased, despite
the constant presence, far more than a
week now, of Dingleton's most skillful
operative In the guiSe Of bank examiner.
Added to this, Dingleton's ''shadowing"
reports. which for several days had been
pouring in upon him, had neither changed
the satisfactory status Of any employe, or
developed other facts than those perfectly
creditable to the two persons who filled
the bankers mind and heart with the
keenest anxiety and concern.
II cannot pear this suspense any
longer. l am going to know the truth!'
These were The banker'S words and