The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-09-19

WIN i"hB oH tnc teiepnonc, Hnu
thrusting his hands deep in his pock-
cts, stood lost in thought.
"There may not be any customers
for some time, what IL | should lock
up the store? That doctor will not
see the child for an hour, at least, and
by that time A cold chill ran over
him as he thought of the probabili-
ties.
at is only the possibility Of losing
n little money, anyway" he thought,
and then with one hand he snatched
the door-key from its nail, with the
other picked up his hat, and in an
other moment the door was locked,
and he, who had but just declared
himself unequal TO the slight exertion
of walking home, was racing up the
street like n runaway horse.
When he had gone block or two,
he saw that there would be no trouble
in finding the house. He had but to
follow the crowd of women; the men
we're, of course, all away at their
work.
When he reached the door the
throng, with tho inborn Difference of
foreign women for the "lords of ere
ation," Immediately gave him the
fright of way" and he passed swiftly
through the perspiring crowd to the
narrow room where they had laid the
child.
The mother, grandmother and three
aunts surrounded the bed loudly be-
wailing the loss of the little one, for
it was to all appearance dead.
"Give me room here," said Will,
peremptorily, as he tore off his coat,
vest and linen cuffs" )" il may be that
l can do something for her."
For the next hour he worked rapidly
and necessarily.
The room was unventilated and un-
tidy, but Will, whose fastidiousness
was by-word among his friends. for
got these minor trials in his desper-
ate fight for life.
At last the little breast heaved
slightly, then again and again, the
eyelids huttered family and soon the
breathing became firm and regular.
"There, said he, rising from his task
and wiping the perspiration from his
brow, 'your little girl is all right,
now, Mrs. Poplinski.
AT this junction there was a move
ment in the outer room, and a mo.
ment later the doctor came bustling
in; he glanced at the child then at the
coatless and perspiring boy.
"Wcll, young fell ow, is that your
work." he asked. 81 expected to find
the poor little thing beyond help; but
L couldn't get here any sooner. and /
must say L couldn't have done better
job if l had. You have simply saved
the poor little creatures life."
While the doctor was feeling the
child's pulse and giving orders for
its future care, Will gathered up his
belongings and hurried out, breaking
away from the throng Of happy women
who were determined to load him with
their broken thanks and praises. But
he dared not let them detain him an
other moment, for he had looked at
his watch when the doctor came and
was dismayed at the fight of time.
"What if Father has returned while
1 have been away?" he asked himself
with sinking heart, for the key to
the store was in his pocket.
He went back quite as rapidly as he
had gone away, and when he reached
the door, flushed and perspiring, his
father was nowhere visible, but two
women stood there waiting for admis-
sion.
"Of course the only customers of
the afternoon would be sure to come
while l was away" he thought, us he
let them in and waited upon them.
When he was once more alone he
sat down to rest, thinking all the
while of his fathers possible displeas-
ure when he learned of the locked
store.
"Surely he will excuse me under
the circumstances, he said to himself
again and again.
Yet, despite this self acquittal, he
dreaded the confession that he must
make when his father returned. But
when it was time to close the store for
the day Mr.. Barnham had not yet ap-
peared, and Will went home with an
anxious heart. At the door of their
home, however, he found his father