The Press., 1895-08-22

GlOn. A very conspicuous Cnlng aDOuG John Bradley was long, vivid red mark extending across one ear and into his hair. He was apparently sensitive about this mark, for he brushed his hair over that ear as though to conceal it.
 As soon as he was hired the watch man asked permission to be absent a day and night to get his family located, which he accomplished by hiring pret- ty cottage of modest proportions in the suburbs of Omaha, about mile from the express office. "I'd like to be near or, sir" he said to the manager, "but the rents here are too dear for. a man with a family living upon watchman $ pay"
 However, as John Bradley was al ways on time no one objected to the dis tance he had to walk.
 The Bradley family consisted of three people. There was Luke Bradley, a young man of about 22 years, and Kate, his sister. And these, with their father, John Bradley, made up the modest household.
 As for Luke Bradley, although not a smart young fellow, he was industrious enough, and what with occasionally do- ing odd jobs for the express office and cultivating the little plot of land upon which the cottage stood he managed always to be busy. Luke was slender young man, rather pale and of delicate mold, and it was on his account that John Bradley was willing to take the extra walk night and morning. "A lit tie garden work may put life and color into him." he said. Occasionally Luke Bradley got a weeks work out in the country, but as general thing he might be found hoeing the corn or tying up the vines that grew around the little cottage.
 Kate Bradley, the daughter, was a smart, pretty brunette, quite petite, and as neat and industrious a girl as you ever saw. If she had so willed, she could have had suitors by the. dozen, as the grocer and butcher clerks, whither she went to procure their simple needs for the table, were enthusiastic about her prettiness and good manners. But Kate needed none of them. "The lass thinks too much of her old father and brother to mind them," John Bradley said.
 As time wore on and the years multi piled to three, John Bradley grew to be recognized and trusted feature of the Omaha branch of the Merchants Ex- press, and l, who passed through there once or twice, remember having the halting though sturdy old figure pointed out to me, and many were the stories I heard of John s faithfulness to duty and his bravery.
 Once, with an empty barreled revolv- CT, he had held tramp at bay until the arrival of the clerk whom he was relieving for an hour in the daytime. And again, when snowdrifts had piled high around the station in a blizzard of wind and snow, he had remained on duty breakfastless, dinnerless and hun gry until relieved in the afternoon: "What! Would ye have me leave the old office alone?" he asked of the man. ager, who had reproached him for such self denial ..-
 One afternoon in the third year of John Bradley's employment the man ager sent for him to come to the office an hour earlier than, usual John s 'cns- r tomary hour for taking charge was 6 o'clock, but the summons was to come down at 5. .:. -.. -->s.-~. ....
 "1 don't know what is the matter" the neighbors heard him say as he kissed his daughter Kate goodby upon the steps of the little cottage, .sbut whatever it is, my girl, I've got a.elear conscience" ..
 But it was not to accuse John that 94 manager had sent for him earlier