The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-26

The boy advanced and removed his hat.
"I'm looking for work, sir" he said.
IF you have any, | should Ike to do it.
II was an easy matter TO awaken an
interest in a boy in the heart of John
Stllings. He was fond of boys, and he
flattcrod himself that he could judge
bright and honest youngstcr at sight
Want work. chi' he said, taking an
other survey of the street
Yes. sir" answered the boy.
How old are youF'
Fifteen years
Where ARE you from:'
II live with my parents. ten miles from
here, on a farm.
Runaway!
No, sir. | want to earn something
and help father along
WHATS your Nance"
Casper Hope"
Mr., StillingA surveyed the boy sharply
for an instant. snapped the cover of his
watch down. thrust the time-piece into
his pocket and turning into the bank,
said:
Come in and I'll see what | can find
for you to do"
Casper followed the banker, who led
the way into large vault that was sur
rounded by mass of masonry. On one
side We're shelves, filled with great lcdgcrs
and journals. and tiers of iron drawers
filled the opposite side.
AT the extreme end of the apartment
stood II broom. and, picking it up, Mr..
Stiilings handed il to Casper, saying:
sweep out the vault and the Office.
Mr.. May will take care of you tonight.
III SEE YOU again tomorrow. There's
the tram, now
The sArll scream of the approaching
locomotive caused Mr.. Stilhngs to rush
ont of the vault, grasp his travelling bag
and start fer the station. which was II
short distance away on the opposite side
Of the street.
When he reached the door he saw Mr..
May hurrying across the street, and he
shouted NJ he ran towards the station:
"Eycrything's all right inside Books
put away. BE back early tomorrow"
If he said anything more it was lost
to May in the rumble of the incoming
train.
May dropped into y chair on the porch,
and fixing his feet against Il post, tilted
back, and 10y the time the train pulled
out was in Il very comfortable browse.
AS soon as Mr., SillneS WAS gone Gag
per looked about him. AT the rear of
the vault was broad. "Wpty shelf. II
was at II convenient height Nrom the floor
for a seat. aud the boy sat down upon
it TO rest his tired limbs. \ tramp OF ten
miles, under hot August sun and over
a hard, baked South Dakonp road, is n
piece Of work that toughcn4d pedestrian
would lind no pleasure III Performing.
Casper was tired and hc) leaned his
head against the wall of thu vault. 1t
was SO cool and quiet in theI IRE that he
soon fell asleep.
On the porch Mr., May lroVscd, and
he might have fallen into n deep sleep
had il not been for the rafting df Il pass
ing Neutrality-suspicious.. on it's way to the
whcat-ficlds, which aroused Inn
He rot ont of his chair rubhhI his
eyes, and, whistling n lively air ~ way
of getting himself fully awake, hey went
into the bank.
John said he had put the books A. the
vault" he said 10 himself as he ahced
over the desks. 81 guess cvcrythngA nil
right" and with this he closed The hInyy
door of the vault and turned the hnoh
that shot the bolts into their snckAts.
| Then he set the combination, locked Ahc
bank and went home.
| When Capscr awoke he was in the
midst of darkness SO deep that he could
not see his hand when he held it close
| before his face. 1t was several minutes
before he had collected his thoughts and
was able to locate himself. When he Mt
last remembered where he had fallen
asleep he arose and felt along the walls.
I His hands came in contact with the
books and the iron drawers. md by that
he know that he was still in the vault.
| slowly he made his way along the pass
aye and AT last reached the door. He
pushed il, but it was rs immovahlc rs
the hills. He felt around for "A knob or
| n bolt but his hand sid over n smooth
unyiclding surface. Then it suddenly
| dawncd upon him that he WINS II nris
onrr in the vault.
II was a prcdicament that no boy wonld
like to br in and i is hardly necessary to
say that Casper did not enjoy il. but his
was not a cowardly nature, and whom
he found Tint he could not open the
door OF tho vault he promptly decided tn
max" the best of the situation until he
was set at liberty by somebody connnctcd
with the bank. lie made his way hack
10 the empty shelf and sat down.
II may ms well got what rest | can. :"
he thought, 1T Is night now. suppose
and the bank won't he opened till morn.
ing"
lie proceeded To stretch himself ont on
the shelf after having taken off h q
coat and laid it in roll at one end for
n pillow. He stretched himself ont and
in doing SO his hand came in con,ac, with
something lying along the bnck of the
shelf. He ran hiS fingers over the object
aml found that Il was gun. He nushed
II against the wall, and, having his hpnd
| ON the improvised pillow. soon fe'l ne,cc,,
lie lid not wake for long time and
when he did i, was with the conscious.
ness that somebody was ~ the door of
the vault. In an instant his senses wore
ALERT, for the air OF the small apartment
had become heavy and he was anxious
10 get out, He sat up and listened 4
grinding sound came from the direction
Of the door
ITS strange that they don't omen tbc
door 4 II Is anybody that belongs TO Tho
bank" thought Casper.
lie listened again The grating sound
continued, Then he arose and crent
silently along the passage towards Tho
door, When he reached it the peculiar
Sound became more distinct.
Casper placed hisNnr against the Joor
II was evident TO him then that some one
was at work on the opposite side with a