Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-30
The Southslde Store, Abilene, Kansas.

a moment and looked into the dark
waters below.
II may find peace there" he said,
gloomily.
He leaned over the railing and listened
to the swift-rolling current.
my God!" he cried. 1.-THE box--the
box!"
1t had slipped through his fingers,
and already the rushing waters were
carrying it far from him.
For few moments Tom run in the d.
rection Of his brothers house and then
wheeled about and ran back to the
bridge. His first impulse was to throw
himself into the river.
~ am fool!" he cried. Suicide will
not restore the money. must be a
man now II there Is any manhood in
mel"
Across the river and over the hill
into the thick darkness Of the night
the guilty fugitive fled. Mile after
mile he walked like a mailman. The
lights Of the city disappeared from view
and Tom found himself wandering In
an unfamiliar locality.
Again the river came In sight, and the
wrfched man decided to follow Its
course. He would go anywhere, to get
beyond his brothers reach, and the
eyes Of those who knew him.
Thus the light Of day found him,
but It was not likely that anyone along
the river side would recognize him.
There were few dwellings, ind the peo-
pie he met were farmers, who were not
disposed to be unpleasantly inqnlsitive.
So the hali-crazed man rushed on
through the day, till, at nightfall, he
limped YEARLY into a small seaport
town.
Henry Dyson made every effort to find
his missing brother When he thought
of the panied look In Toms eyes the
night the poor fellow left, he re-
preached himself for allowing him to
90 away without a kind word of en-
couragement.
Henry Dyson engaged detectives, and
the newspapers published an account OF
Toms mysterious disappearance. But
it was of no avail. There was no trace,
no clew, and, after year or two, the
merchant came TO the conclusion that
his brother was dead man.
Henry Dyson continued to prosper.
lie married happily, and, in the course
of time, little children came to make his
home still brighter
Twenty years had rolled away, when,
one night, the merchant found himself
alone in his Office, writing letter.
As he leaned back in his chair, to take
moments rest, he thought OF the
night, q score of years before, when
Tom visited him there, to make last
appeal. Tears came into the rich mans
eyes.
"IIe was my own brother" he sobbed,
"and | acted like u brute. How easy 1t
would have been for me to puy bis lit
tie debts. Then / could have watched
over him, and, in time, my love would
have touched his heart, and he would
have turned out all right. but 1t is too
late now TO think Of those days"
The door opened with hardly u creak,
and the merchant would not have
known II but for the rush Of cool air.
He rose from his chair just in time to
greet visitor, who walked into the
office without even q knock on the door
to herald his approach.
Henry Dyson looked upon him In
speeches. establishment. II he could
trust his eyes, this was Tom Dyson, but
not the Tom Of 20 years ago. lie was
an old man, with wrlnkled face and
white hair.
Brother" said the visitor, holding
out his hand, "are you glad to see me?"
With q joyous exclamation the other
caught him in his embrace, and then
seated him in chair.
This is a glad hour for me, Tom,"
he said. 81 had given you up for dead,
and | have, all these years, been re-
preaching myself for my harshness
to you that night, you know
Hold onl" cried the other, excited
ly, you must not overwhelm me with
Kindness until / have made restitution.
Here, in this package, you will find the
sum I took from the safe In the little
TN box. II has taken me these 20 years