The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-07-20

ne tramp scOWieu. One BOOu tUrD
Serves another, missy. What time
do you and the servant girl go a-walkin'
on Sundays?"
"We go after dinner when IL is fine,
Ms soon as Sophie has washed up"
answered Doreen, still gazing in adj.
mirntion at the china hen. When she
looked down into the road again the
tramp had disappeared, and the rector
of Finch was turning in at the garden
gate.
The next afternoon about 3 o'clock
this same tramp stood listening out.
side half-opened door in the hall al
Holly Lodge, and as he listened the
expression on his face changed strange.
ly. Fear was transformed into Won
der, wonder into into incredulity, in
credulity into belief, belief into some
emotion impossible to classify. With
a hitch up of his tatters, as il to make
sure that they still chung together, he
suddenly pushed open the door, en-
tered the sitting room, set his arms
akimbo, scowled at the old lady who
gazed up at him in wonder from her
knees and said harshly: "What's that
yer been a-saying bout Sam Blake?
Hurry up, missus-"
1t was not dignifed position, per.
haps, in which to be caught by bur-
glar, but Mrs. Moneypenny maintained
her self-possession, rose from her
knees and faced the intruder boldly,
still holding the red book.
''How dare you enter my house in
this mannerp" demanded the old lady
after II slight pause, while she inves-
tigated him through her spectacles.
eyer may thank yer stars, missus.
as yer amt deader already" said the
man, roughly, coming close to her;
"but when chap hears his own name
and facts bout his own life, he'd maybe
like to know what it means afore he
sets to work.
'So--you are Sam Blake?" an
swered Mrs. Moneypenny, under
standing as people do sometimes in
sudden emergencies. "You are the
Sam Blake that nearly killed his wife,
that starved his children and broke
into n jewelers. shop IL years ago. /
know you very well, Sam Blake, for
have prayed for you and your miser-
able family every Sunday afternoon
for 10 years. am very glad you
heard me, Sam Blake. Now what do
you want?"
'Wot yer done it for?" asked Sam
Blake, still scowling.
because you were wicked enough
to require good many prayers, and,
my friend" Mrs. Moneypenny smiled
quaint, shrewd smile, "unless you
are going to murder me, which would
be but Il simple matter, as you see !
am old and alone in the house, /
shall continue to pray for you."
YOU'RE n game 'un, you are!"
growled Sam Blake, half-approvingly.
'I've n mind to let yer off this time,
blowed if / amt. Look a-here, mis-
sus, If 1 don't knock yer over the
head as had mind. nor take that
diamond ring O. your'n in charge for
yer, yer must hand over what money
yer has in the 'ouse and give us feed
afore yer little 'un comes back. Look
spry, old 'un, and maybe us won't
quarrel after all. ~
Mrs. Moneypenny measured the
man with her eyes, recognized his
strength and her weakness, realized
there was nothing to do under the
circumstances but obey, unlocked
her dispatch box and handed its con.
tents to Sam Blake, who was pleasant.
ly surprised, the nearness of rent day
not having entered into his calcula-
tions, and treated her unwelcome guest
to as good n meal in the kitchen as
the larder could provide.
Lets have look at that book of
your'n," said Sam Blake, as he made
Mrs. Moneypenny fill up his glass
again with beer.
He studied the neat entries in 81.
lence and then banged his fist down
on the table with such force that Mrs.
Moneypenny started. "Of all the rum
'uns you're about the rummest" he
exclaimed. "rhere, shake hands,
missus-you needn't be afeared for
your diamond, though it's mighty
fine 'un, as word was passed down to
me, sure enough. guess that yer
book 'ull be full afore you goes under,
ell, missus?"
81 am afraid it will, Sam Blake?"
began Mrs. Moneypenny, racking her
brain for q suitable word in season,
but just at that moment child's
merry laugh sounded in the distance.
Sam Blake showed half loaf into his
pocket and made bolt out of the
kitchen, the door slammed, and Mrs.
Moneypenny was left alone to tidy
her disordered kitchen with hands
that suddenly trembledas as she realized
for the first time that the Red Book
had saved her life, if not her money.