The Van Buren press., 1898-05-14

E
sleep in the bank, and after the chilly
1esk ton accorded him tie evening q
the dsy that be had trouneed his cousin.
Ross atli5rfed for the position of guard
as well as Office boy. He had neat
little room, there was a good light by
which 10 pursue the studies to which
he had turned bis attention in earnest.
be would not be interrupted and he had
more manly feeling when be knew
that the safety Ct the bank might de-
pend on bis Hatebfulness. On examin-
ing the armorY provided for defensive
purposes, Ross found that II consisted
of two old horse pistols with rusty
metal and worm-eaten wood. II they
could be induced to 20 of al all, the life
of the man who discharged them would
be in the gratest danger.
Toa brave and ambitious Yankee boy.
such an outfit was something TO be
seorned, and he respectfully presented
the situation TO his uncle. II there was
no use in having a Waterman il was
+ Wasteful 10 hire one. If he was needed
he should at least be provided with
arms that would not be a constant
menace 10 his own life. The uncle
recognized this Vermont logic and
! laughinglY provided as fine PAIR CT
+ rerolverg as was TO be had in the mar
+ Eet. With a boys delight Ross TOOK
them apart, oiled them just as though
they needed il, polished up the silver
+ trimmings that were already as bright
as they could be made, and incidentally
/ discovered d chance for an occasional
Improvement that was afterward sug-
eeeted ia The manufacturers and well
paid for.
Inside Of 80 days this same country
boy. who was fast learning The accepted
forms Of the world to which he had
been introduced, had another Of those
adventures. which sometimes boost an
aspiring person along the road to sue
cess. 1t seemed to him that he had
Just dropped asleep when be was awak-
ened by such racket as tends to de-
moralize the steadiest nerves. In the
/ brief transition state he had dreamed
OF an earthquake, explosion and vol
eanie eruption, al each Of which he oe-
eupied a front seat and painfully real
lied hair-raising sense Of personal
danger. Then be caught the smell Of
burnt powder, saw dim light through
the glass partition that separated bis
room from the main portion Of the bank,
j and realized that there was something
very serious requiring bis attention.
1t was a supreme test for an untried
boy whose imagination is so liable To
make a coward of him. But he came
of fighting stock with lots Of common
sense, and was game for anything en-
eountered in the line Of duty. He real
lied that the bank was being burglar
lied and had no other thought than
that Of defending the property left in
his care. They have no idea that
am here" was his first thought in con-
nection with the impending campaign,
and then he began to organize for a
surprise upon the enemy. His cher
ished weapons were concealed under
the bed, and in a triee he had one Of
them in either hand. lie did not wait
to make toilet. but slipped noiselesslY
10 the best vantage point. The outer
doors Of the vault had been blown from
their fastenings. Two men were work
ing vigorously on the inner doors, while
a third stood by with lantern, appar-
emily directing operations.
Come on, boys" shouted Ross, as
he knocked out panel of glass with a
startling racket and began pumping
lead from both reyolyers. 1t was as
effective as a regimental charge. The
burglars thought of nothing less than
a police raid and turned tail. One
went down with bullet through his
shoulder. Another found it impossible
TO run with thigh bone crippled, and
the third landed in the waiting arms OF
policeman who was attracted TO the
spot by the fusillade. The whole outfit
was bagged.
Ross was the hero of the hour, and
his uncle was so proud that he gave up
the next day to the reception of inter.
viewers who went away with the de-
]
his next of kin. II is easily understood
how such boy would advance. Promo
ton came as rapidly as he was fitted for
it by business training. Confidence in
his integrity and courage was un.
bounded. He did great work in tho
matter of self-education, filled OUT
10 the proportions Of a handsome man,
as il was predicted he would, became a
social favorite Of that rare type that
cannot be spoiled, now has one of the
most delightful families in all Greater
New York, and is at the head of a big
financial concern in which the cousin
that was bounced by the Office boy is a
partner.-Book- Keeper.
Ibsen's Quict Hebuke.