The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-27
Hammond. Hammond and Drew.

integrity, Industry and business tact had
brought him from office by to "conhden-
| tial man" The Hammonds are not un-
appreciative OF his worth AMI are nov
about to bestow the deserved reward.
Ben has some collecting to do out In
Andover. and is hurriedly leaving the Of
i flee to catch the suburban train. Isaiah
Hammond calls to him and hands him q
paper. saying: Read 1t at YOU leisure
On the train he reads the letter. The
firm thanks him for his years of faithful
service and invites him to invest his saw
ings in their successful business.
At last. can 1t be? His great ambition
is about to be realized. How often had he
written Hammond. Hammond & Drew
just to see how it would look. VIVA. had
he to invest? The care of a widowed
mother and invalid sister had made saw
ing an impossibility.
He makes his collections and is return
ing to the city sad and discouraged.
| But why despair with roll of bills IN
his pocket? There Gray's resort, where
nightly fortunes are lost and won. He had
never gambled, but he could play weR
and had no fear of losing. He Is the best
player In their social club. Why not make
| II pay him, for once? Yes. he would. The
| office Is closed now, and he cannot report
before morning. He would just use Il
and let It make his fortune. He did not
go home to supper. but went to q restau-
rant. On leaving the restaurant he turns
| from the busy thoroughfare into a quiet
street. where the large shade trees make
It quite dark.
A woman comes out of one Of the hand
some stone mansions and walks along just
in front Of him. Presently, out from be-
hind a tree, a man steps quickly and,
placing hand over her mouth, with the
other reaches for what he thinks Is her
purse. In an instant Ben is at her side,
and with blow sends the ruffian stag
gering into the street.
ST trust you are not hurt?" A pair of
bright eyes are looking up into his and a
sweet, tremulous voice says: mo. I am
not injured, thanks to your timely res
cue"
Ben bowed. and, with your permission
I'll follow ysu until you're out Of this
lark street's You are kind indeed, sir;
I'm only going across the way to the
church. It's the holy hour 1 think he
mistook my prayer book for a purse"
At the church door she extended her hand
and THANK you. so much" He held her
hand in his for an instant. and then she
was gone. Was 1t a dream? An appari-
ton? No; there before him was the
church. He could go in and see IL she
was there. He entered quietly and took a
seat near the door. Yes. there among
that silent, kneeling crowd she was.
vision of heavenly beauty and womanly
sweetness. Ben. lost in admiration for
time, is forgetful of all else.
At last the silence affects :im--the
priest kneeling at the foot OF the altar,
the people. some studying their prayer
books, same saying their beads, all are
silent. He turns his head and his gaze
becomes fixed upon a large crucifix fast
ened to one Of the large pillars near the
chancel. So lifelike Is the image of that
human yet divine sacrifice the sight melts
his heart. lie remmebers how he was
about to yield to the tempter, and, on his
knees, with face hidden in his hands for
shame, he prays for forgiveness
The clock Is striking nine and the peo-
pie are passing out. When she leaves he
follows. Outside she turns to him and
smiles. There is something about him
that makes her feel he can be trusted.
When he had seen her safely home and
had again received her thanks and good
night he went straight home. That "holy
hour was one never to be forgotten by
saved?-the commission Of crime that
would probably have disgraced him for
ever.
The next morning he made his report
and thanked s.r. Hammond for the kind
offer, that he must necessarily decline to
accept Being pressed for a reason he
told the truth modestly and simply.
You've made a better investment, Ben.
and have no doubt but that Il will bring
you a handsome return. If you haven't
enough money you have the love Of a
grateful mother and sister to make you
happy. Our offer holds good, and when
you are ready to join us we'll be glad to
take you in" He reached to take Ben's
hand. but seeing II was bandaged In
quired what was the matter.
Ben blushed. Its only little bruised.
Came in rather close contact with hard
faced fellow who was holding up
young woman last night
WHAT Was 1t your? why"
But Mr.. Hammond did not finish, but
turned and hurried away. and Ben soon
forgot his strange conduct.
Mr. Hammond left the office early. and
as Ben was about to leave for home
messenger came in and handed him a let
ter. Imagine his delight and surprise on
reading 1t to learn that Miss Hortense
Hammond would be pleased to have him
call that evening. Her father. Mr. Isaiah
Hammond. wished to thank him for the
great service he had rendered her. etc.
1t is "holy hour and in st.
Church Ben Drew, of Hammond. Ham
mond & Drew" with his wife, Hortense,
is kneeling at the foot OF the crucifx. He
is making an act of Thanksgiving for the
grace hereceived there q few years ago
to resist the temptation that so nearly
overcame him, and for the priceless gift
of his beautiful and devoted wife.-Bos-
ton Post.