The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-01-10

there seemed to be no clue whatever to
any one else as the robber. Officers were
sent in every direction, but no trace OF
the boy could be found. A week went
brary one morning he found piece of
solled paper on the top Of his pile of
mail: it proved to be note aud he read
it anXiously:
Look in the blacking-kit in the closet
near SAFE. l am innocent, but cannot come
Tn n@v You on ser send for me- ASu will nd
house and he can tell you more. SAM.
MIR. Smith lost no time in finding Tom
my, and they were soon driving rapidly
t. the place where Sam was waiting
They found him lying on a bed of straw
was, bright and smiling, and he held out
lis hand to Mr.. Smith, saying, You be-
llcve l am innoccnt"
Mr.: Smith assured him that he did
and Sam was then willing to nc taken
to the, Smith house. They drove very
carefully. but the be- could not help
put cry out with pain. Mr.. Smith wished
upon first telling his story. So they
carried him into the library, where the
bank officials were waiting, and after
ne was easier from the pain he was
nady to talk, and he had a greatly in
tercsted audience.
The night of the robbery, he said he
was awakened by the grating of a key
not right, he h,1rricdly dressed himself
and tried to reach the alarm, but saw
! that he was too late. and slipped into the
small dark closet; light flashed into the
room and he saw two masked men; they
unlocked the safe which was near the
laid them on the floor, while they were
getting. into the money drawers. Sam
carefully put his arm out of the door and
took the papers, hid them in the kit an(!
pushed, it back into the darkness; nc
knew. he would be found. but perhaps
would escape and he would at least. try
t? save the papers. Hc was just in time:
the men turned to get the documents
and finding, them gone they at once
looked for SAM They had hoped to get
out without waking him, thinking he was
asleep in the outer room. They found
him and threatened to shoot him unless
he gave up the treasures, but fearing to
arouse notice by the noise and not dar-
in to take the time to search any longer,
they decided to gag him and carry him
away. He fought furiously. but a blow
on the head silenccd him, and when he
cmae to himself he was in an old desert
cd cellar. and small, friendly face was
basement had sometimes furnished a
shelter for Tommy, his newsboy friend,
and the robbers thought they had put
him in Il safe place. Tommy had been
shouting for two days "4A]l about the
band robbery" and now he had found
the real hero, and felt very much like a
boy in a detective story.
The officials listened with intense in
forest to Sans recital, and they were
overcome with surprise and horror when
he produced as conclusive evidence of the
g1ilt Of their trusted cashier a piece
OF the lining. in his coat. which, Sam
clutched in his hand in the struggle to
cashiers face, and it was then that he
was struck on the head and became un-
conscious. The bit of clothing furnished
a clue. to work with and it is needless to
say that the thieves were soon under
arrest. Sam had Won for himself honor
and esteem. He was tenderly cared for
at the home of Mr.. Smith. and when able
t? be about again he went back to his
old position.
New Years morning rolled around
again, and in Sans heart was feeling
Of joy and anticipation. He planned to
so on another year, hoping in that time
to have saved sum sufficient to enable
him to 60 to school for one wear, aud he
determined again to put forth his best
effort to accomplish his purpose
The year went on, and Sam told Mr..
Smith what he had planned to do, and
rendered MS resignation. There was a
meeting of the directors of the bank, to
which Sam was invited, and his honest
face was happy Sight when Mr.. Smith
| arose and said that in behalf Of the
| bank, which Sam had served 50 faith.
fully, they wished to present to him a
little New, Years gift and with it their
best wishes for a successful career and
useful life. Sam could not reply, when
he realized there was placed to his credit
| in the vaults he had guarded so long. q
| sum sufficient to take him through his
college course. It seemed to him that
| all the bells in the city were ringing
| "Happy New Year. to him. In a week
he vas on his way to the university.
Many years have passed, and today in
new Office building in town in a
Western state, one may see in the direc:
| tory this card:
Samuel Washington Jones, Attorney
And Sans successes have only just
begun.-Detroit Free Press
.: Going Up and Down Stairs.