The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25
1BY
WHITE;

hastily. and his eye rested on the aims basin,
piled high with the childrens annual offer
Ing. 1t stood On table near the reading
desk, and sparks from the burning tree were
falling upon it.
He rushed forward, snatched it and began
to cram the envelopes containing the money
, into his overcoat pockets. He must get away
before the fremen arrived on the scene. The
silver plate he would button under his over
coat.
He worked feverishy for already the choir
stalls were snioldering. He had the money
at last and, ripping open the coat, was about
to conceal the plate when voice rang
through the smoke-laden air:
1.-THE children's money! Can one save
it?"
Shorty crouched low and began to work
his way to the baize door. The smoke was
sitting His head throbbed, and he found
himself repeating mechanically: 1.-The chill
drens money! The children's money!!
| His ears rang with the music OF an organ
and childish voices. .4-
| He wondered if he was going to die, choked
| by smoke, with the children's money IN MS
| pockets
| Angel music, let 1T sweetly fall,
Singing, bringing peace and joy to all.
! He reached the vestry room. The abr was
| better. He could breathe more freely. few
! steps more and he would be safe-safe with
| the children's money. .-
! Again came the cry from behind the cur
| tain of flames, Save the childrens offer
! irgs!"
A struggle was going on in the soul of
| Shorty Something, he knew not what, surged
| in his breast. ......
The aged rector stood in the aisle as near
| the burning tree as the heat would permit.
| The last of the children had been led safely
| through the arched doorway. The rattle OF
| engines sounded far down the street and the
! clang of the fire gongs.
| Would they be in time to save the offer
| ing that had meant so much personal sacri-
! fee for the children? Then suddenly some
! thing black crashed through the lower
Ibranches Of the tree and fell over the rail
| into the aisle. 1t was man. ts.
| The rector sprang forward and dragged
| him away from the shower of sparks which
! followed his fall. 1t was the disreputable
| Shorty who looked up into the rector's face
| "Unbutton me coat" he gasped. g..
! The rector obeyed and, with an exclamation
| of surprise, caught the silver plate. He lifted
| it wonderingly, and Shorty struggled to his
| feet. ...... .-g
Feel in me pockets. Me hands is burnt. ;
| The rector hurriedly pulled forth the en-
| velops and started to speak ~
| "Quick!" ordered Shorty. There was 6
! in bearing hose. Where there were fire.
| men there would also be police.
! Got it an? he yelled at the wondering
! rector. The latter nodded.
| "You must come with me. I'm afraid you
are badly burped,'' he murmured con-
| fusedly. ~. ..,-. .--..
| Shorty shook his head and started for TIE
! door.
| Its nothin,' - he said. s'I did it fer the
kids, SOS their Christmas wouldn't be spoiled
| So'long." And he pushed his way through
| the crowds and vanished.
! Some hours later the pain of his burns
! drove him to the dispensary, where he told
! a plausible tale of an overturned lamp and
| was promptly and properly bandaged. Walk
| ing down street, he met a friend in the same
| line of business as himself. The obvious
| impossibiity of doing any remuneratiye Worh
| with hands like boxing gloves appealed to
the friend and secured Shorty loan of $40.
| Then he went to bed.
! The next morning Shorty read an account
! of the fire and also public acknowledgment
| by the rector of the bravery. of an unknown
| man who at risk of his own life had saved
| the chidren's Offering, amounting to nearly
| $500. The rector expressed his desire to NEE
| personally the brave fellow if the latter
would communicates etc. Shorty began tt
feel proud of himself. This was genuine
responsibility
| For one gladstone week he gave himself
over to reading and responsibility, but he
did not communicate his address. Then thu
week and the $40 came to an end stimuli
I taneously, and Shorty was forced to take an
other walk up town with view to studying
balconies and unbarred windows.