The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-07-15

into the eyes of the Salvation lassie
and smiled. Then she sank back un-
conscious. Dorothy's smile settled
matters with John Harding He saw
that the child was looking straight into
the face of the blue bonneted girl when
the ieeting smile passed over her face.
The lassie vas installed as nurse. For
weeks the child lay unconscious.
Whether, when she came back into
physical life again, If she ever did.
there would be any corresponding
mental life, the physicians would not
say.
John Hardings house was Gull of
religion. The nurse was praying and
softly singing songs that sounded like
the tunes that the street boys whistle.
John Harding knew, though, that what
ever the tune might be no street song
ever had words like those which came
from the lassie's lips. At times unre-
buked he allowed the rest of the SAL
vation contingent TO sing and pray in
his parlor. They did It so softly. Hard
ing never went to his office. Hehaunted
Dorothys room day and night. He
learned one day by overhearing two of
the Salvation!sts talking that men
sometimes of high position put on the
armys uniform for work when they
had left the cares of Office behind for
the day. John Harding learned many
strange things in those few weeks.
"Will you pray with us?" said the Sal
vatonists to him time and again.
NO" Harding would say, almost
savagely. Pray for Dorothy. Pray
till you save her, | tell you"
The Salvation lassie nurse would
smile a little sadly and then would
sink on her knees at the bedside of
the child. Day in and day out she had
prayed that with restored conscious
ness might come restored reason.
The father knew of these repeated
petitions. He never was out of sound
and sight Of Dorothy's room. One af-
ternoon he stood at the foot of the
bed looking into his child's face. The
western sun was lighting the room.
The lassie was on her knees praying.
Give her health and reason, o Lord"
John Harding looked on his child's
face The nurse kept up her prayer.
Dorothy opened her eyes. looked full
into her fathers face and smiled in
recognition.
George Desmond sat at his desk.
Harding hasn't bothered me for six
weeks" he said to himself, "but to-
morrow Is the day, and I am afraid II
has come to that" and his eyes looked
on the big safe in the corner. He has
taken my life and now 1t Is either steal
or clean out"
1t was late in the evening and Des-
mond still had no thought Of going
home. He heard noise behind him.
The door opened. Some one entered.
but his form was in the shadow. Des-
mond saw that it was man but little
else The stranger passed round the
glass partition and put paper on Des-
mond's desk. Desmond looked at It.
1t was a signed receipt for all his in
debtedness to John Harding, and with
the paper were the cancelled notes.
boShohu SdSpeu' mere was JOY
surging through him. He thought 1t
dream. He looked for the first time
full on the stranger. He saw face
yet unfamiliar.
The stranger said not a word, but
turned and left the Office and as he
passed by the light which came from
the lamp without the window George
Desmond saw that his visitor wore the
uniform Of the Salvation army.-Ed-
ward B. Clark In The Chicago Record
Herald.