The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-04-29
The Vigilance Committee.
BY w. r. Rose.

4
Somebody ought to look after the
poor little vagabond," said the bankers
wife. what have we got humane So
cieties forT'
The boy was rarely seen in the VII.
lage. He was delicate in appearance
and seemed timid. He kept Close to
the old man and resisted all attempts
to draw him away.
S"He's thoroughly cowed," said the 1T.
Se postmistress TO the young minister
Us she held that worthy with her gilt
tering eye. "Looks to me like child
that's been half starved and beaten and
had all the spirit taken out of 1t. Some
body with authority ought to investi-
gate-and right away, too. or It may
be too late"
The young minister flushed little
and seemed about to speak. Then he
abruptly checked the impulse and
picked up his letters.
"I think" said the little postmistress,
"that it's your duty to interfere, Mr..
Browning"
The young minister smiled.
"It isn't always easy to see ones
duty clearly, Mrs. Twitters," he said.
| "And while you are waiting for clear
er vision the worst may happen" said
the little postmistress.
The minister's face grew grave.
"I hope not" he said, and turned
away.
The little postmistress gave a sniff
as he passed through the door, a little
sniff that was expressive of profound
contempt for the dilatory ways of mas.
culine humanity.
| Then came n time when the boy was
not seen for several weeks and public
anxiety grew intense. Nor did the old
man appear. He was there In the
ancient cottage. The milkman and the
baker and the grocer saw him on their
rounds. But they saw nothing Of the
boy.
"How is the little fellow?" the grocer
volunteered to ask one day.
Hes all right" the old man grufIly
replied.
"I haven't seen him out" the grocer
persisted.
1
the door behind him.
| At the expiration OF three weeks
Selectman Briscom sought out the
young minister.
"Parson," he said, "I'm here at the
request Of several of our most reputa.
BILE citizens. They think something
should be done about Old Man Moxham
and thatboy."
"What do you propose?" inquired the
young man.
"we thought maybe you could sug.
gest something"
The young minister was silent for a
moment.
eve must be careful" he said. w.
"Of course" '-
I'VE have no proof that anything is
wrong"
ut looks mighty queer"
The young minister hesltated.
"Out where I spent a year or two
after left college," he said, "they
would have made this the subject for
a vigilance committees attentions.
When social duty of this sort was
under consideration a rope was usually
at hand where 1t could be found when
wanted"
"Of course" said the selectman hasti.
ly. 1--WE don't intend to 60 that far"
The young man smiled.
"But the vigilance committee idea
suits you"
"The idea of a committee to visit the
old man suits me-"
Good" said the young man. "There
can be no harm in that"
"And you'll join us?"
Eyes"
Tomorrow nlght2"
"Yes."
"We'll meet at the church at
I O'clock"
every we'll"
The selectman paused.
"And will you lead us~
IF you desire it," said the young
minister.
| And so 1t happened that the first vlgl
lance committee that W1nterfield haG
ever known plodded detefminedly, al
though ut a leisurely pace. up the long
hill in the bright moonlight, and finally
entered the old mans yard and halted
before the ancient cottage. And 1t wal
J the tall young minister who advanced
, and peered through the lighted win
dow.
There was brief pause.
, Then the tall young minister turned
to the others.
! Come" he said In whisper.
He raped lightly on the door. Walt
ing but a moment he opened It an,
} passed In. with the others followin;
. him.
/ The door opened Immediately into tn
) big living room of the cottage, a com
/ Portable apartment with a great fire
5 place with a log burning on the hug
: andirons. log that sent out the flicker
3 ing light that had illuminated the win
dow.
9 The old man was there, seated in
low chair by the fireplace. He locke
4 nm oox,x,tkkoo ox&o.oI ~.