The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-13


 If he saw that she seemed interested | in the new clerk Taliferro and went l out a great deal more with aim than one would consider prudent, he made so sign. Taliferro was a Mexican who l had travelled great deal anc was
 avowedly making his clerkship a l means to something better. Howard had a strange dislike for him. TaIi- | ferro's curiosity about details of the business that did not concern him as daily growing greater, but Howss, at- l tributed 1t to jealousy and tried to | overcome it. It would not down, how
 ever. and he watched the newcomer
 with vague sense or impending evil. Coming 70 her work early one morn- | ing a few weeks later, Carries eyes met a strange scene. On the floor in | the corner near the safe lay Ta,iferro. | his hands and feet bound with q rope, and hatred glaring from his eyes to- ward all who looked at him. Strewed about the floor was A set of burglars 1 tools and bit was part way In the great iron door, On table lay How | ard, with two physicians working over
 him, bandaging a knife cut in his chest. His face was white and uncon- | scious, and his limp hands hauging down over the table made her cry out One of the directors led her away to his private office and tried to soothe I her. When she went out again to her desk. both men were gone and che jam itor was quickly restoring the office to | its original order.
 Though all discussion of the affair had been forbidden. 1t was soon noised | about that Howard, suspecting Talifer- TO, had watched him. and had gained entrance to the bank that night on l the pretense of working, because he had seen the Mexican buying fine bit the day before in hardware store. Howard had a revolver, but the Mexi- cans knife was too quick for him. | though he had shot the thief in the llee, then overpowered him and bound | him after he had been stabbed. Fur ther details were impossible, Howard being unconscious at the hospital, and the thief maintaining stubborn si- lence.
 About 10 o'clock a sweet-faced old lady appeared. at the cashiers window. q want to see my son, MT. Howard" she said He hasn't been home since last night"
 The cashier started to explain but Carrie was too quick for him. Step- ping to the window she said quietly. Come inside, Mrs. Howard. and sit down awhile"
 The old lady obeyed her. looking with wonder at the girls eyes. still wide and pained with the memory of what she had seen.
 MT. Howard was detained on some special business for the bank last night" she said in as soothing a tone as she could command. He met with little accident this morning, and the doctors thought they could treat him best at the hospital. so they took him there" 'oh. my son; I must go to him."
 Not yet, Mrs Howard. Perhaps you had better walt until you are more composed before you go. It would worry him to think that you were trou- bled about him.
 What did this pale girl whom she | had never seen know about her son? she asked herself. But she obeyed again and sat waiting while Carrie | called up the hospital.
 They say that no one can see him | just now-not today in fact? Mo-" to l her anxious exclamation. "he isn't bad i ly hurt. but he is nervous and you know | the doctors must be obeyed." She rat | tied on trying to avoid questions. Soon | one by one, the clerks came up and | each told his mother his version of the affair.
 50 you see he's brave man. quite hero in fact" exclaimed Carrie, talk ing her hand. and if, you'll let me. will go home with you"
 She really wanted to go to prevent | the old lady from making straight for the hospital. where the reports were not nearly so favorable as she chose to Interpret them. She did her utmost to keep Mrs. Towards mind from her sons accident, and drew her on to tell about his early life, which she did. | nothing 10th.
 "He had beeni son to make me proud" she said. He was earning high honors in the law school when my husband died and left us with no income and some debts. I had two young daughters, and my son would hear nothing but leaving school and starting out in the bank. giving up his great hopes of some day being a famous lawyer Nobody knows how hard 1t was for him. for he never said a word to me or anyone, but 1t must have broken his heart to see his class mates and comrades on to their high places, and he moving on a stool and counting figures. He paid all the debts, and cared for the girls until they were well married Now, while he's not too old I urge him to finish his law course, but he says he has me to think of. I might go to my daughters but he will not hear of 1t, and he says he will only marry a woman who will love me too"
 There were tears in the stenogra- pher's eyes, when she left the old lady in her cozy home, having promised to call again. She did come often until Mrs. Howard oeciaTeu tnaC she had become like a daughter to her. Together they went to the hospital. and cheered the invalid, and Mrs. How ard was loud in her praises of the new found daughter"
 Would you like to have her for keeps as a daughter, motherT' How ard asked one day.
 Indeed I would, dear"
 So 1t happened that they were left alone together. Mother has been telling you all our family history hear," he exclaimed. You musnt mind what she says. Pm the only child left and you know mothers dote on ugly ducklings."
 Don't call yourself names. Your mother has been unconsciously prov ing to me that have been living every day with my hero and didn't know it," she said burying her burn ings cheeks in his pillow.
 oAud he only counts figures after