The Red Cloud chief., 1905-02-18

hadn't been a man as neried somethin'
to keep me from takin' q plunge int
the ocean o. w~ickedness that would "a
drawed me under.
I was the happy husband o. my wife.
Mabel, and the father o. my boy, Tom
my, and wae earnin' good wages in \
safe and ed company. One day l was
sent to a blink to fix the safe lock. The
next day a big sum O. money was miss
ed from the safe, and I was accused O
takin' 1t. They couldn't prove nothin',
but l was discharged, and no other
company would employ me.
When l was turned out o. my home
and saw Mabel and the kid starvin' I
grew desperate. Havin' the name of a
thief, l concluded I might as well be a
thief. The president and cashier Of the
bank l was suspicioned o. Robin had
safes In their homes, and the cashiers
I'd put In myself, and it would be
easy Openin'. l went to the house one
night about 10 o'clock to get the bear
ms, intendin' to rob the safe just be-
fore dawn. While / was standin' there
q carriage drove up, and a gentleman
and a lady got In. I was thinkin' the
cashier and his lady was goin' out to u
ball or some'rs, and I made up my
mind to do the job before they got
back.
I had no trouble gittin' into the
house, pickin' the kitchen door lock
with Il skeleton key and explorin' the
main floor. l found nobody there. The
gas was turned low in the hall, and as
/ went up l turned it out. knew
where the safe was, well enough-in n
little room off the main front bedroom.
I skirmished around awhile and made
up my mind there was nobody hOme
at all. Openin' the safe roc door, I
flashed my dark lantern about II
found from the furniture, toys and
such things that l was in the nursery.
! wasn't long bein' confirmed in this.
for suddenly the light fell plumb on
the face of a sleepin' babe.
l knew Mt once that there was some
body ut home with the baby. though It
might have been left with the nurse
and h gone out with her Teller. I
was gOin' to git out when the baby,
havin' the light in it's eyes, opened EN-
and looked about. Fearin' the cbilS
would cry, l made up my mind to a
bold stroke to prevent bein' given
away. shut the door and turned Up
the gas. which was burnin' low. As
BOO as the baby's eyes got used to the
light it smiled at me.
That smile took INT back to my Tom
my at home in his little crib beside his
mother, for my Mabel wouldn't have
no nurse for her boy even IL she bad
loads O. money to pay one. / went UP
to the little thing and put out my fin
ger. 1t give me the same grip Tom
was used to givin' me. 1t seemed to
me 1t was a grip O. welcome, and when
It said, GOO, goo, goo!' I was certain
1t was sayin: I'm glad you've come.
My nurse has left me in the lureh, and
I'd "a been lonesome"
Well, the little chap would not go te
sleep till l put my cheek down beside
his'n and kept perfectly still for awhile.
I was anxious to get him off my hands,
for he'd saved me from what l was
a-goin' to do, and l was hot to escape
from the house without bein' caught.
As soon as l knew by his breathin' he
was asleep l went on tiptoe to the gas
Jet, turned it low and, Openin' the
door
Glands up" said a man in dressin'
gown and slippers, pointin' a revolver
at me. I recognized at once the cash
fer.
81 haven't opened your safe, Mr.. Ste
vens," l said. Your baby saved me-"
81 know you haven't. I've been
watching you through the keyhole."
81 made n blunder," l mutterei,
crestfallen. II thought you went out
with Mrs. Stevens"
Luckily there was no one but me
to stay with the baby, and l am very
much at home, as you see. Who are
you and what are you doing in M
hOuse?"
"Im the man as fixed the safe lock
at the bank. l haven't had a job since
and come here intendin' to help my
self
You that mani" he exclaimed, turn.
In sort O. pale.
Eyes, but l didn't take the banks
money"
He hung his head and seemed to be
thiDkin'; then he looked up.