The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-06-07

sumed. "The father he was uD to his
neck In trouble then, for he was unable
to raise the money. He had quarreled
with aa older brother, whose help
would have been sufficient Well God
save us all, twas the old story o. pride
an bitternessl He sought no help o.
him. A year an half passes an q
gusty night o. midwinter the bank
burns. Books, papers, everything is
destroyed. Now the poor man has lost
his occupation. A week more an his
good name is gone. A month an he's
homeless. A whisper goes down the
long path o. gossip. Was he thief an
had he burned the records o. his crime I?
The scene changes, an let me count the
swift, relentless years."
The old man paused moment, look
ing up thoughtfully.
"Well, say ten or mayhap n dozen
passed, or more or less II matters lit
tle Boy an man, where were they :?
oh, the sad world, SORT To all that
knew them they were as people buried
in their graves. Think o. this drown
ing in the flood O. years-the stately
ships sunk an rotting In oblivion.
Some word of 1t. sor, may we'll go into
thy book"
The tinker paused a moment, light.
Ing his pipe, and after puff or two
went on with the tale.
at is winter day in a great city.
There are buildings an crowds an
busy streets an sleet in the bitter
wind. I am there, an me path Is one
o. many crossing each other like-well,
s0r, like lines on slate, II thou vert
to make 10000 o. them an both
eyes shut l am walking slowly, an
10, there Is the banker! meet him
face to face-an Ill clad, haggard, cold,
forgotten creature. l speak to him.
"'The blessed Lord have mercy on
thee said.
"'For meeting theer said the poor
man. What is thy namer
"'Roderlck Darrell
"'An' L. said he sadly, 'am one o
the lost In hell Art thou the devilT
"'Nay, this hand O. mine hath open
ed thy door an blacked thy boots for
thee often said I. 'Dost thou not re-
memberT
"'Dimly. II was long time ago.
he answered.
1--WE said more. sor, but that is no
part O. the story. Very well! I went
with him to his lodgings-a little cold
room in garret-an' there. alone with
me- he gave account Of himself. He
had shoveled an dug an lifted an run
errands until his strength was low an
the weight of his hand burden. What
hope for him? What way to earn a
living?
"'Have courage, man. said to him.
Thou shalt learn to mend clocks. It's
light an decent work. an one may live
by 1t an see much o. the world
"There was an old clock, sor, in
heap O. rubbish that lay In corner.
took 1t apart. and soon he saw the Of
fee of each wheel an pinion an the
infirmity that stopped them an the
surgery to make them sound. tarried
long in the great city, an every even
ing we were together In the little room.
I bought him n kit o. tools an some
brass. an we would shatter the clock
works an build them up again until
he had skill. sor. to make or mend.
"'Me good friend said he one even
work, 4 wish thou couldst teach me
how to mend broken life. For Gods
sake, help me! am falnting under a
great burden
"'What can dor said to him.
"Then, sor. he went over his story
with me from beginning to end. 1t was
an impressive. sacred confidence
All, boy. 1t would be dishonor to tell
thee his name-but his story. that
may tell thee. changing the detail 30
1t may never add straw to his bur.
den. I shall quote him In substance
only an follow the long habit O. me
own tongue.
"'Well, ye remember how me son
was taken said he. 4 could not raise
the ransom. try as ! would. Now,
large sums were In me keeping an I
fell. I remember that day. All, man.
the devil seemed to whisper to me.
But, God forgive, 1t was for love that
ich' LittiS py httic pcSdu W tuht
the money ! must have an cover its
absence. I said to meself. some time
I'll pay II back-that ancient sophistry
o. the devil. When me thleving had
gone far an near its goal the bank
burned. AS Gods me witness I'd no
hand In that. l weighed the chances
an expected to go to prison-well, say.
for ten years at least. must suffer In
order to save the boy an was ready
for the sacrifice. Free again. would
Ielp him to return the money. That
burning o. the records shut Off the
prison. but opened the fire o. hell upon
me. Half year had gone by an not
word from the kldnapers. l took
note to the place appointed-a hollow
log In the woods bit east of a cerr
tain bridge on the public highway
twenty miles out o. the city-but no
answer, not a word. not line, up to
this moment. They must have relin-
quished hope an put the boy to death.
"In that old trunk there under the
bed Is dusty. molding. cursed heap O.
money done up In brown paper an tied
with a string. 1t Is 100000 an the
price O. me soul
"'An' thou In rags an garrett
said l.
"He drew out the trunk an showed
me the money. stacks of 1t, dirty an
sinking o. damp mold.
""There Il is,' said he, every dollar