The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-02

mother and sister and Smike to sup port, only a few pounds left no pos- ton and no friends able to help him.
 Again he began the heart breaking search for employmentA One day, as he stood looking at 1heSeards displayed in the window of an employment agency. he noticed a benevolent look ing old gentleman also intently re- garding them. He was such an open hearted, kind old gentleman that Nich- olas ventured to accost him and to ask if he knew of any employment a young man like himself might obtain. There was something about the gentleman that so inspired confidence that the first thing Nicholas knew. he had re- vealed to him his entire story.
 The old gentleman was Charles Cheeryble, and before the interview ended he had obtained a position as clerk to the brothers Charles and Ned, whose old clerk, Tim Linl1inwater. was getting along in years. and. as Brother Charles said: Really, now. did need assistance though they would not have him think so for the world. Tim was such terrible fellow if he took @ notion"
 There was Attle house at Bow be- longing to the Cheeryble brothers, which they let to Nicholas for a nom inal rent and there he established his family. There Smike tended the gar den and worshipped Kate, worshipped her with a fond wistfulness as a de- votee might worship saint into whose companioship ne could never expect to obtain admittance. It was just a blind. hopeless, dog like devotion that was all--all 1t ever could be.
 Frank Cheeryble, the nephew of the brothers, came out to see the family at Bow and 1t was not diffisplt to per ceive what an impression Kate made on him.
 There was content and comfort in the little cottage now. The poor Nick was lonely and unhappy and planning revenge on his kind.
 And now Nicholas awoke to the fact that he had a heart. It fluttered and could not keep its regular beats in the presence of a certain young wo- man--Madeline Bray. who lived with her selfish, invalid father, debtor in the "RuIe of the Kings Bench Prison"
 The Cheeryble brothers were assist ing the gentle Madeline by buying from her the little sketches that she made, pretending in their delicate way that they were bought for a firm oG~ print sellers of which Nicholas was the agent Nicholas went on this business often to the home of Madeline; and when he saw the patient. high bred girl he somehow always forgot that the scene was the confines of debtors limits" It seemed to him as if the scene were Iatly, the hour sunset and the place a stately terrace.
 But the machinations of Ralph Nick leby were about to produce results. One day Smike was returning from escort ing little Miss IsaCreevy from Bow to her nome. when suddenly he was brought up with @ jerk so sudden that he had to cling to a lamp post to keep himself from falling. At the same time he felt his leg graspeda and heard a boy,s voice shout 'Hooray! here he is, fatherw
 squeers had his umbrella handle fastened in his coat collar and young Wackford had him by the leg. Poor Sfnike; Such mental faculties as he had deserted him entirely when he found himself in the grasp of his old tyrant.
 "I have threshed a boy in a cab be- fore" said .SqueeTs a little later when he recovered his breath. There's in- conveniency in 1t, but the novelty gives 1t a sort of relish, too"
 However. Smike was not long a pris- oner to Squeers. That very night. through honest John Browdie, who was oh a visit to London with Squeers
 
 idea of smike being taken back to Do theboys. he was liberated from the room where the schoolmaster had locked him and found his way back to the Bow cottage.
 There he was presently followed by Ralph Nickleby. Mir. Sqneers and MT. Snawley. the man fin the pious way" whom Nicholas had first seen when he went to take coach for Yorkshire with saueers. Snawley was now ready with an affidavit that smike was his own son-"the child of my first wife whom wicked people stole from me and placed in Dotheboys; and only just found 1t out through this here con fession."
 They had all the documents, prop erly forged at the instigation of Ralph. aided by Sdueers. but they had not caiculatd on the spirit of Nicholas Nicholas threw squeers's hat out of the door. kicked Soueers after 1t. drove out