Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-26
greater than his needs. It was a ptoua

lands an many servants. His wife
was dead. sor, an he'd one child-a
little lad O. two years an beautiful.
One day the boy went out with his
nurse, an where farther nobody knew.
He never came back Up an down,
over an across, they looked for him
night an day, but were no wiser A
month went by an not sight or sign
D him, an their hope failed. One day
the father he got MOTEL remember
reading 1t in the papers, sor-an' it was
call for ransom money-$1O000O."
kidnapped" Trove exclaimed, with
much interest.
HE was, sor,'' the clock tinker re-
sumed. 1.-THE father he was up to his
neck in trouble then, for he was unable
to raise the money. He had quarreled
with an older brother, whose help
would have been sufficient WE'LL God
save us all, twas the old story O. pride
an bitterness! He sought no help O
him. A year an half passes an
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 a thief an
had he burned the records O. his crime?
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 dozen
passed, or more or less it matters lit
ltle. Boy an man. where We're they?
Oh, the sad world, sor! To all that
knew them they We're 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 it, sor, may well go into
thy book"
The tinker paused moment, light
ing his pipe, and after a puff or two
went on with the tale.
''It is winter day in 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 lke-well.
sor, like lines on slate, If thou vert
to make 10000 O them an both
eyes shut. 1 am walking slowly, an
10, there is the banker! l meet him
face to face-an i'll clad, haggard, cold,
forgotten creature. I speak to him.
"The blessed Lord have mercy on
thee said.
"'For meeting thee?' said the poor
| man syyhot 10 fhv MOI
"'Roderick Darrell
"'An' l., said he sadly, am one O.
the lost in hell. Art thou the devil?'
"'Nay, this hand O. mine hath open
ed thy door an BACKED thy boots for
thee often said I. 'Dost thou not re-
member?
"'Dimly. 1t was a long time ago.
he answered.
Eve said more, sor, but that is no
part o the story. Very well! went
with him to his lodgings-a little cold
room in a 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 a burden. What
hope for him? What way to earn
living?
"'Have courage, man, said to him.
Thou shalt learn to mend clocks. It's
light an decent work, an one may live
by it an see much O the world
"There was an old clock, sor, in a
heap O. rubbish that lay in a corner.
took 1t apart, and soon he saw the Of
flee Of each wheel an pinion an the
lntirmity that stopped them an the
surgery to make them sound. tarried
long in the great city, an every even
ing we We're together in the little room.
bought him kit O. tools an some
brass, an we would shatter the clock
works an build them up again until
he had skill, s0r, to make or mend.
Me good friend said he. cue even
ing after we hue, been hong time at
work, i wish thou eauldst teach me
how to mend broken life For Gods
sake, help me! I am fainting under a
great burden
| "What can dor said to him.
"Then, sor, he went over his story
with me from beginning to. eAa 1t was
an impressive. @ sacred confidence.
ALI, boy, 1t would be dishonor to tell
thea hts name-hut his story, that
may tell thee, changing the detail so
1t may never add straw to his bur-
den. 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. L could not raise
the ransom, try as 1 would. Now
large sums were In me keeping an
fell. I remember that day. All, man.
the devil seemed to whisper to me-
But, God forgive, it was for love that
/ fell Little by little l began to take
the money l must have an cover its
absence. l said to meself, some time
I'll pay 1t back-that ancient sophistry
o. the devil. Mica sne shieving had
gone ffaG an near its goal the bank
aaiMled. AS Gods me witness I'd no
hand in that. l weighed the chances
an expected to so to prison-well, say.
for ten years at least. must suffer i'll
order to save the boy am was ready
for the sacrifice. Free again, / would
help him to return tho money. That
burning g. tie records shut off the
prison. but opened the fire o hell upon
me. Half a year had gone by an not a
word from the kidnapcrs. l took
note to the place appointed-a hollow
log in the woods a bit east of Il GER
tain bridge OH the. pMbitQ highway
twenty miles 9ut .. the city--but no