The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-08-25
What a Night
Brought Forth
The Happy Ending Of the Stormy
and Tempestuous Career
of a Young Man.

well, of all the people / ever
expected to meet tonight, you're the
last! But what's on your mind?
You look worried. Does the world
hold the same dark, gloomy aspect
to you yet that it did to both of us
the night l was with you in St.
Paul? Surely you haven't been per-
mitting that same old grief to hold
you down all these years. Let's
see, it's four years since the night we
were together in St. Paul, and you
had then been brooding over the
same sorrow for eight years. Good
Lord, man, if you don't brace up
and forget it pretty soon it will
drive you to your grave"
God! don't talk about it, Dick.
Haven't I been trying all these years
to forget? But it's no use. [ would
to God l were in my grave. 1t al
most drives me mad to think of it. y
We'll, Fred, God knows we've
both had sorrows that were trying
to the utmost. But | have ceased
to worry. 1t avails naught. | was
wrecked on the road of Life through
the malicious engineering of others
and deserted on the prairie of dis
honor. But l lived through the col
lision and now those who were
guilty of obstructing the track will
have to supply the wherewithal to
repair the remnants Henceforth
I mean to live up to the reputation
which the world insists on laying al
my door. Tonight the author and
donor of said reputation, Mr.. w. e.
Black of the Square Deal depart
ment store, shall be called upon to
make the first donation. Oh, have
a goodly amount due me, Fred, and
just as surely as there is God il
heaven l will collect every cent of it
Come into this restaurant here an6
I'll explain the plan l have decided
on carrying out tonight. You ap
pear to be in the same circumstance
as I, but you will be well paid fo-
tonight's work if you will take {
hand in the game"
1t was just nine o'clock whel
Dick McComb and Fred Mortol
entered the Crown restaurant. A
the clock on the Central High schoo
was striking the hour of ten, th
two separated.
At few minutes of two mai
stealthily emerged from the railroa'
yards and cautiously made his wa
up Second Avenue. He paused i
front of the Michigan street entranc
to the Square Deal department store
To remove the iron grating whic
covered the coal hole in the pave
ment was but the work of momen
In another minute Harry Smit]
alias Dick McComb, was on th
main floor of the building.
When he reached the private O
fee of the proprietor, where tn
safe was kept, he was little SUI
prised to find the door unlocke'
He had expected he would have
pick the lock. We'll" he muttere'
that's that much time saved" an
was soon inside examining the saf
by the light of dark-lantern. Z
he was kneeling before the safe r
moving the tools from his pocket
the room suddenly became t1oodt
with light. He dropped the too
and turned in surprise just as Il
door of an adjoining room open'
and two men stepped into the G
fce-Mr. Black, proprietor of t
store, and Fred Morton.
Morton! Traitor!' exclaimed t
amateur burglar. by God, I'll I
pay you for this some day."
Before he could say any mol
Mr.. Black stepped forward and, ia
ing the would-be burglars hand
his own, said:
Harry Smith, will you belle
me when / say l am glad beyond t
expression of words to see you he
this minute?"
Indeed, SIR" replied Harry,
can well believe that. You We
not content to nave wrongfully |