The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-27
The Smile Of a
Child
By EDITH v. ROSS

and loc. company. He was very
poor and had not long been given en-
ployment-indeed. he was in debt He
had wife and several small children
and found it difficult to keep them In
food and clothing
One day Jim was summoned to a
gentleman's house for the purpose of
picking the lock of silverware and
jewel safe. 1t was an elegant home.
and when Jim walked on the hand
some thick rugs he thought Of the
bare floors in his own home and could
not be reconciled to this man having
so much and be having so little. He
was shown into small room where
safe was inserted into the wall. The
combination had been lost. and he was
directed to open the safe by picking
the lock. He found the job not diff
cult one and. having arranged COM
bination. gave 1t to the lady Of the
house and went his way.
Time came when the concern that
Jim was with determined to reduce
its working force. and he lost his job
His wife got sick, and the condition
of the family was depl0rable. Jim
thought what difference little mon
ey would make to him and those he
saw suffering. He remembered the
wealth scattered about in the house
where he had fixed the lock and espe-
cially the gems and silver plate he
found in the safe he had opened.
Then came the temptation to get at
that safe. open it and take enough of
its contents to relieve the frightful
condition of his family
For awhile he resisted. He had
boy. little Jim. the apple OF his eye,
and shuddered ut the idea of that boy
when he grew to manhood knowing
that his father had been criminal
But he could not bear the strain of
his children crying for what he could
not give them. and one night in hit
of desperation he determined to get
into the safe. One small diamond-it
would scarcely be missed would make
a great difference in his home.
At midnight when not a light APP
peared in the rich mans house, Jim
raised window with a jimmy and.
entering the kitchen, made his way
softly upstairs He remembered the
location of the room where he had
worked on the safe and went straight
to it, or rather. to an adjoining room
that led into it. A light was burning
in the hall, which enabled him to see
his way. Softly turning the knob of
the anteroom. he saw some one, a
nurse, sleeping soundly with her face
to the wall. He withdrew and tried
the door leading from the hall into
the safe room. 1t opened easily, and
he entered. BY the dim light that
came from without be saw a child's
crib. A gas jet was burning low, and
he turned it slightly on.
For moment 1t seemed to him that
his own dear little Jim was sleeping
in that crib At any rate boy just
like Jim was there. his two chubby
arms outside the covers. Jim studied
for moment what to do. He could
shut the door. turn up the gas and
within minute open the safe, for
which he had the combination The
boy might not awaken. and if he did
Jim could keep him quiet. He turned
up the light and was working on the
saw that the child's eyes were open
and fixed on him. When Jim looked
at him his face broke into smile.
That ended Jm's attempt at bur
glary. Within few seconds what he
needed would be within his grasp. but
he couldn't take it past that innocent
smile He left the safe and. advanc-
ing to the boy, bent down and kissed
him. The little chap seized his finger
and held 1t in his little fist. Jim gent
ly loosened the clasp and. giving the
boy another kiss. left the room. He
was about to go downstairs when he
heard mans voice say:
stand! I've got the drop on you"
Jim obeyed A man in Il dressing
gown came out of a room and. keeping
Jim covered, marched him downstairs
into the dining room, where he com
manded him to throw the plumber he
had taken on the dining room table.
81 haven't any plumber" said Jim.
though | could have taken the con
tents Of your safe. | know the combi-
nation"
Know the combination. How did
you get it,
I'm the man who opened your safe
for you not long ago"
You that man. thought your fea
lures were familiar"
YES" said Jim. turning his pockets
inside out Then he told the gentle
man his story, how he had been tempt.
ed to come there and how he had been
saved from taking any plumber by the
smile Of an innocent child. "If you
will come up to the safe ROOM" he
added. "I'll show You that | had com
pleted the opening Of the safe
The gentleman went with him. found
the safe unlocked and the contents un.
touched. He took Jim back with him
to the dining room, gave him what ne
could find In the harder and what mon
ey he had in his pockets
Tomorrow" he said. come to my
Office and I'll give you some work to
do In the factory of which | am presi-
dent. will send my physician to your
wife and otherwise aid you A man
who is only melted TO crime by the suf-
ferings Of his wife and children and
kept from It by the smile of little
boy Is worth saving"
Jim Is now ut the head Of the me-