Middletown transcript., 1914-06-13

suit OF clothes was 0lrIy DeyOn0 de-
scription.
In the excitement of the past half
hour he had entirely forgotten the
bonds. At the remembrance Of them
his hand sought his breast-pocket.
With shaking fingers he removed the
pin and drew out bundle Of papers
whose stained and soggy condition
bore no semblance whatever to the
crisp beauty of Mr.. Luddington's
bonds
All that evening he sat in a flannel
nightgown, busily plying a rubber
eraser, but without avail, for as fast as
he removed the spots his falling tears
stained the wrinkled paper anew. His
mother, meanwhile, stood at the wash
tub and renovated his muddy clothing
with a vigor that testified eloquently
to the thoroughness Of his cnastise-
ment.
There was little sleep for Jimmie
that night, and next morning, as he
trudged, holIow-eyed, to his work,
he turned over in his mind every justi-
tication he might proffer Mr. Goodel
for his disobedience. He arrived down
town without having formulated any
excuse, and a quarter Of an hour late
to boot. So preoccupied was he, as
he mounted the steps, that he failed
to observe two policemen who blocked
the doorway, and plunged blindly into
them,
Where are you bound for?" one Of
them asked
Jaw, let me go!" said Jimmie. Il
woik here
"Oh, you do, do your the policeman
calculated, and grabbed him by the
shoulder. What's yer name?"
Jimmie Brennan" the boy replied.
Come on, you," his captor said.
and dragged the struggling Jimmie up
stairs.
Luddington and Goodel stood in the
outer office as Jimmie and the police
man entered. GoodePs ruddy COM
plexion had faded to a dingy shade
Of purple, and the corners of Ludding-
toms mouth turned downward in a
most unaccustomed fashion.
Here he isl" the officer announced.
well, don't strangle him." said Lud-
dington, with his hand on the door
knob of GoodeTs Office. He turned
to Jimmie. do you know anything
about this?" he asked, and threw wide
the door.
Jimmie gasped in convincing aston
ishment The little safe stood doorless
on its side, in the middle of the room,
surrounded by a pile of torn and scat
tered paper. Its iron door rested on
Goodels desk, while the doors Of the
big safe in the corner swung ajar,
one of them supported by only the
bottom hinge.
He doesn't know" GoodeI NUT
tered.
What time did you leave here yes
terday?" Luddington asked.
-Four o'clock" Jimmie murmured in
tear-choked accents
Here the policeman took a hand.
What time did you get homer" he
persisted
Jimmie sobbed convulsively.
six o'clock" he croaked.
And where was you between
times?" his inquisitor beloved.
This was too much for Jimmie. He
sank down with his head on the desk
and wept unaffectedly.
Now look here" Goodel protested,
Il won't have the little chap bullied
any more" He laid comforting hand
on Jimmie's shoulder. It's all my
fault, Luddington," he continued "n
1 hadn't been an ass and gone of to
play golf might have put the bonds
in my safe-deposit box instead Of the
safe, and they wouldn't have been
stolen"
"Dey wuzn't in de SAFE" he said.
"What?" gasped Luddington, Goodel,
and the policeman in concert.
IN it amt up ter me, neider." he
sobbed. whitney pushed me in"
What dye mean?" Luddington
shrieked.
For answer Jimmie unpinned his
pocket and handed the soiled bonds
to GoodeL They were as limp as Jap
anese napkins.
Il cleaned 'em as good as l could"
Jimmie continued.
Then, piecemeal they drew from him
a disconnected. but comprehensive ac-
count of the days adventures. 1t
omitted nothing, not even the dime
novel.
Jimmie, you young dog" said
Goodel, after he had regained his COM
posure. Il forbade you ever to read
dime novels in this office, and no
sooner was my back turned than you
did"
Jimmie hung his head
That's all right, Goodel!" Ludding-
ton broke in. You told him to put
the bonds in the safe and he didn't
1 guess that makes it square, and
you'd better forgive him"
A broad grin spread itself over
Gooders face.
He gets one more chance" he said,
pressing bill into the boys fist, "and
$40 to buy a new suit of clothes with.
Now get out Of here, Jimmie-you
smell like a fish-marketi"
Copyright. by the Frank A. Munsey Coz
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sir said the proprietor, warmly. You