The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-03-09

homeward-bound Brock was passing
a drinking resort. boots and the
sight Of a struggling figure attracted
his attention.
A ragged, wretched looking man
was battling off a swarm of rough tor
mentors. They had pinned a card to
his Goa. with Kick mel" scrawled
upon it, had thrown the cap of the
poor fellow into a watering trough,
and had bundled him about until he
was half frantic. tearing his thin,
~threadbare clothing and tripping him
over into the mud of the street.
In a fash Brock recognized him
as Limpy Ted, a half-witted fellow
whose father had been employed at
the plant, and had met with a fatal
accident in it's service. The company
had given his widow a %niggardly in
demnity. When it was used up she
demanded that the company give her
son work. This they did, but Limpy's
! cratic spirit could not come under
the working system and they were
forced to discharge him. After that
Limpy hung around the works, the
butt of the workmen. Some idle loi-
terers had been batting him just now.
You miserable scuml' shrieked the
frenzied Limpy. You don't know
what's coming, I'll get even with you
and the works, see If l dont!"
Shame on you, menl" cried Brock.
rushing forward and rescuing Limpy
from his tormentors. The crowd drew
back abashed, for they respected
Brock, who %soothingly led Limpy away
from the scene and arranged his dis
ordered attire. bought him a new cap
at the nearest store, and gave him q
little change.
His extreme kindness broke down
all the resentment in Limpy's nature.
His mood had changed and he was
sobbing out his gratitude.
You're a good friend" he said.
Il won't hurt you, if / do the rest"
Hurt nobody, Limpy," advised
Brock "In a day or two I'll try to get
you some work. Stay away from the
mill and forget all about your
wrongs"
You're a true friend, and I'll try"
pledged Limpy brokenly and wandered
away.
1t was two hours later when Brock
and his parents were startled by a
vast rumbling of the earth and a
frightfully decorating explosion.
What was that?' gasped Mrs. Will
ton in terror.
"Over in the direction Of the old
oil we'll" began her husband, but
Brock was out of the house and rush.
ing excitedly in the direction indi-
Gated before he could complete the
sentence.
Less than three hundred yards OF
progress accomplished, Brock came
across a f%orlorn, staggering figure. 1t
was Limpy Ted. His face was grimed
and one side of it was bleeding.
Why, Limpyl" exclaimed Brock.
Il did it," croaked Limpy. You
were good to me, so I got rid OF the
dynamite
What dynamite?" questioned the
puzzled Brock.
THAT / stole from the powder
house. / was going to blow up the
whole plant with II. But after your
kindness to me / was afraid ! might
hurt you. So / put temptation out Of
the way by dropping the stuff down
that old well. 1t went off and nearly
caught me-"
"Hark!" cried Brock.
A s~wishing, surging unfamiliar
sound struck his hearing. He ran
forward to come in sight of the old
well. Straight up In the air fully
eighty feet a great spreading spray
was shooting-Limpy Ted had Struck
DILL" The dynamite had completed
the work of the drill, and the Wiltons
were rich.
So rich that they provided for Limpy
Ted comfortably for the rest of his
life. Richer than the Dares even, and,
on a social basis now equal to that OF
the woman he loved, Brock Wilton did
not hesitate to ask Eva to become his
wife.