The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-07-27
STORY OF A
BRICKLAYER
BY LOUISE o. CUMMINGS

| was before there were labor unions,
and John did hot get very good pay for
his work and not much work. either.
His wife was delicate, and there was
plentiful crop of children.
One day while John was laying brick
n man stopped beside him and said.
my good man, would you like a lit.
tie work TO he done in the evening when
you have nothing else TO dog
81 would II ! got well paid for it."
said John.
where do you live?
John gave his home address. and
when 1t was dark the man appeared.
He told John that he must be blind.
folded. John didn't like this, but the
man laid five dollar bill ON the table
and said that when the work was done
he would give him double the amount.
Seeing that there was nothing In the
house TO eat, John permitted the man
to tie handkerchief about his eyes.
and, taking the others arm. he was
led forth on to the street, which at that
hour was well nigh deserted.
While the visitor was In the house
John Bounce's wife was in the adjoin.
Ing room. where the children were
asleep. When she saw her husband
go blindfolded with the visitor. either
fearing for Johns safety or through
curiosity, she followed the two. They
went into the business part of the city
and stopped before building bearing
sign, "Iirkimer & Co." Johns con.
ductor opened door, guided John
through It ami shut the door behind
them.
Mrs. Bounce was I'm quandary as to
what she should do. Had she best de-
mand admittance for herself or call the
police or wait till John came out? A
few minutes reflection assured her
that Johns employer needed some ma.
sonry done and there was no occasion
to be alarmed. II she interfered he
might lose the promised additional pay.
She concluded to take no action In the
matter, and, not caring TO leave her
children alone. she went home.
John was absent for two hours when
Mary was gladdened by the sight Of
him and ten dollar gold piece that
he had brought with him. His en-
ployer had left him a short distance
from his home. This Is the story be
told Mary:
His conductor had taken him to the
basement of the building. where he
had removed the bandage. Pointing
to q recess In the wall. which John
knew to be the base Of q chimney, and
some brick and mortar, ready for use,
he told the mason to build a wall
across the face of the recess. John
went to work. Before he had put the
last few bricks In the opening the man
put in box.
Whatever the object of concealment
in this matter, all would possibly have
been buried In oblivion till the crack Of
doom or for one or two centuries. when
the building would be torn down. had
It not been that Mary Bounce followed
the two men. 1t was about a month
evening after coming In from work he
was reading a newspaper. Suddenly
he looked up at his wife and asked:
what did you say was the name on
the building l was taken to for work.
"Hirkimer & Co."
John looked serious. Mary asked
him why lie asked the question.
He read aloud an article stating that
the old established firm of IIirklmer *
Co. had made an assignment. They
were prosperous TIL one morning on
opening the safe the chief clerk had
found that n large amount Of negotia-
BILE securities and some $4,000 In cash
been broken into, and there was no
trace of where the securities had gone
or who had taken them. Several en-
ployees had the combination OF the
safe lock. and others might have got
Il from some of them. Detectives had
been at work on the case. but had been
bafiied. None of the employees had
lbsconded.
1t did not take John Bounce long to
arrive at the conclusion that he hal
walled up the missing securities Tha
next morning. guided by his wife. he
went to the office of Ilirkimer & Co.
md asked to see one of the firm. Both
were conducted to the private Office OF
Mr.. IIirkimer, and John, having care
fully closed the door, told his story.
Mr.. IIirkimer ut once took him down
INTO the basement, but there was no
artificial light there. and II was so
lark that he was Obliged to walt till a
amp could be procured The place
was vacant except for some lumber
liled up against the chimney founda
ion, which had been closed up. John
the lumber. assisted by the
inpatient IIirk.mer. and the newly
aid brick stood out In contrast with
he old.
John Bounce got Job at removing
what he had so lately put in and soon
ook out the box. IN which was dlscov.
red the missing property. No one ex'
'ept John and Mary Bounce and Mr..
IIirkimer knew OF Johns revelation
md the finding Of the missing proper.
y. But the head financial clerk saw
John when he entered the office and
disappeared
Hirkimer & Co at once resumed. and
John Bounce became janitor Of the
with several watchmen under
lin. Not only did he receive a good
alary. but was presented with home.
When the firm was Incorporated he
vas given some shares Of the stock.
The clerk who had hired John to lay
he brick doubtless intended at somo