Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-07-01
STORY OF A
BRICkLAYER
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

was DeIOre there were labor unions
and John did not 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
man stopped beside him and said:
My good man, would you like a lit
tie work to be done in the evening when
you have nothing else to doY'
would If 1 got well paid for it,
said John.
Where do you nve?''
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
ana said that when the work was done
he would give him double the amount
Seeing that there was nothing in the
mouse 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 wen 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
tearing for Johns safety or through
curiosity, she followed the two. They
went into the business part of the city
ana stopped before a building bearing
sign, "Hirkimer & CO.. Johns con-
ouctor opened a door, guided John
through it and shut the door behind
them.
MRS. Bounce was in a quandary as to
Wnat she should do Had she, best de-
mand admittance for herself or call the
police or wait till John came out?
rev minutes reflection assured her
that Johns employer needed some ma
sonry done and there was no occasion
TO be alarmed. If she interfered he
might lose the promised additional nav
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
ne had brought with him His en-
ployer had left him a short distance
from his home. This is the story he
told Mary:
His conductor had taken him to the
basement of the building, where he
hao removed the bandage. Pointing
10 recess In the wall, which John
knew to be the base of chimney. and
some brick and mortar, ready for use,
ne told the mason to build 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
1t not been that Mary Bounce followed
the two men, 1t was about a month
AFTER Johns job was done that one
evening after coming in from work he
was reading newspaper Suddenly
ne looked up at his wife and asked:
what did you say was the name ON
the building ! was taken to for work p,
"Hirkimer & CO..
John looked serious. Mary asked
him why be asked the question.
He read aloud an article stating that |
the old established firm of Hirkimer e.
Co. had made an assignment. They |
We're prosperous till one morning on |
opening the safe the chief clerk had |
found that large amount of negotia- |
bic securities and some $4,000 in cash |
had disappeared The safe had not |
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 /
L from some of them Detectives had
been at work on the case. but had been
baf1ed- None of the EMPLOYEES had
3bsconded
1t did not take John Bounce long to
arrive at the conclusion that he had |
walled up the missing securities. The
lext morning, guided by his wife. he
vent to the Office of Hirkimer & Co.
md asked to see one OF the firm Both
we're conducted to the private ofice of
Or Hirkimer, and John, having care
ully closed the door, told his story.
MI Hirkimer at once took him down
INTO the basement, but there was no
rt1hcial light there, and 1t was so
ark that he was obliged to wait TN a
amp could be procured The place
Vas vacant except for some lumber
lied up against the chimney fouutfa-
ion, which had been closed up. John
emoved the lumber, assisted by the
Inpatient Hirkimer. and the newly
I'D brick stood out In contrast with
be old 80 IT
John Bounce got a job at removing /.
nat he had 50 lately put In and soon
,ok out the box, in which was fiscoy-
red the missing DrOperfy No one ~ |