Year: 1877

Dan went on with his photOgraphing for
several weeks. He learned to take very
good pictures, but he was far from satisfied
He grew thoughtful aud almost melan-
choly. His fingers were always stained
black aud brown with acids that he could
not wash OF. and his clothing always gave
ont the peculiar scent of 'collodi0n.'


Dams mother began really TO be anxious.
The boy was growing up a loose Jackat-
all-trades, but without any particular tur |
for one profitable calling. 1t vas necessa-
nv that he should begin to earn money |
pretty soon, aud she was ANXIOUS that he |
should choose some single business and |
stick to It. She took the boy IN hand and
expostulpted with him. Dan looked dis
tressed.


I'm trying to do something. mother
Tn Just getting hold Of II now guess.
only want little more time.


This was about As long a speech as Dan
was IN the habit OF making at one time.
His mother was pacifed, for the present
let him alone.


Two or three more weeks slipped by.
Dan made pictures of everybody he could
get before his camera. He photogra phed
the cat and her kittens. He photogra phed
his den and all its miscellaneous tru mp
ery He photographed ths boys 10 the
street, and he photographed bulldings.
fences and trees.


Still he did not succeed to his mind. His
pictures lacked the peculiar shading OF
tone that he wanted. His dream was TO
achieve this, which he believed would not
only MAKE them very beautiful, but give
him large profitable custom.


He labored necessarily, now trying this
plan, now trying that, but without any per-
feet result


In the course OF his experiments out Of
his garret window, Dan made street pic
lures OF people both near aud remote In
divers attitudes, and AT nearly all hours of
the day Dan took them in single figure
and ia groups; he took them looking up
and looking down; b,aking gestures or sit
ting still he took them as they stood in
windows, ~ they walked below him, or
rode past In carriages. Many OF the p no.
tsgraphg were clear and good, but still the
subtle finish was waiting. Dan could not
realize his dream.


Finally hi. mother begged him 10 stop
his amusement (ss she called it). aud 90 to
a store. or some business where he might
support himself.


Dan shook hisihead


Can't mother


But, Dan. can't afford TO give much
more money for the ACIDS you want


An" said Dan. tie shook his head once
more, and looked very detected.
He was at his wits eni tie beliey ed he
was on the very verge OF an impo rtsnt
discovery. He only wanted little more
time and q little more money. Where
should the money come fromf
This was a trying question. He could
not Imagine that any .,ne would ever lend
| him enough 20 carry out his projects, and
he did not seem to think OF any way TO
earn q sufficient snm. He went up TO his


den and sat dowu in the midst OF his bot
| ties and rubbish, feeling uacomonly blue.
| There ~as his camera upon Its three long
| legs. with its black moffisr drawn careful
| ly over it, and with It's brass nose pointed
/ out into the cold air.


The boys thoughts pointed the same
way. He must go out In the cold and tind
| something to do, or some day he might
| have to stay out in the cold He descend
| ed into the street. and wandered about the
| town. moody and distressed.
About this time a trial was in progress
AT the court. \ man was charged with
passing a forged check at the bank. The
teller who paid the money fully Identified
the prisoner, described his movements, and
related what was said between them at the
time with the greatest mnuteness.
Ga the other hand, the accused indig
nantly denied the charge, and protested
that he WAS not in or near the bank at the
time alleged. but in the office OF a friend
on b. street. He remembered his where
abouts, tor his arrest was not so long after
the presentation OF the check but that all
his movements on that day remained dis
tiucty IN his mind. From the first he had
continued to assert his innocence, and de-
clared that the teller had mistaken him for
some other man.


-nfn for im ha Ua1
To al nit that he was alone in his friends
office at the hour in question, and he failed
to produce any witness beside himself to
prove definitely where he was, though he
had made every effort TO do so. Ii was
question of veracity, man against man, but
the clear and very positive statement of
the teller against the accused. and the pos
| slbility OF some motive presumed TO exist
in the mans financial circumstances, had
decided the bank directors, considering
the interest at stake. TO hold him 10 an
swer st the next session Of the court. And
now the day of his trial had come.
Everybody was extremely interested IN
his trial. for the prisoner was we'll known
in the town, and had always been sup '.rl
to be honest. The anxiety was intrI,t TO
know whether he would really b. proved
criminal.


The case seemed TO be going against the
accused, for one or two other people had
been summoned, who testified th II, to the
best of their knowledge aud benei.' they
had seen this man In or about the bank at
one o'clock on the day when the check was
passed.


The prisoner sat in the courtroom, pale
but with certain fearless irmness on his
features that scarcely seemed like guilt.


All the known evidence was in, and to
the last, save the statements of few
friends as to his previous good character,
nothing in his behalf beyond his own un-
supported word had been brought forward.


The prosecuting attorney rose and form
ally recounted the strong points in the
case. dwelling especially on the failure OF
the prisoner to prove an abb, 1. G., to
show to the satisfaction of the court that
he was elsewhere than in the bank at the
moment OF the crime, when suddenly, TO
the unspeakable astonishment Of all pres
ent, queer voice from a distant part of
the room exclaimed


But can tell where he was


Everybody turned to look at the speak
er, who was none other than our friend |
Dan. He stood with his mouth wide open
clutching his cap with one hand and with |
the other nervously poking his tOusled |
hair. Everybody laughed.





tone, and then assuming that the boy in- |
tended to make sport, he ordered him to |
sit down.


No. drawled Dan, Il guess won't


Or course that set the crowd into still |
louder uproar oflaughter. The crier made |
an attempt to get at the boy.


'StopH cried the Judge. in voice that |
was heard in all parts of the room.


AS soon as silence was obtained, he |
turned towards Dan, who was still standing. |


Young man. do you know anything
about this case"


Yes, SIR replied Dan, slowly. Il
know


1 do0't want to know that vet inter-
rupted the judge. Come this way The
shrewd magistrate knew the youngster
well enough to surmise that he would
neither care nor dare to be fooing at such
time.


Dan, all stained and spotted, picked his
way out of the crowd aud walked forward
fn fha