CHEERIO Mother, see you later.
As Dick Laurence wished his mother goodbye he was wondering how soon he would see her again. Dick worked at a small office, but lately, times had been hard, and the employees were given to understand that there was a possibility of staff reductions. As he walked across the fields, Dick had a peculiar feeling that something was about to happen. "Guess I'll get the order of the boot," he said to himself.
He reached the office, and commenced to work, and an influx of important business cut short any ideas that he had of going to the town fair that evening, and at six o'clock he was only half finished. Telephoning his Mother to say that he would be late, he returned to his desk. Everyone else had left, and but for this extra work, the office would have been closed.
Three hours later, Dick threw down his pen, "Whew I what a blessing that is finished!" he exclaimed. He had been working on some important registered letters containing large sums of money for a pension fund. and it was a burden off his shoulders to feel that the responsibility was at an end.
He locked them in the safe and was putting on his hat and coat prior to leaving the office, when a slight sound made him pause. He turned round and found himself staring down the barrel of a revolver.
"Okay, sonny, reach for the stars," drawled the stranger behind the gun. Involuntarily, Dick's hands shot above his head.
"I want the dough, and if you make a sound, you'll be a pound heavier with the lead in your brain, see? Give us the key of the safe - jump to it I"
Dick complied, and still in readiness, the masked man crossed to the safe and opening it, started searching the interior; then, satisfied, he straightened himself, and turning to Dick, he said,
"Take these bags and tie them to the saddle of my horse, and mind, no monkey tricks."
Dick's mind was working swiftly. How was he to give the alarm with everyone at the fair? He thought of making a dash for it, but the prospect of being shot did not appeal to him and he had to consider his mother who was dependent upon him. He felt his torch in his pocket, and a daring plan entered his mind ; making a fine show of fear, Dick jumped to do as he was told.
Hoisting a bag under each arm, he walked through the doorway, and, taken in by Dick's acting, the stranger took no more notice of him, thinking him a simpleton, but busied himself at the safe, taking what loose money there was.
Once outside the door, Dick signalled with the pocket torch in the direction of the railroad where the ten o'clock express was shortly expected. Again and again he sent out his appeal for help, and then, from the distant huts and houses came answering signals. Soon he could see men running across the flats towards him, then suddenly Dick felt himself gripped from the back ; "You fool ! What do you think you're doing." And with a snarl, the bandit hurled him to the ground.
"Where are you. sonny?" came the shouts. Summoning all his strength, Dick recovered his feet and lashed out with his fists shouting, This way, men."
There came a sound of running feet, a:loud report and a searing pain ran through his arm. Dick had a fleeting glimpse of swaying men, then shouts and screams, the second and third reports of a gun and then - knew no more.
When Dick regained conciousness, he found himself in his own room in bed. Then he saw his mother with tears in her eyes standing with the bank manager and the doctor.
As he opened his eyes, the manager came. forward and shaking him by the hand, said warmly "I am proud of you, my boy. You have saved the firm, and aided us in running to earth a ruthless criminal wanted by five States. As a small reward, I am promoting you immediately."
Choking.slightly, Dick smiled and said, "It 'was nothing, sir, I was lucky to be there."
"Not .lucky. my boy, but plucky to have tackled the scoundrel yourself, unarmed."
After he had left Dick turned to his mother and smiling at her he murmured, "It was really luck, Mother."
But in her shining eyes, he read the truth.
B. BARTLETT,
Pre-Senior.
