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. . “And now, my lad, if you are going back to
New York I will go. with you, for I am wild
- with anxiety about my wife and daughter. Tleft
them well fixed: for the time I expected to -be
away, but two years has been added to that time. -
} don’t even know if they are alive,” he added, in
a trembling voice, “nor what trouble they may
have had to face because of my unexplained
absence. It is more than likely that they have~
‘given,me up for dead.
and I feel that I cannot-rest till I do find them.”
“You needn’t worry, Captain. Storms,” inter-
posed Fred, taking him by the hand, “I can take
you to your wife and daughter right away.”
“You can?” ejaculated the skipper, looking at
-him in bewilderment. ~
“Yes, I can. I made their acquaintance a
couple of months ago in an accidental way. They
have moved from their old address and are now
living at- No. — 120th Street, Harlem. Your
daughter’s name is Dora, so you see there is no
mistake.” : . ‘
-“My dear boy, take me to them at once. You
e
*. eannot. guess how I long to clasp them in my
arms—to see them once more after all these
months of absence.” . t
Promising to be present next morning in the
police court in Jersey City, Fred and Captain
Storms took the ten o’clock ferryboat for Cort-
land Street. The skipper plied him with many
more anxious questions about his wife and child,
all of which the bov answered in a way best cal-
culate@to relieve his anxiety. -
During the run on the underground railroad,:
which had then only lately been opened, and filled
the captain with wonder at the improvements
that had taken place in the metropolis since he
left it three years and a half before, the master
of the Golden Hope told Fred much about the
experiences of himself and surviving members
of the ship’s company on the lone island in the
Indian Ocean. ; f
His account greatly interested the young bank-
er, and he asked the captain many _ questions
* about their enforced mode of life while living a
sort of Robinson Crusoe state of existence.
They left the train at Lenox Avenue and 125th
Street, and took a surface car which carried
them to Third Avenue and 120th Street, half a
‘block from the house where Mrs. Storms and
her daughter lived. . .
It was eleven o’clock when they reached the
house. Fred rang the bell connecting with the
Storms’ apartments vigorously, and. in a few
‘minutes the street door was opened. They en-
tered and Fred led the way-up. °
“You had better remain here till I break the
news of your return,” said Fred, when they reach-
ed the second floor. ’
The impatient \captain reluctantly conserited.
_ Then Fred continued: on up the'next flight.
Mother and daughter had retired, but the strenu-
ous way their bell had rung had aroused them,
and putting on 2 wrapper, Mrs. Storms came
to the door to see what was the meaning of the
strange summons.
_" “It?s me, Mrs. Storms,” said Fred, in answer to
her “Who is there?”. |. :
“She threw the door,open instantly in great
surprise. _ . oe
A GOLDEN SHOWER
/ Wrong?” :
If they have moved from .
the old address how. shall I find them tonight, ©
- did so. Next morning Dora was down on time at
- “Why, Mr. Sparks!”.she cried: “Is anything
Dora heard the name: and
too, in some little excitement.
“Nothing wrong, Mrs. Storms,
brought you wonderful news.”
“What do you mean?” .
“Can you bear a great.surprise?”/
A great surprise?” : ~
_ “Yes, your husband——”. -
“My husband!”- she gave a gasp and, would
have fallen but for Fred’s strong arm.” :
_ Dora gave a scream. The captairt below heard
it and could not restrain himself. . He rushed up
the flight and dashed into the ‘room, crying
“Mary! Dora!”
Fred thought it was time for him to leave, and
got into. a wrapper, _
“put I have
the office, but she was a different. looking girl.
Her face reflected a great happiness that added
a new loveliness to each feature. When Fred
came in she Yushed over to his desk, put her arms .
around his neck and kissed him impulsively. -
_“You brought papa home to us. . You saved his.
life last night. He told us all, and we can never
be grateful enough to you as long as we live?’
“Yes, you can,” he said, taking her hands and
looking into her shining eyes and blushing face..
“You can easily square the account by consenting
to become my wife. Will you do that, sweet-
heart?) Will you?” —
“Yes, dear Fred. Iam yours now and forever.”
_ Six months later thev were married in a little
cottage in the Bronx that Fred had purchased and
presented to the captain and his wife Edith
Sparks was bridesmaid -and Will Robson best
man. Prominent among those present on this -
delightful occasion was William Opdyke, the mil-.
lionaire operator, and he gave the. bride a costly
set of diamonds that she wore during the nial”
riage service, in connection with the diamond
sunburst and shower of golden stars her husband
had presented her with, and which shone with
great brilliancy on her lovely neck. When Fred
got back from his wedding trip he took up his
residence in a house he had purchased in his
mother’s name, and Dora became its mistress.
Mrs. Sparks and Edith lived with them, while
,Captain Storms and his wife were constant, viS~
itors, dining with their daughter and son-in-law. ~
_two or three times a week. By this time Fre
established his banking business on a substantial
footing, while his brokerage department was.
gaining new customers right along. He could
sign his check, if necessary, for a quarter of 2 |
_ million, and Joe Yardley didnot doubt the fact:
in the least. Both Joe and Will Robson are now
working for him, the latter. hoping ultimately to
become cashier when Mr. Warren is no longer
able to hold down the job, and both, now youns
men, declare that they have the finest and smart-*
est employer in Wall Street—one who showed the:
stuff he was‘made of when he branched out as
BOY BANKER. 2 ON
Next week’s issue will contain “MAKING A
RECORD; or, THE PLUCK OF A WORKING
BOY.” pT pe et .
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