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Show THE DESERET EAGLE. time I ever stopped so, and it will be the last. You've never known me to tell you a lie, and I give my word of honor that I will hereafter be faithful and prompt in all my work." That was true. Mr. Jones never knew Sydney to tell him a falsehood, and that was what saved him his position. When he made such earnest promises for the future, his employer believed that he would be true to his quicker he is got out of this office the better it will be for the public. See here sir," addressing Sydney, "what were you doing th:it you did'nt get to mv house sooner?" Sydney hud colored crimson, and was so confused, the operator could not help noticing it. "Sydney," he said, "did you go straight to Mr. Dole's?" Now, Sydney was not a boy to tell n falsehood. It would have been unavailing if he had, for his whole in miner betrayed his guilt. "Why, I I stopped just a few word. min- utes," he replied, hesitatingly. "What for?" asked his employer. Sydney did not reply. "What for, Sydney?" the operator repateed. sternly. "I played just one short game of ball,' Sydney confessed, in great em1 barrassment, "I'layed ball!'' roared Mr. Dole. "Played ball! With an urgent telegram in your pocket! You'ieanice business boy! I shall let the telegraph company know what kind of employes it has here. And if 1 fail to make. that trade by not getting to Daleville in time, I'll sue the company, too. That game of hall may cost me a thousand dollars, lint I'll make you sutler if it does!"' Sydney couid almost have died, so reat was his mortification, lie was generally a very faithful boy to his work, and so the operator had always regarded him. And now, to think he should bring on such trouble ruin his reputation, and perhaps lose his situation, all on account of stopping to play a game of ball! When Mr. Dole was gone, the operator talked very severely to Sydney. 'To think," he said, "while I was trusting you and believing you to be faithful to your duties, that you would betray me in this way! You don't such trust, nor the position you have. And I shall see if I can lind a enough to say boy who has buck-honno, when tempted by idle street boys." At that instant, Sydney thought how Tom BagJjs had refuesed to play, although urged by the boys. Oh Mr. Jones," he said, eagerly, if you will only keep me and trust me as you did before, I will never, never do su;;h a tiling ag.iin. It was ihs first de-ner- e -- 4 ve bat he did a great deal of good with his wealth. As his alms were not done to be seen of mm, he had his own originaly way of bestowing. All his benevolence was translated through a second party, who was strictly enjoined to never reveal his mime. He theorized that in this-wahe coulu be more truly helpful. His one hohbv was an enthusiastic belief in the value of education. His young life had been so handicapped by poverty that he had not had even the privilege of attending school when u y The transaction referred to in the telegram was the sale of a large tract of valuable timber land. But in spite of boy. 31 r. Dole's fears the delayed trip proved He did not realize until he was a to be a successful one, and he returned man ho sjrious tii..--. los.s bad been; home in a much better humor than he it'id whe:ij in aiter years, wealth uinis had departed. However, he called on t) him. he resolved !i..t lie would help the operator and advised him that, in .vonhx ,:!i.s who might be snuggling .t.i justice to the public, Sydney should be to had iven assist-- a discharged. Many such ones "Mr. Dole," said the operator, 'that ice in the name oi' -- a friend." boy is not as careless as this one act S.ord college sc hips had been would seem to indicate. I know him presented by him to take a college-courseto be truthful, and he says this was the lirst time he ever stopped when deliverBut he did not bestow his wealth ing messages. I was going to discharge iuaibcrimiuatcly. In oiuer to help him, but he promised so earnestly for only the Ujerviug, ue was ai .vaysstudy-.ii- g the fuiure, I decided to keep him. Jle character .mum;; the young people. 1 think is really a line, smart boy and He would stop on the street, and he is to be trusted hereafter." w icli Litem, and woulu Jis'.i 10 llicir "All right, then," Mr. Djle replied. conversations without apparent pur"Of course you know the boy hotter Hum pose in doing so. 1 do. But my advice is that you keep For some months he had kept a close eye on Sydney, lie was very your eye on him all the sanuv1 Sydiuy did not lose his position, but favorably impressed witu iii.u. And, could lie have known oi: another loss knowing that he had no father and had resulting from that ten minutes' neglect jcen able to attend school but lilile, he of duty, tne loss of his plaeu would nave had about decided that he would give seemed but a triile in comparison. him the opportunity of tattering bis So strangely balanced is the destiny fortune. of a human life that sometimes its whole This was the state of his mind when course is unconsciously shaped by a lie stopped on the sidewalk that mornbingle speech or act. ing to watch the boys. And when When Hie boys were preparing to play Sydney appeared and was tempted ball there was a spectator to tueir doings from his duty, i rand pa Peeples listened w.iom tluy scarcely noticed. It was with an eager interest. He knew such temptations were a "(j rand pa'1 Peeples, an ejceiitric, white-haireold mm. test of character. He had very strict d 11 person ideas of honorable principles, and when j was such a that few knew anything of his privatj Sydney at last slipped the message in affairs, lie lived alo.ie and had for his pocket and caught up a bat. iie fell years been a familiar, privileged characaway down in the old man's estimation. ter on tne street. So.ne said he was As Sydney went down in the old rich, others said he was poor, but a. I man's esteem, another boy supplanted him and arose in exactly the ratio that agreed that he was a very strange, mysterious pjrson. lie had descended. This was To.n Now the facts about Grandpa Peeples Ihiggs. were just these: lie was not only rLh, Tom's decided refusal made a strong Miu-atiou- . 4 i.ii-ir- ; . d, close-mouthe- |