GOOD WORDS ON EVERY SIDE
Tearing down the blazing curtains, of which there were only a few shreds
left, Dick trampled them underfoot until he had seen that there was
really no more danger to be feared from that source.
In extinguishing the fire he had used his hands as well as his feet, and
if he received a number of painful burns in doing this, at the time he
did not know it. Then turning swiftly he helped Mrs. Gibbs and Bessie
slap out the last vestige of smouldering fire in the ruined dress of the
girl.
Bessie was as pale as death, and her mother quite as bad; the latter
kept saying anxiously as she hugged her pretty daughter:
"Oh! are you sure you are not badly burned, dearest, are you positive?"
"Nothing to speak of, mother, only a trifle on my hands. Oh! what a
terrible accident, and what would have happened to the house and perhaps
all of us if Dick had not just happened to come," said Bessie, turning a
look on the boy that thrilled him to the heart, and which he could never
again forget.
"God bless him! It was a miracle that he chanced to be here. Harvey
said he might send some one to the house. How thankful I am for the
blessings that have been poured out upon us. Oh! how did it happen, my
child? You frightened me nearly out of my senses, and when I ran in here
to see you in flames it gave me the worst shock of my life. Tell me what
happened."
"It was that little liquid alcohol stove, mother. I was pressing some
lace with a hot iron, and it upset, the burning alcohol flying over the
curtain, which flashed up instantly. Some must have splattered on my
dress, for though I sprang back it seemed to be on fire in several
places. But it is all over, and there has been no great damage done.
Dick, this is the second time you seem to have come like magic when I
needed you most. First Benjy's life was in danger, and now my own," and
the impulsive girl seized his hand and squeezed it, nor did the boy care
just then how vigorously she showed her gratitude.
The servants now came running up, looking frightened; and remembering
his message Dick handed his note to the agitated lady.
When she had read it she asked him to wait down in the drawing room for
a short time, for her mind was still so distracted by what she had gone
through that she could hardly remember what it was her husband wished
her to do in case he sent a messenger out to the home place.
Here Dick was presently joined by Bessie, who had donned another frock
in place of the one ruined by the various holes burned by the flaming
alcohol.
It had been a mercy that as it happened she was wearing a dress made of
a material not readily inflammable, or the result might have been much
more serious. And when Bessie joined him she brought with her some soft
linen and a salve particularly good for burns, which Dick was not sorry
to see, for by this time he was conscious of a stinging sensation about
his hands that proved he had suffered considerably from the fire at the
time he so swiftly tore down the burning curtains and shade to trample
them underfoot.
"Let me look at your hands, Dick," said the girl, with solicitude in her
voice. He held them out rather shyly, for they were somewhat blackened,
as well as inflamed. Immediately she showed the utmost concern.
"You poor fellow, you are burned twice as badly as myself, and you the
innocent party in the bargain. Just let me go and get a basin of water
and a towel. I'm to be the doctor for the present. You must do what you
are told, sir."
He laughed, for after the excitement was over he found that it was
mighty nice to be looked upon as a hero, though he did not think he
deserved all this fuss being made over him, just for stepping on a few
little burning rags; why, he had been burned worse than that once when
with some boys in the woods, and nobody bothered about it until he got
home and his mother found out.
So Bessie bathed his hands, and tenderly wrapped the left one in soft
linen, after greasing the inner cloth with the soothing ointment; why,
this was just fine, and Dick thought he could stand such an experience
every day in the week; although of course he would not like to know that
Bessie was placed in peril again.
The time slipped past, and Dick began to grow uneasy, for he had been
fully half an hour at the house, and he knew a party of anxious
gentlemen were waiting in the president's room at the bank, for his
return.
Finally, when he was about to beg Bessie to go in search of her mother,
the lady appeared, carrying a little package in her hands.
"Be very careful of this, Richard, for it contains valuable securities
which my husband brought out from the city with him recently in
anticipation of a sudden need. Here, let me fasten it inside your
coat--yes, it will just go in that pocket nicely, and I can pin it
there--a woman's device, but securing safety. And I have taken the
trouble to write a few lines to Harvey, explaining the delay. Give it to
him with the package. My boy, we can never cease to be grateful to you
for your bravery. God alone knows what might have happened here had you
not chanced to be at the door. Your mother has reason to be proud of
her boy," and with tears in her eyes she kissed him. And Bessie did the
same.
It was with a tumultuously beating heart that Dick Morrison ran out of
the house, down the front steps, and hastily untying the horse, jumped
into the buggy and was off like the wind.
This was another red letter day in his life, one he could never forget.
If he had made fast time in going out to the banker's home he certainly
fairly flew on the return trip, using the whip in a manner that
surprised the horse, and sending him galloping madly along the road.
He reached the bank, jumped out, threw the lines over a hitching-post,
and fairly flew up the steps.
As he burst into the president's room without even the formality of
knocking he found himself the object of frowns on all sides, showing
that his prolonged absence had been the subject of unfavorable comment.
Even Mr. Gibbs had his watch in his hand and looked at him reproachfully
as he entered; perhaps the president may even have begun to fear that he
had shown a lack of wisdom in sending a mere lad, already under the ban
of suspicion on account of one robbery, to get another precious package
of securities.
"You have been a very long time, Richard," he said, as the boy stood
before him, breathing hard from his exertions.
"Yes, sir," was all Dick said, unfastening the package, and taking it
with the note, from his pocket.
As the president eagerly took them from him he naturally noticed the
bandage which Bessie had so solicitously tied about his left hand.
"An accident, Richard?" he inquired, still frowning, but evidently
relieved to have the expected papers safely in his possession, for
matters were getting critical in Riverview just then, and it was
necessary that the bank show a strong financial front to weather the
storm.
"Yes, sir," replied the boy again, standing there, waiting to be
dismissed.
"Gentlemen, here are the securities I spoke to you about. They are my
private property, but I am determined that no reproach shall fall upon
the bank, and it is my intention that they shall be placed at your
disposal. Kindly examine them. Richard, you may go--but stay, what is
this? Great Heavens!"
Evidently his eyes had roamed down the page his wife had written, even
while he was speaking, and something had caught his eye that gave him a
terrible shock.
Dick waited.
He saw the banker continue to read, his eyes enlarged, and his breath
suspended for the moment.
Then he felt his hand tenderly taken, and himself brought face to face
with the agitated banker, who looked at him as Dick had never seen a man
look before.
"God bless you, my dear boy!" he said, in trembling and hoarse tones;
"it must have been a premonition that caused me to believe in you, and
send you on that message. Gentlemen, listen to me. I wish you to do
honor to this brave lad, but for whose valor and promptness I might at
this moment be mourning the loss of my house, and perhaps even worse,
for both the wife and daughter were in peril. Did you ever know of a
more especial favor of Providence than the fact of his being at the door
of my house just when an explosion and a fire imperiled all I hold dear
in the world?"
They crowded around, asking questions, and reading, the note which Mrs.
Gibbs had sent; for the time being even the peril of the bank was a
secondary consideration.
Dick was confused by the clamor, and blushed like a schoolboy giving his
first declamation, so that he was really glad when Mr. Gibbs, seeing his
uneasiness, told him gently that he could go.
That was a proud moment for the bank boy; he felt that he had every
reason to rejoice that a strange Providence had sent him to the
assistance of Bessie and her mother just when they most needed a quick
eye and a ready hand to prevent the fire from spreading; for in a few
minutes, before the servants could have summoned courage enough to
appear in force, it must have gotten beyond control.
He found that there was considerable curiosity shown by the others in
the bank, who had seen his hurried entrance; but Dick had learned to
keep a still tongue, and he said not a word; even when Pliny asked about
his bandaged hand he simply answered that he had burned it a little.
The other looked down and took hold of the outer covering, with a
chuckle.
"What's this, a lady's soft handkerchief, with an initial in the
corner--B; now that stands for Bessie, eh?" he said, looking expectant;
but all he had in return was one of Dick's smiles that might stand for
either yes or no.
But when the bank boy returned from taking the horse to the stable and
then going his regular rounds he found that the directors had left the
bank, apparently in a good humor, for they were smiling and joking among
themselves; and also that every one knew of his recent adventure,
showing that Mr. Gibbs or the cashier had taken pains to relate the
story.