Burnham Breaker

r's law office. The window-shades were closely drawn, shutting out the mellow light

aded corner that Craft was sitting, resting his folded arms on his cane, while Sharpman, seated carelessly by the table, was toying with a pencil. There wer

k we are all right. I somewhat fear the effect of your presence on him, Craft, but he may as well see you to-ni

ed the old man, "you may trust me. I shall ge

is he, any way? Pr

nd set on a thing, it's no use to try to budge him. I've whipped him

and then you can handle them. Well, we'll get Ralph's mind fixed on the fact that he is Mrs. Bur

room, but after a minute or two he came out and ushered Ralph into the presence of the lawyer. Sharpman arose, greete

" said Sharpman, turning, with a

le on his gaunt face. Ralph looked intently, for a moment, into the shadow, and then,

go back with him, sir!" turning his dis

be afraid," he said, gently, "there's no cause for alarm. You shall not go b

ar dawned upo

ain't my grandfather. He wouldn't never 'a' whipped me

e boy had identified him pretty plainly, and prov

do you good. Now, be calm and reasonable, and listen to what we have to tell you, and, my word for it, you will go back

will, if I can only find out about my father 'n' mother. But

you. Now, if you will sit still and listen to us, and take our advice, we will tell you more

iling and rapidly regaining hi

stions. In the first place, what do you remember ab

er anything, si

ving been in a big accident sometime; s

amed sumpthin' like that once, but I guess it ne

father and mother, and the train went through a bridge. A good many people were

the question. His fac

an' mother kille

lled. They were injured, but

re they?" asked the boy, ris

t to that in time. Be seated and answer my

ir; I

life, and drew you from the car window. In another minute it would have been too late. He fell back into the river holding you in his arms, but he saved you from both fire and w

chless, chuckling to himself, and wishing, in his heart, that he c

ked the boy. "Wouldn't I 'a' been

he flames had already reached you, and your cloth

as he felt the force of the story, and thought of the horrors of a death by fire, he began to relent

said, "I'm much obliged to 'im, even

stubborn ways annoyed him greatly. But he never ceased to have your best interests at heart, and he was in constan

to go an' leave m

d your father and mother. He hurried back to Philadelphia to get you and bring you to your parents, as the

y, and said: "I 'xpect

uld have rewarded your ingratitude by forgetfulness. Not so with Mr. Craft. He swallowed his pain and disappointment, and went out to search for you. He had your welfare too deeply at heart to neglect yo

his face. He could scarcely believe what he heard. The idea that Simon

if I've thought wrong of you. I didn't know 'at you was a-doin' all t

bout your bad behavior; it's all past and gone now, and I'm here to help you, not to scold you. I'm going t

ike it. You couldn't do anything for me 'at I'd like b

ke to belong to a nice family,

make me very

h books, pictures, horses, fine clothes

, an' what I want most is a good mother, a real, nice, good m

and stood with clasped hands

other for you, the best in the city of Scranton, and the s

true. But you wouldn't tell me a lie about i

lawyers never lie, an

to 'em to-night? I don't b'lieve I

and wait till you hear us through. There is something better yet for yo

iant thought, borne on by instinct, impulse, strong desire, flashed like a r

't be! oh, it can't b

nha

uick glances of amazement, and

rs. Burnham is

suddenly: "And Mr. Burnham, he-he was my-my father!" and he sank back into

one spoke. Then Ra

oes she

mother believes you to be dead. She believes that you perished in the accident

-am I the Ral

hat you are alive. I told her who you are, and all about you. She knows you, but she will not belie

r believe it? won't

ok revealed the sudden

ognize you and take you to her home. She has so long believed you to be

ear came into

t, "that I am her boy? are

t that. We shall establish your identity beyond question; but we shall have to do it in the courts. When it is once don

my mother; she's all I care about; I don'

proved in a court of law, she would have no legal right to accept you as her son; but that, when your i

up with bri

" he exclaimed, "a

ubt of it, no

," said the boy, impatiently, "i

e; several months, m

face fel

to her myself; I'll tell her ev'rything; I'll beg

her son until the courts have passed upon the question of your identity. If she should attempt to do so, the other heirs of Robert Burnham would come in and contest your claim, and you would be in a far worse position to maintain you

try to wait an' do what you tel

till you are twenty-one years old; and whatever action is taken in your behalf, must be taken by a guardian. It will be his place to establi

Uncle Billy, he's the best fr

am Buckley, with w

s,

You see, the guardian would have to give a bond to the extent of a great many tho

ich, himself, an' I never heard

e can you

rs. Burn

ssary for the guardian to

can think of," said Ralph, desp

e one who is able to qualify for this trust, we may as well stop

d. He was enjoying the

excee

anxiety. He looked from one to the

t, Mr. Sharpman?" he said. "C

Craft, here, hasn't money enough. I guess we'll have to give up the idea of r

couldn't stan' that-now. Can't you see my mother ag

fix it, and that is to get a guardian for you. I

nt expressed in the lad's fa

raft s

I've spent time and money and lost my health on his account. But I'm willing to do him a favor yet, if he thinks he can a

"'ceptin' to go back an' live with you; everyth

't know how to get around that difficulty, unles

s face pleading

one to be trusted, why, I might do it; but in this case I would have to depend on the boy as well, and there's no knowing how he would misbehave. According to

I thought he abused me, I did; I was sure of it; that's the reason I run away from 'im. But, you see, I'm older now; I'd be more reason'ble;

s as if lost in thought. Finall

Ralph. Do you think I can reall

r; oh, y

o the letter, and do just what I

sir; I

e his interest at heart, and I believe that, together, we can restore his rights to him, and place him in the way of acceptance by his

verything you can for me, wo

l be his bondsman and lawyer. Now, I think we unders

want me to

f guardian made; but I will send for you. In the meantime you will keep on with your work as

le Billy-can't I tell him?

Billy, but charge him to

he'll do anything like

ted a moment, then he crossed the room to where old

never meant to do wrong by you. I'll tr

seeing that the situation was likely to become awkward, stepped f

d the door. "I see my clerk has gone," he

an' besides, I've gone ho

luck to you!

d-ni

he boy, and he went out into th

t he was Mrs. Burnham's son; he believed that fact implicitly. It was not so much, either, that he could not go to her at once; he could wait for that if the end would only surely bring it. But it seemed to him that he was being set up in a kind of opposition to her; that he was being placed in a position which might lead to an estrangement between them: and that would be a very sad result, indeed, of this effort to establish his identity. But Mr. Sharpman had assured him that Mrs. Burnham approved of the action that was about to be taken in his behalf. Why, then, should he fear? Was it not absurd to cloud his happiness with the dread of something which would neve

on-illumined sky. By and by the little mining village came into view, and the row of cottages, in one of which the Widow Maloney lived; and finally the light in Bachelor Billy's

to the room; but he had fallen asleep, and his clay pipe

, Uncle Billy! w

t yo'? I mus' 'a' been a

er? I went to Lawyer

o ye did. I for

at do you think? Gue

en a mon like that. Ye'

e ye,

u'd never guess! I'm

am's

gned astonishment, and, for the moment, he was speechless. Finally he found breath to exclaim: "Why,

it's true; it's all t

that, Ralph? be

mistake about it;

to foot, apparently to see if he had undergone any change during his absence. Then he

lenished fire, and Ralph gave a full account o

, talking of what the future held for Ralph; building bright castles for him, and high hopes, with happiness beyond measure. It was only when the fire burned out and left its charred coals in the iron grate-bars and on the hearth that they went to bed, the one to rest in the dreamless sleep that follows