Dick Lionheart Part 10

"You young spoil-sport, so this is _your_ doings!" said Whatman vindictively. "I'll have my revenge on you, see if I don't."

The stranger, who looked very pale and cowed, tried to offer a bribe, but the policeman stopped him at once and warned them that anything they said would be used against them at their trial.

Then when d.i.c.k had fetched his discarded shoes, and told what he had overheard, the little procession moved out into the street.

"We must wake up that dolt of a watchman and get the place made fast once more."

And after giving his name and address, d.i.c.k was glad to go home away from the sight of Whatman's rage.

"I am sorry I had to do it," he told Mrs. Garth over the fire that evening, "but it wouldn't have been right to let them steal, would it?"

"In course not, my boy, you only did your duty; though maybe Whatman would have said you were up to no good if he had found you there alone.

It was lucky for you they didn't find you out when you went to give the alarm."

The news of the attempted burglary was soon known among the workmen, and proved a more exciting topic than the result of the football match.

"That's a smart lad," said the manager to Dainton that evening, "and if the firm doesn't do something for him, I will."

"You're right, sir," said Dainton emphatically. "He's smart and plucky too. Whatman's neither more nor less than a brute when he's roused, and this affair proves that he's none too honest. You know he was more than suspected when the bra.s.s filings were missed, that time."

"It'll be a fine exposure for Monks, too, if this fellow proves he was only a cat's-paw for them."

"Maybe you could move d.i.c.k into my shop, sir? I want to lend the boy a hand, though it strikes me he'll get on whether or no. He's so keen on learning, and would stop up half the night to pore over any old book of mechanics he can get hold of. And the way he has taken hold of drawing, at the night school, in the few weeks he's been there is something wonderful. I only wish my boy had the same gift."

"His uncle was a clever workman," said the manager thoughtfully.

"Foolish fellow to take gold fever and go off into the wilds after it when he was doing so well with good British ironwork! I'll speak to Mr. Alfred about d.i.c.k, and he'll certainly have some promotion."

The manager did speak, and to good purpose, for d.i.c.k was raised to the rank of an apprentice and his indentures were made out and signed by the firm. He did not leave all disagreeable work behind, but he was under Mr. Dainton's oversight now, and Whatman's friends had little chance to torment him. When the a.s.sizes came he had to give evidence against the would-be burglars, and as a result they were both sentenced to hard labour.

d.i.c.k would have gladly evaded this unpleasant duty, but he had no choice in the matter.

It was a great trouble to him, for a long while afterwards, and again and again he prayed that Whatman might have a new heart and right spirit and come out to lead a better life.

CHAPTER X.

SUCCESS AT LAST.

The winter pa.s.sed quickly away and in the spring Paddy came to Ironboro'. He knocked at Mrs. Garth's door one evening, and d.i.c.k, who happened to answer the summons, looked at him for a moment in astonishment, he was so completely changed. In a new suit of clothes and with smart collar and tie he looked altogether unlike the slovenly, poorly-clad Paddy of old.

But his smile was the same, and d.i.c.k almost fell upon him in his delight, while Pat was in no doubt at all. He recognised his former benefactor at once with that strange power of memory dogs possess in a way that is almost human.

"Ye see, I was bound to come, Lionheart, to see with my own eyes how they were serving you, and to let you know I've gave up the drink for ever an' ever! Twas all through you, and the Almighty's power, and now I belong to Him body and soul, and He kapes me every day."

d.i.c.k's joy was almost too great for words. It was splendid to see his friend like this, and to know that he had helped in the great change.

There were no lessons done that evening. Instead they talked, as Mrs.

Garth declared, "enough to fill a newspaper."

It happened that she had a room empty, for her other lodger had left a week before, and when she found that Paddy meant to stay if he could find work in Ironboro', she offered him the room, and he was only too glad to have it.

"You can come here, and welcome," she said, "only if my old lodger, the boy's uncle, comes back I shall let him have the chance of it again.

He used to say if he didn't get the dollars out foreign he should come back to me, and d.i.c.k here is hoping he will."

"We had a letter from him," said d.i.c.k, "and he's coming home as soon as he can get luck, he says, but he hasn't found any gold yet."

"It was a pity he went on a sort of wild goose chase, but still it was a good thing you came to look for him, eh lad? Maybe it'll be the making of your fortune!"

"I don't know about that," said d.i.c.k eagerly, "but I love to be here.

And I've nearly saved up enough to pay you back the debt."

"Pay! Now if you begin to talk like that I'll go back again. I should most likely have been a neer-do-weel all my days, and maybe have died a drunkard, if it hadn't been for you, d.i.c.k, and the good words of the Book. Besides, I've got plenty," and he pulled out a handful of silver from one pocket and the little bank book from the other and tapped it merrily. "All saved from the paws and the jaws of the 'Brown Bear,'

that squeezes all the comfort out of so many homes in Venley. If only I'd got all the money that have gone out of my pocket that way, I shouldn't need to stoke for a living now. But if G.o.d will give me health and work I shan't come to the workhouse yet awhile! That's where the Fowley's are shaping for. Both drinking, and the children left anyhow, and everything going to rack and ruin."

"I should like to see the baby again and little Susy," said d.i.c.k, "but I could never go back."

"I should think not! Why, you've nearly doubled since you've had decent living and no nagging."

Next day, with Mr. Dainton's kind help, Paddy got work. Trade was specially good in Ironboro', and his honest face carried its own recommendation. That summer Teddy persuaded d.i.c.k to join the boys'

cricket club in connection with the Sunday School the Daintons attended. On Sundays he and Paddy always sat together in the game church.

The Sunday's rest and the games in the marshes were a great means of health, after the heat of the Works and the close study of other evenings.

Out in the fresh air with other boys listening to Teddy's fun or Paddy's latest joke his face lost the pinched and anxious look it had worn at Venley.

He grew tall and strong, and as he threw his heart into play as keenly as into work, he soon became an important member of the club's junior eleven.

But though he enjoyed the play as much as anyone he never lost sight of his aim to become a clever engineer, and many a half-hour was stolen from sleep for his books and drawing and models.

Mrs. Garth sometimes said he ate and drank and dreamed engines, his thoughts were so filled with the work done at Lisle and Co.'s.

But the months went by with no other tidings from his uncle, though d.i.c.k never forgot to pray for his return.

When his apprentices.h.i.+p was halfway through he went with Teddy for a long ramble one summer evening.

Beyond the marshes the road skirted a belt of stunted woodland. This was Pat's happy hunting ground, though he never found any rabbits there. Running in and out of the tangled bushes they heard him begin to bark loudly, and then he rushed back to his master in great excitement and tried to hurry them on, and following quickly they left the road and plunged into the undergrowth. And there, under the shelter of a clump of elder, they saw a man, unconscious, on the ground.

He looked like a tramp, his clothes were so old and broken, and his face was deadly pale. Teddy looked scared and suggested going for the police, but d.i.c.k had more courage.

He remembered a little stream that ran through the Dingle not far away, and fetching some water in his cap he bathed the man's face.

Presently there was a feeble movement, and then the stranger opened his eyes and looked up at d.i.c.k, who was bending anxiously over him. And then he smiled faintly and said, "Good old George, is it you?"

"He thinks he knows you," said Teddy in a hurried whisper.

But d.i.c.k had been studying the face on the ground and recalling Paddy's description. And with a half-frightened cry he guessed the truth, and said "Uncle! It is Uncle Richard come back!"