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 t