“You have always remembered it well since the day of misfortunes at school,” answered his mother, “and I will not urge you to act contrary to it now. Go, if you think it your duty.”
And Frank went. As he expected, the gunpowder had not been put in a place of security. He attended to its removal, and then, with a quick step and a light heart, returned home. Clara had already retired to rest, and his mother was only awaiting his return to follow her example. Soon all were sleeping quietly.
An alarm of fire in the middle of the night, and the noise of the engines as they passed, aroused Frank; and, on looking from his window, he felt convinced that the light was in the direction of the store in which he was employed.
Hastily dressing himself, and pausing at his mother’s door to tell her where he was going, he was soon walking rapidly to the spot.
As he approached, he felt relieved at finding that the fire had not originated in the store, as he had at first feared. It was, however, fearfully near; and, in spite of the efforts of the firemen, one part of it was soon in flames.
It was at this moment that Frank arrived at the scene of action; and, at the same instant, Mr. Lewiston and the head clerk came running from opposite directions.
Frank followed his employer as he was hastily passing into the store, hoping that the most valuable goods might be removed; but they were both forcibly pulled back by the clerk, who, with a countenance full of horror, exclaimed,—
“The powder! O, Mr. Lewiston, I did not remove it; and the fire is in that part of the building!”
Mr. Lewiston uttered an exclamation of despair, and was springing from the door, when Frank laid his hand upon his arm.
“All is right, Mr. Lewiston. I saw the powder properly stored.”