Cinder Path Tales

PADDY'S PROBATION undoubtedly been so excited by his dreams of success on the cinder-path that they had brought back an attack of sleep-walking, to which he said he had been addicted when a boy. He remembered nothing between his going to bed and the waking up in a life and death struggle with Paddy, andwe got him back into his room, not much the worse for wear. After we had tucked him safely in bed, we started back across the field to the gymnasium, for Mrs. Dooley's door wasnow bolted beyond a doubt. I opened the door against which Paddy had leaned a short half-hour before; we crossed the vestibulewhere I had heard his startling story, and under the stairs I pointed out an old tumbling mattress, which would make a comfortable resting-place for the night. I then took slowly from my ring the key to the outside door,and handed it to Paddy without a word. He knew well what it meant, andhis face flushed red with pleasure. No knight ofold after his vigil at arms received his golden spurs with greater pride. He stumbled over a few words of thanks, andI left him to the contem­ plation of his success, alone withhis glory. The days of his probation were past. " That job " was his at last.