THE OVERCOMER


By Tessa Harvey



CHAPTER FIVE
(Continued)



Stella was working late one evening when a man slouched into the office. Stella became alarmed as she was alone. The man looked calm, but there was something dangerous about him.

Holding her ground, Stella asked the man if he needed an appointment. He just looked around, sneered and left.

Shaken, Stella tried to call her boss, leaving a message when there was no answer. As it was time for her to leave,  Stella called a cab instead of walking, waited until she saw it arrive - locked up carefully and left.

Just before she stepped into the cab, she saw a police officer and, feeling uneasy, told him about the intruder and his unusual behaviour. The policeman seemed interested, but taking only a cursory look around, then left the premises.

Soon after a siren wailed, then another as fire engines and police cars sped to the factory. One of the late-duty workers had spotted a break-in, but was unable to stop a fire blazing wildly out of control.

Sam was called and could only watch grimly as part of his factory was overtaken by leaping flames of terrible force.

He knew the damage from fire and water would be extensive.

That night he called on his father and told him the whole story. His father listened intently. "Son, you could not have given the man a chance and employed him. In the Bible it says 'As a man thinks in his heart, so is he' Had he been worth a chance, he would have asked again for work, and, if turned away, would not have been so violent."

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