Haste and Waste | Page 8

wanted to make her acquaintance, for she promised
to be the belle of the lake. He was sorry to lose the chance, for it might
prove to be a valuable one to him. Mr. Sherwood was very liberal, and
he hoped he would not engage another pilot. It was no use to complain,
and Lawry walked back to the ferry, where he could see the steamer
when she arrived. When he reached the landing-place, the ferry-boat
was about halfway across the lake, and his attention was attracted by
the strange movements of those on board of her. His father was
laboring at the steering-oar with a zeal which indicated that some
unusual event had occurred. The ferry-boat was thrown up into the
wind, and while Lawry was waiting to ascertain what the matter was,
his father leaped into the water.
It was now evident to Lawry that something serious had happened, and
he sprang into the small keel-boat, used for conveying foot-passengers
across the lake, which was fastened to a stake on the shore. Taking the
oars, he pulled with all his might toward the ferry-boat. He was a stout
boy, and handled his oars very skillfully; but before he could reach the
scene of the excitement, his father had returned to the bateau.
"There's your coat," said John Wilford.

Mr. Randall seized the garment with convulsive energy, and with
trembling hands felt for the pocketbook in which the six thousand
dollars had been kept.
"It is gone!" gasped he; and he seemed ready to sink down in the
bottom of the boat when he discovered his loss.
"Gone!" exclaimed John Wilford.
"What's the matter?" asked Lawry.
"I've lost my pocketbook with six thousand dollars in it," groaned the
bank director.
"How did you lose it?" demanded Lawry.
"That drop came down and let my coat into the lake; but I don't see
how my pocketbook could get out of the coat."
"I don't believe the money was in the pocket," added the ferryman.
"Yes, it was," persisted Mr. Randall.
"I don't see how it could fall out of the pocket," said John Wilford.
"Nor I; but the money is gone," answered the bank director, with a
vacant stare. "I'm ruined!"
"Well, I can't help it. I've done all I could for you. I tried to save it; and
if I get the rheumatism for a month or two, it will be a bad job for me."
"Wasn't the pocketbook in the pocket when you picked up the coat?"
asked Mr. Randall, walking up to the ferryman.
"How should I know?" replied John Wilford. "I gave you the coat just
as I found it."
"I don't believe the pocketbook would sink," added the director. "There
was nothing but paper in it."

"Of course it wouldn't sink, then," interposed the owner of the vehicle
in the ferry-boat.
"I don't think it would," said Mr. Randall.
"I know it wouldn't," protested the stranger. "I dropped my pocketbook
into the lake once, and it floated ten minutes before I could get it
again."
"Then it must be floating about on the water," added Lawry. "I will try
to find it."
"I'll go with you," said Mr. Randall.
They got into the boat, and Lawry pulled about the spot where the coat
had fallen into the water for half an hour without discovering the
pocketbook.
"I suppose I must give it up," sighed the director.
"I'm sure it's not on the water," replied Lawry.
"Do you suppose it would sink?"
"I don't know; the gentleman in the ferry-boat says it wouldn't."
"Stop a minute, boy, and I will soon find out," continued the
unfortunate loser of the money.
He took all the money and papers out of his wallet, and stuffed it with
pieces of newspaper which Lawry gave him. Having thus prepared the
wallet, which he said was of the same material as the lost pocketbook,
he placed it on the surface of the water, holding his hand underneath to
save it, in case the trial should result differently from his anticipations.
It floated, and he removed his hand from under it to exhibit his
confidence in the law he had tested.
"That's plain enough," said he. "My pocketbook hasn't gone to the
bottom."

"It certainly has not," replied Lawry.
"Then where is it?--that's the next question."
"Are you sure it was in your pocket when you got into the ferry-boat?"
"Just as sure as I am that I sit here."
"You were very careless about your coat on board of the sloop."
"I know I was."
"I don't see how a man could throw down his coat with six thousand
dollars in the pocket," said Lawry.
"I know I'm careless; but I'm so used to carrying money that I don't
think much about it. I