The Young Bridge-Tender | Page 6

where it is earned."
"It's a wonder that shoe factory would come here, if such inducements
are offered elsewhere," said Ralph, thoughtfully.
"I understand several men, including Squire Paget and the postmaster
of this place, have received stock in the concern. I do not know much
about the deal. I only heard it talked over at the hotel."
"Where are they going to locate the factory?"
"Somewhere along the water front, I believe."
"Then it will be around here!" cried Ralph. "That is our land over
there," he pointed with his hand. "I wish we could prove our title to it."
"So do I, Ralph, and I wish I could help you. You haven't any idea who
had the papers last?"

"No, sir."
"Too bad. I would advertise for them, and even offer a reward for
them."
"I will," returned Ralph, quickly. "I'll use this twenty dollars you have
given me for that very purpose."
Horace Kelsey remained with Ralph the best part of an hour longer, and
then started for a walk through the village, stating that he would call on
Bob Sanderson and see how the boat repairing was progressing.
When he was out of sight, Ralph pulled the twenty-dollar bill from his
purse to make sure that he had not been dreaming. But there was the
money true enough. There was a grease spot on one corner of the bill,
left by the butter on the sandwich, but this did no harm.
"Hallo, there, Ralph Nelson, counting your fortune!" cried a rude voice
from the shore, and looking up, Ralph saw a loudly-dressed youth
approaching. He hastily slipped the twenty-dollar bill into his pocket.
CHAPTER IV.
THE QUARREL ON THE BRIDGE.
The boy on the shore was Percy Paget, the squire's only son. He was a
year older than Ralph, and somewhat taller and heavier. His ways were
arrogant to the last degree, and in the village he had but few friends,
and these only because he generally had pocket money to spend.
On several occasions Ralph had had sharp words with Percy because
the latter wished to do as he pleased on the bridge, against the printed
rules that were posted up. Because his parent was squire, Percy
imagined he could do almost anything and it would be all right.
"I say, are you counting your fortune?" repeated Percy, throwing as
much of a sneer into his tones as possible.

"Unfortunately, I haven't any fortune to count, Percy," returned the
young bridge tender, good-naturedly.
"Humph! I suppose you mean that for a pun, don't you?" growled the
son of the squire. "If you do, let me tell you it's a mighty poor one."
"I hadn't intended to pun, Percy."
"I didn't think so, for you haven't the brains. Didn't I see you counting
some money just now?"
"I was looking at a bank bill."
"That you got on the bridge, I suppose?"
"No; it was a bill of my own."
"Oh, I thought you had to use all the money you made here."
"I have to use the most of it. My pay isn't any too large, as you know."
"Yes, but I guess you make enough besides," returned Percy,
suggestively.
"What do you mean?"
"You've got plenty of chance on the bridge, with so many odd pennies
coming in."
"Do you mean to insinuate I steal the toll money?" demanded Ralph,
angered at the insinuation.
"I didn't say so," sneered the other, more suggestively than ever.
"But you meant it."
"Well, what if I did?"
"It's mean of you, Percy Paget! I never stole a cent in my life!"

"It's easy enough for you to say so."
"And it's true. You must think that every one is a thief just because
somebody was caught stealing tarts out of the bakery."
Ralph was angry, or he would not have spoken as he did. As Percy had
been discovered taking tarts and cakes from the counters of a pastry
shop in Eastport only a few weeks before, and as he had been
threatened with arrest for so doing, the squire's son reddened at once.
"See here, Ralph Nelson, don't you dare to talk to me like that!" he
stormed.
"I have more grounds to talk than you, Percy Paget!"
"No, you haven't, you low upstart!"
"Hold on, Percy, I am no upstart!"
"Yes, you are. What was your father? Only a poor boatman on the
lakes."
"He was a hard-working man, and an honest one," returned Ralph,
warmly.
"Oh, of course, and you were all next door to beggars until my father
took pity on him, and gave him the job on the bridge."
"It was the committee, and not your father, who gave him the
situation."
"Well, it was the same thing, for the committee have to do as