The Young Bridge-Tender | Page 8

can't Percy Paget stay away and mind his
own business?"
The remainder of the afternoon passed quietly, saving for the mild
excitement of the working folks going and coming after factory hours,
and at dark Bob Sanderson came on duty.
"The sloop is gettin' on finely," said the old fellow, in response to
Ralph's inquiry. "The woodwork is about done, and I'll paint her first
thing in the morning."
"You want to make a first-class job of it, Mr. Sanderson. I know Mr.
Kelsey will pay the price."
"I'm a-going to, Ralph. What did he give you for hauling him from the
water?"
"Twenty dollars."
"Shoo! He must be rich."
"I imagine he is."
"What are you going to do with the money?"

"Nothing; I've lost it."
"Lost it?"
"Yes."
And Ralph related the particulars of his encounter with Percy Paget,
and how the money had disappeared during the fracas.
"It's a tarnal shame, Ralph! Thet air dude ain't worth your twenty-dollar
bill nohow!"
"I am sorry he came here. I hope he stays away hereafter."
"I wouldn't take none of his talk," grumbled Bob Sanderson, with a
shake of his grizzled head. "I reckon what he said about gettin' you into
trouble is all nonsense."
"I hope it is, for I couldn't afford to lose my place here."
"Squire Paget isn't so powerful as his son thinks. There are lots of folks
in this village gettin' tired of his domineerin' ways."
"I know he is not as powerful now as he was, but still he is squire, and
that counts."
"Why don't you go on another hunt for the bill? Maybe it has floated
away down the lake."
"I will go out. It will do no harm," said Ralph.
And neither did it do any good, for a half-hour's search on the lake and
along the shore brought nothing of interest to light. The young bridge
tender tied his boat up at the foot of the garden, and walked up to the
cottage.
Mrs. Nelson had the evening meal all prepared, and the two at once sat
down.

"You sent a very profitable visitor to the cottage this morning, Ralph,"
began his mother, as she poured the tea while he cut up the meat.
"You mean Mr. Kelsey?"
"Yes. He came here to get dry, and told me how you had rescued him
from the lake. He said you had acted very bravely."
"It was not much to do. But why do you say he was a profitable visitor,
mother? Did he pay you anything for what you did?"
"Yes, he paid me two dollars. I didn't want a cent, but he insisted on it."
"Then he is certainly rich, mother, for he gave me twenty dollars in
addition."
"Why, Ralph!"
"But, hold on, mother, don't be too pleased. I have already lost the
money, so his generosity will do me no good."
And Ralph told his mother the story, just as he had told it to old Bob
Sanderson, their boarder.
"That Paget boy is a bad egg, I am afraid," said Mrs. Nelson, with a
grave look on her face. "I am sorry you got into trouble with him."
"So am I, but it couldn't be helped. The bridge rules say that no person
is to cross without paying toll. Percy knows the rules, too."
"I understand he has caused the squire a lot of trouble, but for all that,
he is his father's pet."
"It's strange, if Percy gives him so much trouble."
"Well, the two are alone in the world, and that may make a difference.
Have we not been drawn closer together since your father died?"
"That is true, mother, but I try to do right, and--"

"You do what is right, Ralph. As much as I love you, I would not stand
by you were you to do a deliberate wrong."
"I don't believe Percy will do much," said Ralph, after a long pause. "I
was sticking up for the rules, and that is what I am put there to do."
After the supper dishes were cleared away, Mrs. Nelson put on her
bonnet and took a basket to do a little trading at one of the stores,
leaving Ralph to take care of the cottage while she was gone.
"I'll go along and carry the things for you, if you wish," said her son.
"I am going to get a few things, Ralph, which will not be heavy, and I
wish to see Mr. Dicks about the calico he sold me which is not as good
as he represented. You may stay home and read."
"I'll study my school books, mother. I want to master commercial
arithmetic if I can. Maybe one of these days I can become a bookkeeper
in one of the Eastport