The Young Bridge-Tender | Page 9

factories."
"I trust so, my son, that or something even better. I would not wish you
to remain a bridge tender all your life."
A moment later Mrs. Nelson was on her way to the village center.
Ralph lit the sitting-room lamp and got out his books and his slate.
Soon he had forgotten all about the exciting scenes of the day in an
earnest endeavor to do a complicated example in profit and loss.
He worked out the problem, and then tackled something harder still.
Not having anyone to guide him, he made numerous mistakes. But he
kept on without becoming disheartened and at last the second example
was solved as correctly as the first.
He was just about to begin a third, when his mother entered the cottage
almost breathlessly. From the look on her face it was plain to see she
had something to tell that was of great importance.
CHAPTER VI.

MRS. NELSON'S STORY.
"What is it, mother?" cried Ralph, as Mrs. Nelson placed her basket on
the floor and dropped into a chair.
"Oh, Ralph! I can hardly believe it possible!" exclaimed the good
woman, catching her breath.
"Believe what possible?"
"That Percy Paget would be so wicked!"
"Why, what has he done, now, mother?"
"Ralph, I believe he took your twenty-dollar bill!"
"What makes you think that?"
And in his excitement the boy shoved back his books and slate and
sprang to his feet.
"From what I overheard down to Mr. Dicks' store, while I was doing
my trading."
"What did you overhear?"
"His son William waited on me, and while he was doing it his father
began to count the money in the drawer, and then asked who had paid
in the twenty-dollar bill."
"And what did Will Dicks say?" questioned Ralph, eagerly.
"He said he had got the bill from Percy Paget."
"He did! It must be my bill."
"So I thought, and came home as quickly as I could to tell you."
"Percy has lots of spending money, but I doubt if he has twenty dollars

at a time," went on Ralph, walking up and down the sitting-room in his
thoughtfulness. "But to think he would turn pickpocket!"
"Maybe the money fell from your pocket during the quarrel, and he
picked it up."
"It would be just as bad as stealing. He knew it was my money. He saw
me put the money in my pocket when he came on the bridge."
"It would certainly seem that it was your bill."
"I'll go down and question Will Dicks about it. Or, perhaps, you did
so?"
"No, I only listened to what he told his father, and then came home. If
you go down, Ralph, be careful and avoid more trouble."
"If it is really my bill I am not going to stand being cheated."
"Remember, Squire Paget is an influential man----"
"I don't believe his influence will count in this case. But I will be
careful," Ralph added, to overcome his mother's anxiety.
Without further words, he put on his coat and hurried down into the
village. When he reached Uriah Dicks' general store he found father
and son in the act of putting up the shutters for the night.
"I would like to see you a minute, Will," Ralph said to the son.
"All right," returned Will Dicks, and, leaving his father to place the last
of the shutters up, he led the way inside the store.
"I believe Percy Paget paid you a twenty-dollar bill this afternoon,"
began Ralph, hardly knowing how to open the conversation.
"He paid it to me just before supper time."
"Did he say anything about where he got it?"

"Why, no. Why do you ask?"
"I have my reasons, Will. Will you let me see the bill?"
"What's the trouble?" asked Will Dicks, and his father stepped into the
doorway to hear what the young bridge tender might have to say.
"I would like to see the bill, that is all."
"But, can't you tell me what the trouble is?" insisted Will Dicks.
"Maybe Ralph intends to accuse Percy of obtaining it feloniously," put
in Uriah Dicks, cautiously. "Speak up, boy, and let us know what's in
your mind."
"I would rather not say, Mr. Dicks. I wish to look at the bill, that is all."
"Well, if you can't tell me of the trouble, I don't know as I will let you
see that bill," returned Uriah, sourly.
"And what is your objection?"
"I ain't a-going to be accommodating to a boy that puts me off in the
dark."
"It may save you some trouble, Mr. Dicks."
"What, me? What do you mean?" and the general storekeeper turned
slightly pale.
"Just what I say! If you won't let me see the bill, I'll have to go