The Young Bridge-Tender

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The Young Bridge-Tender, by Arthur M. Winfield

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Title: The Young Bridge-Tender or, Ralph Nelson's Upward Struggle
Author: Arthur M. Winfield
Release Date: May 7, 2007 [EBook #21344]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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[Illustration: "The man was thrown overboard by the accident." See page 17.]

THE YOUNG BRIDGE-TENDER
OR
Ralph Nelson's Upward Struggle
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
AUTHOR OF "The Young Bank Clerk," "Mark Dale's Stage Venture," "Rover Boys Series," etc.
NEW YORK AND LONDON STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1902 By STREET & SMITH

The Young Bridge-Tender

CONTENTS.
I A Question of Property 9
II The Smash at the Bridge 14
III Ralph Makes a Friend 20
IV The Quarrel on the Bridge 26
V A Hunt for the Missing Bill 32
VI Mrs. Nelson's Story 37
VII Percy's Home 43
VIII Squire Paget Makes a Move 49
IX At the General Store 55
X Ralph is Given Notice 62
XI The Runaway 68
XII Ralph's Reward 74
XIII On Big Silver Lake 81
XIV A Stormy Time 88
XV Looking for Work 94
XVI Percy Hears Something 101
XVII A Midnight Crime 107
XVIII About a Pocket-knife 114
XIX About the Robbery 120
XX Out on Bail 126
XXI Squire Paget's Visit 133
XXII Ralph's New Situation 140
XXIII Strange Passengers 146
XXIV Ralph's Rough Experience 153
XXV Squire Paget's News 160
XXVI On the Island 166
XXVII The Meeting in the Woods 172
XXVIII Ralph in the City 179
XXIX Penniless 185
XXX The Sharper is Outwitted 191
XXXI On the Bowery 198
XXXII New Employment 205
XXXIII Squire Paget's Move 211
XXXIV The Squire in Hot Water 218
XXXV Ralph a Prisoner 225
XXXVI Mickety to the Rescue 231
XXXVII Martin is Trapped 237
XXXVIII Beginning of the End 242
XXXIX A Surprise at Chambersburgh 246
XL The Exposure--Conclusion 251

THE YOUNG BRIDGE TENDER.
CHAPTER I.
A QUESTION OF PROPERTY.
"It's a shame, mother! The property belonged to father and the village has no right to its use without paying for it."
"I agree with you, Ralph," replied Mrs. Nelson. "But what are we to do in the matter?"
"Why don't you speak to Squire Paget? He is the president of the village board."
"I have spoken to him, but he will give me no satisfaction. He claims that the village has the right to nearly all the water front within its limits," replied Mrs. Nelson, with a sigh.
"It hasn't a right to the land father bought and paid for."
"That is what I said."
"And what did he answer to that?" questioned Ralph Nelson, with increasing interest.
"He said he doubted if your father had really bought the land. He asked me to show him the papers in the case."
"And those you haven't got."
"No, I cannot find them. Your father placed them away, and when he died so suddenly, he said nothing about where they had been placed. I have an idea he gave them to somebody for safe keeping."
"It's a pity we haven't the papers, mother. The property on which this end of the swinging bridge rests, and the land right around it, is going to be very valuable some day; I heard Mr. Hooker say so at the post office only yesterday."
"I have no doubt of it, Ralph, when Westville becomes a city instead of a village. But that is many years off, I imagine."
"I suppose it is--the village folks are so slow to make improvements. It's a wonder they ever put up the bridge across to Eastport."
"They wouldn't have done it had it not been for Eastport capitalists, who furnished nearly all of the money."
"And now, that the bridge has been up several years, and the tolls are coming in daily, I suppose they are glad they let the structure go up."
"To be sure. Folks like to see a paying improvement."
"Well, about this property business, mother; do you think we can find those missing papers?" went on Ralph, after a pause.
"I am sure I hope so, my son. But where to start to look for them, I haven't the least idea."
"We might advertise for them."
"Yes, we might, but I doubt if it would do any good. If any one around here had them they would give them to us without the advertising."
"They would unless they hoped to make something out of it," replied Ralph, suddenly, struck with a new idea.
"Make something, Ralph? What do you mean."
"Perhaps the one holding the papers intends to keep them and some day claim the land as his own."
"Oh, I do not believe any one would be so dishonest," cried Mrs. Nelson.
"I do, mother. There are just as mean folks in Westville as anywhere else."
"But they would not dare to defraud us