The Young Bridge-Tender | Page 5

add that he had paid Mrs. Nelson liberally for her kindness, for he was not one to brag in that direction. Nevertheless, Ralph heard of it later on.
In the basket were several sandwiches of cold corned beef and half-a-dozen peaches. Ralph offered one of the peaches to the young man, which he took, and both sat down to eat.
"You will find a tavern up the main road, a two minutes' walk from here," began the youth, thinking that Horace Kelsey might wish for something more substantial in the way of food.
"Thank you, but your mother supplied me with a very good lunch while I was waiting, Ralph," returned the young man. "Don't mind me, but go ahead and enjoy your lunch."
Ralph at once set to, for he was hungry. His companion looked up the lake for a moment in silence, and then went on:
"I came down here to reward you, Ralph," he said, hesitatingly.
"Reward me? What for, Mr. Kelsey?"
"For saving my life."
"I don't think I did as much as that. Anybody could have pulled you from the water."
"They might not have been as quick as you were. I feel I owe you something for your prompt aid."
"I don't want anything, sir. I would have done as much for any one."
"I do not doubt it, and it is to your credit to say so. But I feel I ought to do something for you. Will you accept this--not as payment for what was done, for I could not pay for that in this way--but as a gift from a friend?"
And Horace Kelsey drew from his vest pocket a new and crisp twenty-dollar bill.
"I don't see as I ought to take it," hesitated Ralph.
"But you will. Here, don't let it blow overboard," and the young man from New York thrust it into Ralph's hand, directly between a sandwich he was holding.
"Indeed I won't let it blow away. I thank you ver--hallo! you have made a big mistake."
"How?"
"This is a twenty-dollar bill."
"I see no mistake about that," and Horace Kelsey smiled quietly.
"You don't mean to say you meant to give me twenty dollars?"
"I did. It is little enough for such a service."
"It's too much. I thought it was a one-dollar bill, sir."
"I would not be mean enough to offer you only a dollar, Ralph. A man isn't pulled from a watery grave, as the poets call it, every day."
"I don't think I ought to take all this money," returned the young bridge tender slowly.
"I do, so put it into your pocket and say no more about it."
Ralph continued to argue the point, but was finally persuaded to place the bill in his private purse.
"Your mother has been telling me a little about your family affairs," went on Horace Kelsey. "It's a pity you haven't a clear title to this land about here."
"We have a clear enough title if only we can find the papers in this case," returned Ralph, promptly.
"I understand a syndicate from Chambersburgh are thinking of locating a big shoe factory here. If they do that, Westville will have a boom."
"It would have boomed long ago if it hadn't been for Squire Paget and some others. They hold their land so high and keep the taxes on the hat factory up so, the manufacturers are scared away."
"That is true, especially when other places donate them land free and exempt them from all taxation for from five to ten years."
"Do they do that?"
"Certainly, and in many cases it pays very well, for the factories employ hundreds of hands, who receive fair wages, and that is spent in the place 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