A HUNT FOR THE MISSING BILL.
Ralph was deeply chagrined to think that the twenty-dollar bill could not
be found. He had calculated that with it he might advertise for the missing
papers, and even offer a small reward.
He was loath to give up the search, and after his first hasty hunt, went
over every foot of the plank walk of the bridge, and even under it.
"It must have slipped from my pocket, and the wind must have blown it into
the water," he thought, bitterly. "That was a pretty dear quarrel,
especially as it was not in the least of my making."
Thinking he might possibly find the bill floating on the water, the young
bridge tender sprang into his rowboat, the _Martha_, which was tied up to
the ironwork under the bridge, and pulled around the stonework and some
distance down into Silver Lake.
He found nothing, and inside of ten minutes had to go back to his post of
duty and collect toll from several people who were coming over from
Eastport.
"I'm out twenty dollars, and that's all there is to it," he muttered to
himself. "It's too bad. Why 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 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.