Allen French

“ Mr. Dodd hesitated. He could say, “Run away, youngsters,” and so could have the room to himself and his wife, with, perhaps, Bob also. But the younger ones, as he knew, were intensely interested in the boy up at Nate’s, and he wished Pelham and Harriet to hear what was to be said. Further, he trusted absolutely to their secrecy, for he had long ago trained his children to say nothing of what went on in the family circle. He wanted them, therefore, to stay. It was Brian that he doubted. ”

“ It was like the noise of machinery, and yet was unlike. At any rate, it was an irregular, creaky, jumpy kind of machinery. It continued monotonously on and on; it was, he reflected, a pretty soothing kind of noise to sleep to. And then a new sound came to his ears: a cheerful and yet a thoughtful whistle. A man's whistle—a boy would not whistle so thoughtfully. ”

“ In spite of her disappointment, Harriet looked at her mother gratefully. Mrs. Dodd, a very handsome woman for all her forty-five years, had more than her good looks wherewith to claim her daughter’s admiration. She was quick to do good; Nate had judged her well when he foresaw this visit. Harriet gave her Nate’s message: she might see the boy, but was not to expect to take him away.
“Very well,” laughed Mrs. Dodd. With her husband she departed.
Bob had gone to the mill. Harriet, left alone with Brian and Pelham, thanked her cousin for giving up his claim to the money. ”

“ No one recollected seeing a boy of the description, but Wilson, acting upon the theory, and declaring that he knew where his brother would naturally go, took the first train to New York. There is another theory: that the boy fell into one of the three ponds over which the railroad passes.”
Bob looked up. ‘“Perhaps,” he said, “we can now form a third theory of our own. There is a spiteful young brother for you, to do so much to make trouble for an honest and well-meaning, though perhaps unduly strict, older brother.”
“How do you know so much about him?” demanded Harriet. ”

“ Rodman looked at the chair. “It looks comfortable,” he agreed. “But it ’s quite new.”
“Certainly,” said Nate. “I thought you ’d need one. It ’s better than store chairs—fits your back better.”
Slowly, carefully, the boy sat down. He lifted his leg into position, and settled himself so as to put no strain on the ankle. But all the time, though he said nothing, his face was working, And again two tears stood on his cheeks.
“Cheerfully!” warned Nate.
Rodman looked up into his face. “You do a great deal for me. And I ’m a perfect stranger to you.”
“Are ye?” inquired Nate, shrewdly. ”

“ Rodman smiled. “Thanks.”
“We play ball that afternoon,” explained Pelham. “Perhaps you could get down to see us.”
“Perhaps,” agreed Rodman.
“And later you can play with us,” Pelham went on, warming with enthusiasm. “We have a match every Saturday, when we can arrange it. Any fellow can get a place on the nine who plays well enough. You do play, of course?”
“Of course,” said Rodman.
Brian spoke suddenly. “Where have you played?”
Rodman, flushing, hesitated for an answer. Pelham struck in quickly: “What ’s the difference? And say, Rodman, there ’s swimming, and hare and hounds. ”

“ Nate laughed. “Of course you ’re a stranger,” he said. “Otherwise I should know your name. Do you like the chair?”
“Yes,” answered the lad, still confused. “I never saw a better in a city store.”
“Boston?” inquired Nate.
Again the look of doubt. “New York—I think.”
“It ’s no consequence,” Nate said. “Now the doctor wanted you to be in the sun for a while, and outdoors as long as you can stand it. The sun will be on you for half an hour or so, but not in your eyes. When it ’s gone, I ’ll bring a book. If I was you, I ’d sleep if I could.” He went away.
Rodman could not sleep ”

“ Every one that ever applied to me was of the kind that only wanted to learn my secrets in order to sell ’em. But I know when I can trust; and Rodman, he can work with me if he wants to.” He looked at the boy. “We have holidays here whenever we want ’em. The air ’s better here than in the mill, an’ the pay ’s jes’ as good.”
“Will you take me in?” laughed Pelham.
“Cert’,” answered Nate. “But first you ask your pa if he ’d let you come. And now—" His hand, which he had been holding behind his back, he suddenly revealed as holding bottles.
“Root-beer!” cried Pelham, springing up. “Oh, Nate!” ”

“ Rodman spoke slowly, and with evident reluctance. “I suppose my ankle will be well again soon, and my wrist. But, you know, I can’t spend my time playing, for I have n’t any money. I can’t live on Nate here, I must go to work.”
“Whew!” whistled Pelham. But he raised no objection. He knew plenty of lads in the town who, though no older than himself, were beginning their work in the mill. Nevertheless, Rodman seemed not that kind of boy. Surely he was better bred than they. “What shall you do?” he asked. “There 's work in the mill, of course, and you 're above legal age. ”

“ Dodd, briefly.
“Did you ask about the wallet?”’ inquired Brian.
Mr. Dodd shook his head. “Mary, you tell them,” he said to his wife. “I am going to telephone.” He went to the library and shut himself in. The three looked their inquiries at Mrs. Dodd.
“The boy is ill,” she explained. “He is lying in a fever, and is not able to talk.”
“Sick!” exclaimed Brian, scornfully. “Just from a fall!”
Harriet checked her retort. Her mother reproved Brian gently. “A blow on the head, a deep cut in the arm, a sprained ankle, and much loss of blood are enough for most people. ”

“ She won’t allow any one here unless she ’s in a good temper.”
The flush slowly faded from Brian’s cheeks. “Come on, then,” he said. Into the garden the two went together, and there she thought to find a chance to give the wallet to him.
It was a large garden, with paths wandering here and there among shrubs and flower clumps. Harriet’s mother had taught her to love the work of gardening, and this place was to her a resort of peace and friendliness. It was very natural, therefore, to expect soon to be speaking confidentially with Brian. ”

“ The boy was white. Nate put his hand on his shoulder. “It’s only visitors. Friends of mine.”
“One of them is from the city,” insisted Rodman. His breath was coming quickly, and he began to try to rise.
“Surely,” answered Nate. “But ye need n’t be afraid of him. It ’s Brian Dodd, and if he is rather citified in his dress, it don’t mean nothin’, He ain’t half so smart as his cousin Pelham, that comes with him.”
Rodman sank back. “Oh, that ’s who they are?”’
Nate nodded. “Pelham ’s sixteen; jes’ about your age. His father was here the other day; he owns the mills. ”

“ Dodd.
Harriet had clutched at her dress. Ought she to give the wallet up?
Brian spoke again, still hesitatingly. “I—I ’d like to have nothing said about it. Perhaps the boy was poor.”
Mr. Dodd smiled. “That gives him no claim to your money.”
“I feel,” Brian explained, “as if I somehow had something to do with this accident of his. As if he thought we were still following him, and so slipped and fell. I ’d like to make him a present of the money.”
Mr. Dodd considered. “Well,” he said presently, “he can’t get away from us. ”

“ No other train had passed over the road, a single-track division, in the interval, and at first it seemed impossible to account for his disappearance. Wilson then acknowledged that he and his brother had recently quarreled, and that the lad might have run away in a fit of temper. The conductor states that about seven miles out of Winton the train slowed up sufficiently for an active boy to jump from the step without danger. Had he walked back to Winton, a junction, he might have taken the train for New York, which left shortly before the older brother’s return. ”

“ Younger girls did not usually poke fun at him. Then he laughed. “Good!” he exclaimed, but half-heartedly. “You country folk come back at a fellow sometimes.”
Harriet tried to break into his train of thought. “Brian.”
“H-m, great garden,” mused Brian, moving along as he spoke, so that she was forced to follow. “All kinds of things you 've got.”
“Everything we want,” she replied. Then she made her effort. “Brian, that wallet—"
He turned to her quickly, and his face was red again. “Now don’t you begin on that,” he said roughly. “Did n’t you hear me tell Pelham to let it alone?” ”

“ The boy spoke in a voice low, but clear. “Call me Rodman.”
“Good,” agreed Nate, heartily. “Might be a fust name, or a last. If ever you think up another name to go behind it, or in front, jes’ let me know. We can use the combination for your post-office address. Good-by—Rodman.”
In a half-hour, Nate came back, carrying an armful of clothes. “Might as well get up,” he said. “It ’ll be more cheerful than lyin’ here.” He assisted Rodman to dress, and then brought him a crutch. “Thar,” he said, “thet crutch is lighter an’ stronger than anythin’ you ’ll find in the stores. ”

“ I 'm afraid we ‘re rather fussy about the garden,” she murmured weakly.
“Well,” declared Brian, “vou need n't fret any more, I ‘ll never touch a thing in your garden again.” He turned and left her.
Greatly depressed. Harriet went slowly back to the house. Once she thought of the wallet. “I ‘ll give it to Father or Mother,” she thought. Pelham had disappeared from the living-room, the piano was no solace in her present mood, and she sat and read fitfully among the magazines until the sound of wheels on the driveway told her that her father and mother had returned. ”

“ Nate nodded. “Well,” he began, “this boy Rodman, he wants to go away.”
They all exclaimed in surprise. “I thought,” said Mr. Dodd, “that the boys said he was going to work with you.”
“We talked of it when they was there,” agreed Nate, “but you know you can’t really settle things when others is about. He did n’t say nothin’ about it for two days more; but I noticed him a-tryin’ of his ankle every little while. ”

“ But presently, to his satisfaction, he noticed the horse’s head and the upper part of the carriage coming diagonally up the hill. “I ’ve learned a new road,” he thought.
There were two persons in the carriage; not women, certainly. He narrowed his eyes. “Men! ”