Edward Stratemeyer

“ So, with nothing in his hands but a thin stick he had picked up on the bank, he led the way away from the sloop and up among the rocks that formed the base of the mountain of which the island was composed.
"It's the best kind of a place for the work," whispered Martin to Toglet, as they trudged on behind Ralph. "Not a soul will guess the truth after the deed is done." ”

“ Ralph was up before any one else among the passengers. It was a good hour before Horace Kelsey followed.
"Anxious, I suppose," smiled the insurance agent. "Well, I don't blame you."
"There is so much at stake," rejoined Ralph. "I feel as if a fuse had been lighted, and I was just waiting for something to explode."
"And something will explode ere long, I imagine," laughed Horace Kelsey.
It was a little after eight o'clock when the train rolled into Chambersburgh and they alighted. Both knew the place fairly well, and started at once for the steamboat landing. ”

“ The trip on such a craft was a novelty, and he was sorry it did not last longer. Yet when the boat touched on the other side he was one of the first ashore.
Ralph was now in the great city of New York, and the country boy could not help but stare about him at the bustle and apparent confusion on all sides. By a miracle he managed to cross Wall street in safety, and then, learning that Broadway lay several blocks beyond, he followed the crowd in that direction.
"It's a big place, and no mistake," he said to himself. "My gracious, what tall buildings, and how they are crowded together!" ”

“ There was no way of protecting himself; he must take it as it came. Fortunately it was warm, so he did not suffer so much as he might otherwise have done.
A half-hour passed, and Ralph was just congratulating himself that the worst was over, when a cry came out of the gloom to his left.
He strained his eyes in the direction, and after a few moments caught sight of an immense hay barge bearing down upon him. The hay barge had been towed by a steam tug, but the rope had parted, and the barge was now drifting at the mercy of the wind and current. ”

“ When Ralph left the post office building he did not know that he was being followed, yet such was a fact. Martin, who had got into the city but a short while before, had been watching for him, knowing that he would most likely call for mail. The man slunk out of sight when Ralph appeared, and when he went out, dogged him through the crowd like a shadow.
Ralph returned from the post office across Park Row, and from there made his way toward the East Side, as the great tenement district of New York is termed. ”

“ He did not cease his rapid pace until the neighborhood was left a good distance behind.
"Well, that's the most trying experience I've had yet," he murmured to himself, as he at last dropped into a slow walk to catch his breath. "Those people are not thieves, but they are next door to it."
Ralph was so disgusted with the Bowery—which, in reality, has many nice places of business in it—that he left the street at the next corner.
At nine o'clock he found himself in the vicinity of the Brooklyn Bridge. Here he came across a cheap but neat-looking hotel. ”

“ I'll bet you asked them for the watch—or for some reward," went on the young aristocrat, maliciously.
"Not by a good deal; it is not my style, Percy Paget."
"Humph! A low upstart like you——"
"Stop right there!" cried Ralph.
"I won't! You are——"
"If you don't stop I'll pitch you into the lake!"
"You can't do it, Ralph Nelson. You are nothing but a miserable beggar, not fit for decent folks to associate with. If I had my say——"
Percy got no further. With doubled-up fists Ralph advanced upon him. ”

“ He had made a special trip to the cottage, and had come solely for his own selfish ends.
Mrs. Corcoran bid him welcome, and offered him a chair.
"I trust you do not let your sorrow rest too deeply upon you, widow," he went on, to Mrs. Nelson. "We all have our trials in this world," and he gave a grunt that was meant for a deep sigh.
"How can I help it, squire?" she replied. "Ralph was all the world to me." ”

“ Nelson was glad to hear that Ralph had procured employment at Glen Arbor. She knew her son understood boats thoroughly, so she was not alarmed over the prospects, even though he had had such a thrilling experience at the time of Dock Brady's rescue.
"It will bring us in money steadily, mother," Ralph said, "and that is what we need."
"I do not know what I would do without you, Ralph," she returned, fondly. "You have been the supporter of the family since your poor father was taken away." ”

“ Ralph was a poor boy, with little or no influence, while the squire was rich and powerful.
"I don't know but what you are right, gentlemen," he said. "He certainly talked putty sharp-like about Percy last night."
"I shall make him suffer for that, never fear," said the [Pg 58] squire, pointedly. "He shall not insult my son with impunity!"
Ralph was about to speak, but Horace Kelsey checked him.
"It will do you no good to talk," he said, in a low tone. "They are against you, and we can prove nothing. ”

“ It was Jack Rodman, the district constable.
"Hallo, Rodman!" returned the boy, as he ran down to the gate. "Are you after the post office robbers?"
"I guess we are that," put in Uriah Dicks. "An' we ain't far from one of 'em!"
"Hush!" put in Jack Rodman, hastily. "Wait till I have a talk with the boy."
"It ain't no use for to talk," insisted Uriah. "There's the evidence plain enough."
"There may be a mistake," suggested Bart Haycock. "I cannot believe Ralph would do anything wrong." ”

“ An extra heavy puff of wind caught the mainsail of the boat, and with a loud crash she clashed into the stone pier, bow first.
The shock was so great that the bowsprit was smashed to pieces, as was also the woodwork around it. The man, who had been standing partly on the stern sheets, was thrown overboard by the accident, and he disappeared beneath the water.
Fearful that the fellow, who was evidently a city person, might not be able to swim, Ralph leaped down from the bridge into the sloop and went to his assistance.
"Save me! save me!" ”

“ 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. ”

“ A job in the store would be more respectable than carting around sech trash, which everybody sticks in the fire soon as they get 'em."
The truth was that Uriah was hard pressed for help, [Pg 108] his son having gone away on a business trip to Chambersburgh and New York. He had tried to get a boy in vain, all of those in the village knowing his mean ways too well to undertake to work for him.
"This is honest work, and that's enough for me," said Ralph. "I am not ashamed of it."
"Well, suit yourself. Only I won't hold my offer to you open long," warned Uriah. ”

“ Carrington. "I told him that they were very spirited, but in order to make them do their best, as he thought, he used the whip upon them."
"Such a team as that don't need the whip much," put in old Bob Sanderson, who had come up during the conversation, followed by Dan Pickley. "They're too high-minded."
"That is just it," said the lady.
"It was gritty of Ralph to shut the bridge and stop 'em for you," went on the old man.
"Indeed it was!" cried Julia Carrington. "I shall never forget your bravery," she went on to Ralph. "You have done what many a man would be afraid to undertake." ”

“ Ralph told him what he knew in a few brief, well-chosen words. The man smiled.
"You have hit it on the head," he said. "They are the guilty parties. I am a post office detective, and have just run them down."
"And is Percy Paget as guilty as the rest?"
"He was drawn into the scheme by this Brady, who is a very smart fellow. Brady also drew in the other man, who was formerly a horse dealer in this city."
"And did you obtain the money and packages that were stolen?" asked Horace Kelsey.
"We recovered nearly everything. By the way," went on the detective, "did you say your name was Ralph Nelson?" ”

“ And without another word Ralph pocketed his pay, and walked off.
"A regular young tartar!" mused the squire, as he gazed after him. "He won't be easy to manage; that's certain. Too bad I couldn't get him on the canal boat. I must find some way of getting him out of Westville—and his mother, too. I can't do much while they are around."
Ralph had been paid off at the squire's office in the village, and now he made his way to Uriah Dicks' store, to settle up the family account.
"How much do we owe you, Mr. Dicks?" he asked, as he walked up to Uriah, who was poring over a very dirty ledger. ”

“ Presently his mother came down from the cottage to talk matters over with him. She knew her son had gone off with Horace Kelsey to Uriah Dicks' store.
"The squire is certainly very unreasonable," she said, after Ralph had told his story. "Every one around Westville knows that Percy is arrogant to the last degree."
"That is so, mother, but, to the squire, Percy is perfection. I do not see how he can be so blind."
"If you lose your position on the bridge, Ralph, what in the world will we do? Times are so hard in Westville." ”

“ Ralph," returned Uriah, hurriedly. "Say!" he burst out, excitedly. "It's a good bill, ain't it?"
"It ought to be, if it's the one I think it is," replied the young bridge tender.
Going to his desk in the rear of the store, Uriah brought out a tin box and unlocked it. From a long, flat wallet, he drew several bills.
"There's the bill Percy Paget gave to Will," he said, as he handed over the banknote.
There was but a single oil-lamp left burning in the store, and to this Ralph walked and examined the bill. There was his banknote, true enough, with the grease spot from the sandwich in one corner. ”

“ They were the squire, the postmaster, and Uriah Dicks.
"Why ain't you at the bridge?" asked Uriah, sourly.
"We have had trouble at the cottage, sir," replied Ralph. "Some vandal has broken nearly all of our windows." [Pg 65]
"It's a wonder you do not blame it on my son Percy!" sneered the squire.
"I do blame it on him," retorted Ralph. "He is the only enemy who would do such a thing."
"More of the scheme to get my son into trouble. You see how it is, gentlemen; he is a thorough young rascal!" exclaimed the squire.
"It's awful!" murmured Postmaster Hooker. ”

“ 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." ”

“ You can tell your story there."
"I am willing," returned Ralph, promptly.
"It is an outrage," cried Jackson Walters. "A respectable citizen like myself to be dragged to the station house——"
"You won't be dragged, you can walk," interrupted the policeman, with fine sarcasm.
The fact that Ralph was willing to go while the other was not, had impressed him greatly in the lad's favor.
"It's all the same. This boy is a young gamester. He wanted to frighten me into paying him money. It's a pure case of blackmail."
"If it is, the boy will be sent up for it," replied the policeman, sharply. ”

“ But you would have to remain in New York. How would your mother like that?"
"She would miss me, sir, but if the job paid I could send for her to come on, and rent the place in Westville."
"Then you can consider yourself engaged whenever you are ready to come to work. And, by the way," Horace Kelsey went on, hurriedly, as there came a knock on the door, "there is a gentleman I must see on business. Come in at one o'clock again, will you?"
"Yes, sir," replied Ralph, and not to detain the gentleman longer, he bowed himself out, well pleased over the sudden turn his fortunes had taken. ”

“ On the following morning, bright and early, Ralph started out to distribute Mr. Dunham's circulars. He carried the bulk of them in a canvas bag over his shoulder, and took his lunch with him, in case he was not near home during the noon hour.
After leaving a circular at each of a dozen cottages, he came to the stores.
"Hallo, in a new business, eh?" remarked Uriah Dicks as he placed one of the bills on the latter's front counter.
"Yes, sir."
"I guess that don't pay much," sniffed Uriah.
"It pays better than nothing," laughed Ralph. ”

“ He owns quite a deal of property and he lives on the rent money."
"Pretty nice town," put in Toglet. "I wouldn't mind owning a place there myself. Do you own a place?" he went on, with assumed indifference, while he listened eagerly for the reply.
"Yes, we own a small place close to the Eastport bridge."
"Oh, yes. That's a valuable spot."
"We own more of the land, from the bridge up, but we can't prove our right to it," added Ralph.
"That's too bad." Toglet and Martin exchanged glances. "What seems to be the trouble?" ”

“ It was ten o'clock when Ralph lit the way to where their carriage was standing, in charge of a colored coachman. During the visit the rich folks asked Mrs. Nelson and Ralph much about themselves. Julia Carrington proved herself a very nice young lady, and when she went away Ralph and his new acquaintances were warm friends.
"They are not stuck up a bit, mother," said the young bridge tender, as he returned to the cottage after seeing them off.
"No, they are very kind-hearted as well as rich," returned Mrs. Nelson. "Would Westville had more of such." ”