Carrie Chapman Catt

“ The big fellow had one idol, one warm corner in his heart—his little grandchild.
His rugged brow corrugated, and he was frantic beyond all reason as he covered the still white face with kisses, nestling the motionless child in his arms tenderly. ”

“ My! but it's good to see the old place again, Morse," and the tall, good-looking lad whom the other had greeted so effusively held out his hand—a firm, brown hand that told of a summer spent in the open.
"Any of our boys back, Morse?" went on Tom Fairfield, as he looked around the campus of Elmwood Hall. "I thought I'd meet Bert Wilson or Jack Fitch on my way up, but I missed 'em. How are you, anyhow?"
"Fit as a fiddle. Say, you're looking as if you had enjoyed your vacation."
"I sure did! You're not looking bad yourself. Able to sit up and take nourishment, I guess." ”

“ I like a man to take some interest in life.”
“Didn’t this man do that?” asked Tom, as he stowed his gun away on the straw-covered bottom of the pung.
“Not a cent’s worth!” cried Sam, who was hearty and bluff enough to suit anyone, and jolly in the bargain. “This chap sort of wrapped himself up in one of my fur robes, like one of them blanket Indians I read about out West, and he hardly spoke the whole trip. But you’ll probably see him over at Hounson’s. Well, are you boys all ready?”
“I guess so,” assented Bert, as he slung his camera over his shoulder by a strap. ”

“ The old clerk had sprung to his feet, gaping in consternation at him. Pryor's friend was convulsed with internal mirth. Pryor himself did not look altogether displeased at the situation.
Frank thought that Dorsett would actually leap upon him and strike him with the whip. The latter, however, with a hoarse growl in his throat, allowed Frank to proceed on his way unhindered.
"We shall hear from this of course—my mother and I," said the youth to himself as he gained the street. "Mr. Dorsett will store this up against me, hard. All right—I've done my simple duty and I'll stand by the results." ”

“ You're not going to stay here."
"No, I meant it!" insisted Tom. "I don't see why we fellows should go to a lot of trouble, and get all smoked up, to save the hay stacks of a grouchy old codger who raised a row just because we trampled down a few hills of his corn."
"Oh, forget it and come along," urged Bert. "There are some of our fellows going now," and he pointed down to the campus, across which several figures could be seen hurrying.
"Sure, come ahead," added Jack, beginning to dress. "It will be something new, anyhow. It isn't like you, Tom, to hold back, even though you have been gouged." ”

“ If they haven’t found her down there in Shadow Valley, I believe I can. I’ll get back to Rockton in time to take out the Midnight Flyer to-night.”
“Is there an engineer here able to take over your locomotive?”
“Ben Rogers is the man!” exclaimed Ralph. “I’ll put him wise to everything before we reach Timber Brook.”
“Go to it then, boy!” exclaimed the general manager. “I am sorry for Barton Hopkins. Until this strike came he was saving money right and left for the Great Northern. It is a pity that he has been under this strain—if he has—all this time. I hope Adair is helping him.” ”

“ Why do you want to bother answering a fellow like him?"
"Oh—er—all right," stammered Bert, and he looked from Jack to Tom, wonderingly.
"All right. You may think you're smart, but you'll find that th' law's smarter than any of ye!" threatened the farmer, as he turned aside with a scowl.
"Nice sort of chap—not," murmured Tom, as he strode on, his companions hurrying to catch up to him.
"I should say so," agreed Jack. "Why, any fellow might lose his pin—not necessarily at Appleby's hay stacks—and that, in his eyes, would make him guilty. I don't even know where my school pin is at this moment." ”

“ The old hermit got it. I don't know just how that was, for Nick and I left. But I think Tom and the old chap had a row, and part of a wall fell down, showing a secret room. Oh, but you should hear how indignant Jack and Bert got when they found we were standing guard over them! It was as good as a hazing."
"It must have been!" agreed his friends, laughing heartily.
"Aren't they sore on you?" someone asked.
"Oh, well, maybe a bit," admitted Sam, with a show of frankness. "But if a fellow can't take a joke what good is he?" ”

“ If it had been two Juniors who acted the way those fellow did I don't know that we would have such a kick coming, but when a member of your own class turns against you it's time to do something!"
"Hurray!" cried George. "What are you going to do, fellows? Will you let me in on it? Will you haze 'em? Say, you'll let me have part in it; won't you?"
"Hold on, George!" begged Tom with a smile. "Just shut off your gas, throw back your spark, and put on the brakes. You're skidding a bit." ”

“ Frank affected unconcern and indifference.
"Don't let that worry you, mother," he said, leading her back into the house.
"But, Frank, he can put us out!"
"If we stay to let him, probably. The law he has invoked to rob us, may also enable him to evict us, mother, but he won't win in the end. You say you dislike the place. Very well, we will move."
"But where to, Frank?"
"This isn't the only house in Greenville, is it, mother?" asked Frank, smiling reassuringly.
"What's more, Greenville isn't the only town in creation. Stop your fretting, now. ”

“ What is to be done with the poor beasts?"
"Oh, we'll give most of them away, mother," said Mrs. Chapman. "They're all splendid kittens; anybody'll be glad of them."
"I do not think thee will find any dearth of cats in the village; it seems to be something most families are supplied with: but thee can do what thee likes with them; they can't be kept here, that is certain," replied Mrs. Jameson placidly, and went into the house.
Mrs. Chapman and Jerry decided that the cats should be left in the box [71] till morning, and the children should not be told until then of their arrival. ”

“ Farrington squirmed against the doorway, fumbling his cane, and puffing and purple with violent internal commotion.
"Then what's the matter with that idle, good-for-nothing, son of yours going to work and paying the honest debts of the family!" he stormily repeated.
The widow looked up. Her lips fluttered, but she said calmly: "Mr. Farrington, Ralph is neither idle nor good-for-nothing."
"Huh! aint! What's he good for?"
The widow's face became momentarily glorified, the true mother love shone in the depths of her pure, clear eyes.
"He is the best son a mother ever had." ”

“ No," said Stet, "I saw him borrow from two or three chums. But he's got great prospects, I heard him say. He's waiting for somebody to come to Pleasantville, or for something to happen. You leave it to me. I'll watch him like a ferret, only you'd better leave word where I can find you, if anything important comes up."
"All right, Stet. ”

“ The fellows are getting more and more sporty every year."
"Get out!" laughed Tom. "You were as bad as any of us!"
The car came nearer. Tom and Bruce were well over to one side of the road, but in a spirit of mischief the lad at the wheel yelled:
"Get out the way! Give us room! We're the cheese!"
"They've got all the room they're entitled to," murmured Tom, for he and Bruce were on the extreme left of the highway, and the auto should have been on the right.
"Look out!" yelled a voice suddenly. "Pull that wheel over, Sam!" ”

“ Hike!"
"He doesn't give himself any airs; does he? Oh no!" exclaimed Bert sarcastically, as he jogged along beside his chums.
"Oh, that's the way with all Seniors," said Jack.
"I hope we'll not be," murmured Tom.
"Do you think we will?" asked George Abbot. "I wonder what makes Seniors think they're so high and mighty? Do you think we'll make this run? Will———"
"Foolish question number six thousand four hundred and twenty-one!" interrupted Tom, with a laugh. "Now if you're going to start on your interrogatory stunt, Georgie my lad, you'll make this run alone. ”

“ Markham was to go with them to Pleasantville.
Mrs. Ismond was to spend the day until train time with an old neighbor. Frank and Markham were also invited there to dinner.
They had just finished the meal. Frank was looking over a time-table and telling of a letter he had received from Darry Haven that morning, when there came a thundering knock at the front door.
"Frank," said Mrs. Ismond, in quite a startled tone, as her hostess opened the front door, "it is that man, Mr. Dorsett."
"Is the widow Ismond here?" demanded Dorsett's gruff tones.
"Mrs. Ismond is here, yes," replied her friend. ”

“ Who—who are you?" gasped Tom, when he had recovered his breath.
"I—I—who are you?" came the quick retort, and the voice was suspicious. Whoever it was evidently was not going to be caught by a prowling monitor.
"George Abbot!" gasped Tom, as he recognized the voice of his chum.
"What in the world is the rush? What's the hurry?"
"News! I've got great news!" cried George. "Cats! But you knocked the wind out of me all right. I—I was coming fast myself, I guess. Where are you going?"
"Out," replied Tom briefly. "But what's the news?"
"Better not go," advised George, speaking more composedly now. ”

“ Why shouldn't we stay?"
"You know why you shouldn't stay!" cried Tom, shaking his finger at Sam and Nick. "After the mean trick you played on Bert and Jack, standing guard over them in the old mill, in league with that scoundrel Skeel—giving Jack and Bert only bread and water—after that you dare come back here and expect to be treated decently? Well, you're expecting too much, that's all I've got to say! We'll make Elmwood Hall too hot to hold you! You'll live in Coventry all the while you're here. You won't get a decent——"
"Oh, get out of my way, Fairfield, or I'll run you down!" ”

“ Why, we’ll stand on our heads!” exclaimed Tom with a laugh.
“All of us?” demanded the inquisitive lad.
“No, only you,” retorted Jack. “For cats’ sake, cut out some of those questions; will you? We’ll call you Interrogation Mark if you don’t look out, only it’s too much of a mouthful to speak in a hurry. Cut along now, before we’re caught.”
It was dark enough to elude a possible spying [59] monitor, or one of the proctor’s emissaries, and soon the four lads were on their way to town. They went to a moving picture show, enjoying it greatly. ”

“ At the same time, he takes his fees. We can't stand that any longer. I told him so, yesterday. I don't believe there is the least show in the world for our claim. I am sure that Mr. Beach shares my opinion now. No," continued Frank definitely, "what future there is for us must be worked out by our own independent exertions."
"It is a bitter wrong then," spoke his mother. "When your father, Mr. Newton, died, he left me his town property here. When I married a second time, and Mr. Ismond became your stepfather, I had implicit confidence in him at first. ”

“ First, he reported to his mother. They decided to move at once. Then he sought out Nelson Cady, a close chum, and commissioned him to look after his evening paper route and other odd jobs he did daily. ”

“ The foreman sank into a chair, started to speak, arose, paced the floor restlessly, finally halted in front of Ralph, and looked him squarely in the face.
"Fairbanks," he said, "I believe I have done you an injustice. Don't answer. Let me speak while the mood is on me. I am a proud man, and it's hard for me to root out my settled suspicions. I won't say they are all gone yet, but after what has happened it would be wrong and churlish for me to hold back what is on my lips. When you came here this morning, I was satisfied that you came here as a spy upon my actions."
"Oh, Mr. Forgan!" ”

“ Ralph regarded the simple-minded railroad pensioner pityingly. He fixed a censorious glance on the circus manager. The latter flushed and looked embarrassed.
"He said that was all he wanted," stammered the man.
"Oh, well, that won't do at all," declared Ralph. "Your animal has done some damage—in fact, came very nearly doing a great deal of damage. Besides that, Mr. Stiggs is a poor man. You offered a liberal reward for the capture of the animal this morning, I believe. Does that offer stand good now?" ”

“ In Tite she saw something real, good, substantial; one of those young men who prosper and build up their own fortunes and future, because they apply themselves steadily and energetically to the legitimate pursuits of life.
The door opened suddenly, and Mattie's reverie was interrupted by her mother, whose portly figure quite filled the space, for, in truth, the lady had enlarged her hip circumference with an unpardonable amount of padding. Mrs. Chapman expected distinguished company that day, and had arrayed herself in a tantalizing amount of finery. ”

“ A little later they were seated in a private room in one of the Elmwood restaurants much patronized by the students. Bruce ordered a tasty little lunch, and they were in the midst of eating it when there came the sound of several lads entering the next room. There was talk and laughter, somewhat boisterous, and then a voice exclaimed:
"Sit down, fellows, and make yourselves at home. This is on me and
Nick. We'll have a jolly time, and I'll run you back in my car!"
Tom started. "Sam Heller!" he exclaimed, half rising in his seat.
"Keep quiet," advised Bruce. "Of course it's Sam. ”

“ Sorry," commented Grif in a solemn manner, as Ralph continued on his way unheeding. "Poor, but knows how to bat. Pity to see a fellow go wrong that way, eh?" he asked his companion.
Ralph laughed to himself, and braced up proudly. Between idle, dissolute Grif Farrington and himself he could see no room for comparison.
Some sleepy loungers were in the dog house, and a fireman was running his engine to its stall. Ralph went over to the lame helper he had seen the day previous.
"I'm to begin work here to-day, I was told," he said. "Can you start me in?"
"I'm not the boss." ”