The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-17

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"Six or seven hundred" said John,
loftily. 1t was my grandfather's. It's
got the family crest on it in Jewels, dye
see? suppose the boys will under
stand that"
go, they'll appre ,iate the watch, no
fear," with laugh.
81 borrowed mothers ring, too. ;"
turning it to make it sparkle. "I don't
know what she'll say if she misses
them. But she ought to let me show
people that I'm not q beggar, when
go into society"
"Certainly. BY the way, did you
briug any money, Jack You know I
told YOU there'd be betting. All our
set risk little, Just for the fun of the
thing. OF course they don't care to
win. Money counts for nothing with
these fellows. But it looks we'll to bet,
you see."
"No, didn't bring any," John said,
flushing hotly. "The truth is, Tom, I
won't bet. It would break mothers
heart, | DO believe, if did that"
Bah ~ muttered Wa!cot, With I'm
limited disgust. Break her heart. in
deed Well, well, you'll learn to be 8
man some time"
Eppton, the country town, was
reached in q couple of hours, and john
was introduced to "the boys" Now
John, full OF conceit as he was, was
shrewd enough, and wa9 quick to see
thae the coarse faces, gaudy clothes
and sham iewelry of the young men
were very different from those which
| should belong to geptlemen's sons.
But as he had no money to bet they
they treated him with indifference,
leaving him to Walcot during the day.
The races were exciting. There was
a certain delight, too, in standing in q
crowd, sucking the end of an unlighted
cigar Che knew he would be sick, if he
smoked), stroking the down on his up.
por lip with the ieweled finger
But as the day wanod even these
pleasures paled. The oaths and OBJ
scenity about him sickened the boy.
He remembered it was time for his
mother to read the chapter and the
evening prayers. The little, fussy, dear
woman She might be fussy and weak,
but her religion seemed to John at that
moment pure and awful thing, before
which these meu and their "vorld p"
were vile and insignificant.
He touched Walcot on the shoulder.
I'm going home now, Tom"
The men around hastily glanced at
each other.
Come, take a drink, first. "I
cant go back tonight, Jack" said
Walc0t {" You'll havo to trudge
alone, if you will go. Better stay where
you are"
"No. Aud I'll not drink anything
more. Good evening, gentlemen"
He hurried through the crowded
streets to the turnpike leading home.
The day had been a disappointment,
after all. He might as well have been
fishing or at the sewing society for all
the pleasure he had had. And yet q
boy ought TO have some amusement, he
thought.
He trudged on miserable enough,
with an aching head and uncertain
steps. "As for the wine, what do
take it for? 1 hate il. and it makes NE
sick as death, If Walcot wouIdn't ieer
at cold water prigs y
The sun had set before he started
homeward. The road Jay between hills.
When he had gone a mile or two, he
found himself in almost absolute dark
ness. He trudged on manfully,
though, and had reached the Narrows,
where the hill rose on one side OF the
road and the river ran on the other,
when he observed four figures, appar-
emily waiting for him, One was in form
SO like Walcot, chat be thought the
boys had changed their minds, and de-
terInipad to go back with him.
" Is that you, Tom ?" ne shouted.
The man came quickly mp to Linn.
He was masked.
81 want the time of night, boy" he
said, in a strained voice.
John, trembling, but5oned his coat
tightly over mis- watch.
:" I want to know what time il is /"
drawing 4 revolver md pointing it at
his heaC.
"The watch is not mine, cried John,
yelling, "Help, help % Tor a moment,
until q blow on the head feiied and
stunned him. lie knew, however, that
his watch snd ring wele dragged from
him before another blow left him lie
less.
When he came to himself man was
lifting him into a buggy standing on
the road. In the darkness, and his be-
wildermeut from the blow he had re.
ceived, he could just see that the man
was large and powerfully built.
Are you going to kill me ?" John
asked, quiet enough, considering the
of the case.
The gentleman laughed. "No.
You've had rough usage enough, poor
fellow, You are too young a boy to be
drunk and Hghtlng," arranging the
about him in the seat, and
taking the reins. Nov tell me all
about it.
There was something so kind and
strong in his voice that the boy ner-
vously told him the whole story, with
sobs and tears.
"It is mother I care for" he said.
" To think how turned against her p
The gentleman looked down at linn |
closely, his own face strangely agitated. |
He took the boys hand and held it,
it in his own until John al
most cried out.
They stopped at the cottage door.
Johns mother stood at the gate, where !
the poorlittle woman had been watching |
all day. When she saw the boy come |
down the path toward her,
she ran to meet him, and then stopped |
short, looking at the man behind him,
with wild cry of George George I"
Yes" said Dr.. Thurlow to his wife,
the next day, "it has all ended like a |
story in book. The police have the |
thieves and We have the watch and |
ring, and I came home Just when / was
needed-in more ways than one. No |