The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-08


feel great anxiety again. In few
moments matters would be brought to
the test Was it all creation of his
performed the act2 Then came the pic
ture of the grief-stricken lady. Max
well steeled his heart against all doubts,
for her sake.
All at once, while he was languidly
pushing on, pale and half exhausted
with his exertions, the three great pines
burst upon his view, standing against the
broad red sky. His heart gave leap.
He had at lastarrived on the ground. He
ran on slowly, barely moving ie crank,
and began to search the ground with his
eyes.
The ground was partly sandy and
partly covered with bushes. He went
on for hundred yards. He saw nothing.
Then he stopped and sat down, and,
burying his face in his hands, tried to
recall his impressions. First the group.
Then the old man with the handkerchief.
Then the unbuttoning of the coat. Then
the pocketbook with its nickel clasps.
Then the throw from the window. Then
the oranges flying in the air. Then
then-then, yes, the pine trees. Then
nothing. All, how much like q
mystery it all seemedl
But yet, here he was. He had nothing
to do but to search well, and to put all
his doubts at rest by actual labor. He
went on hundred yards. Here, he
was certain, was the limit of the dis
tance that was passed over after the
wallet was thrown and before the pine
trees were reached. He descended from
his car, taking with him O small tin
the box. Then he began his task in
earnest. He walked up and down in the
twilight, bending nearer and nearer to
the earth as the light grew less and less.
1t was a strange situation. No one was
near. The frogs began to croak in the
pools near by, the owls began to hoot in
the black trees, and the bats began to
whirl to and fro in the damp air. Still
the stopping figure of the boy went plod
ding here and there, now STOPPING to
feel of something beneath its feet, and
now Strengthening itself up for little
rest. In a little while he Lit his lantern.
Then he went on, up and down, now
around this tree and now around that,
but seeing nothing. He despaired
score of times, but twenty times, too, he
plucked up courage and renewed his
search. Nine o'clock came. His candle
was burned low, and it was growing
cold. What wild-goose chase What
a silly task.
He heard rumbling in the distance.
"Ah," said he, "another train / wish
that L were upon it" His feet were
wet, and he was exhausted with hunger
and labor. His lantern hung carelessly
from his hand. Suddenly, like two rays
from q star, two flashes came out of the
earth. The boy gave leap and shout.
He had found the wallet The clasps
had betrayed it! His heart was in
tumult, thousand things shot through
his brain. The portraits were there
The beautiful lady would be filed with
happiness
That was enough for his kindly heart.
He was content. All that he had done,
all his troubles and all his work, sank
out of sight under the knowledge that
he was able to convey little JOY. 1t
was triumph of quick wit and n ten
der heart over the sluggish boy-nature.
1t had been battle of the head and the
sympathies against a natural selfshness,
against a natural impulse to let affairs
take their own course. He had sprung
out of the mass of people in the Car upon
a mere hint, and had done an act that
the strongest man there would have
been proud of. Maxwell stood up twice
Il man.
But the roar of the train came nearer
and nearer. All at once he gave cry Of
dismay. The hand-car was still upon
the track! Two short, sharp shrieks
from the whistle-an instant more-then
Il fearful crash and smashing of the
trees by the roadside i. The train rushed
into sight. 1t was safe, but it was still
shricking as if it had gone crazy. The
speed lessened.
"Hallo" cried Maxwell; "it's my
chance for q ride home. Hurrahn'
And he ran for the train MS fast as his
legs could carry him. 1t was dark, and
as the people came out to see what the
matter was, he climbed in unseen, and
took scat III an obscure corner. Five
minutes later the cars went on. Five
minutes later still, the stowaway was
found by the still angry conductor
Maxwell told his story and proved it. The
conductor, at first furious, grew inte.-
csted, and then he laughed heartily.
Good, good" he cried, and he
struck his fat knee with great approval
of the whole matter. A" Suppose you
telegraph at the next station that you
have found the pocketbook. Telegraph
to tue conductor of that train-train AZ
and send it to Hillsboro, which is the
last stopping place before B. He
will read the message to the lady, and
she will be at the depot to receive you
when we arrive"
"Capital capital !' cried Maxwell.
Let us do it !"
At eleven o'clock that night Maxwell
stepped from the train, and he found
himself instantly caught in the arms of
the lady. She was wild with Joy. She
grasped the pocketbook with a cry of
intense delight and kissed the blushing
boy time and again, to the great aston
ishment of Maxwell's father, who stood
near by. The uncle, too came up, look
ing profoundly ashamed, and he thanked
the boy in the most earnest manner.
1t was, indeed, true that the elder
gentleman was insane. Thus the finding
of the wallet was doubly fortunate, and
double gratitude fell to Maxwell's lot.
Thus ends this short history of the work
ing of n quick perception and resolute
and quick mind. Thousands of men
would have failed to do likewise and
SO boys are not always children.
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