The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-11
FIVE TIMES TWO.
THE PROBLEM.

4hors was a sudden scurry of feet II Be,
rushed into the room, his face bright anc
eaRsr az he Hourished a fiat and dilapi-
dafep sheep-bound volume in his hand.
aNother, I've struck a b%onsnza!" he ex'
claimed. ".smith's Elements of Algebra,
and it didn't cost me a Gent. Mr.. Hamlir
knows I'm fond Of figuring, and when
was busting the secondhand books to-day
10 said | might take this one home. as il
had been knocked about on the shelves for
iya yeafs and nobody else seemed to wan.
il vary much. Mr.. Hamliu is a regular
brick. mother!n
Mrs. Roberts smiled at her young sons
enthusiasm, though Pm not sure that she
knew exactly what q regular brick" might
be.
Ben was a bright, sturdy lad, not yet Is
years old, His father had been dead only
a year, and Ban, who had had dreams OF
becoming a civil engineer or something like
il connected with mathematics, found him.
self suddenly called on to do some figuring
even more difficult than that in civil engin-
eering-how to support his mother and HIM
self on 81 q week.
He had left school Immediately on the
death Of his father, and had gotten a posi-
ton as clerk in a book store. His salary
Was 81 4 week, but. although Ben had a
genius for mathematics, he couldn't solve
this rather difficult problem, and his mother
had had to help him with her needle.
She felt that the needle WAS mightier
than the pencil in this case, and Ben had
to agree with her, though he hated to do it.
AS IMAM of the house, he thought he
Nnuhf IN cnnr1v 01 tina r10Nav NaeAeH 20
keep the household machinery in running
order; but, with only 81 q week this was
not an easy thing to do.
Ben poured long and eagerly over the
shabby volume that night, and even in his
dreams the puzzling KS VS. came trooping
before him, asking Indignantly how he
dared say nothing.
Ben came home with an unusually sober
face the next evening, but his mother for
bore to question him, as she knew he would
tell her what was on his mind, if there was
anything to tell. He had no secrets from
sMother," said Ben, finally, pushing his
empty teacup back and leaning his head on
n hand, Il wish l had $40"
Mrs. Roberts looked mp surprised.
''And what for, Benz" she asked.
"You remember that young law student
who was boarding at Mrs. Harrison's last
summer--Judson, l think his name is?
90 AC = SSL1C SNSA uShAA& G3k5 JCQt3 dAN
is going to teach an evening class for five
months beginning with June. He wants
to make some monsy so he can keep on
with his law studies next winter. He used
to teach school before he took up law. He
charges only So a month. But five times
two are ten, and | might as well ask for the
moon Us $40. That algebra is a very capti-
waiting study, mother. l wish I had some
one to help me a little with it,"
Perhaps" began Mrs. Roberts, "if I
was to try to do a little more sew"
Now, mother" Ben almost shouted,
don't think Pm complaining or that you
are to kill yourself on my account! I
couldn't bear to have you think that Pm
not satisfied. And you can't do any more
work. Why. you're wearing yourself to a
skeleton now, you dear, unselish soul!
Promise to forget that I ever mentioned
the school,
And Ben held a teaspoon th%reateninely
over her head.
y will try, Ben, dear" said his mother,
smiling q little trenulously.
If her husband had lived, Ben should
have gone to school all he wished, and it
hurt her that tho brave, ambitious Young
fellow should be denied all the advantages
Of more fortunate boys.
Ben's face was thoughtful all that week.
and he scowlad fearfllly at his algebraic
problems, as if they, and they alone. were
responsible for all his perplexitv, But
when he met his mothers anxious ewes he
would smile brightly, for he was a gener-
GUS boy. and did not mean to put his little
burdens on any body else's shoulders.
And his algebra was a delightful book,
After all, he might be able to dig through
it alone. If he only dared ask Mi. Hamlin
4 few questions! But his employer always
looked SO worried when he went over
his accounts every afternoon that Ben
feared he had no real enthusiasm for math-
ematics.
1.-THE SOLUTION.
Bon was merrily whistling a popular
tune, one morning, as he plodded cheer
fully to the store. But his thoughts were
not with Sally in Our Alley" He was
still thinking of five times two, and won.
dering if he ever should be able to make it
ten, with a S-sign before it, when his stout
boot ssnt something flying three feet down
the walk.
Ben picked the ''something" up, and
changed his whistling to a sharp crescendo
when he saw what it was-a much-worn
black wallet, with q fat suggestion of bills
in it.
Ho hesitated before he opened it; he felt
nlnaosb like a burglar. But what nonsense!
IL ne didn't open the wallet he certainly
shouldn't be able to find the owner.
Ben was, above all things, practical, and
rather priced himself on the fact.
lie oFsnsd it with a careless air, as if
fndih9 weil-hlled pocketbooks were an
every Gay occurrence with him, and then
"Crloky! I've found a gold mine this time,
sure!''
ihs algebra was nothing in comparison,
Tor the wallet was stuffed with $40 bills
eleven of them in all, and every one with
out a crease TO mar its fresh crispness.
Zen turned pale, and | think-I am not
sure, for Mr.. Benjamin Roberts, who told
ms this whole story, didn't seem to be quite
1raItk III this part of it think he Was
ternpted for n moment to hide the wallet in
his inside coat pocket and not breathe a
word about it to any one.
perhars, if be took just go out OF it, and
placed the book back where he had found
it, II would be all right. And he did want
SIG So much.
But Ben was practical, as l have said, and
hh Esw now absurd and wicked that would
and he wasn't!-he might IA well take all
the monay, the wrong would be the same.
Ben flushed holly, and began too look for
an owner for the wallet.
All Ii8 found in it. besides the money
was 9 THIN bit of p~asteboard, which had evil
IDENTITY been somebody's buBiness or calling
card. slough 1t was torn in two, and CON
tanned marelY the word Aus evidently
the fragment of q Kane.
Ihia waa not much Of a clue certainly, for
the card may not even have belonged to the
owner Of the money. But it WAS better
than nothing, and Ben carefully put il
back. Then lie knitted his brows and be-
gan to think, and he kept on thinking that
forenoon. he thought Of all the names DO.
ginning with Aus" and wondered WHY
there were 80 very Few of them.
Austria and Australia came up for consid.
GRAFTON. and even "auspiciouB'' and "aus.