The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-09-21
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER XIX.
Major Woodley and His Daughter.
On the third day Robert reached
the Ohio river, and was fortunate
enough to intercept a steamer bound
East. He went to the Office and
found that his money would about
suffice to pay his fare to Wheeling,
but would leave him nothing. This
did not trouble him much. He had
the sanguine and elastic temperament
of youth, and he did not doubt that
something would turn up.
eff can't do any better" he re-
solved, | will obtain work OF some
KIM till l have laid by enough
money to pay my passage for the re-
mainder of the way. Or I can
write to my guardian, and ask him
to send me money enough to bring
me to New York"
Among the passengers his atten-
ton was drawn to a tall gentleman
OF bronzed complexion. who had as
a companion a young girl of about
thirteen, whom he addressed as
Edith. The young lady had a very
sweet face. and Robert caught him
self more than once wishing he had
such a sister. Had he been older
that is perhaps the last thing he
would have desired. But he was
only a boy of fourteen, and was of
course too young to experience the
sensation of being in love. The
gentleman's name he learned was
Major Woodley, and the young lady's
Edith Woodley.
Robert wished that he might have
an opportunity of making the ac-
q%uaintance Of Major Woodlcy and his
daughter, but while on their trip up
the river chance did not favor him.
The opportunity, however, was only
deferred. 1t came at the end of the
voyage. At length they reached
Wheeling, and the passengers gener-
ally d~isembarked. Major Woodley
and his daughter were among these.
Arrived on the pier, while Major
Woodley was looking out for his bag
gage, a horse maddened by a blow
from his brutal driver, started sud-
denly forward, and in an instant
would have trampled Edith Woodlet
under his feet had not Robert sprung
forward, and c~lasping her rouno the
waist, drawn her quickly out of dan
ger.
Her father was at some distance.
He happened to look up just in time
to see his child's danger, but not in
time to rescue her. To his great re-
lief ne saw Roberts prompt action,
and he realized that but for this his
daughter would probably have lost
her life. Filled with gratitude he
hurriedly advanced. and seized Rob-
ert by the hand.
well done, my brave boy! You
have probably saved my daughters
life. From my heart, l thank you"
81 am glad 1t "a in my power to
do her a service" said Robert, mod
estly.
You exposed your own life to dan
GER" said the major.
Il am very glad, indeed, that I
was standing BY" said Robert, ''but
l think anyone would have done the
same"
Major Woodley shook his head.
81 know men better than you, my
lad" he said, land l know that cool
ness and self-possession in the hour
of danger are not SO common as they
might be. Let me know the name of
my daughters p~reserver."
Robert Raymond"
"Are you going further east??"
eyes, sir, as soon as | can. / am
bound for New York"
$50 am /. But l shall stop ut the
hotel till tomorrow. Why won't you
stop over also and 60 on with us?"
This was an embarrassing ques-
tlon for Robert. The fact is, that
his entire worldly wealth. SO far as
he carried it with him, consisted of
twenty-five cents, and this. so far
from enabling him from going on to
New York, would not even pay for
his breakfast, unless he confined
himself to a very frugal n He
felt q little shame at confessing this
to Major Woodley. who had the air
of a man OF large means. yet he
could not help confessing to himself
that it would be very agreeable for
him to pursue his journey in COM
pany with the major and his daugh-
ter to New York. Of course he
would become very we'll acquainted
with the daughter, and this he
thought he should like very much.
He had never had a sister. and he