The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-04

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didn't. I'll have to give it back to
him again." said Will, turning it over
and over in his palm.
"Give it back to him!' echoed Tom,
derisively. "How are you going to
catch that cab, with all the start it's
got9 You're bigger duffer than ]
took you for, Will TAFT"
"Who was talking about catching
the cab9" retorted Will. "He's sure
to be coming across the ferry another
day; and it's easy enough to see him,
he's not that little
"I'd be very sorry to go hunting
after any old gentleman" returned
Tom, scornfully. Moneys surely
cheap your way. / thought you we're
wanting that dog, tool"
Willis face grew suddenly scarlet.
He had wanted it, and here was the
exact sum. Why-why, that very
night he might be the proud possess
or of that black and white dog, and
there would not be another like it in
the whole brigade. The old gentle
man ought to have been more careful.
People had no business to go max
ing mistakes of that kind. Somebody
ought to teach him a lesson; and it
would serve him just right if he, Will,
were to keep it.
Will thrust the half crown deep in
to his pocket and shouldered his
brushes. II can't stop here talking
all the afternoon" he said shortly:
"there's two boats missed already"
Something was wrong with Will all
the next day. Generally, he was the
brightest, merriest lad in the whole
company. To day he wandered
about without civil word for any
one. He kept keen watch upon the
coming and going of the boats, too;
but it was from behind convenient
fence, whereas his usual post was in
the very front rank of the brigade,
and his brethren of the brush only
reaped what he could not gather up
himself.
1t was not the weather that was at
fault. The sky was blue as summer,
and the sunshine made a ripping
pathway of light on the water; but
there was little light or blueness
about it to Will. Everything was
shrouded under cloud of uneasiness
aud discomfort. Once that afternoon
he caught glimpse of portly figure
in the distance, perfect stranger,
but it sent him with beating heart
into hiding under an archway, till he
was quite sure of that fact; for Will
had lapsed into the crooked path.
He was going to keep that half crown.
He was going to buy the dog, and
get the desire of his heart full fort
night before he had dared to hope
for it; and he ought to be feeling
particularly happy and jubilant in
consequence. But somehow he was
not.
He meant to go and see that tele-
graph clerk this very evening. There
wasn't any necessity now for working
later; and it might be just as well to
miss boat or two in case. He did
not care to finish that sentence even
to himself.
Round to the freight station he
sauntered accordingly, but at the
very gate he came to full stop.
Some wagons inside were being
loaded with bales of esparto grass.
Will surveyed the process listlessly
through the bars. His head ached,
his feet ached, he ached inside, too.
What was the use of going in about
the dog now7
If he got it to night, he didn't be-
lieve it would be bit of pleasure.
He didn't like sulking in corners out
of sight, as he had done today. If
he had to go on doing that, he might
as we'll have no dog at all. Will sud-
denly dragged his cap over his brows,
and determined to go home to bed,
and end the day as quickly as posi-
BILE.
And. if the day had been bad, the
night was still worse. Will got up
at daylight, resolved to stand it no
longer. Not for all the half-crowns
or all the dogs in the city would he
go through another season like this.
1t was the very first time he had
ever tried to keep what did not be-
long to him; and it should be the
laut,-the game was not worth the
candle. If the old gentleman came
by today, he should have that luck
less half-crown back. If not, he
should have it tomorrow, the next
day, or any day that he chose to put
in an appearance. Will had done