The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-03-20

and muff as to give away on me?" Harry
asked nervously.
No. Dick answered slowly, "I'll not
tell on you, but l wish you hadn't told me-.
hate to do anything to displease Mr..
Granger"
''You amt doing it, silly" said Harry
angrily. "The rihe'll be mine, an Pm
going to hide it, out here, an 60 shooting
on the sly once in while You'll forget
to be so particular when you see what sport
I'll have, an you want to borrow the gun
yourself"
But Dick shook his head. He knew
Harry had tried hard to induce his father
to give him a rifle for Christmas and that
his petition had been refused only because
Mr.. Granger did not think him old and
steady enough to be trusted with gun.
Dick was just as wild as Harry to go
shooting, but he never thought OF disobey-
ing Mr.. Granger's veto. So he went down
the ladder little exercised in his own
mind and wishing heartily that Harry had
kept his own secret Mr.. Granger noticed
the shadow on Dicks face and drew his
own conclusions.
That lads conscience is shifting him
already" he said to himself and treated
Dick all day with a cold brusqueness which
puzzled and hurt the boy sorely
That afternoon Harry went to Shipton.
Usually when he walked into town, Lick
was asked to 20 along, but this time he
started off alone and was gone till dusk
| Dick knew instnctively that he went first
to the barn to hide the rifle which he had
brought back with him, and he flushed
guiltily when Mr.. Granger began to wonder
what the boy was doing outside so long y
Indeed, the remembrance of Harry's secret
weighed heavily on Dicks spirits all day,
and made him loath to meet Mr. Granger s
| eye. The farmer was quick to notice this.
and every one of Dicks starts and bushes
was set down as so much direct evidence
against him.
After supper the boys did up the chores,
and then Harry drew Dick off to the
| barn.
Come an see my rifle; it's beauty, -
he coaxed.
81 don't want to see it, Dick said.
"Ah, softly, you're afraid,' tainted
Harry.
II amt afraid" Dick answered angrily.
But Pm not going to be party to any
deceit anymore than | can help
81 won't tell on you" he added as
Harry's face fell ''but I won't have any
dealings with that gun, an then if any
thing happens it won't be my fault"
you re a great big BOBBY" Harry ex-
claimed. "Do you think fellows going
to be tied to his mammys apron string all
the days of his life," and then as Dick
turned to 60 he added, threateningly, And
just you keep your mouth shut about this
business. II you peach on me III lick the
stf1in out Of you. You know can do it,"
~ amt afraid Of your licking, said Dick
"but promised once that l wouldn't tell
and 1 amt mean enough to break a
promise" Little did poor Dick know
what this particular promise was going
to cost him. He went slowly toward the
house, and into the kitchen. Mrs. Granger
was making bread at the big table and she
turned her head as Dick came in.
1.-THE master wants you in the sitting
room," she said, and Dick walked forward
wonderingly.
"Mrs. Granger said you wanted me, sir,
he began.
eyes" answered Mr.. Granger shortly.
81 did want you. Haven't you got moth.
ing to say before begn?"
Dick looked around wonderingly, trying
to remember whether he had committed
any fault which Mr.. Granger wanted him
to confess.
"Come, don't stand there a-gaping," the
farmer said sharply. "If you'll own up
and give back the money, I'll be easy with
you"
81 don't understand you, sir" Dick be
gan, but Mr.. Granger interrupted him.
Don't lie about it, he commanded
"Itll but make matters worse"
Dicks face had turned deadly white
but he raised it and looked Mr. Granger
straight in the eyes. II don't know what
you mean" he said 81 haven't any
money except 81 I've been saving to buy
Margie birthday present"
"What did you do with the $40 bill you
took out of my desk yesterday?' Mr.. Gran
ger asked brusquely.
All at once a terrible thought flashed
through Dicks mind. That $40 bill that
Harry had shown him. Did it belong tc
Mr.. Granger? And was it possible that he
Dick, was being accused of stealing it
He remembered now that just as he placed
the key in the lock Margie had cried out
that the dog had got her dolly, and Dick
had rushed out onto the porch rescued thu
baby, and passed Harry just coming out O
the sitting room door. Clearly, if bill
had been stolen Harry was the culprit.