The record-union., 1898-10-18

SOM out OF spite against him. Not that
he could think Of a man, woman or
child in the village who had any hard
feeling against the sturdy, quiet boy.
This determined Tom. He would put
the facts in the case to Wilson frank
ly That is what one honorable boy
would do to another, and he was not
convinced by actual proof that Wilson
was not that.
Accordingly he Joined Wilson on the
way home after school. Their houses
lay in different directions, but Tom
made an excuse about going to the
pond for swim SO that he could join
the other. AS they went along, Wilson
said that after he had gone home first
he would come out to Myrtle pond and
have a plunge himself. Tom decided
TO defer any allusion to the subject un-
til after the swim, and they parted at
the cross roads.
Most Of the boys waited till later in
the afternoon for their swim, and there
was nobody there. Tom undressed and
plunged into the crystal clear water. 1t
was refreshing, but cooler than ever,
as the day was hot. To get his blood
IN circulation Tom swan Justify ahead.
Without needing it, he got at some dis
tance from the shore. Then, finding the
water was chilling him, despite himself
ne turned to make his way back
He had not made a dozen strokes be-
fore he was stiffened with a sudden
cramp. He tried to make his way along
With his arms, but soon realized that
he could never hold out The thought of
the boy who was drowned in Myrtle
Pond, and in whose memory the father
had founded the Gordon prize, came to
his mind. 1t would be a strange settle
ment Of the doubt that had arisen in
regard to the present competition if he
were to drown, and in that way How
ard Wilson get the medal without a
blemish on his honor. Whatever relief
from responsibility this would be for
Stapleton he was too live boy to re-
sign himself calmly to Watery grave
on that account.
He yelled Justify for help. Then he
uttered another long cry for succor He
saw boy tear through the underbrush
OF the woods near the pond He was
pulling off his coat and shirt as he ran.
He ripped open the laces of his shoes,
flung off his trousers and shouting to
Tom to keep up a little longer, plunged
into the pond, and with quick over
hand stroke made straight for the gasp
ing swimmer
Lie on your back and float, and I'll
push you in," spluttered Wilson as he
came up. Don't grab me, or we'll
both go down. Leave yourself to me
and can make it, guess
He guessed rightly But it was a
laborious struggle to land Tom on the
beach. They We're both painting, and
Wilson was as red as a lobster while
the rescued boy was blue about the
mouth and shivered so he could not
speak
AS soon as Wilson got his wind, he
rubbed Tom vigorously. In a short
time he began to feel himself, and in
five minutes more the two were walk
ing briskly home.
Il am much obliged to you,' said
Tom, glancing sheepishly at the short,
round-headed boy who was jogging
along unconcernedly by his side. II
was a gone gosling if you hadn't come
| was getting used up
"Oh, that's all right said Wilson,
with wish to make light of his part
in it. You shouldn't have gone out so
far. The water was as cold as ice out
there"
They walked on in silence for a mo-
ment. Then Tom said: You saved
my life; but I wish you wouldn't let
my mother know It, 1t would scare
her to death every time I took a SWIM
Not that she'd say anything about it.,
he added, with a filial pride
I shan't mention it. It's all over and
no harms done, and that's the end Of
it, replied Wilson, brusquely.
But you'll lose the honor Of the
thing" said Tom, thoughtfully.
1 didn't do it for the honor" said
| Wilson, looking at him as If disliking
that view
We'll, you wouldn't like to get the
Gordon prize and not have the honor
| of it, would you?" asked Stapleron.
| impulsively
If 1 got the $50 for winning it. Ia
let the honor go, sooner than have it
! twice over without the money" said
the other. emphatically.
You wouldn't do anything mean to
| get it," persisted Stapleton.
| Did II say anything like that?" Will
son looked at the other boy with a
quick, indignant glance. You
wouldn't, would you? Do you not think
I'm just as square as you are?"
| Howard Wilson spoke with warmth.
| The idea had stung him to a sudden
/ burst Of outraged feeling. This young
swell putting on airs like that with
/ him,
mo, I don't. That's straight" an
swered Stapleton, looking him squareIy
/ in the face. Now I'm just going to tell
you something"
He told him about the note and
/ about finding the examination paper
! for tho proposition in his desk. Then
he said nothing, but waited
To his surprise there was an awk-
ward silence for a few minutes How
/ ard Wilson was thinking pretty hard
He looked at Stapleton in curious
way. Somehow it made Tom flush.
"Well?" he said, anxiously. What
do you think of this?"
IT don't know what to think" said
Howard Wilson. He was breathing
quickly now.
How do you suppose the paper came
there? You didn't know
Stapleton halted, embarrassed. He
/ did not want to give the other boy an
( impetus, much less assistance toward
a wrong step.
There's only one thing I can think
now," returned Wilson, a little coldly
Il don't want to think that"
I've been square with you: why
| don't you be the same with me?" Sta
! pleton flushed now and spoke a little
sharply. It did not seem as easy a
matter as he had expected.
Il WILL" said Howard Wilson, quick
ly and with force. This is a dirty.