Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-05-08

to move. I amt never going bach
to face his big blue, trustin' eye!
again"
| "How did you lose the box?" asked
Beth. much interested. "Did YOU
spend it all?"
"No, I don't recollect opening it. Oh
even seeing it, after I got to Bob's,
but rechon he or some of 'em that
uz there seen it, cause it's gonee"
"Might be it's lost" suggested
Beth. "I've ioggled things out of my
pocket stubbing my toe, sometimes.
Did you look?"
"No, miss, if you knew Bob's place
an the men that's there, like dc,
you'd not look either"
"Where did you fall?"
"Out in the timber right neer Bob's
might "a been trap. Old oak with
roots just sprGwlin, an me lookin
kindly longin' an kindly dreadin' al
Bob's windows, so fell like plumb
gawk over them trip-ups."
''If father was here he'd help you,
cause he knows Bob and everybody.
Fathers a minister, but everybody
likes him, only he's away this after.
noon. I'll ask mother ii can so on
my wheel down to the timber and I'll
try and find the box. You wait here
while CO."
So Beth went up to the house.
GIVE got some highways work to
do, mother; can go on my wheel to
the timber?" she asked.
"Highways?"
"Yessum--an' hedges. I'll be good
and not be gone lone"
"All right, DEAR" said her mother,
who was used to what they called
Beth's queernesses, but knew she was
to be trusted.
The man lying on his back beside
the flat rock saw the pink sunbonnet
fash by on the other side of the hedge
and knew she had started on her er.
rand.
1t was not very far away-Bob''
place-or the poor fellow with the
lame ankle could not have reached
their hedge. She rode straight pas
it to the old oak with sprawling roots
and there, sitting quietly reading, was
Bob's only treasure, his young son
Bob junior. a delicate-looking lad
who seemed too refined for such {
home.
He looked up and smiled as the
small figure, bent over the handle
bars. came flying up, for he knew
Beth, as almost every one did who
lived about there.
"Oh, Bob, I'm SO glad you're her,
you'll help me, won't you?" sh,
said, and then she pumped down be
side him and told her story.
Bob junior looked sober over part!
Of it, but when she got through h,
said "You were right, Beth, he los
it out here, and I found it and have i
upstairs in my room. know Dicl
and his uncle right we'll, and-ant
I'm awful sorry about his getting
things to drink here. We are goinI
away soon. Father has promised.
am going to school, and I'm so glad
Father isn't so bad, Beth; he wouldn'
steal or anything, and he is good t
me. He hadn't even thought about i
being wrong to sell such stuff, til
your father came down when I was s.
sick and talked to him. He think
lots of your father"
"Fathers as fathers" remarked
Beth, wisely, "are good any way yo'
find them, aren't they, Bob? Blu
I'm so glad yoa found the box"
80 am I; and I'll tell you on
thing" said Bob slowly, I'm afrait
Dicks uncle isn't to be trusted will
it. He intends to do right, and does
when Dick is around. But you tel
him it's all safe, that I have it ant
will give it to your father, who will
fix it all up for Dick. Don't yol
think that is best?"
Yes, Beth thought it was, so sht
rode toward home again to tell tn
man and to wait until her father hat
come in from the country.
She heard her fathers bugg,
wheels rattling down the road befor
she reached home, however, and sh
stopped to wait for him.
He was somewhat surprised over tn
outcome of the highways and hedge
sermon, but he said nothing abou
that, only to the man when he me
him he stretched out friendly hand
and after supper the three drove GU
to where blue-eyed Dick was anxious
ly waiting.
"Must you tell Dick bout this?
asked the man anxiously as the,
neered the bend.
"No, not now," said the minister
'for think yon have learned lessor
that for the sake of your nephew, an,
: my little daughter, if for no other, yo-
will try to keep"
The man stretched out his hand an
; the minister grasped it. Behind tn
tears in the mans eyes glowed reso
luton that this time was going to b
kept.-Chicago Record.