Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-05-31

| iA66eSSs 5elu SOuIIbldy, Inc
seat and handing the checks to Reu-
! ben.
Reuben turned away and was busily
searching for the trunks, when sud-
denly the shrill whistle of the steam
| boat sounded. With one fiery leap up
ward the frightened horses started at
! full speed cleared the wharf and tore
down the road, Courtenay's utmost
strength being powerless to control
them.
The hypothenuse of a right-angled
triangle is often great convenience
Reuben sprang from the end of the
wharf and dashed up the bank just in
time. He flung himself at the horses
heads and allowed them to drag him
| while he clung to the bits. They
| swerved but soon slackened, and final
ly stopped at the summit of a long
hill, down which neither Mr.. Courter-
ay nor the ladies would have greatly
relished driving just then.
1t was a poor limp creature that
| dropped by the roadside when the
horses stopped, and one foot dragged
helplessly as Courtenay put him in the
carriage. The next time Reuben
opened his eyes he was in his room,
| with the doctor bending over him.
And now came long time of lying
still, waiting for the injured ankle to
| grow strong. This was new expert
| ence for Reuben the hardest he had
known. But for Courtenay's sake he
tried to make light of it and keep a
cheerful face though it seemed as if all
his dreams and hopes were hanging in
the balance. The doctor would not an
swer for the result unless the injured
foot had perfect rest for an indefinite
time-a sober outlook for a boy with
| Reuben's plans; and, in spite of his eff
forts, he grew dull and listless, and lost
| the elasticity so necessary for a speedy
| recovery.
Courtenay's remorse and uneasiness
were increased by this state of affairs.
One evening, as he stood by Reubens
sofa, he said:
There's no use denying it; you have
something on your mind, young man,
and you must tell me what it is"
Reuben could not easily tell his
| plans, even to so kind a friend as
| Courtenay had proved; but, having
made beginning, it was relief to go
on, and he told all, from his boyish
dream of an education down to the
present moment, not emitting the loss
| of the $50.
so that is all that troubles you,"
said Courtenay. "Why, that is mat
ter that a stroke of a pen can set
right l was afraid it was something
| serious"
But I don't want to borrow" an
swered Reuben. ut is easy and inter
esting laying up Tor by and by, but a
debt fastened round your neck is a
different thing"
Courtenay sat down by Reuben.
Nobody said anything about bor-
rowing" he said. But you are just go
ing to college as soon as you can pos
sibly fit; and you are going to be man
enough to let me help you, and throw
your scruples to the winds. You know
why you are lying here. You are some
| thing to me-"
In a few days a college tutor took
| tp MS lN9idN44Nt III lIlG IIOGot, anu,
| when he had examined into Reubens
requirements, he said there would be
no difficulty about getting ready by Oc-
tober. Greatly to Reubens satisfac-
ton, the doctor thought the ankle
would be strong by that time if all
went well.
So Reuben worked on his sofa in
good cheer. The hope and will that
had been wanting before were now
thoroughly awake, and from the day
of his opening his heart to Courtenay
he seemed Il new creature.
One sultry afternoon in August, Mr..
Brown appeared at the Courtenay cot
tage. He had with him a queer bundle
wrapped in newspaper, which he
handed Reuben, saying:
Perhaps you can throw some light
on this. | can't. l was harvesting po-
tatoes this morning and | found thiS
in one hill. 1t doesn't belong to any
variety that I'm acquainted with, and
I brought it over as curiosity to
show you"
And there in a nest of potato root
| let's lay the lost pocketbook. With
eager fingers Reuben opened it. The
| stout leather had guarded the treasure
we'll. Discolored and damp the bills
certainly were, but quite recognizable
and fit for redemption.
Game out very well this time, Reub,
and no mistake" said Mr.. Brown,
when he had heard the story of the
loss. But I wouldn't risk it again.
Next time you have $50 to take care Of,
I wouldn't deposit it in the potato field,
for the chances are you might not al
ways be so lucky
Courtenay walked down the avenue
With Mr. Brown as he went away, and
they spoke together of Reuben's plans.
Pm glad you're going to give him a
lift" said Mr.. Brown. "Itll save time
FOR him; but RcuD would have done it
himself somehow. It's in him. When he
once made up his mind twas never any
| sort of use to contend with him; Wheth-