The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-10-19

sistants and he sat alone, as Mrs.
Bailey said afterward, "just swallowed
up in grief and unwashed teacups."
"See here" said Mrs. Bailey, spread.
ing a newspaper over an upturned
boiler and seating herself beside Philip,
II want TO know how long this here
gamblin' business has been goin' ont
You didn't strike me, somehow, as
comm of gamblln' stock"
There was no response, but some.
thing warm and wet splashed on the
boys knee. Mrs. Bailey noticed 1t
with sudden ray Of hope.
"Cry away If you want to-" said she,
laying kindly hand on Philips shoul.
der. II don't know as I think any less
of you for It, Was this, by any chance.
the first time you've done any bet.
ting?" -
Philip nodded his head
'Sure pop, honor brightT
Honor brightr' mumbled Philip,
with gulp. The last, too"
"Sure pop, the last?"
YES"
"Then you just sit up here and tell
me about 1t like a man. If you can
just convince me that haven't made
a mistake in you, after all, you'll make
me a happier old lady than I've been
for some hours. | declare, 1t Just made
me sick to see you with those men,"
Touched by her sympathy, Philip
poured forth the whole story, adding
that the money he had so foolishiy
risked and lost belonged to his EN-.
ployer, from whom he had received it
only the previous day. that he had
mailed most of his salary to his moth
er who needed it to eke out slender
income, and that he was due in three
day at fair in another State, with no
visible means of reaching his destina-
ton.
but, o dear, Mrs. Bailey" he con-
cluded, "the worst of 1t all is that I'm
so horribly disappointed in myself! I
did think | had more sense. | didn't
dream that l could be such an idiot.
I'm SO ashamed /"
II don't know but that's the one re-
deeming feature" said Mrs. Bailey.
"Seventy-ive dollars! That's a heap
of money-and nothin' to show for it!
don't pretend to know anything about
horse racing, but they do say it's all
fixed up beforehand whose horse is to
win and whose ain't-thats one of the
tricks of the trade. l guess you know
by this time that betting amt a safe
pastlme; but there-there, | amt goin'
to scold mite. Now you just come
right home with me, and get good
hot supper, for | don't believe you've
had bite; you can carry two baskets
of plates back to the car for me, If you
like. You can sleep in Sans bed-Id
kind O. like to think there was a boy
sleepin' in that bed once more,-and
soon's the banks open in the mornin'
I'll see to it that you have enough to
pay your way to wherever you want
to go-and nobody bit the wiser"
Except me-" said Philip, genuinely
surprised and deeply touched. "But,
Mrs. Bailey, you don't know one thing
about me except what I've told you.
How do you know I'm to be trusted?"
I'm willin' to risk It," returned Mrs.
OfCi htl
IL guess woman that's bought seven
cows in her lifetime, without bein'
cheated once, amt goin' very far
astray in her judgment when It comes
to folks-cows and folks havin' a good
many traits in common. amt mite
afraid Of you"
You're just an angel! l don't know
how to thank"
"Just a cake-and-pie angel" said
Mrs. Bailey, rising cautiously from the
creaking boiler. Come, shut up shop
as quick as you can, my lad. It's
most time for the last train"
Neither Philip nor Mrs. Bailey said a
word about repaying the loan, but
within month the money began to
return in instalments. Each check
was accompanied by letter that Mrs.
Bailey considered far more precious
than the money. She read and re-read
those letters until the paper parted at
the creases.
"The politest, the pleasantest and the
most satisfyin' boyw said she.-Youth's