The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-09-25

don't know anything about the
ten dollars, Mr. Tucker"
Mrs. Tucker pulled at her hus-
bands arm and whispered in his ear.
and he strcked his beard and seemed
uncertain how to proceed. At last he
said:
Well, won't do anything about
| it for the present. But there's no
telling what / may do If things amt
Strengthened out pretty soon. You
can see on the face Of it. 1t looks bad
for your brother and you"
He turned away, and so did his
wife after commissioning glance at
! the boy, who stood with downcast
head.
FIN sure he's honest, George" she
said. as they walked back to the
house,
Yes, can tell that by the look of
him. her husband answered. sOf
course it was the little fellow that
took the bill. And I'll trust this Sam
to get it back for us.
Thrae days later, as Mr.. and Mrs.
Tucker were leaving the house, Sam
appeared before them, looking pale,
and depressed. He produced SMALL
bag from his pocket and handed it
to Mr.. Tucker, who, on opening it.
found it was full of coins.
There's four dollars and eight
| cents there" Sam said, in a low voice,
"and-and will please let me work
out the rest?"
Mr.. Tucker looked at him gravely.
So you lied to me the other day?
Do you think it would be safe for ms
to have such boy as you on the
place."
Sam blushed but did not answer
Where is the rest of the money
you stoleo:"
The boy Strengthened himself and
his lips trembled, as If eager to speak.
Then his head sank again, and he
said almost Ynaudibly:
| That's all there is left. o Mr..
Tucker, if you'll only let me, I'll do
anything anything! I'll work hard
er than any boy you ever had!"
you can join the pickers in the
south lot, Mr.. Tucker said abruptly.
60 into the packing house and get
some empty baskets.
The boy looked up at him CRATE
fully and hurried away.
"You know he didn't steal that
money, George" said Mrs. Tucker,
reproachfully. "Why did you speak
to him so?"
| II wanted to make it easy for him."
answered her husband. This is the
way he'd like to have one take it.
Don't you see? He thinks we don't
suspect"
So the kindly people watched and
waited, and Sam worked away, hap
py in the delusion of his sacrifice.
At. the end of the third week Mr..
Tucker called the boy to him.
well, SAM" he said, were
square now. You might take cou-
pie of boxes of berries home to Tom. /"
"Thank you, sir" Sam answered.
"And see here. Why didn't you
tell me in the first place it was Tom
and not you that took the money!"
The boy turned red. "I-I don't
know how you found out. You won't
send him to the reform school, Mr..
Tucker?" he pleaded.
mo. Tell me about the money"
II found out; twas his initiation
fee. There's lot of tough fellows
that live near us, and they'd started
a robbers gang and got Tom into it.
Every one who joined had to steal
something for an initiation fee."
And the ten dollars was Toms
fee?" said Mr.. Tucker. II shall have
/ to look into this.
Its all broke up now" Sam as
fsured him. Il thrashed the chief"
"And why did you pretend 1t was
you and not Tom that stole?"
Because Toms such little fell
low. And If he was sent away to the
reform school, didn't know how he'd
stand it. And then 'twould be bad
for him to begin with bad name.
But how about yourself? Didn't
you think it would be just as bad for
you?"
No, sir. I'm bigger and could
stand it better. could work it out
some way"
Mr.. Tucker was silent for mo-
ment; then he said
Il suppose the money you brought
me was your own savings?"
Yes, sir. The ten dollars had
been spent"
What are you going to do now?"
Go back to fishing and digging
CLANS"
You come up here again to-mor-