The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-09-01

and depressed. He produced smar
bag from his pocket and handed II
to Mr.. Tucker, who, on opening it
found 1t was full of coins
There's four dollars and eight
cents there" Sam said, in 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 me
Ito have such boy as you on the
placer"
Sam blushed but did not answer.
where is the rest of the money
you stole?"
The boy Strengthened himself and
his lips trembled, as if eager to speak.
Then his head sank again, and he
said almost inaudibly:
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.n
"You can join the pickers in the
south lot" Mr.. Tucker said abruptly.
go 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?"
IT wanted to make it easy for him, I"
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
Ply 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. I"
"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 Ell don't
know how you found out. You won't
send him to the reform school, Mr..
Tucker?" he pleaded.
"No. Tell me about the money"
Il found out; twas his initiation
fee. There's a 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 Tom s
feet" said Mr.. Tucker. 81 shall have
to look into this"
"It's all broke up now" Sam as
sured him. II thrashed the chief.
"And why did you pretend it 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
your"
"No, sir. I'm bigger and I could
stand it better l could work it out
some way"
Mr. Tucker was silent for mo-
ment; then he said:
II 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?"
$50 back to fishing and digging
clans"
"You come up here again to-mor-
row, Sam Maybe I can find you a
steady job, And bring Tom along.
With you to keep an eye on him, /
don't mind his playing about the
place: and now and then / can likely
give him an odd chore to do That'll
keep him away from bad company,
and maybe help out his self-respect. =
That was the way in which the two
boys got their start. And in after
years, when both of them were pros
pering, Tom was as grateful to Sam
as Sam was always grateful to Mr..
Tucker. Youths Companion.