The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-09-23

| wife dIter commlSeratlnS glance Ut
the boy, who stood with downcast
head
"I'm 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. "Of
course 1t was the little fellow that
took the bill. And I'll trust this Sam
to get it back for us.
Three days later. as Mr.. and Mrs.
Tucker were leaving the house, Sam
appeared before them, looking pale
and depressed. He produced a small
bag from his pocket and handed 1t
to Mr.. Tucker, who, on opening It,,
found it 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
to have such a boy as you on the
place."
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!"
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 grate-
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, "we're
square now. You might take a 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
ana 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.
"No. Tell me about the money"
81 found out; twas his initiation
fee. There's a lot of tough fellows
that live near us, and they'd started
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. "I shall have
to look into this"
"It's all broke up now," Sam as
sured him. Il thrashed the chief"
"And why did you pretend it was
you and not Tom that stole?"
Because Toms such a little fell
low. And If he was sent away o the
reform school, didn't know how he'd
| Gland a. And tban ,tuouId ho bod 4
for him to begin with a bad name. "
But how about yourself? Didn't
you think it would be just as bad for
you?"
mo, sir. I'm bigger and could
stand it better. l could work it out
some way"
Mr.. Tucker was silent for a 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.
row, Sam. Maybe l can find you 6
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 likel,
give him an odd chore to do. Thatl
keep him away from bad company
and maybe help out his self-respect.
That was the way in which the tive
boys got their start. And in afte
years, when both Of them were pros
pering, Tom was as grateful to San
as Sam was always grateful to Mr.
| Tucker.-Youth's Companion.