CHAPTER IX
"WELL DONE, MY BOY!"
"There, some more gone, Paul!"
"But it's nearly ten days since we talked it over last, and then therewere, let me see, I believe six coins left," returned the other, quickly.
"That's true enough. And I can see now that you're wondering why nonehave been taken all this time, up to to-day," remarked Jack, as he camealongside his chum, who was looking in at a window where sporting goodsmade a brave display.
"Will Carlo hang around and wait for you a bit?" asked Paul, looking witha smile toward the big Newfoundland dog that had been trotting at theheels of his young master, carrying a basket, in which were severalpackages from the store.
"Sure. He's well trained, and that is one of the smallest of his stunts,as you know. See, he has laid the basket down, and stands guard over it.I dare any dog in Stanhope to try and take it away. Now, you want to knowabout my poor old batch of coins!"
"I'm waiting to hear, old fellow," said Paul, tenderly; for he could seethat his chum was once again highly charged with emotion.
"I thought I'd try a scheme unbeknown to you," began the other, slowly.
"Perhaps I can guess what you did--was it that you locked the door ofyour little den, Jack?"
"Well, now, you are a champion guesser, for that was just what I did,every day up to this one--shut down the window, locked the door, andnever went up there once," replied his comrade, with surprise writtenon his face.
"And nothing was missing?"
"Not a coin. I counted six myself this morning when I went upstairs justto get something out of the snuggery."
"Did you forget to lock it after you, Jack?"
"No; but an idea came to me. At the time I thought it a bright one; butnow I'm more than half sorry I ever tried it."
"Oh! then you left the door unlocked again on purpose?"
"Yes, and with the window open, at that. The invitation was plainenough," murmured Jack, with dejection in his voice and manner.
Paul seemed to ponder over the matter; and indeed it was quite enough totry any boy's wits.
"Do you happen to know if any fellow called to see you to-day while youwere out?" he asked, presently.
"Now, I thought of that, and asked both my brother and Maggie to payparticular attention to it, if any boy stopped over, hoping I would comein."
"Nothing doing?"
"It's kind of queer, but do you know, for a wonder not a single fellowhas been at our house this blessed day. Generally half a dozen call tosee me, you know, to borrow books from my library, or talk over mattersconnected with our school society. It just looks as if everything wantedto mix me up worse than ever, and make me think--"
"Never mind what it makes you think," interrupted Paul, quickly,squeezing the arm of his chum affectionately; "let's get down to facts.You know I promised that I'd find out the truth about this matter; andwhile up to now I've given it mighty little attention, don't think thatI've forgotten, Jack."
"I don't; only it bothers me to understand how you can ever expect tofind out who's taking my old coins, if I've made a mess of it; and livingin the house at that!" rejoined the other, with bewilderment plainlyvisible on his face.
"Leave that to me. I repeat my promise, and if everything else fails why,what's going to hinder my hiding up there behind some of your stuff,where I can see for myself what happens?"
"Oh!" exclaimed Jack, "that would be a clever idea; but much as I want toknow the truth, I'm afraid to!"
"Well, you've got to get over that feeling. No matter what happens it'sfar better to know the worst; for then it may be remedied. I've heard myfather tell of many a desperate case where only heroic treatment, as hecalled it, brought his patient through. We've just got to try it here,Jack, old fellow. Hello! what d'ye suppose all that row's about?"
"Sounds to me like a runaway horse, from the shouts," declared Jack,quickly forgetting his own personal troubles in the new excitement.
"Look! There's the runaway, and coming this way around the corner. Oh! itwas nearly over that time! My heart was in my mouth!" cried Paul.
"There's some one in the wagon, Paul, a little child!" almost shriekedJack; for the clamor was deafening by now, and ordinary sounds couldnever have been heard.
No need to tell Paul that. He had just made the astounding discoveryhimself, and was thrilled with sudden horror.
It was a little boy who was tugging at the lines with a heroism worthy ofone twice his size; but such a young person could make no impression onthe hard mouth of that terrorized animal.
In the sudden whirl around the corner the lad had come very near beingthrown but, and was even now unsteadily trying to regain his balance.
Paul knew that it was an occasion for quick thinking, and even fasterdoing!
He bounded away from the side of his chum as though on springs, leavingJack standing there on the curb, filled with eager anticipation, andfears.
It was not _toward_ the rapidly advancing horse that the boy ran, but inexactly the opposite direction, as though he were being chased. With thewagon flinging about from side to side, and hindering the progress of therunaway to some extent, Paul believed that he could almost hold his ownin the race.
Little by little he meant to let the horse overtake him. Then, at justthe right second his chance would come to jump at the animal's head,seize upon the lines close to the bit, and throw his entire weight uponthem.
He knew that it called for good judgment, since the slightest mistakewould be apt to cost him dear. To be thrown under the iron-shod hoofs ofthe galloping animal might mean making him a cripple for the rest of hislife.
Even that possibility did not daunt Paul. He only saw the frightened faceof the little chap who so valorously clung to the lines, and shoutedshrilly at the top of his childish voice, as though expecting the usuallytractable horse to mind.
A human life in peril--that was one of the cardinal points that must callfor action on the part of a true Boy Scout. He might refuse to engage ina sanguinary battle with some rival who had dared him to a fight; butunder no conditions must he hold back when the chance offered to do agood deed.
Now the horse was just behind him, and still galloping furiously. Ifanything, the animal was making more desperate headway than ever, forthe outcries on every side seemed to add to his fright.
Every eye was focussed on the runner. One man in a vehicle had drawn inhis horse, and with white cheeks watched the remarkable scene.
If any among that throng had reason to send up a silent prayer for thesafety of that daring lad just then, surely he might. For the man in thebuggy was Doctor Alan Morrison, Paul's own father!
Five seconds passed, but it seemed an hour, a day, a life-time to thatman, as his heart ceased to beat, and he gripped the reins convulsivelyin his clenched hands.
Then the heavens seemed to almost split with the sudden outburst of wildshouts that raced up and down that street.
"He's done it! Hurrah! The boy's stopped him! Bully for Paul Morrison!"
Men shouted, boys shrieked, while women embraced in their tears. Thetense strain was over, for willing hands had clutched the lines afterPaul's weight had brought the wild runaway to a staggering halt; and thedanger was past.
Then ensued a wild scene, everybody trying to get hold of the boy who hadknown what to do in an emergency, and not only that, but had done it.
Confused, overwhelmed, Paul in the great confusion tried to flee; butwhile he did manage to duck under many of the hands outstretched toclutch him, it was only to dart into the arms of some one who pressed himto his heart.
And looking up the boy saw above him the face of one whom he loved--hisfather, who had been a witness to his adventure.
"That was well done, my boy; and I'm glad I saw it!" was all the gooddoctor said; but Paul never forgot the proud look that accompanied thewords.
It would return to him many times in the distant future, when he might betempted by the fascinations of the world to turn aside fro
m the narrowpath which he had chosen to tread; and must ever be a guide and beaconfor his footsteps.
Then came Jack, with William, Tom Betts and Bluff Shipley, all nearlywild over the fact that it was their chum who had acquitted himself sowell.
Before Paul could make his escape he found his hand gripped by the fatherof the child in the wagon, who happened to be a prosperous farmer, withwhom Doctor Morrison was well acquainted.
"I never could tell you what I think about this, my boy," he said, withdeep feeling. "The child's mother'll never forget you, be sure of that.And it ain't right for me to offer you any reward for doing such a finething; but I want you to buy something with this ten dollars, that everytime you look at it you'll remember little Tod Perkins, what owed hislife to you."
"Oh! I couldn't think of it, Mr. Perkins. Why, it was just pie to me, youknow. Please don't make me take it!" said the boy, still more confused;but the farmer had already turned away to embrace his child, and thereseemed nothing for it but to accept the gift.
"Don't offend him by refusing, Paul; he means well, and perhaps you canbuy something with it that will serve as a reminder," said the doctor,always trying to avoid hurting other people's feelings.
"Why, sure, what's to hinder you buying your scout's uniform with it?"declared William at this juncture.
"You certain earned it, if anybody ever did work for what they got!"avowed Bobolink, positively.
"Oh! w-w-why wasn't it m-m-me?" wailed Bluff, in pretended grief.
"Say, do you think you could have nailed that runaway horse, with such animpediment twisting you up?" demanded Bobolink, grinning.
"Well, boys, since you say so, I suppose then I'll just have to acceptit, and call my outfit earned by the sweat of my brow," laughed Paul,taking out his handkerchief to wipe his face from its collection ofperspiration and dust.