The Gold-Stealers A Story of Waddy

s the least bit surprised. The fathers of the township (and the mothers, too) had long since given Dick up as an irresponsible and irreclaimable imp. One large section declared the boy to be 'a

lawlessness and unrest, which could only be exorcised by means of daily 'hidings,' long abstinence from any

den duty to support the master in an affair of this kind. When occasion arose they assisted in the capture of vagrant youths, and when Joel imagined a display of force advisable they attended at the punishment and rendered such assistance as w

ion of the vital matter in hand was concurrent with the absorption of M

l undertake to induce in them a wholesome contrition a

ng, and then handed over to the will of the scholastic authority without any reservation. Mr. McKnight was commended for his public spirit; and it was then agreed that a member of the Committee should w

is vigilant guardianship of his feet, apparently. Mr. Shine, as superintendent of the Waddy Wesleyan Chapel, represented a party that had long since broken away from the School Committee, which was condemned in prayer as licentious and ungodly, and left to its wickedness when it exhibited a determination to stand by Joel Ham, a scoffer and a drinker of strong drinks,

fle, an' preach the poor woman int

men loved a good meal; and Shine, as the superintendent, must withhold his countenance from so grievous a sinner. Besides, there was a belief that at some time or another the faceman had thrashed Shine, who was searcher at the Stream in his week-day capacity, and for that reason was despi

lowed his eyes to roll up and meet those of hi

sweet on Frank Hardy before you j

led after him by irreverent small boys from convenient cover or under the shelter

Committee, ma'am,' he said,

kie, is it

tended kitchen was littered with clippings and bits of material. She resumed her tas

phraim was an orator, and prided

she said composedly. 'I don't th

im, examining the toe of his left boot reproach fully

nor this week, nor next. Was ever such a pack of fools! Let Dickie think he is being hunted, and he'll be a bushranger, or a brigand chief, or a pirate, or something desperat

ate youth-that boy

en winze to poor Ben Holden? Was he that when he brought little Kitty Green and her pony out of the burnin' scrub? Was he all a littl

is boots in all directions, and examined

, not at all; but-ah, the-ah, influenc

misfortune, Mr.

ight be

t's that

squirming over his unfortunate feet, and appare

st be supported, mis

know. Boys have

n't know how. My Dick is the bes

es, ma'a

ld be always if you men

ven sometimes and

der the very school, fought there, an' the

it's been a fearful tryin' day,

e you'll give him over

ave him home here in two shakes. Dickie's a high-spirited boy, an' full o' the wild fancies of boys. He's done this sort o' thing before. Run away from home once to be a sailor, an' slep' for

would be the sav

d; but Ephraim Shine had lifted one boot on to his knee, an

eds special savin' I'll

ibility, a trial an' a c

a father to your boy, ma

meant by that

ust forward in her lap and a steely light in

to yourself is meant

e of Mrs. Haddon; then they fell again suddenly. The little widow tappe

r Frank Hardy,

certain

eard what Frank Hardy was

Mrs. Had

to me before he is still, only more dear,

rd an' a t

may make a gaol-bird of

into gaol, an' now

oured eyes slid u

o' duty. He don't deny

vin' seen it in his life b

in' little trap in h

aid it was-the tr

trying its weight, groaned and set it

the enemy ha' b

k Hardy's friend, and you ma

rs. Haddon had risen from her seat and was standing

've heard I went with Frank's mother to visit him in the gaol there at the city; p'r'aps you're curious to know what I said. Well, I'll tell you, an' you can tell all Waddy from yon platform in the chapel nex' Sunday, if you like. 'Frank,' I sa

iature, suffused with honest emotion. Ephraim sat apparently absorbed in his le

th the air of a martyr, 'that I gave fourteen-and

ed away with an

ave to say, you might let

urning up the toe of one boot and then the other; he seemed to be calculating h

at is right

much. The Committee has

Had

e, carefully and quietly closing the kitchen door after him. About half a min

ma'am, and Go

unched behind him, walking lik