Facing the World

able. Mrs. Fox had provided a boiled dinne

med unusual

g his throat, "that you have alre

e narrow escape of th

nce of mind, and Mrs. Brock's tablecl

kin' about, John Fox?" dem

, and the train would have been plunged into a gully if our young boarder here hadn'

don't

engers took up a contribution, and I expect g

folks give you?" a

replied. "I gave some money to Mrs.

d disappointed

t you gave away almost half of your money for the use

couldn't have attracted the enginee

nd did not appear disturbed by the criticisms elicited by his conduct. He heartily

John Fox said, insinuatingly: "Don't you think you'd better giv

d Harry, "but I think I c

money for a boy like you to carry

hall lose it, sir,

u will be tempted to

roperly take from his ward the money by force, but it occurred to hi

k of this aga

wonder how soon Mr. Fox will make another attempt

was made tha

dian intended to secure, either by fair means or foul. It chanced, however, that Joel slept in a small bedroom opening out of his parents' chamber. So Harry was assigned an attic room, in the e

dian did not again refer to his money, nor did he manifest any

ve been anything to read Harry would have preferred entertaining himself in that way, but Mr. Fox didn't

on with the son and heir of the Foxes, the

ed," said his mother.

and interpose

go, too, Harry,

to go to bed

ated little pleasure in sitting up in the f

e this candle and show Harry

s,

attic room reserved for him. It was the only room that had been

to sleep up here,"

t all frightened,

old the candle whil

the door, he ascertained that it was a common latch door, and there was no lock. There was nothing to prevent anyone entering the room during the night

the kitchen sink-wiping his face on a brown, roll towel which was used by the entire f

ace exactly," Har

ht, "What was he to

another just before he left home. In connection with this, a scheme for outwitting Mr. Fox came into his mind. He folded up a fragment of

he other," sai

oor a square board, which looked as if it might be lifted. He stooped over and succeeded in raising it. The

. Fox will find my money here," and dropping the pocketbook into the cav

, Mr. and Mrs. Fox naturally bega

orse," said Mrs. Fox, grimly

ainly

is money to you, thoug

edroom after he is asleep, and then it will be the easiest thing in th

w it in th

n is nine p'ints of

say you

for I'm his guard

ed to make him a visit. He removed his shoes, and in his stocking feet, candle

you, John?" que

s I can man

e was something alluring in the thought of creeping upstairs, and r

. They creaked a little under his weight, and, much to his a

on't hear me," he

hen softly opened the d

d have been fast asleep by this time, but the expectation of a visit from his guardian had kept him awake beyo

n when Mr. Fox bent over, and, by the light of the candle, examined his

s sound asleep," whispe

d then taking up Harry's pantaloon

ned the contents on the spot, but he heard a cough from the bed, and, quickly put the pocketbook into his own po

gone, Harry had a qu

his own chamber, where his wife

t, Mr. F.," she

y shouldn't

and let us see w

his glance rest on its contents than his lower j

emanded his wife, who was not so situated that

and, in a hollow voice. "There's no mo

culated Mrs. Fox. "What you undertake you generally carry through, do you? A

uming a look of perplexity. "Surely the boy tol

saw him take them out of his pocketbook. He must h

e pocketbook I thoug

Fox. "I'll go up myself, and see

e this wallet, and put

t to me

the candle, and took her turn