The Boy Trapper

wn into a professional vagabond, as he was when he left General Gordon's barn and turned his face toward home. He had relied upon Don to show him a way out

nually on the lookout for a chance to earn a dollar or two. Why should he not stop work and let things take their own course, as his brother did? He reached home while he was r

a doin' of?" demanded the latte

avid; "and while I was there I found out th

ied Dan, trying to look

d Bert tell me. They have ne

jumping up and knocki

tight scrape, but I'll work out of it somehow. And let me tell you on

it like a feller had ough

e with mother and me

owing by his past experience that he could not hold his own in an

heavy loss he had sustained would come back to him with overwhelming force and the tears would start to his eyes in spite of all he could do to prevent it. Then he would throw do

r something encouraging. Indeed, Don's first words confirmed this impression; but it turned out that they had come there simply to offer him work that would keep him busy for two or t

ile Dan, who had been disappointed in his hopes of hearing some private conversation b

o keep his appointment with Don and Bert. He found them waiting for him at the General's barn, and he was not a little surprised when

xclaimed Don. "We've got lots to tell you; but in the first p

reluctantly, took the crisp, new bill that was held toward him, amply repaid Don for the l

ather and Dan had drawn this money,"

father says the loss

ood the matter now. "It isn't fair t

ght, David, you may depend upon it. They'll never fool us again. If I sho

er," add

wouldn't be afr

me day," continued David. "I was going to ask you to keep my hundred and fif

ert. "You are not going to give up the

ything at it, for Dan and Lester can break

ak up a single one of

As David listened the look of trouble his face had worn all that day gradually faded away, and the old happy smile took

safe there and Dan Evans or Lester Brigham or anybody else who came near them, would be likely to get himself into trouble. The negroes were always at work in the fields in the daytime, and if they were told to keep their eyes open and report any outsiders who might be seen prowling about the fences, they would be sure to do it. The best course David could pursue

ld run the risk of being caught by Don's hounds. It was a splendid plan, taken altogether, and David's eyes fairly glistened while it was unfolded to him. He thanked t

e've had a good deal of excitement and some good luck since we last saw you. We have recovered my cano

o, for such growls I neve

see him?"

d we want you to go with us. We'll go fixed for him, too. We'll have a couple of good dogs with us; I'll take my rifle; Bert will take father's heavy gun; and we'd like to have you take your single-barrel. If he ge

arly hour the next morning, and then showed a desire to leave the shop; so Don unlocked the door, and David hurried

"I'll earn my hundred and fifty dollars now, and mother shall have her nice things in spite of Dan and Lester. It isn't every fellow who has such friends as Do

to him that he was not more than five minutes in reaching the landing. There was no one in the street, and nothing there worth looking at, except General Gordon's white horse, which was hitched to a post

l, extending his hand; "how are t

grasp of the hand every time he met him; but he was very much astonished by the greeting which Silas Jones extended to him. No sooner had the General released David's h

here are many times when things don't go just as we would like to have them, but t

he looked both bewildered and surprised. He bowed to his rich customer, as he rode off,

at the grocer must have taken leave of his sen

hat debt, and I have concluded that I will not do it. Your father will pay me some time, perhaps, and

ather, after holding that short consultation with him in the field, the latter took a few minutes to think the matter over, and when his hands had finished their work, he mounted his horse and rode down to the landing, to have a talk with Mr. Jone

ocer, rubbing his hands; "a hat or a pair of shoes and st

ave only two dollars left after your bill is paid, and that m

er's debt, I wouldn't let you pay it if you were made of money. Better take home some tea, coffee and s

stake Silas made in supposing that tea, coffee and sugar appeared on his mo

Then I'll put up some for you, and le

p his mother supplied with the luxuries the grocer had mentioned for one month, and how much he would have left to invest in clothing for her; but befo

of shoes for yourself? The mornings are getting to be pretty cold now, a

was not glad that he was there, for the expression on Dan's face told him that he had seen and heard more than he had any business to know. David made haste to finish his trading after that, and when he had purch

ck. "Perhaps you will need it some day and I can wait

, so wholly lost in wonder that he never recollected that he had six dollars in his own pocket, and that he had come there to spend the best part of five of it. He walked along at a litt

hem things," said he, a

have offered to help him, if he had not hoped to gain something by it

inued Dan. "What you been a doin' to Silas,

m. I don't know how to account

his brother suddenly stopped and looked toward the landing

lways on the lookout for a chance to make a penny without work, and David was afraid that he might be

perhaps on the strength of his brother's almost unlimited credit, he might be able to obtain a

ou want to run back thar," said Dan,

e I come down," answered David. "A day

any how?" asked Dan, as the two on

me out of," replied his brother. "Don

ten dollars mor

the first he has given me. You and

on it, did you? I seen S

e in my pocket. I'm g

' if you don't give it to me without my axin' you, I'll have it all. I'm the man of the house n

until they came to General Gordon's barn. Just as David was going into it, he met Lester Brigham riding out of it. Lester scowled down at him, but David did not scowl back. He was quite willing to forget that they had ev

ould have given almost anything he possessed to know what business he had there; but he could not

pened by Bert. David asked if Don was in, and receiving an affirmative reply, was ushered into the library, where his friend, wearied with his day's exercise, was taking h

ing to take that money you gave me

haven't paid that grocery bill, then? Well, I

s wouldn't take the money. He says

" said Don, who did not know that his father

, and you won't let anybody have

good care of it this time. Don't

hand bright and

s and with a frow and mallet in his hands, was busy splitting out shingles. David said nothing to him, but went into the house to put away the tea, coffee and sugar and place the articles he had bought for his mot

en you hear what it is, if you don't say I'm the best brother you ever had, I w

ad to hear it

'm goin' to give you half the money we make outen them

. "It belongs to Don Gordon, and if you ar

why, I give pap three an' a half

tell him that you will hand him th

said Dan, quickly. "Ten do

ence. It is his, and

' to get fur them quail. An', Davy, if you'll give me the money you've got in your

s saf

o halves with me. Let's go out to them traps ag

do anything more

ain't goin' to let them fifty dollar

at you said this morning? I have made other arrang

ut if he was, he did not show it. He looked steadily at David for a momen