Bob Chester's Grit; Or, From Ranch to Riches

o hear his voice shouting at him to stop. But as the moments wore by without any sign of excitement or alarm, Bob gained confidence, finally slackening his pace to

ct which he supposed was known only to himself, had unnerved him. And the failure of his attempt to get the letter and thus des

the shop, he closed it and locked it and then betook himself to his private office, the door of which he also

ined to go away for a few hours at least. No sooner had he made up his mind upon this course of action than he seized his hat, stole from his room, glided across the floor to the front door, listened a moment for the sound of voices, or any other indication that

ectively, and of assisting in a reconciliation between the ward and the guardian, in case it had not already been accomplished. On his way, his mind had pictured many scenes in which the boy and the grocer were participants,

t come back, and the old man, repenting of his refusing to go to his ward'

and, seeing an elderly woman peering at him closely from a

olitely,

thing of Mr. Dardu

words. But though Foster remained silent in the hope that she would add to this infor

hey tog

N

they going-in th

treet as though the p

he conclusion that Bob and his guardian had had angry words, that

wenty minutes after Bob had gone, a

think of no plausible explanation, but his thoug

wrong,

Foster, determined, if possible, to keep the knowledge

ch a thing before, but once, and that was twelve years ago, the day he brought Bob back with him. So I know that

at both times shut up his store, Foster considered for a few momen

ill see Bob when

st everything going on aro

r one of his calling cards. "Tell him, please, that I am at home any

ob's who knew his father? I've often wondered why no on

judging from the remark that his informant had some knowledge of th

Bob's father?

ather came to find out about him, or to take him away. And I made up my mind, as soon as I saw you, that you were one of them. Anyway, I hope so, for Bob is a real bright

wise thing, I'll see what I can do about getting him into a different p

hat, Foster bowed an