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ought this on himself; the boy had nothing to do with it。〃

Sam Cullum floundered around in the water like a whale cast up in the shallows。  The lake at that point was not over four feet deep; but he did not know enough to stand upright。

〃Save me!〃 he bellowed。  〃Save me! I don't want to drown!〃

〃Swallow a little water; it will do you good!〃 said a bystander; with a laugh。

〃Walk out and you'll be all right;〃 added another。

At last Sam Cullum found his feet and walked around the side of the dock to the shore。  A crowd followed him and kept him from going at Joe again。

〃I'll fix him another time;〃 growled the intoxicated one; and shuffled off; with some small boys jeering him。

〃You treated him as he deserved;〃 said one of the other boatmen to Joe。

〃I suppose he'll try to square up another time;〃 answered our hero。

〃Well; I wouldn't take water for him; Joe。〃

〃I don't intend to。  If he attacks me I'll do the best I can to defend myself。〃

〃He has made a nuisance of himself for a long time。  It's a wonder to me that Mr。 Mallison put up with it so long。〃

〃He was short of help; that's why。  It isn't so easy to get new help in the height of the summer season。〃

〃That is true。〃

Joe expected to have more trouble with Sam Cullum the next day but it did not come。  Then it leaked out that Cullum had gotten into a row with his wife and some of her relatives that night and was under arrest。  When the boatman was brought up for trial the Judge sentenced him to six months' imprisonment。

〃And it serves him right;〃 said the man who brought the news to Joe。

〃It must be hard on his wife。〃

〃Well; it is; Joe。〃

〃Have they any children?〃

〃Foura boy of seven and three little girls。〃

〃Are they well off?〃

〃What; with such a father?  No; they are very poor。  She used to go out washing; but now she has to stay at home to take care of the baby。  Sam was a brute to strike her。  I don't wonder the relatives took a hand。〃

〃Perhaps the relatives can help her。〃

〃They can't do much; for they are all as poor as she is; and one of them is just getting over an operation at the hospital。〃

〃Where do the Cullums live?〃

〃Down on Railroad Alley; not far from the water tower。  It's a mite of a cottage。〃

Joe said no more; but what he had been told him set him to thinking; and that evening; after his work was over; he took a walk through the town and in the direction of Railroad Alley。

Not far from the water station he found the Cullum homestead; a mite of a cottage; as the man had said; with a tumbled…down chimney and several broken…out windows。  He looked in at one of the windows and by the light of a smoking kerosene lamp beheld a woman in a rocking…chair; rocking a baby to sleep。  Three other youngsters were standing around; knowing not what to do。  On a table were some dishes; all bare of food。

〃Mamma; I want more bread;〃 one of the little ones was saying。

〃You can have more in the morning; Johnny;〃 answered the mother。

〃No; I want it now;〃 whimpered the youngster。  〃I'm hungry。〃

〃I'm hungry; too;〃 put in another little one。

〃I can't give you any more to…night; for I haven't it;〃 said the mother; with a deep sigh。 〃Now; be still; or you'll wake the baby。〃

〃Why don't dad come home?〃 asked the boy of seven。

〃He can't come home; Bobbyhehad to go away;〃 faltered the mother。  〃Now all be still; and you shall have more bread in the morning。〃

The children began to cry; and unable to stand the sight any longer Joe withdrew。  Up the Alley was a grocery store and he almost ran to this。

〃Give me some bread;〃 he said; 〃and some cake; and a pound of cheese; and some smoked beef; and a pound of good tea; and some sugar。 Be quick; please。〃

The goods were weighed out and wrapped up; and with his arms full he ran back to the cottage and kicked on the door。

〃Who is there?〃 asked Mrs。 Cullum; in alarm。

〃Here are some groceries for you!〃 cried Joe。  〃All paid for!〃

〃Oh; look!〃 screamed the boy of seven。 〃Bread; and cheese!〃

〃And sugar!〃 came from one of the little girls。

〃And tea! Mamma; just what you like!〃 said another。

〃Where did this come from?〃 asked Mrs。 Cullum。

〃A friend;〃 answered Joe。  〃It's all paid for。〃

〃I am very thankful。〃

〃Now we can have some bread; can't we?〃 queried the boy。

〃Yes; and a bit of smoked beef and cheese; too;〃 said the mother; and placing the sleeping baby on a bed; she proceeded to deal out the good things to her children。



CHAPTER VIII。


THE TIMID MR。 GUSSING。


It was not until the children had been satisfied and put to bed that Joe had a chance to talk to Mrs。 Cullum。  She was greatly astonished when she learned who he was。

〃I didn't expect this kindness;〃 said she。 〃I understand that my husband treated you shamefully。〃

〃It was the liquor made him do it ma'am;〃 answered our hero。  〃I think he'd be all right if he'd leave drink alone。〃

〃Yes; I am sure of it!〃 She gave a long sigh。  〃He was very kind and true when we were first married。  But then he got to using liquor andandthis is the result。〃

〃Perhaps he will turn over a new leaf when he comes out of jail。〃

〃I hope he does。  If he doesn't; I don't know what I am going to do。〃

〃Have you anything to do?〃

〃I used to wash for two families in town but they have regular hired help now。〃

〃Perhaps you can get more work; if you advertise。  If you'll allow me; I'll put an advertisement in the Riverside News for you。〃

〃Thank you。  I don't see what makes you so kind。〃

〃Well; I have been down in the world myself; Mrs。 Cullum; so I know how to feel for others。〃

〃Did you say you used to live with Bodley; the hermit?〃

〃Yes。〃

〃My folks used to know him。  He was rather a strange man after he got shot by accident。〃

〃Yes; but he was kind。〃

〃Are you his son?〃

〃No。  He said I was his nephew。  But I never found out much about that。〃

〃Oh; yes; I remember something about that。  He had a brother who lost his wife and several children。  Are you that man's son?〃

〃I believe I am。〃

〃And you have never heard from your father?〃

〃Not a word。〃

〃That is hard on you。〃

〃I am going to look for my father some day。〃

〃If so; I hope you will find him。〃

〃So do I。〃 Joe arose。  〃I must be going。〃 He paused。  〃Mrs。 Cullum; will you let me help you?〃 he added; earnestly。

〃Why; you have helped me a good deal already。  Not one in a thousand would do what you have doneafter the way my husband treated you。〃

〃I thought that you might be short of money。〃

〃I must confess I am。〃

〃I am not rich but; if you can use it; I can let you have five dollars。〃

〃I'll accept it as a loan。  I don't want you to give me the money;〃 answered the poor woman。  She thought of the things she absolutely needed; now that her husband was gone。

The money was handed over; and a few minutes later Joe took his departure。  Somehow his heart felt very light because of his generosity。  He had certainly played the part of a friend in need。

But he did not stop there。  Early in the morning he sought out Andrew Mallison and told the hotel proprietor of Mrs。 Cullum's condition。

〃I was thinking that you might be able to give her work in the hotel laundry;〃 he continued。

The hotel man called up the housekeeper and from her learned that another woman could be used to iron。

〃You can let her come and we'll give her a trial;〃 said he。

It did not take Joe long to communicate with the poor woman; and she was overjoyed to see work in sight; without waiting for an advertisement in the newspaper。

〃I'll go at once;〃 said she。  〃I'll get a neighbor's girl to mind the children。〃  And she was as good as her word。  As it happened; she proved to be a good laundress; and Mr。 Mallison gave her steady employment until her husband came from jail。  Then; much to his wife's satisfaction; Sam Cullum turned over a new leaf and became quite sober and industrious。

Joe was now becoming well acquainted around the hotel and took an interest in many of the boarders。

Among the number was a young man named Felix Gussing。  He was a nice individual in his way; but had certain peculiarities。  One was that he was exceedingly afraid of horses and at every possible opportunity he gave them as wide a berth as possible。

〃Don't like them at all; don't you know;〃 he said; to Joe; during a boat ride。  〃Can't understand them at all。〃

〃Oh; I think a good horse is very nice;〃 answered our hero。

〃But they are soso balkishso full of kicking;〃 insisted Felix Gussing。

〃Well; I admit some of them are;〃 answered Joe。

There were two young ladies stopping at the hotel and the young man had become quite well acquainted with both of them。  One he thought was very beautiful and was half tempted to propose to her。

On the day after the boat ride with Joe; Felix Gussing took the ladies to have some ice cream; and during the conversation all spoke of a certain landmark of interest located about three miles from Riverside。

〃I have seen it and it isawvery interesting;〃 drawled Felix。

〃Then we must see it; Belle;〃 said one of the young ladies; to her companion。

〃Oh; I'm not going to walk that far;〃 answered Belle; with a bewitching look at the young man。

〃You might drive over;〃

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