The Tin Box, and What it Contained

"Keep away from me, you beggar!" screamed Philip.

"Once more, will you pick up those berries?"

"No, I won't!"

Harry's only answer was to seize Philip round the middle, and, despitehis struggles, to lay him down on the ground.

"You'll suffer for this!" said Philip, almost screaming with rage.

"You can go now," said Harry, contemptuously, "and take care how youinterfere with Tommy and Rose again."

Philip rose from the ground, angry and humiliated, yet not daring toattack Harry, whom he knew to be his superior in strength.

"You haven't heard the last of this," he said, shaking his fist.

Harry deigned no reply, and Philip, instead of keeping on his way to theriver, turned and walked homeward.

Harry helped the children pick up their berries, and remained with themthrough the forenoon.

CHAPTER XI

THE TWO CONSPIRATORS

Philip thirsted for revenge upon Harry, but it did not seem very clearin what way it was to be obtained. The trouble was that Harry was alwaysin the right in all the difficulties they had had, and was likely tohave popular sympathy on his side.

As Philip walked home, fuming with anger, it occurred to him to make aformal complaint against Harry before a justice of the peace. But theexamination which would ensue would disclose his unjustifiable conductin the berry field, and he reluctantly abandoned the idea.

While in this state of mind he met a recent acquaintance, some threeyears older than himself, named James Congreve.

Congreve was boarding at the village hotel, with apparently no businesson hand more pressing than smoking, fishing and lounging about thevillage.

He came from the city of Brooklyn, and had been sent to this quietvillage to remove him from the temptations of the city.

He had been in several business positions, but had given satisfaction innone, and, so far as usefulness was concerned, was perhaps as well offhere as anywhere else.

As James Congreve wore good clothes, and had a showy gold watch andchain, which indicated worldly prosperity, Philip was glad to make hisacquaintance, for Congreve taught him to smoke and play cards formoney.

So when the two met James Congreve asked, languidly:

"What are you up to, Philip?"

"Not much," answered Philip, suddenly.

"You look out of sorts."

"Oh, I've just had a fight with a boy in the berry pasture."

"I hope you didn't hurt him much," said Congreve, smiling.

"No; but I'd like to," replied Philip, spitefully.

"Who is the villain?"

"Harry Gilbert, a low, impudent upstart."

"Yes, I know; used to be in the grocery store, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"What's he done now?"

"Oh, it's too long a story to tell. He was impudent to me, that's all. Iwould like to annoy him in some way."

"Get him into a scrape, eh?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps we can think of some way. If you haven't anything better to do, come up to my room and play cards."

"I don't mind."

Soon afterward the two were sitting at a small table in Congreve'sbedroom at the hotel, playing poker.

This is essentially a gambling game, and for that reason it was aspecial favorite with James Congreve. He was much more than a match forPhilip, whom he had initiated into the mysteries of the game.

"How much do I owe you, Congreve?" asked Philip, as they sat down totheir unprofitable employment.

"I don't know, exactly; I've got an account somewhere," answered

Congreve, carelessly.

"It must be as much as ten dollars," said Philip, rather uneasily.

"Somehow, you always have more luck at the cards than I do."

"Luck will change in time. Besides, I am in no hurry for the money."

"I only wish an allowance of two dollars a week. Father will only giveme half of it, and mother makes up the rest. So it would take five weeksto pay you, and leave me without a cent to spend."

"Probably you won't have to pay it at all. You may win it all backto-day."

Thus encouraged, Philip began to play, but was as unlucky as usual. Herose from the table owing Congreve five dollars more than when he satdown. "Just my luck!" ejaculated Philip, with a long face. "Just look upthe account and let me know what it all amounts to."

Congreve made a little calculation, and announced, in apparent surprise, that Philip owed him twenty-two dollars.

"It can't be!" ejaculated Philip, in dismay.

"There's no doubt about it," said Congreve. "However, don't troubleyourself about it. I can wait. And now for your affair with this Gilbertboy. I've got an idea that I may prove serviceable to you."