The Tin Box, and What it Contained

"Then you won't turn out?" asked Harry, gathering up his reins.

"Suppose I don't?" retorted Philip, in a provoking tone.

"Then I shall drive on," said Harry, resolutely.

"You wouldn't dare to!"

"Wouldn't I? You'll see. I will count ten, and if at the end of thattime you don't turn out, I will drive on, and make you take theconsequences."

Philip glanced at him doubtfully. Would he really do what he said?

"Pooh! I don't believe it!" he decided. "Anyway, I'm not going to giveway to a working boy. I won't do it."

I am not going to decide the question whether Harry did right or not. Ican only say that he claimed no more than his rights, and was notwithout excuse for the course he adopted.

"One – two – three!" counted Harry, and so on until he had counted ten.

Then, gathering up his reins, he said: "I ask you, Philip, for the lasttime, whether you will turn out?"

"I won't till I get ready."

"Go 'long, Dobbin!" was Harry's sole reply. And his horse was put inmotion.

The natural result followed. The grocery wagon was strongly made, andfitted for rough usage. The buggy was of light structure, built forspeed, and was no match for it. The two carriages locked wheels. That ofthe wagon was unharmed, but the wheel of the buggy came off.

The horse darted forward. Philip was thrown out at the side, aiming anineffectual blow with his whip at Harry, as he found himself going, andlanded in a half stunned condition on the grass at the side.

Harry kept on until his wagon was clear of the wreck of the buggy, andthen halting it, jumped oft to find the extent of Philip's injuries.

The latter's horse, which had by a violent jerk freed himself from theshafts, was galloping up the road.

CHAPTER II

SIGNS OF A TEMPEST

"Are you hurt, Philip?" asked Harry, anxiously, as he bent over theprostrate form of his antagonist.

As he opened his eyes and saw the face of Harry bending over him, allcame back to him, and his animosity revived.

"Get away from me!" he exclaimed furiously, as he staggered to hisfeet.

"I certainly will, if you don't need help," said Harry, glad that Philiphad suffered no harm.

"Where is my horse?" demanded Philip.

"He has run away."

"And it's all your fault!" exclaimed Philip, angrily. "My buggy'sbroken, too, and all because you ran into me, you beggar!"

"I wouldn't allow you to call me names if you hadn't been punishedalready for your unreasonable conduct," said Harry, calmly. "Whateverhas happened you brought upon yourself."

"Catch my horse!" ordered Philip, with the air of a master addressing aservant.

"I've got something else to do," said Harry, coolly, and he sprang intothe store wagon.

"Are you going to drive off and leave me here?" demanded Philip, enraged.

"I must, for my time isn't my own. It belongs to Mr. Mead. I would helpyou otherwise – though you are to blame for what has happened."

"You will suffer for this!" exclaimed the rich man's son, gazing at hisbroken buggy in helpless anger. "You'll have to pay for all the damageyou have done!"

"You can go to law about it, if you want to," said Harry, as he gatheredthe reins into his hands, and he drove off. "I've a good defense."

To Philip's disgust, Harry drove off, leaving him alone with hisdisabled carriage. It was a good time to consider whether he had actedwisely in demanding more than the law or custom allowed him, but Philipwas too angry for cool consideration.

He could not persuade himself that a boy like Harry, the son of a poorwidow, who had to work for his own living, had equal rights withhimself.

In the end he had to go home and bring back his father's hired man totake charge of the wreck. He learned that the frightened horse hadalready found his way to the stable, terrifying the family with fearsthat Philip had been seriously hurt on the way.

Philip gave a garbled account of the affair to his father and mother, and excited the indignation of both, but especially his mother.

"I never heard of such an outrage – never!" exclaimed Mrs. Ross, emphatically. "To think that boy should deliberately run into you andendanger your life – my poor Philip!"

"That's just what he did, mother," said Philip, enjoying the indignationhe had aroused.

Colonel Ross was not quite so thoroughly convinced that his son wasright.

"Did you give Harry half the road?" he inquired.

"I gave him room enough to get by," answered Philip, evasively.

"The law requires that you should give him half the road."

"I hope, Mr. Ross, you don't justify that horrid boy in running into

Philip?" said Mrs. Ross, sharply.

"No, my dear; I consider that he acted very badly. But, in Order to makehim amenable to the law for the damage Philip's team suffered, it mustappear that Philip gave him half the road."

"Then the law ought to be altered," said Mrs. Ross, with more anger thanreason. "I've no doubt that Philip gave him all the room he needed."

"When you were thrown out, did the heartless boy ride on and leave youto your fate?" asked the mother.

"No; he got out and asked me if I was hurt," Philip admitted, reluctantly.

"Much he cared!" said Mrs. Ross, contemptuously.

"I suppose he was afraid he would be put in prison if I was killed," said Philip.