The Tin Box, and What it Contained

So saying, Harry left the office. He was so much in a hurry to show hispresent at home that, though it was still early, he decided to take thenext train, which would bring him home about noon.

His mother and Mr. Wilkins had just seated themselves at the dinnertable when Harry entered.

"What! home already, Harry?" asked his mother, in surprise.

"I judge from your tone, mother, that you haven't got enough dinner forme," said Harry, gayly.

"If that's the case, I'll eat a little less," said Uncle Obed. "But whydidn't you stay longer?"

"Because I got through with my business, and thought I might as wellcome home," answered Harry.

By this time his mother's eyes happened to fall on the silver chaindisplayed across his vest.

"What is that, Harry?" she asked.

Harry drew out the watch, with pardonable pride.

"Where did you get it?" asked his mother, in amazement.

"A lawyer in New York gave it to me."

"But what lawyer do you know, my son?" asked his mother, more and morebewildered.

"That isn't all, mother. Look at that!"

Harry drew out the package of bonds, and displayed them to hisastonished mother.

She at once concluded that he had found them.

"They are not yours, Harry," she said. "If you found them, you mustrestore them to the owner."

"So I will, Mrs. Gilbert. I give these bonds to you, and recommend youto take good care of them."

"What does all this mean, Harry? You cannot give away what does notbelong to you."

Harry felt that it was time to explain, and he did so. It was necessaryto begin with the account of Philip's treatment of him in the wood.

Mrs. Gilbert was very indignant, and she spoke warmly.

"It was shameful!" she said. "To leave you there alone in the dark wood, tied hand and foot! The boy ought to be served in the same wayhimself!"

"Wait till I get through my story, mother," he said, "and perhaps youwill find that Philip got into a little trouble of his own."

So he continued his story, and told, finally, of how he found Philip

Ross bound, and trembling for his life, in the cabin of Ralph Temple.

"Served him right," said Mrs. Gilbert, satisfactorily.

"As things have turned out, I can afford to overlook his past meanness.

He has suffered punishment, though not at my hands."

"If I had known that you were mixed up with burglars, I should have feltvery anxious, Harry."

"I know it, and that is why I didn't tell you. However, all's well thatends well. The tin box is found, the robbers are caught, and I have arich mother."

As he spoke, he put the bonds into his mother's hands.

"But, Harry, they are yours. I cannot accept them."

"Take care of them, at any rate, mother, and use the interest. I shalllike it better than to keep them myself."

"You are a good boy, Harry," said Uncle Obed. "I like to see boys thinkconsiderable of their mothers. And now, if you are both ready fordinner, I am."

"Excuse me, Mr. Wilkins. I was so intent upon Harry's story that I amafraid the dinner is cold."

They sat down to dinner, and the meal was a very happy one, even if thedishes were somewhat cold. Harry's good luck put them all in finespirits.

After dinner Harry went out into the village, in the direction of thestore.

I suspect he wanted to show his watch, as most boys do when for thefirst time they become the proud possessor of one.

On the way he met Philip Ross and James Congreve. The latter he had notseen since they parted in the wood.

"There's our young captive, Philip," said Congreve.

"He's got a watch. At any rate, I see a watch chain," said Philip, whosecuriosity was excited.

"Hello!" called out Congreve, as they met; "where did you get thatwatch?"

"I don't see wherein my having a watch should concern you; but I doknow, after the contemptible treatment I received at your handsyesterday, your questions deserve no notice from me. But, as mattersturned out so well, I can afford to swallow my indignation."

"It was rather a mean trick, leaving you bound in the wood," said

Congreve, candidly. "I wouldn't have done it, except to oblige Philip."

"Has he told you how he liked being tied himself?"

Congreve looked, in surprise, at Philip. The latter had not chosen tosay anything about his own adventure in Temple's hut.

When Harry told the story, not omitting to mention that he had compelledPhilip to beg his pardon before he released him, Congreve burst intohearty laughter, while Philip stood by, angry and ashamed.

"That's the best joke I ever heard," said Congreve. "I wish I had beenthere to see."

"I thought you were my friend," said Philip, indignantly.

"I laugh at my friends sometimes," said Congreve. "What a splendidjoke!"