CHAPTER III
HARRY DISAGREES WITH HIS GUARDIAN
Harry and his guardian met at the dinner table. Mrs. Fox had provided
a boiled dinner, to which Harry was ready to do justice.
Mr. Fox seemed unusually pleasant.
"I find, Harry," he said, clearing his throat, "that you have already
been distinguishing yourself."
"Then you heard of the narrow escape of the train?" said Harry.
"Yes, I heard that but for your presence of mind, and Mrs. Brock's
tablecloth, there would have been a smash-up."
"What on earth are you talkin' about, John Fox?" demanded his wife,
curiously.
"Well, you see, Maria, the rain of last night washed away part of the
railroad track, and the train would have been plunged into a gully if
our young boarder here hadn't seen the danger, and, borrowin' a
tablecloth from Mrs. Brock, signaled the train."
"You don't say?"
"That isn't all," resumed John Fox. "The passengers took up a
contribution, and I expect gave quite a handsome sum to our young
friend."
"How much did the folks give you?" asked Joel eagerly.
"I've got fifteen dollars left," he replied. "I gave some money to
Mrs. Brock for the use of the tablecloth."
John Fox looked disappointed and disgusted.
"You don't mean to say," he ejaculated, sharply, "that you gave away
almost half of your money for the use of an old tablecloth that would
be dear at a dollar?"
"If I hadn't had the tablecloth, I couldn't have attracted the
engineer's attention," said Harry, mildly.
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