s fair wages."

"And how is it you are going to leave here?" went on the lady, curiously.

"I got into a row with Percy Paget, and his father is chairman of the
village board, and he sided with his son."

"I see." Mrs. Carrington bit her lip. "Well, we must be going, Julia," she
said to her daughter. "I shall not forget you for your bravery, Ralph
Nelson."

"Thank you, ma'am; I only did what was my duty."

"It is more than that. I shall not forget you, remember."

The lady re-entered her carriage, and Ralph assisted the daughter to a seat
beside her.

In a moment more they continued on their way, leaving Ralph, Sanderson and
Pickley to gaze after them.

"My, but they're swell!" was Pickley's comment. "I wish I was in your
shoes, Ralph."

"She won't forget you, that's certain," said Sanderson. "She'll reward you
handsomelike, see if she don't, Ralph."

"They don't seem to care much about Percy Paget's condition," returned the
boy, by way of changing the subject.

"Well, who would--under the circumstances!" exclaimed the old man, in deep
disgust.

"Perhaps they don't give him the credit he deserves," said Pickley,
thinking he must say something in favor of the squire's son.

Ralph and Sanderson had their own opinion of Percy, and they did not care
to argue with Pickley on the subject. The young bridge tender went back to
his work, and Sanderson shuffled off to go at an odd job of boat-mending.
Pickley sat down to count the tolls as before.

Three minutes later Percy Paget came into sight. His hands and face were
scratched and his clothing torn.

"See anything of a runaway?" he cried, as he came up to Pickley.

"Yes; the team was stopped right here," replied the man.

"Who stopped 'em?"

"Ralph Nelson."

"You don't mean it?" gasped the young aristocrat.

"Yes, I do."

"Was he hurt?"

"Not a bit."

"I don't see how he could do it," grumbled Percy. "That team was going like
mad."

"So it was. Ralph not only stopped the team, but before that he worked
like lightning to close the draw so that they wouldn't go overboard."

"Humph!" mused Percy. "He must have done it in hopes of a reward. Most
likely he knew who was in the carriage."

"He did."

"What did Mrs. Carrington give him?"

"Nothing. But she said she would not forget him."

"She'll send him five dollars, or something like that, I guess. Did
she--she say anything about me?" went on Percy, hesitatingly.

"She said you leaped from t