on Bridge at Niagara Falls. Later on he was brought back and
tried, and received three years in prison for his crimes. He had nearly
six thousand dollars of the stolen money in the bank, and this was
turned over to Andrew Shalley. Two hundred and fifty dollars went to
Mrs. Clare as part of her husband's estate.

"Bringing Peter Polk to justice is due to you, Randy," said the
steamboat owner, after the affair was a thing of the past. "I feel I
must reward you for what you did."

"I don't ask any reward, Mr. Shalley. I am glad that I cleared my own
name."

"Here is something for you, nevertheless," said Andrew Shalley, and
handed a big document to our hero.

"What is it?"

"It is the deed to the farm on which your folks are living. It is made
out in your name. I bought the place from Peter Thompson, your uncle.
Now you have something that you can really call your own," and Mr.
Shalley laughed pleasantly.

"Mr. Shalley, you are more than kind," cried Randy, warmly. "Do my
parents know of this?"

"No. You can go home over Sunday and surprise them."

"I will, and I thank you very much, sir."

Randy went home, and there was a general rejoicing over the good news.
But more was to follow.

"I met Mr. Bartlett to-day," said Mr. Thompson. "He says they want a
first-class carpenter at the iron works to take charge of the repairs
He offered me the place at a dollar a day more than I am getting."

"Good enough, father!" cried Randy. "That is just like Mr. Bartlett."

"He said he wanted to do something for us on your account. And he sent
you this," added Mr. Thompson, and brought out a neat silver watch and
chain. It was a nice present and pleased Randy greatly.

Not long after that the season on the river closed and Randy came home
for the winter. As his father now had a steady place at good wages, the
youth went to school, in company with Jack Bartlett, who had moved back
to Riverport with the rest of his family. Randy was a good scholar and
made rapid progress.

"I want you to get a good education," wrote Andrew Shalley to our hero.
"Then, later on, you can enter my office if you wish, or take a better
place on the steamboat."

Six years have passed since that time and Randy has finished his
education. He is now the general manager for the steamboat company, and
rumor has it that he is soon to marry Rose Clare, who still lives with
the Shalleys. He is prosperous, but come what may, will never forget
the time wh