[Illustration: "The man was thrown overboard by the accident." See page 17.]
THE YOUNG BRIDGE-TENDER
OR
Ralph Nelson's Upward Struggle
BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
AUTHOR OF "The Young Bank Clerk," "Mark Dale's Stage Venture," "Rover Boys Series," etc.
NEW YORK AND LONDON STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1902 By STREET & SMITH
The Young Bridge-Tender
CONTENTS.
I A Question of Property 9
II The Smash at the Bridge 14
III Ralph Makes a Friend 20
IV The Quarrel on the Bridge 26
V A Hunt for the Missing Bill 32
VI Mrs. Nelson's Story 37
VII Percy's Home 43
VIII Squire Paget Makes a Move 49
IX At the General Store 55
X Ralph is Given Notice 62
XI The Runaway 68
XII Ralph's Reward 74
XIII On Big Silver Lake 81
XIV A Stormy Time 88
XV Looking for Work 94
XVI Percy Hears Something 101
XVII A Midnight Crime 107
XVIII About a Pocket-knife 114
XIX About the Robbery 120
XX Out on Bail 126
XXI Squire Paget's Visit 133
XXII Ralph's New Situation 140
XXIII Strange Passengers 146
XXIV Ralph's Rough Experience 153
XXV Squire Paget's News 160
XXVI On the Island 166
XXVII The Meeting in the Woods 172
XXVIII Ralph in the City 179
XXIX Penniless 185
XXX The Sharper is Outwitted 191
XXXI On the Bowery 198
XXXII New Employment 205
XXXIII Squire Paget's Move 211
XXXIV The Squire in Hot Water 218
XXXV Ralph a Prisoner 225
XXXVI Mickety to the Rescue 231
XXXVII Martin is Trapped 237
XXXVIII Beginning of the End 242
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Young Bridge-Tender by Edward Stratemeyer
- 2: It's a wonder they ever put up the bridge across to Eastport
- 3: Sometimes called Keniscot Lake
- 4: Westville had always been a backward town
- 5: The man had commenced to work at the mainsail
- 6: And Ralph at once drew him to the side of the sloop
- 7: Remarked Ralph to Horace Kelsey
- 8: And Horace Kelsey smiled quietly
- 9: The boy on the shore was Percy Paget
- 10: I suppose you mean that for a pun
- 11: Percy started to cross the bridge
- 12: Why can't Percy Paget stay away and mind his own business
- 13: Squire Paget isn't so powerful as his son thinks
- 14: I don't believe Percy will do much
- 15: He said he had got the bill from Percy Paget
- 16: Uriah brought out a tin box and unlocked it
- 17: She ushered Ralph into the hallway
- 18: And then Pickley moved down the steps
- 19: Instantly Squire Paget flared up
- 20: Blustered the aristocratic bully
- 21: Squire Paget watched him leave the garden
- 22: Issued by the First National Bank of Chambersburgh
- 23: Uriah Dicks drummed uneasily upon the counter
- 24: Times are so hard in Westville
- 25: If it was really that Paget boy
- 26: Silver Cove was several miles below Westville
- 27: The westville township committee
- 28: Do you think Dan Pickley is after the job
- 29: Dan Pickley looked at Ralph closely
- 30: And he quickly followed Pickley out of harm's way
- 31: Sanderson and Pickley to gaze after them
- 32: Pickley sat down to count the tolls as before
- 33: Carrington and her daughter have made
- 34: Would Westville had more of such
- 35: And now he made his way to Uriah Dicks' store
- 36: But Ralph did not get to Eastport that day
- 37: And by noon Martinton was reached
- 38: Your barge is off in that direction
- 39: Before sundown Westville was reached
- 40: Ralph had no definite place in view
- 41: I won't have any circulars wasted
- 42: Percy colored to the roots of his reddish hair
- 43: While Julia Carrington merely bowed
- 44: Ralph visited them in quick succession
- 45: Brady was busy buying some powder
- 46: The truth was that Uriah was hard pressed for help
- 47: Going to Hopeville with them bills
- 48: Foley lived on the other side of the village
- 49: Although he wished to learn more of the robbery
- 50: And Ralph recognized Uriah Dick's voice
- 51: Ralph looked at the knife again
- 52: The constable and Uriah took a lamp
- 53: Rather guess Uriah is mistaken
- 54: And then there was a laugh that made Uriah furious
- 55: Postmaster Hooker turned to Squire Paget
- 56: Who stated that he remembered Dock Brady very well
- 57: And among these was Squire Paget
- 58: No matter how much he fools the other Westville people
- 59: But when they touched his mother Squire Paget
- 60: You young vagabond spluttered the squire
- 61: I heard Henry Bott speak of it
- 62: And the balance of the time around Eastport itself
- 63: Entered into conversation with Franchard
- 64: On the latter trip Ralph saw Percy Paget
- 65: Squire Paget also saw the notice
- 66: And then Squire Paget is pretty well fixed
- 67: Toglet and Martin exchanged glances
- 68: As they trudged on behind Ralph
- 69: Martin and Toglet exchanged glances
- 70: And the squire of Westville immediately followed
- 71: Squire Paget watched them out of sight
- 72: Alternately nursing his wounds and clutching his aching head
- 73: The sportsman put down his gun
- 74: You say you came from Glen Arbor
- 75: And they were Martin and Toglet
- 76: Ralph was exhausted by his run
- 77: Who what stammered Ralph
- 78: Ralph found the all night lunchroom without much trouble
- 79: This reply seemed to please Jackson Walters
- 80: Jackson Walters crawled from the bed
- 81: Learning that Broadway lay several blocks beyond
- 82: He came across the name Kelsey
- 83: The policeman looked perplexed
- 84: Kelsey and get his advice as to what to do next
- 85: Ralph glanced down at his shoes
- 86: But da all calls me just Mickety
- 87: Ralph had often heard of the Battery
- 88: Ve got dese suits at a great pargain
- 89: Dot suit chust fits you it's chust vot you vonts
- 90: Come in here and hellup your fadder and mudder
- 91: It was rather awkward for Ralph to start
- 92: And rent the place in Westville
- 93: Went on the youth in the rowboat
- 94: Franchard was soon on the sloop
- 95: One of the parties contained Squire Paget
- 96: Kind of mysterious about Ralph Nelson
- 97: He took the evening boat for Chambersburgh
- 98: And Squire Paget the last boat for Westville
- 99: It was all because I took charge of my poor friend Toglet
- 100: Toglet lives on the upper floor
- 101: Into the pantry Ralph was thrust
- 102: Then he saw how Ralph was gagged and bound
- 103: But they had seen him talking to Mickety
- 104: Mickety at once went off to do as Ralph had requested
- 105: Martin Thomas tried to brush past Ralph
- 106: And Mickety related what he knew of the affair
- 107: If this Squire Paget is so villainous
- 108: Horace Kelsey had procured berths
- 109: Are they not the Westville post office robbers
- 110: Corcoran opened it to admit Squire Paget
- 111: Squire Paget is the blackest hearted wretch in Westville
- 112: But the exposure had been too much for Squire Paget