Candacecriedout：“Ohlook，hispoorfeet！Theyareblisteredandbleeding！“
Mothermoveddownalittle，gatheredtheminherarms，andbegankissingthem。FatherwetLeon’slipsandarose。Heheldouthishand，andMr。Pryortookit。
“IwillprayGod，“hesaid，“thatitmayhappen`evenso’toyou。“
Leonopenedhiseyesandcaughtonlythelastwords。
“Youhadbetterlookoutforthe`EvenSo’s，’father，“hesaid。
Andfatherhadtolaugh，butMr。Pryorwentout，andslammedthedoor，untilIlookedtoseeifithadcrackedfromtoptobottom；
butwedidn’tcareifithad，weweresohappyoverhavingLeonback。
Iwentandpickedupthemoneyandcarriedittofathertoputaway，andthattimehetookit。Buteventhenhedidn’tstoptoseeifhehadallofit。
“Yousee！“Isaid，“Itoldyou——“
“Youdidindeed！“saidfather。“Andyoualmostsavedourreason。
Therearetimeswhenthingswehavecometofeelwecan’tlivewithout，sopressus，thatmoneyseemsofthegreatestimportance。Thisisourlesson。Hereafter，Iandallmyfamily，whohavebeenthroughthis，willknowthatmoneyisnotevenworththinkingaboutwhenthelifeandhonourofoneyoulovehangsinthebalance。Whenhecanunderstand，yourbrothershallknowofthewondrousfaithhisLittleSisterhadinhim。“
“Maybehewon’tlikewhatyouandmotherthought。Maybewebetternottellhim。Icankeepsecretsrealwell。IhaveseveralbigonesI’venevertold，andIdidn’tsayawordabouttheStationwhenLeonsaidIshouldn’t。“
“Afterthistherewillbenomoneykeptontheplace，“saidfather。“It’ssavingtimeattoogreatcost。Allwehavegoesintothebank，andsomeofuswillcheerfullyrideforwhatwewant，whenweneedit。AsfornottellingLeon，thatisasyourmotherdecides。Formyself，IbelieveI’dfeelbettertomakeacleanbreastofit。“
Motherheard，forshesobbedasshebathedLeon’sfeet，andwhenhiseyescameopensothey’dstayalittlewhile，hekeptlookingathersofunny，betweensipsofhotmilk。
“Don’tCRY，mammy！“hesaid。“I’Mallright。Sorrysucharumpus！Lethimfoolme。Besmartasthenextfellow，afterthis！Knowhowgladyouaretogetthemoney！“
MothersatbackonherheelsandroaredasIdowhenIstepinabumblebee’snest，andtheygetme。Leonwasgrowingbettereveryminute，andhestaredather，andthenhisdealish，funnyoldgrinbegantotwisthislipsandhecried：“Ohgolly！Youthought_I_helpedtakeitandwentwithhim，didn’tyou？“
“Ohmyson，myson！“wailedmotheruntilshemademethinkofAbsalomundertheoak。
“Well，Ibeding-busted！“saidLeon，sortofslowandwondering-
like，andfatherneveropenedhisheadtotellhimthatwasnowaytotalk。
Mothercriedmorethanever，andbetweensobsshetriedtoexplainthatIheardwhatthetravellermanhadsaidabouthowbaditwastoliveinthecountry；andhowLeonwasnowatanagewhereshe’dknownboystogetwrongideas，andhowthingslooked，andinthemiddleofitheraisedonhiselbowandtookherinhisarmsandsaid：“Wellofallthegeese！AndI’sposefatherwasinittoo！Butsinceit’sthefirsttime，andsinceitisyou——！Gotobednow，andletmesleep——Butseethatyoudon’teverletthishappenagain。“
Thenhekissedheroverandoverandclungtohertightandatlastdroppedbackandgroaned：
“Myreputation，Omyreputation！
I’velostmyreputation！“
Shehadtolaughwhilethetearswerestillrunning，andfatherandLaddielookedateachotherandshouted。IguesstheythoughtLeonwasaboutrightafterthat。Laddiewentandbentoverhimandtookhishand。
“Don’tbeinquitesuchahurry，oldman，“hesaid。“BeforeyouwinkoutIhavegottotellyouhowproudIamofhavingabrotherwhoisarealCrusader。TheLordknowsthistooknerve！
You’regreat，boy，simplygreat！“
LeongrabbedLaddie’shandwithbothofhisandheldtightandlaughed。Youcouldseethebigtearssqueezeout，althoughhefoughttowinkthemback。HeheldtoLaddieandsaidlow-like，onlyforhimtohear：“It’sallrightifyoustaybyawhile，oldman。“
Hebegantotalkslowly。
“ItwasalongtimebeforeIcaughtup，andthenIhadtohide，andfollowuntilday，andhewasn’tsoveryeasytohandle。OnceIthoughthehadmesure！Itwasanawfulload，butifithadn’tbeenforthegoodoldgun，I’dneverhavegothim。Whenwemixedup，Ihadfineluckgettingthatchinpunchonhim；goodthingI
workeditoutsoslickonAbsalomSaunders，andwhileoldEvenSowasgroggyIgotthemoneyawayfromhim，tookthegun，andstoodbacksomedistance，beforehecameoutofit。Oncewehaditsettledwhowalkedahead，andwhocarriedthemoneyandgun，wegotalongbetter，butIhadtokeepaneyeonhimeveryminute。
Tocomethroughthewoodswastheshortest，butI’mtiredout，andsoishe。GettingcloseImostfeltsorryforhim，hewassoforlorn，andsoscaredaboutwhatwouldbedonetohim。Hestoppedandpulledoutanotherroll，andofferedmeallofit，ifI’dlethimgo。Ididn’tknowwhetheritwasreallyhis，orpartoffather’s，soItoldhimhecouldjustdropituntilIfoundout。Madehimsweatblood，butIhadthegun，andhehadtomind。Iwasmasterthen。SotheremaybemoreintherollI
gavefatherthanEvenSotook。Fathercanfigureupandkeepwhatbelongstohim。EvenSohadgoneawaypastFlannigans’
beforeItackledhim，andIwassleepy，cold，andhungry；you’dhavethoughtthere’dhavebeenamanouthunting，orpassingontheroad，butnotasouldidwesee’tilPryors’！Say，theoldmanwasbully！Hehelpedmeso，IalmostthoughtIbelongedtohim！My！he’sfine，whenyouknowhim！Afterhecameonthejob，youbetoldEvenSowalkedup。Say，whereishe？Haveyoufedhim？“
Laddielookedatfather，whowaslistening，andweallrushedtothedoor，butitmusthavebeenanhour，andEvenSohadn’twaited。Fathersaiditwasagreatpity，becauseamanlikethatshouldn’tbelefttopreyonthecommunity；butmothersaidshedidn’twanttobemixedupwithatrial，ortoberesponsiblefortakingthelibertyofafellowcreature，andfathersaidthatwasexactlylikeawoman。Leonwenttosleep，butnoneofusthoughtofgoingtobed；wejuststoodaroundandlookedathim，andsmiledoverhim，andcriedabouthim，untilyouwouldhavethoughthehadbeenshippedtousinaglasscase，andcost，maybe，ahundreddollars。
Fathergotouthisbooksandfigureduphisownandtheroadmoney，andMissAmelia’s，andthechurch’s。Laddiedidn’twantheraround，sohestoppedattheschoolhouseandtoldhertostayatJustices’thatnight，we’dneedallourrooms；butshedidn’tlikebeingsentawaywhentherewassuchexcitement，buteveryonemindedLaddiewhenhesaidsoforsure。
Whenfatherhadeverythingcountedtherewasmorethanhis，quitealotofit，stolenfromotherpeoplewhoshelteredthetravellernodoubt，fathersaid。Wethoughthewouldn’tbelikelytocomebackforit，andfathersaidhewasatlosswhattodowithit，butLaddiesaidhewasn’t——itwasLeon’s——hehadearnedit；sofathersaidhewouldtrytofindoutifanythingelsehadbeenstolen，andhe’dkeepitayear，andthenifnooneclaimedit，hewouldputitoninterestuntilLeondecidedwhathewantedtodowithit。
WhenyouwatchedLeonsleepyoucouldtellalotmoreaboutwhathadhappenedtohimthanhecould。Hemoaned，andmutteredconstantly，andpanted，andfeltaroundforthegun，andbreathedlikehewasrunningagain，andfoughtuntilLaddiehadtoholdhimonthecouch，andfinallyawakenedhim。Butitdidnogood；
hewentrightofftosleepagain，andithappenedallover。ThenfatherbegangettinghisCrusaderbloodup，althoughhealwayssaidhewasamanofpeace。ButitwasaluckythingEvenSogotaway；forafterfatherhadwatchedLeonawhile，hesaidifthatmanhadbeenonthepremises，hisfingersitchedsotogetathim，hewaspositivehe’dhaveventedalittlerighteousindignationonhimthatwouldhavecosthimwithinaninchofhislife。Andhe’dhavedoneittoo！Hewaslikethat。Ittookalot，anditwasslowcoming，butwhenhebecameangryenough，andfeltjustifiedinit，whyyou’dbemuchsafertobesomeoneelsethanthemanwhoprovokedhim。
Afterteno’clockthedogbarked，someonetapped，andfatherwent；healwayswouldopenthedoor；youcouldn’tmakehimpretendhewasasleep，ornotathomewhenhewas，andtherestoodMr。Pryor。Hesaidtheycouldseethelightsandtheywereafraidtheboywasill，andcouldanyofthemhelp。Fathersaidtherewasnothingtheycoulddo；Leonwasasleep。ThenMr。Pryorsaid：“Ifheisoffsound，soitwon’tdisturbhim，Iwouldliketoseehimagain。“
FathertoldhimLeonwasrestless，butsoexhaustedarailroadtrainwouldn’twakenhim，soMr。Pryorcameinandwenttothecouch。Hetookoffhishat，likeyoudobesideagrave，whilehisfaceslowlygrewwhiterthanhishair，andthatwouldbesnow-white；thenheturnedatlastandstumbledtowardthedoor。
Laddiehelditforhim，buthedidn’tseemtorememberhewasthere。Hemutteredoverandover：“Why？Why？InthenameofGod，why？“Laddiefollowedtothegatetohelphimonhishorse，becausehethoughthewasalmostoutofhishead，buthehadwalkedacrossthefields，soLaddiekeptfarbehindandwatcheduntilhesawhimgosafelyinsidehisowndoor。
IthinkfatherandLaddiesatbesideLeonallnight。Theotherswenttosleep。Alittleafterdaybreak，justasLaddiewasstartingtofeed，therewasanawfulclamour，andherecamealotofneighbourswithEvenSo。Mr。Freshetthadfoundhimasleepinacattleholeinthestrawstack，andsearchedhim，andhehadmoremoney，andthatmadeMr。Freshettsure；andashewasverystrong，andhadbeenforyearsasoldier，andreallylovedtofight，hemarchedpoorEvenSobacktoourhouse。Everyfewrodstheymetmoremenoutsearchingwhocamewiththem，untilthereweresomany，ourfrontyardandtheroadwerecrowded。Ofallthesightsyoueversaw，EvenSolookedtheworst。Youcouldseethathe’ddropoveratmuchmore。Thosemenkeptcryingtheyweregoingtohanghim；butmotherwentoutandtalkedtothem，andsaidtheymustn’tkillamanfortakingonlymoney。Shetoldthemhowlittleitwasworthcomparedwithotherthings；shehadCandacebringEvenSoacupofhotcoffee，lotsofbread，andsausagefromtheskillet，andshesaiditwasourmoney，andourlad，andwewantednothingdoneaboutit。Themendidn’tlikeit，butthetravellerdid。Hegrabbedandgobbledlikeabeastatthehotfoodandcried，andmothersaidsheforgavehim，andtolethimgo。
ThenMr。Freshettlookedawfuldisappointed，andhecameuptofather，withhisbacktowardmother，andasked：“That’syoursaytoo，Mr。Stanton？“Fathergrinnedsortofrueful-like，buthesaidtogiveEvenSohismoneyandlethimgo。Hetoldallaboutgettingoursback，andhavinghadhimatthehouseoncebefore。
HebroughtthemoneyLeontookfromhim，butthemensaidnodoubthehadstolenthat，andLeonhadearneditbringinghimback，sothetravellershouldn’thaveit。Theytookhimawayonahorseandsaidthey’dlethimgo，butthatthey’descorthimfromthecounty。FathertoldMr。Freshettthathewasalittlesuspiciousofthem，andhewouldholdhimresponsiblefortheman’slife。Mr。Freshettsaidthathe’dgivehiswordthatthemanwouldbesafe；theyonlywantedtomakesurehewouldn’tcomeback，andthathe’dbecarefulinthefuturehowheabusedhospitality，sotheywent，andallofusweregladofit。
Idon’tknowwhatMr。Freshettcallssafe，fortheytookEvenSotoGrovevilleandlockedhimupuntilnight。Thentheyledhimtotherailroad，andmadehimcrawlbackandforththroughanoldenginebesidethetrack，untilhewasblackerthananynegroeverborn；andthentheyhadhimswallowabigdoseofcrotonoilforhishealth。ThatwastheonlyKINDthingtheydid，forafterwardtheystartedhimdownthetrackandtoldhimtorun，andallofthemshotathisfeetashewent。HannahFreshetttoldmeatschoolthenextday。HerfathersaidEvenSojusthowled，andflewupintheair，andducked，anddodgedandranlikehe’dneverwalkedastep，orwasabittired。Wemadeagameofit，andafterthatoneoftheboyswasEvenSo，andtheotherswerethemob，andtheonewhocouldhowlnicest，jumphighest，andgofastest，couldbe“It“oftenest。
Leongrewallrightfasterthanyouwouldthink。Hewenttoschooldayafternext，andtheboysweresickwithenvy。Theyaskedandasked，butLeonwouldn’ttellmuch。Hedidn’tseemtoliketotalkaboutit，andhewouldn’tplaythegameorevenwatchus。Hetalkedabluestreakaboutthemoney。Fatherwasgoingtowritetoeverysheriffofthecountiesalongthewaythemansaidhehadcome，andifhecouldfindnoonebeforespringwhohadbeenrobbed，hesaidLeonmightdowhathelikedwiththemoney。Iusedtopretenditwascomingtome，andeachdayI
thoughtofanewwaytospendit。Leonwassosurehe’dgetithemarchedrightoverandaskedMr。Pryoraboutaniceyoungthoroughbredhorse，fromhisstables，andwhenhecamebackhecouldgetacoltlikeonesoverycheapthatfatherandLaddielookedateachotherandgasped，andneversaidaword。Theyfiguredup，andifLeongotthemoney，hecouldhavethehorse，andsavesomeforcollege，andfromthestartheneverchangedamiteaboutthosetwothingshewantedtodowithit。Hehadthehorsepickedoutandwenttothefieldtofeedandpetitandmakeitgentle，sohecouldridebareback，andmothersaidhewouldbealmostsickiftheownerofthemoneyturnedup。
Pullinghisbootsonenight，fathersaidsotoo，andthatthethoughtsofitworriedhim。HesaidMr。Pryorhadshadedhispricesothatifthemoneyhadtogo，hewouldbetemptedtoseeifwecouldn’tmanageitourselves。Idon’tknowhowshadingthepriceofahorsewouldmakeherfeelbetter，butitdid，andmaybeLeonisgoingtogetit。
CHAPTERX
LaddieTakesthePlunge“Thisisthestateofman：to-dayheputsforthThetenderleavesofhopes；to-morrowblossoms，Andbearshisblushinghonorsthickuponhim；
Thethirddaycomesafrost，akillingfrost，And，whenhethinks，good，easyman，fullsurelyHisgreatnessisa-ripening，nipshisroot，Andthenhefalls，asIdo。“
Watchmetaketheplunge！“saidLaddie。