“I admit that, but——”
“Say no more, Mrs. W. I’ve put my foot down, and the thing is settled. He shan’t go to the high school.”
CHAPTER II.
BEN WITNESSES AN EXPLOSION.
After attending to his chores, Ben decided to take a walk—not in the direction of the village, but away from it. A quarter of a mile to the westward there was a river with a rapid current which had yielded Ben plenty of enjoyment in the way of fishing and boating.
Across from shore to shore was a dam, by means of which the water was made available for a factory for the manufacture of leather board. The superintendent of this factory, a Mr. Foster, was one of Ben’s special friends.
Ben overtook the superintendent sauntering along beside the river.
“How are you, Ben?” said the superintendent kindly.
“Very well, thank you, Mr. Foster.”
“You are going to the high school next term, I suppose.”