“He found out the bridge was broken, and signalled the train and saved it from being wrecked.”
Mrs. Tarbox’s eyes sparkled with maternal pride.
“It was a noble act,” she said.
“The passengers took up a contribution, and Jotham Perry thinks Grant got about twenty-five dollars.”
“He deserved it.”
“Well, I’m glad he got it, but he had no right to spend it himself. Ther’s one thing that don’t occur to you, Mrs. T. What he did was done in time, and he lost at least an hour by the delay it cost. You know yourself how late he came home.”
“What is that, Mr. Tarbox, to the lives of the passengers and the safety of the train?”
“You don’t understand me, Mrs. T. Under the circumstances I think I ought to have half the money he received.”
“Mr. Tarbox!” exclaimed his wife in profound disgust.
“That’s so, and of course if I had it he wouldn’t have no twenty dollars to throw away on a suit of clothes.”