Finally, after obtaining John Dustin’s promise to telegraph the first bit of information that he should gain concerning the missing boy, and also to relinquish all claims upon him in favor of the grandfather, the disappointed man turned his face homeward. He was not only disappointed at the unexpected result of his journey; but he was as heavy-hearted as though death had robbed him of some loved one, and he were now on his way to bear the sad tidings to those who waited at home.
It was such thoughts as these that drove sleep from his eyes, while the Keystone express, on which he was a passenger, climbed the western slope of the Alleghanies, and barely escaped destruction from the runaway caboose of a freight train, through the prompt action of a boy. If the sleepless man could only have known that this boy was his own grandson, how quickly would his sorrow have been changed to joy and pride. As it was, he was filled with admiration for the brave lad, merely from listening to the sleeping-car porter’s imperfect account of the affair, and wished he might have seen and known him.
When he reached home he related this incident to his niece and her mother as the most thrilling of his trip, and again regretted that he had not made the acquaintance of its hero.
Now, the fact that his grandson and this young hero were one and the same boy, and that this boy had voluntarily sought a home under his roof, was a continual source of joy and pride to Colonel Dale, that he was at no pains to conceal.
Becomingly dressed, well cared for, and, above all, surrounded by an atmosphere of love and gentleness, “Prince Dusty” was now such a handsome, merry little fellow, that he not only completely won the hearts of his grandfather and the Dalecourt household, but of every one who came in contact with him.
Now, more bitterly than ever, did Colonel Dale regret his lost fortune, and shrink from the ruin that, staring him in the face, could not much longer be averted. The financial difficulties of the family had not been kept from Arthur, for he was wise beyond his years, and his grandfather thought it best that he should know exactly how matters stood with them. It was a great grief to the boy to see his grandpapa and his Cousin Hatty, both of whom he had learned to love dearly, so troubled; and, in his wise young way, he pondered deeply over the situation.
At last, one evening as he was bidding them all good-night, he said: “Grandpapa, I think I have almost thought of a way for us to get a great deal of money.”
“Have you, my boy?” said the colonel. “That’s good; what is it?”
“Well I haven’t quite thought it all out yet; but I will finish thinking and tell you what it is in the morning,” replied the boy, smiling brightly down upon his grandfather, as he bounded up the broad stairway.