CHAPTER I
A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT
"Here's Tad. He'll tell us," cried Walter Perkins. "Oh, Tad, howlong a trip is it to the Maine Woods from here?"
"That depends upon whether you walk or ride," answered Tad Butler,walking slowly up to the barn of Banker Perkins where threebrown-faced boys were sitting in the doorway, polishing bridles,mending saddles and limbering up their lassos.
"Of course you know what we mean," urged Ned Rector with a grin.
"Yes, I know what you mean."
"He isn't mean. You're the mean one," interjected Stacy Brown,otherwise known among his fellows as Chunky, the Fat Boy.
"Chunky, remember we are at home in Chillicothe now and are supposedto set examples to our less fortunate fellow citizens. Any fellowwho can get into the village paper the way you have done ought tohold his head pretty high," chuckled Rector.
Stacy threw out his chest.
"You mean that lion-catching article?"
Ned nodded.
"Yes, that was a pretty swell article. They think I'm the originalwonder here in Chillicothe."
"You are. There can be no doubt of that," laughed Tad.
"I'm glad you've come, Tad," continued Ned, turning to young Butler."We are planning for the new trip to the Maine Woods. I shall beglad to get east. I've never been far east. Any of the rest of youbeen east?"
"Well, I have been out to Skinner's farm. That's east of thevillage," declared Stacy Brown.
"Please, please!" begged Ned, a pained expression appearing on hisface. "Leave all that sort of nonsense to entertain us after we getinto the woods. We don't mind so much your playing the fool when weare away from home, but here it is different. We don't want to bedisgraced in this town where we are--"
"Some pumpkins," finished Chunky.
"Well, yes; that's it, I guess," agreed Ned.
"We were waiting for you to talk over what we should take along,"declared Walter. "I have been studying and reading and talking withAbe Parkinson, who, you know, used to live up in Maine. He says wemust travel very light; that going is hard up there in the woods. Hesays we don't want an ounce of excess baggage, or we'll never getanywhere. Do you know anything about it, Tad?"
"Yes. I guess Mr Parkinson is right about that. It will be realroughing, perhaps more so than anything you fellows ever haveexperienced, for you will be a long way from civilization."
"But we'll get plenty to eat, won't we?" begged Stacy, glancinganxiously at Tad.
"You usually do."
"Chunky can browse on green leaves if we get out of food," chuckledRector.
"Now, I call that real mean," complained the fat boy. "What did Iever do to you to merit such a fling as that?"
"You made a noise like a rattlesnake once and got me dumped into thebushes. Remember that?"
Chunky did. An appreciative grin spread over his round face.
"I haven't got even with you for that, but I shall some day and minewill be a terrible revenge. Br-r-r!"
"Oh, fudge!" scoffed the fat boy. "You talk easily, but no one isafraid of you."
"We aren't here to fight," reproved Walter. "We are here to talk overour journey, and now that Tad has arrived let's get to business, asfather would say."
"Especially if you owed him money and couldn't pay it," laughedStacy.
"Are you all ready, Tad?"
Tad's face grew serious.
"Boys, I'm afraid I can't go with you this time," answered Butlerin a low tone.
"Can't go?" exploded the boys.
"No, I think not, this time. Some other time, perhaps."
"Nonsense! Is this some kind of joke?" demanded Rector.
"It's no joke, Ned. I mean it."
"But what--why--"
"I'll tell you, boys."
"Don't tell us. We can't bear to hear disagreeable things," mournedStacy.
"Go on, Tad, we want to know," urged Walter.
"Well, the whole thing is that Mother isn't well. She hasn't beenwell all winter. She is not so well now as she was a month ago,and--"
Tad swallowed and moistened his lips with his tongue.
"I couldn't think of leaving her alone, just now; no, not foranything."
"Then you won't go?" questioned Stacy.
Tad shook his head.
"That settles it. Neither will I," decided Chunky.
"Oh, yes you will. You will go on just the same as before, and youwill have just as good a time. After you get out into the open againyou'll forget that I am not along."
"What! Do you think I would trust my precious person to thesesavages?" demanded the fat boy with a gesture that took in Ned Rectorand Walter Perkins. "Why, I'd never come back!"
"No great loss if you didn't," muttered Rector.
Tad laughed.
"You are old enough to take care of yourself, Chunky. You will havethe Professor to protect you in case anything goes wrong."
"No, we can't have it that way," declared Perkins, with a slow shakeof the head. "If you don't go, we don't. But really, I don't seewhy you can't. My folks will look after Mrs. Butler, and--"
Tad shook his head with emphasis.
"My mind is made up," he said.
"Oh, that's too bad," groaned the lads. "That's a burning shame,"added Stacy. "I'm hot all over. That's why I know it's a burningshame."
"Leave off joking," commanded Ned savagely. "This isn't anything tolaugh about. What appears to be the matter with your mother, Tad?"
"I--I think it's her lungs," replied the boy a bit unsteadily.
"What she needs is mountain air," declared Chunky. "I know. Sheought to go to the mountains."
"I agree with you," said Tad. "It is my idea that I can get her togo with me, for part of the summer at least, and then--"
"What's the matter with taking her along with us?" interruptedRector.
"No, that wouldn't do," answered Tad. "She couldn't stand it."
"Of course she couldn't. That shows how much you know, Ned Rector,"scoffed Stacy Brown.
"What do you propose to do all summer, Tad?" asked Ned thoughtfully.
"Oh, I shall work at something. I'm not going to be idle. PerhapsMr. Perkins will have something to do that will keep me out ofmischief for the summer after I get back," answered Butler with afaint smile.
"It's my opinion that this is all foolishness," declared Ned. "I'mgoing to see your mother."
Tad laid a hand on Ned's arm. "Please say nothing to my mother aboutit. My mind is made up, and that's all there is to it. Of course,it will be a bitter disappointment to me not to go with you, but Iguess I shall get over it. It would be more bitter to me ifanything--anything happened to mother."
"And Professor is coming on next week," muttered Walter. "I guess wehad better give it up for this season, fellows."
"No. I won't have it that way," urged Tad. "You'll make me feelworse about it if you do anything like that. Your plans are made."
"Yes, we will let things stand as they are for the present," agreedRector. "But I shan't give up the idea that you are going with us.Why--but what's the use in talking about it? Walt, is your father athome?"
"He is at the bank."
"Then I'm going over to see him."
"What about?" questioned Tad suspiciously.
"I've got a little matter of business that I want to talk over withhim."
"Want to borrow some money, eh?" grinned Chunky.
"No, we'll leave that business to you."
"That reminds me, Tad, could you--could you cross my palm for fivecents this afternoon?" asked the fat boy solemnly.
"Eh? Do what?"
"Cross my palm for five cents?"
"Say, this is a new habit, isn't it, this borrowing money?"
"Oh, I'll pay you back when I get my allowance," protested Stacy.
"I wasn't thinking about that. Take my word for it, this borrowingbusiness is bad business," rebuked Tad.
"Didn't I always pay you back ever
ything I borrowed of you?"protested Stacy indignantly.
"Yes, yes, but--here's five cents. Will that be enough?"
"Well," reflected the fat boy, "you might make it twenty-five ifyou are flush today."
Tad passed over a quarter, the other boys regarding the proceedingwith disapproving eyes.
"Now that you have made a touch, is it permissible to ask what youare going to do with all that money?" inquired Rector.
"It is."
"Well?"
"They've got a lot of fresh buns over at the bakery. I can getthirty-six of them for a quarter. It's a bargain, too."
"Buns!" growled Ned in a tone of disgust. "Don't you ever think ofanything but something to eat?"
"Yes--something that I haven't got to eat."
"Go get your buns and pass them around," suggested Walter smilingly.
"I guess not. There won't be more than enough for me," answeredStacy.
"There's selfishness for you," nodded Ned.
But Ned did Stacy an injustice. The fat boy was simply teasing theothers. He intended to bring back the "bargain" and share it withhis companions, which he did shortly after that, though Tad was notthere to help eat the hot buns that Stacy brought.
Little more was said on the subject nearest to the hearts of theboys, but their disappointment was keen at Tad's decision not toaccompany them on their visit to the Maine Woods, for which placethey were to start within a few days.
"I can't wait for the buns," said Tad. "I must be getting home, but Iwill help you boys get ready for the trip and see you off."
"No, you won't see us off," shouted Ned. "You will see yourself offalong with the rest of us."
To this young Butler merely shook his head as he turned away,retracing his steps towards home. For a few minutes after Tad'sdeparture, Ned Rector and Walter Perkins sat with heads closedtogether, talking earnestly. Finally Walter got up and started forhis father's place of business at a brisk walk. Later in theafternoon there was a conference between Walter and his parents.
In the meantime, Tad had gone home. He had been insistent that hewould not leave his mother, and Mrs. Butler was fully as insistentthat he should accompany his companions on their coming journey. ButTad was firm. It was the first time he ever had opposed his motherso stubbornly. Mrs. Butler had been ailing for some time and Tad wasgreatly worried over her condition. It was this concern for themother that was on the boy's mind now, rather than his disappointmentat not being able to go with his friends. There was only oneencouraging factor; his mother, while not well-to-do, was far frombeing in want. Though she did not feel that she should incur theexpense of going away, Tad was determined that she should.
Late in the afternoon Banker Perkins and his wife called at theButler home and had a long talk with Mrs. Butler. Tad had riddenout of town on his pony to bring in some horses that had been shippedin from the west to be sold. There were some "tough ones" in thebunch of western stock, and none of the town boys could be induced tohelp corral and drive in the stock for the owner. This work was arecreation for Tad, and the five dollars a day that he received forhis services during the sale, in cutting out, roping and ridingmustangs for prospective buyers, he considered the easiest money hehad ever earned. Besides this, Tad's riding was an exhibition initself, and it drew scores of spectators. The result was that thefive dollars a day paid to Tad was a most excellent investment forthe owner.
The coast being clear for the rest of the afternoon, Mr. Perkins andhis wife were uninterrupted in their talk with Mrs. Butler. Mrs.Butler, like her son, possessed a mind of her own, and the banker hadsome difficulty in bringing her around to his point of view, butbefore the Perkinses left the Butler home Mrs. Butler had agreed totheir plans, not so much on her own account as that of the boy ofwhom she was so justly proud. It was decided between them, however,to leave matters as they were for the present.
"I want to try the boy a little further," added the banker. "Ofcourse, I know him pretty well now, but if he goes through with whathe has declared he will, you need never worry about his success inlife. A boy who can do that is all right in every way."
The week drew to a close. Tad had completed his work with the horsedealer and collected his money, which he turned over to his mother onSaturday night.
"At this rate I'll be able to retire by and by," smiled the lad.
"You will have more money to spend on your trip this summer," was thereply.
"Yes. My trip with you to the mountains."
"Oh, no, I didn't mean that. You know what I mean, Tad."
"I'm not going, mother. My mind is made up."
"Will it be much of a disappointment to you if you do not go withyour friends?"
"Now, you know it won't," replied Tad playfully, as he passed an armaround his mother's waist. "What fun could I possibly have that wouldcompare with going away with you and seeing you grow back intoperfect health?"
Mrs. Butler smiled proudly, though she sighed at the thought of thepleasant jaunt that her son offered so readily to give up.
A few days later the other boys decided that they would go on withoutTad if they must, though they grumbled a good deal. Tad Butler cameforward, taking a hearty interest in all their preparations for thishike in the saddle. He put their kits in shape, made a new lariatfor Ned Rector, mended the tents, and in general threw himself asheartily into all the advanced work as though he were going himself.On the day of their departure Professor Zepplin arrived to takecharge of the party, as he had been doing for several seasons past.
Three of the boys and the Professor rode to the station, there to cartheir stock, Tad plodding along on foot, feeling strangely unfamiliarwith himself at such a time. Yet, from young Butler's face, onewould have thought him the happiest of all the party that gathered atthe station, and perhaps down in his heart he was happy, knowing thathe was doing what he knew to be his duty to the mother that he lovedso well. There was a real shadow, however, on the happiness of hiscompanions--the inability of Tad to go with them on their summer'souting.
Mr. Perkins was at the station to see the boys off. He, with Tad andhalf a hundred villagers, stood on the platform waving their hats andshouting their good-byes to the departing Pony Rider Boys. As thetrain pulled out, Stacy Brown was observed hanging over the railingof the rear coach wiping his eyes and pretending to weep, while thespectators laughed at the funny sight.
Mr. Perkins turned inquiringly to Tad.
"Well, Tad, I suppose this isn't a particularly happy occasion foryou?" he said.
"Why not sir?"
"Don't you feel the least bit disappointed that you are not on thattrain yonder?"
"Of course I am disappointed, but I am satisfied that I have doneright. That's the best sort of happiness after all. Don't you thinkso, Mr. Perkins?"
For answer the banker extended an impulsive hand, clasping Tad's in astrong, appreciative grip. Tad walked back with Mr. Perkins, leavinghim at the latter's place of business, then the lone Pony Rider Boystrolled meditatively homeward.
Reaching the yard, Tad walked around to the stable, which he entered,and stepping into the stall of his pony, he patted the little animalaffectionately.
The pony whinnied appreciatively.
"Well, old boy," said Tad, "you are disappointed just the same as amI. But we'll have a good many nice rides this summer. We'll rideout every night to fetch Deacon Skinner's cows home, and maybe we'llrope one now and then just to keep our hands in. Shall we have alittle ride now just to forget, you know? All right, come alongthen."
The pony backed from its stall as if fully understanding the words ofits master. A few moments later Tad was galloping away from town,the little hoofs of his pet mount throwing up a cloud of dust on thebroad highway that led to the open country and the fresh greenfields.