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generously forebore to speak； though he felt that he was the least
to blame； and Frank； after eating a bit of snow to moisten his dry
lips； said； handsomely；
〃Now； don't you worry； old man。 I'll pay the damages； for it was
my fault。 Joe will dodge； but I won't； so make your mind easy。
〃We sha'n't hear the last of this in a hurry；〃 responded Gus；
relieved； yet anxious； as he thought of the reprimand his father
would give him。
〃I hope mother won't hear of it till I tell her quietly myself。 She
will be so frightened； and think I'm surely smashed up； if she is
told in a hurry〃； and Frank gave a shiver； as all the danger he had
run came over him suddenly。
〃I thought we were done for when we saw that train。 Guess we
should have been if you had not had your wits about you。 I always
said you were a cool one〃； and Gus patted Frank's back with a look
of great admiration； for； now that it was all over； he considered it a
very remarkable performance。
〃Which do you suppose it will be； fine or imprisonment？〃 asked
Frank； after sitting in a despondent attitude for a moment。
〃Shouldn't wonder if it was both。 Running off with an engine is no
joke； you know。〃
'What did possess me to be such a fool？〃 groaned Frank； repenting；
all too late； of yielding to the temptation which assailed him。
〃Bear up； old fellow； I'll stand by you； and if the worst comes； I'll
call as often as the rules of the prison allow；〃 said Gus；
consolingly； as he gave his afflicted friend an arm； and they
walked away； both feeling that they were marked men from that
day forth。
Meantime； Joe； as soon as he recovered from the shock of seeing
the boys actually go off； ran away； as fast as his legs could carry
him； to prepare Mrs。 Minot for the ioss of her son； for the idea of
their coming safely back never occurred to him； his knowledge of
engines being limited。 A loud ring at the bell brought Mrs。 Pecq；
who was guarding the house； while Mrs。 Minot entertained a
parlor full of company。
〃Frank's run off with No。 11； and he'll be killed sure。 Thought I'd
come up and tell you；〃 stammered Joe； all out of breath and
looking wild。
He got no further； for Mrs。 Pecq clapped one hand over his mouth；
caught him by the collar with the other； and hustled him into the
ante…room before anyone else could hear the bad news。
〃Tell me all about it； and don't shout。 What's come to the boy？〃 she
demanded； in a tone that reduced Joe to a whisper at once。
〃Go right back and see what has happened to him； then come and
tell me quietly。 I'll wait for you here。 I wouldn't have his mother
startled for the world；〃 said the good soul； when she knew all。
〃Oh； I dar'sn't！ I opened the switch as they told me to； and Bill will
half kill me when he knows it！〃 cried Joe； in a panic； as the awful
consequences of his deed rose before him； showing both boys
mortally injured and several trains wrecked。
〃Then take yourself off home and hold your tongue。 I'll watch the
door； for I won't have any more ridiculous boys tearing in to
disturb my lady。〃
Mrs。 Pecq often called this good neighbor 〃my lady〃 when
speaking of her； for Mrs。 Minot was a true gentlewoman； and
much pleasanter to live with than the titled mistress had been。
Joe scudded away as if the constable was after him； and presently
Frank was seen slowly approaching with an unusually sober face
and a pair of very dirty hands。
〃Thank heaven； he's safe！〃 and； softly opening the door； Mrs。 Pecq
actually hustled the young master into the ante…room as
unceremoniously as she had hustled Joe。
〃I beg pardon； but the parlor is full of company； and that fool of a
Joe came roaring in with a cock…and…bull story that gave me quite
a turn。 What is it； Mr。 Frank？〃 she asked eagerly； seeing that
something was amiss。
He told her in a few words； and she was much relieved to find that
no harm had been done。
〃Ah； the danger is to come；〃 said Frank； darkly； as be went away to
wash his hands and prepare to relate his misdeeds。
It was a very bad quarter of an hour for the poor fellow； who so
seldom had any grave faults to confess； but he did it manfully； and
his mother was so grateful for the safety of her boy that she found
it difficult to be severe enough； and contented herself with
forbidding any more visits to the too charming No。 11。
〃What do you suppose will be done to me？〃 asked Frank； on whom
the idea of imprisonment had made a deep impression。
〃I don't know； dear； but I shall go over to see Mr。 Burton right
after tea。 He will tell us what to do and what to expect。 Gus must
not suffer for your fault。〃
〃He'll come off clear enough； but Joe must take his share； for if he
hadn't opened that confounded switch； no harm would have been
done。 But when I saw the way clear； I actually couldn't resist going
ahead；〃 said Frank； getting excited again at the memory of that
blissful moment when he started the engine。
Here Jack came hurrying in； having heard the news； and refused to
believe it from any lips but Frank's。 When he could no longer
doubt； he was so much impressed with the daring of the deed that
he had nothing but admiration for his brother； till a sudden thought
made him clap his hands and exclaim exultingly；
〃His runaway beats mine all hollow； and now he can't crow over
me！ Won't that be a comfort？ The good boy has got into a scrape。
Hooray！〃
This was such a droll way of taking it； that they had to laugh； and
Frank took his humiliation so meekly that Jack soon fell to
comforting him； instead of crowing over him。
Jill thought it a most interesting event； and； when Frank and his
mother went over to consult Mr。 Burton； she and Jack planned out
for the dear culprit a dramatic trial which would have convulsed
the soberest of judges。 His sentence was ten years' imprisonment；
and such heavy fines that the family would have been reduced to
beggary but for the sums made by Jill's fancy work and Jack's
success as a champion pedestrian。
They found such comfort and amusement in this sensational
programme that they were rather disappointed when Frank
returned； reporting that a fine would probably be all the penalty
exacted； as no harm had been done； and he and Gus were such
respectable boys。 What would happen to Joe； he could not tell； but
he thought a good whipping ought to be added to his share。
Of course； the affair made a stir in the little world of children； and
when Frank went to school； feeling that his character for good
behavior was forever damaged； he found himself a lion； and was in
danger of being spoiled by the admiration of his comrades； who
pointed him out with pride as 〃the fellow who ran off with a
steam…engine。〃
But an interview with Judge Kemble； a fine of twenty…five dollars；
and lectures from all the grown people of his acquaintance；
prevented him from regarding his escapade as a feat to boast of。
H