The Young Bridge-Tender or, Ralph Nelson's Upward Struggle   By: Edward Stratemeyer (1862-1930)

THE YOUNG BRIDGE TENDER

OR

Ralph Nelson's Upward Struggle

BY ARTHUR M. WINFIELD

AUTHOR OF "The Young Bank Clerk," "Mark Dale's Stage Venture," "Rover Boys Series," etc.

NEW YORK AND LONDON STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1902 By STREET & SMITH

The Young Bridge Tender

CONTENTS.

I A Question of Property 9

II The Smash at the Bridge 14

III Ralph Makes a Friend 20

IV The Quarrel on the Bridge 26

V A Hunt for the Missing Bill 32

VI Mrs. Nelson's Story 37

VII Percy's Home 43

VIII Squire Paget Makes a Move 49

IX At the General Store 55

X Ralph is Given Notice 62

XI The Runaway 68

XII Ralph's Reward 74

XIII On Big Silver Lake 81

XIV A Stormy Time 88

XV Looking for Work 94

XVI Percy Hears Something 101

XVII A Midnight Crime 107

XVIII About a Pocket knife 114

XIX About the Robbery 120

XX Out on Bail 126

XXI Squire Paget's Visit 133

XXII Ralph's New Situation 140

XXIII Strange Passengers 146

XXIV Ralph's Rough Experience 153

XXV Squire Paget's News 160

XXVI On the Island 166

XXVII The Meeting in the Woods 172

XXVIII Ralph in the City 179

XXIX Penniless 185

XXX The Sharper is Outwitted 191

XXXI On the Bowery 198

XXXII New Employment 205

XXXIII Squire Paget's Move 211

XXXIV The Squire in Hot Water 218

XXXV Ralph a Prisoner 225

XXXVI Mickety to the Rescue 231

XXXVII Martin is Trapped 237

XXXVIII Beginning of the End 242

XXXIX A Surprise at Chambersburgh 246

XL The Exposure Conclusion 251

THE YOUNG BRIDGE TENDER.

CHAPTER I.

A QUESTION OF PROPERTY.

"It's a shame, mother! The property belonged to father and the village has no right to its use without paying for it."

"I agree with you, Ralph," replied Mrs. Nelson. "But what are we to do in the matter?"

"Why don't you speak to Squire Paget? He is the president of the village board."

"I have spoken to him, but he will give me no satisfaction. He claims that the village has the right to nearly all the water front within its limits," replied Mrs. Nelson, with a sigh.

"It hasn't a right to the land father bought and paid for."

"That is what I said."

"And what did he answer to that?" questioned Ralph Nelson, with increasing interest.

"He said he doubted if your father had really bought the land. He asked me to show him the papers in the case."

"And those you haven't got."

"No, I cannot find them. Your father placed them away, and when he died so suddenly, he said nothing about where they had been placed. I have an idea he gave them to somebody for safe keeping."

"It's a pity we haven't the papers, mother. The property on which this end of the swinging bridge rests, and the land right around it, is going to be very valuable some day; I heard Mr. Hooker say so at the post office only yesterday."

"I have no doubt of it, Ralph, when Westville becomes a city instead of a village. But that is many years off, I imagine."

"I suppose it is the village folks are so slow to make improvements. It's a wonder they ever put up the bridge across to Eastport."