"I don't know if I would dare. Ma might whip me and have me sent to the reform school, or something like that."

"I don't think she would--not if you promise to turn over a new leaf.

I should think you would rather go home than remain where you have to work for nothing."

"I guess I would go home if I had a railroad ticket and some clothes fit to wear. You can see how this suit looks," and Tom Inwold showed up his ragged elbows and patched trousers.

"I'll see if I can do something for you," said Matt.

When Andy came back he told his partner Tom Inwold's story. To this the boy himself added the tale of his hardships while with the rival auctioneers, and added that he was very sorry he had endeavored to do any injury to the stock in the store.

"I believe he means it," said Matt, as he and Andy walked a little to one side. "And I would like to do something for the lad, for his mother's sake as much as his own."

"I think I can fix it," replied Andy. "I'll have a talk with this Gissem."

"He ought to pay the boy something for his work."

"I reckon he will--when I tell him that he is liable to arrest for enticing the boy from home."

Andy told Tom Inwold to accompany him to the store next door. At first the boy hung back, but when Andy promised that he would take the responsibility of the coming interview entirely upon his own shoulders, the lad consented to go along.

They were gone nearly an hour, and during that time Matt heard some pretty loud talking through the part.i.tion which separated the two stores. But when Andy and Tom Inwold came back he saw by their faces that they had triumphed.

"At first Gissem was in for facing me down," said Andy. "Said he had nothing to do with the boy, and all that. But I threatened him with immediate arrest, and promised to have the mother of the boy here to testify against him, and then he weakened, and at length gave Tom thirty dollars, with which to buy a new suit of clothes, a pair of shoes, a hat, and a railroad ticket, upon conditions that he would not be prosecuted. I reckon he was badly scared, too."

Matt was much pleased. Leaving Andy in charge of the store, he went out to dinner, taking Tom Inwold along with him. After the meal the wearing apparel was purchased and donned, and then they made their way to the depot. Here a ticket for Plainfield was procured, and the young auctioneer saw to it that the boy boarded the proper train.

"I'll never forget you, never," said Tom Inwold on parting, and he never has, nor has Mrs. Inwold, who was grateful to the last degree for what Matt had been instrumental in doing for her.

On the following morning, on going down to the store to open up, Andy and Matt saw that the entire stock of the store adjoining had been removed during the night. Gissem had been fearful of trouble, despite what Andy had promised, and had taken time by the forelock, and left for parts unknown. The young auctioneers never met him or his partner again.

By having the entire field to themselves the young auctioneers did a splendid business, and when they were ready to pack up and start for Scranton they found that they had cleared nearly ninety dollars by their stay in Wilkes-Barre.

In the meantime the weather had been growing steadily colder, and they found it necessary to invest in a second-hand robe to keep them warm when driving.

"It looks a bit like snow," remarked Andy, as they drove out of the city one morning. "I hope we don't catch it before we reach where we are going to. A snowstorm in the mountains is not a very pleasant thing to encounter."

"We must run our chances," returned Matt, and Billy was urged forward, and soon the city outskirts were left far behind.

The sun had shone for awhile, but about nine o'clock it went under a heavy cloud. Then it began to get slightly warmer, and Andy was certain that snow was coming.

His prediction was fulfilled. By ten o'clock it was snowing furiously, and by eleven the ground was covered to the depth of half a foot.

"That settles it; we can't make Scranton to-day, nor even Pittston,"

said Matt. "We had better hunt up some sort of a house with a barn attached, where we can put up."

But Andy was for continuing the journey, so onward they went, until at last, just before the noon hour, they found the road getting too heavy for Billy. They went down into a hollow which the falling snow had covered, and there the wagon remained, despite every effort to budge it.

They looked around in some dismay. Not even a house nor a building of any sort was in sight.

"This is a pretty pickle," muttered Andy. "I wish we had followed your advice and sought shelter."

"We've got to do something," returned Matt. "If we stay here we'll be completely snowed under. The snow is coming down thicker every minute.

What's to be done?"

Ah! what was to be done? That was a question not easy to answer. Both of the young auctioneers were much disturbed.

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

LOST IN THE SNOW.

It was not a pleasant outlook, stuck in a deep hollow on the road with the snow coming down furiously. Already the ground was covered to the depth of a foot or more, and around the heavily-laden wagon a drift was forming which soon reached above the axles.

"We must do something, that's certain," muttered Matt, as he sprang to Billy's head for at least the fifth time. "Come, old fellow, can't you stir it up a bit?"

Andy ran to the back of the wagon and placed his shoulder against the case there strapped on. But though the two and Billy, the horse, did their best, the auction wagon remained where it was.

"It's no use," groaned Andy, as he stopped to catch his breath. "We are stuck as hard as if we were planted here, and it looks as if we would have to remain here for some time."

"We must move on," returned Matt desperately. "In a few hours night will be coming on, and we'll be completely covered."

"The snow is coming down faster than ever, and the wind is rising.

Maybe we are going to have a blizzard. If we do, Heaven help us!"

"Let us take those cases of goods off," suggested the young auctioneer after a moment of thought. "That will lighten the load for Billy somewhat."

The big packing boxes were unstrapped and let down in the snow. They were followed by every other article which could be removed from the turn-out without damage.

Then Billy was once more urged to go on, Matt and Andy pushing with all their strength in the meanwhile. The wheels of the wagon and the axles creaked and then moved forward slowly.

"Hurrah! we've got it started!" shouted Matt joyfully. "Get up, Billy!

get up!"

And the horse really did strain every muscle until, two minutes later, the wagon was out of the hollow and up on the ridge of a little hill.

"Thank fortune we are out of that!" exclaimed Andy. "Now what is to be done?"

"We had better strap the cases in place again and continue on our way."

"The cases are awfully heavy. I wonder if we can't hide them somewhere and come back for them later? The snow is not melting, so that won't hurt them."

The matter was talked over, and finally they decided to leave the two cases, which had not been opened, and were well packed, under a big tree near the roadside. The cases were removed to the spot without delay, placed upon a couple of dead trees and covered with brush.

Then they moved on again, Andy leading the horse, and Matt going on ahead to inspect the road, and thus avoid getting into another hollow.