Part 3 (1/2)

Phil's heart sank within him, and it required all his self-control to keep the bitter tears froo?” he asked without a quaver in his voice

”Now”

”Very well, I'll go But what do you think my mother would say, could she know this?”

”That will do, youngfor you now, Uncle, you know, so I shall have to refuse to do the chores There is fifty cents duehis chicken coop You et that, I don't want it”

Phil turned away once ht to his roo about in the front yard The old er over the fancied iht have so far forgotten himself as to have used his cane on Phil

But Phil by this ti the door behind him The lad threw his books down on the bed, dropped into a chair and sat palefaced, tearless and silent Slowly his eyes rose to the old-fashi+oned bureau, where his coth they rested on the picture of his mother

The lad rose as if drawn by invisible hands, reached out and clasped the photograph to him Then the pent-up tears welled up in a flood With the picture pressed to his burning cheek Phil Forrest threw hirief

He did not hear the thury demands that he open it

”Mother, Mother!” breathed the unhappy boy, as his sobs gradually hs

Perhaps his appeal was not unheard At least Phil Forrest sprang fro the picture away fro into the eyes of his mother

Slowly his shoulders drew back and his head ca determination flashed into his own eyes

”I'll do it--I'll be a man, Mother!” he exclaihtest treht the battle and I'll win”

Phil Forest had coe unusual in one of his years There was little to be done He packed his few belongings in a bag that had been his mother's The lad possessed one suit besides the one he wore, and this he stoay as best he could, deter to press it out when he had located himself

Finally his task was finished He stood in thearound the little roorets He was onlysatisfied hiathered up his bundle of books, placed the picture of his mother in his inside coat pocket, then threw open the door

The lad's uncle had sta

”Good-bye, Uncle,” he said quietly, extending a hand

”Letis ed to my mother,” explained the boy

”Surely you don't object to ood riddance; but I' to find out what's inside of it”

”You surely don't think I would take anything that doesn't belong towhat Icheeks, Phil did as he was bid, his unwavering eyes fixed almost sternly on the wrathful face of Abner Ada the contents out on the floor, shaking Phil's clothes towas concealed in the on the floor with an exclas and stowed them away in the satchel

”Turn out your pockets!”