aid Andy, who, as we know, was not in
the habit of having large sums of money in his own possession.

"It is considerably more than I would like to lose," said Colonel
Preston, to whom it was of less importance than to Andy.

"I wonder will I ever have so much money?" thought Andy.

"Now, I'll tell you what I think it only right to do, Andy," pursued
the colonel.

Andy listened attentively.

"I am going to make you a present of some money, as an acknowledgment
of the service you have done me."

"I don't want anything, Colonel Preston," said Andy. "I didn't help
you for the money."

"I know you didn't, my lad," said the colonel, "but I mean to give it
to you all the same."

He took out his pocketbook, but Andy made one more remonstrance.

"I don't think I ought to take it, sir, thankin' you all the same."

"Then I will give you one hundred dollars for your mother. You can't
refuse it for her."

Andy's eyes danced with delight. He knew how much good this money
would do his mother, and relieve her from the necessity of working so
hard as she was now compelled to do.

"Thank you, sir," he said. "It'll make my mother's heart glad, and
save her from the hard work."

"Here is the money, Andy," said the colonel, handing his young
companion a roll of bills.

Again Andy poured out warm protestations of gratitude for the
munificent gift, with which Colonel Preston was well pleased.

"I believe you are a good boy, Andy," he said. "It is a good sign when
a boy thinks so much of his mother."

"I'd be ashamed not to, sir," said Andy.

They soon reached the village. Andy got down at the Misses Grant's
gate, and was soon astonishing the simple ladies by a narrative of his
encounter with the highwayman.

"Do you think he'll come here?" asked Sophia, in alarm. "If he should
come when Andy was away----"

"You could fire the gun yourself, Sophia."

"I should be frightened to death."

"Then he couldn't kill you afterward."

"Just so," answered Sophia, a little bewildered.

"Were you shot, Andrew?" she asked, a minute afterward.

"If I was, I didn't feel it," said Andy, jocosely.

Andy's heroic achievement made him still more valued by the Misses
Grant, and they rejoiced in the handsome gift he had received from the
colonel, and readily gave him permission to carry it to his mother
after supper.

CHAPTER XX
HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED

It is always pleasant to carry good news, and Andy hastened with