ler man wouldn't look up, he just slouched along. But
Leon's chin was up and his head high. He was scratched, torn, and
dirty. He was wheezing every breath most from his knees, and Mr. Pryor
half carried him and the gun. When they met us, Leon reached in his
trousers pocket and drew out a big roll of money that he held toward
father. "My fault!" he gasped. "But I got it back for you."

Then he fell over and father caught him in his arms and carried him
into the house, and laid him on the couch in the dining-room.

Mr. Pryor got down and gathered up the money from the road. He
followed into the house and set the gun in the corner.

"Don't be frightened," he said to mother. "The boy has walked all
night, and all day, with no sleep or food, and the gun was a heavy load
for him. I gathered from what he said, when the dogs let us know they
were coming, that this hound took your money. Your dog barked and
awakened the boy and he loaded the gun and followed. The fellow had a
good start and he didn't get him until near daybreak. It's been a
stiff pull for the youngster and he seems to feel it was his fault that
this cowardly cur you sheltered learned where you kept your money. If
that is true, I hope you won't be hard on him!"

Father was unfastening Leon's neckband, mother was rubbing his hands,
Candace was taking off his shoes, and May was spilling water father had
called for, all over the carpet, she shook so. When Leon drew a deep
breath and his head rolled on the pillow, father looked at Mr. Pryor.
I don't think he heard all of it, but he caught the last words.

"'Hard on him! Hard on him!'" he said, the tears rolling down his
cheeks. "'This my son, who was lost, is found!'"

"Oh!" shouted Mr. Pryor, slamming the money on the table. "Poor drivel
to fit the circumstances. If I stood in your boots, sir, I would rise
up in the mighty strength of my pride and pull out foundation stones
until I shook the nation! I never envied mortal man as I envy you
to-day!"

Candace cried out: "Oh look, his poor feet! They are blistered and
bleeding!"

Mother moved down a little, gathered them in her arms, and began
kissing them. Father wet Leon's lips and arose. He held out his hand,
and Mr. Pryor took it.

"I will pray God," he said, "that it may happen 'even so' to you."

Leon opened his eyes and caught only the last words.

"You had better look out for the 'Even So's,' father," he said.

And father ha