Edward Stratemeyer

“ THE YOUNG ELECTRICIAN.
"Franklin!" called Mrs. Bell from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes, Aunt Martha."
"Are you not coming down? Charley Moore and Katie have come, and Will Charleigh has been here a quarter of an hour."
"In a minute, aunt; just as soon as I can get this new battery to work. There seems to be something the matter with the zinc plates, and I want to test them."
"Oh, dear, was there ever such a boy!" sighed Mrs. Bell, as she walked away from the stairs. "Ever since he visited Edison's works at Llewellyn Park he has been crazy on the subject of electricity. ”

“ He is too afraid of arrest," said the young electrician.
"While the policeman tried the door to see if it was unlocked, Franklin once more peered into the window. As he did so, Andy Gresson came down stairs, lamp in hand, with his wife behind him.
"Oh, Andy, I beg of you not to take that money!" cried Mrs. Gresson, tearfully. "I know you will only drink it up!"
"Didn't I tell you to shut up, Mary?" snarled the man, turning upon her fiercely. "I know what is best, and I don't drink any more than is good for me." ”

“ Belden Brice turned to John Mace.
"Supposing we go after him, John?"
"All right."
"Let the boy go along. He can point out the man if we run across him."
"He'll run away," cried Mrs. Mace.
"No, I won't," returned Franklin. "Come on; we had better lose no time."
They were soon on their way to the depot. While they were yet a block off they heard the whistle of a locomotive.
"It's the train for Newark and New York!" cried Franklin. "Let us see if Gresson boards it."
The three broke into a run, Franklin in the lead. But they were too late. ”

“ But he was soon aroused from his inaction by Captain Cosgrove, who seized him by the shoulder and shook him as a dog might shake a rat.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" shouted the owner of the Sunflower "Stand by to clear away the wreck."
"Yes, sir," murmured Franklin, and he moved along the deck after Ben Stanhope, who had disappeared in the direction of the forecastle.
Every step was full of grave peril to the young electrician. The vessel was pitching up and down like a cork on the angry waves, and the water swept the deck with almost every lunge of the craft. ”

“ Franklin knew that Edison's electrical works, the one at which the great inventor himself labored, were not far distant, just outside of Llewellyn Park.
Here, the youth knew, many men and boys were employed, and why might not he obtain a situation there?
He jumped to his feet, and adjusted his collar and tie.
"I'll strike Edison himself," he declared to himself. "He can't say more than no, and he may say yes. It won't do any harm, at any rate." ”

“ Give them right back to me!" cried Harry, in wild alarm, and he started after the boy, who was making for the door, for the whistle had just blown.
"You'll have to go home barefooted, Limpy," returned Felter, heartlessly. "It's all right, though, the snow will twist your ugly stump into shape, maybe."
"If you don't give me my shoes I'll—I'll kill you," shrieked Harry, flying into a sudden rage, as he saw the boy spring out of his reach into the deep snow.
"What do you want to tease the poor boy in that way for?" demanded Franklin, who had witnessed the whole scene. ”

“ When the elegant repast that was served was over, little Cora was sent off in charge of the housekeeper, and then Franklin followed Mr. Brice into the library, where they sat down to talk over the young electrician's prospects.
"I presume you are anxious to know if I have found a place for you," began Belden Brice, dropping into a comfortable armchair by the open grate, and motioning the boy to a seat opposite.
"Yes, to tell the truth, I am anxious," returned Franklin. "I hate to be idle, and, besides, I cannot afford to be without work." ”

“ The force of the sudden and unexpected attack had landed Franklin on his back on a number of lime barrels. As quickly as he could collect his scattered senses, he scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the lime shed, bent upon stopping Gresson and bringing him to terms.
"Hi, there, boy! What are you doing here?" exclaimed a rough voice, and then Franklin found himself in the sturdy clutches of a burly lumber wagon driver.
"Let me go, please," returned the young electrician. "I want to catch that man who just ran away."
"Catch nobody! ”

“ He stepped to one side. Bob Jackson's fist cut through empty space. An instant later the would-be bully came down on his hands and knees, laid low by a quick and sturdy twist of Franklin's left foot.
"Say—what—what do you mean by that?" stammered Jackson, as he essayed to rise.
"Next time don't you be so quick to strike at a person," returned Franklin.
"Say, what do you mean by knocking Bob down?" growled Mike Nolan, springing in. "Bob's my friend, and I don't allow no fellow to hit him, see?"
"You keep quiet," said the young electrician. "This is his affair and mine. ”

“ And, besides this, his head being weak, he would, when excited, say all sorts of strange things, and this would add to their senseless amusement.
"They ought to have sense enough to leave the poor fellow alone," Franklin thought more than once. "If they keep on, one of these days he will become insane, and do something desperate."
The young electrician endeavored to make a friend of the weak-minded lad, but was unsuccessful. Harry had been tormented so much that he was suspicious of everybody, and he only thought Franklin's advances the forerunner of more cruel jokes at his expense. ”

“ He was a sporty young man and knew more about horseflesh than he did about his regular business. He readily noted how the whip had been applied, and his face took on a hard and ugly look.
"You can't work for us anymore, Bitters," he said, shortly. "Horse-flesh costs too much money. I'm no soft-hearted fool, but at the same time I won't allow any driver to injure our animals—it's not profitable. You can let the truck stand where it is, and get the pay due you."
At this the truckman began to mutter under his breath, and then he shook his fist Franklin. ”

“ With a shrill blast of the whistle, the locomotive nearest to them rushed past, parts of the great giant just grazing Franklin's left arm. Then followed a reversal of the lever and a sanding of the tracks, and with the fire flying from every wheel, the train came to a sudden halt, and they were safe.
As soon as the young electrician realized that the danger was over, he picked up the little girl and placed her limp form over his shoulder. There was a narrow path between the cars and the fence, and along this he made his way until the opening at the street below was reached. ”

“ Felton and Nolan had evidently rehearsed their falsehoods beforehand, for they now told them with a smoothness that was as astonishing to Franklin as they were painful. They had seen the young electrician at the machine with the knife in his hand and they had seen him leave the shop in a great hurry a minute or two later.
When they had all finished Mr. Buckman was more puzzled than ever as to what to do. He wished to make an example of somebody. But he remembered that Franklin had been recommended to him by Belden Brice, and that the speculator owned an interest in the Fan Works. ”

“ I am a poor man, and being out of work comes hard."
"If you'll promise not to drink the money up I'll let you have the amount," said Franklin, who thought this a cheap way of avoiding trouble in the future.
"All right. I'll promise."
Upon this the young electrician produced a dollar bill, and handed it over. Hank Bitters snatched it eagerly, and then without another word left the premises and hurried up the street.
"It was a cheap way of getting clear of him," thought Franklin, as he watched the man out of sight. "Poor fellow, in one way I feel sorry for him!" ”

“ Yes; you had better watch them; but, oh! beware of trouble!"
"I will manage to take care of myself," returned Franklin. "Here is some money you may find useful until Walter comes," and he handed her a ten-dollar bill.
Once out on the sidewalk, the young electrician hesitated. Should he return to the mansion openly, or should he once more play the part of a spy?"
"I have a good mind to watch them openly," he said to himself. "They will not dare to molest me in public. If they attempt to do anything of the kind. ”

“ Who is he?"
"He is an old man who has a shop over on Main Street, he puts up electric door-bells, burglar alarms, and other electrical appliances."
"I might have known you would desire that kind of work," replied Mrs. Bell, with a faint smile. "All your ideas seem to run upon electricity."
"I admit they do, aunt. I don't seem to care a rap for anything else. I would rather be a second Edison than the President of the United States!"
And Franklin's face glowed with enthusiasm as he spoke. ”

“ It's the storms as come up the quickest, that's the nastiest," and with this wise remark the sailor hurried from the forecastle.
Franklin waited to hear no more, but leaping from his bunk he slipped into his clothing with the least possible delay. If they were to encounter a storm he wished to be where he could do his duty, and thus help avoid possible harm.
Once on deck the young electrician saw that, despite the fact that morning was not far off, the heavens were black. The clouds appeared to be rolling up from the eastward, and far off could be heard the rumbling thunder. ”

“ The darkness and snow hid all but the gray factory building from view, and after a brief deliberation the young electrician followed in the footprints of those who had preceded him.
Franklin wished that he possessed a weapon of some sort. He was without even a stick, and he realized that should he be discovered by Felter and Nolan the two might make things decidedly warm for him.
"They'll have something to fight for," he reasoned, "and it will be much more than such a struggle as we had before." ”

“ Franklin and the others discussed the youth's prospects, and his cousins thought he had secured a real friend in Belden Brice.
"Who knows but what some day you may invent something and sell it to him for a big price?" said Clara.
"I trust I do," replied Franklin in all seriousness. "Then I could buy every one of you a new silk dress, and Aunt Martha two, and Uncle Will a horse and buggy, and—"
"Yourself a house and a pretty wife," finished Daisy, with a merry burst of laughter. Even the fact of sickness being in the house could not down the girl's naturally jolly spirits. ”

“ Mace. She was all out of breath from her run down the stairs.
"I did not touch the casket," replied Franklin. "When I came into the room I found a diamond ring and a bracelet on the floor, and I placed them on the table; that was all."
"Humph! That's an odd story," muttered Mr. John Mace. "My wife is not in the habit of letting her jewels lie around so loosely."
"I can't help it," said Franklin, doggedly. "I have told you the truth of the matter."
"It isn't so," screamed Mrs. Mace, growing more excited every minute. ”

“ I don't believe in trying to put a boy at some occupation he doesn't care for, because he will never get very far along in it."
"I know I could get along in electricity," returned Franklin, with a decided shake of his head. "All I want is the start."
"Do you think Mr. Fells needs help?"
"I think so. A fellow named Gresson worked for him, but he used to be so irregular Mr. Fells discharged him."
Mrs. Bell was silent for a moment.
"Well, Franklin, do as you think best." she said. "It won't do to worry your poor uncle about it, and I know very little about such things." ”

“ The great inventor's assistant shook his head.
"I'm afraid not," he said. "Have you any experience?"
"I have experimented a little on my own hook."
"In what way?"
Franklin told him, and quite a little conversation followed.
"Evidently you are cut out for the work," said the electrician, at the conclusion. "But the only place we have vacant is for an experienced man on electric meters, and that position you could not fill."
"And there is nothing else?"
"No." The assistant caught up a pencil and pad. "Write down your name and address, and if we want young hands I will let you know." ”

“ Franklin told her, and then a long conversation followed, all of the particulars of which cannot be given here. Mrs. Bliss admitted that she had no further proofs of her brother's death than what Montague Smith had said, nor could she prove anything to Belden Brice's discredit, much to the young electrician's relief. She knew that Montague Smith was a villain for having had her kept a prisoner, and in her peculiar state of mind fancied that all of the men with whom he had dealings were as bad as himself. ”

“ He wondered if the inventor was still alive, and if Cora was really his daughter.
"Perhaps he died and Belden Brice adopted her out of the goodness of his heart," he speculated. "It would be just like him to care for the child of the man whose patent had helped to make him rich."
Robinson had, on one or two occasions, asked Franklin about himself, and the young electrician had told his newly found friend as much as he dared of his affairs. Perhaps Robinson thought it queer that he did not tell more, but if so the young man was too well bred to mention it. ”

“ In the future I want both of you to leave me alone."
"Oh. ho! hear me talk," cried the Irish boy, sarcastically. "I own the hull of Paterson, I do!"
"Maybe you want to fight?" queried Bob Jackson, as he came up closer, with his fists clinched.
"I do not wish to fight—but I can take my own part," replied Franklin sharply. "If you desire to—"
The young electrician had no time to finish. Muttering something under his breath Jackson shot out with his right fist, intending to strike Franklin between his eyes. ”

“ After their brief but somewhat heated discussion, Franklin watched Bob Jackson and Mike Nolan hurry away to a near-by restaurant, and then walked slowly away to a quiet corner where he might eat the lunch Belden Brice's house-keeper had put up for him.
"Those fellows will certainly try to do me harm unless I comply with their demands," reasoned the young electrician to himself, as he sat down in a sunny corner and began to munch a sandwich. "But I can't see what right they have to dictate as to how much I shall do. I want to earn all I can and I'll never do it if I listen to them. ”