Horatio Alger

“ You know better than any one that everything which he wrote is true."
The superintendent flushed under the boy's honest scorn, and, unable to defend himself truthfully, he worked himself into a rage.
"What! do you dare insult me in my own office?" he exclaimed, half rising from his desk, and glaring at our hero. "Out of my sight at once, or I may be tempted to strike you!"
"Before I leave you, Mr. Davis," said Robert, undauntedly, "I wish you to tell me finally whether you deny the deposit referred to in my father's letter?" ”

“ Mr. Davis was disappointed. He was cheated of his expected triumph. Moreover, looking into our young hero's face, he saw that he was entirely self-possessed, and had by no means the air of one about to ask a favor.
"Then state your business at once," he said, roughly. "My time is too valuable to be taken up by trifles."
"My business is important to both of us," said Robert. "We have just received a letter from my father."
The superintendent started and turned pale. This was the most unwelcome intelligence he could have received. ”

“ Is that all you have to tell me?"
"No, sir," said Robert, looking boldly in the face of his former employer. "My father added in his letter, that just before sailing he deposited with you the sum of five thousand dollars, to be given to my mother in case he never returned."
So the worst had come! The dead had revealed the secret which the superintendent hoped would never be known. He was threatened with ruin. He had no means of paying the deposit unless by sacrificing all his property, and it was doubtful whether even then he would be able wholly to make it up. ”