Jr. Horatio Alger

“ George Melville smiled.
“If the mine is a good one,” he said, “I will advance you the money necessary for the purchase of a half interest. If it pays you, you may become rich. Then you can repay the money.”
“But suppose it doesn't, Mr. Melville,” objected Herbert, “how can I ever repay you so large a sum?”
“On the whole, Herbert, I will take the risk.”
“You are very kind, Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, his face glowing with anticipation. To be half owner of a mine, with the chance of making a large sum of money, naturally elated him. ”

“ Melville said: “That was certainly a remarkable adventure, Herbert. Still, I am not sorry that it occurred.”
It was Herbert's turn to look surprised.
“I will tell you why. It proves to me that you are worthy of my confidence, and can be trusted with the care of money. It has also taught you a lesson, to beware of knaves, no matter how plausible they may be.”
“I haven't got over my surprise yet, sir, at discovering the real character of the man who went with me. I am sorry I met him. I don't like to distrust people.” ”

“ EBEN GRAHAM: I have received your letter, and am not surprised to hear that you are in trouble. 'As a man sows, so also shall he reap.' A young man who will rob his father of his hard earnings is capable of anything. You have done what you could to ruin me, and deserve what you have got. You want me to send you money to come home, and continue your wicked work—I shall not do it. I wash my hands of you; I have already given notice, through the country paper that I have given you your time, and shall pay no more debts of your contracting. ”

“ All this time George Melville had spoken in his usual tone of voice, and the tramp was puzzled to know whether he had any weapon with him. For himself, he was unarmed, and this made him feel rather ill at ease, notwithstanding his superiority in physical strength. He was rather disposed to think that George Melville had a pistol, for he could not understand how otherwise he should dare to confront a man of twice his size and strength.
“I don't care for the spoons,” he said, “but I will take the money.” ”

“ Herbert would have preferred going by the first train, starting at half-past seven, as it would have given him a longer day in the city, but of course he felt that his employer had decided wisely.
“It will be quite a treat to me, going to Boston,” he said. “I have only been there three times in my life.”
“You certainly have not been much of a traveler, Herbert,” said George Melville, smiling. “However, you are young, and you may see a good deal of the world yet before you die.”
“I hope I will. It must be delightful to travel.” ”

“ How much power a rich man has,” said Herbert, musingly. “Now, Mr. Melville has changed my whole life for me. When I first met him I was working for three dollars a week. Now I am worth twelve thousand dollars!” ”

“ It is a terrible thing to see a man stretched out in death who but a minute before stood full of life and strength. Herbert gazed at the dead Indian with a strange sensation of pity and relief, and could hardly realize that, but for his interposition, it would have been the hunter, not the Indian, who would have lost his life. ”

“ The colonel shrugged his shoulders and beckoned Herbert.
“You can come, anyway; your health won't prevent.”
Melville did not interfere, for he knew it would give offense, but he hoped his young clerk would refuse.
“Thank you,” said Herbert; “I won't object to a glass of sarsaparilla.”
“Sarsaparilla!” repeated the colonel, in amazement. “What's that?”
“We don't keep no medicine,” growled the landlord.
“Have you root-beer?” asked Herbert.
“What do you take me for?” said the landlord, contemptuously. “I haven't got no root-beer. Whisky's good enough for any man.” ”

“ Two dollars a week will count in my small household.'
“Did you ever hear of such meanness, Mr. Melville?” demanded Herbert, indignantly. “Here is Mr. Graham making, I am sure, two thousand dollars a year clear profit, and yet anxious to reduce mother from three to two dollars a week.”
“It is certainly a very small business, Herbert. I think some men become meaner by indulgence of their defect.”
“I shall write mother to give up the place sooner than submit to such a reduction. Three dollars a week is small enough in all conscience.” ”

“ I heard the landlord say he would like to buy some.”
“That would suit me,” said Herbert. “If he wants fish, I want money.”
“Come along with me, then. Really, I don't know when I have passed a forenoon so pleasantly. Usually I get tired of my own company, and the day seems long to me. I believe I see my way clear to a better way of spending my time. You say you want a place. How would you like me for an employer?”
“I am sure I should like you, but you are not in any business.”
“No,” said the young man, smiling; “or, rather, my business is the pursuit of health and pleasure just now. ”

“ Louis will hardly be proud of the man who claims her citizenship.”
“Dishonesty doesn't seem to pay in his case,” said Herbert, thoughtfully.
“It never pays in any case, Herbert,” said George Melville, emphatically. “Even if a man could steal enough to live upon, and were sure not to be found out, he would not enjoy his ill-gotten gain, as an honest man enjoys the money he works hard for. But when we add the risk of detection and the severe penalty of imprisonment, it seems a fatal mistake for any man to overstep the bounds of honesty and enroll himself as a criminal.” ”

“ The long hours and strict discipline of a city office or mercantile establishment are not much like the freedom they pictured to themselves, and after they have paid their board bill in some shabby boarding house they seldom find much left over, either for amusement or needful expenses. The majority of boys would do better to remain in their country homes, where at least they can live comfortably and at small expense, and take such employment as may fall in their way. ”

“ So I always went armed, and kept a good lookout. It was only this mornin' that he caught me at a disadvantage. I'd been taking a walk, and left my gun at home. He was prowlin' round, and soon saw how things stood. He'd have killed me sure, if you hadn't come in the nick of time.”
“I am glad I was near,” said Herbert, “but it seems to me a terrible thing to shoot a man. I'm glad it wasn't I that killed him.”
“Mebbe it was better for me, as he was my enemy,” said Jack Holden. “It won't trouble my conscience a mite. I don't look upon an Indian as a man.” ”

“ Do you think of going out there?”
“Yes, if the old man will let me,” said Eben.
“Do you prefer St. Louis to Chicago?” asked Herbert, watching the face of Eben attentively.
Eben's face changed, and he looked searchingly at our hero, but could read nothing in his face.
“Oh, decidedly!” he answered, after a slight pause. “I don't think I would care for Chicago.”
“And all the while you have a ticket for Chicago in your pocket!” thought Herbert, suspiciously, “Well, that's your own affair entirely, not mine.”
“What train do you take back to Wayneboro?” asked Eben, not without anxiety. ”

“ Warner looked at him searchingly, but did not speak.
Now was the time to test George Melville's nerve. He was about to take a bold step.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I regret to say that I have every reason to believe there is a man in this stage who is in league with the road agents.”
This statement naturally made a sensation.
There were seven passengers, and each regarded the rest with new-born suspicion. There seemed, on the whole, about as much reason to suspect one man as another, and each, with the exception of Melville, found himself looked upon with distrust. ”

“ If you don't object to my company, I will accompany you.”
“You are very kind,” said Herbert. “If you are quite sure that you are not inconveniencing yourself, I shall be very glad to go with you—that is, if you think I can get back to the Parker House by one o'clock.”
“I will guarantee that you do,” said the stranger, confidently. “My young friend, I am glad to see that you are particular to keep your business engagements. In a varied business experience, I have observed that it is precisely that class who are destined to win the favor of their employer and attain solid success.” ”

“ He travels a good deal. Sometimes he goes to St. Louis. I have heard that he sometimes even visits New York.”
“And is he not recognized?”
“No; he looks like anything but an outlaw. If you should see him you might think him a prosperous merchant, or banker.”
“That's curious!” said Herbert.
“The fact is,” said the colonel, “when you travel by stage-coaches in these solitudes you have to take the chances. Now I carry my money concealed in an inner pocket, where it isn't very likely to be found. Of course I have another wallet, just for show, and I give that up when I have to.” ”

“ Of all schemes of gaining wealth, about the most foolish is spending money for lottery tickets. It has been estimated by a sagacious writer that there is about as much likelihood of drawing a large prize in a lottery as of being struck by lightning and that, let us hope, is very small.
“I guess I won't go any farther,” said Eben, abruptly, having become convinced that Herbert could not be prevailed upon to lend him money. ”

“ He had not seen Herbert and George Melville, who had left the car and joined the throng, or he might not have spoken so confidently.
“He doesn't look like a thief,” said one of the bystanders, a benevolent-looking old gentleman.
“I should say not,” said the thief, more boldly. “It's a pretty state of things if a respectable merchant can't enter a store here in Boston without being insulted and charged with theft. If I only had some of my friends or acquaintances here, they would tell you that it is simply ridiculous to make such a charge against me.” ”

“ CHAPTER XI. TRIED FOR THEFT.
Herbert stared at the constable in blank amazement.
“I am charged with stealing stamps and money from the post office?” he said.
“Yes.”
“Who makes the charge?” demanded Herbert, in great excitement.
“Eben Graham.”
“I don't know what it means,” said our hero, turning to George Melville.
“It means,” said Melville, “that the fellow is envious of you, and angry because he cannot supersede you with me. He evidently wants to do you an injury.”
“It must be so; but I did not imagine that Eben could be so mean. Mr. Bruce, do you believe that I am a thief?” ”

“ Graham.”
“Well, no, not exactly,” said Ebenezer, hesitating. “I shall have to take some money from the savings bank to make up what that graceless boy has stolen.”
It was clear that Ebenezer Graham would not have to go to the poorhouse in consequence of his losses.
“I can hardly offer you consolation,” said George Melville, “but I suspect that you will not be called upon to pay any more money for your son.”
“I don't mean to!” said Ebenezer, grimly.
“Going away as he has done, he will find it necessary to support himself, and will hardly have courage to send to you for assistance.” ”

“ The Indian wished to gloat over the mental distress of his foe. He liked to prolong his own feeling of power—to enjoy the consciousness that, at any moment, he could put an end to the life of the man whom he hated for the blows which he felt had degraded him, and which he was resolved never to forget or forgive. It was the same feeling that has often led those of his race to torture their hapless victims, that they may, as long as possible, enjoy the spectacle of their agonies. For this reason he was in no hurry to speed on its way the fatal bullet. ”

“ If mother can keep the post office, we shall get along nicely, but if she loses it, we shall have a hard time.”
“I am surprised that in your father's long tenure of office he did not save something,” said the squire, in a tone which indicated not only surprise but reproof.
“There was not much chance to save on a salary of four hundred dollars a year,” said Herbert, soberly, “after supporting a family of three.”
“Ahem!” said the squire, sagely; “where there's a will there's a way. Improvidence is the great fault of the lower classes.” ”

“ Arrived at the end of the route, Melville and Herbert remained on the car, and returned at once to the city. When they reached the crowded part of Washington Street a surprise awaited Herbert.
From a small jewelry store they saw a man come out, and walk rapidly away.
“Mr. Melville,” said Herbert, in excitement, “do you see that man?”
“Yes. What of him?”
“It is the man who tried to rob me on Bunker Hill Monument.”
He had hardly uttered these words when another man darted from the shop, bareheaded, and pursued Herbert's morning acquaintance, crying, “Stop, thief!” ”

“ It is no wonder that country boys are drawn toward the city, and feel that their cup of happiness would be full if they could get a position in some city store. They do not always find the reality equal to their anticipations. ”

“ So you have never been to Bunker Hill Monument, my lad?”
“No sir; I live in the country, forty miles away and seldom come to Boston.”
“I see, I see,” said the stranger, his eyes snapping in a very peculiar way. “Every patriotic young American ought to see the place where Warren fell.”
“I should like to if you could tell me where to take the cars.”
“Why, certainly I will,” said the other, quickly. “In fact—let me see,” and he pulled out a silver watch from his vest pocket, “I've a great mind to go over with you myself.”
“I shouldn't like to trouble you, sir,” said Herbert. ”