Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Clifton was sitting in a rustic chair under a tree behind the house. There Grant and his companion found her. Carrie poured forth her story impetuously, and then drawing Grant forward, indicated him as her rescuer.
Her mother listened with natural alarm, shuddering at the peril from which her daughter had so happily escaped.
“I cannot tell how grateful I am to you for the service you have done my daughter,” she said, warmly. “You are a very brave boy. There is not one in ten who would have had the courage to act as you did.” ”

“ Stentor, in Waverley, gets fifteen hundred dollars salary, and I am sure he can't compare with father in ability.”
“True, Grant, but your father is modest, and not given to blowing his own trumpet, while Mr. Stentor, from all I can hear, has a very high opinion of himself.”
“He has a loud voice, and thrashes round in his pulpit, as if he were a—prophet,” said Grant, not quite knowing how to finish his sentence.
“Your father never was a man to push himself forward. He is very modest.”
“I suppose that is not the only bill that we owe,” said Grant. ”

“ Johnny's eyes sparkled, for with his limited earnings this sum would come in very handy. He turned away, nearly forgetting the original errand that brought him to the house, but luckily it occurred in time. The nature of it has nothing to do with this story.
When Johnny had gone, Mr. Reynolds said: “Grant, I need not caution you not to breathe a word of this. I begin to think that there is a conspiracy against you; but whether Willis Ford is alone in it, or has a confederate I cannot decide. My housekeeper does not appear to like you.” ”

“ The two parted, and Willis Ford was left to many uncomfortable reflections. He knew of no way to raise the money; yet, if he did not do it, he was menaced with exposure and ruin. Would his stepmother come to his assistance? He knew that Mrs. Estabrook had a thousand dollars in government bonds. If he could only induce her to give him the custody of them on any pretext, he could meet the demand upon him, and he would never again incur a debt of honor. He cursed his folly for ever yielding to the temptation. Once let him get out of this scrape, and he would never get into another like it. ”

“ Two hundred and sixty-seven dollars seemed to him an immense sum, and so it was, to a poor minister with a family of three children and a salary of only six hundred dollars. Where to obtain so large a sum neither Grant nor his mother could possibly imagine. Even if there were anyone to borrow it from, there seemed no chance to pay back so considerable a sum.
Mother and son looked at each other in perplexity. Finally, Grant broke the silence.
“Mother,” he said, “one thing seems pretty clear. I must go to work. I am fifteen, well and strong, and I ought to be earning my own living.” ”

“ Be sure to send the money to your loving son,
“HERBERT REYNOLDS.”
“How easy you write!” said Abner, in wonder, as he saw Herbert's letter growing long before his eyes. “It would take me a week to write as long a letter as that, and then I couldn't do it.”
“I can't write so easy generally,” said the little boy, “but, you see, I have a good deal to write about.”
“Then there's another thing,” said Abner. “I shouldn't know how to spell so many words. You must be an awful good scholar.”
“I always liked to study,” said Herbert. “Don't you like to read and study?” ”

“ Reynolds had never taken notice of her occasional hints to that effect. The housekeeper's plans were far-reaching. She knew that Herbert was delicate, and doubted if he would live to grow up. In that case, supposing her stepson had managed to ingratiate himself with the broker, why might he not hope to become his heir? Now this interloper, as she called Grant, had stepped into the place which her own favorite—his name was Willis Ford—should have had. Mrs. Estabrook felt aggrieved, and unjustly treated, and naturally incensed at Grant, who was the unconscious cause of her disappointment. ”

“ Grant was rather nettled at this.
“I don't see how I could be expected to understand such talk,” he said, with some asperity.
“That's where it is—you can't,” said Tom. “It's all like A, B, C to me, and I forgot that you didn't know anything about Wall Street. A bucket shop is where you can buy stock in small lots, putting down a dollar a share as margin. If stocks go up, you sell out on the rise, and get back your dollar minus commission.” ”

“ If you had been a man, you would have done better than he. Without your good management we should have been a good deal worse off than we are. It is the only thing that has kept our heads above water.”
“I am glad you think so, Grant. I have done the best I could, but no management will pay bills without money.” ”

“ To be entirely candid with you, I do not feel any sympathy with you. Money won at play must be classed among ill-gotten gains. I hope you will realize this, and give up a discreditable profession.”
“I have no doubt your advice is good, sir. Do you want me and Tom any longer?”
“You are at liberty to go. I am indebted to you for coming. You have helped to clear up the mystery of the theft.”
“He's a little hard on us, Tom,” said Morrison, as they went down the front steps, “but he's treated us like a gentleman. That Ford is a rascal.” ”

“ Mrs. Thornton went upstairs, and brought down the pearl necklace and bracelets. They were very handsome and Grant gazed at them with admiration.
“I wonder what the ladies would say if you should wear them to the sewing circle,” he said, humorously.
“They would think I was going over to the vanities of this world,” responded his mother, smiling. “They can be of no possible use to me now, or hereafter, and I believe it will be the best thing I can do to sell them.”
“Where can you sell them? No one here can afford to buy them.” ”

“ Some of our most successful business men have been ministers' sons.”
“Are you in business in New York, sir?” asked Grant, thinking he had a right by this time to ask a question.
“Yes; here is my card.”
Taking the card, Grant learned that his companion was Mr. Henry Reynolds and was a broker, with an office in New Street.
“I see you are a broker, sir,” said Grant. “Tom Calder wants to get a place in a broker's office.”
“I should prefer that he would try some other broker,” said Mr. Reynolds, smiling. “I don't want a boy who deals with the bucket shops.” ”

“ In robbing your stepmother you have committed a serious crime; but in attempting to throw the guilt upon an innocent boy, you have been guilty of an offense still more detestable, and one which I cannot forgive. You cannot remain in my employment another day. If you will call at the office in the morning, I will pay your salary to the end of the month. That will end all relations between us.”
Willis Ford looked like a convicted criminal. ”

“ Of course I should like to go to college, but I can't bear to have you and father struggling with poverty. If I become a business man, I may have a better chance to help you. At any rate, I can help you sooner. If I can only induce Uncle Godfrey to give you the sum my education would cost him, I shall feel perfectly easy.”
“You can make the attempt, my son, but I have doubts about your success.”
Grant, however, was more hopeful. He didn't see why his uncle should object, and it would cost him no more money. ”

“ I don't think I need say any more except to deny, in toto, the statement of that low telegraph boy.”
“I'm no lower than you are,” retorted Johnny, angrily.
“None of your impertinence, boy!” said Ford, loftily.
“I must say,” interposed the housekeeper, “that this seems a very discreditable conspiracy against my stepson. I am sure, Mr. Reynolds, you won't allow his reputation to be injured by such a base attack.”
“Mr. Ford,” said the broker, “I have listened attentively to what you have said. I ought to say that a telegraph boy has as much right to be believed as yourself.” ”

“ Where's he gone?”
“To the village, I reckon.”
“To the tavern, I reckon. It's there that he spends all the money he gets hold of; he never gives me a cent. This is the only gown I've got, except an old alpaca. Much he cares!”
“It isn't my fault, is it?” asked the boy, indifferently.
“You're a-follerin' in his steps. You'll be just another Joel Barton—just as shif'less and lazy. Just split me some wood before I get hold of yer!”
Abner rose slowly, went to the shed for an ax, and in the most deliberate manner possible began to obey his mother's commands. ”

“ She returned to the charge, though, had she been wiser, she would have foreborne.
“Do you think a poor boy like this Grant Thornton is a suitable companion for a rich man's son, Mr. Reynolds? Excuse me for suggesting it, but I am so interested in dear Herbert.”
“Grant Thornton is the son of a country minister, and has had an excellent training,” said the broker, coldly. “The fact that he is poor is no objection in my eyes. I think, Mrs. Estabrook, we will dismiss the subject. I think myself competent to choose my son's associates.” ”

“ I feel so upset that I don't like to be left alone. I don't know what that boy may do.”
“I think you are safe,” said Willis Ford, secretly amused. But, as he left the house, he felt seriously disquieted. There was danger that Jim Morrison, when he found the money which he was to receive withheld, would be incensed and denounce Ford, who had received back his evidence of indebtedness. Should he divulge that the bonds had been given him by Ford, Grant would be cleared, and he would be convicted of theft.
As Ford was leaving the house a telegraph boy was just ascending the steps. ”

“ Will you show papa this letter, and ask him to send for me, if he cannot come himself? I do so long to be at home once more. I hope he will come before Willis Ford finds me out. I think he has a spite against papa, and that is why he stole me away. Your affectionate friend,
“HERBERT REYNOLDS.”
“Please say nothing about this,” said Grant to the postman. “I don't want it known that this letter has come.”
“What will you do?”
“I shall start for the West myself to-night.”
“Mrs. Estabrook intercepted that letter,” said Grant to himself. “I am sure of it.” ”

“ It's my own idea.”
“Humph! old heads don't grow on young shoulders, evidently. You are a foolish boy, Grant. With a liberal education you can do something for your family.”
“But it is so long to wait,” objected Grant.
“It will be a great disappointment to me to have you give up going to college, but of course I can't force you to go,” said his uncle, coldly. “It will save me three hundred dollars a year for four years-I may say for seven, however. You will be throwing away a grand opportunity.”
“Don't think I undervalue the advantage of a college training, uncle,” said Grant, eagerly. ”

“ Estabrook,” said the broker, quietly.
“Well, I don't intend to say how it happened. Likely enough the man is a thief, and that boy is his accomplice.”
“You will oblige me by not jumping at conclusions, Mrs. Estabrook,” said Mr. Reynolds. “Whoever has taken the bonds is likely to be discovered. Meanwhile your loss will, at all events, be partially made up, since Grant has the money realized from the sale of the greater part of them.”
“I should like to place the money in your hands, Mr. Reynolds,” said Grant. ”

“ Estabrook,” said Grant to the housekeeper, as he entered the house.
“Where are you going?” she inquired.
“I can't tell you definitely.”
“Hadn't you better wait till Mr. Reynolds gets back?”
“No; business is not very pressing in the office, and I can be spared.”
The housekeeper concluded that Grant was going to Colebrook, and did not connect his journey with the lost boy.
“Oh, well, I suppose you understand your own business best. Herbert will miss you if he finds you away when his father brings him back.”
“Do you think he will?” asked Grant, eyeing the housekeeper sharply. ”

“ Grant put the envelope into his pocket, and hurried to the Exchange.
When he returned to the office he carried the bonds to Willis Ford.
“Mr. Ford,” he said, “an acquaintance of mine handed them to me to be sold.”
“Some one you know?” queried Ford.
“I know him slightly.”
“Well, I suppose it's all right. I'll make out a check to your order, and you can collect the money at the bank.”
Grant interposed no objection, and put the check in his pocket.
“The boy's fallen into the trap,” said Willis to himself, exultantly, as he proceeded to enter the transaction on the books. ”