Jr. Horatio Alger

“ But I can't help seeing that her niece, Mrs. Tracy, and Harold, a boy about my age, look upon me with dislike."
"Why should they? I don't see how anyone can dislike you."
"You are my mother and are prejudiced in my favor. But I am sure they have no reason to dislike me. I think, however, they are jealous, and fear the old lady will look upon me with too much favor. She is very rich, I hear, and they expect to inherit all her fortune."
"Money makes people mean and unjust."
"If I can only get hold of some, I'll run the risk of that," said Luke. ”

“ In five minutes Luke found himself on board the boat, He took the oars and relieved John, who was disposed to rest.
They rowed hither and thither, never very far from the pier. Not far away was a boat of the same build, occupied by a man of middle size, whose eccentric actions attracted their attention. Now he would take the oars and row with feverish haste, nearly fifty strokes to a minute; then he would let his oars trail, and seem wrapped in thought. Suddenly the boys were startled to see him spring to his feet and, flinging up his arms, leap head first into the lake. ”

“ The money is her own, isn't it?"
"She ought not to treat a stranger better than her own nephew."
"That means me, I judge," said Warner, smiling. "Well, there isn't anything we can do about it, is there?"
"No, I don't know as there is," replied Harold, slowly.
But he thought over what his uncle had told him, and it made him very bitter. He brooded over it till it seemed to him as if it were a great outrage. He felt that he was treated with the greatest injustice. He was incensed with his aunt, but still more so with Luke Walton, whom he looked upon as an artful adventurer. ”

“ Think how shocked your mother and Aunt Eliza would be if they had discovered that you were the thief."
"Don't use such language, Felicie!" said Harold, wincing. "There is no need to refer to it again."
"As you say, Master Harold. I won't detain you any longer from your walk," and Felicie, with a smile, rose from the sofa and left the room, Harold following.
"Don't disturb yourself any more," she said, as she opened the door for Harold. "It will never be known. Besides, your aunt can well afford to lose this little sum. She is actually rolling in wealth. ”

“ Merton," said Luke, gratefully.
"It is easy to be kind if one is rich. I want to see that man punished. Let me give you one piece of advice. Be on your guard with this man! He is not to be trusted."
"Thank you! I am sure your advice is good."
"I wish you good luck, Luke. However things may turn out, there is one thing that gratifies me. Warner is showing himself your friend. I have looked upon him till recently as a black sheep, but he is redeeming himself rapidly in my eyes. I shall not forget his kindness to you."
As Luke went downstairs he met Mrs. Tracy. ”

“ Luke Walton did not allow his feelings to be hurt by the decided rebuff he had received from Harold.
"I owe it to myself to act like a gentleman," he reflected. "If Harold doesn't choose to be polite, it is his lookout, not mine. He looks down upon me because I am a working boy. I don't mean always to be a newsboy or an errand boy. I shall work my way upwards as fast as I can, and, in time, I may come to fill a good place in society." ”

“ Tracy and Harold looked at each other as the old lady and Luke disappeared.
"This is a new freak of Aunt Eliza's," said Mrs. Tracy. "Why does she pass over you, and give the preference to this upstart boy?"
"I don't mind that, mother," replied Harold. "I don't want to be dancing attendance on an old woman." ”

“ Tracy did not reply, and Luke left the house.
"If I ever hated and despised a boy, it is that one!" said Mrs. Tracy to herself as she went upstairs to remove her street dress. "I wish I could strip the mask from him, and get aunt to see him in his real character. He is a sly, artful young adventurer. Ah, Felicie, come and assist me. By the way, I want you to watch that boy who has just gone out?"
"Luke Walton?"
"Yes; of course you have heard of my aunt's loss. I suspect that this Luke Walton is the thief." ”

“ Luke looked a little surprised.
"A gentleman was speaking to me on that subject this morning," he said.
"What did he say to you?" asked Stephen, curiously.
"He recommended me to go West, but did not seem to approve of California."
"Why not. Had he ever been there?"
"He said he had visited San Francisco, but had never been in the interior."
"What a whopper that was!" thought Stephen Webb. "Why should Uncle Thomas say that?"
"What sort of a looking man was he? Had you ever seen him before?" he inquired.
"He is a peculiar-looking man—has a wart on his right cheek." ”

“ Why should I not treat you like any other burglar?"
"Because—but I want to ask you a question."
"What did you do with that money Walton gave you on his deathbed?"
"What do you mean?" he faltered.
"Just what I say. What did you do with Walton's money?"
"I am at a loss to understand your meaning."
"No, you are not. However, I am ready to explain. On his deathbed Walton gave you ten thousand dollars to carry to his wife and family. Did you do it?"
"Who told you this?"
"It is unnecessary for me to say. It is enough that I know it. At the time you were poor enough. ”

“ Luke concluded. "If we hadn't been robbed of that money father sent us——"
"We could afford the luxury of doing good," said his mother, finishing the sentence for him.
Luke's face darkened with justifiable anger.
"I know it is wrong to hate anyone, mother," he said; "but I am afraid I hate that man Thomas Butler, whom I have never seen."
"It is sometimes hard to feel like a Christian, Luke," said his mother.
"This man must be one of the meanest of men. ”

“ Merton was still more surprised, for offers of services were rare with Harold.
"Thank you, again," she said, "but Luke was here this morning, and I gave him two or three commissions."
"Perhaps you would like me to read to you, Aunt Eliza."
"Thank you, but I am a little afraid it wouldn't be a good thing for my head. How are you getting on at school, Harold?"
"Pretty well."
"You don't want to go to college?"
"No. I think I would rather be a business man."
"Well, you know your own tastes best."
"Aunt Eliza," said Harold, after a pause, "I want to ask a favor of you." ”

“ He is a poor newsboy. It would be a great temptation to him. You know he is always shown into Aunt Eliza's sitting room, and is often there alone."
"That is true."
"And, of course, nothing is more natural than that he should take the money."
"But the drawer was locked."
"He had some keys in his pocket, very likely. Most boys have keys."
"Oh, most boys have keys. Have you, perhaps, keys, Master Harold?"
"It seems to me you are asking very foolish questions, Felicie. I have the key of my trunk."
"But do newsboys have trunks? Why should this boy, Luke, have keys? I do not see." ”

“ It was not easy to say where his money had gone, but it had melted away, in one shape or another.
"I wonder whether Aunt Eliza has discovered her loss," thought Harold. "I hope I shan't show any signs of nervousness when I meet her. I don't see how she can possibly suspect me. If anything is said about the lost pocketbook, I will try to throw suspicion on Luke Walton."
Harold did not stop to think how mean this would be. Self-preservation, it has been said, is the first law of nature, and self-preservation required that he should avert suspicion from himself by any means in his power. ”

“ Tom sneaked off on some pretext, and Luke kept on his way home.
"Did you do well to-day, Luke?" asked Bennie.
"Yes, Bennie; very well."
"How much did you make?"
"I'll tell you by and by. Mother, can I help you about the supper?"
"You may toast the bread, Luke. I am going to have your favorite dish—milk toast."
"All right, mother. Have you been sewing to-day?"
"Yes, Luke. I sat so long in one position that I got cramped."
"I wish you had a sewing machine."
"So do I, Luke; but I must be patient. A sewing machine costs more money than we can afford." ”

“ CHAPTER XIII TOM BROOKS IN TROUBLE
"I begin to think I am the favorite of fortune," thought Luke. "Ten dollars will more than pay a month's rent. Mother will feel easy now about her loss of employment."
Some boys would have felt like taking a holiday for the balance of the day, perhaps, or going to a place of amusement, but Luke bought his evening papers as usual. He had but half a dozen left when his new acquaintance, Stephen Webb, sauntered along. ”

“ If so, I know where to find you."
"Thank you, sir."
"What's got into the old man?" thought Eustis Clark.
As Mr. Afton returned to his sanctum, Eustis said with a grin, holding up the card:
"Mr. Walton left his card for you, thinking you might not be in time to see him."
"Give it to me, if you please," and the rich man took the card without a smile, and put it into his vest pocket, not seeming in the least surprised.
"Mr. Walton called to pay me some money," he said, gravely. "Whenever he calls invite him to wait till my return." ”

“ There must always be poor people, but those who are more fortunate ought at least to give them sympathy. It is the least acknowledgment they can make for their own more favored lot."
"I am going out a little while this evening, mother."
"Very well, Luke. Don't be late."
"No, mother, I won't. I want to call on a friend of mine, who is sick."
"Who it is, Luke?"
"It is Jim Norman. The poor boy took cold one day, his shoes were so far gone. He has a bad cough, and I am afraid it will go hard with him.
"Is he a newsboy, too, Luke?" asked Bennie Walton.
"No; he is a bootblack." ”

“ She is also a widow, with one son, Harold. I think he might be about your age. Her name is Tracy. You wonder why I give you all these particulars? I see you do. It is because I mean to keep up our acquaintance."
"Thank you, Mrs. Merton."
"My experience this morning has shown me that I am hardly fit to go about the city alone. Yet I am not willing to remain at home. It has occurred to me that I can make use of your services with advantage both to you and myself. What do you say?"
"I shall be glad of anything that will increase my income," said Luke, promptly. ”

“ There's Ben Clark has an allowance of five dollars a week, and he is three months younger than I am."
"Then I think his parents or guardians are very unwise. How does he spend his liberal allowance?"
"Oh, he has a good time."
"I am afraid it isn't the sort of good time I would approve."
"Luke has more money than I have, and he is only a newsboy," grumbled Harold.
"How do you know?"
"I notice he always has money."
"I doubt whether he spends half a dollar a week on his own amusement. He has a mother and young brother to support." ”

“ You would get rid of the boy that way."
"You forget that Harold has not finished his education. He is now attending a commercial school. I should like to have him go to college, but he doesn't seem to care about it."
"So, after all, the boy seems to be a necessity."
"I would prefer a different boy—less artful and designing."
"How much does the old woman—beg pardon, the old lady—pay him?"
"I don't know. Harold asked Luke, but he wouldn't tell. I have no doubt he manages to secure twice as much as his services are worth. He's got on Aunt Eliza's blind side." ”

“ Do you know how I got you off?"
"How?"
"I told Ah King you would pay for the broken window. It will cost a dollar."
"I didn't promise," said Tom, significantly.
"No," said Luke, sternly, "but if you don't do it, I will myself have you arrested. I saw you throw the stone at the window."
"What concern is it of yours?" asked Tom, angrily. "Why do you meddle with my business?"
"If I hadn't meddled with your business, you might have a fractured skull by this time. It is a contemptibly mean thing to annoy a poor Chinaman."
"He's only a heathen." ”

“ Three days later the entire sum given him by his aunt was gone.
When Harold made the discovery, he sighed. His dream was over. It had been pleasant as long as it lasted, but it was over too soon.
"Now I must go back to my mean allowance," he said to himself, in a discontented tone. "Aunt Eliza might give me ten dollars every week just as well as not. She is positively rolling in wealth, while I have to grub along like a newsboy. Why, that fellow Luke has a great deal more money than I."
A little conversation which he had with his Uncle Warner made his discontent more intense. ”

“ Mrs. Tracy never thought of doubting this plausible story.
"Harold," she said, "I am proud of you. I think there was no objection to accepting the watch. What do you say, Aunt Eliza?"
"Let me look at the watch, Harold," said the old lady, not replying to her niece's question.
Harold passed it over complacently. He rather plumed himself on the ingenious story he had invented.
"What do you think of it, Warner?" asked Mrs. Merton, passing it to her nephew.
"It is rather a cheap watch for a rich man to carry," answered Warner, taking it in his hand and opening it. ”

“ Luke looked surprised. He did not understand the meaning of this exclamation.
"I have a thousand shares of that worthless stock myself," continued the old lady. "It cost me two thousand dollars, and now it is worth nothing."
"The one who introduced the stock was a Mr. Browning, of Milwaukee."
"I know. He was an unscrupulous knave, I have no doubt. I could afford the loss, but hundreds invested, like poor Mary, who were ruined. Is the man living, do you know?"
"Yes, he is living in Milwaukee. He is rich, and is prominently spoken of as a candidate for mayor." ”

“ Is there positively no one with whom you are acquainted who is rich enough to help you?"
"There is one lady in Chicago—a rich lady—who was a schoolmate of my mother. She was older and in better circumstances, but they were good friends."
"Who is this lady?"
"A Mrs. Merton."
"Mrs. Merton!" exclaimed Luke, in excitement. "Of Prairie Avenue?"
"Yes; I believe she lives there."
"Why, I know her—I am in her employ," said Luke.
Ambrose Kean stared at Luke in open amazement. ”

“ All the fellows have more money to spend than I."
"How much does your mother give you as an allowance?"
"Two dollars a week."
"It seems to me that is liberal, considering that you don't have to pay for your board or clothes."
"A boy in my position is expected to spend money."
"Who expects it?"
"Why, everybody."
"By the way, what is your position?" asked the old lady, pointedly.
"Why," said Harold, uneasily, "I am supposed to be rich, as I live in a nice neighborhood on a fashionable street."
"That doesn't make you rich, does it?"
"No," answered Harold, with hesitation. ”

“ Luke looked puzzled, for he didn't quite understand what was in the gentleman's mind.
"I will take both of your papers. Here is a five-dollar bill. You may bring me the change to-morrow, at my office, No. 155 La Salle Street. My name is Benjamin Afton."
"But, sir," objected Luke, "there is no occasion for this. It is much better that I should trust you for two cents than that you should trust me with five dollars."
"Probably the two cents are as important to you as five dollars to me. At any rate, it is a matter of confidence, and I am quite willing to trust you." ”

“ I don't understand how the pocketbook came in my pocket."
"Someone must have put it there who wished you to be suspected of the theft."
"Yes," said Luke, eagerly. "I see."
Then he stopped suddenly, for what he was about to say would throw suspicion upon Harold.
"Well, go on!"
"I don't know that I ought to speak. It might throw suspicion on an innocent person."
"Speak! It is due to me. I will judge on that point. Who has had the chance of putting the wallet into your pocket?"
"I will speak if you insist upon it, Mrs. Merton," said Luke, reluctantly. ”

“ I shall have to ask Luke his secret. Aunt Eliza doesn't prefer him to you, does she?"
"I have no doubt she does. She's very queer about some things."
"Harold," said his mother, solicitously, "I don't think you pay Aunt Eliza enough attention. Old persons, you know, like to receive courtesies."
"I treat her politely, don't I?" asked Harold, aggressively. "I can't be dancing attendance upon her and flattering her all the time."
"From what I have seen of Luke Walton," thought Warner Powell, "I should decidedly prefer him to this nephew of mine. He seems conceited and disagreeable. ”

“ Merton came into the room attired for the street. They went downstairs together, and Luke and she got on a street car.
They were observed by Mrs. Tracy and Harold as they left the house.
"Aunt Eliza's very easily imposed upon," remarked the latter.
"She scarcely knows anything of that boy, and she has taken him out with her. How does she know but he is a thief?"
"He looks like one," said Harold, in an amiable tone. "If aunt is robbed, I shan't pity her. She will deserve it." ”

“ Come, Luke, be a good feller, and give us all a blow-out. We'll go to the theayter, and afterwards we'll have an oyster stew. I know a bully place on Clark Street, near Monroe."
"Do you take me for a thief, Tom Brooks?" exclaimed Luke, indignantly.
"The gentleman meant you to have the money. Of course he knew you wouldn't bring it back. Lemme see, there's a good play on to Hooley's. Six of us will cost a dollar and a half, and the oyster stews will be fifteen cents apiece. That'll only take half the money, and you'll have half left for yourself." ”

“ The next morning Luke went out to work at the usual time. He had all his papers sold out by half-past ten o'clock, and walked over to State Street, partly to fill up the time, arid partly in search of some stray job. He was standing in front of the Bee Hive, a well-known drygoods store on State Street, when his attention was called to an old lady, who, in attempting to cross the street, had imprudently placed herself just in the track of a rapidly advancing cable car. Becoming sensible of her danger, the old lady uttered a terrified cry, but was too panic-stricken to move. ”