Jr. Horatio Alger

“ There was of course nothing for Robert to do but to tell his story from beginning to end, and this he did without delay, Dick Marden in the meantime ordering the negro servant to cook a good dinner for the youth.
"Well, you outwitted Hammerditch and Le Fevre nicely," cried the miner. "I would like to have seen them at the railroad station. They must have felt cheap and no mistake."
"They are rascals, and I always knew it," said Felix Amberton. "But now we have a hold upon them, for through Robert we can show up their true characters, if it becomes necessary." ”

“ Andy Cross understood what Huskin meant, and between them the sharpers raised the boy's body up and threw him with great violence against the hard wall close at hand.
The shock landed mainly upon Robert's head, as was intended, and with a groan, the youth sank down in a heap unconscious.
"I guess he's done for," said Cross.
"He is for a while, anyway," responded Huskin. "Come, the sooner we get out of this neighborhood the better off we will be."
Running to the doorway of the tenement, both sharpers peered forth.
"A man is coming!" cried Cross. ”

“ The office building in which the wholesale lumber dealer did business was situated several blocks from the depot and thither the pair made their way.
As they entered the wide hallway Robert suddenly clutched Dick Marden by the arm.
"There he is at last!" he whispered.
"He? Who?"
"That rascal who robbed me—Jim Huskin!"
And our hero pointed to where Huskin stood, in conversation with an old gentleman in black.
"You are certain he is the man?" asked the miner. ”

“ I want to speak to him about sawing and splitting a new supply."
"My dear," said her husband, "let me make a suggestion. Why employ Mr. Webber when you have a strong, able-bodied boy in the house?"
"Do you mean Robert?"
"There is no other boy in the house, I take it."
"But," expostulated Mrs. Talbot, "there is no occasion to put Robert at such work. I am quite able to employ and pay Mr. Webber."
"And bring up the boy in idleness. That's a very bad plan. He will be getting lazy." ”

“ Robert Frost finds his path to fortune no easy one to tread. The thorns of adversity line the way, and there is many a pitfall to be avoided. But the lad is possessed of a good stock of hard, common sense, and in the end we find him on the fair road to success—and a success richly deserved. ”

“ The balance of the day passed quietly, and on the day following Dick Marden took the boy over the timber lands.
"Would you like it out here?" asked the miner.
"I don't believe I would," answered Robert promptly. "I much prefer city life."
"Honestly spoken," cried Marden. "Now with me it is just the opposite. I can remain in the city a couple of weeks, or possibly a month, and then I feel that I must get somewhere where there is lots of elbow room."
Two days later a lawyer arrived—the one sent for by Marden and Felix Amberton. ”

“ He is constantly nagging me. I don't think I can stand it much longer."
"How does your mother stand it?"
"Mother has a very sweet temper, and she has no will of her own."
"Unlike you," said Sam, smiling.
"Yes, I have a will of my own. I don't think a boy or man can succeed who hasn't."
"You say you can't stand it. What will that lead to?"
"It may lead to my leaving the house, and going out into the world to seek my fortune. Our house is a large one, but it isn't large enough to contain Mr. Talbot and myself."
"I hope you won't have to go, Robert. ”

“ The miner was right. Jim Huskin had the old man in black in an out of the way corner and was conversing with him in great earnestness.
"You cannot lose on the venture, Mr. Price," he said, as our hero and Marden drew closer. "The shares will always be worth the money you put into them. Better let me have the check now, and I will buy them inside of the next hour."
"Yes, yes, but are you quite sure it is safe?" asked the old man, in a trembling voice. "You see, I cannot afford to lose four hundred dollars." ”

“ Nettie Wenrich was quite affected.
"It was too bad!" she cried. "I hope you get your watch and money back and succeed in sending those bad men to prison."
"I will tell you what I will do," said Herman Wenrich, after several minutes of silent thinking. "Let Felix Amberton send me a written order to deliver the map to you and I will do so."
"That is fair," said Robert. "No honest person could ask more at your hands. But what of those two men? They are to call again, I believe." ”

“ Dick Marden's letter interested Robert greatly. The confinement of city life was beginning to tell on the boy, who had heretofore lived more or less in the open at home.
"I'd like to go to Timberville," he said to Palmer, when he showed the communication. "The smell of pine and spruce would do a fellow a world of good."
"It wouldn't suit me," said Palmer, with a decided shake of his head. "Why, you have no amusements in a place like that—no theaters, no concerts, no billiard parlors, nothing."
"And yet people get along very well without them," smiled Robert. ”

“ And the good old lady appeared ready to faint.
"There is some strange mistake here," said Andy Cross. "Young man, how dare you call me a thief!"
"I dare to because it is the truth."
"Do you know who I am?"
"You are what I just called you."
"I have a strong inclination to knock you down, but I will try to curb my temper, as all Christian people should. I am Ralph Goodwill, the son of the Reverend Amos Goodwill, of Denver. I have come to Chicago to complete my studies for the ministry."
"You'll have to turn over a new leaf before you become a minister," answered Robert. ”

“ Talbot.
"How do you know that?"
"I was at the opera house last night and saw you on the stage."
For once in his life Livingston Palmer's face grew as red as a beet.
"You—er—witnessed that unfortunate affair," he stammered. "I—I——"
"I thought you were new at acting," said the lady candidly. "It was, as you say, unfortunate."
"The people used us meanly," exclaimed Palmer. "I was struck in half a dozen places, and my coat was nearly torn from my back, and in the struggle to get away I lost my money and could not find it again." ”

“ Jones and Barlow, the two men who had been so ignominiously expelled from the train, picked themselves up, and with faces flaming with anger shook their fists at the train in impotent wrath.
"This is an outrage, Jones," said Barlow, the taller of the two.
"So it is," said Jones, rubbing his knee, which had received an abrasion from falling on a flinty stone.
"They don't know how to treat a gentleman."
"No, they don't. You're right, Barlow."
"I suppose the boy and that long-legged miner are laughing in their sleeves." ”

“ There is another clerk, considerably older than you. He is not to know how much you get. Let him understand that it is five dollars."
"I understand. How generous you are, Mr. Marden."
"Not Mr. Marden—Dick."
"Well, Dick. But you ought not to pay so much for me."
"Why not? Consider me your uncle, and take care to do credit to my recommendation."
"I will," said Robert earnestly. "Shall you remain in the city, Uncle Dick?"
"I may come here now and then, but I expect day after to-morrow to go to the northern part of Michigan, to visit an old friend there, who is in the lumber business." ”

“ He had hoped by offering Robert a good salary—to be paid out of Mrs. Talbot's money—to get the youth under his thumb. But our hero had refused to have anything to do with him and had threatened to do all he could to induce Mrs. Talbot to keep her fortune in her own control.
"He's a regular imp," muttered James Talbot, as he hurried down the street, so enraged that he scarcely knew where he was walking. "If he writes home to his mother it will be harder than ever to do anything with her. ”

“ Robert Frost, with his books under his arm, turned into the front yard of a handsome residence in the village of Granville. He was a boy of sixteen, strongly built, and with a handsome, expressive face.
"I wish mother were at home," he soliloquized. "It seems very lonesome when she is away." ”

“ Why I can draw my check for twenty or thirty thousand dollars if I wish to."
Robert did not believe the statement. Yet as he had no way to disprove it, he remained silent on the point.
"Then you are going to use your own money entirely in this real estate venture in Chicago?"
"Well—er—most likely. Of course I may become pushed for ready cash at times and will then look to your mother to help me out a little. Every man, no matter how well off, gets pushed at times, when he cannot turn his securities into ready cash, you know." ”

“ The lady got as red as a beet, and left the car at the very next corner." And Jim Huskin laughed loudly. "A good joke, wasn't it?"
"Perhaps for the others in the car; not for the lady," answered Robert, yet he could not help smiling.
"Live down this way?" asked the sharper carelessly.
"No, I am a stranger in this part of Chicago. I am looking for Grandon street." ”

“ If ever she should forsake me it won't be for such a man as you. She requests me to say that your attentions are unwelcome, and that she has never given you any encouragement. If you renew them, I will horsewhip you on sight.
"Yours, etc.,
"Peter Churchill.
"Should you take offense at my letter, I am willing to meet you on the field of honor. You have the choice of weapons."
"So Alameda is a married woman?" said Robert, rather amused.
"Yes."
"And her husband charges you with trying to alienate her affections?"
"It is terrible!" murmured Palmer. ”

“ But you should—with so much money behind you."
"The money is for Robert, not for me." And Mrs. Talbot sighed as she thought of her son, and wondered how he was faring.
"Always the boy," thought James Talbot savagely. "Will she never forget him?"
"There is going to be a play at the opera house to-night," he said sweetly. "I would like you to go. You can wear the new bonnet, if you will."
[Pg 199]
"Thank you. What is the play, James?"
"'All for Love,' a romance of high life in New York. The newspaper says it is a good play."
"The newspapers cannot always be depended upon. ”

“ I don't want a man to be so honest as all that,—that is, with the customers,—although he must be honest with me. If a customer is foolish enough to leave his change behind, why let him lose it, that's my motto. ”

“ How are you fixed?"
[Pg 82]
"I've got a little, and my business gives me a living."
"It must, if you are boarding here."
"I am not. I generally eat at a restaurant, but once a week I come in here and get a good dinner. The remembrance of it lasts me a week, and makes my other meals more palatable."
"You are a sensible man."
"Is that your son, Dick?"
"No, I wish he were. He is a young friend of mine, who is for a short time under my protection. His name is Robert Frost. Don't you want a clerk in your office?"
"Well, I don't know," said Mr. Gray. ”

“ You will meet someone else, who will appreciate your devotion."
[Pg 104]
They heard the window opening again, and fearing a second deluge, drew quickly away.
It was just in time, for the pitcher was again emptied, but this time the water only wet the sidewalk.
"Surely you can't love her after that," said Robert.
"No. She is not what my fancy painted her. What can I do?"
"You had better let the matter drop."
"No. I will go home and write her a reproachful letter. I will make her ashamed of herself."
"Better not. She will only laugh at it." ”

“ Hammerditch, one of the men who just called, said Mr. Amberton sent him for the map."
"What!" cried Robert, leaping to his feet. "That cannot be possible."
"Why?"
"Because those men are enemies of Mr. Amberton. They wish to get some of his lumber lands away from him." ”

“ Our hero and the clerk went below, and Robert took his bag to stateroom No. 50, which was better than the other. Mr. Porter sat outside of the door reading a newspaper, and the clerk introduced the pair. The stranger proved to be a Chicago hardware merchant on his way into Michigan on a business trip.
"I am glad to know you," he said, smiling pleasantly. "I hate to travel alone when there is the chance of an agreeable companion." ”