Jr. Horatio Alger

“ Fred shook his head.
"I have too few acquaintances to think of anyone who would be fit," he answered.
"Would you undertake it yourself?" asked Mr. Wainwright.
"I?" stammered Fred in genuine surprise.
"Yes."
"But don't you think I am too young?"
"Perhaps your youth may be a recommendation."
"I don't see how, sir."
"By drawing away suspicion from you. Should I send a man, the appearance of a stranger in a small place like St. Victor—I think it has little more than a thousand inhabitants—would very likely excite the suspicions of this Bowman, and so defeat the chances of success." ”

“ At the summons the train boy stepped out from the inner room, followed by Frank Hamblin.
At sight of his late room-mate Palmer first showed surprise, and then anger.
"Did you put up this job on me?" he asked fiercely.
"It seems that you put up a job on me," said Fred, quietly. "The watch was found in my bundle."
"Yes, that was to be your share," answered Palmer maliciously. "Gentlemen, I suppose I shall have to surrender at discretion, but I am not the only guilty party. That boy is my confederate!"
"It is an outrageous falsehood!" burst out Fred indignantly. ”

“ Half an hour later he was thawing himself out when Bowman suddenly looked up from the World and asked abruptly:
"Did you ever hear of John Wainwright, the broker and banker?"
Fred was on his guard and answered cautiously:
"Yes, I believe I have heard of him. He has an office on Broadway, hasn't he?"
"No, on Wall Street."
"Did you ever work for him?"
"No; but an acquaintance of mine did," said Bowman carelessly. "He's got a pile of money, I expect."
"Very likely. Most bankers have, haven't they?"
"I suppose so, but they're not in my line. I used to be a dry goods clerk." ”

“ As the young girl stood in the aisle, undecided, Fred, who had heard the entire colloquy, and was naturally indignant, made up his mind to interfere.
"These seats were meant for passengers—not for dogs," he said.
"Boy, you are impertinent!" said the fashionable young lady haughtily.
"Where is the impertinence?" asked Fred composedly. "Do you wish this young lady to stand up in order that your dog may have a seat?"
"I will report you to the railroad company for insolence."
"Just as you like, but I will remove the dog in order to give this young lady a seat." ”

“ James Sinclair was lying on the bed with a look of weariness on his face when Fred pushed open the outer door and entered.
Sinclair's face brightened up.
"You didn't forget your promise, Mr. Fenton?" lie said.
"No, I always keep my promises when I can."
"You are very kind to a poor sick man. You have no idea how long the hours seem in this quiet cottage with no one to look at or speak to but Claudine." ”

“ Here they sat down on a bench and surrendered themselves to the fascinations of the scene.
"Well, what do you think of Niagara, Fred?" asked Frank.
"It is even finer than I had supposed," replied the train boy.
"Some people are disappointed," said Mr. Ferguson, "because they expect too much. The Falls of Montmorency are considerably higher but not nearly as wide. There are some cascades in the Yosemite Valley of over a thousand feet descent, but they are only a few feet wide. For grandeur Niagara excels them all." ”

“ I know very well, Fred, that you are not a millionaire, and will adapt my terms to your circumstances."
Professor Saville kept his word, and when the eventful day arrived Fred felt a degree of confidence in his newly-acquired skill. When he was dressed for the party in his new suit, with a white silk tie and a pair of patent leather shoes, it would have been hard to recognize him as a poor train boy.
"You look nice, Fred," said Albert.
"Do I? I must give you a dime for that compliment. Now don't go and spend it for whisky."
"I never drink whisky," said Albert, indignantly. ”

“ Being naturally sympathetic, Fred from time to time glanced at the young lady passenger, wishing it were in his power to lighten her sorrow, whatever it might be.
Sitting next to her was a young lady, handsomely dressed, who was evidently annoyed at the near neighborhood of one whom she considered her social inferior. It chanced to be the only seat unoccupied when the train reached Port Jervis, and the young lady was compelled to avail herself of it. But when she reached the seat she found it occupied by a fat poodle of uncertain temper, belonging to the fashionable young lady. ”

“ Yours sincerely, EDMUND LAWRENCE.
Fred counted the bills, and alike to his surprise and gratification found that they amounted to two hundred dollars.
"Where did you get so much money, Fred?" asked his mother, entering the room as he completed his count.
"That letter will explain, mother," answered Fred radiant with delight.
"We are indeed rich!" said Mrs. Fenton joyfully. "This removes all anxiety for a long time to come."
"Yes, we can afford to snap our fingers at the landlord."
"I hope you are not going to carry all this money round with you, Fred. You might get robbed." ”

“ Were you with Bowman this morning?"
"Yes, we went out in the woods together. I had a few New York papers which he read with interest."
"Have you them with you?" asked Sinclair eagerly. "You don't know how I hunger for home news."
"Yes, I brought them along, as I thought you might like to read them."
"I will read them after you are gone. Now we will converse."
"Have you a family?" asked Fred.
"I am not a married man but I have a mother," answered Sinclair, his eyes filling. ”

“ I am a stranger in the city, and indeed I did not know that the train arrived so late. Your son told me that it would be difficult to get into any hotel or boarding-house at this hour, and I have ventured to throw myself on your hospitality for to-night."
"You are heartily welcome," said Mrs. Fenton, ready to smile at her first wild suspicion. "Remove your wraps, and in ten minutes I can offer you a cup of tea and some eggs and toast. You will sleep the better for a little supper."
"You are a wise woman, mother," said Fred. ”

“ Wainwright.
"Is this the boy who came home with Uncle Silas?" asked the young lady.
"Yes, Rose."
"He looks like a nice boy."
Fred blushed at the compliment, but coming from such lips he found it very agreeable.
"Thank you," he said.
"How old are you?" continued Rose. "I'm fourteen."
"I am three years older."
"When I am three years older I shall be a young lady."
"I don't think I shall ever be a young lady," said Fred demurely.
"Why, of course you won't, you foolish boy," said Rose, with a merry laugh. "Papa, may I invite Fred to my New Year's party?" ”

“ I shudder to say it I am twenty nine."
"You were two years older last week," thought Morris.
"I—I don't feel so old," said the spinster, "but I am afraid it is a fact."
"I don't believe you will ever be forty again," thought Morris. "By the way, Josephine, have you thought of that investment I spoke to you about? I can get a hundred shares of mining stock for you, at five dollars a share—the inside price—while to the general public it is only sold at ten."
"It may be as you say, Ferdinand, but my aunt lost money in mining stocks, and I shall hardly dare to venture." ”

“ I don't think a man who carries economy so far is quite in his right mind. However, he was shrewd enough in his business transactions. But now tell me something about yourself. Are you alone in the world?"
"No, sir; I have a mother and little brother."
"Are they partly dependent upon you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you make enough to support them comfortably?"
"I can in the summer, sir, but in the winter my earnings are small."
"How small?"
"Not over four dollars a week."
"That is certainly small. Do you like your present employment?"
"I am getting tired of it," answered Fred. ”

“ She could get a position as chambermaid without difficulty."
"Remember, Luella, that in her own town she has held a good social position. She may have too much pride."
"Then let her starve!" said Luella, harshly. "It is preposterous for a pauper to be proud."
"She is not exactly a pauper," said Mr. Ferguson, who was not quite so venomous in his hatred as his daughter.
"I forgot—she has a fortune of seventy-five dollars. Will you do me a favor?" ”

“ I have a commission of twenty per cent."
"What was the most you ever made in a day?"
"I took in thirteen dollars once—it was on a holiday."
"That would give you two dollars and sixty cents."
"Yes, sir."
"Very good indeed!"
"If I could keep that up I should feel like a millionaire."
"Perhaps happier than a millionaire. I have known millionaires who were weighed down by cares, and were far from happy."
Fred listened respectfully, but like most boys of his age found it impossible to understand how a very rich man could be otherwise than happy. ”

“ For Fred it was a great moral lesson. He was honest by nature, but there is no one who cannot be strengthened against temptation. The sum taken by Sinclair was large, but it had not made him happy. Probably he had never been more miserable than in the interval that had elapsed since his theft. Judging between him and Bowman. Fred felt sure that it was Sinclair who had been weak, and Bowman who had been wicked. Now his only hope was to recover his lost position, to get back to where he stood when he yielded to temptation and robbed a kind and considerate employer. ”

“ That morning, when Raymond Ferguson entered the breakfast-room rather later than usual, he found his father reading a paragraph in the Sun with every appearance of surprise.
"What is it, papa?" asked Raymond.
"Read that!"
Raymond took the paper, and his eye was drawn to some conspicuous headlines.
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM A TERRIBLE DEATH! A BROKER'S DAUGHTER IN FLAMES! SAVED BY A BOY'S HEROISM! A TRAGIC SCENE AT A NEW YEAR'S PARTY!
"Why, it's Rose Wainwright!" said Raymond excitedly. "Whom do you think I saw on his way to the party last evening?"
"Fred Fenton." ”

“ There was a knock at the door, and a hall boy put in his head.
"There is a gentleman below who wishes to see you, Mr. Lawrence," he said. "Here is his card."
Mr. Lawrence took from his hand a card on which had been written the name
F. GRANT PALMER.
"That is the man, Mr. Lawrence," exclaimed Fred in excitement. "He has come for his valise."
"Bring Mr. Palmer up in about five minutes," said Lawrence; "not sooner."
"All right, sir!"
"Now let us repack the valise," said the detective. "I always carry a large bunch of keys with me, and shall probably find one that will relock it." ”

“ You are in luck!"
"How about you?"
"I made a small raise at Buffalo—a paltry three hundred dollars' worth. It was hardly worth the trouble of taking. Still, a man must live."
"To be sure!"
"Now with what you picked up you can live a year or two in comfort. Upon my soul, I envy you. Are you suspected?"
"I have managed to divert suspicion, I think;" and Palmer told his friend the story of his secreting the gold watch and chain in Fred's luggage.
"Very shrewd!" said his friend approvingly. "Palmer, you are a credit to our profession. I shall be content to take lessons of you." ”

“ He rose and left the car, leaning heavily on Fred's arm.
"How long have you felt unwell?" asked the train boy sympathetically.
"Ever since we left Elmira. My head troubles me."
"It is the motion of the cars, no doubt. Here we are!"
They were just in time to reach the boat. They entered the ladies' cabin, as Fred thought the tobacco smoke which always pervaded the cabin devoted to men would increase the old gentleman's head trouble.
"Where do you wish to go when we have reached the New York side?" asked Fred, when they were nearly across the river. ”