Jr. Horatio Alger

“ I hear his steps descending the stairs. I will introduce you."
Gilbert, unsuspicious of the wicked plot that had been entered into against him, entered the room at this moment.
"Gilbert," said his uncle, graciously, "let me introduce to you my son, Jasper. He must be near your own age. He has promised to do what he can to make your stay pleasant."
"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Grey," said Jasper, advancing with a smile, and speaking in a soft voice. "I have scarcely any companions of my own age, and I shall enjoy your society." ”

“ Grey, you would know that I am not capable of making a false claim."
"Oh! no doubt you are very honest—the soul of integrity," sneered James Grey; "but every one has his price, and, as the success of your imposture would make you rich for life, you concluded to leave honesty out of the question."
James Grey might at once have referred to his possession of the paper, but he could not forbear playing with Gilbert, as a cat with a mouse, enjoying meanwhile the power which he possessed of crushing his claims by a single statement. ”

“ I ain't troubled with a delicate appetite, 'specially when I've been up and at work for two hours."
"Did you make much, Tom?"
"Well, I ain't made my fortune yet. I've earned thirty cents, but I'll make it up to a dollar before noon."
"You're a good boy, Tom," said the old man, approvingly. "Don't be afraid of work; I'd work, too, if I wasn't so old. It costs a sight to live, and I don't earn a cent."
"There ain't no need of it, Jacob; I can earn enough for the two of us. I'm young and strong. You are old and weak. When I'm an old man, like you, I won't want to work no more." ”

“ Gilbert was a smart boy, or perhaps I should say, young man, but he was not yet acquainted with the "ways that are dark, and the tricks that are vain," to which human craft is often led to resort. Least of all did he suspect any danger to himself from the uncle and cousin, who seemed to vie with each other in ministering to his enjoyment.
"Well, Jasper," said his father, the next morning, as they were seated at breakfast, "what plans have you for the enjoyment of our guest?"
"You ride on horseback, don't you, Gilbert?" inquired his cousin. ”

“ The fierce steed had found his master, and looked quiet and subdued. Never till that day had he been broken. Till this time he had felt his power, now he felt the power of another. Gilbert seemed perfectly at home on his back, and from his manner no one would have supposed that he had had a hard conflict with the brute, from which, had he not come forth victorious, the result might have been death or serious injury.
"He's dangerous," thought his uncle. "A boy who can subdue such a horse must have an unconquerable will. While he lives, I am not safe." ”

“ So he filled Jacob's cup once more, and the old man drank the contents with evident relish.
"Now don't you feel better?" asked Tom. "Why, you look ten years younger'n you did before you sat down. There's nothing like a bully breakfast to make a feller feel tip-top."
"Yes, I do feel better," said Jacob. "I—I think you're right, Tom. If I was rich, I'd always have a good breakfast." ”

“ He felt that he wanted an unscrupulous tool through whose agency he might get possession of old Jacob's confession. That destroyed, he could snap his fingers at Gilbert, and live undisturbed in the possession of the fortune he wrongfully withheld from him.
Sometimes the devil sends to evil men precisely what they most want, and so it turned out in this particular instance.
That evening Mr. Grey was walking thoughtfully in the street, reflecting upon his difficult situation, when his sharp ears caught the sound of his nephew's name, pronounced by two boys, or young men, in front of him. ”

“ He concluded by stating the departure of his uncle.
"Well, Gilbert," said Mr. Ferguson, after he had finished, "have you thought of anything further, or will you let the matter rest?"
"Never!" exclaimed our hero, with energy. "I will not rest till I have recovered the property of which my uncle has deprived me."
"That will be difficult."
"I know it, but I am not afraid of difficulty. It is not impossible. He thrust me into the streets of New York to earn my living as a bootblack; and I might have been there now, if Jacob had not revealed to me the story of my birth." ”

“ But there was something besides that served to distinguish it from other faces—a scar, of an inch in length, on his right cheek, which, though years old, always looked red under excitement.
"Grey," repeated the stranger. "Is your father living?"
"I don't know," said Tom. "If he is, he's too busy to call round and see me."
"You mean that you don't know anything about your father?"
"That's about so," said Tom. "I'm ready to adopt a rich gentleman as a father, if it's agreeable." ”

“ You are a rich man—I am poor. You can spare five hundred dollars without feeling it."
"I don't intend to be forced into giving you money. Let go that bridle, or I will run over you."
"I will stand by you, Mr. Grey," said Gilbert, speaking for the first time. "Don't submit to that man's demands."
"Young man," said Hugh, "you'd better not interfere. You can't help your father."
"He is not my father."
"No matter what he is, you'd better keep out of the affair. That's the advice I give you."
"I shall stand by him," said Gilbert, spiritedly. "You've got two against you." ”

“ Grey rang the bell, and Pompey appeared.
"What's wanted, massa?"
"Send Dick to the hotel for this young gentleman's carpet-bag."
"Yes, sar. What name, sar?"
"Gilbert Grey," answered our hero.
"Any 'lation?" asked Pompey, with the freedom of a favorite servant.
"Mr. Grey thinks there is a relationship," said the uncle. "Now be off, and tell Dick to make haste."
"By the way, though it is early to enter upon business, have you brought old Jacob's confession?" asked James Grey, in an indifferent tone; but he awaited the answer with a good deal of interest. ”

“ He knew enough now of Gilbert to understand that he was resolute and determined. He might be conciliated, but could not be intimidated while he felt that he was battling for his inherited rights. Would it be worth while to conciliate him? Mr. Grey feared that he would require the surrender of the major portion of the estate, and to this he was not willing to accede. While he was thus perplexed, Pompey made his appearance, and said:
"There's a man wants to see you, Mr. Grey."
"A man, or a gentleman?"
"A man. It's Hugh Trimble." ”

“ Grey, "I will stay with you, and send the boy home."
"I won't trust him," said Hugh, who had learned his lesson well. "Besides, he cannot get the money as well as you."
"There seems no help for it, Gilbert," said James Grey, turning to his nephew. "He insists upon retaining you, but it shall not be for long. I will at once obtain the money, and come back and release you. He is armed, and we are not. We cannot resist him." ”

“ While Pompey was gone to seek Gilbert and invite him to the library, James Grey gave the time to rapid reflection. He saw that our hero was a determined and dangerous opponent. He had not credited him with such courage and perseverance. He thought that, being a mere boy, he would be easily intimidated—that opposition and difficulty would daunt him. ”

“ You'd better have left it in my hands."
"I did the best I could, but Gilbert is sharp and no baby. You might know that from the way in which he tamed Bucephalus."
"I wish the brute had broken his neck."
"I don't know," said James Grey, slowly. "I believe Heaven is on his side, and we can't fight against Heaven."
"Perhaps you are content to be a beggar. I am not."
"We are not beggars. Your cousin leaves us ten thousand dollars, and assures us an annual income of two thousand dollars."
"That is not bad," said Jasper, with a sigh of relief. ”

“ I have already enjoyed the estate for a long time. In the course of nature I have thirty-five years less of life to look forward to than you. Therefore your interest is greater than mine."
"All right, father. Whatever you think best I am ready to agree to; but if you need any help that I can give, just let me know."
"That shall be understood. Now, you had better go out and look for your cousin. It is not best that John and he should be left to themselves too long."
Jasper went out into the stable-yards, but found that Gilbert had already gone into the house. ”

“ The hall was handsomely furnished, and when, on reaching the head of the stairs, his companion led the way into a spacious room, with a chamber connecting, our young hero saw a rich carpet, elegant furniture, a handsome collection of books, and some tasteful pictures upon the walls. It was evident that Mr. Mordaunt was possessed of ample means.
"Now—by the way, I've forgotten your name, yet——"
"Gilbert Grey. Some call me Tom, for short."
"Now, Gilbert, make yourself at home. The best thing we can do is to strip at once, and put on dry clothes." ”

“ Gilbert would have mentioned his residence in Australia, but he thought that the reference to it might be construed by his uncle into a tacit reproach, and therefore forbore.
They turned from the main road into one not much frequented, and speedily entered the forest. Not a suspicion of his uncle's bad faith, or of any conspiracy against himself, entered the mind of our hero. He had not yet fathomed the depth of his uncle's wickedness.
"Jasper never cares to ride in this direction," said Mr. Grey. "He has no love for Nature." ”

“ It astonished him that our hero, whose salary was but five dollars a week, should live in such a neighborhood.
"Twelve Crescent Place?" he repeated. "How much board do you pay?"
"That's a secret between me and the landlady," said Tom. "If you'll come round and see me this evening, you can judge for yourself."
Having a strong curiosity about Tom's circumstances, Maurice accepted the invitation.
"Perhaps there are two Crescent Places," he thought. "I don't believe he can afford to live in a fashionable boarding-house." ”

“ Jacob has done little or nothing for their common support, though at times, greatly to the annoyance of Tom, he has gone out on the street and asked alms. Tom, being high-spirited and independent, has resented this, and has always interfered, in a very decided manner, to prevent Jacob's figuring as a beggar. Though only a bootblack, he has an honest independence of feeling, in which any one is justified who works, however humbly, for his support.
Old Jacob is, moreover, a miser, so far as he can be. Whatever money he may have acquired by begging, he has kept. ”

“ Grey," said Gilbert, steadily.
"Of course not. Conspirators are the last to admit the real character of their designs. But that don't alter the fact. You have laid a plot for getting possession of my property, and, to this end, have forged a paper, which you think will help you."
"You are quite mistaken, Mr. Grey. I have Jacob Morton's written confession of his agency in carrying me away from Cincinnati. I knew nothing of it till he spoke to me on this subject, and placed the paper in my hands." ”

“ Grey has devoted his evenings to study. He has acquired such a knowledge of German in particular that he can wait upon German customers. He has mastered all the details of the business, which you have not done. You are often late, often inattentive, and are no better clerk now than you were a year ago. That is the reason I am willing to give Gilbert higher pay than you. If you wish to fare as well as he has done, pursue the same course."
"I don't feel like studying in the evening; I am too tired," said Maurice, sullenly. ”

“ As Gilbert had been in Cincinnati three years, this, of course, was sufficient to show that the document could not be genuine.
"Who would have imagined the fellow so shrewd?" ejaculated his uncle, pacing the room with hurried steps. "He lost no time in locking up the paper. I'm afraid he's going to be a dangerous enemy."
Then, contemptuously:
"What a fool I am—a full-grown man, with fifty years' experience of the world, to be afraid of what a boy can do! No, he shall not gain his point. Possession is nine points of the law, and possession is mine. ”

“ He was a good fellow, after all. So when he took leave, at the close of the evening, he readily promised to come again, and did not forget to do so.
"He'll take more notice of me now," said Tom, laughing. "He'll think I'm somebody."
"It's the way of the world, Gilbert," said Mordaunt. "We must take it as it comes."
"Maybe," said Tom, looking at his companion earnestly, "you wouldn't like to have me room with you if you knew what I used to be."
"What did you used to be?" asked Mordaunt, not without curiosity.
"A New York bootblack." ”

“ Gilbert is popular in society. You know that at parties he never has any difficulty in filling up his card."
Maurice did know that at the parties when both were present, Gilbert was received with much more favor than himself, and this was one of the circumstances that made him angry with his fellow-clerk. Few can pardon a wound to their self-love.
"It only shows that humbugs flourish best in the world," he said.
"Do you call Gilbert a humbug?" asked Bessie, her fair face flushed with indignation. ”

“ If fortune drives you out, do your best, but never leave a good home when you are well off, or you will repent it.
"I'll take some of this money," said Tom to himself, "and buy some clo'es. I ain't goin' to travel in these rags. Considerin' I'm heir to a fortune, I'll dress respectable."
Tom withdrew fifty dollars from the miser's hoard, then went to the hospital and left fifteen dollars to defray the expenses of Jacob's burial.
"It's the last I can do for him," thought Tom. "I hope, if I live to be as old as he was, somebody'll do as much for me." ”