1 files changed, 9267 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/old/14831.txt b/old/14831.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e3efb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/14831.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9267 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy Grant's Pluck, by Horatio Alger
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Andy Grant's Pluck
+
+Author: Horatio Alger
+
+Release Date: January 29, 2005 [EBook #14831]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Amy Cunningham and the PG Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE BEST BOOKS SERIES
+
+
+
+ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK
+
+
+By HORATIO ALGER, Jr.
+
+AUTHOR OF BEN'S NUGGET, CHESTER RAND, CHARLIE CODMAN'S CRUISE, FIVE
+HUNDRED DOLLARS, HELPING HIMSELF, THE STORE BOY, THE TIN BOX, ETC.
+
+
+
+THE NEW WERNER COMPANY
+BOOK MANUFACTURERS
+
+AKRON OHIO
+
+
+
+
+BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
+
+
+Horatio Alger, Jr., the author of about seventy books, was born January
+13th, 1834, at Revere, Massachusetts, and died July 18th, 1899, at
+Natick, Massachusetts.
+
+He was the son of a clergyman; was graduated at Harvard College, now
+Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1852, and from its
+Divinity School in 1860, and was pastor of the Unitarian Church at
+Brewster, Massachusetts, from 1862 to 1866.
+
+He removed to New York City in 1866, where he wrote his first book for
+boys, _Ragged Dick_, which had a wonderful sale. This was followed by
+_Fame and Fortune_, and many others, of which the best-known titles are:
+_Andy Grant's Pluck, Adrift in New York, Ben's Nugget, Charlie
+Codman's Cruise, Chester Rand, Five Hundred Dollars, Grit,
+Helping Himself, The Young Adventurer, The Young Explorer, The
+Young Miner, The Young Musician, The Store Boy, The Tin Box,
+Walter Sherwood's Probation, and Work and Win_.
+
+Mr. Alger's stories are pure in tone, inspiring in influence, and are as
+popular now as when they were first published, because they were written
+about real boys who did honest things successfully. Millions of his
+books have been sold since they were first published. _The World's Work_
+of June, 1910, said they were then selling at the rate of over one
+million copies a year. This estimate is low; it is a fact that they are
+now selling at the rate of over two million copies a year.
+
+
+
+
+ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE TELEGRAM.
+
+
+"A telegram for you, Andy!" said Arthur Bacon, as he entered the room of
+Andy Grant in Penhurst Academy.
+
+"A telegram!" repeated Andy, in vague alarm, for the word suggested
+something urgent--probably bad news of some kind.
+
+He tore open the envelope and read the few words of the message:
+
+    "Come home at once. Something has happened.
+
+    "MOTHER."
+
+"What can it be?" thought Andy, perplexed. "At any rate, mother is well,
+for she sent the telegram."
+
+"What is it?" asked Arthur.
+
+"I don't know. You can read the telegram for yourself."
+
+"Must you go home?" asked Arthur, in a tone of regret.
+
+"Yes. When is there a train?"
+
+"At three this afternoon."
+
+"I will take it. I must go and see Dr. Crabb."
+
+"But won't you come back again?"
+
+"I don't know. I am all in the dark. I think something must have
+happened to my father."
+
+Dr. Crabb was at his desk in his library--it was Saturday afternoon, and
+school was not in session--when Andy knocked at the door.
+
+"Come in!" said the doctor, in a deep voice.
+
+Andy opened the door and entered. Dr. Crabb smiled, for Andy was his
+favorite pupil.
+
+"Come in, Grant!" he said. "What can I do for you?"
+
+"Give me permission to go home. I have just had a telegram. I will show
+it to you."
+
+The doctor was a man of fifty-five, with a high forehead and an
+intellectual face. He wore glasses, and had done so for ten years. They
+gave him the appearance of a learned scholar, as he was.
+
+"Dear me!" he said. "How unfortunate! Only two weeks to the end of the
+term, and you are our _primus_!"
+
+"I am very sorry, sir; but perhaps I may be able to come back."
+
+"Do so, by all means, if you can. There is hardly a pupil I could not
+better spare."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Andy gratefully. "There is a train at three
+o'clock. I would like to take it."
+
+"By all means. And let me hear from you, even if you can't come back."
+
+"I will certainly write, doctor. Thank you for all your kindness."
+
+Penhurst Academy was an endowed school. On account of the endowments,
+the annual rate to boarding scholars was very reasonable--only three
+hundred dollars, including everything.
+
+The academy had a fine reputation, which it owed in large part to the
+high character and gifts of Dr. Crabb, who had been the principal for
+twenty-five years. He had connected himself with the school soon after
+he left Dartmouth, and had been identified with it for the greater part
+of his active life.
+
+Andy had been a pupil for over two years, and was an excellent Latin and
+Greek scholar. In a few months he would be ready for college.
+
+Dr. Crabb was anxious to have him go to Dartmouth, his own _alma mater_,
+being convinced that he would do him credit and make a brilliant record
+for scholarship. Indeed, it was settled that he would go, his parents
+being ready to be guided by the doctor's advice.
+
+From Penhurst to Arden, where Andy's parents lived, was fifty miles.
+Starting at three o'clock, the train reached Arden station at five.
+
+As Andy stepped on the platform he saw Roland Hunter, the son of a
+neighbor.
+
+"How are you, Andy?" said Roland, with a cheerful greeting. "How do you
+happen to be coming home? Is it vacation?"
+
+"No; I was summoned home by a telegram. Is--are they all well at home?"
+
+"Yes, so far as I know."
+
+Andy breathed a sigh of relief.
+
+"I am glad of that," he said. "I was afraid some one in the family might
+be sick."
+
+"I don't think so. I would have heard, living so near."
+
+"Father is well, then?"
+
+"Come to think of it, I heard he had a bad headache."
+
+"At any rate, it isn't anything serious. Are you going home? If you are,
+I'll walk along with you."
+
+"We can do better than that; I've got uncle's buggy on the other side of
+the depot. I'll take you, bag and baggage."
+
+"Thank you, Roland. My bag is rather heavy, and as it is a mile to the
+house, I shall be glad to accept your offer."
+
+"Bundle in, then," said Roland, merrily. "I don't know but I ought to
+charge you a quarter. That's the regular fare by stage."
+
+"All right! charge it if you like," rejoined Andy, smiling. "Are your
+folks all well?"
+
+"Oh, yes, especially Lily. You and she are great friends, I believe."
+
+"Oh, yes," answered Andy, with a smile.
+
+"She thinks a good deal more of you than she does of me."
+
+"Girls don't generally appreciate their brothers, I believe. If I had a
+sister, I presume she would like you better than me."
+
+Roland dropped Andy at his father's gate.
+
+It may be said here that Mr. Grant owned a farm of fifty acres, that
+yielded him a comfortable living when supplemented by the interest on
+three thousand dollars invested in government bonds. On the farm was a
+house of moderate size which had always been a pleasant home to Andy and
+his little brother Robert, generally called Robbie.
+
+Andy opened the gate and walked up to the front door, valise in hand.
+
+The house and everything about it seemed just as it did when he left at
+the beginning of the school term. But Andy looked at them with different
+eyes.
+
+Then he had been in good spirits, eager to return to his school work.
+Now something had happened, he did not yet know what.
+
+Mrs. Grant was in the back part of the house, and Andy was in the
+sitting room before she was fully aware of his presence. Then she came
+in from the kitchen, where she was preparing supper.
+
+Her face seemed careworn, but there was a smile upon it as she greeted
+her son.
+
+"Then you got my telegram?" she said. "I didn't think you would be here
+so soon."
+
+"I started at once, mother, for I felt anxious. What has happened? Are
+you all well?"
+
+"Yes, thank God, we are in fair health, but we have met with
+misfortune."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Nathan Lawrence, cashier of the bank in Benton, has disappeared with
+twenty thousand dollars of the bank's money."
+
+"What has that to do with father? He hasn't much money in that bank."
+
+"Your father is on Mr. Lawrence's bond to the amount of six thousand
+dollars."
+
+"I see," answered Andy, gravely, "How much will he lose?"
+
+"The whole of it."
+
+This, then, was what had happened. To a man in moderate circumstances,
+it must needs be a heavy blow.
+
+"I suppose it will make a great difference?" said Andy, inquiringly.
+
+"You can judge. Your father's property consists of this farm and three
+thousand dollars in government bonds. It will be necessary to sacrifice
+the bonds and place a mortgage of three thousand dollars on the farm."
+
+"How much is the farm worth?"
+
+"Not over six thousand dollars."
+
+"Then father's property is nearly all swept away."
+
+"Yes," said his mother, sadly. "Hereafter he will receive no help from
+outside interest, and will, besides, have to pay interest on a mortgage
+of three thousand dollars, at six per cent."
+
+"One hundred and eighty dollars."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Altogether, then, it will diminish our income by rather more than three
+hundred dollars."
+
+"Yes, Andy."
+
+"That is about what my education has been costing father," said Andy, in
+a low voice.
+
+He began to see how this misfortune was going to affect him.
+
+"I am afraid," faltered Mrs. Grant, "that you will have to leave
+school."
+
+"Of course I must," said Andy, speaking with a cheerfulness which he did
+not feel. "And in place of going to college I must see how I can help
+father bear this burden."
+
+"It will be very hard upon you, Andy," said his mother, in a tone of
+sympathy.
+
+"I shall be sorry, of course, mother; but there are plenty of boys who
+don't go to college. I shall be no worse off than they."
+
+"I am glad you bear the disappointment so well, Andy. It is of you your
+father and I have thought chiefly since the blow fell upon us."
+
+"Who will advance father the money on mortgage, mother?"
+
+"Squire Carter has expressed a willingness to do so. He will be here
+this evening to talk it over."
+
+"I am sorry for that, mother. He is a hard man. If there is a chance to
+take advantage of father, he won't hesitate to do it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+SQUIRE CARTER.
+
+
+When Mr. Grant entered the room, he seemed to Andy to have grown five
+years older. His face was sad, and he had lost the brisk, cheerful
+manner which was habitual to him.
+
+"Has your mother told you?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, father." Then he added with indignation: "What a wicked man Mr.
+Lawrence must be!"
+
+"I suppose he was tempted," said Mr. Grant, slowly. "Here is a note I
+received from him this morning."
+
+Andy took the envelope from his father's hand, and, opening it, read the
+following lines:
+
+    "OLD FRIEND: Perhaps by the time you receive this letter you will
+    have heard of the wrong I have done you and yours, and the loss I
+    have brought upon you. It is to me a source of the greatest sorrow,
+    for I fear you will never recover from it. I am just ready to go
+    away. I cannot stay here to receive punishment, for it would tie my
+    hands, and prevent my making reparation, as I hope some day to do.
+    Why did I go wrong? I can't explain, except that it was infatuation.
+    In a moment of madness I took some of the funds of the bank and
+    risked them in Wall Street. I lost and went in deeper, hoping to be
+    more fortunate and replace the stolen money. That is the way such
+    things usually happen.
+
+    "I can say no more, except that it will be my earnest effort to give
+    you back the money you will lose by me. It may take years, but I
+    hope we both shall live long enough for me to do it.
+
+    "NATHAN LAWRENCE."
+
+Andy read this letter in silence and gave it back to his father.
+
+"Do you believe he is sincere?" he asked.
+
+"Yes; he has many good points, and I believe he really feels attached to
+me."
+
+"He has taken a strange way to show it."
+
+"He was weak, and yielded to temptation. There are many like him."
+
+"Do you believe he will ever be able to make up the loss?"
+
+"I don't know. He is a man of fine business talent, and may be able in
+time to do something, but his defalcation amounts to twenty thousand
+dollars."
+
+"We must try to make the best of it, father. You have been spending
+three hundred dollars a year for me, besides the expense of my clothes.
+If that is saved, it will make up your loss of income."
+
+"But, my dear boy, I don't like to sacrifice your prospects."
+
+"It won't be sacrificing them," said Andy, with forced cheerfulness. "It
+will only change them. Of course, I must give up the thought of a
+college education, but I may make a success in business."
+
+"It will be very hard upon you," said Mr. Grant, sadly.
+
+"No, father. I won't deny that I shall be sorry just at first, but it
+may turn out better for me in the end."
+
+"You are a good boy, to take it so well, Andy. I had no right to risk so
+much, even for a friend like Lawrence."
+
+"You have known Mr. Lawrence for many years, have you not, father?"
+
+"Yes; we were schoolboys together. I thought him the soul of honor. But
+I ought not to have risked three-quarters of my estate, even for him."
+
+"You can't be blamed, father. You had full confidence in him."
+
+"Yes, I had full confidence in him," sighed Mr. Grant.
+
+"And he may yet be able to make up the loss to you."
+
+Though Andy said this, he only said it to mitigate his father's regret,
+for he had very little confidence in the missing cashier or his
+promises. He was repaid by seeing his father brighten up.
+
+"You have cheered me, Andy," he said. "I don't care so much for myself,
+but I have been thinking of you and your mother."
+
+"And we have been thinking of you, father," said Mrs. Grant. "It might
+be worse."
+
+"I don't see very well how that could be."
+
+"We are in good health, thank God! and your reputation is unblemished.
+Compare your position with that of Nathan Lawrence, forced to flee in
+disgrace under a load of shame."
+
+"You are right, wife. He is more to be pitied than I am."
+
+"Is he a married man, father?"
+
+"No; that is, he is a widower."
+
+"While we are spared to each other. We must trust in God and hope for
+the best."
+
+"Mother tells me you expect to get part of the money you need from
+Squire Carter," said Andy.
+
+"Yes, he has promised to take a mortgage of three thousand dollars on
+the old place."
+
+"I have heard he is a hard man, father. I don't think he is influenced
+by kindness."
+
+"I can't afford to inquire into his motives. It is enough that he will
+furnish the money. But for that I might have to sell the farm, and then
+we should be quite helpless."
+
+About seven o'clock Squire Carter made his appearance. Andy opened the
+door for him.
+
+He was a tall, florid-faced man, with an air of consequence based upon
+his knowledge that he was the richest man in the town.
+
+"Good-evening, Andrew," he said, for he was always formal. "So you are
+home from school?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"When did you come?"
+
+"This afternoon, sir."
+
+"I suppose you heard of your father's misfortune?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ha! it is very sad--very sad, indeed. I quite feel for your father. I
+am trying to help him out of his trouble. He was a very foolish man to
+risk so much on that rascal, Lawrence."
+
+Andy was disposed to agree with the squire, but he did not like to hear
+his father blamed.
+
+"I think he realizes that he was unwise, Squire Carter," said Andy.
+"Won't you walk in?"
+
+"I suppose your father is at home?" said the squire, as he stepped into
+the front entry.
+
+"Yes, sir; he was expecting you."
+
+Andy opened the door of the sitting room, and the squire entered. Mr.
+Grant rose from the rocking-chair in which he was seated and welcomed
+his visitor.
+
+"I am glad to see you, squire," he said. "Take a seat by the fire."
+
+"Thank you," said the squire, with dignity. "I came, as I said I would.
+I do not desert an old neighbor because he has been unfortunate."
+
+But for his patronizing tone his words would have awakened more
+gratitude. As it was, his manner seemed to say: "See how kind-hearted I
+am."
+
+Somehow, Andy felt more and more sorry to think his father must be
+indebted to such a man.
+
+"It is getting quite fallish," said the squire, rubbing his hands. "I
+suppose I am more sensitive to cold, as my home is heated throughout
+with steam."
+
+"I hope we shall be able to make you comfortable, Squire Carter,"
+returned Mrs. Grant, who had entered the room in time to hear this last
+speech.
+
+"Oh, yes, Mrs. Grant. I always adapt myself to circumstances."
+
+"That is very kind in you," Andy was tempted to say, but he forbore. It
+would not do to offend the village magnate.
+
+"I see you have sent for Andrew," observed the squire, with a wave of
+his hand toward the boy.
+
+"Yes; I shall not be able to keep him at Penhurst Academy any longer."
+
+"Very sensible decision of yours. No doubt it cost you a pretty penny to
+keep him there?"
+
+"The school charge is three hundred dollars a year."
+
+"Bless my soul! How extravagant! You will excuse my saying so, but I
+think you have been very unwise. It really seems like a wasteful use of
+money."
+
+"Don't you believe in education, squire?" asked Mrs. Grant.
+
+"Yes; but why couldn't he get all the education he needs here?"
+
+"Because there is no one here who teaches Latin and Greek."
+
+"And what good would Latin and Greek do him? I don't know anything of
+Latin and Greek, and yet I flatter myself I have succeeded pretty well.
+I believe I am looked up to in the village, eh?"
+
+"No doubt you occupy a prominent position, squire, but the boy had a
+fancy for the languages and wanted to go to college."
+
+"I shall not send my son to college, though, of course, I can afford
+it."
+
+"Perhaps he doesn't care to go."
+
+"No the boy is sensible. He will be satisfied with the advantages his
+father enjoyed. Supposing your boy had gone to college, what would you
+have made of him?"
+
+"He thought he would have liked to prepare himself for a teacher or
+professor."
+
+"It's a poor business, Neighbor Grant. A schoolmate of mine became a
+teacher--the teacher of an academy--and I give you my word, he's as poor
+as poverty."
+
+"Money isn't everything, squire."
+
+"It's a good deal, as in your present circumstances you must admit. But
+we may as well come to business."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+ANDY LEAVES THE ACADEMY.
+
+
+"You need to raise three thousand dollars, I believe, Neighbor Grant?"
+began the squire.
+
+"Yes, squire."
+
+"Three thousand dollars is a good deal of money."
+
+"I realize that," said Mr. Grant, sadly.
+
+"I was about to say it is a good deal to raise on the security of the
+farm."
+
+"The farm cost me six thousand dollars."
+
+"It would fetch only five thousand now. It wouldn't fetch that at a
+forced sale."
+
+"But for my losses, I wouldn't consider an offer of less than six
+thousand."
+
+"Of course, you are attached to it, and that gives it a fancy value in
+your eyes."
+
+"It is good land and productive. Then, it is well situated, and the
+buildings are good."
+
+"Well, tolerable," said the squire, cautiously. "However, that's neither
+here nor there. You want three thousand dollars, and I have agreed to
+let you have it. I will take a mortgage for two years, the interest
+being, as usual, six per cent."
+
+"Two years?" repeated Farmer Grant, uneasily.
+
+"Yes. I am not sure that I can spare the money longer than two years. I
+give you that time to pay it off."
+
+"But it will be impossible for me to pay it off in two years. In fact,
+it will take all my income to live and pay the interest."
+
+"Of course that isn't my lookout."
+
+"Do you mean that you will foreclose in two years?"
+
+"Not necessarily. I may not need the money so soon. Besides, you may
+find some one else to take it off my hands."
+
+"Can't you say five years, squire?" pleaded the farmer.
+
+Squire Carter shook his head.
+
+"No; you can take it or leave it. I am not at all anxious to take the
+mortgage, and if my terms are not agreeable, we will consider the
+negotiations at an end."
+
+"I won't make any difficulty, squire; I accept your terms."
+
+"That is sensible. I can't, for my part, see how five years would have
+been more favorable to you than two."
+
+"My son Andrew is sixteen. By the time he is twenty-one he might help
+me."
+
+"There's not much chance of that--unless he marries a fortune," said the
+squire, jocosely. "I suppose you will keep him at home to help you on
+the farm?"
+
+"We haven't talked the matter over yet. I will consult his wishes as far
+as I can. He can't earn much money on the farm. What are you going to do
+with your son?"
+
+"Conrad will probably be a merchant, or a banker," said the squire,
+pompously.
+
+"With your means you can select any path in life for him."
+
+"True; as my son he will have a great advantage. Well, as our business
+is arranged, I will leave you. If you will call at Lawyer Tower's office
+to-morrow at noon the papers can be drawn up, and I will give you a
+check for the money."
+
+"Thank you, squire. I will meet the appointment."
+
+"If you don't want Andrew to work on the farm I will turn over his case
+in my mind and see if I can get him a position."
+
+"Thank you. I should be glad to have him well started in some business
+where he can raise himself."
+
+As the term of the academy was so nearly completed, Andy went back with
+his father's permission, to remain till vacation. He sought an interview
+at once with Dr. Crabb, the principal, and informed him of the
+necessity he was under of leaving the institution.
+
+"I am really sorry, Andrew," said the doctor. "You are one of my best
+pupils. I am not sure but the best. There is scarcely one that I would
+not sooner lose. I shall be willing to take you for half price--that is,
+for one hundred and fifty dollars--till you are ready for college."
+
+"Thank you, Dr. Crabb," replied Andy, gratefully. "You are very kind,
+but even that sum my father, in his changed circumstances, would be
+unable to pay. Besides, it would be quite out of my power to go to
+college even if I were prepared."
+
+"It is a thousand pities," said the principal, with concern. "If you
+must leave, you must. I am not sure but I should be willing to take you
+gratuitously."
+
+"Thank you; but I feel that I ought to go to work at once to help my
+father. It is not enough that I free him from expense."
+
+"No doubt you are right. I respect you for your determination. You need
+not hesitate to apply to me at any time in the future if you see any way
+in which I can be of service to you."
+
+"I think it will help me if you will give me a letter of recommendation,
+which I can show to any one from whom I seek employment."
+
+"I will give you such a letter with great pleasure;" and the doctor,
+sitting down at his desk, wrote a first-class recommendation of his
+favorite pupil.
+
+There was general regret in the academy when it was learned that Andy
+must leave them. One little boy of twelve--Dudley Cameron, a special
+favorite of Andy--came to him to ask if there was no way by which he
+could manage to stay.
+
+"No, Dudley! I am too poor," said Andy.
+
+"If I write to papa and ask him to send you a thousand dollars, will you
+stay?" asked the little boy, earnestly.
+
+"No, Dudley; you mustn't do anything of the kind. Even if your father
+liked me as well as you do, and would give me the money, I could not
+take it. I must go to work to help my father."
+
+"You will write to me sometimes, Andy?"
+
+"Yes; I will be sure to do that."
+
+The little fellow's warm-hearted offer, and the expressions of sympathy
+and regret on the part of his schoolmates, cheered Andy. It was pleasant
+to think that he would be missed.
+
+On the closing day he received the first prize for scholarship from the
+hands of Dr. Crabb.
+
+"You will take my best wishes with you, Andy," said the venerable
+principal. "Let me hear from you when you have made any business
+arrangement."
+
+The farewells were said, and Andy set out on his return home.
+
+He was leaving the old life behind him. A new one lay before him, but
+what it was to be he could not foresee.
+
+He reached Arden in due course and set out to walk home. He had barely
+started when he heard his name called.
+
+Looking around, he saw Conrad Carter, the squire's only son, on his
+bicycle.
+
+"So you've come home from the academy?" said Conrad, curiously.
+
+"Yes," answered Andy, briefly.
+
+He never could bring himself to like Conrad, who made himself offensive
+and unpopular by his airs of superiority. Indeed, there was no boy in
+Arden so thoroughly disliked as Conrad.
+
+"You'll have a pretty long vacation," went on Conrad, with a significant
+laugh.
+
+"Yes, I suppose so."
+
+"Oh, well, it's the best thing for you. I thought it foolish when your
+father sent you off to the academy. If the Arden grammar school is good
+enough for me it is good enough for you."
+
+"There is nothing to prevent your going to the academy."
+
+"I know that. My father could afford it, even if it cost a good deal
+more. You wanted to go to college, didn't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It was very foolish for a poor boy like you."
+
+"Of course your age and experience make your opinion of value," said
+Andy, with a sarcasm which he did not care to conceal.
+
+"I advise you not to be too independent," returned Conrad, displeased.
+"Are you going to work on the farm?"
+
+"I may till I get a situation."
+
+"I'll speak to father. He might take you for an errand boy."
+
+"I don't think that place would suit me."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I want to go into some mercantile establishment and learn business."
+
+"That's what I am going to do when I get through school. Of course there
+is no hurry in my case."
+
+"I suppose not."
+
+"I suppose you know that my father has taken a mortgage on your father's
+farm?"
+
+"Yes, I know that."
+
+"If your father can't pay the mortgage when it is due, father will have
+to take the farm."
+
+Andy made no answer, but thought Conrad more disagreeable than ever. By
+way of changing the conversation, he said:
+
+"That's a new bicycle, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes; I got tired of the old one. This is a very expensive one.
+Wouldn't you like to own a bicycle?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Of course, you never will."
+
+"Then I must be content without one."
+
+"Well, I must leave you. I'll come around soon and see you ride a horse
+to plow."
+
+As Conrad sped away on his wheel, Andy said to himself:
+
+"I shouldn't like to be rich if it made me as disagreeable as Conrad."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+PREPARING FOR THE PICNIC.
+
+
+The change in his father's circumstances had come so suddenly that Andy
+could not immediately decide upon a plan of securing employment.
+
+He was not idle, however. There was work to do on the farm, and he took
+off his uniform, for Penhurst Academy was a military school, and donned,
+instead, a rough farm suit, in which he assisted his father.
+
+If he felt a pang of regret he did not show it, for he did not wish to
+add to his father's grief over his imprudent act of friendship.
+
+It was while he was at work hoeing corn that Conrad Carter came up one
+day, and leaning against the fence, looked at Andy with an amused
+expression.
+
+"Oho, you've turned farmer in earnest!" he said.
+
+"Yes, for the time being," answered Andy, composedly.
+
+"You look fine in your overalls."
+
+"Do you think so? Thank you for the compliment."
+
+"You might as well keep on. You will probably succeed better as a farmer
+than in business."
+
+"I mean to succeed in anything I undertake."
+
+"You've got a comfortable opinion of yourself."
+
+"While you, on the contrary, are modest and unassuming."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Conrad, coloring.
+
+"I meant to compliment you, but if you don't like it I will take it
+back. Suppose I say that you are neither modest nor unassuming."
+
+"If that is the way you are going to talk to me I will go away," said
+Conrad, haughtily. "It is a little imprudent, considering--"
+
+"Considering what?"
+
+"That my father can turn you all out at the end of two years."
+
+"If that is the way you are going to talk to me I shall be glad to have
+you go away, as you just threatened."
+
+"Pride and poverty don't go together very well," said Conrad, provoked.
+
+"I don't want to be either proud or poor," returned Andy, smiling.
+
+"That fellow provokes me," thought Conrad. "However, he'll repent it
+some time."
+
+In five minutes his place was taken by Valentine Burns, an intimate
+friend of Andy's. His father kept the village store, and was one of the
+leading citizens of Arden.
+
+"Hard at work, I see, Andy," he said.
+
+"Don't you want to help me?"
+
+"No, I'm too lazy. I have to work in the store out of school hours, you
+know. Are you going to the picnic?"
+
+"What picnic?"
+
+"There's a Sunday-school picnic next Thursday afternoon. Both churches
+unite in it. All the young people will be there. You would have heard of
+it if you hadn't been absent at school."
+
+"I will certainly go. There are so few amusements in Arden that I can't
+afford to miss any. I suppose there will be the usual attractions?"
+
+"Yes, and an extra one besides. There's a gentleman from the city
+staying at the hotel, who has offered a prize of ten dollars to the boy
+who will row across the pond in the shortest time."
+
+"The distance is about half a mile, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes; a little more."
+
+"I suppose you will go in for the prize, Val. You have a nice boat to
+practice in."
+
+"No amount of practice would give me the prize. I don't excel as a
+rower."
+
+"Who is expected to win?"
+
+"Conrad Carter confidently counts on securing the prize. There is no boy
+in Arden that can compete with him, except--"
+
+"Well, except whom?"
+
+"Andy Grant."
+
+"I don't know," said Andy, thoughtfully. "I can row pretty well--that
+is, I used to; but I am out of practice."
+
+"Why don't you get back your practice?"
+
+"I have no boat."
+
+"Then use mine," said Valentine, promptly.
+
+"You are very kind, Val. How many days are there before the picnic?"
+
+"Five. In five days you can accomplish a great deal."
+
+"I should like to win the ten dollars. I want to go to the city and look
+for a place, and I don't want to ask father for the money."
+
+"Ten dollars would carry you there nicely, and give you a day or two to
+look around."
+
+"True; well, Val, I will accept your kind offer. Is Conrad practicing?"
+
+"Yes; he is out every afternoon."
+
+"I can't go till after supper."
+
+"Then begin this evening. You know where I keep my boat. I will be at
+the boathouse at half-past six, and you can meet me there."
+
+"All right. You are a good friend, Val."
+
+"I try to be, but it isn't all friendship."
+
+"What else, then?"
+
+"I want Conrad defeated. He is insufferable now, and if he wins the
+prize he will be worse than ever."
+
+Prospect Pond was a little distance out of the village. It was a
+beautiful sheet of water, and a favorite resort for picnic parties.
+Conrad Carter, Valentine Burns, and two or three other boys and young
+men had boats there, and a man named Serwin kept boats to hire.
+
+But the best boats belonged to Valentine and Conrad. It was rather
+annoying to Conrad that any one should have a boat as good as his own,
+but this was something he could not help. He consoled himself, however,
+by reflecting that he was a better oarsman than Valentine.
+
+He had been out practicing during the afternoon, accompanied by John
+Larkin, a neighbor's son. John stood on the bank and timed him.
+
+"Well, John, how do I row?" he asked, when he returned from his trial
+trip.
+
+"You did very well," said John.
+
+"There won't be any one else that can row against me, eh?"
+
+"I don't think of any one. Valentine has as good a boat--"
+
+"I don't admit that," said Conrad, jealously.
+
+"I would just as soon have his as yours," said John, independently; "but
+he can't row with you."
+
+"I should think not."
+
+"Jimmy Morris is a pretty good rower, but he has no boat of his own, and
+would have to row in one of Serwin's boats. You know what they are."
+
+"He couldn't come up to me, no matter in what boat he rowed," said
+Conrad.
+
+"Well, perhaps not; I don't know."
+
+"Well, you ought to know, John Larkin."
+
+"My opinion's my own, Conrad," said John, manfully.
+
+"All the same, you are mistaken."
+
+"If Valentine would lend his boat to Jimmy we could tell better."
+
+"He won't do it. He will want it himself," said Conrad.
+
+"As matters stand now, I think you will win the prize."
+
+"I think so myself."
+
+It may be thought surprising that nothing was said of Andy Grant and
+his chances, but, in truth, his boy friends in Arden had never seen him
+row during the last two years.
+
+As a matter of fact, he had been the champion oarsman of Penhurst
+Academy, but this they did not know. During his vacations at home he had
+done very little rowing, his time being taken up in other ways.
+
+"I wonder whether Andy Grant can row?" said John Larkin.
+
+Conrad laughed.
+
+"He can hoe corn and potatoes better than he can row, I fancy," he said.
+
+"He's a first-rate fellow," said Larkin, warmly.
+
+"He's poor and proud, that's what he is. I called at the farm this
+morning and he insulted me."
+
+"Are you sure it wasn't the other way?"
+
+"Look here, John Larkin, if you don't treat me with more respect I won't
+associate with you."
+
+"Do as you like," said John, independently. "I'd just as soon associate
+with Valentine or Andy."
+
+"My father can buy out both their fathers."
+
+"That don't make you any the better fellow. Why are you so anxious to
+win this prize? Is it the money you are after?"
+
+"No. If I want ten dollars my father will give it to me. It isn't the
+money, but the glory that I think of."
+
+"If I had your practice I'd go in for it myself. I shouldn't mind
+pocketing ten dollars."
+
+"No doubt it would be welcome to you."
+
+"Let me try your boat for a few minutes."
+
+"You can have it for ten minutes."
+
+"I would like it long enough to row over the course."
+
+"You can have it that long. I'm going over it again myself as soon as I
+have got rested from the last trial."
+
+John Larkin got into the boat and rowed very creditably, but was soon
+called in by the owner of the craft.
+
+John began to ask himself what benefit he got from associating with
+Conrad, who showed his selfishness on all occasions.
+
+"I wish he would get beaten, after all," thought John; "but I don't know
+who there is to do it. Valentine is only a passable rower, and Jimmy
+Morris has no boat of his own."
+
+Conrad came back in good spirits. He had beaten his former record by
+three-quarters of a minute.
+
+"I'm sure of the prize," he said, in exultation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+THE BOAT RACE.
+
+
+As Andy rowed only in the evening, and Conrad practiced in the
+afternoon, it chanced that the coming rivals never met; nor was Conrad
+aware that Andy proposed to dispute the prize with him.
+
+Even at first Valentine was surprised and pleased to observe how Andy
+handled the oars. Before the evening was over he demonstrated the fact
+that he was a first-class oarsman, much to the satisfaction of his
+friend.
+
+"You must have had a good deal of practice at the gymnasium," said
+Valentine.
+
+"Yes; the director of the gymnasium, who is an all-around athlete, gave
+the boys special instruction, by which we all profited. He was a
+graduate of Harvard, and an old member of the University crew."
+
+"That accounts for it. Your rowing has a style to it that Conrad cannot
+show."
+
+"Probably he has never had any instructions."
+
+"Whatever he has accomplished has come by practice. He pulls a strong
+oar, but there is a roughness and lack of smoothness about his work.
+Still, he gets over the water pretty fast."
+
+"And that counts. How does his speed compare with mine?"
+
+"As you rowed to-night, I think the race would be a close one. But this
+is only the first evening. Keep on practicing daily, and I will bet on
+you every time."
+
+Andy looked pleased.
+
+"I am glad to hear you say this," he said. "I shall not row for glory,
+but for the ten dollars, which I shall find very useful. You have a fine
+boat, Val. How does Conrad's compare with yours?"
+
+"I should hardly know how to choose between them. His boat is a fine
+one, but mine is quite as good."
+
+"And I suppose there is no other on the pond as fine."
+
+"No; Serwin's boats are old style, and have been in use for years. If
+you rowed in one of those against Conrad you would be sure to be
+beaten."
+
+"Then if I win I shall be indebted to you for the victory."
+
+Valentine smiled.
+
+"I should be glad to think I had anything to do with gaining the prize
+for you, even indirectly; but it will be due in a large measure to your
+own good rowing. Only, keep up your practicing."
+
+"I will do so."
+
+"I want you to win; and, besides, I want Conrad to lose. I hope he won't
+hear anything of your entering the race."
+
+Two days before the picnic Valentine happened to meet Conrad at his
+father's store.
+
+"Are you going to enter the boat race at the picnic?" asked the latter.
+
+"I am not certain."
+
+"You have the only boat that can compare with mine. Have you been
+practicing any?"
+
+"I have been rowing a little."
+
+"I shall have to look out," said Conrad, but his manner did not indicate
+apprehension. "Probably the prize will go either to you or me."
+
+"Thank you for the compliment."
+
+"Suppose we have a little trial by ourselves? It may do us both good."
+
+"I don't mind. When shall it be?"
+
+"Say to-morrow afternoon."
+
+"Very well. I will be at the pond at four o'clock."
+
+"All right."
+
+The two boys met according to agreement, and the race took place.
+
+Conrad beat easily by eight lengths, although Valentine exerted himself
+to the best of his ability.
+
+"That settles it," said Conrad, triumphantly. "You can't row against
+me."
+
+"I am afraid you are right," returned Valentine, with an air of chagrin.
+
+"You will need more practice, though you row fairly well. I think you
+pull the best oar next to me," said Conrad, in a patronizing tone.
+
+"Yes, I see that I must practice more."
+
+"There will be no need for me to practice," said Conrad to himself.
+"I've got a dead sure thing."
+
+It might have been supposed that Conrad would be indifferent to the
+money value of the prize offered, but he had extravagant tastes, and
+found his allowance from his father, though a liberal one, insufficient
+for his needs. He began to consider in what way he would spend the
+money, which he considered as good as won.
+
+At length the day for the picnic dawned. The day previous had been
+unpleasant, and there had been considerable anxiety lest the weather
+should prove unpleasant. But greatly to the general satisfaction it was
+bright with sunshine, and the temperature was delightful.
+
+The young people of both societies turned out _en masse_ and looked
+forward to a good time.
+
+The race had been fixed for half-past three o'clock. At that hour the
+superintendent of the Sunday school came forward and said:
+
+"Owing to the liberality of Mr. Gale, of New York, a boarder at the
+hotel, a prize of ten dollars has been offered to the best oarsman who
+may compete for it. Boats will start from the pier, and the course will
+be to the opposite bank of the pond and back. I am sure that this will
+prove a very attractive feature of our picnic. Boys who intend to
+compete will now present themselves."
+
+The first to come forward was Conrad Carter. He was dressed in a
+handsome boating costume, and his manner indicated great confidence. He
+looked around for Valentine, but the latter made no motion toward the
+shore, though his boat was in the pond drawn up with the rest.
+
+"Aren't you going to row, Valentine?" asked Conrad, in surprise.
+
+"No; I have lent my boat to Andy Grant."
+
+At the same time Andy, in his ordinary attire, came forward, and stepped
+into Valentine's boat.
+
+Conrad arched his brows in surprise. He had been disappointed to find
+that Valentine would not row, but he was quite as well pleased at the
+prospect of beating Andy.
+
+He was rather surprised, however, as he had never heard that Andy could
+row.
+
+"He must be a fool to think of rowing against me," he said to himself.
+
+Next came Jimmy Morris, who took his place in one of Serwin's boats.
+
+Two other boys also appeared in hired boats, one of them being Dennis
+Carlyle, a friend of John Larkin.
+
+When the boats were in line, a superintendent gave the signal.
+
+Conrad got the first start. The others kept together, a length or two
+behind Conrad. Andy did not appear to be exerting himself, but his
+strokes showed a smoothness that was lacking in any of the rest.
+
+Mr. Gale, the donor of the prize, who was himself a good rower, took
+notice of him.
+
+"Who is that boy?" he asked, pointing to Andy. "I don't think I have
+seen him before."
+
+"It is Andy Grant, the son of Farmer Grant."
+
+"Why haven't I seen him before?"
+
+"He has been absent at school--at Penhurst Academy."
+
+"He knows how to row. See how he handles his oars."
+
+"I didn't know he was a rower."
+
+"He is, and a good one. I shouldn't be surprised if he wins the race."
+
+"What, against Conrad Carter?" asked the superintendent, incredulously.
+
+"Yes. It is easy to see that he has been trained, while Conrad, though
+he pulls a strong oar, rows like a country amateur."
+
+Conrad was so intent upon his own work that he had not had an
+opportunity of watching his competitors. When he had nearly reached the
+point selected on the other bank, he turned about and saw Andy close
+behind him.
+
+Andy was not apparently exerting himself, but pulled a strong, steady
+stroke, and seemed quite free from excitement. For the first time Conrad
+saw that he was a competitor not to be despised.
+
+After the turn Conrad and Andy led the procession. Next came Jimmy
+Morris, and last of all Dennis Carlyle.
+
+The latter managed to catch a crab, and in his attempt to right himself
+tumbled into the water.
+
+"Don't mind me!" he called out humorously. "I am only taking a bath."
+
+So the other contestants kept on, in the same order.
+
+But this was not to continue. Suddenly Andy made a spurt and forged
+ahead of Conrad. The young aristocrat could hardly believe his eyes when
+he saw Valentine's boat, impelled by a competitor whom he had despised,
+take the leading place.
+
+He flushed with vexation and made a desperate effort to regain his lost
+position. But he was excited, and did not use his strength to the best
+advantage.
+
+To his great annoyance he saw that Andy was continuing to gain upon him,
+and that without any great effort. His smooth, steady stroke was most
+effective. Even the unpracticed eye could see his superiority to any of
+his competitors.
+
+When the goal was reached he was five lengths ahead of Conrad, and
+twelve lengths ahead of Jimmy Morris.
+
+It was a genuine surprise to the spectators, and a great shout went up.
+
+"Three cheers for Andy Grant!"
+
+Andy smiled, and he raised his hat in acknowledgment of the compliment.
+
+Mr. Gale pressed forward and greeted the young victor.
+
+"You have done yourself credit," he said. "You know how to row. Where
+did you learn?"
+
+"At Penhurst Academy; I was trained by a Harvard oarsman."
+
+"He understood his business, and so do you. I have great pleasure in
+presenting you with the prize."
+
+With a sullen look Conrad listened to those words. Without a word he
+sprang on shore, and, as soon as he could, turned his back upon the
+picnic.
+
+"Conrad is terribly disappointed!" said Valentine. "You have made
+yourself famous, Andy."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+A LIBERAL OFFER.
+
+
+Thoroughly mortified and crestfallen, Conrad went home. He hoped to go
+up to his room without observation, but his father noticed his entrance.
+
+"Well, Conrad," he said, with a smile, "did you carry off the honors at
+the picnic?"
+
+"No, I didn't," answered Conrad, bitterly.
+
+"Did Valentine Burns defeat you?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Who did win the prize?"
+
+"Andy Grant."
+
+Squire Carter was amazed.
+
+"Can he row?" he ejaculated.
+
+"Yes, a little."
+
+"But he beat you?"
+
+"I tell you how it was, father," said Conrad, who had decided upon his
+story. "I was well ahead till we got halfway back, when I got a terrible
+pain in my arm. I must have strained it, I think. Of course I couldn't
+do anything after that, and Andy, who was next to me, went in and won."
+
+Squire Carter never thought of doubting Conrad's story. His pride
+extended to his family and all connected with him, and he felt satisfied
+that Conrad was the best rower in the village.
+
+"Where did the Grant boy learn to row?" he asked.
+
+"I heard him tell Mr. Gale that he learned at the academy."
+
+"You don't think he is equal to you?"
+
+"Of course he isn't. I am miles ahead of him."
+
+"It was very unfortunate that your arm gave out. You had better speak to
+your mother, and she will put some arnica on it."
+
+"I will," said Conrad cunningly. "I would rather have had any boy beat
+me than that upstart, Andy Grant. He will put on no end of airs.
+Besides, I shall miss the money."
+
+"That, at any rate, I can make up to you. Here are two five-dollar
+bills."
+
+"Thank you, father," said Conrad, as, with much satisfaction, he
+pocketed the bills. "It was lucky I thought about the strain," he said
+to himself. "All the same, it is awfully humiliating to be beaten by
+that beggar."
+
+"How do you think Conrad accounts for his defeat, Andy?" said Valentine
+the next day.
+
+"I can't tell."
+
+"He says he strained the muscles of his arm."
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"If it will make him feel any better, I have no objection to that
+explanation."
+
+"His father has given him ten dollars, so he will not lose any money.
+But he won't get any of the boys to believe his story."
+
+"The money is very acceptable to me," said Andy. "If I had lost, my
+father couldn't have made it up to me."
+
+At five o'clock, on his way to the post office, Andy met Mr. Gale.
+
+Walter Gale was a young man about twenty-five. He had a pleasant face,
+and his manner was genial. He had a strong sympathy with boys, and he
+was a favorite with them.
+
+"Well, Andrew," he said; "have you recovered from your exertions in the
+boat race?"
+
+"Oh, yes; I am used to rowing, and felt very little fatigue."
+
+"I hear that Conrad is very much mortified by his defeat."
+
+"I believe he is. He felt sure of winning."
+
+"And he would have done so if you had remained out of the list."
+
+"He told Valentine Burns that he strained the muscles of his arm, and
+that this defeated him."
+
+"I should think better of him if he would acknowledge that he was fairly
+beaten. Are you at leisure this evening?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then call upon me at the hotel. I shall be glad to know you better."
+
+This invitation Andy was very glad to accept. He was drawn to the young
+man, and felt that he was likely to prove a sincere friend.
+
+At seven o'clock he left the farmhouse, and on arriving at the hotel
+found Mr. Gale sitting on the piazza.
+
+"I was looking for you," said the young man. "Come up to my room."
+
+He led the way to a front corner apartment on the second floor. It was
+the best room in the hotel, and he had furnished it in the most
+comfortable and attractive manner. Pictures hung on the walls, and there
+was a bookcase containing a goodly array of volumes.
+
+"What a pleasant room!" exclaimed Andy.
+
+"Yes; I have tried to make myself comfortable. What I lack most is
+society."
+
+"I wonder that you are content to live in the country. Are you not
+accustomed to the city?"
+
+"Yes; but I had a severe sickness in the spring, and the doctors
+recommended me to absent myself for a time from the excitement of the
+town and take up my residence in the country."
+
+"Didn't that interfere with your business?"
+
+Walter Gale smiled.
+
+"Fortunately, or unfortunately," he answered, "I have no business. Until
+two years since I was employed in an insurance office in the city. The
+death of an uncle has made me pecuniarily independent, so that I had
+leisure to be sick."
+
+"You look in good health now."
+
+"Yes; but I have a nervous temperament, and am obliged to be careful.
+Now tell me about yourself. You have been for some time at Penhurst
+Academy?"
+
+"Yes; for two years."
+
+"Do you go back there?"
+
+"No; my father has met with serious losses, and can no longer afford to
+send me. I must stay at home and help him."
+
+"And this is a disappointment to you?"
+
+"Yes; I was expecting to go to college in a few months."
+
+"I believe your father is a farmer?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you expect to assist him on the farm?"
+
+"Till I can get something to do. I shall try to get some business
+situation. Business pays better than farming."
+
+"I suppose you are a good Latin and Greek scholar?"
+
+"Yes; that is, I like the languages, and stood high in my classes."
+
+"My own education is limited. Though I am rich now, I was a poor boy. At
+sixteen I had made some progress in Latin and commenced Greek, when my
+father's failure obliged me to seek employment. The uncle who has now
+made me rich would do nothing for me; so I left school half educated."
+
+"You would be able to make up deficiencies now," suggested Andy.
+
+"That is what I have been thinking of, if I can get a satisfactory
+teacher."
+
+"I don't think you can find a classical teacher in Arden."
+
+"I know of one, if he would be willing to undertake the task."
+
+"Who is it?" asked Andy, puzzled.
+
+"Andrew Grant," answered this young man, with a smile.
+
+"Do you mean me?" asked Andy, with a wondering face.
+
+"Certainly. You are fresh from school, and I am sure you would be
+competent to teach me."
+
+"But I am only a boy."
+
+"Age has nothing to do with a teacher's qualifications, except as to
+discipline. You wouldn't find me a very advanced pupil. I had read one
+book in _Caesar_ when I was compelled to leave school, and had begun to
+translate Greek a little. Now the question is, are you willing to teach
+me?"
+
+"If you think I am competent, Mr. Gale."
+
+"I don't doubt that. We will begin, if you like, next Monday. Perhaps,
+in order to avoid village gossip, it will be well to pass yourself off
+as my private secretary. Indeed, I will employ you a little in that way
+also."
+
+"I shall be very glad to serve you in any way."
+
+"Then come to-morrow morning at nine and remain with me till twelve. Now
+about the compensation."
+
+"Fix that to suit yourself, Mr. Gale. I am almost ashamed to ask
+anything."
+
+"The laborer is worthy of his hire, Andy. Suppose I pay you six dollars
+a week to begin with?"
+
+"The money will be very acceptable, but I am afraid you will be
+overpaying me."
+
+"I will take my risk of that. On the whole, I will call it nine dollars
+a week, and we will spend the afternoon together also. I will send to
+the city for a boat, and you shall give me lessons in rowing."
+
+Andy's eyes sparkled. Nothing would please him better, and the prospect
+of earning nine dollars a week made him feel like a millionaire.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+AN ENCOUNTER WITH A TRAMP.
+
+
+It is hardly necessary to say that Andy's parents were equally surprised
+and pleased at his new engagement.
+
+"You will like that better than working on the farm, I expect, Andy?"
+said Sterling Grant.
+
+"Yes, father. I am willing to work, but I don't feel much interest in
+farming."
+
+"It is hard work and poor pay, Andy, but I like it. I was brought up to
+it when a boy, and there is nothing else I can do."
+
+"Andy is already beginning to get some advantage from his education,"
+said Mrs. Grant.
+
+Andy reported for duty, and during the first morning made up his mind
+that he should enjoy his new employment. Mr. Gale really desired to
+acquire a knowledge of Latin and Greek, and worked faithfully.
+
+To Andy it was like a review of his own studies, and he experienced a
+satisfaction in the rapid progress of his pupil.
+
+He felt quite at home with Mr. Gale, though their acquaintance had been
+so brief. When twelve o'clock came he was really sorry.
+
+"What time shall I come over this afternoon, Mr. Gale?" he asked.
+
+"At two o'clock. Can you borrow your friend Valentine's boat? I have
+sent for one, but it may be several days before it arrives."
+
+"Oh, yes; I am sure Val will let me have it. He is a very good-natured
+boy."
+
+"I will be glad to pay for its use."
+
+"I don't think he'd accept anything."
+
+"Then I will make him a present."
+
+Before he returned to the hotel, Andy saw Valentine and obtained the
+loan of his boat.
+
+At three o'clock Mr. Gale and Andy started from the boathouse, and again
+Andy became a teacher.
+
+The young man was a good rower, but Andy was able to give him some
+points. Sometimes they sat idle and let the boat float at will.
+
+About four o'clock Conrad came down for his usual afternoon row. He was
+surprised and not altogether pleased at meeting Andy and his companion.
+
+"Why are you not hoeing potatoes?" he asked.
+
+"I've got a vacation," answered Andy, with a smile.
+
+"Are you out for a row?" inquired Mr. Gale, pleasantly.
+
+"Yes," answered Conrad, sullenly.
+
+Though Walter Gale had nothing to do with his defeat, he could not quite
+forgive him for awarding the prize to Andy. He felt mortified whenever
+he thought of it, and wished Mr. Gale to understand that he was not
+inferior to Andy.
+
+"I was unlucky the other day," he said. "I strained my muscles or I
+would not have been beaten."
+
+"That was lucky for me, then," said Andy, good-naturedly.
+
+"I didn't care so much for the money, but if I had been in my usual form
+I should have gained the prize."
+
+"Then you wouldn't object to a second race?" said Walter Gale, quietly.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"If you would like to try it again over the same course, I will put up
+five dollars."
+
+Conrad hesitated.
+
+He would not object to winning five dollars. Indeed, he wished very much
+to have that sum, but he was not quite so sure that he could beat Andy
+as he claimed to be.
+
+Should Andy win again, he would be obliged to concede his superiority.
+
+"No," he said, after a pause; "I don't think I care to race again."
+
+"Then I will make you another offer, but not so good a one. I row a
+little myself--indeed, Andy is training me, so that I hope soon to row
+better. If you will row against me, I will pay you two dollars. That
+will be the prize."
+
+"But suppose you win?"
+
+"Then I keep the two dollars myself. It will cost you nothing."
+
+"I'll row," said Conrad, eagerly.
+
+"Very well. We will appoint Andy umpire, or referee, whatever you call
+it."
+
+Conrad was not altogether pleased with this selection, but he waived his
+objections and the race was rowed, Andy giving the signal.
+
+Conrad won by a dozen lengths, Mr. Gale making a very good second.
+
+"You have won, Conrad," said the young man, good-naturedly. "Here is the
+prize."
+
+Conrad pocketed the bill with a good deal of satisfaction.
+
+"I will row you any day," he said.
+
+Walter Gale shook his head.
+
+"I must wait till I have improved," he said, "or you will beat me every
+time."
+
+Conrad would much prefer to have beaten Andy, but the two dollars gave
+him not a little satisfaction.
+
+"Mr. Gale must be rich," he reflected. "I wish I could get in with him."
+
+"As Andy has to work on the farm," he said, "I shall be glad to go out
+with you any afternoon."
+
+"Thank you; but I have made an arrangement with Andy that will save him
+from the necessity of farm work."
+
+Conrad opened his eyes in surprise.
+
+Later in the evening, when he met Andy at the village store, he asked:
+
+"How much does Mr. Gale pay you for going with him?"
+
+"The arrangement is private, Conrad, or I would tell you."
+
+"How much are you with him?"
+
+"I go to the hotel at nine o'clock in the morning."
+
+"What do you do then?"
+
+"He calls me his private secretary."
+
+"Do you get as much as three dollars a week?"
+
+"I am sorry, I can't tell you."
+
+"Oh, well, if it is such a profound secret. You seem to have got in with
+him."
+
+"He treats me very kindly."
+
+"Is he rich?"
+
+"I don't know, but I presume he is."
+
+"I don't see what keeps him in such a dull hole as Arden, when he could
+live in the city and be in the midst of things."
+
+"At any rate, it is lucky for me that he chooses to stay here."
+
+"What on earth does he want of a private secretary?" demanded Conrad.
+
+"Perhaps you had better ask him."
+
+"Probably he only hires you out of pity."
+
+"I won't trouble myself about his motives, as long as he appears to
+like having me with him."
+
+Several days passed. The mornings were spent in study, the afternoons on
+the pond.
+
+There had been no change in the program, so that Andy was surprised
+when, one morning, Mr. Gale said:
+
+"We will omit our lessons this morning; I am going to send you to Benton
+on an errand."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+"I have an account with the bank, and will send a check by you to be
+cashed."
+
+"All right, sir."
+
+"I will engage a top buggy for you at the hotel stable. I suppose you
+are used to driving?"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir."
+
+"And I suppose you know the way to Benton?"
+
+"I have been there a good many times."
+
+"Then there will be no trouble."
+
+"When do you want me to start?"
+
+"At eleven o'clock. That would get you home late to dinner. You may,
+therefore, stop and dine at the hotel in Benton."
+
+This would make it a day's excursion. Andy liked driving, and the visit
+to Benton would be a pleasure to him.
+
+"I will run home and tell mother I shall not be back to dinner," he
+said.
+
+"Very well. Be back here at eleven o'clock."
+
+"All right, sir."
+
+When Andy reached the hotel on his return he found the buggy ready.
+Harnessed to it was the best horse in the hotel stable.
+
+"A pleasant journey to you!" said Walter Gale, smiling at Andy from the
+piazza.
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+Andy drove off at good speed. It was a bright, clear morning. The air
+was invigorating, and his spirits rose.
+
+He reflected upon his good luck in having found such a friend as Walter
+Gale. He had been unfortunate, to be sure, in being compelled to leave
+school, but the hardship was very much mitigated by Mr. Gale's
+friendship.
+
+He had gone two-thirds of the way when he overtook a man whose bloated
+look and shabby clothing proclaimed him to belong to the large class of
+tramps whose business seems to be to roam through the country in quest
+of plunder.
+
+The man looked up as Andy reached him.
+
+"I say, boy," he called out, "give me a lift, won't you?"
+
+Andy was kind-hearted, but he was repelled by the unsavory look of the
+man who asked him this favor. He felt that it would be very unpleasant
+to have such a man sitting beside him in the buggy.
+
+"I think you must excuse me," he said.
+
+"What for?" asked the man, with a scowl. "Are you too proud to take in
+a poor man?"
+
+"I don't object to you being poor," answered Andy; "but you look as if
+you had been drinking."
+
+The man replied by an oath, and, bending over, he picked up a good-sized
+stone and flung it at the young driver. Fortunately his condition made
+his aim unsteady, and the stone flew wide of the mark.
+
+Andy whipped up the horse, and was soon out of danger.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+A MOMENT OF DANGER.
+
+
+Andy did not examine the check till he reached the bank in Benton. Then,
+glancing at it before he presented it to the paying-teller, he found
+that it was for one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
+
+"How will you have it?" asked the teller.
+
+"Twenty-five dollars in small bills; the rest in fives and tens,"
+answered Andy, as instructed by Mr. Gale.
+
+The bills were counted out and placed in his hands. To Andy they seemed
+a large sum of money, and, indeed, the roll was big enough to convey
+that impression.
+
+As he left the bank he saw the familiar but not welcome face of the
+tramp who had stopped him glued against the pane. He had attended to
+some errands before going to the bank, which allowed the fellow time to
+reach it in season to watch him.
+
+"I wonder if he saw me putting away the bills?" thought Andy.
+
+However, in a town like Benton, there was little chance of robbery.
+
+The tramp looked at him with evil significance as he left the bank.
+
+"Give me a dollar," he said.
+
+"I can't," answered Andy.
+
+"I saw you with a big roll of bills."
+
+"They are not mine."
+
+"Give me enough to buy a dinner, then," growled the tramp.
+
+"Why should I give you anything? You threw a stone at me on the road."
+
+The tramp turned away muttering, and the glance with which he eyed Andy
+was far from friendly.
+
+As directed, Andy went over to the hotel and got dinner. He took the
+opportunity to dispose of the bills, putting all the large ones in his
+inside vest pocket. The small bills he distributed among his other
+pockets.
+
+Andy started for home at two o'clock. He felt some responsibility,
+remembering that he had a considerable sum of money with him.
+
+This made him anxious, and he felt that he should be glad to get home
+safe and deliver his funds to Mr. Gale. Probably he would not have
+thought of danger if he had not met the tramp on his way over.
+
+The road for the most part was clear and open, but there was one
+portion, perhaps a third of a mile in length, bordered by trees and
+underbrush. It was so short, however, that it would be soon passed over.
+
+But about the middle of it a man sprang from the side of the road and
+seized the horse by the bridle. It did not require a second look to
+satisfy Andy that it was the tramp.
+
+The crisis had come! Andy's heart was in his mouth. He was a brave boy,
+but it might well make even an older person nervous to be stopped by an
+ill-looking tramp, who was without doubt a criminal.
+
+"Let go that bridle!" called Andy in a tone which, in spite of his
+nervousness, was clear and resolute.
+
+"So I will when I have got what I want," answered the tramp.
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"Look at me and you can tell what I want."
+
+"I presume you want money, but I have none to give you."
+
+"You are lying. You have plenty of money about your clothes."
+
+"I said I had no money to give you."
+
+"Didn't I see you get a roll of bills at the bank?"
+
+"Very likely you did, but what about that?"
+
+"I want some of them. I won't take all, but I am a poor man, and I need
+them more than the man you are taking them to."
+
+"Whom do you think I am taking them to?"
+
+"Squire Carter. He is the only man in Arden that keeps no much money in
+the bank."
+
+"You are mistaken; the money is not his."
+
+"Whose, then?"
+
+"I don't feel called upon to tell you."
+
+"Well, that's neither here nor there. I want some of it. I'll be content
+with half, whoever owns it."
+
+"You won't get any. Let go the horse, or I'll run you down."
+
+"You're a smart kid, but you are no match for me. I don't scare worth a
+cent."
+
+"Listen to me," said Andy; "if you should succeed in robbing me, you
+would be caught and sent to jail. How will that suit you?"
+
+"It wouldn't be the first time I've been in jail. I'd just as soon be
+there as to tramp around without a cent of money."
+
+Andy was not surprised to hear that he had to deal with an ex-convict.
+He understood that this man was a desperate character. He saw that he
+was a strong, powerful man, in the full vigor of life.
+
+Any contest between them would be most unequal. He was but sixteen and
+the tramp was near forty. What could he do?
+
+"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, willing to try an experiment.
+"I've got two dollars of my own. I'll give you that if you'll let go my
+horse's bridle and give me no more trouble."
+
+The tramp laughed mockingly.
+
+"Do you take me for a fool?" he asked.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Do you think I will be satisfied with two dollars, when you have a
+hundred in your pocket? Two dollars wouldn't last me a day."
+
+"I have nothing to do with that. It is all I mean to give you."
+
+"Then I shall have to help myself."
+
+His cool impudence made Andy angry, and he brought down the whip
+forcibly on the horse's back.
+
+Naturally the animal started, and nearly tore himself from the grasp of
+the tramp.
+
+"So that is your game," said the fellow between his closed teeth. "If
+you try that again I'll pull you out of the buggy and give you such a
+beating as you never had before."
+
+Andy remained cool and self-possessed. To carry out his threat the tramp
+would have to let go of the bridle, and in that case Andy determined to
+put his horse to his paces.
+
+The tramp relaxed his hold and the horse stood stock-still, finding his
+attempt to get away futile.
+
+"Well," said the tramp, "you didn't make much by that move, did you?"
+
+"Did you make any more?"
+
+"By Jove! you're a cool kid. But, after all, you're only a kid. Now, do
+as I tell you."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"Put your hand in your pocket and take out fifty dollars. You've got as
+much, haven't you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That's right. Speak the truth. You may have more, but fifty'll do me."
+
+"Do you expect me to give you fifty dollars?"
+
+"Yes, I do."
+
+"I don't mean to do it."
+
+Andy had satisfied himself that the tramp had no weapon, and this
+encouraged him. He could not hold the horse and attack him at one and
+the same time, but with a revolver he would have been at his mercy.
+
+Besides, Andy's ears were keen, and he thought he heard the sound of
+wheels behind him. The tramp's attention was too much occupied, and
+perhaps his hearing was too dull to catch the sounds, as yet faint.
+
+Thus it was that the other team was almost upon them before the tramp
+was aware of it. The newcomer was Saul Wheelock, a blacksmith, a strong,
+powerful man, fully six feet in height, and with muscles of steel.
+
+He had seen the buggy standing still on the highway, and he could not
+understand the cause until he got near enough to see the tramp at the
+horse's head.
+
+He sprang from the wagon he was driving, and before the vagabond was
+fully sensible of his danger he had him by the coat collar.
+
+"What are you about?" he demanded, giving him a rough shake.
+
+The tramp, turning, found he was in the hands of a man whom he was
+compelled to respect. He cared nothing for rank or learning, but
+physical force held him in awe.
+
+He stood mute, unprepared, with an excuse.
+
+"Why, it's you, Andy!" said the blacksmith. "Why did this rascal stop
+you?"
+
+"He wants me to give him money. I've just been to the bank in Benton to
+draw out some for Mr. Gale at the hotel."
+
+"Why, you scoundrel!" exclaimed the indignant blacksmith, shaking the
+tramp till his teeth chattered. "So you're a thief, are you?"
+
+"Let me go!" whined the tramp. "I haven't taken anything. I'm a poor,
+unfortunate man. If I could get any work to do I wouldn't have been
+driven to this."
+
+"No doubt you're a church member," said the blacksmith, in a sarcastic
+tone.
+
+"Let me go! I'll promise to lead a good life. This young man says he'll
+give me two dollars. I'll take it and go."
+
+"Don't give him a cent, Andy. You can go, but I'll give you something to
+remember me by."
+
+He gave the tramp a vigorous kick that nearly prostrated him, and then,
+getting into his wagon, said:
+
+"I'll keep along with you, Andy. I don't think you'll have any more
+trouble."
+
+The tramp slunk into the woods, baffled and disappointed. If looks could
+have annihilated the sturdy blacksmith, his span of life would have been
+brief.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+CONRAD'S SCHEME.
+
+
+When Andy told Mr. Gale the story of his adventures on the trip to
+Benton, he received cordial congratulations on his courage.
+
+"You have shown a great deal of pluck, Andy," he said. "The next time
+you have occasion to go over to the bank for me I will accompany you.
+Now, if you are not too tired, I want you to go down to the pond. I have
+something to show you."
+
+They walked side by side till they reached the pond.
+
+Andy's curiosity was not specially excited. He talked with Mr. Gale on
+different topics, and had hardly time to consider what it was he was to
+see. But when he reached the boathouse he saw floating at the small pier
+an elegant rowboat, built of cedar, and much handsomer than either
+Conrad's or Valentine's.
+
+"Oh, what a beauty!" he exclaimed.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Gale, quietly; "you will have quite the best boat on the
+pond."
+
+"I?" exclaimed Andy, in surprise.
+
+"Yes, for the boat is yours."
+
+"But I don't understand," stammered Andy.
+
+"It is plain enough," said Walter Gale, with a pleasant smile. "The boat
+is yours. I give it to you."
+
+"How can I thank you?" exclaimed Andy, grasping his friend's hand. "I
+can't believe that this beautiful boat is mine."
+
+"You will realize it after a while. Let me tell you how I got it. It was
+built for a rich young man in New York, one of the Four Hundred, I
+believe, but as he received an unexpected invitation to go abroad for
+two years, he authorized the builder to sell it for him at a
+considerable reduction from the price he paid. So it happens that I was
+able to secure it for you. Now let us go out for a row. It will be the
+trial trip."
+
+Fifteen minutes later Conrad got into his boat and started out. It was
+not long before his eyes were attracted to the new boat.
+
+He could see at once, for he was a judge, that it was far more elegant
+and costly than his own, and he was seized by a pang of envy. His own
+boat seemed to him quite inferior, though but a short time before he had
+regarded it with pride.
+
+He was curious to see the craft and pulled up to it.
+
+"That is a fine boat you have there, Mr. Gale," he said.
+
+"So I think," returned the young man. "I feel quite satisfied with it"
+
+"When did it come down?"
+
+"I only received it this morning."
+
+"How much did it cost?" asked Conrad, who was not troubled by
+bashfulness.
+
+"A small fortune," answered Walter Gale, with a smile. "I am afraid I
+must decline to give the exact figures."
+
+"I asked because I may ask my father to buy me one like it."
+
+Conrad was perfectly well aware that such a request would be promptly
+denied. Squire Carter was not disposed to be extravagant, and he had
+even hesitated for some time before incurring the outlay required for
+Conrad's present boat.
+
+The new boat was so elegant, so graceful, and so thoroughly finished in
+every part, that Conrad could not help coveting it. He was not very much
+to be blamed, for it was one that would captivate the fancy of any boy
+who was fond of the water.
+
+"I should like to try the boat some time, Mr. Gale," he said.
+
+"If the owner is willing, I am," returned the young man.
+
+"The owner? Why, doesn't it belong to you?" asked Conrad, in surprise.
+
+"No; it belongs to Andy."
+
+"That boat belong to Andy Grant?" exclaimed Conrad, with an incredulous
+frown.
+
+"Yes; I have given it to him. You will have to ask his permission."
+
+"I shall be glad to have you try it," said Andy, pleasantly.
+
+"Thank you, but I don't think I care for it," replied Conrad, coldly.
+
+He felt a pang of mortification to think that the farmer's son should
+have a boat so much superior to his own.
+
+"If you change your mind, let me know," said Andy.
+
+"Conrad is jealous," remarked Walter Gale. "He doesn't like to have you
+own a boat that is superior to his."
+
+"I think you are right, Mr. Gale. If the case were reversed I would not
+mind."
+
+"Because you are not disposed to be envious or jealous."
+
+When Conrad returned home there was a cloud upon his brow. It was easy
+for any one to see that he was in bad humor.
+
+"What is the matter, Conrad?" asked his father. "You look as if you had
+lost your best friend."
+
+"I hate Andy Grant," exploded Conrad, his eyes flashing with anger.
+
+"Why, what has Andy done now? You haven't had a fight, have you?"
+
+"No; I wouldn't demean myself by fighting with him."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"He is always doing something to annoy me."
+
+"I am still in the dark."
+
+"He has got a new boat, far handsomer than mine. I shouldn't wonder if
+it cost twice as much."
+
+Squire Conrad was surprised.
+
+"Where did he get it?" he inquired.
+
+"It was a present from Mr. Gale, the young man at the hotel."
+
+"He must like young Grant very much?"
+
+"It is ridiculous that a poor boy should own such a boat."
+
+"I don't see how we can help it," said the squire, philosophically.
+
+He did not take the superiority of Andy's boat so much to heart as his
+son.
+
+"I'll tell you how you can make it right, father."
+
+"How?"
+
+"By buying me a boat as good or better than the new one."
+
+"Why should I buy you another boat? The one you have is only six months
+old, and it cost me a pretty penny, I assure you."
+
+"That may be, but I shall not feel any more satisfaction in it, now that
+Andy has a better one."
+
+"All this is foolish, my son."
+
+"Then you won't buy me a new boat?"
+
+"Most certainly I won't," said the squire, firmly.
+
+Conrad's countenance fell, but another idea came to him.
+
+"Suppose Andy is willing to exchange with me for something to boot?"
+
+"You say the boat is a fine one?"
+
+"Elegant."
+
+"You may offer him ten dollars."
+
+"Won't you say fifteen, father? I assure you it is worth much more than
+that difference."
+
+"You can offer him ten dollars, and see what he has to say to it."
+
+Conrad managed to see Andy the next day, and made him the offer.
+
+"Do you think I would part with Mr. Gale's gift?" said Andy,
+indignantly.
+
+"He wouldn't care; and ten dollars is a good deal of money," said
+Conrad, insinuatingly.
+
+"If you offered me fifty dollars I would say the same. I am not
+particularly in want of money."
+
+"I suppose you say that because you are earning three dollars a week."
+
+"Who told you how much Mr. Gale paid me?" asked Andy, smiling.
+
+"Then he does get three dollars a week," reflected Conrad.
+
+He redoubled his entreaties, but Andy refused firmly.
+
+Half an hour later Conrad met on the street a shabby figure with whom we
+are already acquainted. It was the tramp who figured in an encounter
+with Andy when on his way to Benton.
+
+"Young gentleman," said the tramp, with a whine, "you look rich and
+generous. Can't you spare a poor man a trifle?"
+
+"You look as if you drank," replied Conrad, with brutal frankness. "Your
+nose is red."
+
+"That's owing to a skin disease. I have belonged to the Temperance
+Society for five years."
+
+"Humph! you don't look like it. Why don't you work?"
+
+"Because I can find nothing to do."
+
+Here a contemptible suggestion offered itself to Conrad.
+
+"If you will do something for me, and keep mum, I'll give you two
+dollars."
+
+"I'll do it if it isn't too hard."
+
+"Then I'll tell you what it is. There's a boat on the pond that belongs
+to an enemy of mine. He is always crowing over me. Now, if you'll manage
+this evening to set it on fire, I'll give you two dollars."
+
+"How shall I set it on fire? With a match?"
+
+"No; I'll supply you with some shavings, a few pieces of board, and some
+pitch. There won't be any trouble about it."
+
+"Who owns the boat?"
+
+Conrad described Andy.
+
+"That's the boy who--but never mind! I'll do it."
+
+Once convinced that in this way he could get revenge on the boy who had
+humiliated and got the best of him, the tramp was only too willing to
+help Conrad in his scheme.
+
+When Conrad went home at nine o'clock, after supplying the tramp with
+combustibles, he said to himself:
+
+"There won't be much left of Andy's boat in the morning."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE TRAMP'S MISTAKE.
+
+
+Conrad went to bed with the comfortable conviction that before morning
+Andy's beautiful boat would be ruined. I am sorry to say that the
+meanness of the act which he had instigated did not strike him.
+
+Whatever feeling he had was of exultation at the injury done to his
+enemy, as he persisted in regarding Andy.
+
+It did seem a pity that such an elegant boat should be destroyed. If
+Andy would only have agreed to exchange for ten--even fifteen--dollars
+to boot, this would have been avoided.
+
+"He was a fool not to accept," soliloquized Conrad. "He will regret it
+when he sees what has happened."
+
+He got up at the usual hour and took breakfast. Every time the bell rang
+he thought it might be some one to bring him the desired news.
+
+Just after supper Andy met his friend, Valentine, and told him of the
+beautiful gift he had received.
+
+"Come down and look at it, Val," he said. "It is elegant."
+
+Valentine's curiosity was excited, and he at once accepted the
+invitation.
+
+He uttered an exclamation of surprise when he saw the new boat.
+
+"It is a little beauty!" he said. "It is far ahead of Conrad's or of
+mine."
+
+"Conrad wants to exchange. He offered me ten dollars to boot."
+
+"You wouldn't think of accepting?"
+
+"No; it is worth much more than that. Besides, it is Mr. Gale's gift,
+and even if he had offered fifty dollars I should still refuse."
+
+"And you would do right, too. But are you going to leave it out all
+night?"
+
+"I shall have to. I have no boathouse to put it in."
+
+"There is room in my boathouse for two boats," said Valentine. "I will
+help you put it inside."
+
+"Thank you, Val. I will be glad to pay you rent for the use of the
+place."
+
+"I don't want any money, Andy; I will do it out of friendship."
+
+"Thank you; but you mustn't forget that I am quite able to pay."
+
+"That's true, and I am glad of it; but, all the same, I don't want any
+money."
+
+"I wonder Conrad doesn't have a boathouse."
+
+"He tells me his father has promised him one. He has not yet decided
+upon a location."
+
+The two boys got into Andy's boat and rowed it a few rods till they
+reached the boathouse. There was no difficulty in putting it away. The
+boathouse was double, and there was room for two boats.
+
+"I will have another key made, Andy, so that you can get at your boat
+when I am not with you."
+
+"All right! That will be very nice."
+
+"How do you like Mr. Gale?"
+
+"Tiptop. I was very fortunate to fall in with him. It will be a great
+loss to me when he goes away."
+
+"Is he thinking of going soon?"
+
+"I don't think so--I hope not."
+
+It was later in the evening when the tramp went down to the pond,
+provided with the shavings and other combustibles which Conrad had
+provided.
+
+Conrad, after meeting him, had gone home at once. He thought it more
+prudent, in view of the plot in which he was engaged, to avoid suspicion
+by not being seen in company with the tramp.
+
+"Give me the two dollars now," said the tramp, when the fuel was handed
+him.
+
+"Do you think I am a fool?" answered Conrad, sharply. "If I should do
+that, you would go off and not do the work."
+
+"I'll do the work fast enough. I want to get even with that young
+rascal."
+
+"What! Do you know him?"
+
+"I have met him," answered the tramp, evasively. "He played me a mean
+trick, and I want to get even with him."
+
+"What sort of a trick was it?"
+
+"I will tell you some other time--I haven't time now. I wish I had a
+hatchet."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"Then, if the fire didn't spoil the boat, I'd hack it up."
+
+"I think I can get you a hatchet, but you must not leave it on the bank,
+for my father's initial, 'C,' is on it."
+
+"All right. I'll be careful."
+
+The hatchet was delivered to the tramp a little later.
+
+About eight o'clock the tramp went down to the lake and looked for
+Andy's boat.
+
+There was but one in sight--Conrad's--but he never doubted that this was
+the one he was to destroy. He waited till half-past eight, when he
+considered it dark enough for his purpose.
+
+He carefully laid the shavings in one end of the boat, covered them over
+with pieces of board, which, with the help of the hatchet, he split into
+smaller pieces, and then set them on fire.
+
+The flames blazed fiercely and did considerable damage to the boat, not
+ruining it, however. But to finish the work he used the hatchet, and
+hacked vigorously at the woodwork till it was mutilated and its
+usefulness and beauty spoiled.
+
+The tramp contemplated this work with satisfaction.
+
+"I've done the job pretty well," he chuckled to himself. "I'd like to be
+lookin' on when the boy sees it."
+
+Now that he had done the job he wanted his pay. Conrad had agreed to
+meet him at an old ruined barn not far from his house at eight o'clock
+in the morning.
+
+"It won't do to call for me earlier," he said, "for it might excite
+suspicion."
+
+From the breakfast table Conrad directed his steps to the barn.
+
+The tramp was sitting outside, smoking a pipe.
+
+"I've been waiting for you," he said. "I haven't had any breakfast."
+
+"Did you do the job?"
+
+"Did I? Well, I reckon. That boat ain't no good any more."
+
+"Do you think any one saw you do it?"
+
+"No; it was pretty dark, and there wasn't no one round. It may have been
+found out by now. Give me the two dollars and I'll be off."
+
+"You are sure you did the job? You are not deceiving me?"
+
+"No, I'm not. You can go and see for yourself."
+
+This, however, did not seem prudent. Conrad wished some one else to
+discover the ruined boat.
+
+After all, there was no reason to doubt the tramp's word. His avowed
+hostility to Andy made it quite certain that he had done his work.
+
+"Here's the money," he said.
+
+"And here's the hatchet."
+
+"I wish it was back in the toolhouse where it belongs," thought Conrad.
+"However, I'll manage to get it back without any one seeing me."
+
+He decided to return to the barn at once, carrying the hatchet with him.
+He was not to do it without observation. Just before he reached the barn
+he met John Larkin.
+
+"What are you doing with the hatchet, Conrad?"
+
+"Oh, I have been using it in the pasture."
+
+"I didn't know but you were going to imitate George Washington and cut
+down a cherry tree."
+
+"Perhaps I have," said Conrad, with a smile.
+
+He felt in good humor, for his plan had been carried out. He was aching
+to see just how badly Andy's boat was injured, and as there was no
+school, it being Saturday, he proposed to John Larkin to go down to the
+pond.
+
+"Suppose we have a row, John," he said. "We'll take a trip across the
+pond."
+
+"All right."
+
+They were perhaps thirty rods from the pond when they met Jimmy Morris,
+coming from it. He seemed excited. He had been running and was
+breathless.
+
+"What's the matter, Jimmy?" asked John Larkin.
+
+Jimmy looked toward Conrad, who naturally guessed the cause of his
+excitement.
+
+"Oh, Conrad," he said. "It is such a pity! I am so sorry for you!"
+
+"Why are you sorry for me?" demanded Conrad, sharply.
+
+"Because your boat is ruined. It is all hacked up, and has been set on
+fire."
+
+"My boat! You mean Andy Grant's?"
+
+"No, I don't. Come and see for yourself."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+CONRAD'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
+
+
+With his mind in a whirl, and still believing that it was Andy's boat
+which had been injured instead of his own, Conrad pushed on rapidly
+toward the pond. Yet he had an instinctive fear that his informant might
+be correct.
+
+When he reached the point where his boat had been moored, he used his
+eyes eagerly.
+
+It was all true! His boat--his beautiful boat--with which he had been
+perfectly satisfied till Andy received a better, was scorched and hacked
+up till it was clear he could never use it again, and Andy's boat was
+not visible anywhere. Tears of rage filled Conrad's eyes.
+
+"It is a terrible mistake!" he ejaculated.
+
+"Mistake! What do you mean?" asked John Larkin.
+
+Conrad reflected that his words were betraying him.
+
+"I don't know what I am saying," he replied, vaguely. "Yes, I do. I
+believe Andy Grant did this."
+
+"Andy Grant!" repeated Jimmy Morris. "Why should he injure your boat?"
+
+"Because he hates me."
+
+"Andy isn't that kind of a boy. Besides, he has a newer and much
+handsomer boat himself."
+
+There it was! That was what stung Conrad. His boat was second to Andy's.
+
+As the three boys stood on the bank, a small boy, named Peter Hill, came
+up. He lived in the house nearest the boats.
+
+"Did you see any one near the boat, Peter?" asked John Larkin.
+
+"Yes, I seed a big tramp in de boat. He set it on fire."
+
+"That explains it, Conrad!" exclaimed Jimmy Morris. "I saw the tramp
+myself in the village."
+
+"Pooh!" said Conrad. "I don't believe it."
+
+"But I seed him burnin' de boat!" persisted little Peter.
+
+"Then why didn't you tell somebody?"
+
+"All de folks was away and I didn't dare to go near it. He had a
+hatchet, too."
+
+"I say, Conrad, let us hunt for the tramp, and, if we find him, have him
+arrested."
+
+For obvious reasons this proposal of John Larkin did not meet Conrad's
+approval. He was afraid of what the tramp would tell.
+
+"I'll ask my father what to do," he replied, evasively. "The mischief is
+done and there is no help for it."
+
+Conrad was already looking more cheerful. An idea had come to him.
+
+Now that the boat was destroyed, his father might be willing to buy him
+another, and, if so, he might be persuaded to buy one as good as Andy's,
+perhaps better. He turned to go home, and let the boys know that he did
+not care for company.
+
+On the way, not far from his own house, he encountered the tramp. At the
+sight of this man, whose stupid blunder had cost him his boat, his eyes
+blazed with anger.
+
+But this the tramp did not see. He slouched up to his young employer,
+saying, with a cunning grin:
+
+"Well, did you see it?"
+
+"Did I see it?" repeated Conrad, boiling over with fury. "Yes, I did."
+
+"I did it pretty well, didn't I? I guess the boat isn't good for much
+now."
+
+"You stupid fool!" blazed out Conrad. "It is my boat that you ruined. I
+have a great mind to have you arrested!"
+
+"Your boat? It was the boat you pointed out to me."
+
+"No, it wasn't. It was my own boat."
+
+"Then where was the other boat? I didn't see but one."
+
+"I don't know, but you might have had sense enough to know that you'd
+got the wrong boat."
+
+The tramp's hopes fell. He had intended to ask for another dollar from
+Conrad, but he saw now that there was no chance whatever of his
+obtaining it.
+
+"You'd better get out of town as soon as you can," said Conrad, roughly.
+
+"Why should I?" demanded the tramp, sullenly.
+
+"Because you were seen destroying the boat."
+
+"Who saw me?"
+
+"A small boy who lives at the next house. You might be arrested."
+
+"If I am, I'll tell the truth. I'll tell who put me up to it."
+
+"And I'll deny it. Do you think any one would believe your word against
+mine, especially as it was my boat that was ruined?"
+
+The tramp saw the logic of this remark and walked away. He was seen no
+more in the village.
+
+"Now I'll tackle father," thought Conrad.
+
+He directed his steps homeward and informed the squire of what had
+happened.
+
+His father frowned and looked displeased.
+
+"If you are not smart enough to take care of your boat," he said,
+coldly, "you will have to suffer the consequences."
+
+"But I don't see how I am to blame?"
+
+"Have you any idea who did the mischief?"
+
+"Perhaps Andy Grant did--he doesn't like me."
+
+"I don't think that very probable. You can charge him with it if you
+think best. But I thought you told me he had a new boat of his own?"
+
+"So he has--a perfect beauty! It is ever so much better than mine. I
+wish--"
+
+"Well, what do you wish?"
+
+"That you would buy me one like his."
+
+"Well, I like that. After losing your boat through your own
+carelessness, you want me to invest a large sum in another."
+
+"Must I go without one, then?" asked Conrad, in dismay.
+
+"It looks that way."
+
+Conrad resorted to earnest entreaties. He was willing, now, to accept
+any sort of boat, for he was fond of rowing; but Squire Carter had just
+heard unfavorable reports from his broker about a speculation he had
+entered into, and he was inflexible.
+
+"What a fool I was!" reflected Conrad, bitterly. "My boat was a good
+one, even if it wasn't as fine as Andy's, and now I have none. I shall
+have to borrow his or Valentine's when I want to go out rowing."
+
+Later in the day he met Andy.
+
+Andy had heard of Conrad's loss and was full of sympathy.
+
+"Conrad," he said, "it's a shame about your boat being destroyed."
+
+"Yes, it is pretty hard."
+
+"The boys say a tramp did the mischief."
+
+"I think it very likely. There was a tramp about town yesterday. I saw
+him myself."
+
+"What could have been his object? Ruining the boat would not benefit
+him."
+
+"It might have been out of revenge. He asked me for a quarter and I
+wouldn't give it to him."
+
+This explanation occurred to Conrad on the spur of the moment.
+
+"Can't you have him arrested?"
+
+"He is probably out of town by this time."
+
+"I suppose you will have a new boat?"
+
+"Yes, after a while."
+
+"I will lend you mine any time you wish."
+
+"Thank you," said Conrad, but he spoke coldly and ungraciously.
+
+It seemed to him humiliating to receive any favors from a poor boy like
+Andy Grant.
+
+Two weeks later, when Andy went over to the hotel, as usual, to meet his
+employer and pupil, Mr. Gale said:
+
+"I have some news for you."
+
+"I hope it is good news."
+
+"I don't know that you will consider it so. I shall have to leave you
+for a time."
+
+Andy's face fell. This certainly was bad news.
+
+"I have received a letter this morning," continued Walter Gale, "from
+an uncle living in the interior of Pennsylvania. He is not an old man--I
+don't think he is much over fifty--but he writes me that he is near his
+end. The doctor says he may live three months, certainly not over six.
+He has always been a bachelor, and I believe owns coal mines of
+considerable value. I was always a favorite of his, and now that he is
+so sick he wants me to go out and be with him in the closing weeks of
+his life."
+
+"I suppose you will go?" said Andy, and he looked very sober.
+
+"I think it is my duty--don't you?"
+
+"Yes, I suppose it is your duty."
+
+Andy began to think what he should do. He had had an easy and profitable
+engagement with Mr. Gale, but this would now be over, and he would have
+to go back to farm work, or try to get a place in the village store.
+
+The latter would yield him only two dollars and a half a week, which
+seemed to him very small compared with what he now received.
+
+"I shall miss you very much, Mr. Gale," he said.
+
+"I hope you will. I shall certainly miss you."
+
+"It will seem very dull going to work on the farm after my pleasant days
+with you."
+
+"You won't need to go to work on the farm, unless you choose to do so."
+
+"But I must earn something; I cannot be idle."
+
+"Oh, I forgot to tell you what arrangements I propose to make for you."
+
+Andy looked up eagerly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.
+
+
+"Our separation will only be temporary," continued Mr. Gale, "but I do
+not wish to leave you unprovided for during my absence, I shall allow
+you five dollars a week while I am away."
+
+Andy brightened up.
+
+"How kind you are, Mr. Gale!" he said. "I don't think you ought to do
+this."
+
+Walter Gale smiled.
+
+"I can very well afford it," he said; "so we will regard the matter as
+settled."
+
+"How soon must you go?"
+
+"I shall start to-morrow--my preparations will be easily made. How would
+you like to go to New York to see me off?"
+
+"I should be delighted," answered Andy. "I have only been to New York
+twice in my life."
+
+"Then you will enjoy the day. You can take the afternoon train home."
+
+At the farm, Mr. and Mrs. Grant heard with regret of Mr. Gale's
+departure, but they were pleased to hear that Andy would be in receipt
+of an income.
+
+"How will you fill up your time, Andy?" asked his father.
+
+"I have my books, and will keep up my Latin and Greek. I will pay you
+four dollars a week, and you can hire a boy for that to help you. I
+think I can spend my time more profitably in studying."
+
+"Do you think Mr. Gale will return?"
+
+"He has promised to do so. I am to see him off to-morrow."
+
+"Are you going to trust that boy alone in New York?" asked his Aunt
+Jane, with asperity.
+
+"Why, what could happen to me?" asked Andy, indignantly.
+
+"You might get run over."
+
+"I am not a little boy, Aunt Jane. I can take care of myself."
+
+"You may meet with an accident for all your smartness."
+
+"I think Andy is old enough to take care of himself," said his father,
+mildly.
+
+"Oh, well! have it your own way. You can't say but I've warned you," and
+she sniffed severely.
+
+"I wonder what makes Aunt Jane so disagreeable," thought Andy.
+
+"Perhaps you'd like to go and take care of him," suggested Mr. Grant,
+with a smile. "You are old enough to take care of yourself."
+
+"You needn't twit me with my age, Sterling," said Jane, with an injured
+sniff.
+
+"I don't. Old age is honorable."
+
+This made matters worse.
+
+"You talk as if I was seventy-five. I don't consider myself an old
+person."
+
+In spite of the melancholy presentiment of Aunt Jane, Andy set out for
+New York with Mr. Gale. An hour and a half brought them to the
+metropolis.
+
+"I should like to show you something of the city, Andy," said his
+companion, "but I shall have to spend the time in shopping."
+
+"I shall see something of the city if I go about with you."
+
+"That is true."
+
+At one o'clock they went to the Sinclair House, on Broadway, to dine.
+They selected a table where there was but one other guest, who seemed
+known to Walter Gale.
+
+"Good-morning, Mr. Flint," said the young man.
+
+"Ah, it's you, Walter, is it?" returned the other, a stout man, whose
+hair was beginning to grow gray.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I haven't seen you for a long time. Where have you been?"
+
+"Rusticating in a Connecticut town."
+
+"Is the young man with you a brother? But, no; I remember that you have
+no brother."
+
+"He isn't related to me, but I think as much of him as if he were. His
+name is Andrew Grant."
+
+"A good name. Is he attending school?"
+
+"He has recently left school."
+
+"If he were seeking a position I could find a place for him."
+
+"In your own employ?"
+
+"Yes. I have a boy, but I don't find him reliable or faithful. He will
+leave me on Saturday night."
+
+"Andy," said his friend, "how would you like to enter Mr. Flint's
+employ?"
+
+"Very much," answered Andy, eagerly.
+
+At the same time he wondered what was the nature of Mr. Flint's
+business.
+
+"Then after dinner we will walk together to Mr. Flint's store in Union
+Square."
+
+"There is my card," said Mr. Flint.
+
+Andy received it and read the name:
+
+    F. FLINT,
+
+    UNION SQUARE.
+
+    JEWELRY.
+
+The two men conversed together, and when dinner was over they walked up
+Broadway to Fourteenth Street. Turning the left-hand corner, they soon
+reached a jewelry store of modest appearance, but evidently containing a
+valuable stock.
+
+A youth with light-brown hair, who seemed to have been born tired, was
+leaning against the counter. This, doubtless, was the boy who was not
+satisfactory.
+
+"John," said Mr. Flint, "have you carried the parcel to Forty-eighth
+Street?"
+
+"No, sir," answered the boy.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I thought it would do just as well after lunch."
+
+"There you are mistaken. Put on your hat at once and go," said his
+employer, sharply.
+
+"You see," went on Mr. Flint, after the boy had started, "the trouble I
+have with John. He needs to be looked after continually."
+
+"You won't have that trouble with Andy."
+
+"No, I think not."
+
+Walter Gale accompanied Mr. Flint to the back part of the store, where
+they held a conversation in a low tone. Presently Walter Gale came back,
+and signified to Andy that they must be going.
+
+"Mr. Flint will expect you to present yourself for duty on Tuesday
+morning," he said. "You will reach the store at eight o'clock."
+
+"All right, sir."
+
+On returning to the street, Walter Gale said:
+
+"I propose to take the next train for Philadelphia. You may accompany me
+to the Cortlandt Street station. Can you find your way from there to the
+Grand Central Depot?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"You will get there in time to take the afternoon train back to Arden.
+You haven't asked me what salary you are to receive."
+
+"I should like to know, sir."
+
+"Five dollars a week, which is better than is generally paid to a new
+boy."
+
+"Will it pay my expenses, Mr. Gale?" asked Andy, doubtfully.
+
+"No; but you remember that I promised you five dollars a week. Instead
+of paying it to you I will give you a note to Mrs. Norris, who keeps a
+comfortable boarding house on Clinton Place. She knows me well, and will
+assign you a room, looking to me for payment. That will leave you five
+dollars a week for your personal expenses, clothing, etc."
+
+"I shall be rich, Mr. Gale, thanks to your kindness."
+
+"Mind, Andy, I am to have you back whenever I want you. Probably I may
+spend some weeks with my uncle, and during this time you may as well
+work for Mr. Flint."
+
+"Do you think I shall suit him?" asked Andy, with some anxiety.
+
+"I feel sure of it. You will find him strict in business, but kind and
+reasonable. I shall expect to hear from you soon after you enter upon
+your duties. I shall find life pretty dull at my uncle's house, and your
+letters will bring something of the excitement of the outside world to
+me."
+
+"I will write you every week, Mr. Gale."
+
+"If it won't be asking too much of you, I shall be glad to have you do
+so."
+
+Andy crossed the ferry with Mr. Gale, and then returning at once, took
+the four o'clock train for Arden.
+
+His news created considerable stir at home. All were pleased except Aunt
+Jane.
+
+"Brother," she said, "are you going to trust Andy alone in New York?"
+
+"Yes, Jane; he must begin to rely upon himself some time, and he may as
+well begin now."
+
+"It's temptin' Providence, in my opinion."
+
+"It might be so with some boys, but I have faith in Andy's prudence and
+good sense."
+
+"He ain't any different from other boys, as you will find."
+
+But in spite of these ominous words Andy made arrangements to leave
+Arden on Monday morning. He looked forward eagerly to his new life in
+New York.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+ANDY LEAVES HOME.
+
+
+Conrad was not slow in learning of Mr. Gale's departure from the hotel.
+The intelligence pleased him, for, as he supposed, it threw Andy out of
+employment. He sought an early opportunity of speaking to him on the
+subject.
+
+At five o'clock in the afternoon the mail came in at the post office.
+Among those who congregated there at the time were Conrad and Andy.
+
+"So you've lost your place?" began Conrad, abruptly.
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Andy.
+
+"Mr. Gale has left town, hasn't he?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where has he gone?"
+
+"To Pennsylvania, to stay with an uncle who is very sick."
+
+"Do you think he will come back to Arden?"
+
+"I don't know, but I think it is doubtful."
+
+"I suppose, then, you will go back to work on the farm?"
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"Things might be worse," he said.
+
+"Yes. I think it is the best thing you can do."
+
+"Why do you think so?"
+
+"Oh, well, you are a poor boy, and there is nothing else for you to do."
+
+"Did you ever think of becoming a farmer?"
+
+"I should say not," replied Conrad, haughtily. "I shall probably be a
+lawyer or a merchant."
+
+"I might become a merchant myself--some day."
+
+Conrad laughed.
+
+"When you do," he said, "let me know."
+
+"I will."
+
+"By the way, you won't want that boat of yours now."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"You won't get time to use it. I'll give you twenty dollars for it."
+
+"It is not for sale," answered Andy, firmly.
+
+"It will be after a while," said Conrad, in a self-satisfied tone. "I
+will see the time when you will be glad enough to get the money I
+offer."
+
+During the few days that Andy remained at home he did some work on the
+farm. Mr. Grant's boy helper was sick with a cold, and Andy stepped into
+his place.
+
+The next time of Conrad's meeting him he was at work digging potatoes.
+Conrad smiled and nodded. He felt quite friendly as he witnessed what he
+considered Andy's humiliation.
+
+"My father may give you a little job," he said, as he leaned over the
+fence.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"He needs some work done round the house. He will pay you fifty cents a
+day. When can you come?"
+
+"Just at present I am too busy. If I can spare the time I will let you
+know."
+
+"I like to see upstarts brought down to their level," thought Conrad.
+"Andy Grant won't be putting on any more airs, I reckon."
+
+On Monday morning Andy stood on the platform of the railroad station
+with a good-sized gripsack in his hand. He was about starting for New
+York to enter upon his duties at the jewelry store.
+
+Swinging a light cane, Conrad Carter appeared on the platform with his
+father, who was going to the city on business. With a good deal of
+surprise he recognized Andy.
+
+"Where are you going?" he asked, abruptly, with a glance at the
+gripsack.
+
+"To New York," answered Andy.
+
+"What business have you there?"
+
+"I have a position in a store on Union Square. I shall be pleased to
+have you call when you are in the city."
+
+Conrad was greatly surprised.
+
+"What kind of a store is it?" he asked.
+
+"A jewelry store. I haven't a card with me, but will send you one."
+
+Conrad didn't appear to be glad at Andy's good fortune. He had made up
+his mind that his humble rival, as he chose to consider him, would be
+obliged to work on the farm, and now he had found a way to avoid it.
+
+"I think your father will have to find some one else to assist him,"
+Andy continued; "you see, I shall be otherwise occupied."
+
+"What pay will you receive?"
+
+"If you will excuse me, I would rather not tell."
+
+"Oh, just as you like. Where will you live? Will you sleep in the
+store?"
+
+"No; I am to board on Clinton Place, with a Mrs. Norris."
+
+"Did you know about this when we were talking the other day?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why didn't you tell me?"
+
+"I would have done so if I had known how much interest you took in my
+plans."
+
+The rumble of the approaching train was heard, and Andy was obliged to
+enter a car. It chanced that it was unusually full, and Andy found but
+one vacant seat--the one beside Squire Carter.
+
+The squire now noticed Andy for the first time.
+
+"Where are you going, Andrew?" he asked.
+
+"To New York, sir."
+
+"On any special errand?"
+
+"I am going to work there."
+
+"Indeed! What kind of a place?"
+
+"I shall have a place with Mr. Flint, of Union Square, a jeweler."
+
+"I suppose Mr. Gale obtained you the place?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I am not sure that you are acting wisely. I doubt if you can make
+expenses. What are you to be paid?"
+
+"Five dollars a week."
+
+"That is very fair pay for a boy of your age, but it won't go very far
+in New York."
+
+"I suppose New York is an expensive place to live in," said Andy,
+noncommittally.
+
+"Yes. You will have to pay all your wages for board. Your other expenses
+will have to come out of your father's pocket."
+
+"I may be advanced."
+
+"It will be a good while, first. You seem to be acting very
+injudiciously."
+
+This remark did not trouble Andy. As his board was to be paid by Mr.
+Gale, his salary would be practically ten dollars a week; but this he
+did not care to tell.
+
+"Country boys are always in a stew to get work in the city," observed
+the squire. "If they would only take the advice of their elders, they
+would see that it is better to stay in the country."
+
+"They think probably that there is more chance of advancement in the
+city. Horace Greeley never would have risen to distinction if he had
+remained in his native village."
+
+"Ahem! there are exceptions. What is the number of the store where you
+will be employed?"
+
+Andy told him.
+
+"I may call in upon you some time. I am often in the city on business."
+
+"I shall be glad if you will," said Andy, sincerely. "It will seem
+pleasant to me to see an Arden face."
+
+Andy got out of the cars at the Grand Central Depot. He was not quite
+sure of his way to Clinton Place, but he was not in the least disturbed.
+He was naturally self-reliant.
+
+He asked the question of a gentleman, and was advised to take a Fourth
+Avenue car through the tunnel as far as Eighth Street, but he thought he
+should prefer to walk, as it would enable him to enjoy the sights and
+scenes of the metropolis. All these were fresh and interesting to him.
+
+He had gone but a dozen steps from the depot when a plausible stranger
+of thirty-five years, apparently, stopped him.
+
+"Young man, may I have a word with you?" he asked.
+
+"If you wish."
+
+"I speak to you, because I judge from your appearance that you have a
+good, kind heart."
+
+"I hope you are right, sir."
+
+"I am very awkwardly placed. My sister is very sick in Yonkers and has
+sent for me. On my way to the depot in a horse car I had my pocket
+picked, and I have not enough money to get to the bedside of my poor
+sister. If you would kindly lend me a quarter--"
+
+Andy was kind-hearted, and he was not versed in city wiles. He put his
+hand in his pocket and drew out a twenty-five-cent silver coin.
+
+"I am glad to help you," he said, as he passed the coin to the
+applicant.
+
+"You have a noble heart. I thank you," said the stranger, feelingly.
+
+Andy felt pleased to think that he had done the man a favor, but his
+satisfaction was short-lived.
+
+A stout, pleasant-looking man who had caught sight of the conference
+addressed him.
+
+"Did you give that man any money?" he asked.
+
+"Yes sir."
+
+"What did he need it for?"
+
+"His pocket had been picked, and he wanted to go to Yonkers to visit his
+sick sister."
+
+His new friend laughed.
+
+"That's a new story," he said. "The man is an arrant fraud. Your money
+will be spent for drink. He has no sick sister."
+
+This was quite a shock to Andy. He saw that he had been victimized, and
+must hereafter be on his guard against plausible strangers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+THE FIRST DAY IN NEW YORK.
+
+
+By dint of a little inquiry Andy found his way to Mrs. Norris' boarding
+house in Clinton Place. It was a plain three-story-and-basement house
+of brick and looked thoroughly respectable.
+
+Andy took a general view of it, and thought he should take it. To his
+country eyes it looked quite aristocratic. It was higher than any house
+in Arden, even Squire Carter's.
+
+He ascended the steps and rang the bell.
+
+It was answered by a Swedish girl named Eva, a blond girl of the true
+Scandinavian type.
+
+"Is Mrs. Norris at home?" he asked.
+
+"She is upstairs," was the reply.
+
+"I should like to see her."
+
+"Who shall I tell her calls?"
+
+"She won't know my name. Tell her it is some one with a letter from Mr.
+Walter Gale."
+
+"Won't you step in?"
+
+She ushered Andy into a small reception room opening from the hall. It
+was a very small room, provided with a sofa, one chair and a writing
+desk. Just over the sofa hung an engraving of Washington crossing the
+Delaware.
+
+Andy sat down on the sofa and placed his gripsack in front of him. There
+was nothing to occupy his mind, so he sat patiently, wondering what sort
+of a looking woman the landlady might be.
+
+Soon there was a rustle of garments, and a stout, pleasant-looking lady,
+of perhaps fifty, wearing a small cap set off with red ribbons, entered
+the room.
+
+"Mrs. Norris?" said Andy, inquiringly, rising out of respect.
+
+"Yes, I am Mrs. Norris. Eva told me you had a letter from Mr.--I didn't
+catch the name."
+
+"Mr. Walter Gale."
+
+"Oh, yes, Mr. Gale. I know him very well."
+
+"Did he ever board here?"
+
+"No; he boarded at one of the hotels. Mr. Gale is a rich man."
+
+She took the letter and read it.
+
+"Mr. Gale asks if I can take you to board, and offers to pay your board.
+He must be a great friend of yours?"
+
+"He is. I hope the arrangement will be satisfactory."
+
+"Quite so. I couldn't wish any better paymaster than Mr. Gale. Are you
+going to work in the city?"
+
+"Yes. I have a place in Mr. Flint's jewelry store on Union Square."
+
+"Really? That is quite a high-toned place. I got my best spoons there."
+
+"Have you got a room for me?" asked Andy, a little anxiously.
+
+"Yes, I've got a small hall bedroom. I suppose you didn't expect a
+square room?"
+
+"It would be too expensive."
+
+"It wouldn't be if you had a roommate. There's a gentleman on the third
+floor front, a Mr. Warren. He is sickly, and writes for some of the
+papers. He told me he would like a roommate; but perhaps you would
+prefer a small room alone?"
+
+"I should."
+
+"Then I've a small room on the same floor. It was occupied till last
+week by a music teacher, but he was three weeks behind in his rent and I
+had to let him go. It's a trying business, keeping a boarding house,
+Mr.--"
+
+"Grant," suggested Andy.
+
+"Yes. That's a good name. I suppose you're in nowise related to the
+general?"
+
+"No; I wish I was."
+
+"If you will follow me upstairs I'll show you the room. You can bring
+your valise."
+
+Andy took it in his hand and followed the landlady up two flights of
+stairs. She panted a little, being a stout lady, but Andy would have run
+upstairs if he had been alone.
+
+On the upper floor there were three rooms, the doors of all being open.
+
+"That is Mr. Warren's room," said Mrs. Norris, pointing to the front
+apartment.
+
+It was a room of about fourteen feet square, and was neatly furnished.
+It contained a double bed and the usual chamber furniture.
+
+"It will accommodate two gentlemen nicely," said Mrs. Norris. "Perhaps,
+after you get acquainted with Mr. Warren, you may strike up a bargain to
+room with him."
+
+"I don't think I should like to room with a sickly gentleman."
+
+"Well, there is something in that. One night Mr. Warren had a fit--I
+don't know what kind of one--and rolled onto the floor. I room just
+underneath, and I was very much frightened."
+
+"It would have frightened me, too, if I had roomed with him."
+
+"Well, fits ain't very pleasant, I allow."
+
+"Who rooms in the third room, next to mine?"
+
+"A young man of eighteen, named Perkins. I don't rightly know what sort
+of a place he is in. I think it's a neckwear store on Spring Street."
+
+Andy was rather glad to learn that there was one boarder somewhere near
+his own age.
+
+He did not think he should enjoy the acquaintance of Mr. Warren. He was
+prejudiced against him by the knowledge that he was sickly and had fits.
+
+"There are other boarders on my second floor. You will make their
+acquaintance at the table."
+
+"What are your hours for meals, Mrs. Norris?"
+
+"We have lunch from twelve to one. Breakfast is from seven to nine, and
+we have dinner from six to seven, though in the case of a boarder who
+is kept later by business we stretch a point, and try to accommodate
+him. I hope that will suit you."
+
+"Oh, I am sure it will."
+
+"Shall you be at lunch to-day?"
+
+"No, I don't think so. I am going to explore the city a little."
+
+"Very few of my boarders are present at lunch. Still there is a bite for
+them, if they do come."
+
+"I would like to wash, if you will send up some water and a towel."
+
+"Eva will bring them right up. Have you soap of your own?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Gentlemen often prefer providing their own. If you will give me your
+name in full, I will enter it on my books."
+
+"My name is Andrew Grant."
+
+"Very well."
+
+"What is your rate of board? Mr. Gale will pay it, but I should like to
+know what it is."
+
+"Five dollars a week for your room. Mr. Warren pays seven, but he has a
+large room to himself. If you should decide to room with him, I shall
+charge you five dollars apiece."
+
+"Thank you; I don't think we shall come to any agreement."
+
+She went downstairs, and Andy surveyed his room with interest.
+
+It was certainly small--quite the narrowest room he had ever seen. There
+was one window from which he had a view of the back yard, rather a
+forlorn-looking space. There was a cat perched on the high, board fence
+separating the yard from that of the adjoining house.
+
+Andy liked cats, and called out "Pussy." The cat looked up, and mewed
+her recognition and acknowledgment of the friendly overture. Then Eva
+came up with a pitcher of water and a towel.
+
+"Will one do you?" she asked. "The rest are in the wash, and I'll bring
+you another this evening."
+
+"One will be sufficient for the present."
+
+"So you're comin' here to live?" she said, sociably.
+
+"Yes, Eva."
+
+"I hope you don't have fits, like Mr. Warren."
+
+"I don't think I ever had one yet," answered Andy, with a smile.
+
+"I'm glad of that. I'm afraid of gentlemen that have fits."
+
+Eva went downstairs, and Andy proceeded to make his ablutions. It was a
+dusty day, and the water was refreshing.
+
+After he had washed his face and hands he opened his gripsack and took
+out his brush and comb, which he placed on a tiny bureau in one corner
+of the room. It contained two drawers, and in one of them he put away
+the contents of the valise.
+
+By this time it was half-past ten, and he put on his hat and went
+downstairs. He went out into the street, and after a moment of
+indecision walked to Broadway. He thought he could not do better than to
+walk down this wonderful thoroughfare, of which he had heard so much.
+
+It did occur to him that he might report at the jewelry store, but he
+would see enough of that hereafter and he preferred to take a little
+walk about the city.
+
+Andy used his eyes to good advantage. He looked in at the shop windows,
+and watched the human tide that swept by him.
+
+Finally he found himself accosted by one of the passersby.
+
+"My young friend, could you oblige me with a quarter to take me to
+Newark? My pocket has been picked, and--"
+
+All this seemed familiar. Andy looked up and recognized at once the
+stranger whom he had relieved in front of the Grand Central Depot.
+
+"When did you get back from Yonkers?" he asked, abruptly.
+
+"I never was in Yonkers."
+
+"I gave you a quarter only an hour or two ago to get to your sick sister
+in Yonkers."
+
+Muttering that there was some mistake, the man hurried away, looking
+confused.
+
+"I wonder if I shall ever meet him again?" thought Andy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+ANDY'S OPPOSITE NEIGHBOR.
+
+
+Andy walked about the city, using his eyes industriously. At one o'clock
+he went into a restaurant on Park Row, where he got a fair lunch for
+twenty-five cents.
+
+This was more than he intended to pay usually, but on this first day in
+the city he did not care to go back to the boarding house.
+
+After lunch he made his way to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge, and
+got into one of the cars. He enjoyed the prospect visible from the
+windows, and felt that this alone would pay him for visiting New York.
+
+Just before they reached the other end there was a cry of alarm from a
+stout German woman who sat on the other side of the car.
+
+"I've been robbed!" she exclaimed. "My purse is gone!"
+
+Of course this attracted general attention.
+
+"Was there much in the purse, madam?" asked a kind-looking, elderly man.
+
+"Yes, there was six dollars--it was a great deal to me."
+
+"Are you sure you had it when you entered the car?"
+
+"Yes; I took it out of my pocket when I paid for a ticket."
+
+"I think your pocket must have been picked."
+
+Sitting next to the woman was a man who seemed absorbed in reading a
+morning newspaper; even the woman's complaint did not appear to excite
+his attention.
+
+This led Andy to move his head to get a nearer view of him. He started
+in surprise. It was the adventurer, whom he had already met twice that
+morning. He had little doubt that he was the thief.
+
+It was perhaps somewhat rash to hazard a charge without proof, but he
+felt indignant and could not resist the impulse.
+
+"I think that man has your purse," he said, pointing to the individual
+behind the newspaper.
+
+"This is an outrage!" exclaimed the latter, with assumed anger. "I am a
+Boston merchant."
+
+He was respectably dressed, and the charge did not seem very plausible.
+
+"My boy, you should be careful how you make such charges," said his next
+neighbor, reprovingly.
+
+But Andy was not abashed.
+
+"I know something of that man," he said, quietly. "I have met him twice
+this morning."
+
+"Has he robbed you?"
+
+"No; but he asked me to give him a quarter to take him to his sick
+sister in Yonkers. This was at the Grand Central Depot; an hour or two
+later I met him on Broadway, and he wanted money to take him to Newark."
+
+"The boy is entirely mistaken," said the adventurer.
+
+At the same instant, under cover of the newspaper, he adroitly let the
+stolen purse drop to the floor at his feet.
+
+By this time the cars had reached the Brooklyn end of the bridge.
+
+"Why, there is your purse," exclaimed the adventurer, with a sudden
+glance downward. "You must have dropped it."
+
+"Oh, thank you, sir!" said the poor woman, overjoyed.
+
+"I hope you won't suspect a gentleman again," said the thief, in lofty
+indignation.
+
+"No, I won't, sir. I was sure you didn't take it."
+
+Andy, who had seen the trick, smiled, but he was satisfied with the
+recovery of the purse.
+
+The passengers looked puzzled. They had not made up their minds as to
+the guilt or innocence of the man charge with the theft.
+
+"You see, young man," said Andy's neighbor, in a tone of reproof, "you
+were mistaken."
+
+Andy smiled again.
+
+"I saw him drop the purse on the floor," he answered, quietly.
+
+"Bless my soul! Are you sure?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+The passengers left the car, Andy and the thief among them.
+
+Andy lost track of his acquaintance till, as they reached Fulton Street,
+he heard some one hissing in his ear:
+
+"Boy, you are too fresh! I'll get even with you yet!"
+
+Then the thief, passing him rapidly, got into a Myrtle Avenue car, and
+this was the last he saw of him for that day.
+
+Andy walked about the streets of Brooklyn for a while and returned by
+Fulton Ferry. Then he went back to his boarding place, arriving there
+between three and four o'clock.
+
+As he went up to his room he noticed that the door of the large room
+opposite was open. A young man, of about thirty, was sitting in a
+rocking-chair, reading.
+
+He was of medium height and sallow complexion. He wore his hair long,
+and had a high, narrow forehead.
+
+"I suppose that is the man who has fits," thought Andy.
+
+The young man had noticed Andy's entrance into his own room, and, rising
+from the rocking-chair, crossed the hall and knocked lightly at the
+door.
+
+"Come in," said Andy.
+
+"I suppose this is Mr. Grant," began the young man, bowing. "I am Mr.
+Warren, and live in the room opposite."
+
+"Won't you come in and sit down?" asked Andy, with a glance at the only
+chair the room contained.
+
+"Don't let me take your only chair. I'll sit on the bed, if you don't
+mind."
+
+"Make yourself at home, Mr. Warren," said Andy, with easy cordiality.
+
+"So you know my name?"
+
+"Mrs. Norris spoke to me of you."
+
+"Did she? What did she say?" asked the young man, showing some
+curiosity.
+
+"I think she said you were literary--that you wrote for some of the
+magazines."
+
+"Yes; I am very fond of writing. Do you write?"
+
+"Not for publication."
+
+"Ah, yes, I see. You would be rather young for an author."
+
+"Are you connected with any particular magazine?"
+
+"No. I am a free lance. I contribute to several. I have just sent an
+article to the _Century_."
+
+Andy was rather surprised, for he knew that the _Century_ held high rank
+among contemporary magazines. It did not occur to him that any one might
+send an article to that magazine, but that to have it accepted and
+published would be a different matter.
+
+"I suppose you enjoy writing?"
+
+"Yes; there is nothing I like so well."
+
+"Perhaps you will show me some of your articles."
+
+"I can show you a poem which appeared last week in the village paper at
+home."
+
+"Thank you, I should like to see it."
+
+Mr. Warren went up to his room, and speedily returned with a small
+weekly paper.
+
+On the front page, at the head of the first column, was a short poem by
+G. Byron Warren. This was the first stanza, which Mr. Warren volunteered
+to read aloud:
+
+  "'I'd like to be a robin,
+    And flit from bough to bough;
+  I'd pour sweet music on the air
+    If God would teach me how.'"
+
+"I don't quite like that last line," he said looking up from the paper.
+"Can you suggest any improvement?"
+
+"You might say, 'And charm the pensive cow,'" suggested Andy,
+mischievously.
+
+"True, that might be a striking figure. I will consider it when I revise
+the poem for publication in book form."
+
+The rest of the poem was of similar quality.
+
+"I don't think they would accept that for the _Century_," thought Andy.
+
+"Do you devote yourself to literary work, or are you in business?" he
+asked.
+
+"I may go into business, but at present I only write. I send a letter
+once a month to the Greenville _Banner_."
+
+"I suppose they pay?"
+
+"Oh--ah, yes," answered the poet, in a hesitating voice, "but the terms
+are strictly confidential. If you ever pick up any incidents in your
+daily walks, Mr. Grant, I shall be glad if you will communicate them to
+me, that I may weave them into my correspondence."
+
+"With pleasure."
+
+Then it occurred to Andy to tell his neighbor about the street
+adventurer whom he had met three times that morning.
+
+"Capital!" exclaimed Warren. "I will get that into my next letter. I
+see, Mr. Grant, you have an observing eye. You would make a good
+reporter for one of the city dailies."
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Andy, feeling complimented.
+
+"I am sure of it."
+
+"How long have you lived in the city, Mr. Warren?"
+
+"About three months. Some time I will tell you why I came here," he
+continued, with an air of mystery.
+
+"I shall be glad to hear."
+
+"I will tell you now, for I see you have a sympathetic soul. I loved,
+and my love was returned, but a heartless parent interposed and
+separated two loving hearts."
+
+He took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. Andy hardly knew
+whether to laugh or to express sympathy.
+
+"I suppose that often happens?" he said, rather lamely. "Perhaps he may
+yet repent."
+
+"I live in that hope. When I have become famous, I will go back and
+offer myself again to Sophia. I suppose you have had no heart
+experiences as yet, Mr. Grant?"
+
+"Not as yet, but I can sympathize with you."
+
+"I am so glad you have come. I shall make you my confidential friend."
+
+Then the conversation drifted into other channels.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+ANDY AT WORK.
+
+
+Punctually as the clock struck eight the next morning Andy entered the
+store of Mr. Flint on Union Square. He looked for his employer, but the
+jeweler seldom arrived before nine, his residence being in Harlem.
+
+Behind the counter, arranging the goods in one of the cases, was a man
+with reddish hair who might at a guess be thirty-five years of age. It
+was Mr. Flint's head clerk, Simon Rich, who had been absent when Andy
+made his first call.
+
+"What can I do for you, boy?" he asked, superciliously.
+
+"Is Mr. Flint in?"
+
+"No. You can tell me your business."
+
+"I have come here to work."
+
+"Oh!"
+
+This exclamation was long-drawn out. Mr. Rich then proceeded to examine
+Andy from head to foot in a manner which was extremely offensive.
+
+Andy understood that for some reason this man would be his enemy. He
+would have understood his hostility better had he known that the boy
+just discharged was the head clerk's nephew.
+
+"I suppose you are well acquainted with the business?" remarked Rich,
+with a sneer.
+
+"I know nothing about it."
+
+"Humph! you stand a chance of being very useful."
+
+"I hope to become familiar with it soon," said Andy, coloring.
+
+"Suppose you sweep out, to begin with."
+
+He pointed out the broom, and Andy went to work.
+
+"I wish he were a more agreeable man," thought Andy. "I am afraid he
+will make my position unpleasant."
+
+Here a customer came in, and Mr. Rich was occupied for the next ten
+minutes.
+
+The customer, a lady, bought a gold chain.
+
+"Shall I send it?" asked the clerk.
+
+"Yes, but not till twelve o'clock."
+
+"To what address?"
+
+She gave a number on Fifty-sixth Street.
+
+"Very well."
+
+"There will be an errand for you," said Rich, as he put back the chains
+not selected.
+
+Andy nodded. He felt that he would rather be absent on an errand than in
+the company of Simon Rich.
+
+"Where did Mr. Flint pick you up?" inquired Rich.
+
+This was rude, but Andy felt that it would not be politic to get into a
+quarrel with the head clerk so soon.
+
+"We met at lunch," he said.
+
+"Where?"
+
+"At the Sinclair House."
+
+"Had you never seen him before?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Queer that he should engage you at such short notice!"
+
+"He was acquainted with the gentleman I was with."
+
+"What name?"
+
+"Walter Gale."
+
+"Yes, I have seen him. Are you related to Mr. Gale?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Are you aware that the boy you have displaced--John Crandall--is my
+nephew?"
+
+"No, sir; I didn't know it. I am sorry he has lost his place."
+
+"He is a good boy, but Mr. Flint became prejudiced against him. Did he
+say anything about him when he engaged you?"
+
+"I believe he said that he was not satisfactory, but as I did not know
+him I did not notice."
+
+Another customer came in, and at nine o'clock Mr. Flint entered.
+
+"I see you are on hand," he said, pleasantly, to Andy.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"When did you come to the city?"
+
+"Yesterday, sir."
+
+"Have you a boarding place?"
+
+"Yes, sir, in Clinton Place. I was recommended to it by Mr. Gale."
+
+"That is well. Mr. Rich, this is the new boy."
+
+"So he told me," said Rich, coldly.
+
+"Have you had any customers?"
+
+"Yes, sir. There is one article to be sent--a gold chain--to Mrs. Mason,
+of Fifty-sixth Street."
+
+"Any time mentioned?"
+
+"Twelve o'clock."
+
+"You can send Andrew at that time."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+Andy was very glad of his employer's presence. It checked any
+manifestation of rudeness on the part of the clerk.
+
+At quarter to twelve a box containing the chain was handed to Andy,
+addressed to Mrs. Mason.
+
+"Did you notice the lady who purchased the chain?" asked Mr. Flint.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I wish this box placed in her hands. Ask her to give you a receipt for
+it."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Here is money for car fare. You may go to lunch after delivering the
+box."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+Andy took a Broadway car, and just after twelve reached the house. The
+door was opened by a man-servant.
+
+"I have a parcel for Mrs. Mason," said Andy.
+
+"All right; I'll take it."
+
+"I am only to deliver it into her hands."
+
+"She isn't at home."
+
+"Then I will wait for her. She said she would be here at twelve."
+
+The man was about to speak rudely, when a lady mounted the steps.
+
+"Are you from Mr. Flint?" she asked.
+
+"Yes, madam."
+
+"I am Mrs. Mason."
+
+"I remember you," said Andy, bowing. "Will you be kind enough to give me
+a receipt?"
+
+"Certainly. Step into the hall, and I won't keep you waiting long."
+
+Andy sat down.
+
+"Why didn't you give me the parcel, boy?" asked the servant.
+
+"Because you are not Mrs. Mason. I had strict orders to deliver it to
+her."
+
+"Humph! that is being mighty particular."
+
+"I have nothing to do with Mr. Flint's rules."
+
+Mrs. Mason returned almost immediately.
+
+"Here is the receipt, and thank you," she said, pleasantly.
+
+Andy bowed, and opened the door to go out.
+
+"I am afraid I have interfered with your lunch," she said.
+
+"I am going to it now, thank you."
+
+"My lunch is just ready. Perhaps you will accept an invitation to lunch
+with me?"
+
+"I shall be very glad to do so."
+
+Andy had been brought up as a gentleman, and was not at all embarrassed,
+as some boys would have been, by this attention from a lady.
+
+"Follow me, then," she said, as she led the way downstairs to the front
+basement.
+
+A small table was set there, and Mrs. Mason pointed to a seat.
+
+"You are my only guest," she said. "My boy is out of town just at
+present. Shall I help you to some cold chicken?"
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Besides the chicken there was bread and butter, some kind of preserve,
+and hot tea. It was all very plain, but Andy enjoyed it.
+
+"I ought to know the name of my guest," said Mrs. Mason.
+
+"My name is Andrew Grant."
+
+"Have you been long at Mr. Flint's?"
+
+"This is my first day."
+
+"I hope you will find the situation a pleasant one. You are not a city
+boy?"
+
+"No, I came from Arden."
+
+They were waited upon at table by Gustave, the man who had treated Andy
+rudely.
+
+He did not look at all pleasant at having to wait upon the boy from
+"Flint's," and evidently considered his mistress very eccentric.
+
+Mrs. Mason gossiped pleasantly, and evidently enjoyed her young company.
+
+"That is better than eating alone," she said, as she rose from the
+table. "I feel quite well acquainted with you, Andrew. You must come up
+sometime when my boy is at home. He is a year or two younger than you,
+but I think you will get on together."
+
+"I shall be very glad to come," replied Andy, gratefully. "Thank you for
+all your kindness."
+
+He went back to the store at once.
+
+"You are back early," said Mr. Flint.
+
+"Yes, sir; Mrs. Mason invited me to lunch, and that saved time."
+
+Simon Rich looked surprised. His nephew had never received so much
+attention from a customer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+ANDY'S FELLOW BOARDERS.
+
+
+As time went on, Andy became sensible that Simon Rich was indeed no
+friend of his. He was watched with a cold vigilance that was nothing
+less than a lookout for imperfections. Andy saw that it would be
+necessary for him to be unusually careful and attentive to his duties.
+
+Mr. Flint, on the other hand, was always kind and cordial,
+notwithstanding the slighting words from Mr. Rich.
+
+One day when Andy returned from lunch he found a boy talking with Simon
+Rich. He recognized him as his predecessor.
+
+The boy, John Crandall, looked at him with an ill-natured glance. As
+Simon Rich did not see fit to introduce him he did not speak. When Rich
+went out to lunch John Crandall accompanied him.
+
+"Don't you think there is any chance of my getting back, Uncle Simon?"
+asked John.
+
+"Not at present. That boy you saw seems to have the inside track with
+Mr. Flint."
+
+"What sort of a boy is he?"
+
+"He's too fresh. I don't like him."
+
+"What made Mr. Flint take him on?"
+
+"Heaven knows; I don't."
+
+"Do you think he is likely to stay?"
+
+"Not if I can help it."
+
+"Can't you prejudice Mr. Flint against him?"
+
+"I will if I can. I am looking for a chance to get him into trouble, but
+it isn't easy, as he is a goody-goody sort of a boy. He tries to get in
+with people. You know Mrs. Mason, of Fifty-sixth Street?"
+
+"Yes; I have carried purchases there."
+
+"The very first day he was here he went there with a chain, and she
+invited him to lunch."
+
+"You don't mean it?" exclaimed John, in surprise. "She never took any
+notice of me."
+
+They went to the Dairy Restaurant, on Union Square, for lunch.
+
+"Uncle Simon," said John, when they were going out, "can't you give me
+fifty cents? You know I haven't a cent of money, now that my salary is
+stopped."
+
+"What do you want fifty cents for?" demanded his uncle, frowning.
+
+"I want to go to the Grand Opera House to-night. I haven't been to the
+theater for two weeks."
+
+"And you can't expect to while you are not earning anything."
+
+"But that isn't my fault," pleaded John.
+
+"Yes, it is. You neglected your duties at Flint's, and he saw it. That
+is why you lost your place."
+
+"It is pretty hard going about without a cent of money in your pocket."
+
+"Then you should have kept your place. Have you been around to look for
+another position?"
+
+"No; I thought you would get me back into Flint's."
+
+"I don't think there is much chance, but I will try to get the other boy
+out."
+
+"I hope you'll do that; I hate the sight of him. I feel as if he had
+turned me out of my place."
+
+"How do you like the new boy, Mr. Rich?" asked the jeweler at the end of
+the first week.
+
+"I don't care much for him," said Simon Rich, coldly.
+
+"What is the matter with him? Does he neglect his work?"
+
+"No," Rich admitted, unwillingly.
+
+"What have you against him, then?"
+
+"He has a sneaking way about him."
+
+"On the contrary, he seems to me to be unusually frank and open."
+
+"He is trying to get into your good graces."
+
+"Well, that is proper, isn't it?
+
+"Yes, but--"
+
+"Well?"
+
+"I think he will bear watching."
+
+"Surely you don't suspect him of dishonesty."
+
+"Still waters run deep," said the clerk, sententiously.
+
+Mr. Flint smiled to himself as he turned away. He understood that the
+secret of his head clerk's prejudice was the fact that Andy had taken
+the place of his nephew.
+
+Meanwhile Andy had got well acquainted at his boarding house. Besides
+Mr. Warren he found his next neighbor, Sam Perkins, quite sociable.
+
+Sam was a youth of eighteen, and was employed in a furnishing-goods
+store on lower Broadway. He was fortunate in the location of his store,
+as he finished work at half-past five, and was able to be at supper at
+the regular hour. He seemed rather fond of dress and indulged in a
+variety of showy neckties, being able to get them at wholesale rates.
+
+He introduced himself to Andy the first evening.
+
+"What pay do you get?" he asked.
+
+"Five dollars a week."
+
+"I get seven, but it's too small. A man can't live on it. Why, my car
+fare costs me sixty cents a week."
+
+"It must be rather a tight squeeze."
+
+"The folks at home allow me two dollars a week besides. You see, the
+governor's got money. But I tell you money melts away in New York."
+
+"No doubt. There are a good many ways of spending money here."
+
+"Suppose we go to the theater to-night."
+
+"I would rather wait a while. This is my first night in the city."
+
+"Have you got acquainted with old Warren?"
+
+"You mean the occupant of the large room opposite?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I have talked with him a little."
+
+"How do you like him?"
+
+"I don't know him well enough to judge," said Andy, cautiously.
+
+"He's a crank--and soft at that. Pretends that he is literary and writes
+for the magazines."
+
+"He does, doesn't he?"
+
+"Yes, he writes for them, but I don't think his articles get printed. He
+just sits round and writes, and isn't any company at all. I have tried
+to get him to go to the theater, but he won't. Once I was hard
+up--hadn't but a nickel--and asked him to lend me a quarter. He
+wouldn't."
+
+"Very likely he hasn't got much money."
+
+"That's right. Did you ever see such shabby neckties as he wears?"
+
+"He hasn't your advantages about getting new neckties," said Andy, with
+a smile, for he had already learned where Sam was at work.
+
+"How do you like the tie I have on? It's a stunner, isn't it?" asked
+Sam, complacently.
+
+"It's very showy."
+
+"I get a new necktie every week. You see, I get them at half price.
+Girls always notice your necktie."
+
+"Then I don't think they'll pay me much attention."
+
+"Your tie is too sober, that's a fact. Better let me bring you one. I
+can get it half off. They won't know but it's for me."
+
+"Thank you. I may by and by accept your offer. Now, I don't want to
+spend any extra money."
+
+At the table Andy was introduced to a Mr. and Mrs. Osborn, who did not
+appear to be long married. She was tall, angular and thirty-five. He was
+at least five years younger. He had married her for her money, but she
+let him have little advantage of it, dealing it out in small sums.
+
+He occupied a small clerkship at eight dollars a week, out of which he
+had to pay his own board, while his wife, who had an income from
+property of a thousand dollars a year, defrayed her own expenses, and
+occasionally allowed him a dollar or two.
+
+He was much better looking than his wife, and it was this, perhaps, that
+made her jealous if he looked at another woman. The particular object
+of her jealousy was a Miss Manson, who held a business position at an
+uptown milliner's. She was pleasant and piquant.
+
+There was also a Mr. Kimball, who was a salesman at Hearn's. He liked to
+discuss financial problems, and felt that he should have been a banker,
+but found no one to talk with, as Mr. Osborn's ideas on finance were
+elementary.
+
+Indeed, Mrs. Osborn was the only one at the table who was competent to
+converse with him on his favorite subject.
+
+"Miss Manson, may I pass you the sugar?" asked Mr. Osborn on the first
+occasion of Andy's appearing at dinner.
+
+"Miss Manson can reach the sugar bowl herself," interposed Mrs. Osborn,
+with a reproving frown.
+
+"I like to be neighborly, my dear," said her husband, deprecatingly.
+
+"I see you do."
+
+Miss Manson smiled, and so did others at the table, who detected Mrs.
+Osborn's jealousy.
+
+"Have you read the President's financial message, Mr. Osborn?" asked Mr.
+Kimball.
+
+"No; I don't take any interest in such things."
+
+"I have read it, Mr. Kimball," said Mrs. Osborn, "and I approve his
+recommendations."
+
+"So do I, with one exception," returned Mr. Kimball; and they began a
+conversation in which none of the other boarders took an interest.
+
+When supper was over, Andy and Sam went for a walk. Mr. Warren excused
+himself on the ground that he was writing a poem for one of the
+magazines.
+
+"So you are with a jeweler," said Sam. "I may come up and buy a ring
+some day. Do you allow a discount to friends?"
+
+"I don't know yet. I will favor you if I can."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+A PLOT AGAINST ANDY.
+
+
+Some six weeks later, about the middle of the forenoon, a Western Union
+Telegraph boy entered the store and handed Mr. Flint a telegram.
+
+Tearing it open, the jeweler read the contents and seemed quite
+agitated.
+
+"Mr. Rich," he said, turning to the head clerk, "I have bad news. My
+only brother is dangerously sick. This dispatch says that if I wish to
+see him alive I must start at once."
+
+"Where does he live?"
+
+"In Denver, Colorado."
+
+"That is a long way off."
+
+"Yes. I don't see how I can leave the business, but I cannot bear to
+think of my brother dying without my seeing him again."
+
+"I think, sir, that I can keep things straight. I have been with you for
+six years."
+
+"True, and you know the business thoroughly. Besides, you can write or
+telegraph me, if need be, every day."
+
+"I will do so, sir. You can depend on me."
+
+"Besides, you will have Andrew to help you. He is a good and faithful
+boy."
+
+To this Simon Rich made no reply, but there was a look on his face that
+boded no good for Andy.
+
+"I think I will go home at once and get ready. It is necessary that I
+should start immediately. I shall have no time to give you directions,
+but I will write you as soon as I reach Denver."
+
+"Very well, sir," said Simon Rich, smoothly. "Make your mind quite easy.
+All will go well during your absence."
+
+Half an hour later, when Andy returned from an errand, Mr. Flint was
+gone.
+
+"I have a message for Mr. Flint," said Andy, as he entered the store.
+
+"You can give it to me."
+
+"I was told to deliver it to Mr. Flint personally."
+
+"You will find that rather a hard job, young man," said Rich, with a
+sneer.
+
+"I don't understand you," returned Andy, in surprise.
+
+"Mr. Flint is on his way to Denver by this time."
+
+"Does he go on business?"
+
+"He has received news that his only brother lies there at the point of
+death."
+
+"How long will he be gone?" asked Andy, who began to understand that
+this was likely to prove bad news for him.
+
+"Probably not less than three weeks. Of course, I shall manage the store
+while he is away. Did you hear that?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And I want you to understand," continued Rich, in a bullying tone,
+"that I won't stand any nonsense from you. You will have to attend
+strictly to business. I sha'n't be such an easy-going boss as Mr.
+Flint."
+
+"I always aim to do my duty," said Andy.
+
+"You will find it best to do so while I am in charge. Now, don't stand
+gaping there, but go to work."
+
+Andy was moved to an angry reply, but thought it prudent to refrain. He
+realized that for three weeks, and probably longer, he was to be at the
+mercy of a man who evidently disliked him.
+
+How he should be able to stand it he did not know. He determined,
+however, to do his duty as well as he knew how, and not to reply when
+the head clerk was insolent and abusive.
+
+About an hour later Simon Rich gave him a postal, which he directed him
+to drop in the nearest mail box.
+
+It was addressed to John Crandall, Andy's predecessor, and ran thus:
+
+    "DEAR JOHN: Come around as soon as you can. I have news for you.
+
+    Your uncle,
+    SIMON RICH."
+
+About four o'clock John Crandall entered the store.
+
+"Andrew," said Rich, "you may go to the branch post office at Ninth
+Street and get a dollar's worth of postage stamps."
+
+Andy understood that stamps were not needed, and that the errand was
+devised to get him out of the way. However it was his duty to obey.
+
+When he was fairly out of the store, John asked, with some curiosity:
+
+"What is the news you were going to tell me, Uncle Simon?"
+
+"Mr. Flint has started for Colorado, and I am in full charge of the
+store," answered Rich, with a triumphant smile.
+
+"Golly! That's great news!" exclaimed John. "Now you can discharge that
+cub and get me in again."
+
+"I mean to, but you will have to wait a few days."
+
+"Why need I?"
+
+"Because I must have a good excuse for bouncing him. Mr. Flint will
+inquire, you know."
+
+"I should think it would be easy to invent one."
+
+"Well, not altogether easy, but I have a plan. You see, the boy is one
+of the goody-goody kind who has no bad habits. If I could catch him
+playing pool, or anything of that kind, there would be no trouble; but
+he is one of your model boys."
+
+"Like me," suggested John.
+
+"I never took you for a model boy. Still, you are my nephew, and I must
+do the best I can for you."
+
+"What is the plan you have thought of?"
+
+"I haven't fully decided; but come in to-morrow, and I may think of
+something by that time."
+
+"I wish I was here now. It will be good fun, now that old Flint is
+gone."
+
+"Be careful not to say 'old Flint' before Andrew. He might repeat it to
+the boss when he returns."
+
+"If he should I would punch his head," said John, promptly.
+
+"I don't think I would advise you to do that," said Simon Rich,
+shrewdly.
+
+"Why not? I could lick him with one hand."
+
+"If you ever get into a fight with him you will need two. He is strong
+and muscular."
+
+"You seem to be taking his part, Uncle Simon."
+
+"Not at all, but I won't shut my eyes to facts. Andrew is much stronger
+than you are."
+
+John did not look well pleased, but his uncle added:
+
+"In this case, however, it is not a matter of strength. We must use
+cunning."
+
+"All right, uncle. You know best, of course."
+
+"Of course I know best. All you have to do is to be guided by me. We
+must get rid of him in such a way that Mr. Flint will approve of my
+action."
+
+"It will be a great day for me when I take his place."
+
+"Exactly. Be patient, and it will come about. Meanwhile I want you to
+treat him as a friend."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"So that he won't suspect that there is any conspiracy against him."
+
+"I see. You are a smart one, Uncle Simon."
+
+"I flatter myself that I know what I am about," returned Rich,
+complacently.
+
+Andy was considerably surprised at the kindness with which he was
+treated, during the next few days, by the head salesman. He had expected
+something very different. He began to think he had misjudged Mr. Rich.
+
+He was still more surprised when the next day at his lunch hour he was
+invited to the Dairy Kitchen by John Crandall. He did not care to
+accept, but John insisted upon it, and he thought it would be rude to
+refuse.
+
+John chatted very pleasantly during the meal, and Andy was both
+surprised and pleased.
+
+"Have you got a new place?" he asked.
+
+"No, but uncle thinks he can get me one before long."
+
+"I hope it will be a good one."
+
+"Oh, I think it will," said John, showing his teeth and smiling
+significantly.
+
+So passed several days, and Andy began to think that Mr. Rich had become
+his friend. But at length the storm broke.
+
+One day, as he entered the store, he noticed that Simon Rich was looking
+grave and stern.
+
+"Andrew," he said, without preface, "something very disagreeable has
+happened."
+
+"What is it, Mr. Rich?"
+
+"A gold watch has disappeared from this case."
+
+"A valuable one?" asked Andy, innocently.
+
+"It is one that retails at fifty dollars. I would not have had this
+occur during Mr. Flint's absence for twice that sum."
+
+"Have you any idea of what has become of it?"
+
+"Not at present, but as you and my nephew are in the store so much, of
+course you would have opportunities of taking it."
+
+"Uncle Simon," said John, who was present, "I insist on your searching
+me."
+
+"I will do so, though I am sure neither you nor Andrew is at fault."
+
+"Search me, too, Mr. Rich," said Andy, fearlessly.
+
+Nothing was found on John, but thrusting his hand into the upper pocket
+of Andy's vest, Simon Rich drew out a folded paper.
+
+"What is this?" he cried. "A pawn ticket for a gold watch? What does
+this mean?"
+
+"Let me see it," said Andy, dumfounded.
+
+It was a ticket issued by a Third Avenue pawnbroker for a gold watch, on
+which ten dollars appeared to have been loaned. The name of the borrower
+appeared as A. Grant.
+
+"Miserable boy!" said the salesman, severely; "so you have turned thief.
+What a hypocrite you must be!"
+
+"I don't know what it means," faltered Andy, quite overwhelmed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+ANDY IS DISCHARGED.
+
+
+"You don't know what it means!" repeated Simon Rich in a sarcastic tone.
+"Probably not. I understand it."
+
+"Do you think I stole a watch and pawned it, Mr. Rich?" demanded Andy,
+with spirit.
+
+"There seems to be absolute proof of your dishonesty. Will you explain
+how, otherwise, this pawn ticket is found in your pocket?"
+
+"I can't explain it, nor can I understand it. All I can say is, that I
+never saw it before."
+
+"You must think I am a fool to be deceived by such a story."
+
+"I can't believe that Andy pawned a watch," said John Crandall,
+hypocritically.
+
+"Will you be kind enough to inform me who did, then?" asked his uncle,
+with pretended severity.
+
+"I can't guess."
+
+"Nor any one else, I fancy. Of course, Andrew, after this proof of your
+dishonesty, I cannot retain you in my, or rather in Mr. Flint's
+employment."
+
+"Mr. Rich, will you do me a favor?"
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Will you go with me to the pawnbroker who issued the ticket and ask him
+if he ever saw me before?"
+
+"I have no time to go on such a foolish errand. Can you give me the ten
+dollars you obtained for the watch?"
+
+"I didn't obtain a dollar nor a cent for the watch. I know nothing
+about it."
+
+"Probably you have laid it away somewhere, or spent it."
+
+"That is not true, and I am sure you don't believe it yourself."
+
+"No impudence, young man! I am forced to believe it. I have treated you
+kindly since Mr. Flint went away, and that is sufficient to show that I
+wish to do you no injustice. Is this true or not?"
+
+"I have no fault to find with your treatment, except now."
+
+"I shall continue to act as your friend. I might have you arrested, and
+your conviction would be certain with the evidence I have in my
+possession. But I will not do it. I will redeem the watch at my own
+expense and be content with discharging you."
+
+"I believe there is a plot against me," said Andy, pale but firm. "It
+will come out some time. When do you wish me to go?"
+
+"At once. I will pay you to the end of the week, but I could not feel
+safe in retaining your services any longer. John, will you oblige me by
+taking Andrew's place till I have a chance to secure another boy?"
+
+"Yes, Uncle Simon, but I don't want to feel that I have had anything to
+do with Andy's discharge."
+
+"You have not. No one is responsible for it but himself."
+
+"Then I will stay while you need me. I don't want to leave you in a
+hole."
+
+Simon Rich went to the money drawer and drew out a five-dollar bill.
+
+"Here is your pay to the end of the week," he said.
+
+"I prefer to accept pay only to to-day," replied Andy.
+
+"As you please."
+
+Andy walked out of the store feeling crushed and overwhelmed. He was all
+at sea concerning the pawn ticket. He could not understand how it got
+into his pocket.
+
+He formed a resolution. He would go around to the pawnbroker's and see
+if he could obtain any information.
+
+He found the pawn shop without difficulty. It was a small apartment, but
+seemed quite full of goods of all varieties.
+
+A small man of perhaps sixty was behind the counter. Seated in a
+rocking-chair, sewing, an old lady was to be seen in the rear of the
+shop.
+
+Andy had never before been in a pawn shop, and would have been
+interested in examining it if his errand had not been so serious.
+
+He walked up to the counter.
+
+"Well, young man, what is your business?" asked the old man.
+
+"Do you remember lending some money on a new gold watch last Monday?"
+
+"Was the watch stolen?" asked the pawnbroker, with shade of anxiety.
+
+"You will have no difficulty about it. It will be redeemed."
+
+"How much did I lend on it?"
+
+"Ten dollars."
+
+"Yes, I remember."
+
+"Can you remember who brought it in?"
+
+"No, except that it was a boy about your size."
+
+"Did he look like me?"
+
+"I can't remember. You see, I have so many customers."
+
+"I remember," said the old lady, speaking up. "He was about your size."
+
+"It was not I?"
+
+"No; he was thinner than you, and he was dark complexioned."
+
+A light began to dawn upon Andy. This description fitted John Crandall.
+
+"Do you remember what kind of an overcoat he wore?"
+
+"It was a light overcoat."
+
+"Thank you. Will you please remember this if you are asked?"
+
+"Did the young gentleman own the watch?"
+
+"He was employed by another party, but I cannot tell you any more at
+present. The watch will probably be redeemed by a man about thirty-five.
+Don't mention to him that any one has asked you questions about it."
+
+"All right. I shall be glad to oblige you. You are sure it was not
+stolen?"
+
+"The man who sent the boy was not dishonest. You will have no trouble."
+
+"It was a new watch, and I thought it might be stolen. We poor
+pawnbrokers have a hard time. If we take stolen property we get into
+trouble, but how can we tell if the rings and watches they bring in are
+stolen?"
+
+"Very true. I can see that you must sometimes be puzzled. Do those who
+pawn articles generally give their own names?"
+
+"Very seldom. They almost always give wrong names. That sometimes leads
+to trouble. I remember a gentleman who mislaid his ticket, and he could
+not remember what name he gave. If he had we might have overlooked the
+loss of the pawn ticket. As it was, we did not know but he might be a
+fraud, though I think it was all right, and the watch he pawned was his
+own."
+
+"Thank you for answering my questions. I am sorry to have troubled you,"
+said Andy, politely.
+
+"Oh, it is no matter," rejoined the old man, who felt very favorably
+impressed by Andy's good looks, and frank, open manner.
+
+As Andy went out of the shop he experienced a feeling of relief. He saw
+that he would be able to prove his innocence through the testimony of
+the pawnbroker and his wife. He was in no hurry. It would do when Mr.
+Flint returned. He did not want the friendly jeweler to think that he
+had been dishonest.
+
+It was clear that he was the victim of a conspiracy, and that the plot
+had been engineered by Simon Rich and carried out by his nephew.
+
+As Andy's board was paid by Walter Gale, he would not be distressed by
+want of employment, but would be able to remain in New York. He might
+obtain another position, though he foresaw that it would be useless to
+apply to Simon Rich for a letter of recommendation.
+
+He had not gone more than a hundred feet when he met a boy whom he knew,
+named James Callahan.
+
+"How do you happen to be here, Andy?" he asked. "Are you on an errand
+for the firm?"
+
+"I have left them."
+
+"Why is that?"
+
+"They--or rather the clerk--charged me with stealing a gold watch and
+pawning it."
+
+"Where?" asked the boy, in some excitement.
+
+Andy pointed out the pawnbroker's shop from which he had just come.
+
+"I saw John Crandall coming out of there yesterday."
+
+"You did?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I am not surprised. The pawnbroker described to me the boy who pawned
+the watch, and I recognized John from the description."
+
+"What does it all mean?"
+
+"Mr. Flint has gone out West, and Mr. Rich and John have conspired to
+get me into trouble."
+
+"When were you discharged?"
+
+"Less than an hour since."
+
+"Who has taken your place?"
+
+"John Crandall."
+
+James Callahan whistled.
+
+"I see," he said. "It was thundering mean. What are you going to do
+about it?"
+
+"Wait till Mr. Flint comes home. Give me your address. I may want to
+call you as a witness."
+
+Callahan gave his number on Ninth Avenue.
+
+"I will note it down."
+
+"How are you going to get along while you are without a place?" asked
+James, with friendly solicitude.
+
+"I have a friend who will pay my board."
+
+"Good! I am glad to hear it."
+
+"Now," thought Andy, "I have a chain of proof that will clear me with
+Mr. Flint. That is what I care most about."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+AN INVITATION TO DINNER
+
+
+Andy reached his boarding house at four o'clock.
+
+"What brings you home so early, Mr. Grant?" asked Warren, whose door was
+open. "Is business poor?"
+
+"It is with me," answered Andy; "I am discharged."
+
+"You don't tell me so! How did it happen?"
+
+"My employer is out West, and the head salesman has discharged me and
+engaged his nephew in my place."
+
+"It's a shame. What shall you do about it?"
+
+"Wait till Mr. Flint gets home."
+
+"I hope you won't leave us."
+
+"No, I think not."
+
+"Of course you will miss your salary. I wish I could lend you some
+money, but I have not heard from the article I sent to the _Century_. If
+accepted, they will send me a large check."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Warren. I shall be able to get along for the present."
+
+Soon Sam Perkins arrived, with a new and gorgeous necktie.
+
+"Glad to see you, Andy," he said. "Won't you go with me to the Star
+Theater this evening?"
+
+"I can't, Sam; I have no money to spare."
+
+"I thought you got a good salary?"
+
+"Just at present I have none at all. I have been discharged."
+
+"I am sorry for that. I wish there was a vacancy in our place; I should
+like to get you in there."
+
+"Thank you. That is quite friendly."
+
+Andy was about to go down to supper when Eva, the servant, came
+upstairs.
+
+"There's a messenger boy downstairs wants to see you, Mr. Grant," she
+said.
+
+In some surprise Andy went downstairs to see the messenger. He was a
+short boy of fourteen, Tom Keegan by name.
+
+"I have a letter for Andrew Grant," he said.
+
+"Give it to me; I am Andrew Grant. Here's a dime."
+
+"Thank you," said the boy in a tone of satisfaction, for his weekly
+income was small.
+
+Andy opened the letter. It was written on fashionable note paper. At the
+top of the paper was a monogram formed of the letters H and M.
+
+Here is the letter:
+
+    "MY DEAR MR. GRANT: I shall be glad to have you take dinner with me
+    at seven o'clock. I should have given you earlier notice, but
+    supposed you would not be back from the store till six o'clock. You
+    will meet my son Roy, who is a year or two younger than yourself,
+    and my brother, John Crawford. Both will be glad to see you. Yours
+    sincerely,
+
+    "HENRIETTA MASON."
+
+"What is it, Andy?" asked Sam.
+
+"You can read the note."
+
+"By George, Andy, you are getting into fashionable society! Couldn't you
+take me along, too?"
+
+"I am afraid I am not well enough acquainted to take such a liberty."
+
+"I'll tell you what I'll do for you. I'll lend you my best necktie."
+
+Sam produced a gorgeous red tie, which he held up admiringly.
+
+"Thank you, Sam," said Andy, "but I think that won't suit me as well as
+you."
+
+"What are you going to wear?"
+
+Andy took from the bureau drawer a plain black tie.
+
+"That!" exclaimed Sam, disgusted. "That is awfully plain."
+
+"It suits my taste."
+
+"Excuse me, Andy, but I don't think you've got any taste."
+
+Andy laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"Certainly my taste differs from yours," he said.
+
+"I suppose you'll have a fine layout. I'd like to go to a fashionable
+dinner myself."
+
+"I'll tell you all about it when I get back."
+
+"Just mention that you've got a friend--a stylish young man whom they'd
+like to meet. That may bring me an invitation next time."
+
+Andy laughed.
+
+"So far as I am concerned, Sam," he said, "I wish you were going. But
+you have an engagement at the Star Theater."
+
+"So I have. I almost forgot."
+
+Andy had very little time for preparation, but made what haste he could,
+and just as the public clocks struck seven he rang the bell of Mrs.
+Mason's house.
+
+"I am glad you received my invitation in time," said the lady.
+
+"So am I," returned Andy; "nothing could have been more welcome."
+
+Just then Roy and her brother, Mr. Crawford, entered.
+
+Roy was a very pleasant-looking boy, with dark-brown hair and a dark
+complexion. He was perhaps two inches shorter than Andy.
+
+"This is Roy," said Mrs. Mason.
+
+"I am glad to see you," said Roy, offering his hand.
+
+Andy felt that he should like his new boy friend.
+
+Next he was introduced to Mr. Crawford, a stout gentleman of perhaps
+forty, looking very much like his sister.
+
+"I have heard my sister speak of you so often that I am glad to meet
+you, Andy," he said, affably.
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+"John, lead the way to the dining room," said his sister.
+
+So they filed downstairs, and took their seats at the table.
+
+Mr. Crawford sat at the head, opposite his sister, while Roy and Andy
+occupied the sides.
+
+When dinner was nearly over, Mr. Crawford remarked:
+
+"I believe, Andy, you are in the employ of Mr. Flint, the jeweler."
+
+"I was," answered Andy.
+
+"Surely you have not left him?" exclaimed Mrs. Mason.
+
+"No, I have been discharged."
+
+"I am surprised to hear it. I thought you were a favorite with Mr.
+Flint."
+
+"So I was. He does not know I have been discharged."
+
+"You puzzle me."
+
+"Mr. Flint is in Colorado, and Mr. Rich, his head salesman, has taken
+the opportunity to discharge me, and put his nephew in my place."
+
+"But surely he would not venture to do this without some pretext."
+
+"He claims that I took a watch from the case, and pawned it."
+
+"Of course that is untrue."
+
+"Yes, and I am in a position to prove it when Mr. Flint returns."
+
+Andy told the story of his visit to the pawn shop, and the discovery he
+made there.
+
+"This is a shameful plot!" said Mrs. Mason, indignantly. "I am afraid
+you are in trouble, deprived of your income."
+
+"Fortunately I have no board to pay. That is paid by the gentleman who
+procured me the situation."
+
+Presently they went upstairs.
+
+"Roy," said his mother, "we will excuse you for an hour while you are
+getting your Latin lesson."
+
+"I don't like Latin, mother," grumbled Roy, "at least not to-night. I am
+afraid I can't fix my thoughts on the lesson. I want to be with Andy."
+
+"What are you studying in Latin, Roy?" asked Andy.
+
+"_Caesar_."
+
+"If you wish, I will help you."
+
+"Can you?" asked Roy, joyfully.
+
+"I have been through _Caesar_, and _Virgil_, also. When I left the
+academy I was studying _Cicero_."
+
+"Roy will be glad of your help, Andy," said his mother. "I did not know
+you were such a scholar."
+
+"I was getting ready for college, but my father's losses required me to
+break off."
+
+Andy proved such an efficient helper that Roy found himself at leisure
+in half an hour.
+
+In the meantime Mrs. Mason asked her brother:
+
+"What do you think of my protege?"
+
+"He seems a manly and attractive boy."
+
+"Can't you find something for him to do?"
+
+"I will talk with him presently, and then decide."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+NEW PROSPECTS.
+
+
+After Roy, with Andy's assistance, had prepared his lesson in _Caesar_,
+John Crawford began to converse with him with a view of forming a
+judgment of his business qualifications.
+
+"Are you especially interested in the jewelry line?" he asked.
+
+"No, sir. It was merely chance that led me to Mr. Flint's store."
+
+"I see you are a Latin scholar. What career did you expect to follow if
+your father's misfortune had not interrupted your education?"
+
+"I don't think I should care for a profession. I prefer a life of
+business."
+
+"You have had no special business in view?"
+
+"No, sir. I think I could adapt myself to any that I had an opportunity
+to follow."
+
+"What pay did you receive from Mr. Flint?"
+
+"Five dollars a week."
+
+"I will tell you why I am inquiring. I am in the real estate business,
+in rather a large way. I have a boy in the office who is not suited to
+his position. He is a good scholar, but has no head for business. I have
+made up my mind to discharge him on Saturday. Would you like his place?"
+
+"Very much, sir."
+
+"I can only offer you five dollars a week, but as soon as you make
+yourself worth more I will raise you."
+
+"That is quite satisfactory, Mr. Crawford. As soon as Mr. Flint returns
+I can get a recommendation from him. I am quite sure I shall like your
+business better."
+
+"My sister's recommendation is sufficient."
+
+"Thank you, John," said Mrs. Mason.
+
+"If you become interested in the business and show an aptitude for it,
+there will be a chance to rise. It depends upon that. If you only work
+for the money, you won't rise."
+
+"I understand, Mr. Crawford, and I am satisfied."
+
+"Mother," said Roy, "I wish you would engage Andy to come here evenings
+and help me with my lessons. I should learn twice as fast. Besides, I
+should like his company."
+
+Roy was an only child, and it was the desire of his mother's heart that
+he should acquire a good education. Her means were ample and her
+disposition generous.
+
+"I don't know but Andy would feel too tired, after being in your uncle's
+office all day, to teach you in the evening, she said.
+
+"Would you, Andy?" asked Roy.
+
+"No; I should enjoy reviewing my old studies with you."
+
+"Then, I will engage you," said Mrs. Mason. "You can come here at eight
+every evening."
+
+"I will do so with pleasure."
+
+"And for compensation I will pay you as much as my brother does."
+
+"I wouldn't charge anything for helping Roy," said Andy. "It would only
+be a pleasure to me."
+
+"Andrew," said Mr. Crawford. "I am afraid you will never make a business
+man if you are willing to work on those terms. My advice to you is to
+accept my sister's offer. She can afford to pay you what she offers, and
+you have your living to make."
+
+"I shall insist upon paying," said Mrs. Mason, "though I appreciate
+Andy's generous offer."
+
+"Thank you very much. With such an income I shall feel rich."
+
+"I am so glad you are going to help me, Andy," said Roy. "We'll have
+bully times."
+
+"I don't think Julius Caesar ever made use of such an expression, Roy,"
+said his uncle.
+
+"When do you wish me to come down to business, Mr. Crawford?" asked
+Andy.
+
+"You may as well come to-morrow, and get broken in before your regular
+engagement commences."
+
+"I shall be glad to do so."
+
+"For this week you need only stay till three o'clock in the afternoon.
+There isn't much doing after that."
+
+When Andy went home it will not be wondered at if he was in a state of
+exhilaration. His discharge from the jeweler's had turned out to his
+advantage. His income was now ten dollars a week, and he had no board to
+pay. He certainly ought to lay up money.
+
+He said to himself that now he would not go back to Mr. Flint's even if
+he had the chance.
+
+When he entered his room he found Sam Perkins waiting for him.
+
+"I have been thinking, Andy," he said, "that I might be able to get you
+into our store. I will speak to Mr. Chambers to-morrow."
+
+"There is no occasion, Sam, though I thank you for your kind offer; I
+have a place."
+
+"What, already?" ejaculated Sam, in amazement. "What chance have you had
+to hunt up a place?"
+
+"The place hunted me up," answered Andy, with a smile. "I met a
+gentleman at dinner, who offered to take me into his employment."
+
+"What business?"
+
+"Real estate."
+
+"What is the firm?"
+
+"John Crawford & Co."
+
+"I know of the house. The office is on lower Broadway. It is a big
+firm."
+
+"I am glad of that."
+
+"How much are you to get?"
+
+"Five dollars a week."
+
+"Won't you find it hard to live on that?"
+
+"I have got another place, too."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I am to help a boy about his Latin in the evening. I shall get five
+dollars a week for that, too."
+
+"What! ten dollars a week in all?"
+
+"You are right. I give you credit for your mathematical talent."
+
+"Why, Andy, you are born to good luck! I wish I was paid ten dollars a
+week," said Sam, rather enviously. "But I didn't know you understood
+Latin."
+
+"You don't know how learned I am," said Andy, smiling.
+
+"When will you get time for your pupil?"
+
+"In the evening."
+
+"I am sorry for that. I sha'n't often meet you if you are to be occupied
+day and evening, too."
+
+"We shall meet at breakfast and supper. I sha'n't leave here to go
+uptown till half-past seven."
+
+"But you can't go to the theater."
+
+"I am willing to give that up for five dollars a week."
+
+"So would I be."
+
+"If I hear of any other boy who needs a Latin tutor I will recommend
+you."
+
+The next morning Andy reported at Mr. Crawford's office. The office he
+found to be a large one, consisting of three rooms, one of them small,
+and appropriated to Mr. Crawford's special use.
+
+In the outer rooms were two or three clerks and a boy. The last, James
+Grey, was a good-natured looking fellow, but he had no force or
+efficiency. He had already received notice that he was to be discharged
+on the coming Saturday.
+
+"I suppose you are coming in my place," said he to Andy.
+
+"I suppose so. I am sorry that I shall be throwing you out of a
+position."
+
+"Oh, you needn't mind. I am to be telephone boy at an uptown hotel. My
+cousin got the place for me."
+
+"I am glad of that."
+
+"It will be a soft snap, I think."
+
+"What are the hours?"
+
+"I go on at five o'clock in the afternoon, and stay till midnight."
+
+"Will you like that?"
+
+"Oh, well, I can lie abed the next morning till ten or eleven o'clock,
+and I won't have much to do when I am on duty. I shall buy a lot of dime
+novels, and that will fill up the time."
+
+"How do you like the real estate business?"
+
+"Oh, so-so. I guess I'll like being a telephone boy better."
+
+"Andrew, you may go round with James, and he will give you a little idea
+of your duties," said Mr. Crawford. "James, you can go to the post
+office now."
+
+"All right, sir."
+
+"I hope you will soon get another place."
+
+"I have got one already, sir."
+
+"Indeed! I am very glad."
+
+"I am to be a telephone boy."
+
+"I wish you success."
+
+As they walked to the post office together, James remarked:
+
+"Mr. Crawford is a nice man, but I guess I don't hustle enough for him."
+
+"I think I can hustle," said Andy.
+
+"Then you'll suit him."
+
+On Saturday night, when James was paid his salary, he received five
+dollars extra as a present. Andy thought this very kind and considerate
+on the part of his new employer. To his surprise he, too, was paid half
+a week's salary--something he did not expect.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+JOHN CRANDALL SEEKS TO INJURE ANDY
+
+
+Though Simon Rich had succeeded in reinstating his nephew in the store
+in place of Andy, he was not altogether happy. John Crandall was
+naturally lazy and inefficient, and his temporary discharge did not seem
+to have improved him.
+
+When sent out on errands he loitered, and had more than once put his
+uncle to considerable inconvenience. He obliged to admit to himself that
+Andy had been more satisfactory.
+
+In the midst of this experience John preferred a request to have his
+salary raised a dollar a week.
+
+"You know very well that I have no authority to raise your wages," said
+his uncle, sharply.
+
+"Why not, Uncle Simon? You have taken me back on your own authority."
+
+"And I begin to think that I have made a great mistake."
+
+"Perhaps you'd like to have the country boy back again?"
+
+"I am not sure but I would. He did not stay away so long on errands as
+you do."
+
+"I wonder what he is doing?" said John, starting off on a new tack. "I
+don't suppose he can get a new place."
+
+"If you see him, you might ask him to call," said Simon Rich.
+
+"Why?" asked John, suspiciously.
+
+"I may discharge you and take him back."
+
+"In that case, I will tell Mr. Flint about pawning the watch."
+
+Simon Rich looked at his nephew with anger, mingled with dismay. He
+began to see, now, that to a certain extent he had put himself in John's
+power.
+
+"You treacherous young rascal, I have a great mind to wring your neck!"
+he said, wrathfully.
+
+"Uncle Simon," observed John, significantly, "I guess you'd better not
+act hastily."
+
+"What a fool I was to put myself in the power of that cub!" soliloquized
+the head salesman.
+
+John saw the effect of his words and decided to follow them up.
+
+"Don't you think you can raise my wages?" he asked.
+
+"No, I don't. You will be lucky if you stay here till Mr. Flint comes
+back. After that, I can't protect you. He will probably be angry to see
+you back here. I shall have to tell him that I took you in temporarily.
+Now I will give you some advice. If you want to remain here permanently,
+turn over a new leaf, and work faithfully. In that case I can speak well
+of you, and Mr. Flint may be induced to retain you."
+
+John began to think that this might be good advice, and for a day or two
+paid more attention to his duties.
+
+"I wonder I don't see Andy somewhere," he said to himself.
+
+"I am out a good deal, and I ought to meet him. He is probably hunting
+up positions."
+
+It was not till Tuesday afternoon that he did see him. Andy had been
+sent to the St. Denis Hotel to meet a customer of the firm. As he came
+out he fell in with John.
+
+John was the first to see him.
+
+"Hello, Andy!" he exclaimed. "How are you getting along?"
+
+"Pretty well, thank you."
+
+"I suppose you haven't struck a job yet?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I have."
+
+"You have!" ejaculated John, in surprise. "What kind of a job?"
+
+"I am in a large real estate office down town."
+
+"Did they take you without a recommendation?"
+
+"No."
+
+"My uncle wouldn't give you one."
+
+"I wouldn't ask him for one."
+
+"Who did recommend you, then?"
+
+"Mrs. Mason, of West Fifty-sixth Street."
+
+"I know. She is one of our customers."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Probably she hasn't heard of your being suspected of pawning a watch
+from our stock."
+
+"You might tell her."
+
+"Perhaps I shall," John said to himself. "What pay do you get?"
+
+"Five dollars a week."
+
+"I didn't think you would get a place."
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"I presume Mr. Rich did not care to have me get another place."
+
+"He thought you would have to go back to the country."
+
+"I am better off than when I was in the jewelry store," said Andy. "How
+are you getting along?"
+
+"Oh, first-class."
+
+"I hope you will be able to keep the place."
+
+"I didn't know but you might be wanting to come back."
+
+"I wouldn't go back if I had the chance."
+
+John was pleased to hear this. He was afraid that Mr. Flint might not be
+satisfied with his uncle's explanation, and that somehow the truth might
+come out.
+
+"You must excuse me now," said Andy. "I ought to go back to the office
+at once."
+
+John returned to the jeweler's full of excitement.
+
+"Whom do you think I met just now, Uncle Simon?" he asked.
+
+"Andy?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did you speak with him?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I suppose he is hunting for a place."
+
+"No; he has got one."
+
+"Where is he working?"
+
+"In a real estate office down town. He is getting five dollars a week."
+
+"I didn't think he could get a place without a recommendation."
+
+"He was recommended by one of our customers--Mrs. Mason."
+
+"I see. Well, that is lucky for him."
+
+Simon Rich spoke indifferently. He was rather glad that Andy had found a
+place, as Mr. Flint would be less likely to find fault with his
+dismissal.
+
+Not so John. He had never forgiven Andy for superseding him, and he felt
+aggrieved that he had so soon found employment. Thinking it over, there
+came to him a mean suggestion. He might be able to get Andy discharged
+from his present place.
+
+As his uncle seemed indifferent, and might not approve of his
+contemplated action, he decided to say nothing about it.
+
+That evening, after supper, he made his way up to West Fifty-sixth
+Street, and sought out the residence of Mrs. Mason.
+
+He rang the bell.
+
+"Can I see Mrs. Mason?" he asked.
+
+"What name shall I mention?"
+
+"Say it is a boy from Mr. Flint's."
+
+Mrs. Mason received the message in some surprise. What could a boy from
+Flint's have to say to her?
+
+However, she entered the parlor, where John Crandall was waiting to see
+her.
+
+"You are from Mr. Flint's?" she asked.
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+"What business can you have with me? I have bought no jewelry lately."
+
+"I know it, Mrs. Mason. It isn't about jewelry I wish to speak."
+
+"What, then?"
+
+"I met, to-day, a boy who was lately employed by our firm--Andrew
+Grant."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"He said you had recommended him to a real estate firm down town."
+
+"I did so."
+
+"Perhaps you didn't know that he had been discharged from our place for
+dishonesty."
+
+"I begin to understand," thought Mrs. Mason, and she sat down and
+examined John curiously.
+
+"Did he steal anything?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am," answered John, glibly. "He took a watch--a gold watch out
+of the case and pawned it."
+
+"That was bad. And you have come up to tell me of it? You are very
+considerate. Did Mr. Rich send you, or do you come of your own accord?"
+
+"I came of my own accord. I thought you were deceived in the boy."
+
+"What do you think I ought to do?"
+
+"I thought you would take back the recommendation and get the boy
+discharged."
+
+"Can you wait here half an hour while I consider what is best to be
+done?"
+
+"Oh, yes, ma'am." ("I guess I've put a spoke in his wheel," thought
+John.)
+
+In about half an hour the door opened, and to John's amazement Andy
+walked in.
+
+"You here!" he gasped.
+
+"Yes; I hear you have been warning Mrs. Mason against me."
+
+"I thought she ought to know that you were sent away from our store in
+disgrace."
+
+"I have something to say to you," said Andy, quietly. "I have been to
+the pawnbroker's, and got a description of the boy who pawned the
+watch!"
+
+John turned pale.
+
+"I see you understand," Andy went on, "who did it. So do I, and so does
+Mrs. Mason. You won't make anything by your attempt to injure me.
+Good-evening!"
+
+John Crandall left the house without a word. He began to be alarmed.
+
+"Suppose Andy tells Flint," he soliloquized. "No matter; he can't prove
+it."
+
+But he felt uneasy, nevertheless. He did not say anything to his uncle
+about his visit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+MR. FLINT'S RETURN.
+
+
+Mr. Crawford was something more than an ordinary real estate dealer. He
+was thorough and painstaking in whatever he undertook.
+
+In his private office he had a library of volumes relating to
+architecture, practical building, real estate, law, etc. This Andy
+discovered, and he asked his employer if he might borrow books
+therefrom.
+
+Mr. Crawford seemed pleased, but he asked:
+
+"Do you think you will feel any interest in such dry volumes?"
+
+"I shall not read for interest, but for improvement," answered Andy. "If
+I am to follow up this business I want to find out all I can about it."
+
+"You are an unusually sensible boy," said Mr. Crawford. "I am sure you
+will succeed."
+
+"I mean to, if it is possible."
+
+From this time John Crawford felt an added interest in Andy, and took
+pains to push him forward, and gave him practical information about real
+estate.
+
+"How do you like Andy, John?" asked Mrs. Mason, not long afterward.
+
+"He is a treasure. He does credit to your recommendation."
+
+"I am very much pleased to hear you say so. I consider him a remarkable
+boy. Roy gets much higher marks at school since Andy began to help him
+in his lessons."
+
+One day Andy was sent up to the Grand Central Depot on an errand. He
+arrived just as a train came in from the West. What was his surprise to
+see Mr. Flint getting out of a parlor car.
+
+"Mr. Flint!" he cried, joyfully.
+
+"Andy!" exclaimed the jeweler. "It seems pleasant to see a home face.
+But how do you happen to be up here at this time? Did Mr. Rich send
+you?"
+
+"Then you have not heard--" began Andy.
+
+"Heard what?"
+
+"That I have been discharged from your store."
+
+"When did this happen?" asked the jeweler, abruptly.
+
+"About two weeks ago."
+
+"Rich never wrote me about it. Who is in your place?"
+
+"John Crandall."
+
+"His nephew? The boy I discharged?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+Mr. Flint's face assumed a stern look.
+
+"This will have to be explained," he said. "What was the pretext for
+discharging you?"
+
+"Dishonesty. He charged me with stealing a gold watch and pawning it."
+
+"Ridiculous!"
+
+"Then you don't believe me guilty?"
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Flint."
+
+"Tell me the circumstances."
+
+"Please excuse me now, Mr. Flint. I am in a real estate office, and am
+on an errand. If you like, I will call at your house and explain. In the
+meantime I will let Mr. Rich give you his version."
+
+"Call this evening, Andy."
+
+"It will have to be between seven and half-past seven, as I have a pupil
+in the evening."
+
+"Come to supper at my house, as soon after six as possible."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+Mr. Flint had telegraphed to Simon Rich of his coming, but through some
+mistake the telegram did not reach him, so that he was quite taken by
+surprise when his employer entered the store.
+
+"I had no idea you were anywhere near New York, Mr. Flint," he said.
+
+"Didn't you get my telegram from Buffalo, Mr. Rich?"
+
+"No, sir. I hope you are well."
+
+Just then John Crandall came in from an errand.
+
+"You here!" said the jeweler. "Where is Andy Grant?"
+
+"I was obliged to discharge him," replied Rich, nervously.
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Very much to my surprise I discovered that he had stolen a gold watch
+from the case."
+
+"What evidence had you of it?"
+
+"I found the pawn ticket in his pocket. He pawned it on Third Avenue."
+
+"This surprises me very much," said the jeweler, quietly. "Andrew did
+not strike me as a dishonest boy."
+
+"I was amazed, sir. I could hardly believe my eyes."
+
+"What led you to search for the ticket?"
+
+"I knew that the watch must have been taken either by him or John, who
+came into the shop occasionally. I accordingly searched both."
+
+"And you found the ticket in Andrew's pocket?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"What did he say? Did he admit the theft?"
+
+"No; he brazened it out, but of course the evidence was overwhelming."
+
+"So you discharged him?"
+
+"Yes; I did not dare to have him remain."
+
+"And you engaged your nephew in his place?"
+
+"Yes, sir. John happened to be here, and knew something of the duties,
+so I engaged him temporarily, subject, of course, to your approval."
+
+"Where is Andrew now? Have you seen him since?"
+
+"John saw him one day. Where was it, John?"
+
+"On Broadway, near the St. Denis Hotel. He said he had a place."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In a real estate office."
+
+"I suppose you gave him no recommendation, Mr. Rich?"
+
+"No, sir; I couldn't do it conscientiously. Of course, now that you have
+returned, if you are dissatisfied with John's being here, we can
+advertise for another boy."
+
+"I will take a day to consider it. I shall only stay here half an hour
+and then go up to the house."
+
+When Mr. Flint left the store, Simon Rich said:
+
+"The old man took Andy's discharge more quietly than I anticipated."
+
+"Do you think he will let me stay, Uncle Simon?"
+
+"I can't tell yet. One thing I must tell you--you won't stay long unless
+you turn over a new leaf and attend to your duties."
+
+"I'll do that, never fear! What I am afraid of is, that Andy will come
+around and tell a lot of lies."
+
+"I don't think it will work. You see, the pawn ticket was found in his
+pocket. He can't get over that very well."
+
+John knew more than his uncle of the nature of Andy's defense, and he
+could not help feeling apprehensive.
+
+Soon after six o'clock Andy made his appearance at Mr. Flint's house,
+where he was cordially received.
+
+"I have heard the story of Mr. Rich, Andy," he said. "Now let me have
+your defense."
+
+"I can give it very briefly. The watch was pawned by John Crandall. Of
+course it was given him by Mr. Rich."
+
+"How did you find that out?"
+
+"I went around to the pawnbroker's, and obtained a description of the
+boy who pawned the watch. It tallied exactly with John's appearance.
+That was not all. I met, the same day, a boy named Jimmy Callahan. He
+saw John coming out of the pawnbroker's the day before the charge was
+made against me."
+
+"That is pretty conclusive. Can you explain how the ticket was put in
+your pocket?"
+
+"No, sir; that puzzles me."
+
+"It could easily be done, no doubt. Now, do you want to return to my
+employ?"
+
+"No, sir, I think not. I am in a real estate office, and I think there
+is more chance for me to rise."
+
+"How did you obtain the position?"
+
+"Through Mrs. Mason, of West Fifty-sixth Street. She has been a very
+good friend to me. The gentleman who employs me is her brother."
+
+"I shall be sorry to lose you, Andy, but I wish you to consult your own
+interest. As to John Crandall, I shall discharge him at once. I will not
+permit him to profit by the conspiracy against you. Can you stay this
+evening?"
+
+"No, sir. I am helping Mrs. Mason's son, Roy, in his Latin lessons. For
+this I am paid five dollars per week."
+
+"You seem to be very well provided for, I must say."
+
+"Yes, sir, I have been fortunate."
+
+The next day Mr. Flint notified Simon Rich that he was acquainted with
+the manner in which evidence had been procured against Andy. Then he
+turned to the nephew.
+
+"The watch was pawned by you, John," he said, "under the direction of
+your uncle."
+
+"No, sir," said John. "If Andy Grant has told you this he has told a
+lie."
+
+"The matter is easily settled. Come around with me to the pawnbroker's."
+
+John stammered and finally confessed.
+
+"Of course I cannot retain your services after this. You, Mr. Rich, may
+remain till the end of the month. I shall then feel obliged to make a
+change."
+
+Never were two conspirators more quickly punished. Simon Rich repented
+bitterly yielding to the temptation to injure Andy. His malice had
+recoiled upon himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+ANDY MAKES AN INVESTMENT.
+
+
+Andy wrote to his friend, Walter Gale, who, it will be remembered, was
+watching in Pennsylvania by the bedside of his uncle, giving him an
+account of his change of business. He received the following reply:
+
+    "I felt indignant when I read your news of the conspiracy of Simon
+    Rich, but was pleased that it led to your advantage. I am inclined
+    to think that you will find your new business a better one than the
+    jewelry trade. The latter, if you went in for yourself, would call
+    for a large capital. In the real estate business capital is not so
+    much needed as good judgment and a large lot of acquaintances. I am
+    not personally acquainted with Mr. Crawford, but know him by
+    reputation as an energetic and honorable business man. If you do not
+    find your income adequate, all you have to do is to apply to me. I
+    will send you fifty dollars or more at any time.
+
+    "Now, as to the prospects of my return, they are remote. My uncle
+    seems cheered by my presence, and his health has improved. He cannot
+    live more than a year or two at the best, but when I came here it
+    seemed to be only a matter of months. I shall remain while I can do
+    him good.
+
+    "When Mr. Flint returns he will do you justice. You can afford to
+    wait, as your income is larger than before. You suggest that I need
+    not continue to pay your board. This, however, I intend to do, and
+    will advise you to lay aside some money every week, and deposit in a
+    savings bank. The habit of saving is excellent, and cannot be formed
+    too early."
+
+"I am lucky to have such a friend," reflected Andy, as he finished
+reading this letter. "I will try to make myself worthy of such good
+fortune."
+
+At the end of six months Andy had acquired a large practical
+acquaintance with the real estate business. He displayed a degree of
+judgment which surprised Mr. Crawford.
+
+"You seem more like a young man than a boy," he said. "I am not at all
+sure but I could leave my business in your hands if I wished to be
+absent."
+
+This compliment pleased Andy. He had also been raised to seven dollars a
+week, and this he regarded as a practical compliment.
+
+One evening on his return from West Fifty-sixth Street he strayed into
+the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where he sat down to rest in the reading room.
+
+Two men were sitting near him whose conversation he could not help
+hearing.
+
+"I own a considerable plot in Tacoma," said one. "I bought it two years
+since, when I was on my way back from California. I should like to sell
+the plot if I could get a purchaser."
+
+"If the Northern Pacific Railroad is ever completed, the land will be
+valuable," replied the other.
+
+"True; but will it ever be completed? That date will be very remote, I
+fancy."
+
+"I don't think so. I would buy the land myself if I had the money, but
+just at present I have none to spare. How much did you invest?"
+
+"A thousand dollars."
+
+"You might sell, perhaps, through a real estate agent?"
+
+"The real estate agents here know very little of Western property. I
+should not know to whom to apply."
+
+Andy thought he saw a chance to procure business for his firm.
+
+"Gentlemen," he said, "will you excuse my saying that I am in a real
+estate office, and think you can make some satisfactory arrangement with
+us?"
+
+At the same time he handed the owner of the Tacoma property a card of
+the firm.
+
+"Crawford!" repeated his friend. "Yes, that is a reputable firm. You
+cannot do better than adopt the young man's suggestion."
+
+Andy Grant had written his name on the card.
+
+"You are rather young for a real estate agent, Mr. Grant," remarked the
+lot owner.
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"I am only a subordinate," he said.
+
+"Has your principal ever dealt in Western property?" asked Mr. Bristol.
+
+"Not to any extent, but I have heard him speak favorably of it."
+
+"I will call at your office to-morrow forenoon, then."
+
+Andy apprised Mr. Crawford of the appointment made.
+
+"I shall be glad to see your acquaintance, Andy," said Mr. Crawford. "I
+have advices from a friend of mine in Washington that the railroad is
+sure to be completed within a short time. This land will be worth
+buying. Have you any money?"
+
+"I have a hundred dollars in a savings bank," answered Andy.
+
+"Then I will give you a quarter interest in the purchase, and you can
+give me a note for the balance which at present you are unable to pay. I
+am sure we shall make a good deal of money within a short time, and I
+want you to reap some advantage, as it will have come to me through
+you."
+
+"Thank you, sir. I shall be very glad to have a share in the
+investment."
+
+About eleven o'clock, James Bristol, who proved to be a resident of
+Newark, New Jersey, presented himself at the office and was introduced
+by Andy to Mr. Crawford.
+
+"Andy has told me of your business," said the real estate agent. "You
+have some property in Tacoma."
+
+"Yes; I was persuaded to invest in some two years since. Now I need the
+money. Do you think you can find me a customer?"
+
+"What do you ask for it?"
+
+"A thousand dollars--the same price I paid."
+
+"Is it eligibly situated?"
+
+"If the town ever amounts to anything, it will be in the business part."
+
+"How many lots will it divide into?"
+
+"Twenty-five of the usual city dimensions."
+
+"Then I think I will take it off your hands. Part I will reserve for
+myself, and a part I will allot to a friend."
+
+"Can you pay me cash?"
+
+"Yes. I will make out a check at once."
+
+Mr. Bristol breathed a sigh of satisfaction.
+
+"I don't mind telling you," he said, "that I am very glad to realize on
+the investment. I have to meet a note for five hundred dollars in three
+days, and I was at a loss to know how to raise the money."
+
+"Then the transaction will be mutually satisfactory," rejoined Mr.
+Crawford.
+
+"Well, Andy," said his employer, when his customer left the office, "we
+are now Western land owners. I will draw up a note, which I will get you
+to sign, for a hundred and fifty dollars, and you can assign to me the
+money in the savings bank. I shall expect interest at the rate of six
+per cent."
+
+"I shall be very glad to pay it, sir."
+
+It was a satisfaction to Andy to think that he had made an investment
+which was likely ere many years to make him golden returns. He began to
+read with interest the accounts of the growth and development of the
+West, and decided to be unusually economical in the future, so as to be
+able to pay up the note due to Mr. Crawford, that he might feel that he
+owned his Western property without incumbrance.
+
+While Andy, as a rule, dressed neatly, there was one respect in which he
+did not win the approval of his neighbor, Sam Perkins.
+
+"I should think a boy with your income would be more particular about
+his neckties," said Sam.
+
+"What's the matter with my neckties, Sam? Are they not neat?"
+
+"Yes; but they are plain, such as a Quaker might wear. Why don't you
+get a showy tie, like mine?"
+
+Andy smiled as he noticed the gorgeous tie which his friend wore.
+
+"I don't like to be showy," he said.
+
+"You'll never attract the attention of the girls with such a plain tie
+as you wear. Now, when I walked on Fifth Avenue last Sunday afternoon,
+as many as twenty girls looked admiringly at my tie."
+
+"That would make me feel bashful, Sam."
+
+"Let me bring you one from the store like mine. You shall have it at the
+wholesale price."
+
+"No; I think not. It wouldn't be as becoming to me as to you. I don't
+want to be considered a dude."
+
+"I don't mind it. Next week I'm going to buy a pair of patent leathers.
+They will be really economical, as I shall not have to spend money on
+shines."
+
+One Saturday afternoon, when Andy was walking through one of the quiet
+streets west of Bleecker, his attention was drawn to a small boy,
+apparently about eleven years old, who was quietly crying as he walked
+along the sidewalk. He had never seen the boy before that he could
+remember, yet his face wore a familiar expression.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+SQUIRE CARTER'S RELATIVES.
+
+
+Andy was kind-hearted, and the boy's evident sorrow appealed to him. He
+went forward and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
+
+"What is the matter?" he asked.
+
+"I went to the baker's to buy some bread for mother, and the baker tells
+me that the quarter is a bad one."
+
+"Let me look at it."
+
+The coin had a dull appearance and a greasy feeling. It was
+unquestionably counterfeit.
+
+"Yes, it is bad," said Andy. "Is your mother poor?"
+
+"Very poor," answered the boy. "This quarter was all the money she had,
+and now we shall have no supper."
+
+"Whom do you mean by 'we'?"
+
+"My little brother and myself."
+
+Andy intended at first simply to give the boy a good coin for the bad
+one, but he saw that there was a call for something more.
+
+"Do you live near here?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir; just across the street."
+
+"I will go back with you to the baker's, and then I will go with you to
+see your mother. Perhaps I can help her."
+
+The boy put his hand confidingly in Andy's, and the two went a little
+distance to the baker's.
+
+"Now make your purchases," said Andy.
+
+"If you have brought back that bad quarter I won't take it," announced
+the baker, sharply.
+
+"I will pay you," said Andy, quietly.
+
+"Then it's all right. The boy brought me a very bad quarter. I have to
+look sharp, for a good many bad coins are offered me."
+
+Andy produced a genuine silver piece, and the bread was handed to the
+boy, with the change.
+
+The boy looked at it hesitatingly.
+
+"It is yours," he said to Andy.
+
+"No, I have changed quarters with you. I will keep the bad one."
+
+Again he looked at the boy, and again the resemblance to some familiar
+face puzzled him.
+
+"What is your name?" he asked.
+
+"Ben Carter."
+
+Carter! That explained it. The boy looked like Conrad Carter, though he
+had a pleasanter expression.
+
+"Have you an Uncle Philemon?" he inquired.
+
+"How did you know?" asked the boy, in surprise.
+
+"Because you look like Conrad Carter."
+
+"He is my cousin."
+
+"And you are poor?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Your uncle is considered rich."
+
+"I know he is, but he won't do anything for mother."
+
+Andy was now all the more desirous of seeing the boy's family.
+
+"I know your uncle," he said. "Do you think he knows you are so poor?"
+
+"Yes, for mother has written to him."
+
+By this time they had reached the place which Ben called home.
+
+"Go upstairs and I will follow," said Andy.
+
+They went up two flights, and the boy opened a door at the top of the
+landing.
+
+There was a woman not far from forty in the room. On her face was a look
+of settled sorrow. At her knee was a small boy five years of age. She
+looked at Andy inquiringly.
+
+"Mother," said Ben, "here is the bread. I couldn't have bought it, for
+the quarter was bad, if this boy had not given me another quarter."
+
+"This young gentleman," corrected the mother.
+
+"No, Mrs. Carter; I am a boy, and I prefer to be called so. I came up
+with Ben, for I find that he is related to Squire Carter, of Arden, whom
+I know very well."
+
+"You know Philemon Carter?"
+
+"Yes; he lives in Arden. That is my birthplace."
+
+Mrs. Carter's countenance fell.
+
+"Philemon Carter was my husband's brother," she said; "but there is
+little friendship between us."
+
+"He is reputed rich."
+
+"And we are poor. I see you wonder at that. When my husband's father
+died, Philemon was executor. It was understood that he was worth
+twenty-five thousand dollars. Yet of this amount my poor husband
+received but one thousand. I may be uncharitable, but I have always felt
+that Philemon cheated us out of our rightful share."
+
+"I should not be surprised. I never liked Squire Carter. He always
+seemed to me to be a selfish man."
+
+"He has certainly acted selfishly toward us."
+
+"Does he know of your poverty?"
+
+"Yes. Only two weeks since, in a fit of despair, I wrote to him for
+help. Here is his answer."
+
+She handed a letter to Andy. He instantly recognized the handwriting of
+the magnate of Arden.
+
+"Shall I read it?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, do so, and let me know what you think of it."
+
+This was the letter:
+
+    "SOPHIA: I have received your letter, and am surprised that you
+    should expect me to help support you. You are my brother's widow, it
+    is true, but your destitution is no fault of mine. My brother was
+    always shiftless and unpractical, and to such men good luck never
+    comes. He might at any rate have insured his life, and so made
+    comfortable provision for you. You cannot expect me to repair his
+    negligence. You say you have two boys, one eleven years of age. He
+    is certainly able to earn money by selling papers or tending an
+    office.
+
+    "As for myself, I am not a rich man, but have always been careful to
+    meet my expenses and provide for the future. I, too, have a son,
+    Conrad, whom I think it my duty to educate and start in life. Any
+    money I might send you would be so much taken from him. I advise you
+    to apply to some charitable society if you need temporary
+    assistance. It will be much better than to write me begging letters.
+    Yours truly,
+
+    "PHILEMON CARTER."
+
+"This is a very cold-blooded letter," said Andy, indignantly. "He might
+at least have inclosed a five-dollar bill."
+
+"He inclosed nothing. I shall never apply to him again."
+
+"Philemon Carter is considered to be one of the richest men in Arden. He
+is taxed for twenty-five thousand dollars, and is probably worth double
+that sum. People wonder where he got all his money."
+
+"A part of it is my husband's rightful share of the estate, I have no
+doubt."
+
+"Can you do nothing about it?"
+
+"How can I? I am poor and have no influential friends. He denies
+everything."
+
+"I will think of that, Mrs. Carter. I know a lawyer down town who may
+some time look into the matter for you. In the meanwhile, is there any
+special work you can do?"
+
+"Before I was married I was for a time a typewriter."
+
+"I will see if I can hear of a situation of that kind. The lawyer I
+spoke of may require an operator."
+
+"I would thankfully accept such a position."
+
+"Does Ben earn anything?"
+
+"He makes a little selling papers."
+
+"He ought to be going to school at his age."
+
+"If I could get any work to do I would send him."
+
+"Mrs. Carter, will you accept a little help from me?"
+
+Andy drew a five-dollar bill from his pocketbook and tendered it to the
+widow.
+
+"But," she said, "can you spare this? It is a large sum, and you are
+only a boy, probably not earning much."
+
+"I am a boy, but I am handsomely paid for my services. Besides, I have
+good friends to whom I can apply if I run short of money."
+
+"Heaven bless you!" said Mrs. Carter, earnestly. "You cannot tell how
+much good this money will do me. This morning I was utterly discouraged.
+I felt that the Lord had forsaken me. But I was mistaken. He has raised
+up for me a good friend, who--"
+
+"Hopes to be of a good deal more service to you. I must leave you now,
+but I shall bear you in mind, and hope soon to be the bearer of good
+tidings. I will take down your address, and call upon you again soon.
+Will you allow me to offer you a suggestion?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Then send out and buy some meat. This dry bread is not sufficient for
+you. Don't be afraid to spend the money I leave with you. I will see
+that you have more."
+
+As Andy left Mrs. Carter's humble home he felt more than ever the cold
+and selfish character of the man who, himself living luxuriously,
+suffered his brother's family to want.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+MR. WARREN AND HIS SUCCESS.
+
+
+Andy told Mr. Crawford about the poor family he had visited, and what he
+had done to help them.
+
+"You must let me refund the money, Andy," said his employer. "Five
+dollars is a good deal for a boy to give."
+
+"Don't forget that I have a double income, Mr. Crawford. I would prefer
+that this money should come from me. If you are willing to give another
+five dollars, it will be appreciated."
+
+"Then I will make it ten. Will you take charge of this bill and give it
+to Mrs. Carter?"
+
+"With the greatest pleasure, Mr. Crawford. You have no idea what
+happiness it will give the family."
+
+"I am glad you called my attention to their needs. If I could do
+anything more to help them--"
+
+"You can if you know any one who wants a typewriter."
+
+"Is the boy able to work a typewriter?"
+
+"No, but the mother is. Before her marriage she was in a lawyer's
+office."
+
+"That is a fortunate suggestion. I have a college friend--a classmate at
+Columbia--Mr. Gardner, who has just parted with his typewriter, who is
+about to be married."
+
+"May I call at his office, and ask for the situation for Mrs. Carter?"
+
+"Yes; it is on Nassau Street."
+
+Andy seized his hat and went over to the lawyer's office.
+
+It was 132 Nassau Street, in the Vanderbilt Building. He went up in the
+elevator and found Mr. Gardner in.
+
+"I come from Mr. Crawford," said Andy. "He says you need a typewriter."
+
+"Are you a typewriter?"
+
+"No; I ask for the position for a lady;" and he told the story.
+
+"You say she has had experience in a lawyer's office?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"That will make her more desirable. When can she call?"
+
+"I will have her here to-morrow morning at any hour."
+
+"Say ten o'clock--a little before, perhaps."
+
+The lawyer was a pleasant-looking man of medium age, and Andy felt sure
+that he would be a kind and considerate employer.
+
+After office hours, and before going up to his pupil, Andy called at the
+humble home of Mrs. Carter. The widow's face brightened as she saw him.
+
+"You are my good friend," she said. "You are welcome."
+
+"My employer, Mr. Crawford, sends you this," and Andy displayed the
+bill.
+
+"It is a godsend. It will enable me to pay my rent, due on Saturday, and
+give me three dollars over."
+
+"But that is not all. I have procured you a situation as typewriter in a
+lawyer's office. You will have to be on hand to-morrow morning a little
+before ten. The office is Mr. Gardner's, at 132 Nassau Street."
+
+"I can hardly believe in my good fortune. I will be there."
+
+"Can you leave the children?"
+
+"I will ask my neighbor, Mrs. Parker, to look after them. What a good
+young man you are!" she exclaimed, gratefully.
+
+"Not young man--boy," corrected Andy, with a smile.
+
+"Won't you stay and take a cup of tea?"
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Carter, but I have an evening engagement. Oh, by the
+way, I forgot to say that Mr. Gardner will pay you ten dollars a week."
+
+"I shall feel rich. I shall no longer be worried by thoughts of
+starvation."
+
+"Some time you might consult Mr. Gardner about your brother-in-law's
+withholding your share of the estate. He will be able to advise you."
+
+Andy felt a warm glow in his heart at the thought of the happiness he
+had been instrumental in bringing to the poor family. He had learned the
+great lesson that some never learn, that there is nothing so
+satisfactory as helping others. We should have a much better world if
+that was generally understood.
+
+The next day Andy received a letter from his stanch friend, Valentine
+Burns. He read it eagerly, for it brought him some home news, and in
+spite of his success he had not forgotten Arden and his many friends
+there.
+
+This was the letter:
+
+    "DEAR ANDY: How long it seems since I saw you! You know that you
+    were my most intimate friend, and of course I miss you very much. To
+    be sure, there is Conrad, who seems willing to bestow his company
+    upon me, as my father happens to be pretty well off, but I look upon
+    Conrad as a snob, and don't care much about him. When we met
+    yesterday, he inquired after you.
+
+    "'What's your friend, Andy Grant, doing in the city?'
+
+    "'He is in a real estate office,' I replied.
+
+    "'Humph! how much does he get paid?'
+
+    "'Five dollars.'
+
+    "'That is probably more than he earns, but it isn't much to live
+    upon.'
+
+    "I didn't care to tell him that you had another income, but said:
+    'Don't you think you could live on it?'
+
+    "'I couldn't live on ten dollars a week,' said Conrad, loftily.
+    'But, then, I haven't been accustomed to live like Andy Grant.'
+
+    "It must be pleasant to you to know that Conrad feels so much
+    interest in your welfare.
+
+    "Sometimes I see your father. He looks careworn. I suppose he is
+    thinking of the difficult position in which he is placed. I am sorry
+    to say that last week he lost his best cow by some disease. I heard
+    that he valued it at fifty dollars. I hope that you won't let this
+    worry you. The tide will turn some time. I saw your mother day
+    before yesterday. She is glad of your success, but of course she
+    misses you. She always receives me very cordially, knowing that we
+    are intimate friends.
+
+    "I wish I could see you, Andy. You have no idea how I miss you. I
+    like quite a number of the boys, but none is so near to me as you
+    were.
+
+    "Well, Andy, I must close. Come to Arden soon, if you can. It will
+    do us good to see you, and I think even Conrad will be glad, as it
+    will give him a chance to pump you as to your position.
+
+    "Your affectionate friend,
+
+    "VALENTINE BURNS."
+
+"So father has lost his best cow--old Whitey," said Andy, thoughtfully.
+"If I were not owing money to Mr. Crawford for the land in Tacoma I
+would buy him a new one, but some time I hope the land will be valuable,
+and then I can make the loss good to father."
+
+The reader has not, I hope, forgotten Andy's fellow lodger, S. Byron
+Warren. Mr. Warren was always writing something for the _Century_, the
+_Atlantic_, or some other leading magazine, but never had been cheered
+by an acceptance. The magazine editors seemed leagued against him.
+
+But one evening, when Andy returned from the office, he found Mr. Warren
+beaming with complacence.
+
+"You look happy to-night, Mr. Warren," he said.
+
+"Yes," answered the author; "look at that."
+
+He held out to Andy an eight-page paper called _The Weekly Magnet_, and
+pointed out a story of two columns on the second page. Under the title
+Andy read, "By S. Byron Warren." It was called "The Magician's Spell; A
+Tale of Sunny Spain."
+
+"I congratulate you," said Andy. "When did you write the story?"
+
+"Last winter."
+
+"How does it happen to be published so late?"
+
+"You see, I sent it first to _Scribner's_, then to _Harper's_, and then
+to the _Atlantic_. They didn't seem to fancy it, so I sent it to the
+_Magnet_."
+
+"I hope they paid you for it."
+
+"Yes," answered Warren, proudly. "They gave me a dollar and a half for
+it."
+
+"Isn't that rather small?"
+
+"Well, it is small, but the paper is poor. The editor wrote to me that
+he would be glad to pay me ten dollars for such a sketch when they are
+more prosperous."
+
+"I suppose you will write again? You must feel greatly encouraged."
+
+"I have been writing another story to-day. I shall mail it to them
+to-morrow."
+
+"I hope the _Magnet_ will prosper for your sake."
+
+"Thank you. I hope so, too. Ah, Andy, you don't know how it seems to
+see your own words in print!" said the author.
+
+"I am afraid I never shall, Mr. Warren. I was not intended for an
+author."
+
+"Oh, I think you might write something," said Warren, patronizingly.
+
+"No; I shall leave the literary field to you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+ANDY MAKES A COMMISSION.
+
+
+Mr. Crawford was busy in his office when a gentleman of fifty entered.
+
+"I hope you are at leisure, Crawford," he said.
+
+"But I am not, Mr. Grayling. I am unusually busy."
+
+"I wanted you to go out and show me that house in Mount Vernon which you
+mentioned to me the other day. My wife is desirous of moving from the
+city for the sake of the children."
+
+"Won't to-morrow do?"
+
+"To-morrow I shall be busy myself. To-day is so fine that I managed to
+get off. Can't you manage to go?"
+
+"No, Grayling, I can't possibly be spared from the office."
+
+"Is there no one you can send with me?"
+
+Mr. Crawford hesitated a moment. Then, as his eye fell upon Andy, he had
+a sudden thought.
+
+"I will send this young man," he said.
+
+Mr. Grayling smiled.
+
+"He seems quite a young man," he said.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Crawford, with an answering smile, "he is several years
+short of forty."
+
+"If you think he will do I shall be glad of his company."
+
+"Wait five minutes, and I will give him the necessary instructions."
+
+"Have you ever been in Mount Vernon, Andy?" asked his employer.
+
+"Yes, sir; I have a boy friend there, and I once spent a Sunday there."
+
+"Mr. Grayling wishes to purchase a residence there. I shall place him in
+your charge, and give you an order for the key. I will mention some
+points to which I wish you to call his attention."
+
+Andy was pleased with the commission. It seemed like a step in advance.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Crawford, for your confidence in me."
+
+"If you succeed in selling the house to Mr. Grayling, I will give you
+one per cent. commission."
+
+"I will do my best, sir. I have no claim to anything except through
+your kindness."
+
+"Now let me see how much business ability you have."
+
+Andy and the prospective purchaser took the cars at the Grand Central
+Station, and in forty minutes found themselves in Mount Vernon.
+
+At the depot, much to his satisfaction, Andy found his friend, Tom
+Blake.
+
+"What brings you here, Andy?" asked Tom, in surprise.
+
+"I have come to show the Griffith house to this gentleman. Can you
+direct me to it?"
+
+"I will go with you."
+
+"Thank you, Tom. You will be doing me a favor. Is it far?"
+
+"Little more than half a mile."
+
+"Shall we walk or ride, Mr. Grayling?"
+
+"Walk, by all means. It is a charming day, and a walk will do me good."
+
+They reached the house. It was a spacious country residence in good
+condition, and Mr. Grayling was favorably impressed. The key was
+procured and they entered.
+
+The interior bore out the promise of the exterior. The rooms were well
+and even handsomely finished. They were twelve in number, and there was
+a good-sized bathroom.
+
+"I wonder if the plumbing is good?" said Mr. Grayling.
+
+"I will test it as far as I can," said Andy.
+
+"You seem to have a good deal of experience for one so young."
+
+"No, sir, not very much, but I have made a careful study of the subject.
+Mr. Crawford has a good architectural library, and I have made use of
+it."
+
+After a careful inspection, Andy made a favorable report.
+
+"Of course," he said, "if I am mistaken we will make matters right."
+
+"That will be satisfactory. What is your price for the house?"
+
+"Eight thousand dollars."
+
+Mr. Grayling, after a brief consideration, said:
+
+"That seems reasonable. I will buy the house. How soon can you give me
+possession?"
+
+"In a week."
+
+"Very good. Then our business seems to be concluded. We will catch the
+next train back to the city."
+
+"Would you mind giving me a memorandum stating that you will buy the
+house?"
+
+"I will do so. We will stop at a stationery store, and I will make it
+out."
+
+When Andy re-entered Mr. Crawford's office the real estate agent
+inquired:
+
+"How does Mr. Grayling like the house?"
+
+"He has bought it."
+
+"Is it possible? At what figure?"
+
+"Eight thousand dollars."
+
+"Good! I was authorized to take two hundred dollars less, if need be."
+
+"He asked no reduction."
+
+"I hope he won't change his mind."
+
+"He won't. Here is his written agreement to take the house."
+
+"Excellent. Did he offer this assurance?"
+
+"No, sir. I asked for it."
+
+"Andy, you have succeeded admirably. I shall have great pleasure in
+keeping my promise and paying you eighty dollars, or one per cent, on
+the purchase money."
+
+"That will be very acceptable, Mr. Crawford. I don't often earn eighty
+dollars in one day."
+
+In reply to Mr. Crawford's inquiries, Andy gave a detailed account of
+his visit, and his employer drew a check for eighty dollars, which he
+placed in his hands.
+
+"Now that I see what you can do," he said, "I shall send you out again."
+
+"Perhaps you will find my services too expensive."
+
+"No. In addition to my regular percentage I receive an extra hundred
+dollars for getting the full eight thousand dollars."
+
+Andy cashed the check, and deposited the money in a savings bank. He did
+not pay it to Mr. Crawford on account of the land in Tacoma, for it
+occurred to him that he might have occasion to use it.
+
+In this he proved correct.
+
+Three weeks later he received a letter from his father. Sterling Grant
+was a farmer, little used to writing letters, and Andy knew that there
+must be some special reason for his writing at this time.
+
+He opened the letter quickly, and this was what he read:
+
+    "DEAR ANDY: I am in trouble. Next Tuesday the semi-annual interest
+    on Squire Carter's three thousand dollars falls due, and I have but
+    twenty dollars to meet it. My crops have not been up to the average.
+    I have lost my best cow, and somehow everything seems to have gone
+    against me. I expected to sell ten tons of hay, and have had but
+    seven to spare. This alone made a difference of sixty dollars.
+
+    "I saw the squire yesterday, and told him how I was situated. I
+    asked him if he would kindly wait for the greater part of the
+    interest, accepting twenty dollars on account. He at once refused.
+    'I am sorry you have been unlucky, Mr. Grant,' he said, 'but of
+    course I am not responsible for your misfortune. The three thousand
+    dollars I lent you I regard strictly as an investment. Had I
+    supposed the interest would not be paid promptly, I should, of
+    course, have declined to lend. You will have to meet the interest,
+    or take the consequences.'
+
+    "I have tried to borrow the money in the village, but thus far I
+    have been unable to do so. I may have to sell two of my cows, but
+    that will cripple me, for, as you know, I depend a good deal on
+    selling milk and butter. Of course this worries me a good deal. I
+    don't know why I write to you, for with your small pay it is hardly
+    likely that you can help me. Still, if you have ten or fifteen
+    dollars to spare, it will aid me. If your friend, Mr. Gale, were
+    near at hand, perhaps he would advance a little money. I might get
+    along with selling one cow, in that case. Two would cripple me.
+
+    "Let me know at once what you can do, that I may make plans. Your
+    mother is as well as usual, except that she is worried. We both send
+    love.
+
+    "Your affectionate father,
+
+    "STERLING GRANT."
+
+When Andy read this letter he felt, with a thrill of joy, that he had it
+in his power to relieve his father from anxiety. He had, with the
+commission received recently from Mr. Crawford, a hundred and fifty
+dollars in the bank. He withdrew eighty dollars of this, and then
+explaining to Mr. Crawford his reason for it, asked for time for a visit
+home.
+
+"Certainly, Andy," said the real estate agent. "Can I lend you any
+money?"
+
+"No, sir; I have enough."
+
+As he could not leave till the next day, he telegraphed his father in
+this way:
+
+    "Don't worry. I shall reach home to-morrow. ANDY"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+ANDY'S VISIT HOME.
+
+
+When Andy stepped on the station platform at Arden, he looked about him
+to see if any of his friends were in sight.
+
+To his great satisfaction he saw Valentine Burns, who had come to escort
+an aunt to the cars.
+
+"Where did you drop from, Andy?" he asked, in surprise.
+
+"From the city. I am going to stop over Sunday."
+
+"Good! I am delighted to see you."
+
+"And I to see you. You are my dearest friend--except Conrad."
+
+Valentine smiled.
+
+"Of course no one is so near to me as he. Well, what's the news?"
+
+"The only news I know of comes from Conrad. I hope it isn't true."
+
+"What did he say?"
+
+"That your father couldn't pay the interest on the mortgage held by his
+father, and was going to be turned out, though the squire might take
+your two best cows and call it even."
+
+"He seems to be a good friend of the family, doesn't he?" remarked Andy,
+quietly.
+
+"It isn't true, is it?"
+
+"It is true that father hasn't money enough to pay the interest."
+
+"What will happen, then?"
+
+"You forget that he has a rich son," said Andy, with a smile.
+
+"Can you help him out?"
+
+"That is what I am here for."
+
+"I am very glad to hear it," said Valentine, with an air of relief.
+"Even if I didn't like your family, I wouldn't like to see Conrad
+triumph over you."
+
+"Come around this evening, Val. We shall have plenty to talk about."
+
+"I will."
+
+When Andy entered the farmhouse he received a warm welcome from his
+mother, and a cordial grasp of the hand from his father, who was less
+demonstrative. But there was an air of grave anxiety on the faces of
+both.
+
+"I am glad to see you, Andy," said Sterling Grant, "but I wish you had
+come under more cheerful circumstances. We are in a good deal of
+trouble."
+
+"I have come to get you out of it."
+
+"Can you?" asked the farmer, in surprise.
+
+"Yes. How much have you got toward the interest?"
+
+"Only twenty dollars."
+
+"And the whole sum is--"
+
+"Ninety dollars."
+
+"I can give you the seventy dollars you require."
+
+"Where did you get the money? Have you borrowed it?"
+
+"No. It belongs to me. I will explain later. Now I am hungry, and while
+mother is looking for some lunch for me we will talk about other
+matters."
+
+"I am very much relieved, Andy. I will go and tell the squire I shall be
+able to meet the interest."
+
+"Don't do it, father. We will leave him to suppose it will not be paid,
+and see what course he intends to pursue. Don't breathe a word to
+undeceive him."
+
+"I will do as you say, Andy, though I don't know your object. Do you
+still like your place in New York?"
+
+"Yes; I am learning the business fast, and have good hopes for the
+future. Mr. Crawford is an excellent man, and takes an interest in me."
+
+"That is good. After all, things are brightening. When I got up this
+morning I felt about discouraged."
+
+"I telegraphed you not to worry, father."
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Grant was preparing an appetizing lunch for her son. She
+knew just what he liked. When it was placed on the table, he did full
+justice to it.
+
+"It tastes better than anything I get in the city, mother," he said.
+
+"I didn't suppose our plain table would compare with city meals."
+
+"They're not in it with you," said Andy. "I am only afraid I shall make
+myself sick by overeating."
+
+Mrs. Grant was greatly pleased that Andy had not lost his taste for home
+fare.
+
+"How you have grown, Andy!" she said. "And you are looking so well, too!
+Do you have to work very hard?"
+
+"Hard work agrees with me, mother. No; I don't hurt myself."
+
+"I wish I could be here when the squire comes for the interest," Andy
+said, later.
+
+"He will call this evening. You will see him," said Sterling Grant.
+
+"Then I shall be sure to stay at home."
+
+Meanwhile, at the house of Squire Carter, there was a conference between
+father and son.
+
+Conrad had a new and bright idea. He had always coveted Andy's boat,
+which, as we know, was much better than his own had been. It occurred to
+him that here would be a good opportunity to get it for a trifle.
+
+"Pa," he said, "will you do me a favor?"
+
+"What is it?" asked his father, suspiciously.
+
+"You know I haven't got a boat now. Won't you let Mr. Grant pay part of
+the interest in Andy's boat?"
+
+"What do I want with the boat?" asked the squire, impatiently.
+
+"Pa, you can make a great bargain. I hear that it cost seventy-five
+dollars. You can allow the farmer twenty dollars, and sell it for forty
+dollars cash."
+
+"I don't know about that."
+
+But the squire's tone was less decided. He liked a bargain, and he knew
+that there was some reason in what Conrad said.
+
+"Mr. Grant might not feel at liberty to sell his son's boat," he argued.
+
+"Andy would let him. He thinks a good deal of his family."
+
+"I'll think of it; but I intended to propose taking two of his cows."
+
+"That you can do next time. Probably he won't have the interest six
+months from now."
+
+"I'll see about it."
+
+"There is one other thing; you would have a better chance to sell the
+boat for a profit than the cows."
+
+"Well, Conrad, I will think of it, as I said. I am going around to
+Farmer Grant's this evening, and I will broach the subject."
+
+Later in the day Conrad met Jimmy Morris.
+
+"Have you heard the news, Conrad?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Andy Grant is in Arden. He arrived from the city this morning."
+
+"I am glad to hear it."
+
+"Why? Are you and Andy such great friends?"
+
+"It isn't on account of friendship; it's on account of business."
+
+"What business?"
+
+"I can't tell you, but you will very likely hear soon."
+
+Conrad hoped to meet Andy and broach the subject of buying the boat. He
+decided from his knowledge of the farmer's son that, much as he valued
+his boat, he would be willing to sacrifice it for the sake of his
+father. In this thought he paid an unconscious tribute to Andy, for in
+similar circumstances he would have been incapable of anything so
+unselfish.
+
+About half-past seven, Andy, looking out of the window, saw the stately
+and dignified figure of Squire Carter coming up the front path.
+
+"The squire is coming, father," he said. "I want you to look sober, just
+as if you were unprepared to pay the interest."
+
+Squire Carter had already been informed by Conrad that Andy was in the
+village. He showed no surprise, therefore, when he saw him.
+
+He had also been down to the river and taken a look at Andy's boat. He
+could see that it was a very handsome one, and doubtless worth as much
+as Conrad reported.
+
+"So you have come home, Andrew?" he said.
+
+"Yes, Squire Carter."
+
+"You haven't lost your place, have you?"
+
+"No, sir. I have come home on a visit."
+
+"Ahem! You arrived at an unfortunate time for your father. He has had
+bad luck. Things seem to have gone against him."
+
+"So I heard, sir."
+
+"If you had been at home to help him on the farm, things would have been
+different, maybe."
+
+"I hope to help him by staying in the city."
+
+"That isn't very likely. I don't approve, for my part, of boys leaving
+home to work."
+
+"I think I shall succeed in the end, sir."
+
+"Ahem! I have no doubt you think so, but boys like you haven't much
+judgment. I suppose you know that interest is due on the mortgage for
+the first six months, and that your father can't meet it."
+
+"I have heard so, Squire Carter."
+
+"As a friend of your father I have a plan to propose that may make
+things easy for him. I am glad to see you, for a part of my business is
+with you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+THE INTEREST IS PAID.
+
+
+Andy was surprised by the squire's words. He could not conjecture what
+business Squire Carter could have with him.
+
+"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the
+interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"
+
+"I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.
+Perhaps something may turn up between now and next Tuesday."
+
+"That is extremely likely," said the squire, in a tone of sarcasm.
+
+"Have you anything to propose? Are you willing to wait a month?"
+
+"No, sir; I am not. It will be extreme folly on my part. Do you expect
+to come into a fortune within thirty days?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"So I presume. However, I have a plan to propose. I did intend to say
+that I would allow you fifty dollars for your two best cows. But even
+that would not pay the deficit. I believe your son owns a boat."
+
+"I do," said Andy, looking up. He began to understand the squire's plan.
+
+"I am willing to allow twenty dollars for it, as my son has taken a
+fancy to it, and his own boat was destroyed through the malice of a
+tramp. This, with fifty dollars for your two cows, would pay the
+interest all but twenty dollars, which you say you are able to pay in
+cash."
+
+"Squire Carter, my cows are of a choice breed, and are worth fifty
+dollars each."
+
+"They would not fetch that sum. Indeed, twenty-five dollars each is all
+that you would have any chance of getting. If you doubt it, you may try
+to get an offer elsewhere."
+
+"What should I do without the cows? I depend on the butter and milk I
+obtain from them for a good part of my cash income."
+
+"That is your lookout," said the squire, shrugging his shoulders.
+
+"You don't appear to have much consideration for me."
+
+"Business is business, Mr. Grant. You owe me ninety dollars. If you
+can't pay me in one form, you must in another."
+
+"I would like to say a word, Squire Carter," said Andy. "The boat for
+which you offer twenty dollars cost Mr. Gate seventy-five."
+
+"I don't believe it."
+
+"I have his word for it."
+
+"Very likely, but it wouldn't be the first case where a man overstated
+the price of his purchase."
+
+"Mr. Gale would not deceive me in that way."
+
+"Have it as you like. The boat is second-hand now, and worth far less
+than when it was new," persisted the squire.
+
+"There is considerable difference between twenty dollars and
+seventy-five."
+
+"Well, I might stretch a point and call it twenty-five, as Conrad is
+desirous of having the boat. In that case there would be five dollars
+coming to you, which you would doubtless find very handy."
+
+"I think I shall have to decline your offer, Squire Carter."
+
+"And leave your poor father in trouble? I thought better of you."
+
+Squire Carter was surprised to find that both Andy and his father were
+cool, and apparently not suffering anxiety. He had thought they would be
+sad, and would resort to entreaties.
+
+"Does it strike you, Squire Carter, that you are trying to drive a very
+hard bargain with my father and myself? You offer a very low sum for the
+cows and for my boat."
+
+"If you can get more anywhere else, you are quite at liberty to do so,"
+said the squire, in a tone of indifference.
+
+He felt that father and son were in his power, and that he would have
+his own way in the end.
+
+"I don't think we shall sell at all," said Andy, calmly.
+
+"What!" ejaculated the squire. "Not sell at all? Do you think I will
+allow the interest to remain unpaid?"
+
+"The interest will be paid."
+
+"How? Where will you get the money?"
+
+"I will supply my father with what he needs."
+
+"You talk like a fool!" said the squire, sharply. "Do you think I will
+allow myself to be humbugged by a boy?"
+
+"No, sir; but you can rely upon what I say."
+
+"Have you borrowed the money from Mr. Gale?"
+
+"I have not seen Mr. Gale for several months. He does not know of my
+father's pecuniary trouble. If he did, I think he would come to his and
+my assistance. As to the boat, I value it not only on account of its
+intrinsic worth, but because he gave it to me. Conrad cannot have it."
+
+Squire Carter was much irritated. Besides, he did not believe that Andy
+would really be able to furnish his father with the help he needed.
+
+"I am not easily deceived, Andrew Grant," he said. "It is useless for me
+to remain here any longer. I will only say that if the interest is not
+paid on Tuesday next, your father must take the consequences."
+
+"He is ready to pay it now--before it is due--if you will give him a
+receipt."
+
+"Wh--what!" ejaculated the squire, in amazement.
+
+"I mean what I say. Father, will you give the squire writing materials
+and ask him to make out a receipt?"
+
+"Is this--straight? Are you really able to pay the interest now?"
+
+"Yes, sir. You need have no fear on that score. When my father wrote me
+about his difficulty I procured the money, and I have it here."
+
+Half incredulous, Squire Carter made out the receipt, and a roll of
+bills was handed to him. He counted them carefully, and put them in his
+wallet.
+
+"The money is correct," he said, stiffly. "I am glad you are able to pay
+it."
+
+"Thanks to Andy here," said his father, with a grateful look at his son.
+
+"All is well so far, but if your son has borrowed the money it will have
+to be repaid."
+
+"I didn't borrow it, Squire Carter."
+
+"Do you mean to say that you have been able to save it up out of your
+boy's wages?"
+
+"I received it from my employer for special services."
+
+Squire Carter left the house not altogether satisfied. He had received
+his interest, but he had hoped to profit by the farmer's needs, and get
+what would have been of considerably greater value than the money. In
+this he had been disappointed.
+
+"But six months hence interest will be due again," he reflected, by way
+of consolation. "This time the Grants were lucky, but won't be so all
+the time. Besides, when the mortgage falls due it will take more help
+than the boy can give to settle it."
+
+When the squire reached home, he found Conrad waiting to see him.
+
+"Well, pa," he said, "am I going to have the boat?"
+
+"No," answered his father, shortly.
+
+"Why not? You said you would get it for me."
+
+"They wouldn't sell."
+
+"Then how will they pay the interest?"
+
+"It is paid already."
+
+Conrad opened his eyes wide with amazement.
+
+"Where did the money come from?"
+
+"The boy advanced it to his father."
+
+"You must be joking, pa. Where could Andy get ninety dollars?"
+
+"He only had to supply seventy. As to where it came from I can't tell.
+You had better ask him."
+
+"So I will. It's a shame I can't have the boat."
+
+"He wants too much for it."
+
+"How much does he want?"
+
+"I don't know. If he will let you have it for thirty dollars, you can
+buy it."
+
+"Thank you, pa. It's the same as mine. A boy like Andy can't afford to
+refuse thirty dollars."
+
+"I don't know. He seems a mighty independent sort of boy."
+
+Conrad lost no time in trying to purchase the boat of Andy, but of
+course without success.
+
+"I would rather keep it myself," was the reply.
+
+"But you can't use it."
+
+"Not at present, perhaps, but I may be able to some time. Besides, Mr.
+Gale gave it to me, and I shouldn't be willing to part with it. At any
+rate, I wouldn't sell for thirty dollars."
+
+"Never mind, Conrad," said his father. "When the next interest is
+payable, Andrew will probably be glad to accept your offer."
+
+Andy enjoyed the short visit home. He managed to see the boys with whom
+he was most intimate, and promised to look out for positions in the city
+for two of them. At home his presence was a source of comfort and joy to
+his mother. It gladdened him to see the bright look on her face, which
+had been grave and anxious when he arrived.
+
+On Monday, morning he set out for New York on an early train, feeling
+that his visit had been in every way a success. Several boys were at the
+station to see him off, but among them he did not perceive Conrad
+Carter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL.
+
+
+Three months later, when Andy entered the office one morning, he found
+Mr. Crawford in a thoughtful mood.
+
+"I wish you were older, Andy," he began, abruptly.
+
+"Why, sir?"
+
+"Because I have a commission I could then intrust to you."
+
+"Then I am too young for it now?"
+
+"I am afraid so. And yet--but I will tell you what it is, and see if you
+consider yourself equal to it. How old are you now?"
+
+"Seventeen, sir."
+
+"I will explain myself. I am intimately acquainted with the men who are
+engineering the Northern Pacific Railroad, and I have reliable advices
+that work will at once be resumed on it, and probably the road will be
+completed in less than a year."
+
+"I suppose this will raise the price of our land in Tacoma?"
+
+"Precisely. Still, I think it will not be advisable to sell for some
+time to come. My object is rather to buy more land."
+
+"I should think it would be a good idea."
+
+"The time to buy is now, before the public learn of the probable early
+completion of the railroad. If I could spare the time from my business I
+would go out there at once."
+
+"I should think it would pay, Mr. Crawford."
+
+"Doubtless it would, but I cannot arrange to leave now. I expect to have
+some large transactions in real estate during the next two or three
+months."
+
+"I see the difficulty, sir."
+
+"I will come to the point. Do you think you could go to Tacoma, look
+carefully over the ground, and secure desirable lots for me?"
+
+"I think I could, sir, under instructions from you."
+
+"That is what I had in view when I said I wished you were older."
+
+"You could, at any rate, rely upon my faithfully carrying out your
+instructions."
+
+"I am sure of that, and I also have considerable confidence in your good
+judgment. At any rate, I will take the risk. What day is to-day?"
+
+"Thursday."
+
+"Make preparations to start on Monday. Can you do so?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+Andy felt a thrill of delight at the prospect held out to him. He had
+always felt a strong desire to see the great West, but had realized that
+he should probably have to wait a good many years before his wish was
+gratified. It had been a dream, but now his dream bade fair to become
+actuality.
+
+"I will prepare a general letter of instructions and make such
+suggestions as may occur to me," continued Mr. Crawford. "I will excuse
+you from office work for the balance of the week, in order that you may
+make the necessary preparations."
+
+As the Northern Pacific road was not completed, it was decided that Andy
+should go to San Francisco by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
+roads, and take steamer thence to Puget Sound.
+
+"You can stay in San Francisco three days," said Mr. Crawford,
+considerately. "It will give you a chance to rest and see the city."
+
+On Monday Andy started on his long journey. He wrote a brief letter to
+his mother, as follows:
+
+    "DEAR MOTHER: I am going West on some business for Mr. Crawford. I
+    will write you on the way. You are at liberty to tell this to any
+    one in Arden, but I don't care to have the extent of my journey
+    known. You may think I am young for such a trip, but I have no
+    fears. The business is important, but it is simple, and I hope to
+    carry it through successfully.
+
+    In haste, your loving son,
+
+    ANDY."
+
+However, Mrs. Grant was not the first one to hear of Andy's trip. It so
+happened that at the station Andy met Conrad Carter, who had just come
+into the city for a day.
+
+"How do you happen to be here?" asked Conrad, in surprise.
+
+"I am leaving the city."
+
+"I suppose you are discharged and going home," remarked Conrad, loftily.
+
+"No; I am going on some business for my employer."
+
+"How far do you go?"
+
+"My first stop will be Chicago."
+
+Conrad was amazed.
+
+"Is this straight?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You are going on business for the firm?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Mr. Crawford must be a fool."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"To send an ignorant country boy to Chicago."
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"Mr. Crawford has succeeded very well in business, and I don't think he
+is a fool."
+
+"He must be infatuated with you."
+
+"If he is, that is lucky for me."
+
+"How long do you expect to be away?"
+
+"I can't say; I can't tell how long it will take me to transact my
+business."
+
+"I wish pa would let me go to Chicago," said Conrad, enviously. "You are
+a poor boy, and yet you travel more than I."
+
+"Your time will come, Conrad."
+
+"Has your employer given you much money to travel with?"
+
+"I am to draw on him for what I want."
+
+"Say, won't you write me a letter from Chicago? I wish I had known you
+were going; I would have asked pa to let me go with you."
+
+Andy was amused at Conrad's change of front. He knew very well that
+Conrad was no more his friend than before, but that his notions were
+strictly selfish. However, he promised to write to him if he could get
+time, and made the promise in good faith.
+
+"I wish Valentine were going with me," he thought; "but I should not
+enjoy Conrad's company."
+
+Andy's journey to Chicago was uneventful. About two hours before the
+train arrived a tall man left his seat on the opposite side of the car
+and seated himself beside Andy.
+
+"Good-morning," he began. "I suppose, like me, you propose to stop in
+Chicago?"
+
+"For about twenty-four hours," answered Andy.
+
+"And then you go on further?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"How far?"
+
+"I cannot tell you definitely," answered Andy, who thought it wise to be
+on his guard.
+
+"Could you oblige me with small bills for a ten? I am owing a dollar to
+the porter."
+
+Andy took out a large-sized wallet from an inner pocket and opened it.
+It contained about fifty dollars in bills of different denominations.
+
+"I am afraid I cannot accommodate you," he said, "unless two five-dollar
+bills will answer your purpose."
+
+"I am afraid it won't help me."
+
+"I am sorry," said Andy, politely.
+
+He did not observe the covetous glance of the stranger as he noted the
+large wallet and its contents. It occurred to him afterward that his
+companion had not produced the bill he wished changed.
+
+"Oh, well," said the stranger, carelessly, "it doesn't matter. I can get
+the bill changed at the depot. Are you traveling on business?" he
+inquired.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"So am I. I represent the firm of Arnold & Constable, in New York.
+Doubtless you have heard of them."
+
+"Oh, yes. They are well known."
+
+"I have been in their employ for five years. Before that I worked for
+Claflin."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"You do not mention the name of your firm."
+
+"No, I am traveling on private business for the head of the firm."
+
+"Ah, yes. I don't wish to be inquisitive. You do right to keep the
+business to yourself."
+
+"You see, it is not my business."
+
+"Just so! You are young for a business agent."
+
+"That is true, but I am growing older every day."
+
+"Exactly so! Good joke!"
+
+Andy's companion laughed quite heartily, rather to the surprise of his
+young acquaintance.
+
+"I am very glad to have met you. You see, I am very social, and can't
+stand being alone. By the way, where do you stop in Chicago?"
+
+"At the Sherman House."
+
+"Good hotel! I have stopped there often. Still, there is nothing as
+homelike as a private house. I have a friend living in the city who
+keeps a first-class boarding house and only charges transient guests a
+dollar and a quarter a day. I wish you could be induced to go there with
+me. At the hotel you will have to pay three or four dollars."
+
+Now, Andy was naturally economical, and thought it would be praiseworthy
+to save money for Mr. Crawford. He inquired the location of the boarding
+house, and imprudently decided to act on his companion's proposal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+THE TRAP.
+
+
+Andy left the depot with his new acquaintance, who gave his name as
+Percival Robinson, and, following his lead, boarded a horse car, which
+took them both a distance of three miles to the southern part of the
+city. As they went on, dwellings became scattering.
+
+"Your friend's house seems quite out of the way," said Andy.
+
+"Yes; but Chicago is a city of distances. It really doesn't make much
+difference where you stop. Street cars will carry you anywhere."
+
+"Still it would be pleasanter to be centrally located."
+
+"But by going some way out you get cheaper accommodations."
+
+"That is true," thought Andy; "and I have time enough."
+
+At length Robinson signaled to the conductor to stop.
+
+Andy followed him out of the car. They seemed to be in the very
+outskirts of the city.
+
+Robinson led the way to a rather shabby brick house standing by itself.
+It was three stories in height.
+
+"This is where my friend lives," he said, walking up the front steps and
+ringing the front-door bell.
+
+Two minutes later the door was opened by a red-haired man in his shirt
+sleeves.
+
+"Hello, Tom!" he exclaimed.
+
+"I thought his name was Percival," Andy said to himself.
+
+"My young friend and I will stay overnight with you," said Robinson.
+
+"All right. Come in."
+
+A door on the left was opened, and Andy saw a sanded floor, and on one
+side of the room a bar.
+
+"Go in there a minute," said Robinson, "while I speak to my friend."
+
+Andy went in, and picked up a copy of the _Clipper_ from the table--the
+only paper in the room.
+
+In five minutes the two returned.
+
+"I'll take your gripsack," said the man in shirt sleeves. "I will show
+you to your room."
+
+They went up two flights of stairs to a room on the third floor. It was
+a small apartment about ten feet square, with a double bed in one
+corner.
+
+"I guess you'll both be comfortable here," said the landlord.
+
+"I think I would rather have a room to myself," said Andy, by no means
+satisfied.
+
+"Sorry we can't accommodate you, but the house is full."
+
+It didn't look so, but then the lodgers might be out.
+
+Andy thought for a moment he would go downstairs, and take a car back to
+the central part of the city, but he was afraid his action would seem
+strange, and he made no objection.
+
+"I guess we'll get along together," said Robinson, in an easy tone.
+
+Andy didn't think so, but he found it awkward to make objections.
+
+"I will take a wash," he said, seeing that the pitcher on the washstand
+contained water.
+
+"All right!" returned Robinson. "Just make yourself at home. I'll go
+downstairs. You'll find me there."
+
+Left alone, Andy reproached himself for his too ready yielding to the
+plans of his companion. He wondered why he had done so.
+
+"Mr. Crawford didn't ask me to be economical," he reflected. "He is
+willing I should pay ordinary prices at a hotel. I think I have been
+very foolish. However, I am in for it. It will serve as a lesson to me,
+which I will remember hereafter."
+
+He looked out of the window. There was a lot behind the hotel--if it was
+a hotel--covered with ashes, tin cans, and other litter.
+
+"I am sure," thought Andy, "this isn't the kind of hotel Mr. Crawford
+wished me to stay at."
+
+When he had washed he went downstairs. As he passed the door of the
+barroom he saw Mr. Robinson inside, sitting at the table, with a bottle
+and a glass before him.
+
+"Come in, Grant, and have some whisky," he said.
+
+"Thank you, but I don't care for whisky."
+
+"Perhaps you would prefer beer?"
+
+"I don't care to drink anything, thank you."
+
+"You don't mean to say you're a temperance crank?"
+
+"Yes, I think I am."
+
+"Oh, well, do just as you please. By the way, it is the rule here to pay
+for board in advance."
+
+"How much is it?"
+
+"A dollar and a quarter, please," said this red-haired man, who stood
+behind the bar.
+
+Andy paid over the money.
+
+"I thought perhaps you would stay more than one day."
+
+"No, I have little time. I shall have to leave to-morrow. I think, Mr.
+Robinson, I will go out and take a walk."
+
+"All right! Supper will be ready in two hours."
+
+Andy nodded.
+
+He had a great mind to go upstairs and get his gripsack. Then he would
+be able to go where he pleased. He went out and began to walk about in
+the neighborhood of the hotel.
+
+It did not seem to be a very pleasant quarter of the city, and it was
+certainly a good distance from the center.
+
+"I sha'n't learn much about Chicago if I stay here," he thought.
+
+Again he execrated his folly in so weakly yielding to the
+representations of a man he knew nothing about.
+
+He walked for half an hour and then returned slowly. There didn't seem
+to be much to look at, and his walk had no interest for him.
+
+Not far from the hotel he met a well-dressed boy, and was impelled to
+speak to him.
+
+"Do you live near by?" he asked.
+
+"No, but I have an uncle living in that house over there. I came to
+spend the day with my cousins."
+
+"I am a stranger in this city. I met a man who took me to that brick
+house. He recommended it as a cheap boarding place. Do you know anything
+about it?"
+
+"I know that it has a bad reputation."
+
+"Will you tell me what you know about it? You will be doing me a favor."
+
+"The bar does a good business in the evening. I have heard of several
+cases where men who put up there complained of being robbed."
+
+"Thank you. I am not much surprised to hear it."
+
+"Have you taken a room there?"
+
+"Yes. I am afraid I was foolish."
+
+"I hope you won't be robbed--that's all."
+
+"I should like to get out, but I am afraid if I come downstairs with my
+grip they would try to stop my going."
+
+"Where is your room?"
+
+"At the back part of the house, looking out on the lot."
+
+"I'll tell you what you can do," said the other boy, after a moment's
+thought. "Have you paid anything for your room?"
+
+"Yes, but I don't mind that."
+
+"Then drop your grip out of the window. I'll catch it."
+
+"I will."
+
+"Then you can take a car and go down into the city."
+
+"Do you know the way to the Sherman House?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"If you will go there with me, I'll make it worth your while."
+
+"All right. I was just about going home, anyway."
+
+"Then I'll go upstairs and get my bag."
+
+Andy went to his room, opened the window, and, looking down, saw his new
+boy friend.
+
+"Are you ready?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You needn't try to catch it. There's nothing in it that will break."
+
+"Fling her out!"
+
+Andy did so.
+
+"Now come down. You'll find me here."
+
+An hour later supper was served. Percival Robinson and three other men,
+likewise patrons of the barroom, sat down. The landlord himself was one
+of the party.
+
+"Where is the kid?" he asked.
+
+"I saw him go out an hour ago," said one of the guests.
+
+"He has probably come back and is in his room," said Robinson. "I will
+go up and call him."
+
+He went upstairs quickly and entered the room assigned to Andy and
+himself. It was empty.
+
+"The boy has taken a long walk," he said to himself.
+
+Then he looked about for Andy's grip. It occurred to him that he would
+have a good opportunity to examine its contents.
+
+He started in surprise and dismay, for the grip was gone.
+
+"He must have given me the slip," he exclaimed.
+
+"Did any one see the boy go out with his gripsack?" he asked, as he
+returned.
+
+"I saw him go out, but he had nothing in his hand," answered the
+landlord.
+
+"Well, he's gone, bag and baggage," returned Robinson, very much
+annoyed.
+
+"At any rate, he has paid his bill," said the landlord, complacently.
+
+"Bother his hotel bill!" muttered Robinson, roughly. "I meant to have a
+good deal more than that."
+
+"Have you any idea where he has gone?"
+
+"I think he may have gone to the Sherman House. I'll go there after
+supper and see if I can find him."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+A CRITICAL MOMENT.
+
+
+Guided by his boy companion, Andy found the Sherman House and registered
+there. The change was a very satisfactory one, and he enjoyed the
+comfortable room to which he was assigned.
+
+After a hearty supper he took a seat in the office and watched with
+interest the crowds that surged in and out of the hotel. Presently he
+saw a familiar figure entering.
+
+It was his late companion, Percival Robinson. The latter was not long in
+recognizing the boy.
+
+He walked up to the chair on which Andy was seated and addressed him
+with a look of anger.
+
+"So I have found you, have I?" he said, roughly.
+
+Andy knew that this man had no right to interfere with him, and
+answered, coolly:
+
+"So it seems."
+
+"Why did you play me such a mean trick, boy?"
+
+"My name is Andrew," said Andy, with dignity. "What right have you to
+speak to me in this manner?"
+
+"I'll tell you presently. You have made a nice return for my kindness."
+
+"I know of no kindness. You got acquainted with me on the train, and
+took me to a house where I didn't care to stop."
+
+"Why didn't you care to stop there?"
+
+"Because I found that it didn't have a good reputation. My employer
+wouldn't care to have me stay at such a house."
+
+"You are mighty independent for a young boy. I want you to return the
+pocketbook of which you relieved me."
+
+Andy was startled at this reckless charge.
+
+"What do you mean?" he demanded, hotly. "You know that this is a
+falsehood."
+
+"We'll see if you will brazen it out. If you don't give me back the
+pocketbook, which I have no doubt you have in your pocket at this
+moment, I will have you arrested."
+
+Andy began to feel nervous. He was a stranger in Chicago. There was no
+one to identify him or vouch for his honesty. What if this man should
+carry out his threat and have him arrested?
+
+However, Andy had pluck, and didn't intend to surrender at discretion.
+
+This conversation had attracted the attention of two or three guests of
+the hotel, who were disposed to look with suspicion upon Andy. His
+accuser appeared like a man of good position, being well dressed and
+with an air of assurance.
+
+One old gentleman, who was fond of giving advice, said, reprovingly:
+
+"My boy, you will find it best to hand the gentleman his pocketbook. It
+is sad to see one so young guilty of theft."
+
+"Perhaps the boy is not guilty," suggested another guest.
+
+"I am in the employ of a gentleman in New York," said Andy, "and this
+man is scheming to rob me."
+
+"You are perfectly shameless!" said Robinson, encouraged by what the
+old gentleman had said. "I will give you just five minutes to return my
+pocketbook, or I will have you arrested."
+
+Andy felt that he was in a tight place, but his wits had not deserted
+him.
+
+"As you claim the pocketbook," he said, "perhaps you will tell how much
+money there is in it."
+
+"I can't tell exactly," replied Robinson. "I spend money liberally, and
+I have not counted the money lately."
+
+"That is quite reasonable," said the old gentleman. "I don't know how
+much money there is in my wallet."
+
+"What is there besides money in the pocketbook?" asked Andy following up
+his advantage.
+
+"I think there are a few postage stamps," answered Robinson at a guess.
+
+"You certainly have a good deal of assurance, young man," said the old
+gentleman in a tone of reproof. "If I were in this gentleman's place I
+would summon a policeman at once."
+
+"I prefer to give the boy a chance," said Robinson, who had his own
+reasons for not bringing the matter to the knowledge of the police. "I
+don't want to get him into trouble. I only want my money back."
+
+"You are more considerate than he deserves," said Andy's critic. "And by
+the way, here is the hotel detective. Officer, will you come here,
+please? Here is a case that requires your attention."
+
+The hotel detective, a quiet-looking man, approached.
+
+Robinson was far from thanking the old gentleman for his officiousness.
+He feared recognition.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked the detective, coming up and eying Robinson
+sharply.
+
+The old gentleman volunteered an explanation.
+
+The detective seemed amused.
+
+"So this man charges the boy with robbing him?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir; and we all believe that he has good grounds for doing so."
+
+"I don't believe it," said the gentleman who had already spoken for
+Andy.
+
+"What have you to say, my boy?" asked the detective, turning to Andy.
+
+"Only that I made the acquaintance of this man on the train. He induced
+me to go to a small hotel on the outskirts of the city, on the ground
+that I could board there cheaply. What I saw and heard there excited my
+suspicions, and I left the place without his knowledge."
+
+"Taking my pocketbook with you. I incautiously laid it on the bed. When
+I went up later I found that it and you had disappeared."
+
+"Do you hear that, officer?" asked the old gentleman, triumphantly.
+
+"I do," answered the detective. Then, turning to Robinson with a change
+of tone, he asked:
+
+"How did you get so much money, Tom Maitland?"
+
+Robinson turned pale. He saw that he was recognized.
+
+"I will let the matter drop," he said. "I don't want to get the boy into
+trouble."
+
+He turned toward the door, but the detective was too quick for him.
+
+"You will have to go with me," he said. "You have been trying a bold
+confidence game. I shall have to lock you up."
+
+"Gentlemen," said Robinson, turning pale, "will you permit this
+outrage?"
+
+"It is an outrage!" said the old gentleman, hotly.
+
+"My friend," inquired the detective, "do you know this man?"
+
+"No; but--"
+
+"Then let me introduce him as Tom Maitland, one of the cleverest
+confidence men in Chicago."
+
+He produced a pair of handcuffs, which he deftly slipped over the wrists
+of Percival Robinson, and led him out of the hotel.
+
+Andy was satisfactorily vindicated, and, it must be admitted, enjoyed
+the discomfiture of the old gentleman, who slunk away in confusion.
+
+When Andy set out on his journey he intended to go to Tacoma by way of
+San Francisco, but found, as he proceeded, that he could go by the
+Northern Pacific as far as it was built, and proceed the rest of the way
+by stage and over Puget Sound. This seemed to him to afford greater
+variety, and he adopted the plan.
+
+Some hundreds of miles east of his destination he took the stage. It was
+rather a toilsome mode of traveling, but he obtained a good idea of the
+country through which he was passing.
+
+At that time stage robberies were frequent, nor have they wholly ceased
+now. Among the stage robbers who were most dreaded was a certain Dick
+Hawley, who had acquired a great reputation for daring, and was known to
+have been engaged in nearly twenty stage robberies.
+
+As they approached that part of the route in which he operated, there
+was a great anxiety manifested by the passengers, and especially by a
+thin, cadaverous-looking man from Ohio.
+
+"Do you think we shall meet Dick Hawley to-day, driver?" he asked.
+
+"I can't say, sir. I hope not."
+
+"How often have you met him?"
+
+"Three times."
+
+"Did he rob the stage every time?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Were there many passengers on board?" asked Andy.
+
+"Nearly ten every time."
+
+"And they allowed one man to rob them?"
+
+"Wait till you meet him," said the driver, shrugging his shoulders.
+
+"If he stops the stage I shall die of fright," said the
+cadaverous-looking man. "I know I shall."
+
+"Have you a good deal of money with you?" asked a fellow passenger.
+
+"I have ninety-seven dollars and a half," answered the other, soberly.
+
+"Better lose that than die! If you give it up, there won't be any danger
+of bodily injury."
+
+The cadaverous-looking man groaned, but did not reply.
+
+Gradually they ascended, for they were among the mountains, till they
+reached a narrow ledge or shelf scarcely wider than the stage. On one
+side there was a sheer descent of hundreds of feet, and great caution
+was requisite.
+
+Just at the highest point a horseman appeared around a curve and
+stationed himself directly in front of the stage, with a revolver
+pointed at the driver.
+
+"Stop and give up your money, or I fire!" he exclaimed.
+
+It was the dreaded highwayman, Dick Hawley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+A SUDDEN TRAGEDY.
+
+
+The driver pulled up short. The passengers realized that something had
+happened, and the nervous man put his head out of the window.
+
+Instantly a change came over his face.
+
+"We are all dead men!" he groaned. "It is the highwayman!"
+
+Andy felt startled in spite of his pluck, and so did the other
+passengers.
+
+"I would jump out and confront the scoundrel," said a determined-looking
+man, "but there is no room. We are on the verge of a precipice."
+
+"What will happen?" exclaimed the cadaverous-looking man in an agony of
+terror.
+
+"I suppose we shall be robbed. That will be better than tumbling over
+the precipice."
+
+"Oh, why did I ever leave home?"
+
+"I don't know. Ask me something easier," said the resolute man, in
+disgust. "Such a man as you ought never to stir from his own fireside."
+
+"Stop the coach and pass over your watches and pocketbooks!" cried Dick
+Hawley, in a commanding tone.
+
+By way of exciting alarm and enforcing his order he fired one charge of
+his revolver. The consequences he did not anticipate.
+
+The terrified stage horses, alarmed by the report, got beyond control of
+the driver and dashed forward impetuously. The highwayman had hardly
+time to realize his danger when his horse was overthrown and pushed over
+the precipice along with its rider, while the stage dashed on. The last
+that the passengers saw of Dick Hawley was a panic-stricken face looking
+upward as he fell rapidly down toward the rocks at the bottom.
+
+"He's gone! We are saved!" exclaimed the cadaverous-looking man,
+joyfully.
+
+"That is, if the coach doesn't tumble after him."
+
+But the coach was saved. Had the horses swerved in their course all
+would have been killed. As it was, the dangerous place was safely
+crossed and the stage emerged upon a broad plateau.
+
+The driver stopped the horses, and, dismounting from the box, came
+around to the coach door.
+
+"I congratulate you, gentlemen," he said. "We had a close shave, but we
+are out of danger. Dick Hawley will rob no more stages."
+
+"Driver, you are a brave man--you have saved us," said one of the
+passengers.
+
+"It was not I; it was the horses."
+
+"Then you did not start them up?"
+
+"No; I should not have dared to do it. They were frightened by the
+revolver and took the matter into their own hands."
+
+"Dick Hawley was foolhardy. Had he ever stopped a stage at this point
+before?"
+
+"Yes, he did so last year."
+
+"And succeeded?"
+
+"Yes; he made a big haul. This time he has met his deserts."
+
+There were no further incidents that deserve recording in Andy's
+journey. It is needless to say that he enjoyed it. The scenes through
+which he passed were new and strange to him. It was a country he had
+never expected to see, and for this reason, perhaps, he enjoyed it the
+more.
+
+At last he reached Tacoma. It was irregularly built on a hillside. There
+were no buildings of any pretensions. All its importance was to come.
+
+He put up at the Tacoma House, a hotel of moderate size, and after
+dinner he went out to see the town. He sought out the plot of lots owned
+jointly by Mr. Crawford and himself, and found that they were located
+not far from the center of the business portion of the town.
+
+It took no sagacity to foresee that the land would rise in value
+rapidly, especially after the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed.
+
+In the afternoon, feeling tired, he sat in his room and read a book he
+had picked up at a periodical store--a book treating of the great
+Northwest. The partitions were thin, and noises in the adjoining room
+were easily audible.
+
+His attention was drawn to a sound of coughing, and a groan indicating
+pain. It was evident that the next apartment was occupied by a sick man.
+
+Andy's sympathies were excited. It seemed to be a forlorn position to be
+sick and without attention in this remote quarter. After a moment's
+hesitation he left his own room and knocked at the other door.
+
+"Come in!" was the reply, in a hollow voice.
+
+Andy opened the door and entered.
+
+On the bed lay a man, advanced in years, with hollow cheeks and every
+appearance of serious illness.
+
+"I am afraid you are very sick," said Andy, gently.
+
+"Yes; I have an attack of grip. I am afraid I will have to pass in my
+checks."
+
+"Oh, it isn't as bad as that," said Andy, in a reassuring tone. "Have
+you no one to take care of you?"
+
+"No; everybody here is occupied with schemes for money-making. I can't
+get any one to look after me for love or money."
+
+"Then you have no near friend or relative in Tacoma?"
+
+"No; nor, I may say, anywhere else. I have a niece, however, in
+Syracuse. She is at school. She is the only tie, the only one on whom I
+have any claim."
+
+"If you need money--" began Andy, feeling a little delicate about
+offering pecuniary assistance.
+
+"No, I have no need of that kind. I suppose I look poor, for I never
+cared about my personal appearance, but I am one of the largest owners
+of real estate in Tacoma, besides having some thousands of dollars in a
+San Francisco bank. But what good will it all do me? Here I am, sick,
+and perhaps near death."
+
+"I will do what I can for you," said Andy. "I am myself a visitor in
+Tacoma. I came on business for a New York gentleman. I am authorized to
+buy lots in Tacoma. When you are better, I will make you an offer for
+your land, if you care to sell."
+
+"Help me to get well, and you shall have it on your own terms."
+
+"You will need some one besides myself. Do you authorize me to hire an
+attendant?"
+
+"Yes, I shall be glad to have you do so. I begin to hope for recovery,
+through your assistance. I had given myself up for lost."
+
+"Then I will go out and see what I can do. Do you authorize me to pay
+liberally for the service of a nurse?"
+
+"Pay anything--fifty dollars a week, if necessary; I can afford it."
+
+"I will go out at once. I will see if I can buy some oranges."
+
+Andy left the hotel and walked toward the steamboat wharf. It was
+deserted, except by two persons.
+
+A young man of thirty, bronzed by exposure to the weather, who looked
+like a farmer, stood beside a plain, cheap trunk, on which sat a woman
+somewhat younger, who had a weary and anxious look.
+
+The young man--her husband, doubtless--seemed troubled.
+
+"Good-afternoon," said Andy, pleasantly. "Are you in any trouble? Is
+there anything I can do for you?"
+
+"Well, my boy, I'm in a tight place. I came here from Iowa, with my
+wife, expecting to meet a cousin who had promised to get me employment.
+I find he has left Tacoma. So here I am, with less than five dollars in
+my pocket and no prospect of work. I'm not a coward, but I don't mind
+saying I'm afraid to think of what will become of us."
+
+An idea came to Andy.
+
+Here was a chance to secure a nurse.
+
+"Is your wife used to sickness?" he asked. "Could she take care of a
+sick man?"
+
+The woman brightened up.
+
+"I took care of my father for a year," she answered. "I'm a middlin'
+good nurse."
+
+"She's the best nurse I know of," put in her husband.
+
+"All right! Then I can find you employment. An acquaintance of mine, an
+old man--as old, probably, as your father--is sick with grip at the
+Tacoma House. He will pay you liberally. Can you come with me at once?"
+
+"Yes, and be glad to."
+
+"Come, then. You will be paid twenty-five dollars a week."
+
+"Why that's a fortune!" said the woman, amazed.
+
+"Come with me at once, and your husband can follow at his leisure."
+
+"Maria, that's what I call a streak of good luck," said her husband,
+overjoyed. "Go along with this young man, and I'll get a cheap room
+somewhere in town. I'll take the trunk along with me."
+
+He shouldered the small trunk, and his wife went off with Andy.
+
+In a few minutes she was installed in the sick chamber, and soon showed
+that she understood her business. A doctor was sent for, and Seth
+Johnson, for this was the sick man's name, was soon made comfortable.
+
+He ratified Andy's bargain, and paid, besides, for Mrs. Graham's board
+at the hotel. He did not gain rapidly, for his strength was at a low
+ebb, but he improved steadily.
+
+The husband found employment in a couple of days, and their temporary
+despondency gave place to hope and courage.
+
+"You've done better for me than my cousin would have done, Andy," said
+Graham, a few days later. "You've set me on my feet, and I'm not afraid
+now but I'll get along."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+SETH JOHNSON'S GIFT.
+
+
+It was four weeks before Seth Johnson became convalescent. His system
+was run down, and he was in a very critical state when found by Andy.
+Careful nursing saved him.
+
+When able to get out, he accompanied Andy to show him his lots. The plot
+was about as large as Mr. Crawford's, but was a little further from the
+center of the town. It would make about twenty-five lots of the average
+size.
+
+"How much will you take for the entire plot?" asked Andy.
+
+"I don't want to sell the whole," said Johnson.
+
+"I thought you meant to leave Tacoma for good?"
+
+"So I do, but I propose to give one-fifth of the land to a friend."
+
+"Then let me know how much you will take for the remaining four-fifths."
+
+"Will five thousand dollars be too much?"
+
+"I will buy it at that figure," said Andy, promptly.
+
+"You don't ask me to whom I intend to give the fifth which I reserve?"
+
+"It is probably no one whom I know."
+
+"On the contrary, it is one whom you know well--it is yourself."
+
+Andy looked his amazement.
+
+"But how have I deserved such a gift?" he asked.
+
+"You have saved my life. If you had not found and befriended me, I
+should not have been living at this moment. 'All that a man hath will he
+give in exchange for his life,' the Bible says. I don't give all, but I
+give merely one-fifth of my land. I have ten thousand dollars, besides,
+in San Francisco."
+
+"I am deeply grateful to you, Mr. Johnson. I am a poor boy, and this
+unexpected gift will help me to carry out some plans for the benefit of
+my father, who is in an embarrassed condition."
+
+"I advise you not to sell the land till you can sell at an advanced
+price."
+
+"I shall not do so. When the Northern Pacific is completed I am sure
+lots will be much higher."
+
+"To be sure. You are young and can wait. I am old, and I have no
+particular desire to make money. I have enough to see me through."
+
+When Andy started for New York he had the company of Seth Johnson. It
+was agreed that the final arrangements for the transfer of the lots
+should take place in Mr. Crawford's office.
+
+They reached the city without adventure, and Andy, with his new friend,
+reported at his employer's.
+
+"I hope you are satisfied with what I have done, Mr. Crawford," said
+Andy.
+
+"Thoroughly so. You have made a good purchase. I shall pay you five
+hundred dollars as an acknowledgment of the service you have rendered
+me."
+
+"But, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Johnson has already given me five lots."
+
+"True; but this is his gift, not mine. You must not be afraid of
+becoming too rich. You will need all your money."
+
+"Yes, sir, but not for myself. I can now relieve my father's anxiety."
+
+"Do you intend to tell him the amount of your good fortune?"
+
+"I will only tell him of your gift."
+
+On the basis of the sum which Mr. Crawford paid for the other
+four-fifths, Andy's share of Mr. Johnson's land amounted to twelve
+hundred and fifty dollars. But when, three months later, active
+operations for the extension and completion of the railroad commenced,
+it could easily have been sold for double.
+
+But Andy was too sagacious to sell. In a year his father's mortgage
+would be payable, and he wanted to be prepared for that.
+
+Meanwhile Andy devoted himself with energy to mastering the details of
+the real estate business. Perhaps because he now himself owned real
+estate, he became very much interested in it. He was not able often to
+visit Arden, but he never let a week pass without writing a letter home.
+
+It was usually addressed to his mother, as his father was more
+accustomed to guiding the plow than the pen. He also heard occasionally
+from his boy friends. No letters were more welcome than those of
+Valentine Burns. About three months before the mortgage became due he
+received the following from Valentine:
+
+    "DEAR ANDY: I wish I could see you oftener, but I know you are busy,
+    and getting on. That is a great satisfaction to me. Your last letter
+    informing me that you had been raised to fifteen dollars a week gave
+    me much pleasure. I wanted to tell Conrad, only you didn't wish to
+    have me. He is getting prouder and more disagreeable every day. He
+    really seems to have a great spite against you, though I cannot
+    understand why.
+
+    "I met him the other day, and he inquired after you. 'He hasn't been
+    to Arden lately,' he said.
+
+    "'No,' I answered, 'he is too busy.'
+
+    "'Probably he can't afford the railway fare,' said Conrad.
+
+    "'I think he is getting good pay,' I said.
+
+    "'I know better. He isn't getting over six dollars at most,' said
+    Conrad.
+
+    "'Did he tell you so?' I asked.
+
+    "'No, but I heard on good authority,' he replied.
+
+    "'I wish I were getting that,' I said.
+
+    "'You wouldn't want to live on it,' he rejoined.
+
+    "'Well, perhaps not,' I admitted.
+
+    "'He won't long have a home to come back to,' said Conrad, after a
+    pause.
+
+    "'Why not?' I inquired.
+
+    "'My father holds a mortgage on his father's farm, and it will fall
+    due in three months,' he answered.
+
+    "'Surely he won't foreclose?'
+
+    "'Surely he will,' returned Conrad. 'Old Grant will have to leave
+    the farm and go to the poorhouse, or, at any rate, to some small
+    place like the Sam Martin house. It contains four rooms, and is good
+    enough for a bankrupt.'
+
+    "This made me uneasy. I hope, Andy, you will find some friend who
+    will be able and willing to advance money to pay the mortgage when
+    it falls due. I hear Squire Carter is treating with a city man to
+    buy the place. He evidently feels sure that it will come into his
+    possession."
+
+When Andy read this portion of the letter he smiled.
+
+"I suspect Conrad and his father will be disappointed," he said to
+himself. "The city man will have to look elsewhere for an investment."
+
+One day Andy had a pleasant surprise. Just in front of him on Broadway
+he saw a figure that looked familiar.
+
+The tall, bent form, and long white hair he recognized at once as
+belonging to Dr. Crabb, the principal of Penhurst Academy.
+
+He pressed forward.
+
+"Dr. Crabb!" he exclaimed. "It is long since we have met. I hope you are
+well."
+
+Dr. Crabb surveyed him with a puzzled look; Andy had grown so much that
+he could not place him.
+
+"I suppose you are one of my old pupils," he said, "but I shall have to
+ask your name."
+
+"Don't you remember Andy Grant?"
+
+"Bless my soul! is it possible? Why, you have grown much taller and
+larger."
+
+"Yes, sir; I don't want to stand still."
+
+"And what are you doing now?"
+
+"I am in business in this city."
+
+"That is well, but it is a great pity you could not have remained at
+school."
+
+"I thought so myself at the time I left, but I'm quite reconciled to the
+change now."
+
+"Doubtless you are doing your duty, wherever you are. In what business
+are you engaged?"
+
+"I am in a real estate office."
+
+"I hope you are making fine wages?"
+
+"I receive fifteen dollars a week."
+
+"Bless my soul! Why, that is all I pay my head assistant. You must be
+giving great satisfaction. And how is your father?"
+
+"He is pretty well, sir; but his loss of property has worn upon him."
+
+"Naturally. Did I not understand that he had to mortgage his farm."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I hope there is no danger of foreclosure?"
+
+"There might be, sir; but when the danger comes I shall be able to help
+him."
+
+"I am not much of a capitalist, Andy. I understand Latin and Greek
+better than I do investments, but if a loan of a few hundred dollars
+will help him I shall be willing to let him have it."
+
+"Thank you very much, Dr. Crabb, but my employer, Mr. Crawford, will
+give me all the help I need."
+
+"I am truly pleased to hear it. I wish you were able to return to the
+academy. You were our _primus_, and I did not like to spare you. You
+might in time have succeeded me."
+
+"I hope it will be a long time before you require a successor, doctor. I
+shall confine my ambitions to succeeding in my business."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+THE RETURN OF AN OLD FRIEND.
+
+
+One afternoon Andy was busy writing in the office when he heard himself
+called by name, and, looking up, saw Walter Gale, who had just entered.
+
+"Mr. Gale!" he exclaimed, joyfully, rising and grasping the hands of his
+friend.
+
+"So you know me? Upon my word, you have grown so that I find it
+difficult to recognize you."
+
+"Yes, I believe I have grown taller."
+
+"And more manly. I need not ask if you are well. Your appearance answers
+that question."
+
+"I was never better."
+
+"And you enjoy your work?"
+
+"Immensely. But when did you reach the city?"
+
+"This morning. As you see, I have lost no time in looking you up."
+
+"Shall you stay here now?"
+
+"Yes," answered Gale, gravely; "my poor uncle is dead. His sickness was
+a painful one, and he is better off."
+
+"I am glad you are to be in the city. I hope to see you often."
+
+"You will, if I can have my way. I have hired a handsome and roomy flat
+on Madison Avenue, and I expect you to come and live with me."
+
+"I shall be delighted to do so if you will let me pay my share of the
+expenses."
+
+"You will pay me with your company. I will receive no other pay. My
+uncle has left me all his property--at least a hundred thousand
+dollars--and I was rich before."
+
+"I will certainly accept your offer, since I am sure you will like to
+have me."
+
+"You were teaching a boy, I believe?"
+
+"Yes; but he is so well advanced now that he does not need my
+assistance. I am free to accept your kind offer."
+
+"Call upon me this evening, and arrange to move to-morrow. I am very
+lonely, and want young and cheerful company."
+
+When Andy called upon his friend in the evening he found him sumptuously
+lodged. The next evening he moved in.
+
+"What news from Arden, Andy?" asked Mr. Gale.
+
+"Nothing much, except that Squire Carter is expecting to foreclose the
+mortgage on father's farm next week."
+
+"Is that so? We must not permit that."
+
+"No; I have a thousand dollars in bank, and I shall ask Mr. Crawford
+to-morrow if he will advance me two thousand on some lots I own in
+Tacoma."
+
+"That will not be necessary. I will myself advance the full amount, and
+you can pay me whenever you sell your lots."
+
+"That is very kind, Mr. Gale, and relieves me very much."
+
+"Don't overestimate the kindness. I have more money than I know what to
+do with."
+
+"There are others in the same position who would not help me."
+
+"I am your friend. That makes the difference. When you go to Arden I
+will go, too. It will be pleasant for me to see the place where I passed
+so enjoyable a summer and made so good a friend."
+
+"I shall be delighted to have your company, Mr. Gale."
+
+Two evenings later, as Andy was walking up Broadway toward his new home,
+he saw a familiar figure in front of him--the figure of a boy about his
+own age. Evidently the boy had been drinking, and could not walk
+straight.
+
+Once, as he turned half around, Andy, with a start, recognized John
+Crandall, who had treated him so meanly at Mr. Flint's. He had no reason
+to like him, but his compassion was aroused.
+
+"John," said Andy, linking his arm in his, "how do you happen to be in
+this condition?"
+
+"Who are you?" hiccoughed John.
+
+"I am Andy Grant. Don't you know me?"
+
+"Yes, you used to be at Mr. Flint's. Where are you taking me?" he asked,
+suspiciously.
+
+"To my room. I will take care of you to-night. What are you doing now?"
+
+"I was in a place on Wall Street, but I got bounced yesterday. I took
+the money they paid me and got drunk."
+
+"That was foolish. Where is your uncle?"
+
+"He has gone to Chicago. I'm awful unlucky, Andy."
+
+"If you will turn over a new leaf and stop drinking I'll see if I can't
+get you another place."
+
+"Will you?" asked John, hopefully. "Don't you hate me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"I should think you would. I got you out of Flint's."
+
+"You did me a service without intending it."
+
+"You're a good fellow," hiccoughed John. "I'm sorry I treated you so
+mean."
+
+"I'm not, since it led to my securing my present place. But we must turn
+down here."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"On Madison Avenue."
+
+"Madison Avenue? You must be a swell."
+
+Andy smiled.
+
+"If you work hard you may become a swell, too."
+
+When they entered the flat, John stared about him in amazement.
+
+"How can you afford to live in such a fine place?" he said.
+
+"Because a friend bears the greater part of the expense. Now, let me
+help you undress. We have a spare room, and I will let you occupy it. In
+the morning I will wake you up for breakfast."
+
+John Crandall was soon fast asleep. A few minutes later Mr. Gale came
+in.
+
+"We have a visitor to-night," said Andy.
+
+"A friend of yours?"
+
+"He may become so, but thus far he has been anything but that."
+
+Andy told the story of John's attempt to injure him.
+
+"And yet you befriend him?"
+
+"Yes. Wouldn't you?"
+
+Walter Gale smiled.
+
+"Tell me your reasons," he said.
+
+"I have no grudge against him. Besides, if we only benefit those whom
+we like, there isn't much credit in that."
+
+"Exactly. There isn't much credit in my doing you favors."
+
+"Don't think I am ungrateful, Mr. Gale; I appreciate all you have done
+for me."
+
+"I understand you, Andy, and I like you better for what you have done.
+What further plans have you?"
+
+"I should like to get John a place, and give him a chance to redeem
+himself. He needs a friend badly."
+
+"He shall have one. We will both help him."
+
+When John Crandall awoke the next morning he was himself again. The
+effects of his intoxication had passed off, and he seemed ashamed of the
+predicament in which Andy had found him.
+
+"Have you any home, John?" asked Andy.
+
+"No; that is, I have a room, but I spent all the money that was coming
+to me, and they won't let me stay. I don't know what I shall do," he
+said, despondently.
+
+"If Mr. Gale and I will find you a new place, will you try to keep it?"
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+"Then we will stand by you. You can stay here till I come from the
+office this afternoon, and I will find you a boarding place."
+
+"You are a good fellow, Andy. You are my very best friend."
+
+"I will try to be."
+
+"And I will try to deserve your kindness."
+
+Before the week was out John had a new place on Pearl Street, and was an
+inmate of the boarding house in Clinton Place, where Andy stayed when he
+first came to the city.
+
+He really turned over a new leaf, and became a favorite and trusted
+employee in the Pearl Street store. Andy had saved him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+SAD FOREBODINGS.
+
+
+The day which had been so eagerly awaited by Squire Carter dawned at
+last. The mortgage on Sterling Grant's farm was due, and he intended to
+foreclose. There was a gentleman from the city who had taken a fancy to
+the farm and had offered him eight thousand dollars for it. The squire
+hoped to obtain it by foreclosure at less than five thousand. This would
+be taking advantage of the farmer; but, as the squire said to himself,
+complacently, "Business is business!" These words are used as an excuse
+for a great many mean acts.
+
+At supper time, the evening before, Sterling Grant looked sad and
+troubled.
+
+"Wife," he said, "I am afraid we shall have to bid good-by to the old
+farm to-morrow."
+
+"Do you really think the squire will foreclose, Sterling?"
+
+"I know he will. I called on him to-day, and begged and pleaded with him
+to extend the mortgage another year, but it was all in vain."
+
+"I don't see how people can be so hard-hearted," said Mrs. Grant,
+indignantly.
+
+"It's the squire's nature. He says that business is business."
+
+"I thought perhaps Andy might do something. He has five hundred dollars,
+and maybe a little more."
+
+"It would do no good, wife. I hinted that I might be able to pay a part
+of the mortgage, but the squire wouldn't hear of it. He said the whole
+or none."
+
+"I am sure Andy would help us if he could."
+
+"I know that, but the mortgage is for three thousand dollars. It is
+quite beyond his ability to lift."
+
+"I am afraid you are right, Sterling," said his wife, with a sigh. "I
+thought perhaps Andy would be here by this time."
+
+"It would do no good to come unless he brought the money with him."
+
+"He may come yet by the seven o'clock train."
+
+"We had better not count on that, or we shall only be the more
+disappointed."
+
+"What shall you do, Sterling, if the squire takes the farm?"
+
+"There will be some money left, but I am afraid not much."
+
+"Isn't the place worth six thousand dollars?"
+
+"Yes but it won't fetch that at a forced sale. The squire told me this
+afternoon that it wasn't worth more than fifteen hundred dollars over
+and above the face of the mortgage."
+
+"It would be wicked to sell for that."
+
+"We must be content with what we can get."
+
+After supper the farmer took his hat, and walked slowly and soberly
+about the farm. He felt that it was his farewell. Till now it had been
+his. To-morrow it would pass from his possession.
+
+"It is hard," he sighed, "but it can't be helped. At any rate, we won't
+starve."
+
+There was a small house, with half an acre of land attached on the
+outskirts of the village, which he could get at a moderate rental. He
+had inquired about it, and had made up his mind to secure it.
+
+"But it is humble," objected his wife.
+
+"We must not be proud, wife," he said. We can make it look homelike with
+our furniture in it."
+
+"But what will you do for an income, Sterling?"
+
+"I can work out by the day. Perhaps the man who buys our farm--I hear
+the squire has got a purchaser for it--will employ me."
+
+"To work out by the day at your age, Sterling!" said his wife,
+indignantly.
+
+"It will be hard, but if it is necessary I can do it."
+
+"But I want to help, Sterling. I can get sewing to do."
+
+"No, no; I won't consent to that."
+
+"Then I won't consent to your working by the day."
+
+"Well, we won't discuss it to-night. We will let the future take care of
+itself."
+
+Just then the noise of wheels was heard, and a buggy stopped at the
+door.
+
+"I do believe it's Andy!" exclaimed Mrs. Grant, joyfully.
+
+It was Andy. A minute later, he was in the house.
+
+"I am late," he said. "I lost the regular train, and had to get off at
+Stacy, six miles away; but I got a man from the stable to bring me
+over."
+
+"I am glad to see you, Andy," said his mother.
+
+"And so am I," added Sterling Grant, "though it is a sad time."
+
+"Why a sad time, father?"
+
+"The squire will foreclose to-morrow."
+
+"No, he won't foreclose, father. I will stop it."
+
+"But how can you prevent it, my son?"
+
+"By paying the three thousand dollars, father."
+
+"Have you got the money?" asked his father, incredulously.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But how--?"
+
+"Don't ask me any questions, father. Be satisfied with the knowledge
+that I have got it."
+
+"Heaven be praised!" said the farmer, fervently.
+
+"I don't think Squire Carter will say that."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+A little before twelve o'clock on the following day, Squire Carter rang
+the bell at the farmhouse door. He was dressed with scrupulous neatness,
+and there was a smile of triumphant anticipation on his face.
+
+Andy answered the bell.
+
+"Walk in, squire," he said.
+
+"Ha! So you are home, Andy?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ahem! Your father has been unfortunate."
+
+"Then you intend to foreclose?"
+
+"Yes; I need the money and must have it."
+
+"Isn't that rather hard on an old neighbor?"
+
+"You are a boy, Andy, and don't understand. Business is business."
+
+"Well, come in."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Grant were sitting by the fireplace. They looked calm, not
+sorrowful, as the squire anticipated.
+
+"Ahem! My friends, I am sorry for you!" said the squire, in a
+perfunctory way. "Life is full of disappointments, as we read in the
+Scriptures."
+
+"What do you propose to do with the farm, squire?" asked the farmer,
+calmly.
+
+"I may sell it, if I can find a purchaser. I haven't thought much about
+it."
+
+"That is right, squire. It isn't well to count your chickens before they
+are hatched."
+
+It was Andy who spoke.
+
+"Andrew, you are very flippant," said the squire, displeased. "I
+apprehend that there is very little doubt as to my having the farm to
+sell."
+
+"What do you suppose is going to become of my father?"
+
+"That is not for me to say. If I run the farm I may hire him to work on
+it."
+
+"He has made up his mind to work on it."
+
+"With or without my permission?" said the squire, with a sneer.
+
+"Exactly so."
+
+"I don't understand you," said the squire, with dignified displeasure.
+
+"I presume not, but you will understand better when I say that he stands
+prepared to pay off the mortgage, and the farm will remain his."
+
+"Impossible!" ejaculated the squire, turning pale.
+
+"Quite possible, sir. Have you the mortgage with you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Here is a release which you will please sign. Father, you had better
+pay the squire at once."
+
+Mr. Grant took out a big wallet, and counted out thirty
+one-hundred-dollar bills.
+
+"I believe that is correct, squire," he said.
+
+"No, it isn't. You haven't paid the interest," snarled the squire.
+
+"Here is another hundred dollars--that will cover it."
+
+Ten minutes later Squire Carter left the farmhouse with a heavy frown
+upon his face. He was bitterly disappointed, and the money did not
+console him.
+
+This was not the last of his disappointments. His brother's widow in New
+York sued him for an accounting of his father's estate, and he was
+obliged, not long afterward, to pay her five thousand dollars. This put
+the widow and her son in a comfortable position, but seriously
+embarrassed the squire, who had lost money by ill-advised speculation.
+
+Two years later he had to sell his fine place and take a much humbler
+one half a mile from the village. Conrad was obliged to seek a place,
+and is bitterly humiliated because he receives but four dollars a week,
+while the boy he used to look down upon is prosperous and successful.
+
+Andy has sold out his property in Tacoma to such advantage that he
+counts himself worth twenty thousand dollars. He continues to live in
+handsome style with his friend, Walter Gale, and is to be taken into
+partnership in the real estate office by Mr. Crawford when he attains
+the age of twenty-one.
+
+Of the less important characters in our story it may be said that Byron
+Warden has had a story published in the nickel library, and is very
+proud of this measure of success. He continues to write poems for the
+_Century_ and other prominent magazines. They always come back to him
+"respectfully declined," but he cherishes the hope that some day he will
+receive a more favorable answer.
+
+Valentine Burns holds a place in Mr. Crawford's office and is giving
+excellent satisfaction. Simon Rich, formerly head clerk for Mr. Flint,
+has proved a defaulter, and is a fugitive in Canada. Sam Perkins still
+dazzles the world with his showy neckties, but thus far has only risen
+to ten dollars a week.
+
+Mr. Grant and his wife are happy in Andy's success, and there is no
+danger of the farm passing from their possession. Quite unexpectedly the
+farmer has received a check from Nathan Lawrence, the defaulting cashier
+of the Benton bank, for a thousand dollars, with assurance that in time
+the entire three thousand dollars will be paid up.
+
+"After all father," writes Andy, "it was lucky for me that I had to
+leave school. It was the beginning of my present prosperity."
+
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Andy Grant's Pluck, by Horatio Alger
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK ***
+
+***** This file should be named 14831.txt or 14831.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/3/14831/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Amy Cunningham and the PG Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.