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diff --git a/25859-h/25859-h.htm b/25859-h/25859-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5eb1bc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/25859-h/25859-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5288 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Telegraph Messenger Boy, by Edward S. Ellis. +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + .figleft {padding: .5em .5em 0 0; float: left;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.2em} + div.ce p {text-align: center; margin: auto 0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center;} + div.la p {text-align: left; margin: auto 0;} + .caption {font-size:.8em} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + .blockquot {margin-left:5%; margin-right:5%;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; color: silver; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + hr.minor {width: 35%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + div.ra p {text-align: right; margin: auto 0;} + hr.major {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; clear:both;} + hr.silver {width: 100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver;} + h2 {text-align:center; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.4em} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Telegraph Messenger Boy, by Edward S. Ellis + +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: The Telegraph Messenger Boy + The Straight Road to Success + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: June 20, 2008 [EBook #25859] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TELEGRAPH MESSENGER BOY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +BEN SWUNG HIS HAT AND SHOUTED, AND AT LAST CAUGHT THE NOTICE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BANK.—P. 51. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-top:1em;'>THE TELEGRAPH</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-bottom:1em;'>MESSENGER BOY</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>OR</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'><i>THE STRAIGHT ROAD TO SUCCESS</i></p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1em;'>BY</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:1em;'>EDWARD S. ELLIS</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>AUTHOR OF “DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI,” “LIFE OF KIT</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>CARSON,” “LOST IN THE WILDS,” “RED</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>PLUME,” ETC.</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-emb.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:1em;'>CHATTERTON-PECK COMPANY</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>NEW YORK, N. Y.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright, 1889, by</span></p> +<p>N. L. MUNRO</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Copyright, 1904, by</span></p> +<p>THE MERSHON COMPANY</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<table border='0' width='400' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>CHAPTER</span></td> + <td></td> + <td align='right'><span style='font-size:small;'>PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>I. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>On a Log </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_ON_A_LOG'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>II. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Collision </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_THE_COLLISION'>8</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>III. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Office Boy </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_THE_OFFICE_BOY'>16</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>IV. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Message in the Night </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_A_MESSAGE_IN_THE_NIGHT'>22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>V. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>In Storm and Darkness </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_IN_STORM_AND_DARKNESS'>29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VI. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Tell Mother I Am All Right” </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI__TELL_MOTHER_I_AM_ALL_RIGHT'>36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Thrilling Voyage </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_A_THRILLING_VOYAGE'>43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>VIII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Cipher Telegram </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_THE_CIPHER_TELEGRAM'>50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>IX. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Translation </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_THE_TRANSLATION'>57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>X. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Farmer Jones </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_FARMER_JONES'>64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XI. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Value of Courtesy </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_THE_VALUE_OF_COURTESY'>71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>A Call </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_A_CALL'>78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>At the Grandin Mansion </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_AT_THE_GRANDIN_MANSION'>85</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIV. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Conspiracy </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_THE_CONSPIRACY'>93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XV. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>An Affray at Night </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_AN_AFFRAY_AT_NIGHT'>99</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVI. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Third Telegram </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_THE_THIRD_TELEGRAM'>106</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Decidedly Mixed </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_DECIDEDLY_MIXED'>113</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XVIII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Between Two Fires </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVIII_BETWEEN_TWO_FIRES'>120</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XIX. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Baffled! </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIX_BAFFLED'>127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XX. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Watching and Waiting </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XX_WATCHING_AND_WAITING'>134</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXI. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Lay Low!” </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXI__LAY_LOW'>141</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Battle of Life </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXII_THE_BATTLE_OF_LIFE'>148</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXIII. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Face to Face </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIII_FACE_TO_FACE'>155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXIV. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Startling Discoveries </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXIV_STARTLING_DISCOVERIES'>160</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXV. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>In the Nick of Time </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXV_IN_THE_NICK_OF_TIME'>169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='right'>XXVI. </td> + <td valign='top' align='left'>Conclusion </td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XXVI_CONCLUSION'>176</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em;'>The Telegraph Messenger Boy</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='I_ON_A_LOG' id='I_ON_A_LOG'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>ON A LOG</h3> +</div> + +<p>I made the acquaintance of Ben Mayberry +under peculiar circumstances. I had charge of +the Western Union’s telegraph office in Damietta, +where my duties were of the most exacting +nature. I was kept hard at work +through the winter months, and more of it +crowded on me during the spring than I could +manage with comfort. +</p> +<p>I strolled to the river bank one summer +afternoon, and was sauntering lazily along +when I noticed a young urchin, who was floating +down-stream on a log, which had probably +drifted thither from the lumber regions above. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +The boy was standing upright, with a grin of +delight on his face, and he probably found +more real enjoyment in floating down-stream +in this style than any excursionist could obtain +in a long voyage on a palace steamer. +</p> +<p>He had on an old straw hat, through the +crown of which his brown hair protruded in +several directions; his pantaloons were held up +by a single suspender, skewered through them +in front by a tenpenny nail—an arrangement +which caused the garments to hang in a lopsided +fashion to his shoulders. He was barefooted, +and his trousers were rolled up to his +knees. He wore no coat nor vest, and his shirt +was of the coarsest muslin, but it was quite +clean. +</p> +<p>This boy was Ben Mayberry, then ten years +old, and he was a remarkable fellow in more +than one respect. His round face was not only +the picture of absolutely perfect health, but it +showed unusual intelligence and brightness. +His figure was beautiful in its boyish symmetry, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +and no one could look upon the lad without +admiring his grace, of which he was entirely +unconscious. +</p> +<p>In addition to this, Ben Mayberry was +known to possess two accomplishments, as +they may be called, to an extraordinary degree—he +was very swift of foot and could throw +with astonishing accuracy. Both of these attainments +are held in high esteem by all boys. +</p> +<p>I had met Ben at intervals during the year +past, but could hardly claim to be acquainted +with him. I usually bought my morning paper +of him during the cold weather, and I knew +that his father was killed by a blasting accident +some years before. Ben was the only child of +his widowed mother, who managed to eke out +a subsistence somehow with the aid of the little +fellow, who was ever ready and cheerful with +his work. +</p> +<p>While I stood looking at Ben, drifting +slowly down-stream, and reflected that the +water was fully two fathoms deep at that point, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +three other boys stopped on the bank below me +to view him. They were strangers to me, but +I observed they were unusually well dressed. +They had that effeminate, exquisite appearance +which satisfied me they were visitors from Boston, +sauntering along the river in order to learn +whether there was anything in our town +worthy of their attention. They were apparently +of nearly the same age, and each was +certainly one or two years older than Ben Mayberry. +</p> +<p>“Hello,” exclaimed one, as the three came +to an abrupt halt, “look at that country boy +out on that log over there; he thinks he’s +smart.” +</p> +<p>“He’s trying to show off, Rutherford,” said +another. +</p> +<p>“I say, boys, let’s stone him,” suggested the +third, in a voice so guarded that I was barely +able to catch the words. +</p> +<p>The proposition was received with favor, but +one of them looked furtively around and noticed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +me. His manner showed that he was in +fear of my stopping their cruel sport. +</p> +<p>“Who cares for him?” said one of the +party, in a blustering voice that it was meant I +should hear; “he’s nobody. I’ll tell him my +father is one of the richest men in Boston and +is going to be governor some day.” +</p> +<p>“And I’ll let him know that my father has +taken me and our folks all over Yurrup. Pooh! +he daresn’t say anything.” +</p> +<p>Soothed by this conclusion, the three began +throwing stones at Ben. +</p> +<p>Ben was close at hand, and the first boy who +flung a missile poised and aimed with such deliberation +that I was sure Ben would be hit; +but the stone missed him by fully ten feet. It +was not until two more had been thrown that +Ben awoke to the fact that he was serving as a +target for the city youth. +</p> +<p>“What are you fellers doing?” he demanded, +looking angrily toward them. “Who +you trying to hit?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></p> +<p>They laughed, and the tallest answered, as +he flung another missile with great energy but +poor aim: +</p> +<p>“We’re going to knock you off that log, +Country! What are you going to do about +it?” +</p> +<p>“I’ll show you mighty soon,” answered the +sturdy lad, who straightway pushed the long +pole in his hand against the bottom of the river, +so as to drive the log in toward the shore where +his persecutors stood pelting him. +</p> +<p>There was something so plucky in all this +that several others stopped to watch the result. +I secretly resolved that if Ben got the worst of +it (as seemed inevitable against three boys), I +would interfere at the critical moment. +</p> +<p>“He’s coming ashore to whip us!” exclaimed +the tallest lad, almost dropping to the +ground with laughter. “I hope he will; I’ve +been taking sparring lessons of Professor Sullivan +for a year, and I would like the fun of +knocking him out of time. I can do it in three +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +rounds, and I want you boys to stand back and +leave him to me. I’ll paralyze him!” +</p> +<p>The others were reluctant, each claiming the +happiness of demolishing the countryman; but +the tallest, who was called Rutherford, at last +secured their pledge that they would keep their +hands off and allow him to have all the fun to +himself. +</p> +<p>“I’ll try the cross-counter on him, the upper +cut, and then I’ll land a left-hander on his +jug’lar that’ll knock him stiff. Oh, how I ache +to get him within reach!” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='II_THE_COLLISION' id='II_THE_COLLISION'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE COLLISION</h3> +</div> + +<p>Meanwhile Ben Mayberry was vigorously +working the log in toward shore. It moved +slowly, but the current was sluggish, the space +brief, and he was certain to land in a few +minutes. +</p> +<p>One of the stones struck Ben on the shoulder. +It must have angered him, for instead of trying +to dodge the rest, he used his pushing-pole +with more energy than before and paid no +heed to the missiles, several of which were +stopped by his body. +</p> +<p>It was plain that the valorous little fellow +meant to attack the three city lads, who were +pestering him not only with stones, but with +taunts that were far more exasperating. +</p> +<p>“Wonder who blacked his shoes?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></p> +<p>“Ain’t that hat a beauty? He can comb his +hair without taking it off.” +</p> +<p>“That one suspender must have cost him a +good deal.” +</p> +<p>“By gracious, he’s going to chew us up,” +laughed the tallest, as the log approached land; +“stand back, boys, you promised him to me, +and I don’t want either of you to say you +helped me to knock him out in the third +round.” +</p> +<p>The next minute the log was so close that +the nimble-footed Ben leaped ashore and strode +straight for the valiant Rutherford, who immediately +threw himself in “position.” His +attitude was certainly artistic, with his left +foot thrown forward, his right fist clinched and +held across his breast, and his left extended +ready to be shot forward into the first opening +that his enemy presented. +</p> +<p>But it is one thing to assume the proper +pugilistic attitude; it is altogether another to +act the part of a trained pugilist. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span></p> +<p>“Come on, Country!” called out the exultant +Rutherford; “but I hope you’ve bid +your friends farewell.” +</p> +<p>The other boys stood back and watched the +singular contest. I carefully approached so as +to be ready to protect Ben when it should become +necessary. +</p> +<p>The brave fellow never hesitated, but the +instant he landed lightly on the shore he went +straight for Rutherford, who, it was plain, +was slightly surprised and disconcerted by his +unscientific conduct. But the city youth kept +his guard well up, and the moment Ben was +within reach he struck a violent blow intended +for the face. +</p> +<p>But Ben dodged it easily, dropping his head +and running with cat-like agility directly under +the guard of his antagonist, who, before he +could understand precisely what it meant, +found himself clasped around the waist and +thrown on his back with such violence that a +loud grunt was forced from him, and his handsome +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +new hat rolled rapidly down into the +water. +</p> +<p>And I am free to confess that I was delighted +when I saw Ben give him several of +his “best licks,” which made the tall boy roar +for mercy. +</p> +<p>“Take him off, boys! he’s killing me! +Quick! I can’t live much longer.” +</p> +<p>The others were terrified at the hurricane-like +style in which the boy had turned the +tables on the scientific Rutherford, but they +could not stand by and see their companion +massacred without raising a finger to help him. +</p> +<p>“Pull him off!” yelled the victim, twisting +his body and banging his legs in the soft earth +in his vain effort to free himself from Ben, who +was pegging away at him. “Pull him off! +Put me on top, and I’ll settle him!” +</p> +<p>One of the boys ran forward and reached out +his hand, intending to catch Ben by the shoulder +and fling him to the ground; but, to my +intense amazement and equally intense delight, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +Ben caught his arm, jerked him forward across +the body of Rutherford, and belabored both of +them. It was one of the neatest feats I ever +saw performed, and, under the circumstances, I +would have pronounced it impossible had it +not been done before my own eyes. +</p> +<p>Both the hats of the Boston youths were floating +down the river, and they were so close to +the water’s edge that they were covered with +mud. The vigor of the assault on the two was +increased rather than diminished, and we spectators +were cruel enough to laugh heartily over +the exhibition, accompanied as it was by the +frenzied yells of the two lads who were receiving +the wrathful attentions of Ben Mayberry. +</p> +<p>The third boy could not stand it. He must +have thought they had come in collision with a +gorilla or some sort of wild animal, for he +started up the river bank, shouting “Murder!” +at the top of his voice. Ben, having got +through with the two under him, sprang off +and allowed them to rise, standing ready to +renew the fight should they show any desire to +do so. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-012.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +BEN CAUGHT HIS ARM, JERKED HIM ACROSS THE BODY OF RUTHERFORD, AND BELABORED BOTH OF THEM.—P. 12. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></div> +<p>But they were too thoroughly vanquished. +Their plight was laughable, and yet pitiable. +They were coated with mud from head to foot, +and their pretty hats, with their polka-dot +bands, were gone too far down the river to be +recovered. +</p> +<p>They seemed dazed for a minute or so, but as +soon as they realized they were on their feet +they started off after their flying companion, +never pausing to look behind them, but running +as though a Bengal tiger was at their heels. +</p> +<p>“Ben,” said I, walking forward as soon as +I could assume a serious expression of countenance, +“do you not know it is very wrong to +fight?” +</p> +<p>“That’s what I was tryin’ to teach them city +chaps. I guess they’ll think so after this.” +</p> +<p>“You certainly did your best to convince +them it isn’t wise to attack you; but, Ben, what +have you been doing lately?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></p> +<p>“My last job was whipping them,” replied +the urchin, with a roguish twinkle of his blue +eyes; “but that was fun, and if you mean work, +I hain’t had anything but selling papers since +last summer, but sometimes I run errands.” +</p> +<p>“Do you go to school?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Would you like a job?” +</p> +<p>“Indeed I would, sir, for mother finds it +hard work to get along, and sometimes there +isn’t anything to eat in the house. Once, when +I was a little fellow, when I saw mother crying, +and there was no bread, I slipped out at +night and stole a loaf, but mother would not +touch it when I brought it home, and made me +take it back. She told me I must starve before +I did wrong, and so I will. I have been trying +to get a job all summer, but everybody says I +am too young and small. I take all the exercise +I can, so as to make me grow, and that’s +one reason why I pitched into them city chaps +and laid ’em out.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></p> +<p>“Well, Ben, you know where the office of +the Western Union is; come around there to-morrow +morning, at eight o’clock, and I will +give you something to do.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m very thankful to you, sir, and this +will make my mother the happiest woman in +Damietta.” +</p> +<p>I saw tears in the bright eyes, as Ben ran +home to carry the good news to his mother. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='III_THE_OFFICE_BOY' id='III_THE_OFFICE_BOY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>THE OFFICE BOY</h3> +</div> + +<p>When I approached the office the next morning, +little Ben Mayberry was standing outside, +smiling and expectant. +</p> +<p>My heart was touched when I saw what +pains his mother had taken to put her boy in +presentable shape. He had on a pair of coarse +shoes, carefully blacked, and a new, cheap +hat replaced the dilapidated one of the day before. +He wore a short coat and a vest, which +must have served him as his Sunday suit for a +long time, as they were much too small for +him. +</p> +<p>But there was a cleanly, neat look about him +which attracted me at once. His face was as +rosy as an apple, and his large, white teeth were +as sound as new silver dollars. His dark hair, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +which was inclined to be curly, was cut short, +and the ill-fitting clothes could not conceal the +symmetry of his growing figure. +</p> +<p>“Well, Ben,” said I cheerily, as I shook his +hand, “I am glad to see you are here on time. +You are young, you know, but are old enough +to make a start. As I expect you to reach the +top of the ladder, I mean that you shall begin at +the bottom round.” +</p> +<p>I am not sure he understood this figurative +language, but I made it clear to him the next +minute. +</p> +<p>“You are to be here every morning before +seven o’clock, to sweep out the office and make +it ready for business. You must see that all +the spittoons are cleaned, that the ink wells at +the desk are provided with ink, that the pens +are good enough for use (I never yet have seen +a public office where the writing facilities were +not wretched), abundance of blanks on hand, +and that everything is tidied up. In summer, +you must wash off the ice and place it in the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +cooler, and in winter, see that the fires are +going and the office comfortable at the time +we go there for business. Can you do it, Ben?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, and glad to have the chance.” +</p> +<p>“This will give you some opportunity to +attend the public school, which, of course, you +will take advantage of. Then, when you can, +you will begin to study telegraphy. I will see +that you have every chance, and, at the same +time, I will give you a lift now and then in +your studies. This is the first step, Ben; in this +country anything is possible to the boy who has +brains, pluck, and application. Everything now +depends on yourself; with the help of Heaven +you will succeed; if you fail, it will be your own +fault. To-day you start on your career, which +will lead to success and happiness or to failure +and misery.” +</p> +<p>Ben listened respectfully to what I said, and +seemed impressed by my words. I took him inside +the office, explained to him more particularly +his duties, gave him a key with which to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +enter in the morning, and told him to be on +hand at six o’clock on the morrow, until which +time he was excused. His wages were to be +two dollars a week, to begin from the day on +which I engaged him. Ben raised his hat, bade +me good-day, and went home, and I am sure +there was no happier boy in Damietta than he. +</p> +<p>It goes without saying that he attended to +his duties faithfully from the very first. He +went to the public school when he could gain +the chance. I learned that he was a favorite +there, on account of his manliness and excellent +scholarship. In conjunction with the principal +we arranged to give him private instruction at +night, so that during the day he could devote +his energies to learning telegraphy, in which +he displayed great aptitude. +</p> +<p>As I was manager of the office, it was in my +power to advance Ben as rapidly as circumstances +warranted. He was given to understand +from the first that he would be assisted to +the extent to which he proved himself deserving, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +and no further. I did not intend to spoil him +by undue favors, nor did I allow him to see +how much I really thought of him. One of the +surest means of ruining a boy is by partiality +and too rapid advancement; but I gave him an +encouraging word now and then, and took +pains to let his mother know that he was meeting +my high expectations, and that he was fully +worthy of the hopes she entertained of him. +</p> +<p>I shall never forget the glow which came +into the pinched face when I addressed her +thus, nor the devout expression which overspread +her countenance at my liberal praise of +her child. +</p> +<p>“Ben has always been obedient to his father +and mother. I have never known him to swear +or tell an untruth, and he never took anything +that was not his own—that is,” the poor lady +hastened to add when she recalled the painful +circumstance, “he never forgot himself but +once.” +</p> +<p>“He told me about it; few could blame him +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +for that misstep; I cannot think the distressing +necessity will ever arise again. Should Heaven +spare his life he will become your staff, upon +which you can soon lean your whole weight.” +</p> +<p>She gave a faint sigh of happiness. +</p> +<p>“My boy Ben has never brought a pang to +his mother’s heart.” +</p> +<p>Ah, my young friend, can your mother say +that? When that dear head is laid low, when +those loving eyes shall be closed forever, and +the sweet voice is hushed in the tomb, will you +be able to say through your blinding tears: +</p> +<p>“I never brought a pang to her heart!” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IV_A_MESSAGE_IN_THE_NIGHT' id='IV_A_MESSAGE_IN_THE_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>A MESSAGE IN THE NIGHT</h3> +</div> + +<p>At the end of a month Ben Mayberry was +made a messenger boy of the office under my +charge. This cannot be called a very momentous +promotion, inasmuch as many of our telegraphists +begin there; but it doubled Ben’s +wages at once, and led to his appearance in the +attractive blue uniform which the boys of the +Western Union wear. In his case it seemed +to add two inches to his stature at once. +</p> +<p>Ben was our best messenger from the first. +He was acquainted with the city of Damietta +from one end to the other, and his superior +fleetness of foot enabled him to outstrip the +others, while his cheerful, intelligent manner +added to his popularity with our customers. +</p> +<p>As he was so young, I determined to keep +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +him messenger for a longer time than was +really necessary, affording him all the opportunity +he could ask in which to learn telegraphy. +He picked it up rapidly, and I was surprised +when I found him reading messages over the +wires by sound. As everyone knows, it takes +a skillful operator, or rather one of experience, +to do this, a proof that Ben was applying himself +to learning the business with all the power +at his command. +</p> +<p>In more than one instance, those who knew +the high estimation in which the boy was held +exerted themselves to put annoyances and obstructions +in his way. All manner of pretexts +were made for detaining him, and he showed +no little originality and ingenuity in outwitting +his very attentive friends. +</p> +<p>He continued to apply himself evenings, +when not on duty at the office, and his progress +was excellent in every respect. The kind principal +showed great interest in him, and at the +age of twelve Ben Mayberry possessed what +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +may be called a good elementary English education. +</p> +<p>Before, however, these two years had passed +he could receive and send messages in a very +acceptable manner. His wages had been advanced, +and he now had his mother in comfortable +quarters, dressed tastefully himself, +and was developing into a handsome youth, +whose brilliant work had already attracted the +notice of the general superintendent. +</p> +<p>Ben had been an operator a little less than a +year when he met with a most extraordinary +experience, which to-day is a theme of +never-ending wonder to those who were living +in Damietta at the time. +</p> +<p>One evening a rough-bearded man entered +the office, and stepping to the counter, said to +me: +</p> +<p>“My name is Burkhill—G. R. Burkhill—and +I am staying at the hotel in Moorestown. +I am expecting a very important dispatch to-night, +but I cannot wait for it. If it reaches +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +this office before ten o’clock, I wish to have it +delivered to the hotel.” +</p> +<p>Moorestown lay directly across the river, and +was reached by the long, covered bridge which +spanned the stream. It was beyond our “jurisdiction,” +that is, outside the circle of free delivery, +which Mr. Burkhill understood, as he +remarked that he would pay well for the +trouble. +</p> +<p>I assured him that I would see that the telegram +reached him that night, if received before +ten o’clock. Thanking me, he said good-evening, +passed out, mounted his horse, and galloped +away in the wintry darkness. +</p> +<p>It was in the month of February, but the +weather was mild for that season, and there +had been a plentiful fall of rain. Ben was on +duty until ten, and he was in the very act of +rising from his seat when he called out: +</p> +<p>“Helloa! here comes the message for Mr. +Burkhill.” +</p> +<p>It was quite brief and Ben wrote it out +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +rapidly, took a hasty impression, thrust it into +the damp yellow envelope, and whistled for a +messenger boy. There was only one present, +and he was a pale, delicate lad, who had gone +on duty that day after a week’s illness. +</p> +<p>“Helloa, Tim; do you want to earn a half +dollar extra?” asked Ben, as the boy stood expectantly +before him. +</p> +<p>“I would like to, if it isn’t too hard for +me.” +</p> +<p>Ben looked sharply at him and saw that the +boy was in too weak a state to undertake the +task. There was no other messenger within +call, and Mr. Burkhill was doubtless impatient +for the message whose delivery I had guaranteed. +</p> +<p>“It won’t do for you to cross the river to-night,” +said Ben decisively; “the air is damp +and raw, and I think it is going to rain again. +I’ll do it for you, and whatever extra I collect +from Mr. Burkhill you shall have, Tim; now +go home and go to bed.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></p> +<p>And waving me a good-night, Ben hurried +out of the door and vanished down the street. +</p> +<p>“It’s just like him,” I muttered, as I prepared +to go home; for except on special occasions +we closed our office at ten, or shortly +after. “That isn’t the first kindness he has +done that boy, and everyone in the office is +bound by gratitude to him.” +</p> +<p>As I stepped out on the street I observed +that the fine mist was turning into rain, and +another of those dismal nights, which are often +experienced in the Middle States during the +latter part of winter, was upon the city. +</p> +<p>I did not feel sleepy after reaching home. +My wife and two children had retired and were +sound asleep. There was no one astir but myself, +and drawing my chair to the fire, I began +reading the evening paper. +</p> +<p>Fully an hour had passed in this manner and +I was in the act of rising from my chair, with +the purpose of going to bed, when a sharp ring +of the bell startled me as though I had heard +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +burglars in the house. I felt instinctively that +something serious had happened as I hurried +to the door. +</p> +<p>“Did Ben Mayberry take a telegraphic message +across the river to-night?” asked the man, +whom I recognized as a policeman. +</p> +<p>“He started to do so,” I answered tremblingly. +“What’s wrong.” +</p> +<p>“It’s the last message he’ll ever deliver; he +has probably been killed!” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='V_IN_STORM_AND_DARKNESS' id='V_IN_STORM_AND_DARKNESS'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>IN STORM AND DARKNESS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Yes, it’s the last message he’ll ever deliver,” +repeated the policeman; “Ben Mayberry has +probably been killed!” +</p> +<p>These were the terrible words spoken by the +man who had rung my bell in the middle of the +night, and startled me almost out of my senses. +I swallowed the lump in my throat, and with a +voice tremulous with emotion, said: +</p> +<p>“No, no! it cannot be. Who would kill +him?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t mean he was murdered,” the officer +hastened to add, seeing my mistake. “He was +on the middle span of the bridge when it was +carried away by the flood, and that’s the last of +him!” +</p> +<p>I drew a great sigh of relief. There was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +something unspeakably dreadful in the thought +of noble Ben Mayberry being killed by anyone, +and it lifted a vast burden from my shoulders +to be told that no such awful fate had overtaken +him. +</p> +<p>But instantly came the staggering terror +that the boy had gone down in the wreck and +ruin, and at that moment was floating among +the great masses of ice and débris that were +sweeping swiftly down the river toward the +sea. +</p> +<p>“How was it?” I asked, after the officer +had refused my invitation to enter. +</p> +<p>“The river began rising very fast at dark, +but the bridge has stood so many freshets we +were hopeful of this. The water was at the +top of the abutments at nine o’clock and was +still creeping up. Jack Sprall, who is off duty +to-night, was down by the bridge watching +things. A little after ten o’clock, Ben Mayberry +came along and said he had a message which he +had promised to deliver to a gentleman at the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +hotel in Moorestown. Jack told him the +bridge was unsafe, but Ben said he knew how +to swim, and started across, whistling and jolly +as usual. Jack said at the same time he heard +the sound of wheels, which showed that a +wagon or carriage had driven on from the +other side, which never ought to have been allowed +when things were looking so shaky. +Ben had just about time to reach the middle of +the bridge when the crash came, and the big +span was wiped out, as though it was a chalk +mark on a blackboard.” +</p> +<p>“How do you know of a surety that Ben +Mayberry did not save himself?” +</p> +<p>“He is very active and strong, I know, +which made Jack hope he had pulled through. +In spite of the danger of the rest of the bridge +going, Jack crept out over it to the abutment, +and shouted to Ben. +</p> +<p>“It seemed that a couple of men had done +the same from Moorestown, and they stood on +the other abutment, with the middle of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +river sweeping between and threatening to +take away the rest of the tottering bridge every +minute. +</p> +<p>“When Jack called, they answered, though +it was too dark to see each other, and they +asked Jack whom he was looking for. He told +them that Ben Mayberry had gone on the +bridge a few minutes before from this side, and +he was afraid he had been swept away. They +said there could be no doubt of it, as he had not +reached the span on which they were standing. +They then asked Jack whether he had seen anything +of a horse and carriage, which drove on +the bridge from the Moorestown side, and +which they had come out to see about. Of +course Jack could only make the same answer, +and when they explained, it was learned that +the carriage contained a lady and small child—so +three lives have been lost from people not +doing their duty in keeping folks out of +danger.” +</p> +<p>“Does the mother of Ben know anything +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +about this?” I asked, with a shudder at the +thought of her terrible grief. +</p> +<p>“Yes; I went up to her house and told her +first, as I thought it my duty to do.” +</p> +<p>“Poor woman! she must have been overcome.” +</p> +<p>“She was at first, and then when she asked +me to tell her all about it, and I had done so, +she said very quietly that she didn’t believe her +boy was drowned.” +</p> +<p>“Nor do I believe it!” I exclaimed, with a +sudden thrill of hope. “Ben Mayberry is one +of the best swimmers I ever saw; he went down +with the lumber of the central span, and even +if he could not swim, he had a good chance to +float himself on some of the timbers or blocks +of ice which are buoyant enough to support a +dozen men.” +</p> +<p>“All that is very true,” replied the policeman, +who seemed to have thought of everything; +“and I don’t deny that there is just the +barest possibility in the world that you’re right. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +But you mustn’t forget that the roof of the +bridge was over him, and has shut out the +chance of his helping himself. Don’t you believe +that, if he was alive, he would have +answered the calls that Jack made to him? +Jack has a voice like a fog-horn, and Ben would +have heard him if he was able to hear anything.” +</p> +<p>This view of the case staggered me, and I +hardly knew what to say, except to suggest +that possibly Ben had answered the call, and +was unheard in the rushing waters; but the +officer shook his head, and I confess I shared +his doubts. +</p> +<p>“Just as the splintering timbers went down, +Jack did hear the shout of Ben; he heard, too, +the scream of a woman, and that awful cry +which a horse sometimes makes when in the +very extremity of peril, but that was all.” +</p> +<p>I could not sleep after such horrifying tidings, +when the policeman had gone; I went +into the house and donned my overshoes and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +rubber coat. Fortunately my family had not +been awakened by the ringing of the bell, and I +did not disturb them; but, carefully closing +and locking the door after me, I went out in the +storm and darkness, oppressed by a grief which +I had not known for years, for Ben Mayberry +was as dear to me as my own son, and my heart +bled for the stricken mother who, when she +most needed a staff to lean upon during her declining +years, found it cruelly snatched from +her. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VI__TELL_MOTHER_I_AM_ALL_RIGHT' id='VI__TELL_MOTHER_I_AM_ALL_RIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>“TELL MOTHER I AM ALL RIGHT”</h3> +</div> + +<p>There is a fascination in the presence of +danger which we all feel. The news of the +dreadful disaster spread with astonishing +rapidity, and when I reached the river-side it +seemed as if all Damietta were there. +</p> +<p>The lamps twinkled in the hands of innumerable +men moving hither and thither in that restless +manner which showed how deep their feelings +were. People were talking in guarded +voices, as if the shadow of an awful danger impended +over them, and the wildest rumors, as +is the case at such times, were afloat. It was +said that six, eight, and a dozen persons had +gone down with the bridge and were irrecoverably +lost. Other structures above us were +carried away (though no one stopped to explain +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +how the tidings had reached ahead of the +flood itself), and it was asserted that not a span +would be left on the stream at daybreak. +</p> +<p>The flickering lanterns gave a glimpse of the +scene which rendered it more impressive than +if viewed under the glare of midday. Some +daring ones ventured out to the first abutment +despite the danger, and we saw the glare of +their lanterns on the rushing, muddy water and +the immense blocks of ice. Some of the latter +would impinge against the stone abutment with +a prodigious grinding crash, spin around several +times, and then mount up from the water, +crowded by others behind, as though it was +about to climb over the massive stone. Then +it would tumble back with a splash and swiftly +sweep out of sight in the darkness. +</p> +<p>Again, trees, with their bushy tops tossing +above the surface, glided by as if caught in a +rushing mill-race, and a grotesque character +was given to the whole scene by the sudden +crowing of some cocks, which must have been +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +frightened by the twinkling lights so near +them. +</p> +<p>Few in Damietta went to bed that night. +There was a continual walking to and fro, as +people are seen to do when some great calamity +is about to break upon them. Several mounted +horses and rode down the river-bank for miles, +in the weak hope of picking up tidings of the +lost ones. No one could be found who knew +the lady and child in the carriage which came +upon the bridge from the other side. There +were innumerable guesses as to their identity, +but they were guesses and nothing more. No +doubt was entertained that when communication +could be opened with Moorestown on the +morrow, we would learn who they were. +</p> +<p>I stayed at the river-side for an hour, +weighed down by the greatest grief of my life. +I was anxious to do something, but there was +absolutely nothing for me to do. Ben was +gone, and his friends could not begin an intelligent +search for him before the morrow. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></p> +<p>I turned on my heel to go home, when a +shout went up that the span on the other side of +the center was going. There could be no doubt +that the splintering crash and the grinding +swirl of waters and ice were caused by the destruction +of that span which dissolved into +nothingness almost in a moment. +</p> +<p>This started the cry that the timbers nearest +us were breaking up. +</p> +<p>Those who were on it made a rush for shore, +which was not reached a minute too soon. The +entire span suddenly lifted up and was +“snuffed out” so promptly that the wonder +was how it had withstood the flood so long. +</p> +<p>This occurrence struck me as decisive of the +fate of my young friend Ben Mayberry. It +gave me an appreciation of the tremendous irresistibility +of the freshet, which must have +ended the lives of the hapless party almost on +the instant. The bravest swimmer would be +absolutely helpless in the grasp of such a terrific +current, and in a night of pitchy darkness +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +would be unable to make the first intelligent +effort to save himself. +</p> +<p>At last I went home through the drizzling +rain, as miserable a mortal as one could imagine. +When I reached the house I was glad +to find that my family were still asleep. It +would be time enough for them to learn of my +affliction and the public disaster on the coming +morrow. +</p> +<p>The pattering of the rain on the roof accorded +with my feeling of desolation, and I +lay awake until almost daylight, listening, +wretched, dismal, and utterly despairing. +</p> +<p>I slept unusually late, and I was glad, when +I went down to my breakfast, to learn that +some kind neighbor had told my family all I +knew, and indeed, a little more. The river +rose steadily until daylight, by which time it +was two feet above the abutments, and not a +vestige of the bridge remained. +</p> +<p>But the water had reached its highest point, +for, after remaining stationary an hour, it had +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +begun to fall, and was now a couple of inches +lower than “high-water mark.” +</p> +<p>There were two things which I dreaded—the +sight of the furious river, and to meet the sad, +white face of Ben Mayberry’s mother. I felt +that I could give her no word of comfort, for I +needed it almost as much as did she. She must +have abandoned all hope by this time, and her +loss was enough to crush life itself from her. +</p> +<p>When walking along the street I found that +everyone was talking about the unexampled +flood. It had overflowed the lower part of the +city, and people were making their way +through the streets in boats. Scores of families +were made homeless, and the sights were curious +enough to draw multitudes thither. +</p> +<p>I kept away from every point where I could +catch so much as a glimpse of the freshet. +</p> +<p>“You have robbed me of the brightest and +best boy I ever knew,” I muttered, in bitterness +of spirit; “he was one whom I loved as if +he were a son.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span></p> +<p>The shadow of death seemed to rest on the +office when I reached it. The loss of Ben Mayberry +was a personal affliction to everyone +there. Only the most necessary words were +spoken, and the sighing, which could be heard +at all times, came from the heart. +</p> +<p>I went to my desk in a mechanical way, and +had just placed my hand on the instrument, +when I was thrilled by a call which I would +have recognized among a thousand. Others +heard and identified it also, and held their +breath. The next instant this message reached +me: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Dear Mr. Melville</span>—Tell mother I am +all right, but in need of dry clothing. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Ben Mayberry</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VII_A_THRILLING_VOYAGE' id='VII_A_THRILLING_VOYAGE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>A THRILLING VOYAGE</h3> +</div> + +<p>On the night that Ben Mayberry started +across the bridge to deliver the cipher message +to Mr. Burkhill in Moorestown, he had reached +the center span before he felt he was in personal +danger. The few lamps which twinkled +at long distances from each other were barely +enough for him to see where he was going, and +they did little more than make the darkness +visible. +</p> +<p>By the faint light he observed a carriage and +single horse approaching. The animal lifted +his feet high, walked slowly, and snuffed the +air as he turned his head from side to side, like +an intelligent creature which feels he is approaching +danger. The rattling of the narrow +planks under his hoofs and the carriage wheels +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +could be heard above the roar and sweep of the +angry river beneath. +</p> +<p>Suddenly the bridge trembled under a blow +received from a gigantic piece of ice, which +went grinding and splashing with such violence +that its course could be followed by the bulging +upward of the planks between Ben and the +horse. +</p> +<p>“My gracious! this won’t do,” exclaimed +the boy, more alarmed for the vehicle and its +occupants than for himself. +</p> +<p>He ran forward to grasp the bridle of the +horse with the purpose of turning him back, +when he saw that he had stopped of his own +accord, and was snorting with terror. Ben +reached up to seize the bit, when he was made +dizzy by the abrupt lifting of the planking underneath, +and was thrown violently forward on +his face. +</p> +<p>The brave boy knew what it meant, and kept +his senses about him. It was utterly dark, and +he was in the icy water with a terrified horse +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +struggling fiercely, and in danger of beating +out the boy’s brains with his hoofs, while the +shriek of the agonized mother rose above the +horrid din: +</p> +<p>“Save my child—save my child!” +</p> +<p>Fortunately for Ben Mayberry the bridge +broke up in a very unusual manner. Instead +of the roof coming down upon him, it seemed +to fall apart, as did the narrow planking. Thus +his movements were not interfered with by the +structure, and realizing what a desperate struggle +for life was before him, he drew off his +cumbersome overcoat with great deftness, and +then swam as only a strong swimmer can do in +the very extremity of peril. +</p> +<p>He heard nothing more of the horse, which +had doubtless perished after a struggle as brief +as it was fierce; but, unable to see anything at +all, Ben struck out toward the point whence +came the cry of the mother, and which was +close at hand. +</p> +<p>He had scarcely made three strokes when he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +came in violent collision with a huge block of +ice in his path. Without attempting to go +around it, he grasped the edge, and, by a determined +effort, drew himself upon it. Fragments +of the bridge were all around, and he +felt some of the timber upon the support. +</p> +<p>While crawling carefully toward the other +side, he shouted: +</p> +<p>“Helloa! where are you? Answer, and I’ll +help you.” +</p> +<p>A faint cry made itself heard amid the rushing +waters and the impenetrable darkness. It +was just ahead, and the next instant Ben had +reached the other side of the ice raft, where, +steadying himself with one hand, he groped +about with the other, uttering encouraging +words as he did so. +</p> +<p>Suddenly he caught hold of a delicate arm, +and with another cheery shout, he began drawing +with all his strength. +</p> +<p>It was a hard task, under the circumstances, +but he quickly succeeded, and was not a little +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +amazed to find that instead of a lady he had +helped out a small girl. +</p> +<p>But it was the cry of a mother that had +reached his ears, and he did his utmost (which +unfortunately was little) to help her. He +called again and again, but there was no answer. +He asked of the child the whereabouts +of her parents, but the little one was almost +senseless with bewilderment, cold, and terror, +and could give no intelligible answer. +</p> +<p>“She must be drowned,” was the sorrowful +conclusion of Ben, who was forced to cease his +efforts; and I may as well add at this point, +that he was right; the mother’s body being carried +out to sea, where it was never found. +</p> +<p>For the time, Ben and the little girl were +safe, but it will be seen that their condition was +pitiable. It was a wintry night, the water was +of an arctic temperature, and their clothing was +saturated. The icy floor on which they were +supported would have added to their terrible +discomfort, had he not been able to gather together +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +several of the planks within reach, with +which he made a partition between them and +the freezing surface. +</p> +<p>Ben shouted at the top of his voice, but he +was so far below the place where the bridge +had stood that no one heard him, and he finally +gave it up, knowing that even if he made himself +known to friends, they would be powerless +to help him so long as the darkness lasted. +</p> +<p>The child, so far as he could judge, was no +more than nine or ten years old, but she was +richly clad, as he learned from the abundance +of furs, silks, and velvet. She had luxuriant +hair, which streamed about her shoulders, and +he was sure she must be very beautiful. +</p> +<p>She was alive, but faint and suffering. She +did not wish to talk and Ben did not urge her, +although he was curious to know her identity. +</p> +<p>“I will learn all in the morning,” he said to +himself; “that is, if we are spared until then.” +</p> +<p>He was too excited and terrified to fall +asleep, even had his discomfort not been too +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +great to permit it, and he found he needed his +wits about him. +</p> +<p>Now and then the cake of ice which supported +them was crowded by others, until it +seemed on the point of being overturned, in +which event another terrible struggle would +be necessary to save himself and the little girl. +</p> +<p>Then again, there seemed to be eddies and +whirlpools in the current, which threatened to +dislodge them or to break up the miniature iceberg +into fragments, as the bridge itself was +destroyed. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='VIII_THE_CIPHER_TELEGRAM' id='VIII_THE_CIPHER_TELEGRAM'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>THE CIPHER TELEGRAM</h3> +</div> + +<p>The almost interminable night came to an +end at last and the dull gray of morning appeared +in the east. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry chafed the arms of the little +stranger, and even slapped her vigorously to +prevent her succumbing to the cold. He was +forced to rise to his feet himself at intervals +and swing his arms and kick out his legs, to +fight off the chilliness which seemed to penetrate +to his very bones. +</p> +<p>As soon as the boy could make use of his +eyes he found himself drifting through the +open country, where the river was fully double +the width at Damietta. This gave the masses +of ice much more “elbow room,” and decreased +the danger of capsizing. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>Houses and villages were seen at intervals, +and multitudes of people were along the bank +gathering driftwood and “loot,” and watching +the unparalleled flood of waters. +</p> +<p>Ben swung his hat and shouted, and at last +caught the notice of the people on the bank. +Two sturdy watermen sprang into a boat and +began fighting their way out to the helpless +ones. It was a hard task, but they succeeded, +and Ben and little Dolly Willard (as she had +given her name) were safely taken off. A +crowd waited to welcome them and they received +every possible attention. Both were +taken to the nearest farmhouse, where a kind-hearted +mother took Dolly in charge, for the +little one needed it sadly enough. +</p> +<p>They were within half a mile of a village +which was connected with Damietta by telegraph, +and before Ben would do anything more +than swallow a cup of hot coffee, and change +his clothing, he was driven to the office, where +he sent the message which was the first word +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +we received in Damietta to tell us that he was +alive. +</p> +<p>I lost no time in hurrying to the humble +dwelling of Mrs. Mayberry, where I made +known the joyful tidings. I shall never forget +the holy light which illumined the thin face as +she clasped her hands in thankfulness and +said: +</p> +<p>“I had not given up all hope, but I was very +near doing so.” +</p> +<p>Ben was driven into Damietta late that +afternoon, where a royal welcome awaited him. +He was cheered, shaken by the hand, and congratulated +over and over again, and for a time +it looked as though he would be pulled asunder. +When he finally tore himself loose and rushed +into our office, the operators and messenger +boys were equally demonstrative, but he did +not mind them. +</p> +<p>I stood at my desk with a swelling heart, +waiting for him. Suddenly he turned and +caught my hand. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span></p> +<p>“He that is born to be hanged will never be +drowned——” +</p> +<p>He was laughing when he spoke the jest, +but his voice trembled, and all at once he broke +down. Quickly withdrawing both hands, he +put them over his face and cried like a heartbroken +child. He had stood it like a hero to +this point, but now, with the crowd outside +peering into the windows, he sobbed with uncontrollable +emotion, while my own heart was +too full to speak. +</p> +<p>As soon as he could master himself he said: +</p> +<p>“I must not wait any longer; mother expects +me.” +</p> +<p>He was out of the door in a twinkling, and +in a few minutes the mother and son were in +each other’s arms. +</p> +<p>The reader may think that the most remarkable +part of Ben Mayberry’s adventure on the +night of the flood has already been told, but it +proved to be the beginning of a train of incidents +of such an extraordinary nature that I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +hasten to make them known. There was a direct +connection between his experience on that +terrible night in February and the wonderful +mystery in which he became involved, and +which exercised such a marked influence on +his after-life. +</p> +<p>Fortunately, little Dolly Willard suffered no +serious consequences from her frightful shock +and exposure. She received such excellent care +that she speedily recovered, and as soon as we +could re-establish communication with Moorestown +and engage her in conversation, we +learned something of her history. +</p> +<p>She lived in New York City and had come to +Moorestown on a visit with her mother and +Uncle George. He was the G. R. Burkhill who +failed to receive the cipher dispatch which Ben +Mayberry undertook to deliver to him on that +eventful night. +</p> +<p>Dolly said her father was dead, or had been +gone from home a very long time. Uncle +George claimed and took her to the city, first +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +sending a cipher dispatch to a party in the +metropolis, and directing me, in case of an +answer, to hold it until he called or sent for it. +</p> +<p>Two days later an answer arrived in the +same mystic characters as before. As it has +much to do with the incidents which follow, I +give this remarkable telegram in full: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>New York</span>, February 28th,——</p> +</div> + +<div class='la'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>George R. Burkhill</span>, Moorestown:</p> +</div> + +<p>“Nvtu vzhs ujmm ezkk tbn gzr b adssdg +dizodf rntsg zpvs azmj xjmm jddo. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Tom</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>Cipher telegrams are sent every day in the +week, and we did not concern ourselves with +this particular one, which would have received +no further thought, but for an odd circumstance. +</p> +<p>On the day Mr. Burkhill sent his message +to New York, he was followed into our office +by a man who was shabbily dressed, and who +impressed me as what is commonly called a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +“beat.” He spoiled several blanks without +sending a message and then abruptly tore them +up, put the pieces in his pocket, and walked out +after Mr. Burkhill. +</p> +<p>He was in the office several times the succeeding +two days, made some inquiries, and +sent off a couple of messages. Just after Ben +Mayberry had received the cipher telegram +given above, I happened to look across my desk +and observed that the fellow had taken every +letter, marking it down, as he easily interpreted +it by sound. +</p> +<p>It was only by accident that I made this discovery, +for the man acted precisely as if he +were preparing a message to send away. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='IX_THE_TRANSLATION' id='IX_THE_TRANSLATION'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE TRANSLATION</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mr. G. R. Burkhill overwhelmed Ben +Mayberry with thanks for the heroic manner in +which he saved his niece and strove to save his +sister. He offered the boy a handsome reward, +but I am glad to say Ben refused to accept it. +He promised to write the boy concerning the +little one, but he must have forgotten his promise, +as a long time passed without anything +being heard from him. +</p> +<p>When I discovered that the seedy lounger +about our office had carefully taken down the +cipher telegram addressed to Burkhill, I was +indignant, for it was well known that one of +the most important duties which the telegraph +companies insist upon is the inviolability of the +messages intrusted to their wires. Nothing less +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +than a peremptory order from the court is +sufficient to produce the telegrams placed in +our care. +</p> +<p>I was on the point of leaving my desk and +compelling the impudent stranger to surrender +the cipher he had surreptitiously secured, but I +restrained myself and allowed him to go without +suspecting my knowledge of his act. +</p> +<p>“Ben,” said I, addressing my young friend, +whom I trusted beyond any of the older operators, +“did you notice that fellow who just +went out?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I have seen him before. He followed +me home last night, and after I went in +the house, he walked up and down the pavement +for more than half an hour. He was +very careful, but I saw him through the +blinds.” +</p> +<p>“Has he ever said anything to you?” +</p> +<p>“Nothing, except in the office.” +</p> +<p>“He took down every letter of that cipher +telegram you just received for Mr. Burkhill.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></p> +<p>The boy was surprised and sat a minute in +deep thought. +</p> +<p>“Mr. Melville,” he said, “if you have no objection, +I shall study out that cipher.” +</p> +<p>“That I think is impossible; it has been prepared +with care, and it will take a greater expert +than you to unravel it.” +</p> +<p>Ben smiled in his pleasing way as he answered: +</p> +<p>“I am fond of unraveling puzzles, and I +believe I can take this apart.” +</p> +<p>“I will be surprised if you succeed; but if +you do, keep it a secret from everyone but +myself.” +</p> +<p>“You may depend on that.” +</p> +<p>The odd times which Ben could secure +through the day were spent in studying the +mysterious letters; but when he placed it in his +pocket at night and started for home, he had +not caught the first glimmer of its meaning. +</p> +<p>But he was hopeful and said he would never +give it up until he made it as clear as noonday, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +and I knew that if it was within the range of +accomplishment, he would keep his word. I +have told enough to show my readers he was +unusually intelligent and quick-witted, but I +am free to confess that I had scarcely a hope of +his success. +</p> +<p>“I’ve got it!” +</p> +<p>That was the whispered exclamation with +which Ben Mayberry greeted me the next +morning when he entered the office. +</p> +<p>“No! You’re jesting,” I answered, convinced, +at the same time, that he was in earnest. +</p> +<p>“I’ll soon show you,” was his exultant response. +</p> +<p>“How was it you struck the key?” +</p> +<p>“That is hard to tell, more than you can explain +how it is, after you have puzzled your +brain for a long time over an arithmetical problem, +it suddenly becomes clear to you.” +</p> +<p>He sat down by my desk. +</p> +<p>“I figured and studied, and tried those letters +every way I could think of until midnight, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +and was on the point of going to bed, when the +whole thing flashed upon me. You know, Mr. +Melville, that in trying to unravel a cipher, the +first thing necessary is to find the key-word, for +it must be there somewhere; and if you look +sharp enough it will reveal itself. One single +letter gave it to me.” +</p> +<p>“How was that?” +</p> +<p>“If you will look at the telegram,” said Ben, +spreading it out before me, “you will notice +that in one instance only is a single letter seen +standing by itself. That is the letter ‘b,’ which +I concluded must stand for the article ‘a,’ for +I know of no other, unless it is ‘I.’ Now, the +letter ‘b’ is the second one in the alphabet, and +stands next in order to ‘a.’ If this system is +followed throughout the cipher, we have only +to take, instead of the letters as written, the +next in order as they occur in the alphabet. +But when I tried it on the following word, it +failed entirely. Luckily I tested the second in +the same manner, and I was surprised to find it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +made a perfect word, viz.: ‘chance.’ The third +came to naught, but the fourth developed into +‘your.’ That proved that every other word of +the message was constructed in this manner, and +it did not take me long to bring them out into +good English. This was a big help, I can tell +you, and it was not long before I discovered +that in the alternate words the system reversed; +that is, instead of taking the letter immediately +succeeding, the writer had used that which immediately +precedes it in the alphabet. Applying +this key to the telegram, it read thus: +</p> +<p>“‘Must wait till fall; Sam has a better +chance south. Your bank will keep.’” +</p> +<p>“Now,” added Ben, who was warranted in +feeling jubilant over his success, “that is a +very ordinary cipher—one which hundreds +would make out without trouble. Had the +writer run his letters all together—that is, +without any break between the words—I would +have been stumped. Besides, he uses no blind +words, as he ought to have done; and it looks +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +very much as if he calls everything by its right +name, something which I should think no person +anxious to keep such a secret would do. If +he means ‘bank,’ he might as well have called +it by another name altogether.” +</p> +<p>“I think ordinarily he would have been safe +in writing his cipher as he has done; but, be +that as it may, I am confident you have made a +most important discovery.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='X_FARMER_JONES' id='X_FARMER_JONES'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>FARMER JONES</h3> +</div> + +<p>The conclusion which I formed respecting +the cipher telegram, so cleverly translated by +Ben Mayberry, was that it concerned an intended +robbery of one of the banks in Damietta, +and that the crime, for the reason hinted +in the dispatch, was postponed until the succeeding +autumn. +</p> +<p>Under such circumstances it will be seen +that it was my duty to communicate with the +general manager of the company, which I proceeded +to do without delay. In reply, he instructed +me to place myself in communication +with the mayor of the city, whose province it +was to make provision against what certainly +looked like a contemplated crime. +</p> +<p>This instruction was carried out, and the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +mayor promptly took every means at his command +to checkmate any movement of the suspected +party. He arranged to shadow him by +one of the best detectives in the country, while +I agreed to notify him of the contents of any +more suspicious telegrams passing over the +wires. +</p> +<p>It need hardly be said that the friends of Ben +Mayberry and myself took care that his exploit +on the memorable winter night should not +pass by unnoticed. The single daily paper published +in Damietta gave a thrilling account of +the carrying away of the bridge, and the terrible +struggle of the boy in the raging river—an +account which was so magnified that we +laughed, and Ben was angry and disgusted. +One of the best traits of the boy was his modesty, +and it was manifest to everyone that this +continued laudation was distasteful to him in +the highest degree. +</p> +<p>The cap-sheaf came when one of the metropolitan +weeklies published an illustration of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +scene, in which Ben was pictured as saving not +only the mother and daughter, but the horse as +well, by drawing them by main force upon an +enormous block of ice! There was not the +slightest resemblance to the actual occurrence, +and the picture of our young hero looked as +much like me as it did like Ben, who would +have cried with vexation had not the whole +thing been such a caricature that he was compelled +to laugh instead. +</p> +<p>But the general manager received a truthful +account from me, together with the statement +that Ben Mayberry alone deserved the credit +for deciphering the telegram which foreshadowed +an intended crime. Corporations, as a +rule, are not given to lavish rewards, but the +letter which the manager sent to Ben was more +highly prized than if it had been a gold watch +studded with diamonds, or a deed for the best +house in Diamietta. His heart throbbed when +he read the warm words of praise from the +highest officer in the company, who told him to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +continue faithfully in the path on which he had +started, and his reward was certain. That letter +Ben to-day counts among his most precious +prizes, and nothing would induce him to part +with it. +</p> +<p>The best thing about this whole business was +the fact that Ben never lost his head through the +profusion of compliments from those in authority. +He realized that the straight road to +success lay not through accidental occurrences, +which may have befriended him, but it was +only by hard, painstaking, and long-continued +application that substantial and enduring success +is attained. +</p> +<p>Ben was always punctual at the office, and +never tried to avoid work which he might have +contended, and with good reason, did not belong +to him. His obliging disposition was +shown by his volunteering to deliver the message +which nearly cost him his life. The duty +of the telegraphist is very confining, and so +exacting that the most rugged health often +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +gives way under it, and persons take to other +business before completely broken up. But +this debility is often the fault of the operators +themselves, who sit bent over their desks, smoking +villainous cigarettes or strong tobacco, who +ride in street cars when they should gladly +seize the chance to walk briskly, and who, I am +sorry to say, drink intoxicating liquors, which +appear to tempt sedentary persons with peculiar +power. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry had none of these baneful +habits. He lived a long distance from the office, +and although the street cars passed within +a block of his home, I never knew him to ride +on one, no matter how severe the weather +might be. +</p> +<p>Besides this, he belonged to a baseball club, +and, in good weather, when we were not +pushed, managed to get away several times a +week during which he gained enough vitality +and renewed vigor to last him for days. +</p> +<p>One particularly busy afternoon, just as Ben +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +had finished sending off a lengthy dispatch, +someone rapped sharply on the counter behind +him, and turning, he saw an honest-looking +farmer, who had been writing and groaning +for fully twenty minutes before he was ready +to send his telegram. +</p> +<p>“Can you send that to Makeville, young +man?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered Ben, springing to his +feet, and taking the smeared and blotted paper +from his hand. +</p> +<p>“Jist let me know how much it is; I s’pose +it ain’t more than twenty or thirty cents. +There ain’t much use in sending it, but Sally +Jane, that’s my daughter, was anxious for me +to send her a telegraphic dispatch, ’cause she +never got one, and she’ll feel proud to see how +the neighbors will stare.” +</p> +<p>Ben had started to count the words, but he +paused, and repressing a smile over the simplicity +of the man, said: +</p> +<p>“It is very expensive to send messages by +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +telegraph, and it will cost you several dollars +to send this——” +</p> +<p>“Thunderation!” broke in the indignant old +man, growing red in the face. “I won’t patronize +any sich frauds.” +</p> +<p>He started to go out, when Ben checked him +pleasantly. +</p> +<p>“It will be too bad to disappoint your +daughter, and we can arrange to send her a message +with very little expense. There are many +words here which can be left out without affecting +the sense. Please run your pen through +these, and let me look at it again.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XI_THE_VALUE_OF_COURTESY' id='XI_THE_VALUE_OF_COURTESY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>THE VALUE OF COURTESY</h3> +</div> + +<p>The following is the message as first written +out by the old farmer: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Sally Jane Jones</span>, Makeville,—I take my +pen in hand to inform you that I arrived safely +in Damietta this morning. I have seen Jim, +your brother. His baby is dead in love with +me, and they all join in sending their love to +you. I expect to eat my supper with Cousin +Maria and sleep in their house by the river. I +will be home to-morrow afternoon. Meet me +at the station with the roan mare, if she ain’t +too tired to draw the buggy. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“Your affectionate father, </p> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Josiah A. Jones</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>When Ben Mayberry had explained how +much could be saved by crossing out the superfluous +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +words in this message, while its main +points would be left, the farmer’s anger turned +to pleasure. He took his pen, nodded several +times, and turned smilingly to the desk, where +he stood for fully a quarter of an hour, groaning, +writing, and crossing out words. He labored +as hard as before, and finally held the +paper off at arm’s length and contemplated it +admiringly through his silver spectacles. +</p> +<p>“Yes; that’ll do,” he said, nodding his head +several times in a pleased way; “that reads +just the same—little abrupt, maybe, but they’ll +git the hang of it, and it’ll please Sally Jane, +who is a good darter. Here, young man, jist +figger onto that, will you, and let me know how +much the expense is.” +</p> +<p>Ben took the paper, and under the labored +manipulation of the old farmer, he found it +was changed in this amazing fashion: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“I take my hand—Damietta. Jim, your +brother—the baby is dead—I expect to eat +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +Cousin Maria, and sleep in the river to-morrow +afternoon—with the roan—if she ain’t too +buggy. Your affectionate father, +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Josiah A. Jones</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>It was hard for Ben to suppress his laughter, +but the farmer was looking straight at him, and +the boy would not hurt his feelings. He surveyed +the message a minute, and then said: +</p> +<p>“Perhaps I can help you a little on this.” +</p> +<p>“You can try if you want to,” grunted the +old man; “but I don’t think you can improve +much on that.” +</p> +<p>Under the skillful magic of the boy’s pencil +the telegram was speedily boiled into this +shape: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Met Jim—all well—meet me with roan to-morrow +afternoon. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>J. A. Jones</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>“There are ten words,” explained Ben, +“and that will cost you twenty-five cents. Besides, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +it tells all that is necessary, and will +please your daughter just as much as if it were +five times as long.” +</p> +<p>Mr. Jones took it up again, held it up at +arm’s length and then brought it closer to him, +while he thoughtfully rubbed his chin with the +other hand. +</p> +<p>“I s’pose that’s right,” he finally said, “but +don’t you think you orter tell her I have arrived +in Damietta?” +</p> +<p>“She must know you have arrived here, or +you couldn’t send the telegram to her.” +</p> +<p>“Umph! That’s so; but hadn’t I orter explain +to her that the Jim I met was her +brother?” +</p> +<p>“Is there any Jim you expect to see except +your son?” +</p> +<p>“No, that’s so. I swan to gracious! But I +thought it wasn’t more’n perlite ter tell her +that Cousin Maria’s baby is dead in love with +me.” +</p> +<p>“I am sure that every baby which sees you +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +will fall in love with you, and your daughter +must be aware of that.” +</p> +<p>At this rather pointed compliment the farmer’s +face glowed like a cider apple, and his +smile seemed almost to reach to his ears. +</p> +<p>“I swan; but you’re a peart chap. What +wages do you git?” +</p> +<p>“Forty-five dollars a month.” +</p> +<p>“Well, you airn it, you jist bet; but I was +goin’ to say that I orter speak of the roan mare, +don’t you think?” +</p> +<p>“Have you more than one horse that is of a +roan color?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Then when you speak of the roan, they +must know that you can only mean the roan +mare.” +</p> +<p>The old gentleman fairly beamed with pleasure, +and reaching solemnly down in his pockets, +he fished out another silver quarter, which he +handed to Ben, saying: +</p> +<p>“I like you; take it to please me.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></p> +<p>“I thank you; I have been paid,” replied +Ben, pushing the coin back from him. +</p> +<p>“Confound it! Take this, then; won’t +you?” +</p> +<p>As he spoke he banged down a large, red apple +on the counter, and looked almost savagely +at Ben, as if daring him to refuse it. +</p> +<p>The boy did not decline, but picking it up, +said: +</p> +<p>“Thank you; I am very fond of apples. I +will take this home and share it with my +mother.” +</p> +<p>“The next time I come to town I’ll bring +you a peck,” and with this hearty response the +farmer stumped out of the door. +</p> +<p>I had been much amused over this scene, especially +when Ben showed me the astonishing +message the farmer had prepared to send his +daughter. +</p> +<p>Ben laughed, too, after the old gentleman +was beyond hearing. +</p> +<p>“It’s a pleasure to do a slight favor like that. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +I think I feel better over it than Mr. Jones does +himself.” +</p> +<p>“I think not,” said I; “for it so happens +that instead of that gentleman being Farmer +Jones, he is Mr. Musgrave, the district +superintendent, who took a fancy to find out +whether his operators are as kind and obliging +as they should be, I am quite sure you lost +nothing that time by your courtesy and accommodating +spirit.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XII_A_CALL' id='XII_A_CALL'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A CALL</h3> +</div> + +<p>I have spoken of Ben Mayberry’s fondness +for athletic sports, and the great benefit he +gained from the exercise thus obtained. When +business permitted, I visited the ball grounds, +where his skill made him the favorite of the +enthusiastic crowd which always assembled +there. He played shortstop, and his activity in +picking up hot grounders and his wonderful +accuracy in throwing to first base were the +chief attractions which brought many to the +place. He was equally successful at the bat, +and, when only fourteen years old, repeatedly +lifted the ball over the left-field fence—a feat +which was only accomplished very rarely by +the heaviest batsmen of the visiting nines. +</p> +<p>There were many, including myself, who +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +particularly admired Ben’s throwing. How +any living person can acquire such skill is beyond +my comprehension. Ben was the superior +of all his companions when a small urchin, and +his wonderful accuracy improved as he grew +older. +</p> +<p>To please a number of spectators, Ben used +to place himself on third base, and then “bore +in” the ball to first. In its arrowy passage it +seemed scarcely to rise more than two or three +feet above the horizontal, and shot through the +air with such unerring aim that I really believe +he could have struck a breast-pin on a player’s +front nine times out of ten. I never saw him +make a wild throw, and some of his double +plays were executed with such brilliancy that a +veteran player took his hand one day as he ran +from the field, and said: +</p> +<p>“Ben, you’ll be on a professional nine in a +couple of years. Harry Wright and the different +managers are always on the lookout for +talent, and they’ll scoop you in.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span></p> +<p>“I think not,” said the modest Ben, panting +slightly from a terrific run. “I am a little +lucky, that’s all; but though I’m very fond of +playing ball I never will take it up as a means +of living.” +</p> +<p>“There’s where your head ain’t level, sonny. +Why, you’ll get more money for one summer’s +play than you will make in two or three years +nursing a telegraph machine. Besides that, +think of the fun you will have.” +</p> +<p>“That’s all very good, and I can understand +why baseball is so tempting to so many young +men. But it lasts a short time, and then the +player finds himself without any regular business. +His fingers are banged out of shape; he +has exercised so violently that more than likely +his health is injured, and he is compelled to +work like a common laborer to get a living. +Ten years from now there will hardly be one of +the present professionals in the business, I’m +sure.” +</p> +<p>“I guess you ain’t far from the fact, but for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +all that, if I had the chance that you have, I +would be mighty glad to take in all the baseball +sport I could.” +</p> +<p>But Ben was sensible in this respect, and +steadily refused to look upon himself as training +for the professional ball field. In looking +back to that time, I am rejoiced that such is the +fact. There are many of my readers who recall +the popular players of years ago—McBride, +Wright, Fisler, Sensenderfer, McMullen, +Start, Brainard, Gould, Leonard, Dean, Spalding, +Sweeney, Radcliffe, McDonald, Addy, +Pierce, and a score of others. Among them all +I recall none still in the field. Some are dead, +and the rest are so “used up” that they would +make a sorry exhibition if placed on the ball +field to-day. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry was a swift and skillful +skater, and in running there was not a boy in +Damietta who could equal him. It was by giving +heed to these forms of healthful exercise, +and by avoiding liquor and tobacco, that he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +preserved his rosy cheeks, his clear eye, his +vigorous brain, and his bounding health. +</p> +<p>“Why, how do you do, Ben?” +</p> +<p>The lad looked up from his desk in the office, +one clear, autumn day, as he heard these words, +and I did the same. There stood one of the +loveliest little girls I ever looked upon. She +seemed to be ten or eleven years of age, was +richly dressed, with an exuberant mass of yellow +hair falling over her shoulders. Her large, +lustrous eyes were of a deep blue, her complexion +as rich and pink as the lining of a sea +shell, and her features as winsome as any that +Phidias himself ever carved from Parian +marble. +</p> +<p>Ben rose in a hesitating way and walked toward +her, uncertain, though he suspected her +identity. +</p> +<p>“Is this—no, it cannot be——” +</p> +<p>“Yes; I am Dolly Willard, that you saved +from drowning with my poor mamma last +winter. I wrote you a letter soon after I got +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +home, but you felt too important to notice it, +I suppose.” +</p> +<p>And the laughing girl reached her hand over +the counter, while Ben shook it warmly, and +said: +</p> +<p>“You wrote to me? Surely there was some +mistake, for I never got the letter; I would +have only been too glad to answer it. Maybe +you forgot to drop it in the office.” +</p> +<p>“I gave it to Uncle George, and told him to +be careful and put it in the mail, and he said he +did so when he came home, so it was not my +fault. But I am visiting at my cousin’s in +Commerce Street, at Mr. Grandin’s——” +</p> +<p>“I know the place.” +</p> +<p>“They are going to have a grand party there +to-night, and I’ve come down to ask you to be +sure and be there.” +</p> +<p>“I am delighted to receive your invitation, +but——” +</p> +<p>“You can go,” said I, as Ben looked appealingly +toward me. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span></p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. Yes, Miss Dolly, I count +upon great pleasure in being present.” +</p> +<p>“If you don’t come, I’ll never speak to you +again,” called the pretty little miss as she +passed out of the door. +</p> +<p>“I am sorry and troubled about one thing,” +said Ben to me, when we stood together. +“This Uncle George of Dolly’s is the G. R. +Burkhill who received that cipher dispatch. I +am satisfied he is a villain, and there’s trouble +close at hand.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIII_AT_THE_GRANDIN_MANSION' id='XIII_AT_THE_GRANDIN_MANSION'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>AT THE GRANDIN MANSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ben Mayberry was born in Damietta, and +his parents, as I have shown, were extremely +poor. He had been a barefooted urchin, who +was ready to fight or engage in any reckless +undertaking. As he grew older and became +more thoughtful, he assumed better clothing, +grew more studious, and, helped by his fine +ability and prepossessing looks, became popular. +</p> +<p>In addition, his remarkable skill in athletic +sports made him well liked among the rougher +element, who would have been glad had he consented +to “train with their crowd.” +</p> +<p>In spite of all this, Ben failed to secure the +social recognition to which he was entitled. +Many who would greet him most cordially on +the street never thought of inviting him to their +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +homes. Damietta had been a city long enough +to develop social caste, which lay in such distinct +strata that there seemed no possibility of +their ever mingling together. +</p> +<p>I was glad, therefore, when Dolly Willard +called at the office and personally invited Ben to +attend the party at Mr. Grandin’s, which was +one of the most aristocratic families in Damietta. +They were originally from the South, +but had lived in the city a long time. +</p> +<p>My young friend was somewhat dubious +about going, as he had never before been invited +to cross the threshold; but there was no +refusing the warm invitation of Dolly, who +had walked all the way to the office on purpose +to secure his presence at the gathering that +evening. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry was proud of Dolly; that is, +proud that it had fallen to his lot to befriend +such a splendid girl, but there were several +things that made him thoughtful. +</p> +<p>In the first place, my reader will recall that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +the cipher telegram which was of such a compromising +character was addressed to her +uncle. Ben had hunted out from the files in +the office the first disguised message, and it +clearly referred to a contemplated robbery of +one of the banks in Damietta. This G. R. +Burkhill was a criminal who was playing a +desperate game, in which he was likely to lose. +</p> +<p>It was unfortunate that he was connected by +relationship with Dolly Willard, who was the +cousin of the Grandins; but it was certainly +impossible that either Dolly, the Grandins, or +Mrs. Willard herself, knew the character of +the man. Such was the view Ben took of the +matter, adding to himself: +</p> +<p>“I hope he will keep away, and that nothing +more of the intended robbery will be heard. It +is now the fall of the year, and they seemed +to agree that it was the time when the crime +was to be attempted.” +</p> +<p>It was one of the grandest children’s parties +ever given in Damietta. Little Dolly Willard +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +had mourned her mother’s loss as deeply as +could any child, but those of her years soon +rally from affliction, and she was among the +happiest of the three-score boys and girls who +gathered in the roomy parlors of the Grandin +mansion that beautiful night in October. +</p> +<p>The wages which Ben Mayberry received +enabled him to dress with excellent taste, and, +poor as he was, there was none of the sons of +the wealthiest merchants in Damietta who was +more faultlessly attired that evening. True, +some of them sported handsome gold watches, +and one or two displayed diamonds, of which +Ben had none, but otherwise a spectator would +have placed the young telegraphist on the same +social footing with the aristocratic youths +around him. +</p> +<p>Among the numerous misses present were +many dressed with great elegance, and possessing +much personal beauty; but Dolly Willard, +by common consent, surpassed them all in +personal loveliness, while the rich and severe +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +simplicity of her attire showed either the exquisite +taste of herself or of someone who had +the care of her. +</p> +<p>Among such an assemblage of misses and +youths there are as many heart-burnings as +among their elder brothers and sisters. Dolly +was decidedly the belle of the evening. Some +of the other girls were so envious over her superior +attractions that they openly sneered at +her, but the aspiring youth were dazzled by the +sprightly girl, who attracted them as though +she were a magnet and they had a big supply +of steel about their persons. +</p> +<p>When Ben Mayberry entered the parlor a +little late, Dolly was standing among a group +of lads who were smiling and bowing, and +making desperate attempts to be funny with a +view of drawing her attention especially to +them. It was natural that she should be somewhat +coquettish, but the instant she caught +sight of Ben Mayberry she almost ran to him. +</p> +<p>“I was afraid you wouldn’t come,” she exclaimed, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +taking both his hands in hers; “and +if you hadn’t, I never, never, never would have +spoken to you again.” +</p> +<p>Ben unquestionably was a handsome lad. +His bright eyes, his white, even teeth, his +slightly Roman nose, his well-shaped head, his +clear, bright eye, and his rosy cheeks flushed +with excitement, rendered him an attractive +figure among the bright faces and well-dressed +figures. His superb physical poise lent a grace +to all his movements, while he was self-possessed +at the most trying times. +</p> +<p>He made a laughing reply to Dolly, who at +once seated herself beside him and began chatting +in her liveliest style, which was very lively +indeed. To those who approached, she introduced +him as the young man who had saved +her life the preceding winter, until Ben begged +her to make no further reference to it. Many +of the other girls gathered around, and showed +their admiration of Ben in a most marked manner. +These were mostly from Boston or New +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +York, who had heard of the young hero, but +had never looked upon him before. +</p> +<p>Dolly was talking away with lightning speed +to Ben, who managed to edge in a word now +and then, when a dapper young man of sixteen +years spruced forward. +</p> +<p>“They are going to form for the lancers, +Miss Dolly; I believe I have your promise for +my partner.” +</p> +<p>“I thank you, Rutherford, but I have +changed my mind, and will dance with Master +Ben.” +</p> +<p>This was a daring and almost unwarranted +act on the part of the little empress, for Ben +had not yet spoken to her on the matter. But +he was quick to seize the advantage, and, instantly +rising to his feet, offered his arm to +Dolly, and started toward the dancing-room, +as though the whole thing had been prearranged +before the other party presented himself. +</p> +<p>This act brought him face to face with the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +disappointed young man, whose countenance +flushed with anger. +</p> +<p>“Rutherford, this is he who saved my life +last winter, Master Ben Mayberry; my friend, +Rutherford Richmond.” +</p> +<p>The two saluted each other somewhat distantly; +and with feelings which it would be +hard to describe, Ben recognized the tall, rather +callow youth as the Rutherford who stoned +him several years before, when he was floating +down the river on a log, and to whom Ben +in turn had given a most thorough castigation. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIV_THE_CONSPIRACY' id='XIV_THE_CONSPIRACY'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE CONSPIRACY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Rutherford Richmond recognized Ben +Mayberry at the same instant that the latter +identified him. But neither gave any evidence +of the fact that could be understood by other +parties. +</p> +<p>Ben took his position with Dolly by his side, +and they were without doubt the handsomest +couple on the floor that evening. Their mutual +interest was so marked that everyone present +noticed it, and it caused comment without end. +</p> +<p>“Yes, I believe he sweeps out the office for a +telegraph company. He manages to save up +enough money in the course of a year to buy +a decent suit of clothes.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry was sitting down at the end +of one of the dances, when he overheard these +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +words, which he knew referred to him. Dolly +had excused herself for a few minutes, and he +was alone, sniffing at a fragrant bouquet which +he was protecting from all damage for her +benefit. +</p> +<p>He knew, further, that the remark was intended +for his ears, but he affected not to +know it, while he furtively glanced behind him. +There stood Master Rutherford Richmond, +with three or four lads. They were all jealous +of Ben, and were discussing his merits for his +own especial benefit. +</p> +<p>“I understand he gets fifty cents a week for +his work,” observed another, making sure his +voice was elevated enough to be heard half +across the room, “which is a big sum for him.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t understand why Miss Jennie” (referring +to Jennie Grandin, who gave the party) +“allows such cattle here,” struck in a third, in +the same off-hand manner. +</p> +<p>Rutherford Richmond took upon himself to +give the reason. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></p> +<p>“It was all on account of Dolly. You know +she is kind-hearted, and I understand this +booby went to her and begged that she would +give him a chance to see how a party of high-toned +people looked. She couldn’t very well +refuse, and now she is trotting him around for +the rest of us to laugh at.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry’s cheeks burned, for none of +these words escaped him. He would have +given a good deal to have been outside alone +for a few minutes with Master Rutherford +Richmond. But he could not call him to account +under the circumstances, and he still +sniffed at the bouquet in his hand, and affected +to be very much interested in the action of a +couple of misses on the opposite side of the +room. +</p> +<p>“If Miss Jennie permits anything of this +kind again,” volunteered Rutherford, “it will +cause trouble. A good many will want to +know, before they allow their children to come, +whether they are liable to meet the telegraph +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +office boy and the great ball player here; if +there’s danger they will stay at home.” +</p> +<p>“I think the scum of society should be kept +in its place,” observed another, scarcely less +bitter than young Richmond in his jealousy of +the lad who claimed so much of the attention +of the little belle of the evening. +</p> +<p>This kind of talk was going on when, to +Ben’s great relief, Dolly came tripping to him. +He added gall to the cup of the envious youths +by rising, giving her his arm, and then glancing +triumphantly back at them, as he escorted +her to the dining room. +</p> +<p>They knew the meaning of the glance, and +they were fierce enough to assault him had they +dared to do so. +</p> +<p>The party came to an end before midnight. +Ben Mayberry had saluted his friends, and was +in the hall preparatory to going home, when +someone slyly pulled his arm. Turning, he saw +that it was Ned Deering, a little fellow whose +father was the leading physician in Damietta. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +Ned was a great admirer of Ben, and he now +seized the occasion to say: +</p> +<p>“Look out, Ben, when you get down by the +bridge over the creek; they’re going for you.” +</p> +<p>“Whom do you mean?” +</p> +<p>“That Rutherford Richmond and another +fellow mean to hide in Carter’s Alley, and +when you come along will pounce down on you. +They wanted me to go with ’em, but I begged +off without letting ’em know I meant to tell +you.” +</p> +<p>“Where are they?” asked Ben, glancing +furtively about him. +</p> +<p>“They slipped out ahead, and are hurrying +down there. You had better take another way +home. They are awful mad, and will knock +the stuffing out of you.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry smiled over the earnest +words and manner of the boy, and thanked him +for his information. +</p> +<p>“Don’t let ’em know I told you,” added the +timid fellow, as Ben moved out the door; “for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +if they find out that it was me that was the +cause of your going the other way home, why, +they’d punch my head for me. That Richmond, +they say, is a reg’lar fighter—has +science, and can lay out anybody of his size.” +</p> +<p>“They will never know you said anything +to me, Ned, for I shall take the usual way, and +will be slow, so as to give them plenty of time +to get there ahead of me.” +</p> +<p>The little fellow looked wonderingly at Ben +as he walked away, unable to comprehend how +anyone should step into a yawning chasm after +being warned of his peril. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XV_AN_AFFRAY_AT_NIGHT' id='XV_AN_AFFRAY_AT_NIGHT'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>AN AFFRAY AT NIGHT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ben Mayberry was so desirous that Rutherford +Richmond and his brother conspirator +should be given all the time they needed to +complete their scheme for waylaying and assaulting +him, that he lingered on the road +longer than was really necessary. +</p> +<p>Finally he turned down the street, which +crossed by the creek that ran through the center +of Damietta. It was a clear moonlight +night, and, except in the shadow, objects could +be seen distinctly for a considerable distance. +He advanced with great care, and with all his +wits at command, for he was confident the +warning given him by Ned Deering was well +founded. +</p> +<p>When within a block of the bridge he saw +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span> +someone peep out of Carter’s Alley and instantly +draw back his head, as though fearful +of being observed. A moment later, a second +person did the same. Rutherford Richmond +and his confederate were on hand. +</p> +<p>They did not look like the two boys as seen +in the glare of Mr. Grandin’s parlors, for they +had disguised themselves, so far as possible, +with a view of preventing their recognition by +the boy whom they meant to assault. They +knew they were liable to get themselves into +trouble by such an outrageous violation of law, +and they meant to take all the precautions +necessary. +</p> +<p>Each had donned a long flapping overcoat, +which must have belonged to some of the older +members of the families, as it dangled about +his heels. They also wore slouch hats like a +couple of brigands, which they pulled down +over their eyes, so as to hide their features. +They had no weapons, for it was calculated +that by springing upon Ben unawares they +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +would easily bear him to the pavement, when +both would give him a beating which he would +remember for a lifetime. +</p> +<p>Ben was whistling softly to himself, and +he was glad that at the late hour no one else +was seen in the immediate neighborhood, for +all he asked was a clear field and no favor. +</p> +<p>As he walked by the open end of Carter’s +Alley, he dimly discerned two figures, which +seemed plastered against the wall in the dense +shadow, where they were invisible to all passers-by, +unless their suspicion was directed to +the spot. +</p> +<p>Ben gave no evidence that he noticed them, +and moved along in his deliberate fashion, +changing his whistling to a low humming of +no particular tune; but he used his keen eyesight +and hearing for all they were worth. +</p> +<p>He had gone no more than a dozen feet beyond, +when he heard a rapid but cautious footstep +behind him. It increased in swiftness, and +was instantly followed by a second. The two +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +boys were approaching him stealthily from the +rear. +</p> +<p>Still Ben walked quietly forward, humming +to himself, and with no apparent thought of +what was coming. Suddenly, when Richmond +was in the very act of making a leap upon his +shoulders, Ben turned like a flash, and planted +a stunning blow directly in the face of the exultant +coward, who was knocked on his back +as if kicked by a vigorous mule. +</p> +<p>His companion was at the elbow of Richmond +when struck in this emphatic fashion, +and for the instant was bewildered by the unexpected +catastrophe. Before he could recover +he imagined the comet which was expected +at that season had caught him directly +between the eyes, and he went backward over +Richmond, with his two legs pointing upward, +like a pair of dividers, toward the stars. +</p> +<p>Ben’s blood was up, and he waited for the +two to rise, intending to “lay them out” more +emphatically than before. The lad whose name +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +he did not know lay still, but Rutherford recovered +with remarkable quickness, and began +struggling to his feet, without paying heed to +his hat, which had rolled into the gutter. +</p> +<p>“That ain’t fair to strike a fellow that way, +when he ain’t expecting it,” growled the assassin. +“Why didn’t you stand still like a man +and not hit below the belt?” +</p> +<p>“All right; I give you notice then, friend +Rutherford, that I am going for you again, +and this time above the belt.” +</p> +<p>Richmond, finding he must fight, threw up +his hands and did his best to guard against the +blows whose force he knew so well. He did +possess some knowledge of sparring, but so +did Ben, who was much the stronger and more +active of the two. He advanced straight upon +Richmond, made several feints, and then +landed a blow straight from the shoulder, at +the same time parrying the cross-counter which +the lad came near getting in on the face. +</p> +<p>It so happened that, at that moment, the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +other young scamp was in the act of rising, +and had got upon his hands and knees. As +Richmond was sent spinning backward he +came in collision with him, and turned a complete +somersault, the air seeming to be full of +legs, long hair, hats, and flapping overcoats. +</p> +<p>“Murder! help! help! police! police!” +</p> +<p>These startling cries were shouted at the top +of their voices by the discomfited poltroons, and +were heard a long distance on the still night. +Suddenly the rattle of running feet sounded on +the planks of the bridge, and Ben caught sight +of a policeman running toward the spot. +</p> +<p>“What does this mean?” he demanded, +when he came face to face with Ben, whom he +motioned to stop. +</p> +<p>“Those two fellows attacked me when I was +passing Carter’s Alley, and I—well, I defended +myself as best I could.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, Ben, that is you; I didn’t know you at +first,” said the policeman. “This is rather serious +business; I’ll run ’em in.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p> +<p>Advancing to where the boys were once +more climbing to their feet, he grasped each by +the collar. +</p> +<p>“I’ll take you along with me, young gents; +this is serious business for you.” +</p> +<p>They begged piteously to be let off, declaring +that it was only a joke, but the officer was +inexorable, and marched them to the station +house, where they spent the rest of the night, +Ben Mayberry having been notified to be on +hand at nine o’clock the next morning, when the +police justice would make an investigation. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVI_THE_THIRD_TELEGRAM' id='XVI_THE_THIRD_TELEGRAM'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>THE THIRD TELEGRAM</h3> +</div> + +<p>When the father of Rutherford Richmond’s +friend, at whose house the young Bostonian +was visiting, learned the facts, he was indignant +beyond description. He declared that +Ben Mayberry had served the young scapegraces +right, except he ought to have punished +both more severely, which was rather severe, +as was shown by the blackened eyes and +bruised faces. +</p> +<p>Ben declined to push the matter on the morrow, +as the boys had been punished, and he had +proved he was able to take care of himself, as +against them, at any time. But the gentleman +insisted that he would not permit the matter +to drop, unless his son and Rutherford agreed +to go to the telegraph office and beg the pardon +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +of the boy whom he learned they had insulted +under Mr. Grandin’s roof. Rutherford and +his friend consented, and they humiliated themselves +to that extent. The succeeding day +Rutherford went home to Boston, and did not +reappear in Damietta until long afterward, +when he hoped the disgraceful episode was +forgotten. +</p> +<p>On the following week Dolly Willard returned +to New York, and Ben, for the first +time in his life, began to feel as though his +native city had lost a good deal of the sunshine +to which it was entitled. +</p> +<p>“She will visit Damietta again,” he said to +himself, with just the faintest sigh, “and she +promised to write me; I hope she won’t forget +her promise.” +</p> +<p>And, indeed, the sprightly little miss did not +lose sight of her pledge. It may be suspected +that she took as much pleasure in expressing on +paper her warm friendship for Ben, as he did +in reading the pure, honest sentiments, and in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +answering her missives, which he did with +great promptness. +</p> +<p>It was just one week after the memorable +night of the party, while I was sitting at my +desk, that the following cipher dispatch came +over the wires, addressed to G. R. Burkhill, +Moorestown: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Fwfszuijoh hr pl nm ujnf Sgtqdezw bu +bnqmdq. <span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Tom.</span>” +</p> +</div> +<p>I passed the message to Ben, whose eyes +sparkled as he took it in hand. It required +but a few minutes for him to translate it by +the method which has already been made +known, and the following rather startling +words came to light: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Everything is O. K. On time Thursday +at corner.” +</p> +</div> +<p>This unquestionably referred to the same unlawful +project outlined in the former dispatches. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +Mr. Burkhill had not been in the +office for months. As yet, of the three telegrams +sent him, he had not received one. The +first was lost in the river, the second had been +on file more than half a year, and we now had +the third. +</p> +<p>But the latter did not lie uncalled for even +for an hour. Remembering the instruction received +from the manager, I took a copy of the +message, with the translation written out by +Ben, to the office of the mayor, where I laid +the facts before him. This was on Wednesday, +and the contemplated robbery was fixed +for the following night. By his direction I +sent a dispatch at once to the address of the +detective in New York, who, it had been arranged, +was to look after the matter. +</p> +<p>The reply to this message was the rather +surprising information that Detective Maxx +had been in Damietta several days, and knew +of the contemplated robbery. He was shadowing +the suspected party, and if he deemed it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +necessary, he would call on the mayor for assistance. +</p> +<p>While I was absent from the office, who +should walk in but Mr. G. R. Burkhill. He +greeted Ben with much effusion, shaking him +warmly by the hand, inquiring how he got +along, and telling him that his niece sent her +special regards to him. +</p> +<p>“I have been on a trip to New Orleans,” he +added, “or I would have been down in Damietta +sooner, for I like the place.” +</p> +<p>“The summer isn’t generally considered a +good time to go so far south,” ventured Ben. +</p> +<p>“That is true, as relates to Northerners, but +I was born in the Crescent City, and have no +fear of Yellow Jack; fact is, I have had the +confounded disease myself. By the way, have +you a message for me?” +</p> +<p>“We have two, in fact I may say three, for +the copy of the first one that went down the +river with me has never been handed you, and +one came a day or two after you left.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“I know what they are, so you needn’t +mind about them. I will take the last, if you +please.” +</p> +<p>“It arrived within the last half hour,” explained +Ben, as he handed the damp sheet to +him. +</p> +<p>The boy watched his countenance while +Burkhill was reading it. It took several +minutes for him to study out its meaning, but +he did so without the aid of pencil or paper. +A strange glitter came into his gray eyes as +the meaning broke upon him, and he muttered +something to himself which the lad did not +quite catch. +</p> +<p>Then he turned to the desk, and was engaged +only a minute or two when he handed a return +message to Ben, paying for it as the man had +done who forwarded the other to him. It was +this: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“Uibu rthsr fybdumz Vhkk cf qdzex. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>G. R. Burkhill.</span>”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></div> +<p>Applying his rule (which compelled him to +go to the end of the alphabet, when, for instance, +the letter “a” demanded to be represented +by a preceding letter), Ben Mayberry +very readily translated the cipher as follows: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“That suits exactly. Will be ready. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>G. R. Burkhill.</span>”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVII_DECIDEDLY_MIXED' id='XVII_DECIDEDLY_MIXED'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>DECIDEDLY MIXED</h3> +</div> + +<p>During the summer succeeding the carrying +away of the bridge which connected Damietta +with Moorestown, it was built in a more substantial +manner than before. It was an easy +matter, therefore, to cross from one place to +another, and carriages and pedestrians went +back and forth between the two States at almost +every hour of the day. Damietta was a +large city, while Moorestown was only a small +town; but the latter was pleasantly located and +had a large and excellent hotel, where quite a +number of guests spent the most sultry months +of summer. +</p> +<p>In Damietta were three banks, and the cipher +telegrams which I have laid before the reader, +beyond a doubt referred to one of them, but it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +was impossible to fix with certainty upon the +right one. As a matter of prudence, therefore, +it was determined to keep the three under surveillance. +The Mechanics’ Bank, as it was +called before it adopted the national system, +stood on the corner, and the general impression +prevailed that this was the institution referred +to, as it will be remembered that the +word “corner” occurred in one of the telegrams. +</p> +<p>A few minutes’ reflection convinced me that +it was utterly out of the question for the intended +robbery to succeed. Such desperate +projects depend mainly on their secrecy for success. +The watchmen in all the banks were instructed +to be unusually vigilant, the policemen +were apprised of what was suspected, a +number of officers were to lounge upon the +streets near at hand in citizens’ clothes, and +Aristides Maxx, one of the most skillful detectives +in the metropolis, was engaged upon +the case. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p> +<p>The general belief was that the burglars, +discovering what thorough preparations were +on foot, would not make the attempt. That +sort of gentry are not the ones to walk into +any trap with their eyes open. +</p> +<p>Respecting Detective Maxx, there was much +wonderment, and the mayor was vexed that +he did not show up. Some doubted his presence +in Damietta, but the superior officer of +the city felt that courtesy demanded that Maxx +should report to him before trying to follow up +any trail of his own. If he was with us, he +was so effectually disguised that no one suspected +his identity. +</p> +<p>“I wonder whether that seedy, tramp-like +fellow who stole the cipher dispatch, can be +Detective Maxx?” said Ben to me on Wednesday +night before he started for home. +</p> +<p>“It is not impossible,” I answered, “for detectives +are forced to assume all manner of +disguises. He may have chosen to stroll about +the city in that make-up.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></p> +<p>“But if it is the detective, why did he go +to all the trouble of copying off the telegram +by sound when he could have got it from us +with the translation merely by making himself +known?” +</p> +<p>“I admit that, if he is a detective, he acts, in +my judgment, in a very unprofessional way. +He was so persistent in his attentions that he +must have known he was sure to draw unpleasant, +if not dangerous suspicion, to himself.” +</p> +<p>“Do you know,” said Ben, with a meaning +smile, “that I half believe this stranger and +Burkhill are partners? They have been here +at the same time, they show interest in the same +thing, and like enough are working out the +same scheme of robbery.” +</p> +<p>This had never occurred to me, and I was +struck with its reasonableness, when I came to +think it over. The ill-favored individual +signed the name “John Browning” to the +dispatch which he sent some months before, as +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +a pretext for visiting our office so much—but +that was clearly an alias. +</p> +<p>“Well,” said I, “it is all conjecture any +way. With the ample warning the authorities +have received, I do not believe there is the +slightest prospect of a robbery being committed. +I intend to retire to-morrow night at +my usual hour with little fear of my slumbers +being disturbed.” +</p> +<p>A few minutes after, we bade each other +good-night, and wended our way quietly homeward. +</p> +<p>My experience was singular, after parting +with my young friend—not meaning to imply +that anything unusual occurred to me; but the +mental processes to which I was subjected that +evening, in the light of subsequent events, were +very peculiar, to say the least. +</p> +<p>I am convinced that the inciting cause was +the remark made by Ben Mayberry to the effect +that he believed the seedy individual was a +confederate of Burkhill, and that the two were +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +perfecting a scheme for robbing one of the +banks—most likely the Mechanics’. +</p> +<p>“Ben is right,” I said to myself. “His +bright mind has enabled him to grasp the truth +by intuition, as a woman sometimes does when +a man has been laboring for hours to reach +the same point.” +</p> +<p>But before I could satisfy myself that the +boy was right, a still stronger conviction came +to me that he was wrong. The men were not +pals—as they are called among the criminal +classes—and they were not arranging some +plan of robbery. +</p> +<p>While I was clear on this point, I was totally +unable to form any theory to take the place of +the one I had demolished. +</p> +<p>Who was the pretended John Browning, and +what was the dark scheme that was being +hatched “in our midst,” as the expression +goes? +</p> +<p>These were the questions which presented +themselves to me, and which I could not answer +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +in a manner thoroughly satisfactory to +myself. +</p> +<p>“They are all wrong—everybody is +wrong!” I exclaimed to myself; “whatever it +is that is in the wind, no one but the parties +themselves knows its nature.” +</p> +<p>This was the conclusion which fastened +itself in my mind more firmly the longer I +thought. +</p> +<p>“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, +and it is the only thing which will protect us +in this case—helloa!” +</p> +<p>So rapt was I in my meditation that I had +walked three squares beyond my house before +I awoke to the fact. It was something which +I had never done before in all my life. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XVIII_BETWEEN_TWO_FIRES' id='XVIII_BETWEEN_TWO_FIRES'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>BETWEEN TWO FIRES</h3> +</div> + +<p>In the meantime, Ben Mayberry underwent +an experience more peculiar than mine. +</p> +<p>I cannot speak of the mental problems with +which he wrestled, but, as he explained to me +afterward, he had settled down to the belief +that the Mechanics’ Bank was the one against +which the burglars were perfecting their plans. +He was hopeful that the only outcome of the +conspiracy would be the capture of the criminals, +though he felt more than one pang when +he reflected that the principal one was a relative +of Dolly Willard, who was the personification +of innocence and goodness to him. +</p> +<p>Ben had acquired the excellent habit of always +being wide awake, excepting, of course, +when he lay down for real slumber. Thus it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +was that he had gone but a little distance on +his way home when he became aware that +someone was following him. +</p> +<p>I doubt whether there is a more uncomfortable +feeling than that caused by such a discovery. +The certainty that some unknown +person, with no motive but a sinister one, is +dodging at your heels, as the mountain wolf +slinks along behind the belated traveler, awaiting +the moment when he can spring upon him +unawares, is enough to cause the bravest man +to shiver with dread. +</p> +<p>The night was very dark. The day had been +cloudy, and there was no moon; but Ben was +in a large city, with an efficient police system +(that is, equal to the average), there were +street lamps, the hour was not unusually late, +and there were other persons beside himself +abroad. And yet, in the heart of the metropolis, +at the same hour, crimes have been perpetrated +whose mystery has never been unraveled +to this day. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>Ben Mayberry may have felt somewhat uneasy, +but there was not so much fear as there +was curiosity to know what earthly reason any +living man could have for following him in +that stealthy fashion. +</p> +<p>Surely no one could suspect him of being +burdened with wealth. The only article of any +account about his person was a silver watch, +which had cost him sixteen dollars. He never +carried a pistol, for he saw no necessity for +doing so. If he should find himself beset by +enemies who were too strong to be resisted, he +could run as rapidly as any person in the city, +and a short run in Damietta was enough to +take him to a place of safety inaccessible to his +assailants. +</p> +<p>When he turned into the narrow street which +led across the bridge where he had his affray +with Rutherford Richmond and his companion, +he reflected that it was perhaps the most dangerous +spot in the neighborhood. There was +a single lamp just before stepping on the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +bridge, where one might run against another +before seeing him. +</p> +<p>He hesitated a minute as he made the turn. +It was easy enough to reach his home by a +different route, which was somewhat longer, +but which was well lighted all the way, and +there could be little risk in taking it. +</p> +<p>“I’ll stick to the usual way,” muttered Ben, +striding resolutely forward; “I don’t believe +anything like murder is contemplated.” +</p> +<p>At that moment he would have felt much +more comfortable had he possessed a pistol, or +some kind of weapon, but he did not hesitate, +now that he had “put his hand to the plow.” +</p> +<p>A minute later he stepped on the bridge, +where the gas lamp shone upon him, and, with +his usual deliberate tread, passed off in the +gloom of the other side. The instant he believed +himself beyond sight of his pursuer, he +quickened his gait but continually looked back +in the hope of gaining a view of the man, for +the boy was naturally eager to learn who it +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +was that was playing such a sinister trick on +him. +</p> +<p>Just beyond, on the limit of his field of +vision, Ben saw a shadowy figure cross quickly, +to the other side of the street. The stranger +did this before coming within the glare of the +lamp, which would have revealed him too +plainly to those who might be curious to secure +a glimpse of his features. +</p> +<p>An instant later his footfall was heard on +the bridge, and he was walking rapidly toward +Ben, crossing again to the same side of the +street, as soon as over the stream. The boy +stepped lightly but briskly forward until he +reached Carter’s Alley, into which he entered +a couple of yards, and then came to a sudden +halt. +</p> +<p>At the moment of doing so, his foot struck +something hard. He knew what it was, and, +stooping down, picked up a large stone, which +he held tightly grasped in his hand. Such a +weapon was very formidable in the grip of a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +vigorous boy, who could throw with the skill +and accuracy of Ben Mayberry. +</p> +<p>The lad had scarcely halted when he caught +the tip, tip of his pursuer, who was evidently +determined to overtake him before he reached +the lighted regions beyond. Ben was astonished +just then, to note that a second person +was just approaching from the opposite direction +in the same guarded fashion. +</p> +<p>“It must be there are two of them,” was +the sensible conclusion of the boy; “they +have agreed to meet here, where I wouldn’t +have much show against them.” +</p> +<p>It followed that the party of the second part +was waiting for the coming of young Mayberry, +doubtless with the understanding that +his partner in crime should follow him to a +certain point near at hand, when the two would +close in on him. +</p> +<p>Ben had never suspected any such conspiracy +as this, and, had he gone a little further, he +would have walked directly into the arms of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +the second ruffian, while peering behind him at +the shadowy villain who “still pursued him.” +</p> +<p>But the lad had stopped short and disconcerted +the plans of the conspirators by so +doing. The one who was lying in wait was +quick to miss the boy whom he had seen cross +the bridge, and, suspecting something was +wrong, he hastened stealthily toward the creek +to learn the explanation. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XIX_BAFFLED' id='XIX_BAFFLED'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>BAFFLED!</h3> +</div> + +<p>It so happened that the two men stopped +directly at the mouth of the alley, within a few +feet of Ben Mayberry, who could hear their +guarded words, though he could not catch the +first glimpse of their figures. +</p> +<p>A whistled signal or two first made them +certain of each other’s identity, and then the +one who had crossed the bridge gave utterance +to an oath, expressive of his anger, as he demanded: +</p> +<p>“Where has he gone?” +</p> +<p>“How should I know?” growled the other. +“I waited where you told me to wait, and finding +he didn’t come, I moved down to meet +him, but he don’t show up.” +</p> +<p>“’Sh! Not so loud. He can’t be far off.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>“I don’t know how that is, but he’s given +us the slip. There’s an alley right here, and he +has turned into that.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t hear him.” +</p> +<p>“Of course not. Because he’s standing +still and listening to us.” +</p> +<p>“Flash your bull’s-eye into the alley.” +</p> +<p>When Ben Mayberry heard this order he +trembled, as well he might, for he was so close +to the scoundrels that the first rays of the lantern +would reveal him to them. Indeed he dare +not move, lest the noise, slight as it was, would +bring them down on him. +</p> +<p>He grasped the ragged stone in his hand and +braced himself for the explosion that he was +sure was at hand. +</p> +<p>But fortunately, and most unexpectedly, the +crisis passed. The other villain growled in +return: +</p> +<p>“What do you mean by talking about a +bull’s-eye? I doused the glim long ago.” +</p> +<p>“Why did you do that?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>“The cops are watching us too close. I had +hard work to dodge one of ’em to-night. Do +you s’pose I meant to have him find any of the +tools on me? Not much.” +</p> +<p>The other emitted another sulphurous expression, +and added the sensible remark: +</p> +<p>“Then there’s no use of our hanging around +here. He’s smelt a mice and dodged off, and +we won’t get another such a chance to neck +him.” +</p> +<p>These words sounded very strange to Ben +Mayberry. Well might he ask himself what +earthly purpose these scamps could have in +wishing to waylay him in such a dark place, +where he was not likely to secure help. The +latter part of their conversation proved they +contemplated violence. +</p> +<p>“There’s one thing certain,” Ben said to +himself, “if I manage to get out undiscovered, +I will see that I am prepared for such gentlemen +hereafter.” +</p> +<p>The couple suddenly stopped talking, for the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +sound of approaching footsteps were heard. +The two moved into the alley, and a minute +after a heavy man came ponderously along +with a rolling tread. He was puffing at a +cigar, whose end glowed so brightly that the +tip of his nose and his mustache were seen by +the three standing so near him. Ben believed +the wretches intended to assault and rob the +citizen, and doubtless they were none too good +to do so. In case the attempt was made, Ben +meant to hurl the stone in his hand at the spot +where he was sure they were, and then yell for +the police. +</p> +<p>Policy alone prevented the commission of +the crime. +</p> +<p>“We could have managed it easily,” whispered +one, as the portly citizen stepped on the +bridge and came in sight under the lamp-light, +“but I guess it was as well we didn’t.” +</p> +<p>“No; it wouldn’t have paid as matters stand. +We might have made a good haul, but the excitement +to-morrow would have been such that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +we wouldn’t have had a show to-morrow +night.” +</p> +<p>The heart of the listening Bob gave a quick +throb, for this was another proof of the intended +crime on Thursday evening. +</p> +<p>“Well,” added one, “that telegraph fellow +was too smart for us this time, and has given +us the slip. We may as well go home, for +there’s nothing more to do.” +</p> +<p>Thereupon they began walking toward the +creek, with the deliberate tread of law-abiding +citizens, who, if encountered anywhere on the +street at any hour, would not have been suspected +of being “crooked.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry had good cause for feeling +indignant toward these ruffians, who clearly +intended personal violence toward him, and +who were, in all probability, desperadoes from +the metropolis, brought into Damietta for the +most unlawful purposes. +</p> +<p>When they had gone a short distance, Ben +stepped out of the alley upon the main street, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +and stood looking toward the bridge. This +was slightly elevated, so that in approaching +from either side, one had to walk up-hill. The +illumination from the lamp, of which I have +made mention, gave a full view of the structure +itself and all who might be upon it. Ben +saw his pursuer, in the first place, when he +stepped on the planks, but the light was at his +back, and he shrouded his face so skillfully that +not a glimpse was obtained of his features. +</p> +<p>In a few minutes the conspirators slowly advanced +out of the gloom and began walking +up the slight ascent toward the bridge, becoming +more distinct each second. When they +reached the middle of the structure, they were +in plain sight, but their backs were toward +Ben, who, however, had them where he wanted +them. +</p> +<p>“I think I can plug one of them,” muttered +the shortstop of the Damietta club, as he carefully +drew back his arm and fixed his eye on +the fellows. “At least, here goes.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span></p> +<p>Gathering all his strength and skill, he hurled +the stone at the one who, he believed, had been +lying in wait for him. The whizzing missile +shot through the air like a cannon-ball, and +landed precisely where the thrower intended, +directly between the shoulders of the unsuspecting +villain, who was thrown forward several +paces by the force of the shock, and who +must have been as much jarred as though an +avalanche had fallen on him. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XX_WATCHING_AND_WAITING' id='XX_WATCHING_AND_WAITING'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>WATCHING AND WAITING</h3> +</div> + +<p>What imaginings were driven into the head +of the ruffian by the well-directed missile it +would be impossible to say, but it is safe to +conclude he was startled. +</p> +<p>His hat fell off, and, without stopping to +pick it up, he broke into a frantic run, closely +followed by his companion, neither of them +making the least outcry, but doubtless doing +a great deal of thinking. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry laughed until his sides ached, +for the tables had been turned most completely +on his enemies; but he became serious again +when he wended his way homeward, for there +was much in the incidents of the day to mystify +and trouble him. +</p> +<p>His mother had retired when he reached his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +house, but there was a “light in the window” +for him. The fond parent had such faith in +her son that she did not feel alarmed when he +was belated in coming home. +</p> +<p>Ben made a confidante of her in many things, +but the truth was he was outgrowing her. She +was a good, devout lady, but neither mentally +nor physically could she begin to compare with +her boy. +</p> +<p>Had he made known to her the contemplated +robbery, or his own narrow escape from assault, +she would have become nervous and +alarmed. +</p> +<p>Ben did not tell her about the affray with +Rutherford Richmond and his companion, for +it would only have distressed her without accomplishing +any good. +</p> +<p>He saw that his terrible adventure the preceding +winter, on the wrecked bridge, had +shocked her more than many supposed, and +more than she suspected herself. The consequences +became apparent months afterward, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +and caused Ben to do his utmost to keep everything +of a disquieting nature from his beloved +mother. +</p> +<p>On the morrow Ben told me the whole particulars +of his adventures on the way home, +and asked me what I made of it. +</p> +<p>“I give it up,” I answered. “It’s beyond +my comprehension.” +</p> +<p>“Do I look like a wealthy youth?” he asked, +with a laugh. +</p> +<p>“It is not that; they have some other purpose.” +</p> +<p>“Do they imagine I carry the combination +to some safe in the city, and do they mean to +force it from me?” +</p> +<p>“Nothing of that sort, as you very well +know. It looks as if they really meditated +doing you harm.” +</p> +<p>“There is no room for doubt; and it was +a lucky thing, after all, that the night was so +dark, and the city don’t furnish many lamps +in that part of the town. Do you think I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +ought to tell the mayor or some officer about +this?” +</p> +<p>“Could you identify either of the men if +you should meet him on the street?” +</p> +<p>“I could not, unless I was allowed to examine +his back, where the stone landed.” +</p> +<p>“Then there’s no use of telling anyone +else, for no one could help you. You had better +carry a pistol, and take a safer route home +after this. One of these days, perhaps, the +whole thing will be explained, but I own that +it is altogether too much for any fellow to find +out just now.” +</p> +<p>It was natural that I should feel nervous the +entire day, for there was every reason to believe +we were close upon exciting incidents, in +which fate had ordered that Ben Mayberry and +myself would have to make the initial movements. +</p> +<p>Neither Burkhill, the tramp-like looking individual, +nor any character to whom the least +suspicion could attach, put in an appearance at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +the telegraph office during the day; this was +another disappointment to Ben and myself. +</p> +<p>The mayor also was disposed to be uncommunicative, +for when I dropped in on him during +the afternoon, he was short in his answers, +barely intimating that everything was in a satisfactory +shape. When asked whether Detective +Maxx had revealed himself, he said: +</p> +<p>“I have seen nothing of him, and do not +care to see him. His help is not needed.” +</p> +<p>I am convinced that the action of the famous +detective had a great deal to do with the ill-humor +of the mayor, who was generally one +of the most affable of men. +</p> +<p>I was pretty well used up, and at eleven +o’clock I closed the office and went home, separating +as usual from Ben Mayberry, who, I +was satisfied, intended to know whether anything +was amiss before he lay down to slumber. +</p> +<p>Although the impression was general that +it was the Mechanics’ Bank which was the objective +point of the conspirators, yet the chief +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +of police, as I have intimated, had stationed +his men so as to be ready for instant use, should +it prove to be any one of the moneyed institutions. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry was so well satisfied that it +was the Mechanics’ that, after leaving me, he +went in that direction, anxious to see a first-class +burglary attempted and foiled. +</p> +<p>The institution, it will be remembered, stood +on the corner of one of the main streets, and a +lamp was burning directly opposite. The cashier +reported that two suspicious characters had +called during the day and made some inquiries +about drafts on New York, and the officers, +who had spent much time in the neighborhood, +were convinced that they had seen the same individuals +stealthily viewing the bank from the +outside. +</p> +<p>When Ben reached the vicinity he saw no +person, although he well knew that in almost +every dark nook and hiding place, a guardian +of the law was stationed, quietly awaiting the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +moment when the lawbreakers would dare +show themselves. Ben knew, too, that more +than one pair of eyes carefully scrutinized him +as they did every pedestrian who passed. +</p> +<p>He continued along until he reached a point +where he could stand without being noticed +by anyone. Then he stopped, and, wide awake +as ever, resolved that he would see the thing +out if he was forced to stand where he was until +the rising of the sun on the morrow. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXI__LAY_LOW' id='XXI__LAY_LOW'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>“LAY LOW!”</h3> +</div> + +<p>The clock in the tower of the City Hall +solemnly boomed the hour of midnight. Damietta +lay wrapped in slumber—that is, so far as +the majority of her citizens were concerned. +Her guardians of the peace, as a rule, were +wide awake, and the dozens stationed within +the vicinity of her three national banks were +particularly so. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry counted the strokes of the +iron tongue, and reflected that Thursday was +gone, and Friday had begun. As yet nothing +had been seen or heard to indicate that anything +unlawful was contemplated in this immediate +neighborhood. More than once he +was so well convinced that my view of the case +was correct, that he was on the point of starting +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +homeward, but he checked himself and +stayed. +</p> +<p>At such a time the minutes drag with exceeding +slowness, and it seemed to Ben that +fully a couple of hours had gone by, when the +huge clock struck one. During the interval a +number of pedestrians had passed, and a party +of roystering youths rode by in a carriage, each +one singing independently of the other, and in +a loud, unsteady voice, but nothing yet had occurred +on which to hang a suspicion. +</p> +<p>The peculiar, ringing, wave-like tones, +which are heard a few minutes after the striking +of a large bell, were still lingering in the +air and gradually dying out, when one of the +policemen gave a guarded whistle, which was +a signal for the others to “lay low,” or in +better English, to keep themselves unusually +wide awake. +</p> +<p>A minute after two men were heard approaching, +and became dimly visible in the +partial illumination of the street. It so happened +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +that they walked directly by where Ben +was standing. They did not notice him, +though he plainly saw them. They were of +large frame, and walked with a slight unsteadiness, +as though under the influence of liquor. +</p> +<p>“There’s the bank,” said one, in an undertone, +as though he was imparting a momentous +secret to the other. +</p> +<p>“That’s so; if we could only get in, knock +the watchman on the head, and kick in the +door of the safe, we would make a good haul.” +</p> +<p>“Suppose we try it, Jack——” +</p> +<p>For more than two hours a burly watchman +had been hidden close at hand, without Ben suspecting +his presence. The last sentence was in +the mouth of the speaker when this policeman +sprang upon the amazed strangers, who were +discussing the burglary of the bank. +</p> +<p>He must have been surcharged with faithfulness, +for, instead of waiting until an overt +act was committed, as all had been instructed to +do, he rushed upon the men in a burst of enthusiasm +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +which knew no restraint and passed +all bounds. +</p> +<p>“Yes, you’ll rob the bank, will you?” he +shouted, swinging his club aloft and bringing +it down on the heads of the others. “I’ll show +you—we’ve been watching you. We know +you. You’re a fine set of cracksmen. You +think Damietta is a country town, but you’ll +learn different——” +</p> +<p>These vigorous observations were punctuated +with equally vigorous whacks of the club, +which it seemed must crack the skulls of the +men, and in all probability would have done so +had they not risen to the exigencies of the case +and turned upon the policeman with remarkable +promptitude. +</p> +<p>Both of them were powerful, and finding +themselves assailed in this fashion, one knocked +the officer half-way across the street, wrenched +his club from his grasp, and began laying it +over his head. The stricken guardian of the +peace shouted for help, and tried desperately to +draw his revolver. Finally he got it out, but +before he could use it that also was taken from +him, and it looked as though little would be +left of him. +</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-144.jpg' alt='' title='' /><br /> +<p class='caption' style='text-align:center;'> +THE POLICEMAN BROUGHT HIS CLUB DOWN ON THE HEADS OF THE<br /> +OTHERS.—P. 144. +<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span></div> +<p>But the other policemen came running up, +and took a hand in the fracas. While some +went for the one who was belaboring the representative +of the law, others made for the +second burglar. But he was more muscular, if +possible, than his friend, and he laid about him +with such vigor that three officers were prostrated +before he could be secured. Calling to +his friend, the two gave themselves up, demanding +to know why peaceable citizens +should be clubbed when quietly walking along +the street. +</p> +<p>“We had not uttered a disrespectful word,” +said the first, “but were joking together, when +that brass-buttoned idiot pounced upon us. We +simply defended ourselves, as every man has a +right to do, and we don’t propose to let the matter +rest here.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></p> +<p>“He lies!” shouted the officer who had fared +so ill, as he came forward, his hat off, and his +clothing covered with dust; “he was arranging +to rob the bank; they are the burglars that +we’ve been watching for days; I know ’em all +right.” +</p> +<p>“We shall have to take you along,” said the +chief, who saw that matters were considerably +mixed. +</p> +<p>At this point Ben thought it was his duty to +interfere. +</p> +<p>“If you will permit me, I am satisfied that +some mistake has been made. These gentlemen +did nothing——” +</p> +<p>“He’s one of ’em,” broke in the first officer, +whose wrath could not be appeased; “he’s been +their dummy; he was on the lookout to give ’em +warning; run him in, too.” +</p> +<p>Despite Ben Mayberry’s protests, he was +forced to go with the prisoners; but on the way +to the lock-up he was recognized by several +officers, including the chief, who ordered his release, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +Ben promising to appear in the morning +at the hearing. +</p> +<p>On the morrow several important facts came +to light. The two individuals who had been so +roughly used were honest countrymen, whose +references to the robbery of the bank were +purely in jest—such a project as burglary never +entering their thoughts. +</p> +<p>The policeman who assailed them made a +humble apology, and they agreed to let the matter +drop. +</p> +<p>Another fact that was established was that +the policemen of Damietta were very much like +those of other cities. +</p> +<p>The third truth was, that no burglary took +place on Thursday night or Friday morning, +and everything was as quiet as the surface of a +summer mill-pond, with the single exception of +the incident just narrated. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXII_THE_BATTLE_OF_LIFE' id='XXII_THE_BATTLE_OF_LIFE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>THE BATTLE OF LIFE</h3> +</div> + +<p>After all the elaborate preparations for the +capture of the burglars, the whole business had +fallen so flat that the officers of the law themselves +laughed at the farcical termination. +Nothing criminal was attempted, and Damietta +never was more peaceful in all its history than +it was during the many weeks and months +which followed. +</p> +<p>And yet, in spite of all this, there could be no +question that such a burglarious scheme at one +time was contemplated. The cipher telegrams, +and the surveillance to which Ben Mayberry +was subjected, together with the attempted assault +upon him, made this too manifest to be +disputed. +</p> +<p>“They simply discovered the preparations +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +made by the authorities,” I said to Ben, “and +they had prudence enough to withdraw.” +</p> +<p>“Do you believe they have given it up altogether?” +</p> +<p>“I doubt it. They have simply deferred the +execution until some safer time. We must continue +to be on the lookout for telegrams in +cipher. These gentry have evil designs upon +Damietta, as will be proven before we are +many years older.” +</p> +<p>When Ben Mayberry reached the age of +fifteen, he attained an important epoch in his +life. He had long been one of the most skillful +operators in the district, being remarkably +quick and accurate. +</p> +<p>I have told enough to prove his courteous +disposition toward all who entered our office. +The pretended Mr. Jones, who acted the part +of the ignorant farmer, was, as I have stated, +a high official of the company, who took odd +means to test the character and skill of our employees. +The test in the case of young Mayberry +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +proved most satisfactory in every respect. +</p> +<p>At my request, I was transferred to one of +the cities in the Eastern States, where the climate +agreed better with me. I was given charge +of an important office, an advance made in my +wages, and everything was done to make the +change agreeable. Such being the fact, it is no +assumption on my part to say that my administration +of the exacting duties in Damietta had +been fully appreciated by my superior officers. +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry was made manager of the +office in his native city at a salary of seventy-five +dollars per month. This statement the +reader may doubt, for I am quite certain that +no telegraphist of his age was ever given such +an important charge, nor is anyone so young +paid such a liberal salary; but, did I feel at liberty +to do so, I could locate Ben Mayberry so +closely that all skeptics could ascertain the +facts, in a brief time, precisely as I have given +them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></p> +<p>We have many office managers, in different +parts of the country, who lack several years of +their majority; but, as a rule, their stations are +not very important, and their pay is nothing +like what Ben received. There were exceptional +circumstances in his case. He was unusually +bright, he was very attentive, he was +courteous, cheerful, and never shirked work. +He was popular with our patrons, and much of +the increase in the business of the Damietta +office was due to Ben alone. This became +known to those above him, and they felt that +an unusual promotion on his part would not +only be a just recognition of his ability and devotion, +but would do much to stimulate others +to imitate the good example set by the boy. +</p> +<p>In addition to all this, it cannot be denied +that fortune favored Ben in a marked degree. +The fact that he was swept down the river in +the darkness and tempest, while trying to deliver +a telegram for a messenger who was ill, +and that he saved the life of a little girl, could +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +not fail to operate strongly to his benefit. But +he would have reached the end all the same, +without these aids, just as you, my young +friend, may attain the topmost round by climbing +up, up, up, step after step, step after step. +</p> +<p>There is no cup in this life without some +drops of bitterness, and, despite the promotion +of Ben, which he fully appreciated, he was +cast down by another circumstance, which +troubled him more than he would admit to his +closest friends. +</p> +<p>He had not seen sweet Dolly Willard since +the grand children’s party at Mr. Grandin’s, +more than two years previous. She had written +him regularly every week for months, and +he had been equally prompt in answering. Ben +wrote a beautiful hand, and his missives to +Dolly were long and affectionate. She would +have visited her cousins in Damietta, had they +not made a visit to Europe, which shut off the +possibility of her doing so for some time to +come. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span></p> +<p>Ben felt that under the circumstances it was +hardly the thing for him to make a call upon +Dolly in New York, though she invited him to +do so. +</p> +<p>But during the very week that Ben was given +charge of the Damietta office, the mail failed +to bring the usual letter from Dolly. He +waited impatiently for several days and then +wrote to her. There was no response to this, +and he felt resentful. He held out for a fortnight, +and then was so worried that he was +forced to write again. But this was equally +fruitless of results, and he became angry. +</p> +<p>“She is getting to be quite a large girl; her +folks are wealthy, and she has begun to realize +that I am nothing but a poor telegraphist. Her +folks have told her she must look higher, and +she has come to that same mind herself. Ah, +well; let it be so!” +</p> +<p>That was expressive of his feelings. Sometimes +Ben felt like rebelling against his fate. +He had applied himself hard for years; he possessed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +an excellent education; he held a prominent +position in the greatest telegraph company +of the country, with a prospect of further advancement +before him, and yet, because he was +poor, he was looked down upon by those who +were his inferiors in everything except the +single one of wealth. +</p> +<p>“It is a great disappointment,” he sometimes +murmured, “but I am young; most folks would +laugh that one of my age should take such a +fancy to a little girl like Dolly, and they would +say I am certain to get over it very soon. And +just there is where they would all make a great +mistake.” +</p> +<p>And Ben Mayberry was right on that point. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIII_FACE_TO_FACE' id='XXIII_FACE_TO_FACE'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>FACE TO FACE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ben Mayberry was sitting at his desk in +the Damietta office, one beautiful day in Indian +summer, attentive as ever to his duties, when a +carriage drove up to the door containing a +young gentleman and a lady. The former +sprang lightly out and ran into the office, after +the manner of one who was in a hurry to send +an important telegram. +</p> +<p>Suddenly, while Ben was looking at the +youth he recognized him as Rutherford Richmond, +with whom he had had several important +meetings. +</p> +<p>“Why, Rutherford, you have grown so +much I didn’t recognize you; I am glad to see +you; how have you been?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span></p> +<p>Ben reached his hand over the counter as he +greeted the young man, but the latter affected +not to hear him. Turning to the desk, he +wrote out a message with great rapidity, +wheeled about, and, without the slightest evidence +of ever having seen Ben, handed him the +paper and ordered the dispatch to be sent to +New York. +</p> +<p>This was the telegram: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Richard Willard</span>, No.— Avenue, New York:</p> +</div> + +<p>“Dolly and I reached here safe. Big party +at Grandin’s to-morrow; sure of grand time. +Will take good care of Dolly. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Rutherford Richmond</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<p>As the writer hurried out the door, Ben followed +him with his eyes. There, in a handsome, +single-seated carriage, sat a beautiful +miss of thirteen or fourteen, elegantly dressed +and looking straight toward him. It was Dolly +Willard, more enchanting than ever, her eyes +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +luminous with health and her cheeks as +pink and rosy as the delicate tint of the +coral. +</p> +<p>Ben was too shocked to salute her, and probably +it was as well he did not do so, for she +simply stared with scarcely less directness than +did her companion. +</p> +<p>Only by the most supreme exertion was the +youth enabled to choke down his rebellious +emotions, so that none in the office noticed his +excitement. +</p> +<p>It was the same on the morrow, and, as if +the fates had combined to crush him in absolute +wretchedness, he encountered Rutherford +and Dolly riding out as he was making his way +homeward. He affected not to see them, but +he could not avoid furtively watching Dolly, +who certainly was the most winsome-looking +young miss he had ever seen. +</p> +<p>“To-night another party is given by the +Grandins. Their girls are ladies, and they +treated me well when I was there more than +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +two years ago, but in this matter Dolly has had +all to say—that is, she and Rutherford. Well, +if she is that sort of girl, I don’t want anything +to do with her.” +</p> +<p>That night, in spite of himself, Ben could +not stay at home; he strolled along, a prey to +his bitter thoughts, and mechanically walked in +the direction of the splendid grounds of the +wealthy jeweler, Mr. Grandin. The sound of +music from within aroused him. +</p> +<p>He saw the lights glimmering through the +beautiful shade trees, and could catch sight of +the gayly-dressed figures flitting by the open +windows. +</p> +<p>“I can’t feel any worse,” muttered Ben, +walking through the open gate, confident that +he would attract no special attention. +</p> +<p>He sauntered up the graveled walk, turning +off to the right and moving slowly along, with +his gaze fixed upon the gay lads and lasses +within, who seemed to be in the very height of +enjoyment. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span></p> +<p>At that instant someone caught his arm, +and Ben turned with an apology for his forgetfulness. +</p> +<p>“I beg pardon, but I was so interested in +the scene that I did not notice where I +stepped——” +</p> +<p>He paused, fairly gasping for breath, for +there stood Dolly Willard at his side, with her +hand upon his arm. The light streaming from +the windows fell upon her charming face, on +which there was an expression that young +Mayberry did not understand. +</p> +<p>“Ben,” said she, in a voice that sounded unnatural, +“I’ve got something I want to say to +you.” +</p> +<p>“And I have a good deal that I would like to +say to you,” he retorted, firing up, now that +the little empress stood before him. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXIV_STARTLING_DISCOVERIES' id='XXIV_STARTLING_DISCOVERIES'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>STARTLING DISCOVERIES</h3> +</div> + +<p>“You say you have something to speak +about,” added the boy, looking into the enchanting +face, as it reflected the light from the +windows near at hand; “I have only to suggest +that it took you a good time to find it out.” +</p> +<p>“It is not I, but you who are to blame.” +</p> +<p>“Possibly I am to be blamed for being born +poor while you are rich; but I have paid for +my mistake, and it is now too late to correct +it.” +</p> +<p>The conversation had reached this point +when the two seemed to conclude it was altogether +too public to be in good taste. Several +persons, standing near, stepped a little closer, so +as to catch every word. +</p> +<p>“It is so warm in there,” said Dolly; “even +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +with the windows open, that I came outdoors to +get the fresh air. Aunt Maggie put my shawl +about my shoulders so that I wouldn’t take cold. +Now, Ben, if you will walk with me to the +summer-house yonder, we can sit down by ourselves, +finish our talk, and then part forever.” +</p> +<p>The last expression sent a pang to the boy’s +heart, but he did not allow her to see it. He +followed her a short distance to one of the romantic +little lattice-work structures which Mr. +Grandin had placed on his grounds. +</p> +<p>A few rays of silvery moonlight penetrated +the leafy shelter, so the two were not in complete +darkness when they sat down on the rustic +seat. +</p> +<p>“I am ready to listen to you,” said Ben in +his most frigid voice, the two being separated +by a space of several feet. +</p> +<p>“In the first place, if you thought so lightly +of me, you never should have told me different +nor asked me to correspond with you.” +</p> +<p>“I do not understand you.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>“How can you help understanding me?” +</p> +<p>“Because I see no reason for your words. +I thought all the world of you; the greatest +pleasure of my life was to write to you and to +receive your letters in return. All at once you +stopped writing; I sent you three letters, and +you paid no attention——” +</p> +<p>“Ben, how dare you! It was you who +laughed at my letters, and took no notice of +them, except to show them to your friends and +ridicule what I put on paper.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry sprang to his feet. Like a +flash it came upon him that some dreadful misunderstanding +had been brought about by +other parties, for which Dolly was not to +blame. +</p> +<p>“Tell me the whole story, Dolly,” he said in +a kinder voice than he had used since they met, +as he resumed his seat. +</p> +<p>“Well,” said she, beginning to feel the same +suspicion that thrilled her companion, “there +is a good deal to say, but I will make it short. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +You know my father and Mr. Grandin are +cousins, so the girls are really my second +cousins. Rutherford Richmond is the son of +an old friend of father, who lives in Boston. +Father has a large insurance office, and he +agreed to take Rutherford until he learned the +business, so as to take charge of the same kind +of office in Boston, which his father is going +to fix up for him. That’s how it is Rutherford +has been living with us for some months. +</p> +<p>“Well, a good while ago, I wrote you a letter, +begging you to come and visit me; father +said I might do so. You didn’t accept the invitation. +I wrote you again and got no answer +to it; I was frightened, and thought maybe you +were ill, and wrote once more, but there was +no answer to it. I would have sent a letter to +Cousin Jane to find out about you, but she was +in Europe. After a while I sent a fourth letter, +very long, and full of things which I wouldn’t +have anyone else know for the world. I +sent——” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></p> +<p>“Who by?” +</p> +<p>“Rutherford took it and several other letters, +and placed them in the mail-box at father’s +office, so they were sure to go. But there was +no answer to the last, and then I gave up. I +felt awful bad; but I was nearly wild when +Rutherford came to me one day and said he +had something which he thought he ought to +tell me. When he said it was about you, I was +dreadfully excited. He told me that he had +made the acquaintance of a young man from +Damietta, who was a close friend of yours. +That young person, whose name Rutherford +would not give, said that you showed all my +letters to him and several others, and made fun +of them. I wouldn’t have believed it if he +hadn’t proved what he said?” +</p> +<p>“How did he prove it?” +</p> +<p>“By repeating what I had written; he gave +me half of what was in that last letter, which +he said was repeated to him by the person you +told. He had them so exactly that my face +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +burned like fire, and I was never so angry in +all my life. I knew you must have done what +Rutherford said, for how could he know what +I had written you?” +</p> +<p>“He knew it by opening your letter, reading +the contents, and then destroying it. That letter, +Dolly, I never saw, nor did I see the three +which preceded it. I also sent you three letters, +of which I never heard.” +</p> +<p>Now that the way was opened, full explanations +quickly followed. There could be no +earthly doubt that the last three letters sent by +Ben Mayberry to Dolly Willard had been intercepted +by Rutherford Richmond, who had +not hesitated to do the same with those sent by +Dolly, though most probably he had simply destroyed +the three, and read only the last. +</p> +<p>“You risked your life to save mine and that +of my mother,” she said in a tremulous voice, +“and it was an awful thing for you to believe +I could ever fail to think more of you than of +anyone else in the world.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“I guess I shall have to own up,” laughed +the happy Ben; “but we were both placed in a +false position.” +</p> +<p>“But we shall never be again——” +</p> +<p>“Dolly, Dolly! Where are you?” +</p> +<p>The cries came from a gay party of misses +who came trooping forth to look for the belle, +whose absence so long from her friends had attracted +inquiry. +</p> +<p>She sprang up. +</p> +<p>“Good-by, Ben; I must go.” +</p> +<p>She caught his hand and returned the pressure, +then hurried out and met her young +friends, who escorted her back to the house, +while Ben quietly departed without attracting +attention. +</p> +<p>It was past midnight, but Ben thought +nothing of time. He had turned off from the +street and entered the main business avenue of +Damietta. +</p> +<p>Just as he came opposite the large jewelry +establishment of Mr. Grandin he glanced +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +through the plate-glass window. A light was +burning dimly in the rear of the store, as was +the custom with many of the merchants in the +city, but at the instant of looking Ben saw +something like a shadow flit by the light. He +looked again, and was certain that another +movement had taken place, though he could +not define its character. +</p> +<p>He paused only an instant, when he walked +on again; but in that instant he became convinced +that burglars were operating in the +jewelry establishment of Mr. Grandin. +</p> +<p>He walked slowly forward, humming to +himself, as was his custom, but wide awake +and alert. Fifty feet further, he detected the +shadowy figure of a man standing in one of +the adjoining doorways. Ben pretended not to +see him, and continued humming gayly to himself. +</p> +<p>Ben sauntered along in the same aimless +fashion until sure he was not watched, when he +turned and made his way directly to the police +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +office. The chief was there and Ben quickly +told him everything he knew. +</p> +<p>“Those are the parties who arranged to rob +the bank year before last,” said the chief, “but +found out they were suspected.” +</p> +<p>“They certainly managed it well this time; +that is, so far, for there hasn’t a single cipher +telegram passed through our office since.” +</p> +<p>“Well, we are ready to move,” said the +chief, as he observed that four of his best officers +were awaiting his orders. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXV_IN_THE_NICK_OF_TIME' id='XXV_IN_THE_NICK_OF_TIME'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>IN THE NICK OF TIME</h3> +</div> + +<p>Ben would have liked to accompany the officers, +but that would have been unprofessional +on their part, and he did not make the request. +He waited until they had been gone several +minutes, when he slipped out and passed down +the street, determined to see what was to be +seen. +</p> +<p>The chief managed the delicate and dangerous +business with great skill. +</p> +<p>The first notice the burglars had of danger +was from the rear. They were down behind +a screen of dark muslin they had put up, carefully +working at the safe, which contained diamonds +and jewelry of immense value. They +had already drilled a considerable distance into +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +the chilled iron, when the “Philistines descended +upon them.” +</p> +<p>The burglars sprang up like tigers, but they +were caught so fairly that they were borne to +the floor and handcuffs clicked around their +wrists in a twinkling. There were only two, +and the three policemen mastered them without +difficulty. +</p> +<p>But there were two others on the street outside, +and they were quick to discover what was +going on within. One of these was Dandy +Sam, who ran forward and peered through the +front window. His companion was at his elbow, +and they instantly saw that something +was wrong. +</p> +<p>They turned to flee, when they found themselves +face to face with the chief and his aid. +</p> +<p>“Hold up your hands!” commanded the +chief, leveling his pistol at the villains. +</p> +<p>One of them complied, but Dandy Sam fired +point-blank at the chief, whirled on his heel, +and ran like a deer down the street. The chief +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +was not touched, and pistol in hand he started +after the criminal, leaving his aid to attend to +the second one. +</p> +<p>Dandy Sam was fleet of foot and was gaining +on his pursuer, when he came face to face +with Ben Mayberry, who was hurrying toward +the scene of the burglary with a view of seeing +how it terminated. +</p> +<p>The two encountered where the lamp-light +showed the face of each. Ben knew the scamp +on the instant, from the description given him, +and the sight of the flying rascal told him the +truth. +</p> +<p>Ben had his pistol in his pocket, but he could +not bear the thought of shooting a person, especially +when there was a possible doubt of +the necessity. +</p> +<p>Ben compromised matters by darting into +the road, where he caught up a stone weighing +fully a pound. +</p> +<p>The chief was some distance away shouting +“Stop thief!” and firing his pistol over his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +head, so there could be no doubt that Dandy +Sam was “wanted.” +</p> +<p>Ben Mayberry stood about as far from the +fugitive as the space between first and second +base—thirty yards—when the stone left his +hand like a thunderbolt. As before, it sped +true to its aim, but struck higher than then, +sending the scoundrel forward on his face, and +stunning him; only for a minute or so, but this +was sufficient. +</p> +<p>While he was in the act of climbing to his +feet again, the chief dropped upon him; there +was a click, and Dandy Sam was at the end +of his career of crime, at least for a considerable +time to come. +</p> +<p>The chief started for the station-house with +his man, whom he watched closely despite the +stunning blow he had received. +</p> +<p>A few minutes later the other three officers +came in with their prisoners, who were caught +in the very act of committing burglary. +</p> +<p>The aid was absent so long that the chief felt +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +uneasy, and started out in quest of him, but at +that moment he appeared with his man. +</p> +<p>“He went peaceably enough for a while,” explained +the aid, “and then he tried to bribe me +to let him go. When he found that wouldn’t +work he became ugly, and I had to use my club, +but he ain’t hurt much.” +</p> +<p>His face was bleeding, but Ben Mayberry, +with a shock, recognized the prisoner as G. R. +Burkhill, the uncle of Dolly Willard. +</p> +<p>The capture of the burglars made great excitement +in Damietta, and the part taken by +Ben Mayberry once more placed his name in +everyone’s mouth. It was he who discovered +the criminals, and was the direct means of securing +the desperado, Dandy Sam, the leader +of the notorious gang. +</p> +<p>It was a great shock to all, except a few, to +find that Burkhill, the brother-in-law of Dolly +Willard’s father, was also one of the guilty +ones. But there were others (and among them +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +Mr. Willard and Mr. Grandin) who were not +surprised in the least. The facts in this singular +affair, as they ultimately came to light, were +as follows: +</p> +<p>George R. Burkhill was the black sheep in +a most estimable family, of which Mrs. Willard, +the mother of Dolly, was a member. She +was the sister of Burkhill, and the only one +who clung to the bad brother, pronounced incorrigible +by everyone else, even when a small +boy. She believed there was some good in him, +and, in the face of protests, she labored to bring +him to a sense of right. It was through her influence +that he was saved from condign punishment +for more than one serious offense. +</p> +<p>All four of the burglars were duly tried, +found guilty, and sentenced to the penitentiary +for ten years. Rather curiously, both Dandy +Sam and Burkhill died during the third year +of their imprisonment, and it is safe to say the +world was the gainer thereby. +</p> +<p>Some few days after the capture of the burglars, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +came a glowing letter from Dolly, who +had gone home to New York, in which she said +that her father insisted that Ben should come +and make them a visit, and would accept no +excuse for refusing. +</p> +<p>“I’ll go this time!” exclaimed Ben, knowing +he would have no trouble in obtaining permission +to take a brief vacation. +</p> +<p>And go he did. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='XXVI_CONCLUSION' id='XXVI_CONCLUSION'></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>In closing the history of Ben Mayberry, the +telegraph messenger boy, it seems to me I can +do no better than by using the words of the +hero himself. The following letter I received +only a few days since. It is the last which has +come to hand from Ben, who writes me regularly, +as he has done ever since I was transferred +from the office in Damietta. I should +add that the date of the letter is nine years +subsequent to that of his visit to the metropolis +as the guest of Mr. James Willard: +</p> +<div class='blockquot'> +<p>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>My Dear Mr. Melville</span>,—I am now in +my twenty-fifth year. In looking back it seems +only a few years ago that you called me to +you, on the street of my native city, and offered +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +to make me general utility boy in the telegraph +office of Damietta. My mother and I were +nearly starving at the time, and no kindness +could have been more appropriate than yours, +nor could anyone have shown greater tact and +wisdom in cultivating the good instincts of a +ragged urchin, who, otherwise, was likely to +go to ruin. +</p> +<p>“You awakened my ambition and incited +me to study; you impressed upon me the beauty +and truth of the declaration that there is no +royal road to learning; that if I expected to attain +success in any walk of life it could only be +done by hard, unremitting, patient work. +There are many rounds to the ladder, and each +must climb them one by one. +</p> +<p>“Good fortune attended me in every respect. +It was the providence of God which saved me +and enabled me to help save sweet Dolly when +the bridge went down in the storm and darkness, +and her mother was lost; yet, but for my +determination to do my best at all times, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +never to give up so long as I could struggle, I +must have succumbed. +</p> +<p>“It was extremely fortunate that I saw the +burglars at work in the jewelry establishment +of Mr. Grandin on that memorable night in +Damietta. The same stroke of fortune might +have fallen to any boy, but it was incomplete +until I was able to bring the leader to the +ground with the stone which I hurled at him. +</p> +<p>“It may be said that all these are but mere +incidents of my history, and possibly I may +have magnified their importance; but, though +my progress was rapid, it never could have carried +me successfully along without the regular, +systematic, hard work with which I employed +my spare hours, when not devoted to exercise. +In this world that which wins, is work, work, +work! +</p> +<p>“When I was fifteen years old, I was made +the manager of the office in Damietta, with a +larger salary than I was entitled to. Three +years later, the partiality of Mr. Musgrave +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +made me assistant superintendent, and now I +have been general superintendent of the district +for more than two years, with a handsome +salary, which enables me to give my dear +mother comforts and elegances of which the +good lady never dreamed. +</p> +<p>“I married Dolly shortly after my promotion +to the office of general superintendent, and +the little fellow that is learning to lisp ‘papa,’ +you know, has been named after you, my old, +true, and invaluable friend, to whose counsel +and kindness I feel I am so much indebted. +</p> +<p>“Dolly sits at my elbow and continually reminds +me that I must insist that you come down +and spend Christmas with us. A chair and +plate will be placed at the table for you, and +you must allow nothing less than Providence +itself to keep you away. +</p> +<div class='ra'> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“As ever, </p> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“Your devoted friend, </p> +<p style='text-align: right; '>“<span style='font-variant: small-caps'>Ben</span>.”</p> +</div> + +</div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:2em;'>THE END</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE FRONTIER BOYS</p> +<p style=' font-size:1em;'><span style='font-variant: small-caps'>By Capt. Wyn. Roosevelt.</span></p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus-ad1.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<p>This noted scout and author, +known to every plainsman, has +lived a life of stirring adventure. +In boyhood, in the early days, he +traveled with comrades the overland +route to the West,—a trip of +thrilling experiences, unceasing +hardships and trials that would +have daunted a heart less brave. His life has been +spent in the companionship of the typically brave +adventurers, gold seekers, cowboys and ranchmen +of our great West. He has lived with more than +one Indian tribe, took part in a revolution at +Hawaii and was captured in turn by pirates and +cannibals. He writes in a way sure to win the +heart of every boy. +</p> +<div class='la'> +<p><b>Frontier boys on the overland trail</b>.</p> +<p><b>Frontier boys in Colorado, or captured by Indians</b>.</p> +<p><b>Frontier boys in the Grand Canyon, or a search for treasure</b>.</p> +<p><b>Frontier boys in Mexico, or Mystery Mountain</b>.</p> +</div> + +<p>Finely illustrated. Cloth, 12mo. Attractive +cover design. Price 60c per volume. +</p> +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CHATTERTON-PECK CO.</p> +<p>New York</p> +</div> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></div> +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em;'>THE COMRADES SERIES</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<img src='images/illus-ad2.png' alt='' title='' /><br /> +</div> + +<p>By Ralph Victor. This writer of +boys’ books has shown by his +magazine work and experience +that this series will be without +question the greatest seller of any +books for boys yet published; +full of action from start to finish. +Cloth, 12mo. Finely illustrated; +special cover design. Price, 60c per volume. +</p> +<div class='la'> +<p><b>Comrades on the Farm, or the Mystery of Deep Gulch</b>.</p> +<p><b>Comrades in New York, or Snaring the Smugglers</b>.</p> +<p><b>Comrades on the Ranch, or Secret of the Lost River</b>.</p> +<p><b>Comrades in New Mexico, or the Round-up</b>.</p> +<p><b>Comrades on the Great Divide (in preparation)</b>.</p> +</div> + +<p><i>Ralph Victor is probably the best equipped writer of +up-to-date boy’s stories of the present day. He has +traveled or lived in every land, has shot big game +with Sears in India, has voyaged with Jack London, +and was a war correspondent in Natal and Japan. +The lure of life in the open has always been his, and +his experiences have been thrilling and many.—“Progress.”</i> +</p> +<hr class='minor' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p>CHATTERTON-PECK CO.</p> +<p>New York</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppgen.rb version: 2.07 --> +<!-- timestamp: Fri Jun 20 15:27:11 -0600 2008 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Telegraph Messenger Boy, by Edward S. 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