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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44950 ***
+
+  [Illustration: ON THE MISSOURI STEAMER. Page 11.]
+
+
+
+
+                                ONWARD
+                                  AND
+                                UPWARD
+                                SERIES
+
+                            PLANE AND PLANK
+
+               FIELD & FOREST-PLANE & PLANK-DESK & DEBIT
+           CRINGLE & CROSS-TREE-BIVOUAC & BATTLE-SEA & SHORE
+
+                              Illustrated
+
+                             LEE & SHEPARD
+
+                                BOSTON
+
+
+
+
+                    _THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES._
+
+
+
+
+                           PLANE AND PLANK;
+
+                                  OR,
+
+                      THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.
+
+
+                                  BY
+
+                             OLIVER OPTIC,
+
+    AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,"
+     "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE STARRY
+                    FLAG STORIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE
+                             SERIES," ETC.
+
+
+                     WITH FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+                                BOSTON:
+                           LEE AND SHEPARD.
+
+                               NEW YORK:
+                        CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.
+
+
+
+
+       Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871,
+
+                         BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS,
+
+      In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
+
+
+
+
+                          ELECTROTYPED AT THE
+                      BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,
+                            19 Spring Lane.
+
+
+
+
+                                  TO
+
+                            MY YOUNG FRIEND
+
+                           _GEORGE W. HILLS_
+
+                               This Book
+
+                      IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
+
+
+
+
+  PREFACE.
+
+
+"PLANE AND PLANK" is the second of THE UPWARD AND ONWARD SERIES, in
+which the hero, Phil Farringford, appears as a mechanic. The events
+of the story are located on the Missouri River and in the city of St.
+Louis. Phil learns the trade of a carpenter, and the contrast between a
+young mechanic of an inquiring mind, earnestly laboring to master his
+business, and one who feels above his calling, and overvalues his own
+skill, is presented to the young reader, with the hope that he will
+accept the lesson.
+
+Incidentally, in the person and history of Phil's father the terrible
+evils of intemperance are depicted, and the value of Christian love
+and earnest prayer in the reformation of the unfortunate inebriate is
+exhibited.
+
+Though the incidents of the hero's career are quite stirring, and
+some of the situations rather surprising, yet Phil is always true to
+himself; and those who find themselves in sympathy with him cannot
+possibly be led astray, while they respect his Christian principles,
+reverence the Bible, and strive with him to do their whole duty to God
+and man.
+
+  HARRISON SQUARE, BOSTON,
+
+                   _June 7, 1870._
+
+
+
+
+  CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER I.
+                                                                    Page
+  IN WHICH PHIL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MR. LEONIDAS
+  LYNCHPINNE.                                                         11
+
+  CHAPTER II.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS WITH HIS FIRST MISHAP.                          22
+
+  CHAPTER III.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL SLIPS OFF HIS COAT, AND RETREATS IN
+  GOOD ORDER.                                                         33
+
+  CHAPTER IV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL ENDEAVORS TO REMEDY HIS FIRST MISHAP.                 44
+
+  CHAPTER V.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL VAINLY SEARCHES FOR THE GRACEWOODS.                   55
+
+  CHAPTER VI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL WANDERS ABOUT ST. LOUIS AND HAS A
+  GLEAM OF HOPE.                                                      66
+
+  CHAPTER VII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL HEARS FROM HIS FRIENDS AND VISITS MR.
+  CLINCH.                                                             77
+
+  CHAPTER VIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL GOES TO WORK, AND MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.          88
+
+  CHAPTER IX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS A SEEDY GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME
+  OF FARRINGFORD.                                                    100
+
+  CHAPTER X.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A VERY IMPRESSIVE TEMPERANCE
+  LECTURE.                                                           112
+
+  CHAPTER XI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL TAKES HIS FATHER TO HIS NEW HOME.                    123
+
+  CHAPTER XII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A DISCUSSION, AND TAKES
+  PART IN A STRUGGLE.                                                135
+
+  CHAPTER XIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL HAS ANOTHER MISHAP, AND IS TAKEN TO A
+  POLICE STATION.                                                    147
+
+  CHAPTER XIV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL RECOVERS HIS MONEY.                                  160
+
+  CHAPTER XV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL PRODUCES THE RELICS OF HIS CHILDHOOD.                172
+
+  CHAPTER XVI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL STRUGGLES EARNESTLY TO REFORM HIS
+  FATHER.                                                            183
+
+  CHAPTER XVII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS THE LAST OF THE ROCKWOODS.                     195
+
+
+  CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL CALLS UPON MR. LAMAR, AND DOES NOT
+  FIND HIM.                                                          207
+
+  CHAPTER XIX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER IN THE GAMBLERS'
+  ROOM.                                                              219
+
+  CHAPTER XX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL IS STARTLED BY THE SIGHT OF A FAMILIAR
+  FACE.                                                              231
+
+  CHAPTER XXI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS OUT.                243
+
+  CHAPTER XXII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL RETURNS TO THE DEN OF THE ENEMY.                     256
+
+  CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL'S MEETS A PALE GENTLEMAN WITH ONE
+  ARM IN A SLING.                                                    268
+
+  CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND, AND MR. LEONIDAS
+  LYNCHPINNE COMES TO GRIEF.                                         280
+
+  CHAPTER XXV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE PROSPECT GROWING BRIGHTER.                 292
+
+  CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO THE CONFESSION OF HIS PERSECUTOR,
+  AND ENDS PLANE AND PLANK.                                          304
+
+
+
+
+                           PLANE AND PLANK;
+
+                                  OR,
+
+                      THE MISHAPS OF A MECHANIC.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER I.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MR. LEONIDAS LYNCHPINNE.
+
+
+"What do you think you shall do for a living, Phil Farringford, when
+you arrive at St. Louis?" asked Mr. Gracewood, as we sat on the
+hurricane deck of a Missouri River steamer.
+
+"I don't care much what I do, if I can only get into some mechanical
+business," I replied. "I want to learn a trade. I don't think I'm very
+vain when I say that I have about half learned one now."
+
+"Perhaps you have half learned several," added my excellent friend,
+with a smile. "I have no doubt you will make a good mechanic, for you
+are handy in the use of tools; and you have been thrown so much upon
+your own resources that you are full of expedients."
+
+"I am always delighted when I have a difficult job to do. Nothing
+pleases me so much as to study up the means of overcoming an obstacle,"
+I added.
+
+"The first qualification for any pursuit is to have a taste for it. You
+will make a good mechanic."
+
+"I am only afraid that after I have learned a trade, I shall not care
+to work at it."
+
+"That won't do," protested Mr. Gracewood. "You mustn't keep jumping
+from one thing to another. Frequent change is the enemy of progress.
+You must not be fickle."
+
+"But, after I have learned my trade, or rather finished learning it,
+there will be no more difficulties to overcome."
+
+"Yes, there will. What trade do you mean to learn?"
+
+"The carpenter's, I think."
+
+"There may be an infinite variety in the trade."
+
+"I know there may be, but there is not. One house must be very much
+like every other one, I don't think I could be contented to keep doing
+the same thing over and over again."
+
+"If you wish to succeed, you must stick to your trade, Phil
+Farringford."
+
+"Should I stick to it if I can do better at something else?"
+
+"You must, at least, be very sure that you can do better at something
+else."
+
+"Of course I shall; but, if I learn my trade, I shall always have it to
+fall back upon."
+
+"That is very true; but I wish to impress it upon your mind that
+fickleness of purpose is fatal to any real success in morals, in
+science, and in business."
+
+Our conversation was interrupted by the stopping of the steamer at a
+wood-yard; for I never lost an opportunity, on those occasions, to take
+a walk on shore. I was nervously anxious to see everything there was to
+be seen. All was new and strange; and every day, as the settlements on
+the banks of the great river increased in number and extent, afforded
+me a new sensation. As I had been brought up far away from the haunts
+of civilization, even a house was a curiosity to me; and I gazed with
+astonishment at the busy scenes which were presented to me in some of
+the larger towns. At St. Joseph we had taken on board quite a number of
+passengers, and the scene in the cabin had become much livelier than
+before.
+
+The addition was not wholly an improvement, for among the new arrivals
+were not a few gamblers. From this time the tables were occupied by
+these blacklegs, and such of the passengers as they could induce to
+join them in the hazardous sport, from early in the morning until
+late at night. The parties thus engaged were surrounded by a crowd
+of curious observers, watching the turnings of the game, and perhaps
+calculating their own chances if they engaged in the wretched business.
+I had looked on myself with interest, and when I saw a man put five
+dollars into his pocket on the turn of a card, I thought it was an easy
+way to make money; but then I had an opportunity to see that it was
+just as easy a way to lose it.
+
+Mr. Gracewood had called me away from my position near the table, after
+the gamblers had commenced their operations, and cautioned me never
+to play for money at any game. He explained to me the nature of the
+business, and assured me that the gamblers who had come on board at
+St. Joseph were of the vilest class of men. After his lecture I was
+not tempted to try my hand with the party at the table. The talk about
+making and losing money at games of chance introduced the subject of
+my own finances. I had paid my passage to St. Louis, and had besides
+nearly one hundred dollars in gold in a shot-bag in my pocket.
+
+While we were talking, I took out the bag, and counted the pieces, as I
+had done several times on the passage, to assure myself that my funds
+were all right. My excellent friend told me I must learn prudence, and
+that I ought not to exhibit my money, especially while we had so many
+suspicious characters on board. I was alarmed, and looked around to
+discover who had observed me. One of the passengers, who had come on
+board at "St. Joe," was promenading the deck, and I had noticed that
+he passed quite near me several times. He was a young man flashily
+dressed, but he did not look like a bad man. I put my shot-bag into my
+pocket, resolved not to show it again, and we continued to discuss the
+financial question till it led us to the consideration of my future
+occupation.
+
+The wood-yard where the boat stopped was in a lonely region, and it
+was just sunset when she touched the shore. Its location was at the
+mouth of a stream down which the wood was brought in flatboats, though
+a young forest was growing in the region around the landing. As it was
+too damp for his wife and daughter to walk, Mr. Gracewood would not go
+on shore, and I went alone. It was a great luxury to stretch one's legs
+for an hour on the hard ground after living for weeks on the steamer.
+
+"How long before you leave?" I asked of the captain, as I went over the
+plank.
+
+"Perhaps not till morning," he replied.
+
+"Do you stay here all night?"
+
+"It's going to be foggy, and I don't think we can run down to
+Leavenworth, which is not more than seven miles from here. We should
+have to lie there till morning if we went on."
+
+I was sorry for this, because Mrs. Gracewood had a friend in the place,
+where we intended to spend the evening, and I was anxious to see the
+inside of a civilized house. However, we could make the visit the next
+day, for the boat was to stay several hours at the town. I went on
+shore, and several of the passengers did the same.
+
+"It's quite smoky on the river," said a young man, coming up to me as
+we landed.
+
+"Yes; the captain says he shall probably have to lie here till
+morning," I replied.
+
+"That's too bad," added my companion, the St. Joe passenger whom I had
+observed on the hurricane deck when I was counting my money. "I meant
+to go to a prayer-meeting in Leavenworth this evening."
+
+"A prayer-meeting!" I repeated, my interest awakened; for I had heard
+Mr. Gracewood speak of such gatherings, though I had never attended one.
+
+"When I came up the river three days ago, they were holding them every
+evening in the chapel; and I am anxious to attend."
+
+"I should like to go very much."
+
+"I think I shall go as it is," continued the young man, looking at his
+watch.
+
+"How can you go if the boat remains here?"
+
+"I can walk. It is not more than three or four miles across the bend of
+the river."
+
+"I should like to go with you very much," I answered.
+
+"I should be very glad of your company."
+
+"If you will wait a few moments, I will speak to Mr. Gracewood."
+
+He consented to wait, and I hastened to the saloon. When I had stated
+my desire, Mr. Gracewood rather objected.
+
+"You don't know the person with whom you are going," said he.
+
+"I think I can take care of myself, sir. But I don't think there can be
+any danger in going with a young man who is willing to walk four miles
+to attend a prayer-meeting."
+
+"Perhaps not. I should really like to go to one myself."
+
+"I don't think there can be any danger," interposed Mrs. Gracewood. "If
+we could get a vehicle here, we would all go."
+
+"There is the captain. I will ask him if one cannot be obtained," said
+Mr. Gracewood.
+
+The captain said there was no vehicle suitable to convey a lady, but
+he would send a party of three in the steamer's boat, if they would pay
+the expenses of the two oarsmen in Leavenworth for the night.
+
+"But can't you send five as well as three?" asked Mr. Gracewood, who
+did not object to the expense.
+
+"The boat is hardly large enough to carry them besides the two oarsmen.
+I lost my boat going up the river, and I had to take such a one as I
+could find," replied the captain.
+
+"But I would rather walk," I added. "I will meet you in the town."
+
+"Very well, Phil Farringford. Go to the landing when you arrive, and
+wait for us."
+
+I promised to do so, and joined the young man on the shore. We started
+immediately for our destination, and passing through the grove of young
+trees, we reached the open prairie, over which there was a wagon track.
+
+"I don't happen to know your name," said my companion.
+
+"Philip Farringford; but my friends call me Phil."
+
+"Farringford; I know a man of that name in St. Louis," replied he. "He
+used to be a large steamboat owner, but he has gone to ruin now."
+
+"Gone to ruin?"
+
+"Yes, drank hard, and lost all his property. He is a poor, miserable
+fellow now."
+
+"Had he a family?"
+
+"He had a wife, but she left him years ago. She was a very pretty
+woman, they say, though I never saw her."
+
+"Did you ever hear that he and his wife were on board a steamer which
+was burned on the upper Missouri?"
+
+"Never did."
+
+Very likely this man was the owner of the steamer after which I had
+been named; but it was not probable that he was in any manner related
+to me. My curiosity was satisfied, or rather my new friend could give
+me no further information in regard to him.
+
+"There was a steamer of that name burned on the Missouri about eleven
+years ago," I added.
+
+"Well, I was a boy then, and did not come to St. Louis till years
+after."
+
+"I should like to ascertain something about that boat, Mr.--You didn't
+tell me your name."
+
+"Just so; I did not. My name is--my name is Lynchpinne," he replied,
+with some hesitation, so that I wondered whether he had not forgotten
+his name--"Leonidas Lynchpinne."
+
+I thought it was a queer name, but an instinct of politeness prevented
+me from saying so.
+
+"What do you wish to know in regard to that steamer, Phil?" he asked.
+
+"Some of my relations were on board of her, and I should like to
+ascertain whether they were saved or not."
+
+"Farringford will know all about it, if you can catch him when he is
+sober, which is not very often. I will help you out with it when we get
+to St. Louis."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Lynchpinne. I shall be under very great obligations to
+you if you can help me."
+
+I thought my new friend was a very obliging young man, and I was
+glad to know him, especially as he was in the habit of attending
+prayer-meetings.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER II.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS WITH HIS FIRST MISHAP.
+
+
+Four miles was a short walk to me, and when we reached Leavenworth, I
+was as fresh as when we started. The town, then in the third year of
+its existence, had a population of two thousand, and some substantial
+buildings had already been erected.
+
+"Where is the landing-place?" I asked, as we entered the town.
+
+"It is not far from here," replied Mr. Lynchpinne. "But that boat won't
+be here for an hour or two yet."
+
+"But I would rather go there at once."
+
+"There is no hurry; but we will go down in a few minutes. I want to
+inquire at what time the prayer-meeting commences."
+
+"I will go directly to the landing, if you will tell me the way. I
+won't keep you waiting, and I will see you at the meeting."
+
+"Don't be in a hurry. It is only a little past six, and the boat
+won't arrive for an hour, certainly. I will go down with you in five
+minutes," persisted my companion.
+
+"I would not have my friends wait for me a moment," I added.
+
+"We shall have to wait an hour for them. We will go up to the hotel,
+and engage a room, for we may not find one after the meeting."
+
+He conducted me through the principal street of the town, and I gazed
+with interest at the shops, houses, and people.
+
+"How much farther have we to go?" I asked, when I judged that the five
+minutes had expired.
+
+"Only a short distance; but we are going towards the river all the
+time."
+
+"We passed a hotel just now."
+
+"That is not the one I stop at when I am here. The prices are too high
+for me. I have money enough, but you know a young man ought to be
+economical on principle."
+
+I thought this was very good logic, and I fully subscribed to it; for,
+though I had almost a hundred dollars in my pocket, I wished to save
+as much as possible of it. Mr. Lynchpinne turned down a cross street,
+and presently stopped before a large two-story frame house, the lower
+part of which was a shop of some kind; but it was closed. On the
+outside of the building there was a flight of stairs leading to the
+second story.
+
+"We will go up here and inquire about the prayer-meeting," said my new
+friend. "It won't take but a moment."
+
+"Very well; but don't be long. I will wait here till you come down."
+
+"No; come up."
+
+"I had just as lief wait here."
+
+"But this is the place where we shall sleep. A friend of mine lets out
+some rooms here to lodgers. We can sleep here for fifty cents each, and
+it would cost a dollar at the hotel."
+
+"All right; you engage a room for both of us."
+
+"But come up. If you should want to go to bed before I am ready to come
+in, you won't be able to find your room, if you don't go and look at it
+now."
+
+I thought we were wasting more time in debating the matter than it
+would take for me to look at the chamber, and I followed him up the
+stairs. We entered the building, which was of considerable dimensions.
+I groped my way, after my friend, through long entries, which were not
+lighted, until, after turning two corners, he halted and knocked.
+
+"Who's there?" called a voice from within.
+
+"Lynch," replied my guide. "Lynch is the short of Lynchpinne," he added
+to me.
+
+"Come in!"
+
+I heard the springing of a bolt on the door before it was opened.
+
+"Go in, Phil," said my companion, placing himself behind me, and gently
+forcing me into the apartment.
+
+The room was not more than twelve feet square.
+
+The only furniture it contained was a chair and a small toilet-table.
+The former was placed in one corner, and the latter directly in front
+of it.
+
+"Is there to be a prayer-meeting this evening?" asked Mr. Lynchpinne of
+the man who sat behind the table.
+
+"Of course."
+
+"At what time?"
+
+"Half past seven. What have you there?" continued the man behind the
+table.
+
+"A dove who has the yellow."
+
+"Right; we will begin the meeting now then," added the man, producing a
+little silver box, open on one side, so that I could see it contained a
+pack of cards.
+
+This was the first intimation I had that anything was wrong. The sight
+of the cards roused my suspicions, as well they might. I had heard the
+snap of the bolt as the man locked the door when we entered. I looked
+about me, and discovered that there were no windows in the room, though
+there was another door besides that by which we had entered.
+
+"Put that up," said Mr. Lynchpinne. "You know that I never gamble."
+
+"I thought you wanted to open the meeting."
+
+"I don't know what you mean," added my companion, who certainly looked
+very innocent.
+
+"O, you don't!"
+
+"Of course I don't. My young friend and I must stay in town over night,
+and we want a room. Have you any left, Redwood?"
+
+"Not a room."
+
+"Can't you find one?" persisted my friend.
+
+"Everything on this floor is let by the week."
+
+"There's the corner room in the attic," said the man who had opened the
+door when we entered.
+
+"Show it to them, Glynn," added Redwood, who appeared to be the
+proprietor of the establishment.
+
+"I know where it is. Give me a light, and I won't trouble you," said
+Lynchpinne.
+
+Glynn opened a door which led to another room, and soon appeared with a
+rusty iron candlestick, and the stump of a candle, which he lighted.
+
+"Come, Phil, we will see the room," said Lynchpinne, when we were in
+the entry.
+
+"What sort of a place is this?" I demanded. "I don't like the looks of
+it."
+
+"Nor I," he replied. "I should judge by the looks that Redwood gambles."
+
+"I think I won't stay here. I don't want to be in a gambling-house."
+
+"Humph! It will be just the same if you go to the hotel. Let us look at
+the room, at any rate."
+
+"You have seen it before."
+
+"But I wish you to see it; then, if you don't like to stay here, we
+will go to the hotel."
+
+I followed him up the narrow flight of stairs, and at the end of an
+entry, which extended the whole length of the building, we entered a
+chamber. It contained a rude bed, a chair, and a wash-stand.
+
+"Not very elegant accommodations," said Lynchpinne, as we surveyed the
+room; "but when I can save half a dollar without any real sacrifice of
+comfort, I do so."
+
+"I had as lief sleep here as anywhere," I replied. "Wouldn't it have
+been more economical to stay on board the steamer?"
+
+"Doubtless it would; but I wanted to come, and so did you. We will do
+it as cheap as we can--that's all."
+
+"I'm satisfied."
+
+"Then I will put this candle on the chair, with a couple of matches by
+the side of it, so that we can come in without any assistance."
+
+"Let us be in a hurry, for I am afraid that boat will get to the
+landing before we do," I added, impatiently.
+
+"You need not concern yourself about her. We shall have to wait half an
+hour when we get to the river. But I am all ready."
+
+"So am I."
+
+"I hope you haven't much money about you, Phil," said my companion, as
+he placed the candle on the chair.
+
+"I have a little. But why do you say that?"
+
+"Because there are a great many bad men about these new towns; and some
+of them would not scruple to rap you over the head for your money.
+Besides, there will be a crowd on the steamboat levee, and we may have
+our pockets picked. I think I shall hide my money in the bed."
+
+Suiting the action to the word, he took his wallet from his pocket, and
+thrust his arm into the bed up to the shoulder.
+
+"No one will think of looking there for it," he added, as if thoroughly
+satisfied with what he had done. "I advise you to do the same."
+
+"I don't mean to leave my money here," I replied. "I don't like the
+looks of the people in this house."
+
+"Nor I: but they will not think of such a thing as looking into the bed
+for money. Take my advice, Phil."
+
+"No; I think I can take care of what money I have," I answered.
+
+"You haven't been about this region so much as I have, or you wouldn't
+run any risks," he continued; and I thought he was very persistent
+about the care of my funds.
+
+"That may be, though I think my money will be safer in my pocket than
+in that bed. But come, Mr. Lynchpinne. We are wasting our time, and we
+had better hurry down to the river."
+
+"How much money have you, Phil?" asked my companion.
+
+"I have enough to pay my way for a few days longer," I replied, moving
+towards the door.
+
+"I hate to see a fellow come into a place like this and lose all his
+money."
+
+"You needn't trouble yourself at all about it. If I lose it, I won't
+blame you, for you have certainly given me abundant warning."
+
+"At least put your money in a safe place on your person before we go
+out."
+
+"It's all right," I answered, placing my hand upon my pocket, where the
+shot-bag which held my funds was deposited. "But hurry up, and let us
+go to the landing."
+
+"Is that where you keep your money?" he added. "You are certain to lose
+it all if you carry it in that pocket. Put it inside your vest, and
+then button your coat."
+
+"There is no pocket inside of my vest."
+
+"No matter for that. Tie it up in your handkerchief, and fasten it to
+your suspender. Do anything with it, except to leave it in that pocket."
+
+I rather liked his suggestion, though I was not quite satisfied with
+the degree of interest he manifested in the safety of my money. I took
+out the shot-bag, and wrapped it in the handkerchief, and was about to
+deposit it in the place he had indicated, when, with a sudden spring,
+he snatched the bag from me, kicked over the chair on which the candle
+had been placed, and fled from the room. I was in total darkness; but I
+leaped forward to grapple with the assailant, for I was determined not
+to lose my money without a struggle to recover it.
+
+I was taken wholly by surprise, for I had not suspected that a young
+man who was in the habit of attending prayer-meetings would be capable
+of any dishonest act. As I leaped forward to the door, it was closed
+before me. The villain had made his calculations beforehand, and moved
+with greater facility than I could. I heard him lock the door upon me,
+and I immediately realized that I was a prisoner in the strange house.
+Then I understood the nature of my kind friend's solicitude about my
+funds. He had been laboring all this time to induce me to produce my
+shot-bag, so that he could snatch it from me.
+
+I heard his footsteps in the long entry, as he retreated from the scene
+of his crime. I took hold of the door, and tried to pull it open;
+but though it was a sham affair, I did not succeed. If I shouted, I
+should doubtless call up Redwood, or his assistant; and I came to the
+conclusion that the house was a den of robbers and gamblers. I decided
+to exercise my skill still further upon the door.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER III.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL SLIPS OFF HIS COAT, AND RETREATS IN GOOD ORDER.
+
+
+It is scarcely necessary for me to say that I was exceedingly indignant
+at the trick played upon me by Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne; and I was
+not at all comforted by the reflection that he had used the cloak of
+religion to cover his designs. He had seen me counting my gold on
+board of the steamer; and the wisdom of Mr. Gracewood's advice on
+that occasion had already been demonstrated. If I had not carelessly
+exhibited the contents of my shot-bag, the unpleasant event which had
+happened to me could not have occurred.
+
+I went to work upon the lock of the door. I have said that I am fond
+of encountering a difficulty; but I must say that the difficulty of
+opening that door was an exception to the general rule. I did not
+enjoy it at all. I fingered over it a while in the dark, with no
+success, and with no prospect of any, till it occurred to me that the
+candle and the matches which my companion had placed in the chair were
+available. I felt about the floor till I found them, and soon had a
+little light on the subject. The partition was a very superficial piece
+of work, and I saw that, if I could not spring the bolt of the lock, I
+could pull the door open.
+
+The door did not come within half an inch of the threshold, and there
+was a space equally wide at the top. I pulled the bottom out with my
+fingers till I could thrust the handle of my knife in at the side. The
+door was thin, and sprang easily under the pressure. When I got a fair
+hold, I pulled it open, tearing out the fastening from the frame of the
+door. The creaking and cracking produced by the operation amounted to a
+considerable noise; but I made haste to use the advantage I had gained
+before any of the villanous occupants of the house discovered me.
+
+Taking the candle in my hand, I walked through the long entry towards
+the stairs by which I had come up. But I had gone but half the distance
+before I discovered the man Glynn hastening in the opposite direction.
+He was a burly fellow, and I suddenly experienced a feeling of regret
+that I was not on the other side of him, for I was satisfied that any
+conquest I might gain over him would be by the use of my legs rather
+than my fists.
+
+"What's that noise here?" demanded Glynn, halting in the middle of the
+passage.
+
+"I made some noise in opening the door of the room."
+
+"Lynch says some one is breaking into the rooms. Are you the one?"
+
+"No; I didn't break in; I broke out. But if you will excuse me, I will
+go, for I am in a hurry to get to the river."
+
+"Never saw a rogue yet that was not in a hurry."
+
+"What do you mean by that?" I demanded.
+
+"Some one has been breaking into our rooms, and I only want to catch
+the fellow that did it."
+
+"I am not the fellow."
+
+"Lynch says you are."
+
+"Where is Lynch?"
+
+"Gone out; I don't know where. What have you been doing up here?"
+
+"I have been robbed of my money by the fellow you call Lynch; and I
+only want to get hold of him," I replied.
+
+"That won't go down here," said Glynn, shaking his head.
+
+"Well, I shall go down, any how."
+
+"Not yet, till I see what you have been about here," added he, as he
+took me by the wrist, and walked in the direction from which I had just
+come.
+
+Fully persuaded that I should make nothing by resistance, I determined
+to await my opportunity, rather than spend my strength in a useless
+battle, in which I was liable to have my head broken. He led me to
+the room I had just left, the door of which was open. The splintered
+door-frame betrayed my operations at once.
+
+"Did you do that?" demanded Glynn, savagely.
+
+"I did."
+
+"Then you are the chap I've been looking for," said he, squeezing my
+wrist till the bones crackled.
+
+"Lynch snatched my money, and then locked me into the room, while he
+ran away. That's the whole story."
+
+"I tell you that won't go down," added Glynn, giving me a rude shake.
+
+"Isn't this the room to which you sent him and me, and didn't you give
+him the key?"
+
+"And didn't you break down this door? That's what I want to know."
+
+"I have said that I did; and I have explained the reason of it."
+
+"Redwood may settle the business to suit himself. Come down to the
+office."
+
+He walked me through the long entry, and down the stairs to a room
+adjoining that we had entered before. Glynn explained to the man I
+had seen with the silver box in his hand, and who was doubtless the
+proprietor of the house, what had occurred in the attic.
+
+"I see," said Redwood. "This is a very pretty story; and this boy wants
+to hurt the reputation of the house by declaring that he has been
+robbed here. As you say, Glynn, that won't go down."
+
+"But it is true," I protested.
+
+"You know it isn't true. How old are you, boy?"
+
+"Thirteen."
+
+"How much money did you lose?" asked Redwood, with an obvious sneer.
+
+"Nearly a hundred dollars."
+
+"In wildcat bank notes, I dare say."
+
+"No, sir, in gold."
+
+"That's a likely story! Boys of thirteen don't travel round much in
+these times with a hundred dollars in gold in their trousers' pockets."
+
+"But I had the money, and I have been robbed in this house."
+
+"I don't believe a word of it. But you have been breaking down my
+doors, and trying to get into my rooms. There isn't much law here, but
+you shall try on what little there is."
+
+"I can prove all I say by my friends on board of the steamer."
+
+"It's too late to do anything to-night, Glynn. You must keep him till
+morning. Lock him up in No. 10."
+
+"I'm not going to be locked up in No. 10," I protested, my indignation
+getting the better of my discretion, for I could not help thinking of
+Mr. Gracewood and his family fretting and worrying about me all night;
+and a sense of the injustice to which I was subjected stung me to the
+soul.
+
+"Perhaps you are not; but we'll see," replied Redwood, with his hand
+on the knob of the door which opened into the room I had first entered
+with Lynchpinne, and in which I heard voices.
+
+"Is the man I came with in there?" I asked, pointing to the door.
+
+"No; take him round to No. 10, Glynn."
+
+"Come along, youngster," said the man, as he seized me by the collar of
+my coat, and dragged me out into the entry.
+
+I was powerless in the grasp of the stout fellow, and he led me along
+the entry till we had almost reached the door by which we had entered
+the building. At a door on the right, marked No. 10, in red chalk, my
+custodian halted. Setting his candlestick upon the floor, he applied
+the key to the door, for he still held me by the collar with one hand.
+I had no taste whatever for being locked up in No. 10, which I saw was
+an inner chamber, like the gambling apartment I had first visited.
+
+While Glynn was unlocking the door, a piece of strategy occurred to
+me, which I instantly adopted. Like the prudent shipmaster, who is
+sometimes compelled to cut away a mast to save the ship, I was obliged
+to sacrifice my coat to obtain my liberty. Throwing my arms behind
+me, I slipped out of the garment, and sprang to the outside door,
+leaving the coat in the hands of Glynn. Fortunately the door was ajar,
+and throwing it open, I fled down the stairs with a celerity which
+doubtless astonished my burly jailer.
+
+"Stop, you rascal!" shouted Glynn; but, without pausing to consider the
+polite invitation, I promptly declined it.
+
+"The next instant the iron candlestick struck me in the back, but
+inflicted no damage upon me. It was followed by another missile, which
+I did not identify, and then by my coat. I do not think the fellow
+meant to return the garment I needed so much on a cool night; but,
+having it in his hand, he threw it at me, as he had everything else
+within his reach. I grasped the coat, and ran down the street, closely
+pursued by Glynn. Finding I was attracting the attention of people in
+the street, two or three of whom attempted to stop me when they saw a
+man was pursuing me, I turned into a cross street. I ran with my coat
+on my arm, and soon distanced my clumsy pursuer. I turned several
+times, but I had no idea where I was or whither I was going, and I soon
+found myself out on the prairie.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL ESCAPES FROM GLYNN. Page 40.]
+
+No one was near me, and I was satisfied that Glynn had abandoned the
+chase. I put on my coat, and walked leisurely in the direction which
+I thought would lead me to the river. I was vexed and discouraged at
+the loss of my money. My first mishap gave me some experience of the
+disadvantages of civilization, for in the field and forest from which I
+had come, we had no gamblers, or thieves, except the Indians. It would
+be a very pretty story to tell Mr. Gracewood, that I had not been smart
+enough to take care of myself, in spite of my boast to that effect, and
+that I had lost all my money, except a little change in silver, which I
+carried in my vest pocket. It was exceedingly awkward and annoying, and
+I was almost ashamed to meet my excellent friend.
+
+I continued to walk, keeping the houses of the town on my left,
+expecting soon to see the river. But it seemed to me that the longer I
+walked, the more I did not see it, and the less became the probability
+that I should see it. In a word, I could not find any river, and I
+concluded that I was journeying away from it, instead of towards it.
+The houses on my left diminished in number, and I saw that all the
+lights were behind me. I thought that, by this time, Glynn had given
+up the chase, and was probably busy in attending to the wants of the
+gamblers in Redwood's den. Turning to the left, I walked towards the
+centre of the town, and soon struck a broad street, which had been laid
+out, and on which an occasional house had been erected.
+
+This course brought me to the middle of the place, and in front of the
+hotel. I ventured to inquire the way to the river. Taking the direction
+pointed out to me, I reached the landing-place without further
+difficulty. I found the place where the steamers stopped, but there was
+no boat to be seen. I visited every point above and below the landing;
+I inquired in shops and offices, and of everybody I met; but I could
+not discover the steamer's boat, and no one had seen it or heard of
+it. It was very strange, and I was perplexed, but not alarmed. A trip
+of seven miles in a boat, even in the evening, was not a very perilous
+undertaking, and I was not willing to believe that any accident had
+happened to my friends.
+
+I had seen a clock in one of the stores where I had called, and I knew
+it was half past eight. The boat must have arrived at least an hour
+before, if it had come at all; but I had almost reached the conclusion
+that my friends had abandoned the excursion. But if they had come, Mr.
+Gracewood would go to the prayer-meeting, expecting to find me there,
+and I went in search of such a gathering.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER IV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL ENDEAVORS TO REMEDY HIS FIRST MISHAP.
+
+
+I went up to the centre of the town, where I had seen a church; but
+it was closed, and all its windows were dark. I inquired for the
+other churches, and visited the rest of them; but I could find no
+prayer-meeting. Those whom I asked had not heard of any meetings.
+By this time I concluded that I was an idiot to believe that the
+prayer-meeting was anything but a ruse on the part of Mr. Leonidas
+Lynchpinne, otherwise Lynch, which was probably his true name, and
+which he had doubtless extended for my especial benefit.
+
+I was disgusted, and heartily wished I had not left the steamer. I
+made up my mind that it was not safe to trust any stranger, even if he
+said he was in the habit of attending prayer-meetings; but I ought to
+add that I have always found it safe to trust those who really attend
+them, and really take an interest in them. I had been duped, deceived,
+robbed. I wanted my money back, and I was quite as anxious to see Lynch
+as I was Mr. Gracewood.
+
+I walked up to the hotel, and looked at every body I saw in the public
+rooms, hoping that my fellow-passenger had concluded to pay a dollar
+for his lodging, instead of fifty cents at the gambling den, which I
+thought he now could afford to do, with his funds replenished with the
+contents of my shot-bag. He was not there, and I went over towards
+the house where I had been robbed. I approached the locality very
+cautiously, for I was not anxious to confront the burly Glynn.
+
+I examined the building at a respectful distance, and tried to fix the
+location of the attic chamber where Lynch had plundered me; but I had
+twisted about so many times in the long entries that I was unable to
+do so. Occasionally a man, or a party of men, went up the steps, and I
+supposed them to be the lodgers in the house. I watched those who went
+in and those who came out, in the hope that I might see Lynch. I did
+not see him, and perhaps it was just as well for me that I did not,
+for, as I felt then, I should certainly have "pitched into him."
+
+I could not do anything to help myself. I was tempted to arm myself
+with a club and go into the lodging-house in search of the rascal
+who had robbed me; but this would have been very imprudent. It was
+possible that Lynch was still in the house, and that he would occupy
+the room in the attic. I could not help thinking that Redwood was his
+confederate, and that my money would be shared between them. They
+seemed to understand each other perfectly, and I recalled the remark of
+my companion, incomprehensible to me when it was uttered, that I was
+"a dove with the yellows." A dove is the emblem of innocence, and the
+yellows I took to be a metaphor, based upon the color of the pieces in
+my shot-bag.
+
+It was clearly more prudent for me to wait till the next morning
+before I attempted to do anything; and, having satisfied myself of the
+correctness of my conclusion, I decided to wait, with what patience I
+could, for the assistance of my friends the next day. The night was
+advancing, and I had no place to sleep. I had not money enough left
+to pay even for a cheap lodging; and it was rather cool to camp on the
+ground without a blanket. But I had a berth on board of the steamer, if
+I could find my way back to her. I was not so tired that I could not
+walk four miles.
+
+I started for the wood-yard, and, with less difficulty than I expected,
+I found the road over the prairie. As I trudged along in the darkness,
+I thought of all the events of the evening. It was a pity that the
+world contained any such rascals as "Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne;" but I
+was confident that the next time I met one of his class I should be a
+match for him, and would not even go to a prayer-meeting with him. It
+was possible that this worthy had returned to the steamer, relying upon
+Redwood to retain me till after the steamer had left the town; but I
+did not depend much upon finding him in his state-room.
+
+Reaching the wood-yard, I went on board of the steamer. Though it was
+nearly midnight, the gamblers on board were still plying their infamous
+vocation. I went to the table, and satisfied myself that Lynch was not
+among them. I visited the state-room which Mr. Gracewood had occupied
+with me since we left Council Bluffs, where the number of passengers
+increased so that I could no longer have a room to myself. He was not
+there; and there was no light in the room occupied by his wife and
+daughter. I was not willing to believe they had left the boat till I
+obtained this evidence.
+
+The bar of the steamer was still open, for wherever the gamblers were
+whiskey was in demand. I asked the bar-keeper where the captain was,
+and learned that he had retired; but the clerk was still up, and I soon
+found him, for I wished to ascertain where Lynch's room was.
+
+"Well, Phil, you are up late," said the clerk, as I walked up to him;
+and in the long trip I had become well acquainted with him.
+
+"I have been down to Leavenworth," I replied.
+
+"Why did you come back? We shall be there early in the morning."
+
+"I had to come back. Do you take the names of all the passengers?"
+
+"Yes; we have to put all the names on the berth list."
+
+"Is there one by the name of Leonidas Lynchpinne?" I asked.
+
+"Certainly not," he replied, laughing.
+
+"Or any name like it?"
+
+"I will look, if you wish."
+
+"Do, if you please, and I will tell you why I ask."
+
+We went to the office, and he examined his list.
+
+"Lyndon Lynch--"
+
+"That's the man," I interposed. "Lynch. Which is his room?"
+
+"No. 24."
+
+"I should like to know whether he is in it, or not," I added.
+
+"He came on board at St. Joe," said the clerk, as we walked to No. 24.
+
+Lynch was not there, and the other occupant of the room was playing
+cards at the table. I sat down with the clerk, and related to him all
+the events of the evening. Occasionally he smiled, and even laughed
+when I spoke of going to a prayer-meeting. I felt cheap to think I had
+been duped so easily, and was a subject for the merriment of the clerk.
+
+"You will never see your money again, Phil," said he, when I had
+concluded.
+
+"Why not? Don't they have any law in these civilized regions."
+
+"You can have all the law you want when you find your man. This Lynch
+is probably one of these blacklegs. They are miserable scoundrels, who
+float about everywhere."
+
+"But the man who kept the lodging-house was in league with him."
+
+"Very likely; but it don't appear from your story that he had anything
+to do with the robbery. Your own evidence would acquit him."
+
+I did not derive much comfort from the clerk's remarks, though I could
+not help acknowledging the truth of what he said. However, the loss of
+a hundred dollars would not ruin me, uncomfortable and inconvenient
+as it was. I could draw upon Mr. Gracewood, who had fifteen hundred
+dollars of my funds in his possession. But I intended to make an effort
+the next day, while the boat lay at Leavenworth, to find Lynch, and
+have him lynched, if possible.
+
+"But why did you come back, Phil?" continued the clerk. "Mr. Gracewood
+and his family went down in the boat."
+
+"I couldn't find them, or the boat. I was almost sure they had not
+started."
+
+"They went."
+
+"It's very strange I could not find the boat. I inquired of twenty
+persons, and no one had seen or heard of it. Do you suppose anything
+could have happened to them?"
+
+"It is not probable, though of course it is possible. The current of
+the river is very swift, and the shores are rocky. But they had two of
+our deck hands with them, and I should say that any accident was next
+to impossible."
+
+I was of his opinion, though I could not help worrying about them. I
+went to my room and retired. I was very weary; but, though disposed
+to consider still further the events of the evening, I fell asleep in
+spite of myself. When I awoke the next morning, the boat was lying at
+the landing in Leavenworth. It was only a little after sunrise, but
+the hands were busy loading and discharging freight. I hastily dressed
+myself, wondering how I could have slept so long; but I had walked not
+less than fifteen miles the preceding evening, and perhaps it was more
+strange that I waked so early.
+
+"Have you found the boat, captain?" I asked, with breathless interest,
+as I hastened to the main deck, where I found the master of the
+steamer.
+
+"No, Phil; and I am a good deal worried about your friends," he replied.
+
+"Why, where are they?"
+
+"I have no idea; but I have been up and down the levee from one end of
+the town to the other, and I can't find the boat. I don't understand
+it."
+
+"I could not find it last night. I asked twenty persons, but no one had
+seen such a party as I described," I added.
+
+"Do you know the name of the person they intended to visit?"
+
+"I do not. I may have heard it, but I don't remember anything about it."
+
+"The boat will not start before noon, and we may hear of them before
+that time," said the captain.
+
+"Did you look along the shore as you came down?" I asked.
+
+"Not particularly; but if they had been on the shore the pilot would
+have seen them. The clerk told me you lost your money last night,
+Phil."
+
+"Yes, sir;" and I repeated my story to him.
+
+"We will take an officer and visit the house," added the captain.
+
+"The sooner we go, the more likely we shall be to find Lynch," I
+suggested.
+
+"We will go at once, then."
+
+Captain Davis and I landed, and walked up to the hotel. An officer was
+procured, and I led the way to the lodging-house. We entered without
+announcing our visit, and proceeded to the office, as Glynn had called
+the room in front of the gambling den.
+
+"So you have come back, youngster," said the burly assistant.
+
+"Where is the man that calls himself Lynch?" demanded the officer.
+
+"No such man here," replied Glynn. "Don't know him."
+
+"I suppose not," said the officer, ironically. "What room did you take
+with him, young man?" he added, turning to me.
+
+"I don't know the number, but I can lead you to it."
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Glynn, innocently.
+
+"This young man was robbed in your house last night."
+
+"Was he really, though?" added the assistant.
+
+"You know that he was."
+
+"He told me he was, but I didn't believe it. The youngster went to a
+room with a man, and I heard some one breaking down doors. I caught
+this youngster up there alone. But if he was robbed, that's another
+thing," continued Glynn, who seemed to have a very proper and wholesome
+respect for the officer. "I will go up to that room, and see if Lynch
+is there."
+
+"You needn't trouble yourself," said the prudent official. "I will go
+myself."
+
+"I'll go up and show you the way."
+
+"Where is Redwood?"
+
+"Not up yet. I will call him."
+
+"No; I will call him myself when I want him."
+
+Glynn led the way up to the attic, and I was tolerably confident, from
+his manner, that we should find Lynch in the room. We found the door
+locked, in spite of the damage I had done to it.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER V.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL VAINLY SEARCHES FOR THE GRACEWOODS.
+
+
+"Of course you know whether the man we are looking for is in this room
+or not, Glynn," said the officer, when he found that the door was
+locked.
+
+"'Pon my word I do not," protested the assistant.
+
+"Did you let the room to any other person?"
+
+"I did; but Lynch may occupy it with him, for aught I know. These
+fellows all run together, and I don't know who are in the rooms. We let
+them for a dollar a night, and don't care who sleeps in them."
+
+The officer knocked at the door, and was promptly answered by a person
+whose voice did not sound at all like Lynch's. My hopes were failing,
+and I would have taken half my money, and given a receipt in full for
+the whole, if I could have made such a trade.
+
+"Open the door," said the officer.
+
+Even this request was promptly complied with, and we found the bed
+occupied by only one person. Glynn protested that he had not seen
+Lynch since he gave him the key and the light early in the evening;
+and, whether we believed him or not, we were forced to accept his
+explanation. We saw Redwood afterwards, and he appeared to be as
+innocent as his immaculate assistant. Both of them apologized to me for
+the rude treatment to which I had been subjected, and declared that
+they had made a bad mistake in taking me for a house-breaker, since I
+was now vouched for by no excellent a person as Captain Davis, of the
+steamer Fawn. If they ever saw Lynch again, they would hand him over to
+the officers of the law. It was for their interest to do so, because
+the reputation of the house was greatly injured by having a person
+robbed within it. They would do what they could to recover my money;
+and if they succeeded, where should they send it?
+
+Captain Davis could not help laughing at this speech, and told me I
+need not trouble myself to leave any address. Both protested that they
+were in earnest; and certainty their logic was correct, whether they
+were sincere or not. If the local newspaper stated that a person had
+been robbed of a hundred dollars at Redwood's lodging-house, the fact
+would deter others from going there, for even gamblers and other fast
+men would object to having their money stolen. We left the house, and
+I gave up my money as lost; but I was willing to believe that I had
+purchased a hundred dollars' worth of wisdom and experience with it,
+and so I had a fair equivalent.
+
+In the street I found the officer was not disposed to abandon the
+case. He had a reputation to make in that new land; and perhaps it was
+worth more to him than to me to find the money. I was entirely willing
+that he should increase his credit as a thief-taker by restoring
+my property, and I warmly seconded his endeavors. We watched the
+lodging-house till dinner time, but without seeing any one who looked
+like Lynch. In short, the officer made no progress in establishing a
+title to the position of chief of police when the office should be
+created in the new and growing city.
+
+I returned to the steamer at the landing, and of course my first
+inquiries were for Mr. Gracewood and his family. To my astonishment and
+grief, not a word had been heard of them. Captain Davis had caused a
+thorough search to be made in the town, without obtaining the slightest
+clew to them. I was amazed, and so were others who were interested in
+the fate of the absent ones. It was incredible that any calamity had
+overtaken them by which the whole party had been lost. If the boat had
+been upset, the deck hands at least could have saved themselves.
+
+I forgot all about my money in my anxiety for my friends. I could not
+believe that they had been lost; it was too sad and too improbable to
+be considered, and I rejected the supposition. But the mystery weighed
+heavily upon me. The steamer was ready to proceed on her voyage, and
+the passengers were grumbling at the delay; but Captain Davis was
+unwilling to proceed without the absentees. In the middle of the
+afternoon he cast off his fasts, when a portion of his passengers, who
+had not paid their fare, threatened to leave the boat, and take another
+which was in sight above the town. But, instead of continuing on his
+way down the river, he headed her up the stream, in order to examine
+the shores for any signs of the lost family.
+
+I was deeply interested in the fate of Mr. Gracewood, his wife and
+daughter, for they were really the only friends I had in the world. I
+had been saved from a burning steamer by old Matt Rockwood, and was
+brought up by him in his cabin. I knew nothing of my parents, but old
+Matt had been a father to me, and the coming of Mr. Gracewood furnished
+me with a competent instructor in manners, morals, and the various
+branches of learning. After the death of old Matt, my good friend had
+been strangely joined by his wife and daughter, and I had lived one
+season with the family. As the winter approached, we had left our home
+in the wilds of the far west, and were now on our way to St. Louis.
+These events all passed in review through my mind, as I thought of the
+Gracewoods who had so strangely disappeared.
+
+Old Matt Rockwood had left a considerable sum of money in his chest,
+which, with the profits of our farm and wood-yard, amounted to over
+sixteen hundred dollars, when the accounts were finally settled.
+Fifteen hundred of this sum was in the keeping of Mr. Gracewood,
+though I held his note for it, and was in no danger of losing it,
+though he should never appear again. But I had no selfish thoughts.
+I was interested only in the safety of my friend and his family. The
+daughter, pretty Ella Gracewood, had been my constant friend and
+companion at the settlement. I had rescued her from the Indians who
+had captured her, and it would have broken my heart to know that any
+calamity had overtaken her.
+
+The Fawn went up the river in spite of the grumbling of the passengers.
+We passed the steamer coming down the stream; but Captain Davis
+declared that he should be on his way to St. Louis before the other
+boat could get away from Leavenworth. Like all other western steamboat
+masters, he said and did all he could to get and keep his passengers.
+Extending from the mouth of the stream, where our steamer had passed
+the night, there was a cut-off, through which the boat, with Mr.
+Gracewood, had come. The water rushed through it like a sluice, and
+probably by this time it is the main channel of the river.
+
+"Stop her!" shouted Captain Davis to the pilot, as the boat was passing
+the outlet of this cut-off.
+
+"What is it, captain?" I asked, startled by the order, and fearful that
+he had discovered some evidence of a disaster.
+
+"There is an oar," said he, pointing to the shore.
+
+I saw the oar, which had washed up on the bank of the river. The boat
+was run up to the point, and it was identified as one belonging to the
+missing boat.
+
+"That is something towards it," said the captain, as the oar was
+examined on board. "If they didn't lose the other one they could get
+along well enough."
+
+"Perhaps they did lose the other," suggested the mate.
+
+"It is not very likely they lost both oars," added Captain Davis.
+
+"Do you suppose the boat upset?" I asked, with my heart in my mouth.
+
+"Certainly not. If it did we should have found the boat, or heard from
+the men. The whole party could not have been drowned in a narrow place
+like that," replied the captain, confidently.
+
+"What do you think has become of them?" I continued.
+
+"Nothing worse than being carried down the river could have happened to
+them. I'm sure of that. It's absurd to think that three men should be
+lost in a stream not a hundred feet wide. Go ahead, pilot!" shouted the
+captain.
+
+"Down stream?" asked the man at the wheel.
+
+"Yes; we shall pick up the party somewhere below."
+
+The Fawn came about, and to the great satisfaction of the growling
+portion of her passengers, resumed her voyage down the river. I did
+the best I could to convince myself that no catastrophe had overtaken
+my friends. When we came to Leavenworth, we found that the steamer we
+had passed--whose name was the Daylight--was not there. If she had
+stopped at all, she had not remained there more than a few minutes.
+Captain Davis was annoyed at this circumstance, for she would take
+the passengers and freight that were waiting at the various points on
+the river below, which would otherwise have been taken by the Fawn. I
+saw him go down to the main deck, where the furnaces and boilers were
+located, and in a short time I was conscious that they were crowding
+the boat up to her highest speed. A race had commenced, not so much
+to ascertain which of the two boats was the fastest, as to obtain the
+freight and passengers that were awaiting transportation at the towns
+below us. I felt no interest in the trial of speed, which at another
+time might have afforded me a pleasant excitement. From the hurricane
+deck I watched the shores, to obtain any tidings of the missing boat or
+her passengers.
+
+At Delaware City the Daylight made a landing; but the Fawn, to my
+surprise and chagrin, did not stop. It was possible that the Gracewoods
+had been carried down to this point in their unmanageable boat, and had
+landed here.
+
+"Why don't you make a landing here? Captain Davis?" I inquired.
+
+"Because the Daylight has gone in ahead of me, and I shall get no
+freight or passengers if I don't keep ahead of her."
+
+"But Mr. Gracewood and his family may be here."
+
+"It is not improbable. I feel that I have done all I could for them."
+
+"You might stop."
+
+"I can't sacrifice the interest of my owners, Phil. If the Gracewoods
+are there, they can take passage in the Daylight. They will not suffer
+any great hardship, while my boat may lose hundreds of dollars by the
+delay."
+
+"I shall be in misery till I hear from them."
+
+"You need not be. I am sure no serious accident has happened to them. I
+want the two men I sent in the boat, but I couldn't stop to get them,
+even if I knew they were at Delaware City. But we shall hear from your
+friends before long. The Daylight will drive her wheels hard to keep
+up with us. I see she hasn't much freight, and she will stop at every
+place of any size."
+
+"But if you keep ahead of her all the time, how shall we get any news
+from her?"
+
+"The Fawn is faster than the Daylight, and I can afford to let her pass
+me at any place where I can obtain freight enough to make it an object.
+If the Gracewoods are on board of her, they will make themselves known
+as she goes by. There will be a good deal of freight at Kansas City,
+where we shall arrive to-night. You will probably find the Daylight
+there in the morning."
+
+I was satisfied with the captain's explanation, and I hoped the morning
+would justify his expectations. We made no landings till we reached
+Kansas City, about eight o'clock in the evening. There was a crowd of
+passengers there, who rushed on board as soon as the plank was laid
+down. The freight was immediately taken on board. I was very tired
+after the exertions and excitement of the day and of the preceding
+evening, and I went to bed, hoping and expecting to see the Daylight at
+the landing when I awoke in the morning. I slept very soundly, in spite
+of the grief and anxiety that weighed upon me; and it is fortunate that
+Nature will assert her claim, or we might sometimes wear ourselves out
+with fruitless repinings.
+
+When I came to my consciousness in the morning, I discovered that the
+boat was in motion. The monotonous puff of the steam-escape pipes
+saluted my ears. Half dressed, I went out upon the gallery of the boat,
+but I could see nothing that looked like Kansas City, or the Daylight.
+The deck hands had been taking in freight when I went to sleep; but how
+long the boat had been in motion I could not tell.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER VI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL WANDERS ABOUT ST. LOUIS, AND HAS A GLEAM OF HOPE.
+
+
+When I had completed my toilet, I hastened to find Captain Davis. I was
+indignant at his course in leaving Kansas City, and I felt that he had
+been guilty of treachery to me and to the Gracewoods. I went all over
+the boat, from the wheel-house to the main deck; but the captain was
+not to be seen. The engineer, in answer to my inquiry, told me Captain
+Davis had been up till after midnight, and probably had not yet turned
+out.
+
+"What time did the boat leave Kansas City?" I asked.
+
+"About eleven o'clock; possibly it was half past eleven."
+
+"Did you see anything of the Daylight?"
+
+"Not a thing; and you won't see her till we have been in St. Louis two
+or three days," replied the engineer. "She can't keep up with the Fawn.
+Besides, we are full of freight and passengers now, and shall make no
+long stops anywhere."
+
+"That's mean," I growled, as I left the engineer.
+
+I wanted to cry with vexation; but I had made up my mind that it was
+not manly to shed tears. I walked up and down the hurricane deck till
+breakfast time. This exercise had a tendency to cool my hot blood, and
+I considered the situation in a calmer state of mind. I could be of no
+service to the Gracewoods, and the father of the family was abundantly
+able to take care of them. If I could only have been assured of their
+safety I should have been satisfied.
+
+I went to breakfast; but Captain Davis did not appear till most of the
+passengers had left the table. I suspected that he did not wish to see
+me; but that did not prevent me from taking a seat at his side, even at
+the risk of spoiling his appetite.
+
+"You told me you should not leave Kansas City till the Daylight
+arrived, Captain Davis," I began.
+
+"Not exactly, Phil. I told you she would probably be there in the
+morning, or something of that kind."
+
+"Why did you leave, then, before morning?"
+
+"Because my passengers were indignant at the delay I had already made
+for your friends."
+
+"It was mean."
+
+"Steady, Phil."
+
+"It was mean to serve me such a trick."
+
+"You seem to think, Phil, that we run this boat simply for your
+accommodation. You are slightly mistaken. I have done more now than
+most captains would have done. However, I suppose you feel bad, and I
+won't blame you for being a little cross."
+
+"I didn't mean to be cross," I added, rather vexed that I had spoken so
+hastily. "I do feel bad. I have lost my money, and lost my friends."
+
+"And I have done the best I could to help you find both."
+
+"You have, Captain Davis. Excuse me for speaking so hastily."
+
+"All right, Phil; but it's a poor way to blame your friends when things
+go wrong."
+
+"I know it is. Mr. Gracewood had all my money except what I lost, and
+I haven't a dollar left."
+
+"Well, your passage is paid to St. Louis, and, when the Fawn arrives
+there, we will see what can be done for you."
+
+"Thank you, sir. You have been very kind to me, and I am sorry I said
+anything out of the way."
+
+"That's all right now. I have no doubt your friends will come down in
+the Daylight, and then all will be well with you. Keep cool, and don't
+fret about anything."
+
+I tried to follow this advice, but I found it very hard work. I talked
+over all the possibilities and probabilities with the captain, and I
+was almost convinced that I was worrying myself for nothing. We should
+arrive at St. Louis in a couple of days more, and the Daylight would
+soon follow us. I watched the ever-changing scene on the shores of
+the river with far less delight than when Ella Gracewood sat at my
+side. We passed large towns and small ones, and I saw the capital of
+Missouri, with its State House and other public buildings. Early on the
+morning of the third day after leaving Kansas City we passed into the
+Mississippi. A little later in the day we were approaching the great
+city of St. Louis.
+
+I gazed, with wonder and astonishment, at the vast piles of buildings.
+I saw the crowds of people hurrying to and fro on Front Street, which
+borders the river; and I could not help feeling what an insignificant
+mite I was in the mass of humanity. At the Castle, where I was brought
+up, I was a person of no little consequence; but here, if I were to
+figure at all, it must be as a zero. The people on board of the Fawn
+seemed to catch the infection of bustling activity, for they began to
+hurry back and forth, collecting their baggage, and making preparations
+to land.
+
+The boat ran up to the levee, and another lively scene ensued. Hackmen
+struggled for the passengers, and porters and draymen added their share
+to the din. I was bewildered, and gazed with my mouth wide open at
+the bustling life before me. In about an hour the passengers had all
+disappeared, and I was almost alone on the boiler deck, from which I
+viewed the panorama of civilization, so new and strange, which was
+passing before me. The drays were carting off the freight which we
+had brought, some of it from the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains. The
+captain had told me I might occupy my state-room, and take my meals
+with him in the cabin, till the arrival of my friends. I had nothing
+to do but wait, and when the scene in the vicinity of the Fawn became
+rather tame, I went on shore. The levee for half a mile was flanked
+with steamboats, and in several places the excitement I had just
+witnessed was repeated.
+
+Leaving Front Street, I walked up Market Street, till I came to the
+Court House. Following Fourth Street, I halted, absolutely bewildered
+by the magnificent proportions of the Planters' Hotel, which I believe
+has since been destroyed by fire. But there was no end to my amazement,
+and I will not attempt to paint the impressions of a green boy as he
+gazed for the first time upon the elegant public buildings of St.
+Louis, and at the splendid private residences. All day long I wandered
+about the city, with my mouth, as well as my eyes and ears, wide open.
+I gazed at the rich displays of dry goods in the shop windows, and
+concluded that the people of the city were made of money if they could
+afford to buy such gorgeous apparel. I looked for hours at the pictures
+at the print-sellers', and stared at the costly equipages in which
+elegantly-dressed ladies were riding. I only returned to the steamer
+when my legs ached so that they would hardly sustain the weight of my
+body.
+
+In the cabin, at supper, I astonished the captain with a glowing
+account of what I had seen, just as though the scene was as new and
+strange to him as to me. The next day I repeated my explorations; but
+at dinner time I examined all the steamers at the levee to satisfy
+myself that the Daylight had not yet arrived. I ventured inside of the
+Planters' Hotel, and some of the public buildings, and the interior of
+them was even more wonderful to me than the exterior had been.
+
+Two days familiarized me in some degree with the wonders of the great
+city, and after that I was able to walk through the streets with my
+mouth shut. I felt that I ought to be at work. It was time for me to
+commence my new career of existence. In my walks through the city,
+I had stopped frequently to observe the work where new buildings were
+in process of erection. After examining the work for a while, I came
+to the conclusion that I had a great deal to learn before I could be a
+carpenter. However, I intended to make a beginning as soon as I could.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL AND CAPTAIN DAVIS. Page 67.]
+
+"The Daylight is just coming in, Phil," said Captain Davis, as I came
+in to supper after the tramps of the second day in the city.
+
+"I am so glad!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Eat your supper, Phil, and I will go with you then to the place where
+she lies."
+
+"Do you suppose the Gracewoods are on board of her?"
+
+"I have no doubt they are; but I should not be at all alarmed even if
+they were not."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"They may have missed the boat; but we won't guess at anything again.
+The Daylight passed us just as you came on board, and will make a
+landing below."
+
+I bolted my supper, and was so excited I could not have told whether I
+was eating bread or shavings. When the captain had finished his meal,
+we hastened down the levee, and were soon on board of the Daylight. The
+passengers were just going on shore, and I watched the stairs by which
+they were descending to the main deck to catch the first glimpse of any
+familiar face. But I was disappointed; and when the last one came down,
+my heart sank within me.
+
+Captain Davis ascended to the cabin, and I followed, actually trembling
+with anxiety. We found the clerk in his office, at work upon the
+manifest.
+
+"Did you take on any passengers at Delaware City?" asked Captain Davis.
+
+"Yes; a dozen of them."
+
+"Any by the name of Gracewood?"
+
+"No," replied the clerk, after he had consulted the list.
+
+"Are you sure, sir?" I asked, unwilling to believe the unpleasant
+statement.
+
+"Very sure."
+
+"Please to look again," said I.
+
+"You must excuse me; I am very busy. There is the list; you can
+examine it for yourself."
+
+I looked over the names, but that of Gracewood did not occur.
+
+"They are not here, Phil," said Captain Davis.
+
+"No, they are not," I replied, gloomily.
+
+"We will wait a little while, till the hurry is over, and then we may
+ascertain something about your friends."
+
+We went out upon the boiler deck, where we could overlook everything
+that transpired. The deck hands were landing freight and baggage, and
+everybody was hurrying as though his life depended upon his celerity.
+
+"I shall believe they were all drowned if I don't hear something from
+them soon," I said.
+
+"That is not at all probable, and I shall not believe anything of that
+kind till I have positive evidence of it. It is just as easy, and a
+great deal more pleasant, to think everything is right with them,
+instead of wrong, until we get the facts."
+
+"You haven't the same interest in the matter that I have, captain."
+
+"That may be; but I don't believe in making myself miserable about
+anything on mere guesswork. I think it is all right with your friends.
+But I must say, if you don't hear from them to-day, we must make
+different arrangements for you, for my owners intend to send the Fawn
+down to New Orleans with a freight which we take on at Alton. We shall
+go up there to-morrow."
+
+"What will you do with Mr. Gracewood's goods and baggage?"
+
+"Send them to the storehouse. There!" exclaimed he, suddenly, as he
+pointed to a man who was wheeling a box on shore. "That is one of the
+hands who went with the Gracewoods in the small boat. And there is the
+other. We shall soon know what has become of your friends."
+
+The fact that these two men had come down in the Daylight was hopeful,
+at least, and Captain Davis and I hastened down to question them; but
+the master of the steamer would not release them from their work, and
+we were obliged to wait till the hurry was over before we obtained the
+coveted information.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER VII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL HEARS FROM HIS FRIENDS, AND VISITS MR. CLINCH.
+
+
+The two deck hands, who had worked their passage down on the Daylight,
+were relieved from duty as soon as the baggage of the passengers had
+been put on shore. They followed Captain Davis to the Fawn, where we
+drew from them all the information they had in regard to the Gracewoods.
+
+"Where are the passengers who went with you?" was the first question
+which the captain asked, when we started up the levee.
+
+"At Delaware City, sir. The lady was sick, and not quite able to come
+down in the Daylight," replied one of the men.
+
+"Sick!" I exclaimed.
+
+"Sick; but not very bad, I believe. She caught a cold coming down the
+river," answered the spokesman.
+
+"Where is she?"
+
+"At a house in the town; I don't know whose it is."
+
+"Was the young lady sick?" I inquired, anxiously.
+
+"No; she was first rate."
+
+"But how came you at Delaware City?"
+
+"We couldn't help going there, Captain Davis," replied the spokesman of
+the two, who was evidently embarrassed.
+
+"You couldn't help it?" said the captain.
+
+"No, sir; we could not. The current was very swift."
+
+"Explain yourself, man. I didn't suppose I had sent a couple of hands
+in the boat with those passengers who couldn't handle a pair of oars."
+
+"I didn't think so, either. We did as well as any men could; the
+gentleman will tell you so when you see him."
+
+"Well, what did you do? What was the matter?" demanded the captain,
+impatiently.
+
+"There was a line stretched across that cut-off. I suppose the man that
+owned the island used it to haul his bateau across by; for it was a
+seven-mile current in the place."
+
+"It was all of that," added the other man, by way of fortifying the
+statement of his companion.
+
+"Go on," said the captain.
+
+"Well, sir, the boat ran on to that line, and it carried her bow clear
+out of water," continued the spokesman. "In fact, the water came
+in over the stern, and wet the lady who sat farthest aft. I sprang
+forward to trim the boat, for I did not know what the matter was then.
+In my hurry I lost my oar overboard. I couldn't help it, for I was
+thinking only of saving the ladies from drowning, for both of them were
+screaming with fright."
+
+"That's so," said the other man. "They were scared out of their wits."
+
+"When I went to the bow, I couldn't tell what the matter was. I took
+the other oar, and sounded with it, to see if we were aground, and then
+I felt the rope. It was caught just under the bow, where there was
+a break in the iron shoe. I put the end of the oar on the line, and
+crowded it down so that the boat could slide over it. But the blade
+of the oar was split, and the line was jammed into the crack. The
+boat went over, and when I tried to pull in the oar, it was fast. The
+current took the boat, and gave me such a jerk that I had to let go, or
+go overboard."
+
+"And you left the oar fast to the line?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I couldn't help it."
+
+"Perhaps you couldn't; but go on."
+
+"We went on in spite of ourselves. The current carried the boat through
+the cut-off into the river. I tried to pull up one of the thwarts,
+to use as a paddle, but we couldn't start them. It was very dark and
+foggy, as you know, captain, and we couldn't see where we were. We
+watched our chances as well as we could, and tried to get hold of
+something."
+
+"Why didn't you sing out?"
+
+"That's what we did. But the current carried us over the other side of
+the river from Leavenworth, and I suppose no one heard us; at any rate
+no one came to help us. The poor lady who had got wet in the cut-off
+was shivering with cold, and we tried everything we could think of to
+stop the boat; but still we kept going down stream, whirling round now
+and then."
+
+"Well, how did you stop her at last?" demanded the captain, finding
+that the spokesman was disposed to be rather diffuse in his narrative.
+
+"After we had been going about two hours--Wasn't it two hours, Dick?"
+
+"It wasn't less than that."
+
+"No matter how long it was. Go on," interposed the captain, who did not
+care to listen to a discussion on this point.
+
+"Well, sir, we almost run into a man who was crossing the river in a
+bateau, with a lot of groceries. We shouted to him, and he run his boat
+alongside of us. We made fast to him, and he pulled us to the shore.
+He told us we were on the other side of the river from Delaware City.
+Mr. Gracewood made a trade with him to take us over to that place,
+and I helped him row over, towing the boat astern of us. I reckon the
+gentleman paid him well for his trouble."
+
+"Where did they go then?" asked the captain.
+
+"They went to a house in the town. The lady was all used up, and had
+chills and fever that night; but they thought she was better in the
+morning. They sent up to Leavenworth for a doctor."
+
+"Then she was very sick," I added.
+
+"No; the doctor didn't say so. He thought she would be out in a week."
+
+"Where did you go then?" asked the captain.
+
+"We found a place to sleep on the levee. Mr. Gracewood gave us five
+dollars apiece, and--"
+
+"And you got drunk," suggested the captain.
+
+"No, sir; we did not. I won't say we didn't take something, for we were
+cold."
+
+"Why didn't you go up to Leavenworth, where you knew the boat would be
+in the morning?"
+
+"We meant to do that in the morning, as soon as it was daylight; but
+Dick was afraid the Fawn might get there and start down the river
+before we could tramp up to the place. Besides, we wanted to know how
+the lady was, so as to let you know; and we didn't like to go to the
+house so early in the morning," added the spokesman, glancing at his
+companion.
+
+"I thought it was safer to wait on the levee till the Fawn came down,"
+said Dick. "We supposed, of course, she would stop there."
+
+"I was of the same mind myself," continued the spokesman. "We waited
+till most night, when the Daylight made a landing; and then we saw the
+Fawn coming; but she stood off from the levee, and went down the river
+at full speed. I hailed her as loud as I could, but she took no notice
+of me. The captain of the Daylight let us work our passage down."
+
+"Where is the boat?"
+
+"On board the Daylight."
+
+"How was Mrs. Gracewood when you left Delaware City?" I inquired.
+
+"She was too sick to leave in the Daylight; but the doctor thought she
+might be able to take a boat in two or three days," replied Dick.
+
+"Now go and get the boat," added the captain.
+
+"They may not come for a week," said I, as they departed.
+
+"Perhaps not; but you can't tell much about it from the story of these
+men."
+
+"Don't you think they told the truth?"
+
+"In the main, they did; but in my opinion they got drunk. If not, they
+would have returned to Leavenworth. Probably they have stretched the
+story a little. At any rate, you can't tell how sick the lady is from
+anything they said."
+
+"She got wet in the boat, and took cold, I suppose."
+
+"I suppose so."
+
+The news from my friends was not very cheering, but it was a relief to
+be assured that no calamity had overtaken them. I would have gone to
+them at once if I had had the money to pay my passage; and I said as
+much to Captain Davis.
+
+"That would be a useless step, Phil," he replied. "If the lady is sick,
+you can do them no good. It would be a waste of money for you to do so."
+
+"If I had it, I should be willing to waste it in that way," I added.
+
+"Then it is fortunate that you haven't it, Phil. What do you mean to do
+here in St. Louis? Does Mr. Gracewood intend to support you?"
+
+"I don't intend to be supported by any one," I answered, perhaps with a
+little indignation; "I mean to support myself."
+
+"What do you intend to do?"
+
+"I am going to learn the carpenter's trade, if I can find a place."
+
+"All right, Phil. That's a sensible idea. I didn't know but you
+expected to be a gentleman, as most of the boys do who come from the
+country," said the captain. "Come with me, my boy, and we will see
+about a place."
+
+"That's just what I want, captain--a chance to learn the carpenter's
+trade. I know something about it now."
+
+I followed the captain on shore, and we went to a quiet street in one
+of the humbler sections of the city, where he rang the bell at a house.
+
+"Is Mr. Clinch at home?" asked Captain Davis of the woman who answered
+the summons.
+
+"Yes, sir; he has just come in from his work. Won't you walk in?"
+
+We entered the house, and were shown to a very plainly furnished
+parlor, where Mr. Clinch soon appeared. He was clothed in coarse
+garments, but he had a very intelligent countenance, and I liked the
+looks of him.
+
+"O, Captain Davis," exclaimed the carpenter, grasping the hand of my
+companion, "I am glad to see you."
+
+"It always does me good to take your honest hand, Clinch. This young
+man is Phil Farringford, and he comes from the upper Missouri. He is a
+smart boy, and wants to learn your trade."
+
+Mr. Clinch took me by the hand, and gave me a cordial greeting.
+
+"I don't take any apprentices, now," he added. "I find it don't pay. As
+soon as we get a boy so that he can drive a nail without pounding his
+fingers, he wants a man's wages, or runs away as soon as he is worth
+anything to me."
+
+"If I make a trade, sir, I shall stick to it," I ventured to say.
+
+"You look like an honest young man, but I can't take apprentices, as we
+used to in former years."
+
+"Phil knows something about the business now," interposed the captain.
+"He is handy with tools, and is as tough as an oak knot. He knows what
+hard work is, and has just come out of the woods."
+
+"But I can't take a boy into my family," continued Mr. Clinch; "I
+haven't room, and it makes the work too hard for my wife."
+
+"He might board somewhere else," said the captain.
+
+"That indeed. I like the looks of the boy."
+
+"If you can do anything for him, I shall regard it as a favor to me,"
+added my friend.
+
+"I should be very glad to serve you, Captain Davis. I want more help,
+but a boy isn't of much use. How old are you, Phil?"
+
+"Thirteen, sir."
+
+"You look older. What can you do?"
+
+I told him what I could do; that I could handle a saw, axe, hammer, and
+auger; that I had built a bateau, made boxes, and done similar work.
+He seemed to be very sceptical, but finally agreed to give me three
+dollars a week, which he thought would board and clothe me, if, upon
+trial, I proved to be worth that. He told me where he was at work, and
+wished me to be on hand the next morning.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER VIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL GOES TO WORK, AND MEETS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
+
+
+"Everything depends upon yourself now, Phil," said Captain Davis, as we
+walked back to the steamer. "When Clinch finds that you are worth more
+than three dollars a week, he will give you more."
+
+"I didn't expect any more than that," I replied. "If it will pay my
+board for a time, I shall be satisfied. I will do the best I can, and I
+hope my wages will be increased very soon."
+
+"Now you want a boarding-house," continued the captain. "I don't know
+where to look for one, but I suppose you will not think of living at
+the Planters' Hotel?"
+
+"Not exactly, sir."
+
+We entered a grocery store, near the house of Mr. Clinch, where the
+captain was acquainted, and he inquired for a suitable boarding-place
+for a boy like me.
+
+"If he's a good boy, I know just the place for him," replied the grocer.
+
+"He is as good a boy as there is in the world," answered the captain,
+with a zeal that caused me to blush.
+
+"Mrs. Greenough, who lives over my store, spoke to me, a few days ago,
+about a boy. She is an elderly woman, whose husband died about a year
+ago, leaving her this house. She has no other property except her
+furniture, and the rent of this store about pays her expenses. She is a
+little timid, and does not like to be alone in the house at night. She
+is a nice woman, and perhaps she will take your young man to board. She
+wanted one of my young men to occupy a room up stairs, but both of them
+live at home."
+
+"We will go up and see her. This boy is going to work for Clinch
+to-morrow, and this will be a good locality for him."
+
+"Just the place," added the grocer, as he conducted us up stairs to the
+rooms of Mrs. Greenough.
+
+The house was a small one, and the store occupied the whole of the
+ground floor, except a small entry. It was three stories high, with a
+flat roof, and I judged that the tenement could not contain more than
+four rooms. We were taken up stairs, and found the lady in her little
+parlor. She was about fifty years old, and did not appear to be in good
+health. The grocer explained our business, and having vouched for the
+good character of Captain Davis, he left us.
+
+"I didn't think of taking a boy to board," said Mrs. Greenough. "I
+thought if I could get one of the young men in the store to sleep in
+the house, I should feel safer. But I don't know but I might take him,
+if he is a very steady boy."
+
+"Steady as a judge, Mrs. Greenough," replied Captain Davis. "He's going
+to be a carpenter."
+
+"Is he? My poor husband was a carpenter," added the lady, wiping a tear
+from her eye. "I am a lone woman now."
+
+"Phil will be good company for you. He knows more than most boys of his
+age. He has fought through one campaign against the Indians, and is a
+dead shot with his rifle."
+
+"Not always, captain," I remonstrated.
+
+"He has brought down his man, at any rate. He speaks French, and--"
+
+"O, no, I don't, captain. I have studied it, and can read it a little."
+
+"I don't talk any French," added the old lady, with a smile; so that
+won't make any difference. I thought, at one time, I would take a boy
+who would help me, and work a little for his board, but I concluded I
+couldn't afford to do that; for I don't have anything but the rent of
+the store to live on."
+
+"Well, Mrs. Greenough, you can split the difference. Phil can't afford
+to pay much for his board. He can help you a little in the morning and
+at night."
+
+"I haven't much to do, except to bring up the wood and water from the
+cellar, which is down two flights, and it's rather hard work for me,
+for I'm not very strong."
+
+"I shall be very glad to help you, Mrs. Greenough," I added.
+
+"How much can you take him for, madam?" said the captain, beginning to
+be a little impatient.
+
+The old lady had not made up her mind on this important subject, and
+the captain suggested two dollars a week as a fair price, if I helped
+about the house when I had time. She was satisfied with this amount,
+and I am sure I was; so the bargain was closed. Mrs. Greenough wanted
+to know more about me, and the captain spoke so handsomely of me, that
+my modesty will not permit me to quote his testimony. I walked back
+to the steamer with Captain Davis, and after thanking him, from the
+depths of my heart, for all his kindness and care, I took my leave of
+him. He told me he should send all the effects of Mr. Gracewood to the
+storehouse of his owners, where they could be obtained on his arrival.
+He advised me to write to my friends at once, and I promised to do so
+that night. Taking the box, which contained the few articles of value
+I possessed, under my arm, and the rifle I had brought from my forest
+home, I hastened to my new boarding-house.
+
+Before I did anything else, I wrote the letter to Mr. Gracewood, and
+carried it to the post-office. On my return, Mrs. Greenough showed me
+my room. It was on the third floor, in the rear of her own apartment.
+I must say that it looked like a boudoir in a palace to me. It was
+plainly but very neatly furnished. She told me I could put my clothes
+in the drawers of the bureau; but I answered that I had none to put
+there, except a single woollen shirt, and a pair of socks, which I had
+washed myself on board of the steamer. I wore a suit of "civilized
+clothes," as we called them at the settlement; and I had a pair of
+woollen shirts, and two pairs of socks. My landlady thought my wardrobe
+was rather scanty, but I considered it all-sufficient, and did not
+worry because I could not follow the fashion.
+
+I opened my box, and took from it the little dress and other garments
+which I had worn when old Matt Rockwood picked me up, on the Missouri
+River. Mrs. Greenough's curiosity was excited, and I told her all I
+knew about my past history. She was deeply interested in the narrative,
+and asked me a great many questions about the Gracewoods, which I
+answered to the best of my ability. I was well pleased with my new
+home. My landlady was very kind and motherly, and when I retired that
+night, I thanked God for his kindness in directing my steps to such a
+pleasant abode.
+
+When I awoke the next morning, I heard a church clock striking five.
+I rose and made my simple toilet in less time than I could have done
+it even a year later. I went down into the kitchen, which was the room
+Mrs. Greenough occupied most of the time, and made a fire in the stove.
+I had done everything I could find to do when the landlady came down.
+
+"You are quite handy about house, Phil," said she, with a cheerful
+smile.
+
+"I ought to be. I used to keep house at the clearing. I can cook and
+wash."
+
+"What can you cook?"
+
+"I can boil potatoes, bake or roast them; I can fry and boil bacon, and
+I can bake bread. We didn't have so many things to work with as you do
+here."
+
+"Can you make pies and cake?"
+
+"No; we never had those things at the clearing until Mrs. Gracewood
+came there."
+
+"They were rich folks, you said."
+
+"Yes; they have plenty of money; but it did not do them much good out
+in the woods. I should like to hear how Mrs. Gracewood is."
+
+"I hope she is better. When they come you will have some strong
+friends."
+
+"Yes; but I intend to take care of myself. They will go among big
+folks, where I cannot go; but I hope I shall see Miss Ella sometimes."
+
+"Of course you will."
+
+"She is a beautiful young lady," I added, warmly.
+
+"But you may find your father and mother one of these days."
+
+"I hardly expect to do that; I doubt whether they are living."
+
+"From what you say, I should think you might find out who they are.
+Of course they had some relations somewhere, and perhaps they will be
+willing to take care of you."
+
+"I don't want any one to take care of me; I mean to take care of
+myself. Mr. Gracewood has fifteen hundred dollars belonging to me."
+
+"Well, that's comfortable. If you should be sick, you will not want for
+anything."
+
+We talked over the past and the present till breakfast was ready. The
+fried bacon and potatoes looked like old friends, and I did ample
+justice to the fare. I am not sure that my landlady was not alarmed
+when she realized my eating capacity, as compared with the price I was
+to pay for my board. At half past six I started for the building which
+Mr. Clinch was putting up. It was a large storehouse, near the levee.
+
+"Good, Phil! I'm glad to see you on hand in season," said my employer.
+
+"I mean to be on time always, sir."
+
+"I'm paying my best men two dollars a day now," added Mr. Clinch.
+
+"Does that young man get two dollars a day?" I asked, pointing to a boy
+of eighteen or nineteen, who was putting on his overalls in front of
+the building.
+
+"No; that's Morgan Blair. He came down from Illinois last spring. I
+give him a dollar a day. He doesn't know the business, and that is more
+than he is worth. You will work with Conant."
+
+Calling one of the workmen who answered to this name, he directed him
+to take me under his charge. The frame of the building was up, and we
+were to be engaged in boarding it.
+
+"Come along, my boy; we will take the stiffening out of you in about
+two hours," said Conant, as he led the way to the stage.
+
+"All right; when I break down I will give you leave to bury me."
+
+"Do you think you can lift your end of a board?"
+
+"I can; and lift both ends, if need be."
+
+"You have got the pluck, but it's hard work for a boy."
+
+"I will keep my side up."
+
+Mr. Clinch had given me a hammer and a bag of nails, which I tied
+around my body, as I saw the other men do. I was strong and tough, and
+could easily handle any lumber used on the work. I carried my end of
+each board up to the frame, and I am sure I drove as many nails as
+Conant. But I will not describe the process by which the building was
+erected. I did my full share of the work until noon.
+
+"Don't you want to go to bed now?" asked Conant, when we knocked off.
+
+"Go to bed! No. Why should I?"
+
+"Ain't you tuckered out?"
+
+"No, not at all; I don't feel quite so fresh as I did this morning, but
+I shall be all right again when I get my dinner."
+
+"You are a tough 'un, then."
+
+"Well, Conant, how does Phil get along?" asked Mr. Clinch, as we came
+down from the stage.
+
+"Tip-top; he has done a man's work--twice as much as Morgan," replied
+Conant, with more magnanimity than I had given him credit for.
+
+"All right. Phil, I am glad you are getting along well. It will be
+easier work when we get the building covered."
+
+In going home to dinner, I went pretty near the steamboat levee.
+A boat had just come in, and I wanted to know if it had come from
+the Missouri, for I was very anxious to hear from the Gracewoods. I
+hastened towards the landing. I met the passengers as they came up, and
+on inquiry of one of them learned that the steamer was from St. Joe,
+but she had not stopped at Delaware City; so of course the Gracewoods
+could not have come in her.
+
+I was about to leave, when I perceived Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne coming
+across the levee. I thought that I had business with him, and I
+hastened to resume the relations with him which had been interrupted at
+Leavenworth.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER IX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS A SEEDY GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF FARRINGFORD.
+
+
+Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne, otherwise Lynch, had a small valise in his
+hand, and was sauntering leisurely along, as though earth had no sorrow
+for him, and he was not responsible in St. Louis for an infamous act
+done in Leavenworth. I wanted my money; in fact, I needed it. For
+Mrs. Greenough's remarks had assured me that my wardrobe was entirely
+inadequate to the requirements of civilized life.
+
+"How do you do, Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne?" I began, making towards him.
+
+He glanced at me very contemptuously, and continued on his way. I had
+expected to astonish and confound him, but the result did not realize
+my anticipations. It was decidedly a look of disdain that he bestowed
+upon me, which I thought was adding insult to injury. So far I was
+disgusted with his conduct; but I had no idea of abandoning the purpose
+I had in view.
+
+"I want to see you, Mr. Lynchpinne," I continued, following him, and
+taking position at his side.
+
+"Who are you?" he demanded, halting, and giving me another contemptuous
+look.
+
+"Don't you know me, Mr. Lynchpinne?"
+
+"My name is not Lynchpinne."
+
+"Lynch, then. Don't you know me?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Yes, you do."
+
+"You impertinent puppy!"
+
+"O, yes! All that's very pretty, but I want my money."
+
+"What money? What do you mean, you saucy young cub?"
+
+"Perhaps I am saucy; so was Nathan when he said to David,'Thou art the
+man!' and that's just what I say to you."
+
+"Go about your business," said he, angrily, as he resumed his walk.
+
+"My business, just now, is to get back the money you stole from me;
+and I'm going to stick to it, too."
+
+"Stole! How dare you use that word to me?"
+
+"Because I believe in speaking the truth, even when it is not pleasant
+to do so."
+
+"Clear out, and don't come near me again."
+
+"Hand over my money, and I shall be glad to do so."
+
+"If you don't leave, I'll call a policeman."
+
+"I wish you would. I should like to tell him my story. If you don't
+call one, I shall, as soon as I see him. I'll follow you till your legs
+or mine give out."
+
+"You evidently take me for some other person, boy," said he, halting on
+Front Street, perhaps afraid that we might meet a policeman--a thing
+which has been known to happen.
+
+"No, I don't; I take you for Lynch, the man that stole my money, and I
+want a policeman to take you for that, too."
+
+"See here, boy; I can't be annoyed in this manner in the public
+street," he replied, in a kind of confidential tone. "What do you want
+of me?"
+
+"I told you what I wanted--my money."
+
+"I know nothing about your money. If you want to see me, come to the
+Planters' Hotel at eight o'clock this evening, and I will meet you."
+
+"I think not. I don't mean to lose sight of you, Lynch."
+
+"If you don't clear out, I'll chastise you on the ground for an
+impudent puppy."
+
+"Well, sir, when you get ready to chastise, you begin," I replied, as I
+glanced at his slender form. "If I don't keep up my end, you can have
+the money you stole."
+
+"How dare you--"
+
+But he checked himself, for two or three persons had already stopped;
+and their example was so contagious, in a populous city, that there was
+danger of collecting a crowd, to which my sensitive friend seemed to
+have very strong constitutional objections. He moved on, and I followed
+him into Market Street. I was anxious to meet a policeman, that I might
+state my case to him, and invoke his aid; but the officers, justifying
+all the traditions of their craft, were somewhere else, because they
+were wanted in Market Street.
+
+Lynch quickened his pace, and turned into Fourth Street; but I kept
+close to his heels till we were near the Planters' Hotel. I concluded
+that he was going to this grand establishment, and that he expected to
+shake me off within its sumptuous walls. I did not believe he would,
+though the want of an officer was a sore inconvenience to me. Just
+as he was about to cross the street, a shabby genteel and very seedy
+gentleman confronted him.
+
+"How are you, Lynch?" exclaimed the dilapidated individual, extending
+his hand.
+
+"How do you do, Farringford?" replied Lynch.
+
+Farringford! This must be the decayed steamboat owner of whom Lynch had
+before spoken to me. He was apparently about forty-five years of age,
+and he looked as though the world had used him very roughly.
+
+"I'm glad to see you, Lynch," said Farringford. "I'm always glad to see
+an old friend. I'm hard up, and I want to borrow a dollar."
+
+Lynch took two half dollars in silver from his pocket. Perhaps the
+present generation of young people never saw a half dollar; but it
+is true that there was a time when such a coin was in general use!
+He handed the money to the seedy gentleman, and then said something
+to him in a whisper, which I could not hear, though I had planked
+myself close by the side of the villain. Lynch then turned to cross the
+street, and I started to follow him.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL MEETS LEONIDAS LYNCHPINNE. Page 100.]
+
+"See here, my lad," said Farringford, grasping me by the arm.
+
+"Let me alone!" I cried, struggling to escape, fearful that I should
+lose sight of Lynch.
+
+"Hold still, my lad. I only want to speak to you," replied Farringford,
+in cheerful tones, though he did not relax his grasp. "Don't be afraid.
+I won't hurt you. I've known you ever since you were a baby."
+
+"Known me?"
+
+I was startled by his words, for they seemed to have some relation to
+the mystery of my being.
+
+"Certainly I have, Phil."
+
+"Do you know me?" I demanded, forgetting, for the moment, all about
+Lynch and my hard money.
+
+"Known you from your babyhood, my lad," said he, glancing towards the
+hotel.
+
+This act reminded me of my business again. I turned my face towards the
+hotel. Lynch had disappeared.
+
+"That's all, Phil; you can go now," said Farringford, laughing.
+
+"What do you mean, sir?"
+
+"That's all, my lad. I only stopped you to prevent you from following
+my friend."
+
+"You said you knew me."
+
+"Never saw you or heard of you before in my life," chuckled he,
+evidently pleased at the trick he had played upon me.
+
+I left him, and rushed into the hotel. I looked for Lynch in all the
+public rooms, but I could not find him. I inquired at the office for
+him, and the clerks answered me, very curtly, that no such person was
+in the house. I asked a porter, who sat near the entrance, describing
+Lynch. He had seen the gentleman, but did not know where he was; he had
+not taken a room or registered his name, and had probably gone away
+again. It seemed to me that everything was going against me. I had to
+go home to dinner, as I could spend no more time in looking for him
+then; but I determined to renew the search in the evening.
+
+As I walked down Fourth Street, I overtook Farringford, who had
+evidently spent a portion of the dollar borrowed of Lynch for liquor.
+I accosted him, for I thought that I might recover my money through his
+agency, as he evidently knew Lynch.
+
+"Ah, my lad! You didn't find him," chuckled the toper.
+
+"I did not. I have heard of you, Mr. Farringford, and I can put you in
+the way of making some money."
+
+"Can you? Then I'm your man. Most distinctly, I'm _your_ man," he
+replied with emphasis. "There's only two things in this world that I
+want, and those are money and whiskey. If I get the whiskey, I don't
+care for the money; and if I have the money, I can always get the
+whiskey."
+
+"I should like to meet you somewhere this evening, for I am in a hurry
+now."
+
+"I will be in the bar-room of the Planters' Hotel at seven o'clock this
+evening, if you have any money for me. But what's it all about? Can't
+you tell me now?"
+
+"I haven't time now."
+
+"Very well. Planters' Hotel--bar-room--seven o'clock. I'll be there if
+they don't turn me out before that time. If they do, you will find me
+in the street."
+
+Although I was not very confident he would keep his appointment, it
+was the best I could do. If he failed to be there, he was evidently
+a character so noted, that I could easily find him. I hastened to my
+dinner, and reached Mrs. Greenough's rather late. I explained the
+reason of my tardiness, which was quite satisfactory. My landlady
+hoped that I should recover my money, and I hoped so too--a degree of
+unanimity which does not always exist between landlady and boarder.
+
+I was on the work as the clock struck one, but I had to do some running
+that noon, in order to protect my reputation. Conant did not drive
+business in the afternoon as he had in the forenoon, when I think he
+intended to wear me out. We worked steadily, and I kept my end of the
+board up. I was not sorry to hear the clock strike six, for I was
+tired, though perhaps not more so than Conant himself. I went home, ate
+my supper, did my chores in the house, and at seven o'clock I was in
+the bar-room of the Planters' Hotel. It was no place for a boy, or a
+man either, for that matter. No one was what could be called, in good
+society, disreputably drunk, unless it was the seedy gentleman whom I
+met by appointment; and even he was able to handle himself tolerably
+well. No doubt he would have been more intoxicated if he had not drank
+up the dollar he had borrowed; but his wits were not wholly stupefied.
+
+"Well, my lad, you have come, and so have I," said Farringford, when I
+entered the room. "Both come, and that makes two of us, all told."
+
+"Yes. I wanted to see you about--"
+
+"Stop a minute, my lad," interposed he, putting his trembling hand upon
+my shoulder. "Let us go to work right. When I used to run steamboats,
+we had to put in wood and water before we could get up steam."
+
+"When did you run steamboats?" I asked.
+
+"Ten or fifteen years ago. I was a rich man then; but now I'm as poor
+as a church mouse with his hair all singed off. I am; but I'm jolly;
+yes, I am jolly. Let's proceed to business."
+
+"Did you own a steamboat--"
+
+"Stop, my lad; I owned half a dozen of them. But that's no matter now.
+Do you happen to have a dollar in your pocket--one dollar, my lad."
+
+"No, sir; I have not."
+
+"Not a dollar?"
+
+"No, I have not."
+
+"Do you happen to have half a dollar in your pocket, my lad?"
+
+"Not even half a dollar, sir."
+
+"Your name is--somebody told me your name," said he, musing.
+
+"Phil, sir."
+
+"Phil, do you always speak the truth?"
+
+"I always endeavor to do so," I replied.
+
+"I hope so. Truth is mighty, and must prevail. You should always speak
+the truth."
+
+"As you did, to-day, when you said you had known me from my babyhood."
+
+"Boys must speak the truth, whether men do or not. Did you speak the
+truth when you said you had not even half a dollar?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"Have you any money?"
+
+"I have thirty cents."
+
+"Then lend me a quarter."
+
+"It's all I have."
+
+"We can't do any business till this little matter is attended to," said
+he, with tipsy solemnity. "You shall be paid, my lad; you shall be
+paid--when I pay the rest of my creditors."
+
+Finding it impossible to proceed any farther without complying with his
+request, I reluctantly gave him the quarter; but I felt guilty in doing
+so. He went to the bar, drank, and returned to the corner where he had
+left me.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER X.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A VERY IMPRESSIVE TEMPERANCE LECTURE.
+
+
+Farringford was very chipper when he returned to me. He had drank
+half a tumbler of whiskey, and appeared to be prepared, to his own
+satisfaction, for any business which might be presented to him.
+
+"Now, my lad, I'm ready. I'm refreshed. I'm invigorated. I'm inspired.
+In a word, I'm prepared for the consideration of the important matter
+you proposed to bring before me," said he.
+
+"I am very glad to hear it, sir; I wish to tell you--"
+
+"Stop a moment, my lad. You have a name, doubtless. Do you happen to
+remember what it is?"
+
+"Very distinctly, Mr. Farringford. You may call me Phil."
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL MEETS A SEEDY INDIVIDUAL NAMED FARRINGFORD.
+  Page 109.]
+
+"Phil; that is very good as far as it goes. Phil may stand for Philip,
+Phillimore, Philippians, Philosophy."
+
+"It stands for Philip with me, sir."
+
+"Philip; I had a brother once of that name, but he is no longer living.
+If he were, he would blush to own his brother. But no matter; that is
+all past and gone. You can proceed with your business, Philip."
+
+Placing his elbows upon the little table between us, he rested his chin
+upon his trembling hands, and fixed his gaze upon me. He was a singular
+man, and, tipsy as he was, I was deeply interested in him.
+
+"You know Lynch, the person you met opposite the Planters' Hotel to-day
+noon."
+
+"I know him, Philip; but, in a word, I don't know any good of him. Go
+on."
+
+"That man robbed me of all the money I had, except thirty cents--nearly
+a hundred dollars."
+
+"Philip, you told me you were in the habit of speaking the truth; or
+rather that you endeavored to speak the truth."
+
+"Yes, sir; I do endeavor to speak the truth. I am willing to go a
+point farther, and say that I have thus far been very successful."
+
+"The statement that Lynch robbed you of nearly a hundred dollars
+implies the statement that you had nearly a hundred dollars," said he,
+with his tipsy solemnity, which was amusing. "It is self-evident that
+he could not have robbed you of this money, if you had not had it."
+
+"Certainly not sir. I did have it."
+
+"Where and by what means should a boy of your tender years obtain
+nearly a hundred dollars? In a word, Philip, where did you get your
+money?"
+
+"It was a part of what was left me by my foster-father, who died last
+spring. I had it with me to pay my expenses till I could get into
+business and pay my way. I expect my friends will be in St. Louis in a
+few days, and then I shall be able to prove all I say. In the mean time
+I refer to Captain Davis, of the steamer Fawn."
+
+"That's all straightforward, Philip, and for the present I accept your
+statement as true. You were robbed of nearly a hundred dollars by this
+man, Lynch, of whom I know no good thing, except that he lent me a
+dollar to-day, which I shall return to him when I pay the rest of my
+creditors."
+
+"Could you find this man, Mr. Farringford?" I asked.
+
+"Doubtless I could. He may be seen, almost any night, at the
+gambling-houses."
+
+"Will you help me get my money back?"
+
+"Wherefore should I soil the dignity of a gentleman by becoming a
+thief-taker?"
+
+"Because you will do me a favor, and promote the ends of justice by
+doing so."
+
+"Very true, Philip; you rightly apprehend the character of the
+gentleman you address. Whatever I may seem to be, no man can say
+that Edward Farringford ever soiled his soul by a dishonorable or a
+dishonest act."
+
+"If you can induce Lynch to give me back my money, I will pay you
+twenty-five dollars."
+
+"Twenty-five dollars!" exclaimed he. "Two hundred and fifty drinks!
+Philip, I will do the best I can for you; not for the sake of the
+money, but to subserve the ends of justice, and to save a deserving
+young man from want and hardship. The cause is a good one."
+
+"It is, sir. If you do not succeed, I shall call upon the police as
+soon as my friends arrive."
+
+"It is well, Philip. Lynch will return the money rather than be driven
+from St. Louis."
+
+"You understand that he must pay the money to me," I added, as it
+occurred to me that I should never see it if it came into the hands of
+the dilapidated gentleman before me.
+
+"Wouldn't it be just as well that he should pay it over to me, and I
+will pass it to you?"
+
+"Just as well, sir; but he will want some assurance from me that this
+is the end of the matter. I prefer that he should pay it to me."
+
+"You are right, Philip. It shall be paid to you. Stop!" exclaimed he,
+with a sudden start.
+
+"What is the matter, Mr. Farringford?"
+
+"This business is wrong."
+
+"Wrong?"
+
+"Wrong! No living man has been, or shall ever be, able to say that
+Edward Farringford stained his soul with a foul, dishonorable act."
+
+"Do you think it would be wrong, sir?"
+
+"It would be compounding a felony," he added, solemnly.
+
+I did not know what he meant by this technical phrase, but I could
+not see that it was wrong for me to get my money if I could. Mr.
+Farringford asked me when, where, and in what manner I had been robbed;
+and I related my adventure on the night I was at Leavenworth.
+
+"You are the only witness, Philip, and it would be difficult to prove
+the crime. I will see Lynch. I will charge him with the base deed, and
+be governed, in my further proceedings, by the circumstances of the
+case. Where do you live, Philip?"
+
+I gave him the address of Mrs. Greenough, and told him where I was
+at work. I was satisfied that the promised reward would stimulate
+him to great activity in the pursuit of Lynch, and I had some hope
+that he would be successful. Having disposed of the important part
+of my business with my seedy companion, I was rather curious to know
+more about him. I almost dared to believe that he could give me some
+information in regard to the steamer which had been burned on the upper
+Missouri, and from which I had been saved by my foster-father.
+
+That steamer had borne the name of this man, and he had been her owner.
+Of course he knew all about her, and it was possible, even probable,
+that he knew who had lost a little child in the fearful calamity. I
+actually trembled when I thought of it, when I considered that, at
+the opening of this singular man's lips, I might be told who and what
+my father was, and whether my parents had perished or not. It was an
+anxious moment, and my heart was in my throat. I had not the courage to
+ask the momentous question, and Farringford rose unsteadily from his
+chair, to leave me.
+
+"Stop a moment, Mr. Farringford, if you please," I interposed; and he
+dropped back into his chair.
+
+"Isn't our business finished, Philip?"
+
+"Yes, sir; but I have been told that you were formerly a large
+steamboat owner."
+
+"Who told you so?"
+
+"You did, for one. If you don't object, I should like to ask you
+something about those steamers," I continued, with much embarrassment.
+
+"Do you wish to go into the steamboat business, Philip? If you do,
+some of my old captains are still on the river, and I can get you a
+situation. But I must have one more drink before I say anything."
+
+"I wouldn't take any more, sir," I ventured to say.
+
+"It is a necessity of my being, Philip."
+
+He rose from his chair, and went to the bar. I saw him drink another
+half tumbler of whiskey. He tottered back to the table where I sat.
+Such a wreck of a man I had never seen. Though his step was unsteady,
+he was not overcome by the potions he had taken. His nerves, rather
+than his brain, seemed to be affected.
+
+"I haven't drank much to-day, Philip. I wasted half the dollar I
+borrowed in getting something to eat," said he, dropping into his
+chair. "It is a bad habit, my boy. Never take any whiskey, Philip: in
+a word, never begin to drink liquor, and you will never have to leave
+off; for it is a great deal harder to leave off than it is to begin.
+This is disinterested advice: in a word, it is the counsel of one who
+knows all about drinking."
+
+"I would stop it if I were you, Mr. Farringford."
+
+"If you were Edward Farringford, you could no more leave off drinking
+liquor, and drinking all you could get, than you could leave off
+eating. I can live without eating much, but I can't live without
+drinking."
+
+"I think you can leave off, sir; I hope you will try."
+
+"You speak like a boy. You never drank any whiskey. You don't know what
+a fiend it is. You don't know what a horrible necessity it is to a
+man whose nerves are shaken, only to be steadied by this liquid fire;
+whose stomach, chilled and frozen, can only be warmed by this blast
+from Tartarus. You don't know anything about it. I hope you never will.
+Philip, I hope you never will."
+
+He covered his face with his hands, and when he raised his head, I saw
+that he had been weeping. His eyes were filled with tears, and I pitied
+him from the deepest depths of my heart.
+
+"Beware, Philip! Beware!" said he, solemnly. "Never touch a drop of
+whiskey, wine, or even ale,--not the tenth part of a drop,--if you are
+dying for the want of it. Die, but don't touch it."
+
+"I hope I never shall."
+
+"Hope! Don't hope! Sign the pledge; swear on the Holy Bible; go down
+on your knees, every morning and every night, and pray that Almighty
+God will help you, and save you from the curse. Don't trifle with it,
+Philip. Be in earnest, and when you feel weak, commend yourself to God,
+and think of Edward Farringford."
+
+He covered his face with his hands again, and wept so bitterly, that
+the little table danced under the convulsive agony which shook his
+frame.
+
+"Look at me, Philip!" said he, raising his head again. "Behold the
+wreck of a man! If there had been no whiskey in the world, or if I had
+never tasted it, I could have welcomed you to the most elegant mansion
+in St. Louis. I could have pointed you to a dozen steamers, on the
+Missouri and Mississippi, which were all mine. I could have presented
+you to my wife, the most beautiful and accomplished woman in the city,
+now driven out from my presence. More than this, Philip, I could have
+pointed you to my boy, my son, my only child, who perished in the cold
+waters of the Missouri, because I was too drunk to save him!"
+
+I need not say how startled, how thrilled I was by this agonizing
+narrative. The bar-room was crowded, and noisy with the violent debates
+of excited politicians, and the gabble of men warmed by their cups
+into unusual hilarity, so that no one appeared to notice Farringford,
+though he uttered his impressive warnings in a loud tone. But I was too
+much moved and thrilled myself to heed what others said or did. The
+toper wept, and then tried to shake off the remembrance of the past.
+
+"Where was your son lost, Mr. Farringford?" I asked, choking with
+emotion.
+
+"On the upper Missouri. He was a child under three. His name was
+Philip, like yours. He was named after my brother, who died ten years
+ago. Enough of this. I am almost crazy When I think of it."
+
+The broken-down toper was my father!
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL TAKES HIS FATHER TO HIS NEW HOME.
+
+
+My father! I had found him; but the finding of him in such a miserable,
+degraded, besotted being as he who was before me seemed to be the
+greatest mishap, the most overwhelming misfortune, that could possibly
+have overtaken me. He was the first white man I had ever seen really
+intoxicated. I was mortified and disheartened as I looked at his pale,
+thin face, and regarded his trembling limbs.
+
+What should I do? I could not tell him that I was his son. I could not
+throw myself into his arms and weep tears of joy, as I had imagined the
+impressive scene, in case I should ever find either of my parents. I
+wanted to weep; I wanted to give myself up to a transport of grief, if
+not despair, as I realized the terrible truth that the degraded being
+before me was my father.
+
+"Philip, I've told you more than I ever uttered before. You looked into
+my face, and seemed so interested that I was tempted to tell more than
+I intended," said he, wiping away with his coat sleeve the tears that
+stained his sunken cheeks. "No matter; we will be jolly now. I can
+get another drink in a cheap grog-shop for the half dime I have in my
+pocket."
+
+To my surprise he laughed as easily as he had wept, and shook off, with
+astonishing facility, the burden which had weighed him down. He rose
+from his chair, and tottered towards the door. I followed him out into
+the street.
+
+"Where are you going now?" I asked.
+
+"Going to get a cheap drink," he replied, with a kind of chuckle. "I
+shall be all right then; and we'll go and look for Lynch."
+
+"Don't drink any more to-night, Mr. Farringford," I pleaded, taking his
+arm.
+
+"I must!" said he, vehemently. "I might as well tell you not to eat
+after you had been without food for a week, as you tell me not to
+drink. I must have whiskey, or die."
+
+"Then die!" I added, using his own words.
+
+"Die?"
+
+"That's what you said to me."
+
+"I might do that, Philip," he replied, stopping suddenly in the street,
+as if the idea impressed him favorably.
+
+"Of course I did not mean that, sir," I interposed.
+
+"But it would be better to die than live as I live. I have only one
+cheap drink left--one glass of camphene whiskey, which seems to burn my
+very soul. In a word, it is better to die than to live, for such as I
+am."
+
+"No; there is hope for you," I pleaded, leading him along through the
+street.
+
+"Hope? No more than for a man who is already dead, Philip. I shall
+take my cheap drink, and then I shall be penniless again. It may be
+twenty-four hours, perhaps forty-eight, before I can raise another
+dollar or another drink. Then I shall suffer with horrors I cannot
+describe, till I can get more whiskey."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+"Nowhere."
+
+"Where do you board?"
+
+"I don't board," he replied, with his usual chuckle.
+
+"Where do you sleep?"
+
+"Wherever I happen to drop. In the police station; on board a
+steamboat; in a shed; anywhere or nowhere."
+
+"But where were you going to-night?" I asked, shocked at this
+revelation of misery, so horrible and strange to me.
+
+"I was going to the gambling-houses to find Lynch."
+
+"But after that?"
+
+"Anywhere that my fancy leads me."
+
+"Come with me," said I, unwilling to abandon him.
+
+"Where?"
+
+"To my house--where I board."
+
+"No, Philip."
+
+"You shall sleep with me to-night."
+
+I knew that Mrs. Greenough would not wish such a lodger as he, but I
+was determined to do what I could for him; and, if she would not permit
+him to sleep with me, I would go out with my miserable parent. I
+wanted to see him when he was sober. He had told me that his wife had
+deserted him, and I wished to learn more about her. I could not allude
+to a theme so sacred while he was in his present condition. Hopeless as
+the task seemed to be, I intended to use all the powers which God had
+given me in reforming him.
+
+I led him in the direction of my boarding-house, and he seemed to be as
+willing to go one way as another. After he had delivered himself of the
+emotions which crowded upon him at the bar-room, he spoke lightly of
+his misfortunes, and chuckled whenever he alluded to any circumstance
+which was particularly degrading in his condition.
+
+"Where do you obtain your meals, Mr. Farringford?" I asked, as much to
+keep his attention occupied as to gratify my own curiosity.
+
+"I don't obtain many," he replied, lightly.
+
+"But you must eat."
+
+"Not when I can drink. I don't average more than one meal a day. I
+can't afford to waste my money, when I have any, in eating."
+
+"Do you live on one meal a day?"
+
+"I don't get that always."
+
+"Where do you get that one?"
+
+"Anywhere I can. They have meals on board the steamers lying at the
+levee and waiting to start. They never turn me off when I sit down to
+the table. If I'm very drunk, they give me my meal at a side-table; but
+that don't happen often, for I don't want to eat when I can get plenty
+to drink."
+
+How insufferably miserable and degrading was the life he led! And he
+was my father!
+
+"How long have you led such a life?" I inquired, with a shudder.
+
+"Not long, Philip. Do you know, my lad, that I'm telling you all this
+to save you from whiskey? I'm not drunk now. I know what I'm about; and
+I would go ten miles to-night to save any fellow-creature, even if it
+was a nigger, from being as bad as I am. I would, Philip; upon my honor
+and conscience I would."
+
+"That proves that you have a kind heart," I replied; and even as he
+revelled in his shame and misery, I was glad often to observe these
+touches of fine feeling, for they assured me that, in his better
+days, he had been a noble and generous man.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL INTRODUCES THE ELDER FARRINGFORD TO HIS
+  LANDLADY. Page 130.]
+
+"My heart is right, my boy. Like all drunkards--Yes, Philip, I'm a
+drunkard. I know it; and I call things by their right names. Like all
+drunkards, I've been growing worse and worse; but it's only a few
+months since I went into the street, and had no home, no place to lay
+my head at night."
+
+I led him to Mrs. Greenough's house. He said nothing more about the
+"cheap drink," for I had kept his mind busy on the way. I had a night
+key, and I admitted him to the entry, where I asked him to wait until
+I spoke with my landlady. In as few words as possible I informed her
+of the discovery I had made, and distinctly added that my father was
+intoxicated.
+
+"Will you allow me to take care of him in my room, Mrs. Greenough?" I
+asked.
+
+"Yes, indeed!" she replied, with unexpected readiness. "Bring him into
+the kitchen, and I will do everything I can for him."
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Greenough. You are very kind. I had no right to expect
+this of you."
+
+"I know how to pity such poor people, Phil," said she, shaking her
+head sadly; and I afterwards learned that her late husband had been
+a drunkard for a number of years, and had been saved by the great
+Washingtonian movement.
+
+"My father does not yet suspect that I am his son. Will you be so kind
+as not to mention the fact to him?" I continued.
+
+"Just as you wish, Phil," she answered, as I hastened down stairs.
+
+Mrs. Greenough held the lamp in the entry while I conducted my
+tottering companion up the stairs. I introduced him in due form to her.
+
+"Madam, I am your very obedient servant," said he. "I am happy to make
+your acquaintance--more happy than you can be to make mine."
+
+"I'm very glad to see you; come in," she added, placing her
+rocking-chair before the fire for him.
+
+He seated himself, and glanced around the room. Mrs. Greenough asked if
+he had been to supper. He had not, and he did not wish for any; but
+the good lady insisted that he should have a cup of tea. In spite of
+his answer, he ate heartily of the food set before him, and seemed to
+be refreshed by it. For an hour he talked about indifferent subjects,
+and then I took him to my room. Mrs. Greenough gave me some clean
+clothes for him, which had belonged to her husband, declaring that she
+was glad to have them put to so good use. He intimated, as he glanced
+at the neat bed, that he should like to wash himself. I carried up a
+pail of warm water, and leaving him to make his ablutions, I went down
+to the kitchen again.
+
+"I hope you will excuse me for bringing him here, Mrs. Greenough," said
+I, feeling that I had been imposing upon her good nature.
+
+"You did just exactly right, Phil. You had no other place to take him
+to; and you didn't want to leave the poor creature in the street. I
+will do everything I can for him."
+
+"I am very much obliged to you, and as soon as Mr. Gracewood comes, I
+will have something done for him."
+
+"Are you sure he is your father?"
+
+"I have no doubt of it, Mrs. Greenough. What he said assured me of the
+fact; but he thinks I am dead."
+
+"Where is your mother? Was she lost?"
+
+"No; he says she was driven away from him by his bad conduct. I don't
+know where she is."
+
+My landlady was willing to take care of the sufferer for a few days,
+if he could be induced to stay at the house; and we talked about the
+matter till I thought he had gone to bed, when I went to my room.
+By this time the effects of the liquor he had drank were hardly
+perceptible; but his nerves were terribly shaken. Mrs. Greenough had
+given me a dose of valerian, which she said would do him good. He drank
+it without an objection, and soon went to sleep. I was tired enough to
+follow his example, after I had put the room in order.
+
+When I awoke in the morning, my father had dressed himself, and was
+pacing the room, in the gloom of the early morning. He was entirely
+sober now, and his frame shook as though he had been struck with palsy.
+I was alarmed at his condition. He told me he must have whiskey, or he
+should shake himself to pieces.
+
+"Don't take any more, sir," I pleaded.
+
+"Nothing but whiskey will quiet my nerves," said he, in trembling tones.
+
+"You shall have some strong tea or coffee; or perhaps Mrs. Greenough
+can give you something better."
+
+"I don't want to drink, Philip; no, I don't," he replied, in piteous
+tones; "but you cannot understand the misery of my present condition.
+It is worse than death."
+
+"But you will be better soon if you let liquor alone."
+
+"I can't let it alone. Every instant is an hour of agony. Have you any
+money?"
+
+"Only five cents."
+
+"I have five cents. I will get a cheap drink."
+
+"No, don't!" I pleaded. "Wait here a little while. I will make a fire,
+and see what can be done for you."
+
+I went down stairs, and by the time I had made the fire Mrs. Greenough
+appeared. I told her how much my poor father was suffering. She seemed
+to understand the case exactly; and as soon as the tea-kettle boiled,
+she made some strong wormwood tea, which I gave to our patient. I
+had some hope when he declared that it had helped him. He ate a very
+light breakfast, and appeared to have no appetite. My good landlady
+spoke words of hope to him, and said she had taken care of one who was
+precisely in his condition. If he would only be patient, and trust
+her, she would cure him. He promised to stay in the house during the
+forenoon; and I went to my work, hoping, but hardly expecting, to find
+him there when I came home to dinner.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO A DISCUSSION, AND TAKES PART IN A STRUGGLE.
+
+
+My work on the building was no lighter than it had been the day before;
+but I had done so much hard labor in the field and forest that it did
+not wear upon me. I observed everything that was done by the skilled
+workmen, and endeavored to profit by what I saw. I felt that I was
+learning something every hour, and I was pleased to know that Mr.
+Clinch was entirely satisfied with me. At noon I hastened home, anxious
+to know the condition of my father.
+
+"How is your patient, Mrs. Greenough?" I asked, as I entered the
+kitchen where she was cooking the dinner.
+
+"I am sorry to tell you, Phil, that he is gone."
+
+"Gone!"
+
+"Yes; I had to go over to the provision store for something for
+dinner. Mr. Farringford promised faithfully to remain in the house;
+but when I came back he had left. I was not absent more than fifteen
+minutes."
+
+"I am very sorry for it; but it can't be helped," I replied, sadly.
+
+"I am to blame, Phil. I ought to have locked the door, and taken the
+key with me."
+
+"Don't blame yourself at all, Mrs. Greenough," I interposed. "You have
+been very kind to him and to me, and I am greatly obliged to you."
+
+"Perhaps you will be able to find him again."
+
+"I will try this evening. I'm sorry I have not more time to take care
+of him."
+
+"If you will get him back again I will do the best I can, and when I go
+out I will lock the door."
+
+"Perhaps it is no use to try to do anything for him," I added.
+
+"He is your father, Phil; and you must do and keep doing for him. Let
+us hope and pray that he may be saved."
+
+After dinner I went to my work again; and that afternoon we finished
+boarding the building.
+
+"Can you lay shingles, Phil?" asked Mr. Clinch.
+
+"I never did lay any, but I know I can after I have seen how it is
+done."
+
+"Conant shall show you how," he added.
+
+I went upon the roof with my fellow-workman. As, in the short time I
+had worked with him, I had carefully observed all his instructions, and
+been obliging and respectful to him, Conant was very willing to show
+me how to work. But the operation of laying shingles is very simple,
+though it requires considerable care and skill in breaking joints, so
+that the water shall not work through. I saw how it was done, and,
+though I worked rather slowly at first, I was soon able to lay the
+shingles to the satisfaction of my instructor. As I got the "hang of
+the thing" I worked more rapidly, and before night I could lay as many
+as Conant. We lined the length of the roof, and while he began at one
+end, I began at the other. At first we came together pretty near my
+end, but I gradually increased the distance until we met in the middle,
+showing that I did as much work as my instructor.
+
+"Well, Phil, how did you get along shingling?" asked Mr. Clinch, when I
+went down the ladder at six o'clock.
+
+"Pretty well, I think, sir," I replied. "I shall learn how in time."
+
+"Learn how!" added Conant; "he can lay as many shingles in a day as I
+can."
+
+"If I can it is all because Conant showed me so well that I couldn't
+help doing it," said I, wishing to acknowledge my obligations to my
+kind instructor.
+
+I saw that he was pleased with the compliment; and I have always found
+that a pleasant word, even from a boy, helps things along amazingly
+in this world. It was better and fairer to attribute a portion of my
+success to Conant's careful and patient teaching than to claim all the
+credit of it myself. It was doing justice to him without injuring me,
+and was a cheap way to make a strong friend.
+
+"I'm glad to have a fellow like you to work with, Phil," said Conant,
+as we walked up the street together. "Clinch put that Morgan Blair into
+my charge to show him how to work; but he knew so much more than I did
+that I couldn't teach him anything. His head is made of wood."
+
+"I'm always very thankful to any one who will show me how to do
+anything."
+
+"I see you are, Phil, and it's a real pleasure to teach you anything."
+
+"Thank you; I think we shall agree together first rate."
+
+"So do I; but I don't like these boys who know more than the law
+allows."
+
+We parted at the corner of the next street, and I went home to supper.
+My father had not returned to the house, and I did not expect he would
+do so. I was sorry I had not inquired about my mother when he was with
+me; but I had no good opportunity, and was confident that I should see
+him again. After supper I left the house, and went to the Planters'
+Hotel, where I expected to find him; but it was only when he had a
+dollar or two that he went there.
+
+"Have you seen Mr. Farringford to-day?" I timidly asked one of the
+bar-tenders, who was disengaged.
+
+"He has been here two or three times to-day," replied the man.
+
+"Do you know where he is now?"
+
+"I haven't the least idea. He hangs round Forstellar's, I think."
+
+"Where is that?"
+
+"It is a gambling-house," he added, giving me the street and number.
+
+"What does Mr. Farringford do?" I asked, rather startled at being
+directed to a gambling-house.
+
+"Do? Nothing," said the man, contemptuously. "He used to be a runner
+for a gambling-house, and followed this business as long as he could
+keep sober enough to do it."
+
+"What is a runner?"
+
+"One that ropes in customers to a gambling-saloon," laughed the
+bar-tender. "Farringford used to make money enough to pay for his
+liquor at it; but lately he keeps so drunk that no one will go with
+him. What do you want of him?"
+
+"I wanted to see him."
+
+"Do you know him?"
+
+"I did not know him till yesterday. He knows a man who has some money
+that belongs to me," I replied.
+
+But I was thankful that a customer came to prevent him from asking
+me any more questions. I was shocked to hear that my father had been
+connected with a gambling-house. He evidently did not think that the
+business of a "runner" was disreputable, when he assured me that no
+one could accuse him of a dishonest or a dishonorable deed. But he
+was only the wreck of a man, and it would have been strange indeed
+if his moral perception had not been impaired by his long course of
+dissipation. I hastened to the place which had been described to me by
+the bar-tender. The establishment had a bar-room on the lower floor,
+with a private staircase to the apartments above, where games of chance
+were played.
+
+I went into the bar-room, and saw well-dressed gentlemen passing
+through the private door to the stairs. I looked about the place a
+short time. If my father was in the building, he was up stairs, and I
+decided to attempt the passage. At the foot of the stairs a man stopped
+me, and told me that no boys were allowed in the rooms above. I was
+willing to believe that, considering the character of the house, this
+was a very wholesome regulation; but I wished to find my father. I
+asked the sentinel if Mr. Farringford was up stairs. He did not know;
+if he was I couldn't see him. I inquired for Lynch then, but could
+obtain no satisfaction. I insisted upon seeing one or both of these men
+with so much zeal that the inside sentinel ordered me to leave the
+premises. I gently and respectfully remonstrated; but the fellow took
+me by the arm, and walked me out into the street. As I had no rights
+there, I did not resist.
+
+I was rather indignant at this treatment, though I ought not to
+have expected decent conduct on the part of the officials of such
+an establishment. I decided not to abandon my purpose, though any
+satisfactory result was rather hopeless just then. I planted myself on
+the opposite side of the street, and watched the house, taking note of
+every one who went in or came out. I meant to stay there till midnight
+if necessary, for I judged from the answers of the inside sentinel that
+the persons for whom I had inquired were there.
+
+My patience held out till the clock struck eight, when a policeman,
+by some strange fatality, happened to pass the place. He was on the
+other side of the street, and glanced into the bar-room as he passed.
+I determined to walk at his side, and tell him my story, so far as it
+related to the loss of my money. I crossed over for the purpose of
+joining him, hoping to induce him to enter the gambling-house with me.
+As I reached the front of the establishment, two men came out, both
+of them making use of rather sharp language. Their voices attracted my
+attention.
+
+One of them was Lynch, and the other was Farringford.
+
+"I will not have my steps dogged by such a fellow as you are?"
+exclaimed the former, angrily.
+
+"Don't make a noise, Lynch," said Farringford. "If you do, I'll refer
+the matter to a policeman, and send for the boy."
+
+"Nonsense! I've told you I know nothing about the boy or his money,"
+added Lynch, moving down the street in the direction of the river.
+
+Deeply interested in the discussion, I followed the parties closely
+enough to hear every word they spoke. From what Lynch said I learned
+that they had already discussed the subject at the gambling-house; and
+I judged that the robber had fled in order to escape the importunity of
+the other.
+
+"The boy speaks the truth, and if you don't give his money back I will
+make St. Louis too warm for your comfort," retorted Farringford,
+warmly.
+
+"I don't want to be bored with this matter any more," said Lynch. "If
+you will clear out I will give you a dollar to get drunk upon."
+
+"I ask no man to give me anything. That won't do; I want the money for
+the boy."
+
+"Why should you bother your head about the boy?"
+
+"He's my boy, and I won't see him wronged by any one."
+
+"Your boy!"
+
+"Yes, my boy! He's my son," persisted Farringford.
+
+"Nonsense! You have lost your wits."
+
+I thought I had lost mine too. I could not believe that Farringford
+intended to speak the truth when he said I was his son. He could not
+possibly have known that I was his son. But my heart leaped up into
+my throat when it flashed upon my mind that my father had opened the
+bureau drawer in my room, where I had placed the locket and the little
+clothes I had worn when I was picked up on the Missouri River. Yet this
+was not probable, for I had locked the drawer, and put the key in a
+safe place. I was more inclined to think that Farringford called me
+his son in order to explain his interest in my affairs. I followed the
+two men to the levee, where they suddenly halted near a street lamp. I
+dodged out of their sight, and kept walking back and forth near them;
+but, as I was a boy, they did not seem to notice me, or at least to
+consider my presence of any importance.
+
+"I am willing to get rid of you, Farringford, at any reasonable price,"
+said Lynch. "I will not be dogged another foot farther."
+
+"Then give me back the ninety-seven dollars and a half you stole from
+my boy," added Farringford.
+
+"Don't say that thing again to me. I will give you five dollars if you
+will bore me no more."
+
+"No; I want the whole."
+
+"Once for all, then, will you clear out, or not?"
+
+"Once for all, I will not till you give up the money you stole from my
+boy."
+
+"Then take the consequences," said Lynch, as he sprang upon the
+tottling Farringford.
+
+My blood boiled then, and leaping upon Lynch, I bore him to the ground.
+He released his hold upon my father when he felt my grasp upon him.
+
+"Police!" I shouted, as I lay upon my victim.
+
+He struggled to shake me off; but I held on, for I knew that I must
+keep the advantage or lose my man.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL HAS ANOTHER MISHAP, AND IS TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION.
+
+
+I had measured the form and estimated the muscle of Lynch before I
+paid my respects to him. He had threatened me when I met him on the
+preceding day, and I came to the conclusion that, after passing through
+one Indian campaign, I should not run away from such a puny fellow as
+he was. As a boy I was strong, as a man he was weak, and having him
+under me I had all the advantage. He struggled but a moment, and then
+changed his tone.
+
+"Don't make a row, Phil," said he, panting under the exhaustion of his
+efforts.
+
+"You do know me, then," I replied, puffing not less than he.
+
+"I do. Let me up, Phil, and I will give you your money."
+
+"I don't think I shall take your word again," I added, with a candor
+becoming the exciting occasion.
+
+"Let me up, Phil; there will be a crowd around us in a moment."
+
+"No matter; I won't let you up till you give me some security for your
+good behavior."
+
+"Better let him up as quick as possible," interposed Mr. Farringford.
+"There are some men coming down the street."
+
+"I will hold on to him till he makes it safe for me to let him go," I
+replied.
+
+"Put your hand into my breast pocket, and take out my pocket-book. It
+contains over two hundred dollars," said Lynch.
+
+I followed his directions; but I was not satisfied in regard to the
+contents of the pocket-book. It might be stuffed with brown paper for
+aught I knew, for I had read about some of the tricks of swindlers in
+great cities, in the newspapers, since I came to St. Louis.
+
+"Take it, Mr. Farringford, and see what is in it," I added, handing it
+to my father.
+
+"Let me up, Phil," pleaded Lynch.
+
+"Not yet, Mr. Lynchpinne."
+
+"If you are not satisfied, take the purse out of my side pocket. It
+contains fifty or sixty dollars in gold."
+
+I took the purse from his pocket, and it was heavy enough to be filled
+with gold.
+
+"Now let me up, Phil. Don't get up a row here."
+
+I was not quite satisfied that we had a sufficient security for the
+money I had lost, and I wished my father to examine the purse after he
+had reported on the contents of the pocket-book.
+
+"What's the row?" demanded a couple of men coming out of the street by
+which we had reached our present position.
+
+"Let me up, Phil," said Lynch, in a low tone.
+
+"Let him up," said my father, in a tone so earnest that I could not
+disregard it.
+
+Lynch sprang to his feet, and began to brush the dirt from his clothes.
+
+"What's the trouble?" repeated the two strangers.
+
+"No trouble," replied Lynch. "Come, we will go up to Forstellar's and
+settle the matter."
+
+Without waiting to have the matter discussed, Lynch started at a
+rapid pace, and my father and I followed him. The two strangers, who
+manifested a strong interest in the proceedings, again demanded an
+explanation; and as they received none, they came up the street after
+us.
+
+"I'm not going to any gambling-house to settle the matter," said I,
+placing myself at the side of Lynch.
+
+"Where will you go?" demanded he, impatiently.
+
+"Come to my boarding-house."
+
+"No; I am not going to be led into any trap."
+
+"There is no trap about it. You will see no one but a woman."
+
+"I don't care about going to a private house."
+
+"And I don't care about going to a gambling-saloon."
+
+"You have all my money. Do you mean to keep the whole of it?"
+
+"If I should it would be serving you right; but I don't intend to take
+any more than belongs to me. Will you go to the Planters' Hotel?" I
+asked.
+
+"Why not go to Forstellar's? It is nearer, and I am in a hurry."
+
+"I won't go into such a place if I can help it."
+
+"You need not go up stairs--only into the bar-room."
+
+"No; I won't go where you can call in the aid of your friends."
+
+"Very well; I will go to the Planters' Hotel," he replied.
+
+As we were walking up the street we passed a policeman. I had come
+to feel a peculiar interest in this class of men; and from the fact
+that I had met two of them in the same evening, I concluded that the
+traditions stored up against them were false. It is not quite possible
+for a police officer to be everywhere at the same instant; and, as
+there are a thousand places within his beat where he cannot be, to the
+one where he is, the chances are altogether against his being always
+where he happens to be wanted. I say that, having seen two policemen in
+the same evening, I felt a renewed respect and regard for the order,
+and I naturally looked behind me as I passed the second one, in order
+to obtain a good view of the man.
+
+I was not exactly pleased to notice that the two men who had followed
+us from Front Street stopped him, or rather induced him to join them;
+and the three followed us. I had no doubt the inquisitive strangers
+made our little party the subject of a familiar conversation with the
+policeman, as they walked up the street. However, I did not feel much
+concerned about the circumstance; for, having been brought up beyond
+the practicable reach of the law, I had no suspicion that I had done
+anything wrong; and a new mishap was necessary in order to convince me
+of the error of taking the law into my own hands.
+
+I mentioned the fact to Lynch that a policeman was following us. He did
+not take the matter so coolly as I did, and I am not sure he did not
+regret that he had taken the trouble to relieve me of my shot-bag. I
+was very well pleased with myself, and thought I had managed my case
+remarkably well. I had full security for the money I had lost, and
+ten minutes in the hotel would enable me to recover possession of my
+funds. The next day was Saturday, and I intended to purchase some new
+clothes, so that I could go to Sunday school, to church, and to the
+prayer-meeting on the evening of the holy day. All these things were
+new to me, and the anticipation of them was very pleasant. I meant,
+with my money, to put my wardrobe in a condition that would satisfy
+Mrs. Greenough, who had promised to go with me to the Sunday school,
+and to all the meetings.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL GETS LYNCH AT A DISADVANTAGE. Page 147.]
+
+"Come, hurry up," said Lynch, while I was passing these pleasant
+reflections through my mind. "That policeman will make trouble for us."
+
+"I'm not afraid of him."
+
+"But I am," replied my companion, sharply. "If you get me into a
+scrape, it will go harder with you than with me."
+
+I did not see how that could be, but I was willing to meet the views
+of Lynch as long as no treachery was apparent in his conduct. If he
+wished to leave us, he could do so, for we had all his money. We
+reached the Planters' Hotel, closely followed by the policeman and the
+two strangers. When we were about to enter the bar-room, the officer
+stepped in front of us, and stopped our further progress.
+
+"I learn that an assault was committed, under suspicious circumstances,
+near the levee," said the officer. "I should like to know about it."
+
+"I was robbed of my purse and pocket-book," replied Lynch, promptly.
+
+"Who did it?" demanded the officer, with energy.
+
+"This man and this boy," answered Lynch.
+
+"It is no such thing!" I protested, startled at the charge of my
+unprincipled companion.
+
+"But that young fellow was holding him down," interposed one of the
+strangers. "He let him up just as Gray and I came out of Plum Street."
+
+"That's so," added Lynch, in the tone and manner of a martyr. "They
+took from me all my money, and were going to take my watch when they
+were interrupted."
+
+"It is a false and groundless accusation," said Mr. Farringford,
+vehemently.
+
+"Ah, Farringford, are you in the scrape?" exclaimed Mr. Gray.
+
+"I am not in the scrape. There is no scrape," replied my father, very
+much agitated, for he probably realized better than I did the nature of
+our proceedings.
+
+"I will conduct you all to the police office, and we will look into the
+matter," said the official, as he took me upon one arm, and my father
+upon the other.
+
+Lynch walked with the two gentlemen, one of whom, it appeared, was
+connected with the Metropolitan Police Department, which explained
+his interest in the affair. I heard him telling his story to them,
+and I had no doubt they were greatly edified by it. We arrived at the
+station, and were presented to a sergeant of police, who imposed upon
+himself the task of investigating the affair. Mr. Gray stated that he
+had found me holding Lynch upon the ground, while Farringford was
+looking into a pocket-book under the street lamp.
+
+"What have you to say?" said the sergeant to Lynch.
+
+"I was going across the levee to a steamboat, when this man and boy
+sprang upon me and knocked me down before I knew what they were about,"
+replied Lynch. "They took from me my pocket-book, which contains over
+two hundred dollars, and my purse, with fifty or sixty dollars in it,
+mostly in gold."
+
+"Do you know either of these parties?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"I know Farringford--everybody knows him," replied Lynch. "I don't know
+the boy."
+
+"I am sorry to see that Farringford has been reduced to anything of
+this sort," added Mr. Gray, glancing at the trembling inebriate.
+
+"Gentlemen, I am willing to wait till this transaction can be
+investigated for the vindication of my character," replied Farringford,
+straightening himself up as much as his tottering limbs would permit.
+
+"Give me your name, if you please," said the sergeant to Lynch.
+
+"My name is Lynch."
+
+"Full name, if you please."
+
+"Samuel Lynch."
+
+"_Alias_ Leonidas Lynchpinne," I added; "the name he called himself by
+when I first saw him."
+
+"Your business, if you please?" continued the official, as he wrote
+down the name.
+
+"I have no regular business at the present time."
+
+"That's so!" exclaimed Farringford. "His business is very irregular. In
+other words, he is a blackleg, at Forstellar's or on the river."
+
+"No matter what he is; you can't knock him down and rob him in the
+streets of St. Louis," said the sergeant. "Have you either the
+pocket-book or the purse, Farringford?"
+
+"I have the pocket-book," replied my father, producing it.
+
+"Did you take this from Mr. Lynch?" asked the officer, as the
+pocket-book was handed to him.
+
+"I did not."
+
+"His son did," said Lynch, with a sneer.
+
+"What do you mean by his son?" demanded Mr. Gray, with a smile.
+
+"He told me the boy was his son."
+
+"When did he tell you so?" asked the sergeant, quietly.
+
+"After he had knocked me down," replied Lynch, wincing under the
+question, which was evidently put for a purpose.
+
+"Then you talked over their relationship while the boy held you on the
+ground?" suggested Mr. Gray.
+
+"No; Farringford only called the boy his son."
+
+"What did he say to him?"
+
+"He called him his son, and told him to hold me fast."
+
+"Before he took your pocket-book from you?"
+
+"No; afterwards, while he was looking to see what was in it."
+
+"This is not the way robberies are usually committed," added the
+sergeant. "I never heard of one robber holding a man down while the
+other looked to see what the pocket-book contained."
+
+"Did Farringford call you his son?" asked Mr. Gray, turning to me.
+
+"Yes, sir, he did; but not while I held Lynch down. It was while we
+were in Plum Street," I replied.
+
+"What trick were you engaged in?" demanded Mr. Gray, rather sternly.
+"Why did he call you his son?"
+
+"I am his son. He is my father," I answered.
+
+Farringford looked at me with an expression of disapproval, as if to
+reproach me for the falsehood he believed I had uttered.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XIV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL RECOVERS HIS MONEY.
+
+
+"You don't mean to say that Farringford here, whom everybody in St.
+Louis knows, is your father--do you?" continued Mr. Gray, apparently
+amazed at the absurdity of the proposition, while his friend and the
+sergeant laughed heartily.
+
+"That is precisely what I mean to say," I replied, in the most
+determined tone.
+
+Farringford shook his head, and was apparently sorry that I had turned
+out to be such an abominable liar.
+
+"What is your name?" inquired the sergeant.
+
+"Philip Farringford."
+
+I had taken especial pains not to give my full name to my father when
+he questioned me, and he doubtless supposed that I had invented the
+name for the occasion. He looked at me, and shook his head. Very
+likely, by this time, he was willing to believe I had deceived him, and
+that I had lost no money, for if I could lie about one thing I could
+about another.
+
+"Do you justify this young man in calling you his father, Farringford?"
+said Mr. Gray.
+
+"I am sorry to say I cannot. Gentlemen, I have endeavored to act in
+good faith," replied my father. "I have always found that the truth
+would serve me better than falsehood."
+
+"Did you call him your son?"
+
+"I did, but used the expression as a kind of harmless fib to carry my
+purpose with this Lynch, who had robbed the boy of nearly a hundred
+dollars."
+
+"It is false!" exclaimed Lynch.
+
+"Keep cool, if you please, sir," interposed the sergeant. "We have
+heard your story, and now we will hear the other side."
+
+"Philip may have deceived me, but I believed that he had been robbed,
+and I did the best I could to get his money back, after he had pointed
+out to me the man who took it from him. Certainly he is not my son.
+I never saw him till yesterday; and I am sorry he has thought it
+necessary to repeat my fib, or falsehood, if you please," continued
+Farringford.
+
+"Nevertheless, I hope I shall be able to prove in due time that he is
+my father," I added.
+
+"But, my lad, everybody knows that Farringford has no children," said
+Mr. Gray.
+
+"Never mind that now. I want to know whether any robbery has been
+committed," interposed the sergeant, impatiently.
+
+"Let the boy tell his own story," replied Mr. Gray.
+
+"Here is Lynch's purse," I began, handing it to the sergeant.
+
+"Then you did take these things from him?"
+
+"I did; but he told me to put my hand in his pocket and take out the
+pocket-book and the purse."
+
+"Very probable!" sneered Lynch.
+
+"It's all true," said Farringford.
+
+"Well, go on, young man."
+
+"I was coming down the Missouri River in the steamer Fawn--"
+
+"She arrived last Tuesday morning," interposed Mr. Lamar, the gentleman
+with Mr. Gray.
+
+"Yes, sir. I was with Mr. Gracewood and his family."
+
+"What Gracewood?"
+
+"Henry."
+
+"Is he a brother of Robert Gracewood of Glencoe?"
+
+"I don't know. He had a brother in St. Louis," said Mr. Lamar, who was
+an elderly gentleman, and appeared to know everybody and everything.
+
+"He bought a place at Glencoe a year ago."
+
+"His wife's brother was a Mr. Sparkley."
+
+"It's the same man. But he separated from his wife years ago, cleared
+out, and has not been heard from since."
+
+I explained that the family had been reunited, and were on their way
+to St. Louis. I had endeavored to find Mr. Gracewood's brother, but
+without success, in order to inform him of what had occurred up the
+river. The fact that he had moved from the city explained why I had not
+found his name in the Directory. I continued my story, with frequent
+interruptions, much to the disgust of the sergeant, who was interested
+only in the criminal aspect of the case. I told how Lynch had robbed
+me at Leavenworth, how I had identified him in St. Louis, and followed
+him and Farringford from Forstellar's to Front Street.
+
+"Every word of that story is true so far as it relates to me," said
+Farringford.
+
+"I watched Lynch and Farringford, the former trying to get rid of the
+latter all the time, until at last he laid violent hands upon him," I
+continued. "I couldn't stand it any longer; I went up behind Lynch,
+threw my hands around his neck, and stuck my knees into his back till
+he went down. He begged me to let him up, and promised to restore my
+money if I would. Then, when I was not willing to let him up without
+some security, he told me to take his pocket-book and purse. That was
+just what was going on when these gentlemen came out of Plum Street."
+
+"Then you did not knock him down till he laid hands upon Farringford?"
+added the sergeant.
+
+"No, sir; I did not till he took hold of my father."
+
+"Your father!" exclaimed Mr. Gray. "The rest of your story is so
+straightforward that I hoped you would abandon that fiction."
+
+"It is no fiction."
+
+"It matters not to me whether it is fact or fiction," interposed
+the sergeant. "I only wish to know whether or not a crime has been
+committed in St. Louis. If the boy knocked this Lynch down in order to
+save Farringford from injury, it is no crime, whether father or not."
+
+"I cried, 'Police!' as loud as I could, as soon as we struck the
+ground," I added.
+
+"Can you identify your money?" asked the sergeant.
+
+"Not every piece of it; but there was a five-dollar gold coin, with a
+hole through the middle, dated 1850. The clerk of the Fawn would not
+take it for my passage for five dollars."
+
+The officer poured the gold from the purse upon the table, and
+instantly picked out the coin I had described, which Lynch had perhaps
+found it as difficult to pass as I had. He looked at the date, and
+declared it was 1850.
+
+"That is very good evidence, my boy," said the officer, bestowing a
+smile of approval upon me. "Can you give me any more."
+
+"If you can find Captain Davis, of the Fawn, he will say that I left
+the boat with Lynch."
+
+"Where is he?"
+
+"He has gone up to Alton with the Fawn. When Mr. Gracewood comes, he
+will tell you the same thing."
+
+"Your witnesses are not at hand. In what boat did you come down the
+river."
+
+"In the Fawn."
+
+"And you, Mr. Lynch?"
+
+"In the Daylight."
+
+"Where from?"
+
+"St. Joe."
+
+The sergeant continued to question and cross-question Lynch for half an
+hour. His statements were confused and contradictory, and being based
+upon falsehoods, they could not well be otherwise. It appeared that
+the Daylight, in which he had arrived, came down the river immediately
+after the Fawn, which made my story the more probable.
+
+"I do not see that any crime has been committed in St. Louis," said the
+officer, after his long and patient investigation.
+
+"Then you don't call it a crime to knock a man down, and take his
+purse and pocket-book from him?" added Lynch, in deep disgust.
+
+"I believe the young man's story," replied the officer. "If your money
+had been taken from you by force, you would not have walked quietly
+through the streets with those who robbed you, passing an officer on
+your way without hinting at what had happened. The young man's story
+is straightforward and consistent, except as to his relations with
+Farringford, which is not material. I am of the opinion that you
+commenced the assault upon Farringford."
+
+"Not so."
+
+"Both Farringford and the young man agree in all essential points."
+
+Lynch growled and protested, but finally declared that he was satisfied
+to let the matter drop where it was. He had recovered his money, and he
+could not complain.
+
+"But I have not recovered mine, and I am not satisfied," I added,
+feeling that the discharge of Lynch was total defeat to me.
+
+"You were robbed in the territory of Kansas, and not in the city of St.
+Louis," replied the officer.
+
+"Must I lose my money for that reason?"
+
+"Certainly not; but the complaint against Lynch must be made at
+Leavenworth, and a requisition from the governor of the territory must
+be sent here."
+
+The case was full of difficulties, and Lynch, in charge of a policeman,
+was sent out of the room to enable us to consider the best means of
+proceeding. I could not go back to Leavenworth very conveniently, and
+it would cost me more than the amount of money I had lost. We decided
+to let the matter rest till the next day, and Lynch was called in again.
+
+"I propose to detain you till to-morrow, when Farringford will complain
+of you for an assault," said the officer.
+
+"I would rather give a hundred dollars than be detained," said Lynch.
+
+"We don't settle cases in that way. Of course we intend to reach the
+robbery matter in some manner."
+
+"I will give the boy the money he claims to have lost," added the
+culprit.
+
+"If you wish to restore the money, you can," replied the sergeant.
+
+"I do not admit the truth of his story."
+
+"Then you shall not give him any money. You shall not be swindled here."
+
+"If I admit the--"
+
+"Don't commit yourself unless you choose to do so. Whatever you say may
+be used as evidence to convict you."
+
+"You put me in a tight place," said Lynch. "If I commit myself, you
+will prosecute me. If I don't commit myself, I cannot give the boy the
+money."
+
+"I did not say I should prosecute you. The crime, if any, was committed
+beyond the limits of this state. I cannot enter a complaint. The young
+man may do so if he thinks best."
+
+"Can I make Phil a present of a hundred dollars?" demanded Lynch,
+desperately.
+
+"You can do as you please with your own money," answered the officer.
+
+The robber counted a hundred dollars from his pocket-book, and handed
+it to Mr. Lamar, who declared that the amount was right, and the bills
+were good. It was passed to me; but I declined to receive any more than
+I had lost, and changing a bill, I returned two dollars and a half.
+
+"I will make no complaint for assault now," said Farringford.
+
+"Then I cannot detain him. If the young man chooses to complain of
+Lynch in Leavenworth, he is still liable to prosecution."
+
+"I will risk that," said Lynch, more cheerfully.
+
+"You can leave," added the officer.
+
+The rascal promptly availed himself of this permission, and left the
+office.
+
+"I am sorry to have a case settled in that manner. I know that man as a
+notorious blackleg," continued the officer.
+
+"I don't see that it could be settled in any other way now," replied
+Mr. Gray. "We have done nothing to prejudice the interests of justice.
+The young man can prosecute now."
+
+"I can't afford to go to Kansas to do so," I replied.
+
+"We will keep watch of him," said the sergeant.
+
+We all left the office together. The two gentlemen who had manifested
+so much interest in the affair were unwilling to part with Farringford
+and me. Mr. Gray asked me what had induced me to say that Farringford
+was my father.
+
+"It's a long story, gentlemen; and I have to convince him as well as
+you of the truth of what I say. If you will go to my boarding-house I
+will do so."
+
+I told them where it was, and they consented to accompany me. When we
+reached the house, Mrs. Greenough was astonished at the number of my
+visitors, but I conducted them all to my chamber.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL PRODUCES THE RELICS OF HIS CHILDHOOD.
+
+
+Having seated my party in my chamber, I told the last part of my story
+first. I began by saying that I had been brought up on the upper
+Missouri, by Matt Rockwood, relating all my experience down to the
+present moment, including the history of the Gracewoods.
+
+"That's all very well, Phil; but where were you born?" asked Mr. Gray.
+"You left that part out, and told us everything except that which we
+wished to know."
+
+"I don't know where I was born. You must ask my father?"
+
+"Do you still persist in saying that Farringford is your father?"
+
+"I still persist."
+
+"But he has no children."
+
+"I had one child," interposed Farringford, trembling with emotion, as
+well as from the effects of inebriation.
+
+"I remember," said Mr. Lamar. "You lost that child when the
+Farringford was burned."
+
+"Yes," replied my father, with a shudder.
+
+"Will you state precisely how that child was lost, sir?" I continued.
+"I would not ask you to do so if it were not necessary, for I know the
+narrative is painful."
+
+"I suppose you claim to be this child, which, if I remember rightly,
+was a girl," added Mr. Lamar.
+
+"No; it was a boy," responded Mr. Farringford.
+
+"Gentlemen, I shall leave you to draw your own conclusions, after you
+have heard the rest of the story."
+
+"Can it be possible that you are my lost child, Philip?" said my father.
+
+"Let us see the evidence before we decide," I replied. "Now, how was
+the child lost?"
+
+"My wife's brother, Lieutenant Collingsby, was stationed at a fort on
+the upper Missouri. My wife was anxious to see him, and we started
+in one of the steamers I owned then, with our little boy two years
+old," Mr. Farringford began. "The boat had our family name, and was
+the finest one I owned. We enjoyed the trip very much. I didn't drink
+very hard at that time, gentlemen, though I occasionally took too much
+in the evening, or on a festive occasion. On the night the steamer was
+burned, we were within thirty miles of the fort to which we were going,
+and where we intended to remain till the Farringford returned from her
+trip to the mouth of the Yellowstone. I know my wife did not undress
+the child, because we hoped to reach the fort, and spend the night at
+the barracks.
+
+"Expecting to part with the passengers that evening, we had a merry
+time; and I drank till I was, in a word, intoxicated. I supplied
+whiskey and champagne for everybody on board, not excepting the
+officers, crew, and firemen, who would drink them. Even the two or
+three ladies who were on board partook of the sparkling beverage.
+Wishing to reach the fort as early as possible, I told the firemen and
+engineers to hurry up when I gave them their whiskey. They obeyed me to
+the letter, and the furnaces were heated red hot. I do not know to this
+day how the boat took fire; but I do know that a barrel of camphene,
+belonging to some army stores on board, was stove, and its contents ran
+all over the forward deck.
+
+"All hands worked hard to save the boat; but they worked in vain. The
+pilot finally ran her ashore. I pulled down a door, and carried it
+to the main deck aft, while my wife conveyed the child to the same
+point. The fire was forward, so that we could not leave the boat by
+the bow, which had been run on shore. I placed my little one upon the
+door, wrapped in a shawl, with a pillow on each side to keep it from
+rolling into the water. The captain was to help my wife, while I swam
+behind the door, holding it with my hands. In this position, partially
+supported by the raft, I expected to be able to propel it to the shore.
+My plan was good, and would have been successful, without a doubt, if I
+had not been intoxicated.
+
+"When I was about to drop into the water, the stern of the boat
+suddenly swung around, and I lost my hold upon the raft. I had been
+lying upon the edge of the deck, with my leg around a stanchion, my
+head hanging over the water; and I think my position, in addition to
+the fumes of the liquor I had drank, made me dizzy. I lost the door,
+and I think I partially lost my senses at the same time. The steamer,
+as she swung around, slipped from the abrupt shore which held her. This
+movement created a tremendous excitement, amounting to almost despair,
+among the passengers and crew. The door was carried away from the
+steamer, and I lost sight of it. When I was able again to realize my
+situation, I tried to discover the door, but in vain. I threw a box,
+which the captain had prepared to support my wife, into the water, and
+leaped in myself.
+
+"The current swept the steamer down the river. I paddled my box to the
+shore, and landed."
+
+"On which side did you land?" I asked.
+
+"On the north side. I ran on the bank of the river, looking for my
+child. The glare from the burning steamer lighted up the water, but I
+could see nothing floating on the surface. I was the only person who
+had left the boat so far, and I followed her till, two or three miles
+below the point where I had landed, one of her boilers exploded, and
+she became a wreck. About one half of the passengers and crew were
+saved on boxes, barrels, and doors. By the aid of the captain my wife
+was brought to the shore. I shall never forget her agony when I told
+her that our child was lost. She sank senseless upon the ground; but
+she came to herself after a time. I wished that I had perished in the
+flood when I realized the anguish of losing my only child. I could not
+comfort her; I needed comfort myself. I spent the long night in walking
+up and down the banks of the river, looking for my lost little boy.
+Below the place where most of the passengers landed I found many doors
+and other parts of the boat; but I could not find my child.
+
+"I reasoned that the current would carry the raft which bore up my
+child to the same points where other floating articles were found,
+and I was forced to the conclusion that my darling had rolled from
+the door and perished in the cold waters. I shuddered to think of it.
+Before daylight in the morning another steamer appeared, coming down
+the river. We hailed her, and were taken on board. She proved to be
+one of my boats, and I caused the most diligent search to be made for
+my lost little one. About a mile below the point where the Farringford
+had been run ashore we found a door, with one pillow upon it, aground
+on the upper end of an island. This discovery was the knell of my last
+hope. Of course the child had rolled from the door and perished. I wept
+bitterly, and my wife fainted, though we only realized what seemed
+inevitable from the first. We discovered this door about daylight, and
+it was useless to prolong the search. The evidence that my child was
+lost was too painfully conclusive.
+
+"My wife wished to return home. We were going on a pleasure excursion,
+but it had terminated in a burden of woe which can never be lifted from
+my wife or from me. I drank whiskey to drown my misery. I was seldom
+sober after this, and I lost all my property in reckless speculations.
+I became what I am now. My wife never would taste even champagne after
+that terrible night. She in some measure recovered her spirits, though
+she can never be what she was before. After I had lost everything, and
+could no longer provide a home for her, she returned to her father.
+I have not seen her for five years; but I do not blame her. She was a
+beautiful woman, and worthy of a better husband than I was. You know
+the whole story now, Philip. These gentlemen knew it before."
+
+"Not all of it," added Mr. Lamar. "And now we can pity and sympathize
+with you as we could not before."
+
+"No; I deserve neither pity nor sympathy," groaned my poor father,
+trembling violently. "If I had not been drunk I should have saved my
+child."
+
+"Perhaps it is all for the best, since the child was saved," said I.
+
+"It is impossible!" exclaimed Farringford. "I cannot believe it. There
+was no one in that lonely region; and, if my child had reached the
+shore, it must have perished more miserably of starvation than in the
+water."
+
+"You say your wife did not undress the child, because you expected to
+reach the fort that evening," I continued. "Do you know what clothes it
+had on?"
+
+"I ought to know, for I have tearfully recalled the occasion when I
+last pressed it to my heart, after supper that awful night. It wore a
+little white cambric dress, with bracelets of coral on the shoulders."
+
+"Anything on the neck?"
+
+"Yes; a coral necklace, to which was attached a locket containing a
+miniature of my wife."
+
+"In what kind of a shawl was it wrapped when you placed it on the
+door?" I asked, as I unlocked the bureau drawer in which I had placed
+the precious relics of my childhood.
+
+While he was describing it I took the shawl from the drawer.
+
+"Is this it?"
+
+Farringford trembled in every fibre of his frame as he glanced at the
+article.
+
+"It looks like it. I do not know whether it is the same one or not."
+
+I trembled almost as much as the poor inebriate in the excitement of
+the moment.
+
+"I should hardly consider that sufficient evidence," said Mr. Gray.
+"There are thousands of shawls just like that."
+
+"I intend to furnish more evidence," I replied, producing the stained
+and mildewed dress I had brought from the settlement. "Do you know
+that dress, Mr. Farringford?"
+
+"It certainly looks like the one my child wore."
+
+It was examined by the gentlemen; but they thought the evidence was not
+yet conclusive, and I took the bracelets from the drawer.
+
+"Did you ever see these before?" I asked, handing them to the palsied
+drunkard. "You will see the initials P.F. on the clasps."
+
+"I have seen these, and I know them well. They were given to my child
+by my brother Philip," replied he, with increasing emotion.
+
+"There may be some mistake," suggested Mr. Lamar. "Hundreds and
+thousands of just such trinkets have been sold in St. Louis."
+
+"But these have the initials of my child upon them."
+
+"P.F. may stand for Peter Fungus, or a dozen other names," replied
+Mr. Gray. "The evidence is certainly good as far as it goes, but not
+conclusive."
+
+"What should you regard as conclusive, sir?" I asked, rather annoyed at
+his scepticism, which I regarded as slightly unreasonable.
+
+"Evidence, to be entirely conclusive, must be susceptible of only one
+meaning," added Mr. Lamar. "The articles you have produced may have
+belonged to some other person, though it is not probable."
+
+"I don't know that I shall be able to satisfy you, but I will try once
+more," I replied, taking the locket from the drawer.
+
+I handed the locket to Farringford. He grasped it with his shaking
+hands, and turned it over and over. He examined the necklace with great
+care, and then tried to open the locket. He trembled so that he could
+not succeed, and I opened it for him. He glanced at the beautiful face
+upon which I had so often gazed by the hour together.
+
+"My wife!" exclaimed he, sinking into his chair, and covering his face
+with his hands, sobbing convulsively like a child. "You are my son!"
+
+"Perhaps not," interposed Mr. Lamar, very much to my disgust.
+
+But my poor father was satisfied, and sprang forward to embrace me.
+The excitement was too much for his shattered nerves, and he dropped
+fainting into my arms. We placed him upon the bed, and I went for Mrs.
+Greenough.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XVI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL STRUGGLES EARNESTLY TO REFORM HIS FATHER.
+
+
+The skilful ministrations of Mrs. Greenough soon restored my father to
+himself. He had probably eaten nothing since he took his breakfast with
+me early in the morning, and his frame was not in condition to bear the
+pressure of the strong emotions which had agitated him.
+
+"My son!" exclaimed he, as the incidents which had just transpired came
+back to his mind.
+
+"My father!" I replied.
+
+He extended his trembling hand to me, and I took it. It would have been
+a blessed moment to me if I could have forgotten what he was, or if
+I could have lifted him up from the abyss of disgrace and shame into
+which he had sunk. I hoped, with the blessing of God, that I should be
+able to do this in some measure. I determined to labor without ceasing,
+with zeal and prayer, to accomplish this end.
+
+"I pity you, my son," said my father, covering his eyes with his hands.
+It can be no joy to you to find such a father."
+
+"I should not be sincere, father, if I did not say I wished you were
+different."
+
+"Philip,--if that is really your name,--I will reform, or I will die,"
+said he, with new emotion. "I have something to hope for now. The good
+God, who, I believed, had deserted me years ago, has been kinder to me
+than I deserved."
+
+"He is that to all of us, father."
+
+"Where did you get this locket, young man?" asked Mr. Lamar, who
+evidently believed there was still a possibility that a mistake had
+been made.
+
+I replied that I had found it in the chest of Matt Rockwood, who had
+taken me from the door in the river; and I repeated that part of my
+narrative which I had omitted before.
+
+"You need not cavil, gentlemen," interposed my father. "I am satisfied.
+I can distinguish the features of my lost son. If you knew my wife,
+you can see that he resembles her. Look at the portrait, and then look
+at him."
+
+"I have seen Mrs. Farringford, but I do not exactly remember her
+looks," added Mr. Lamar.
+
+"Matt Rockwood is dead; but there is a living witness who saw the child
+he found only a day or two after it was picked up," I continued.
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"Kit Cruncher; he is at the settlement now, and has known me for eleven
+years. Mr. Gracewood, whom I expect in St. Louis soon, has known me for
+six years, and has heard Matt Rockwood tell the story of finding the
+child."
+
+"If I am satisfied, no one else need complain," said my father. "There
+are no estates, no property, nor a dollar left, to which any claim is
+to be established. I am a beggar and a wretch, and an inheritance of
+shame and misery is all I have for him."
+
+"But you forget that your wife is still living, Farringford," added Mr.
+Lamar. "Her father is a wealthy man, and his large property, at no very
+distant day, will be divided among his three children."
+
+"Very true; I did not think of that. I have so long been accustomed
+to regard her as lost to me that I did not think my boy still had a
+mother," answered my father, bitterly. "But when she sees him, she will
+not ask that any one should swear to his identity. She will know him,
+though eleven years have elapsed since she saw him."
+
+"But where is she?" I asked, anxiously.
+
+"I do not know, Philip."
+
+"When did you see her last?"
+
+"It is four or five years since we met."
+
+"But haven't you heard from her?"
+
+"Once, and only once. After she left me, and went back to her father, I
+tried to see her occasionally, for I have never lost my affection and
+respect for her. I annoyed Mr. Collingsby, her father, trying to obtain
+money of him. Three years ago the family moved away from St. Louis,
+partly, if not wholly, I know, to avoid me, and to take my wife away
+from the scene of all her misery."
+
+"Where did they go?"
+
+"To Chicago, where Mr. Collingsby was largely interested in railroad
+enterprises."
+
+"Is the family still there?"
+
+"I do not know."
+
+"They are," added Mr. Gray.
+
+"But my wife is not there," said my father. "Some one told me, a year
+ago, he had met her in Europe, where she intended to travel for three
+years with her brother and his wife. Really, Philip, I know nothing
+more about her. I wish I could lead you to her."
+
+I was indeed very sad when I thought that years might elapse before I
+could see her who had given me being.
+
+"I will make some inquiries, Phil, in regard to the Collingsbys," said
+Mr. Lamar.
+
+"Are you satisfied, sir, that I am what I say I am?" I asked.
+
+"I have no doubt you are, though perhaps your case is not absolutely
+beyond cavil. The old man who died might have found the body of the
+child, and taken the clothes and trinkets from it; but that is not
+probable."
+
+"But I can produce a man who has known me from my childhood," I replied.
+
+"You can, but you have not," added he, with a smile.
+
+"I will produce him if necessary. I hope you will see Mr. Gracewood
+when he arrives."
+
+"I will, if possible. But, Farringford, was there no mark or scar of
+any kind on the child which will enable you to identify him?"
+
+"I know of none. Perhaps his mother does," answered my father. "But I
+tell you I am satisfied. I ask for no proof. I know his face now. It
+all comes back to me like a forgotten dream."
+
+"Very well; but, Farringford, you have something to live for now,"
+added Mr. Lamar.
+
+"I have, indeed," replied the trembling sufferer, as he glanced fondly
+at me. "I will try to do better."
+
+"When you feel able to do anything, we shall be glad to help you to a
+situation where you can do something to support your boy," said Mr.
+Gray.
+
+"I can take care of myself, gentlemen. I am getting three dollars a
+week now, and I hope soon to obtain more," I interposed.
+
+"Three dollars a week will hardly support you."
+
+"I shall be able to get along upon that sum for the present. Mrs.
+Greenough is very kind to me."
+
+The two gentleman said all they could to inspire my poor father with
+hope and strength, and then departed. I was very much obliged to them
+for the interest and sympathy they had manifested, and promised to call
+upon them when I needed any assistance.
+
+"I am amazed, Philip," said my father, when our friends had gone.
+
+"I knew that you were my father when we met in the evening at the
+Planters' Hotel," I replied. "You remember that you told me you had
+lost a child on the upper Missouri."
+
+"I did; I was thinking then what a terrible curse whiskey had been to
+me. You looked like a bright, active boy, and I desired to warn you, by
+my own sad experience, never to follow in the path I had trodden. I did
+not suspect that I was talking to my own son; but all the more would I
+warn you now."
+
+"You thrilled my very soul, father, with your words, and I shall never
+forget them. I shall pray to God to save both you and me from the
+horrors of intemperance."
+
+"Philip, I have resolved most solemnly, a hundred times, to drink no
+more; but I did not keep my promise even twenty-four hours."
+
+"Is your mind so weak as that?"
+
+"Mind! I have no mind, my son. I haven't a particle of strength, either
+of body or mind."
+
+"You must look to God for strength," said Mrs. Greenough, who had
+listened in silence to our conversation.
+
+"I have, madam; but he does not hear the prayer of such a wretch as I
+am."
+
+"You wrong him, Mr. Farringford," replied the widow, solemnly. "He
+hears the prayers of the weakest and the humblest. You have no strength
+of your own; seek strength of him. My husband was reduced as low as you
+are. For ten years of his life he was a miserable drunkard; but he was
+always kind to me. Hundreds of times he promised to drink no more, but
+as often broke his promise. I became interested in religion, and then
+I understood why he had always failed. I prayed with my husband, and
+for him. He was moved, and wept like a child. Then he prayed with me,
+and the strength of purpose he needed came from God. He was saved, but
+he never ceased to pray. He redeemed himself, and never drank another
+drop. Before he died, he had paid for this house, besides supporting us
+very handsomely for ten years."
+
+"That is hopeful, madam; but I am afraid I am too far gone. I have no
+wife to pray with me," said my father, gloomily.
+
+"I will pray with you."
+
+Throwing herself upon her knees before a chair, she poured forth her
+petition for the salvation of the drunkard with an unction that moved
+both him and me. I heard my father sob, in his weakness and imbecility.
+He was as a little child, and was moved and influenced like one.
+
+"You must pray yourself, Mr. Farringford," said she, when she had
+finished. "You must feel the need of help, and then seek it earnestly
+and devoutly."
+
+"I thank you, madam, for all your kindness. I will try to do better.
+I will try to pray," said he. "Could you give me some more of the
+medicine I took last night and this morning? It helped me very much."
+
+"Certainly I can. I will do everything in the world for you, if you
+will only stay here and try to get well."
+
+She left the room, and went into the kitchen to prepare the soothing
+drinks which the excited nerves of the patient demanded.
+
+"I will reform, Philip. I will follow this good lady's advice. Give me
+your hand, my son," said my father.
+
+"O, if you only would, father! This world would be full of happiness
+for us then. We could find my mother, and be reunited forever."
+
+"God helping me, I will never drink another drop of liquor," said he,
+solemnly lifting up his eyes, as I held his trembling hand.
+
+Mrs. Greenough opportunely returned with the medicines, and with a
+folded paper in her hand. As my father took his potion, she opened the
+paper, which was a temperance pledge, on which was subscribed the name
+of "Amos Greenough."
+
+"This is the pledge my husband signed, with trembling hand, ten years
+before his death. It was salvation to him here--and hereafter. Will you
+add your name to it, Mr. Farringford?" said Mrs. Greenough.
+
+"I will."
+
+"Not unless you are solemnly resolved, with the help of God, to keep
+your promise," she added. "Not unless you are willing to work, and
+struggle, and pray for your own salvation."
+
+  [Illustration: PHILS FATHER SIGNS THE PLEDGE. Page 193.]
+
+"I am willing; and I feel a hope, even now, madam, that God has heard
+your prayer for a poor wretch like me."
+
+"Sign, then; and God bless you, and enable you to keep this solemn
+covenant with him."
+
+She took the writing materials from the bureau, and my father, with
+trembling hand, wrote his name upon the pledge.
+
+"May God enable me to keep it!" said he, fervently, as he completed the
+flourish beneath the signature.
+
+"Amen!" ejaculated Mrs. Greenough. "May you be as faithful as he was
+whose name is on the paper with you."
+
+"Stimulated by his example, and by your kindness, I trust I shall be,"
+said my father.
+
+Mrs. Greenough then provided a light supper for him, of which he
+partook, and very soon retired. I told my kind landlady that I had
+recovered my money, and should now be able to pay my father's board for
+a time. She had not thought of that matter, and would be glad to take
+care of him for nothing if she could only save him. As I went to bed I
+could not but congratulate myself upon finding such a kind and devoted
+friend as she had proved to be.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XVII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS THE LAST OF THE ROCKWOODS.
+
+
+The next day my father was quite sick; but Mrs. Greenough was an angel
+at his bedside, and I went to my work as usual. I was filled with hope
+that the wanderer might yet be reclaimed. Though I longed intensely
+to see my mother, I think if I had known she was in the city I should
+not have sought to find her, for I desired to carry to her the joyful
+news of the salvation of my father. When I could say that he was no
+longer a drunkard, I should be glad to meet her with this intelligence
+upon my lips. But she was wandering in distant lands. Plenty and
+luxury surrounded her, while I was struggling to earn my daily bread,
+and to take care of my father. The fact that she was in affluence was
+consoling to me, and I was the more willing to cling to my father in
+his infirmities.
+
+When I went to work that morning I was introduced to a plane and a
+plank--to test my ability, I supposed, for the men had not yet finished
+shingling the roof. A plank partition was to be put up in order to make
+a counting-room in one corner of the storehouse. I had never in my life
+seen a plane till I came to St. Louis; but I had carefully observed the
+instrument and its uses. Conant told me how to handle it with ease and
+effect, and instructed me in setting the iron, so as to make it cut
+more or less deeply, according to the work to be done.
+
+It was hard work, harder than boarding or shingling; but I made it
+unnecessarily severe for the first hour, and though it was a cool day,
+the sweat poured off me in big drops. I had not yet got the hang of the
+thing; but when Conant came from the roof for a bundle of shingles,
+he looked in to see how I succeeded. A little more instruction from
+him put me on the right track, and I worked much easier; in a word,
+I learned to use the plane. After removing the rough side from the
+plank, it was a relief to handle the smoothing-plane, and I polished
+off the wood to my own satisfaction and that of my employer.
+
+In the afternoon I was sent upon the roof again to lay shingles, and
+we finished that part of the job before night. At six o'clock all the
+hands were paid off for their week's work. I felt considerable interest
+in this performance. I had worked three days, and at the price agreed
+upon I was entitled to a dollar and a half.
+
+"I shall not want you any longer, Blair," said Mr. Clinch to the young
+fellow of whom Conant had spoken so disparagingly to me. "I owe you six
+dollars; here is the amount."
+
+"You don't want me any longer?" replied Blair, as he took his wages.
+
+"No."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"You don't suit me. I can't afford to pay you six dollars a week for
+what you do," answered the employer, bluntly. "You don't understand the
+business, and you don't try to learn it. That boy there does twice as
+much work in a day as you do."
+
+I did not think it right to hear any more of this conversation, and
+moved away. Though I was pleased with the compliment, I was sorry to
+have it bestowed upon me at the expense or to the disparagement of
+another. I walked around the building, but I was soon sent for to
+receive my wages.
+
+"Phil, you have done remarkably well," said Mr. Clinch; "and I want to
+use you well. You handle a plane well for one who never saw one before,
+and I think you were born to be a carpenter."
+
+"Thank you, sir," I replied. "You give me all the credit I deserve."
+
+"And I give you a dollar a day for your work, for you have done twice
+as much as I expected of you," he added, handing me three dollars.
+"I supposed you would be in the way at first, and I only took you to
+oblige Captain Davis."
+
+"I have done the best I knew how, and shall always do so; but I don't
+ask any more than you agreed to give me. I am entitled to only half of
+this."
+
+"Yes, you are. I agreed to give you more if you were worth it. Conant
+says you have done a man's work most of the time. Of course you can't
+do that on the average. But you will be worth about a dollar a day to
+me, now that I have discharged Morgan Blair."
+
+"Thank you, sir; you are very kind."
+
+"Kind! Nonsense! I am only doing the fair thing by you. When I think
+you are worth more than a dollar a day, I shall give it to you. On the
+other hand, I shall discharge you when I don't want you, or when you
+are lazy or clumsy. I always speak my mind."
+
+I saw that he did, to Blair as well as to me, and I was very thankful
+for having obtained so good an employer. I was determined to merit his
+good will by doing my duty faithfully to him.
+
+I went home, and found my father more comfortable than in the morning;
+but he was still very sick, and unable to leave his bed. In the evening
+I went out to purchase a suit of clothes, which I so much needed. I
+obtained a complete outfit, which would enable me to attend church the
+next day, looking like other young men of my age, in the humbler walks
+of life. Mrs. Greenough had been very particular in urging me to be
+prepared for church and Sunday school, and had even offered to lend me
+money to purchase the needed articles. I told her I had never been to
+church in my life, and I was very glad of the opportunity.
+
+When my bundle was ready I turned to leave the store. A young man,
+whose form and dress looked familiar to me,--though I did not see his
+face, for he was looking at the goods in a glass case,--followed me
+into the street.
+
+"Phil," said he; and I recognized the voice of Morgan Blair, the young
+man who had been discharged that afternoon by Mr. Clinch.
+
+I paused to see what he wanted, though I was not very anxious to make
+his acquaintance after what I knew of him.
+
+"What is it?" I asked.
+
+"I want to see you about a matter that interests me," he added.
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"They say you came from way up the Missouri River. Is that so?"
+
+"That's so."
+
+"Conant said you did. I want to know something about the country up
+there, and I suppose you can tell me."
+
+"What do you want to know?"
+
+"I have an uncle up there somewhere, and I want to find him if I can."
+
+"Do you know in what region he is located?" I inquired.
+
+"I do not; that is what I want to ascertain. Conant told me you came
+from that country, and I meant to talk with you about it; but you put
+my pipe out, and I was discharged to-day. I saw you go into that store,
+and I thought I would wait for you."
+
+"What do you mean by putting your pipe out?"
+
+"Didn't you put my pipe out?"
+
+"I didn't even know that you smoked."
+
+"You are rather green, but you have just come from the country. I meant
+that you caused me to be discharged."
+
+"I did?"
+
+"You heard Clinch say that I did not do half as much work as you did?"
+
+"Yes; I heard that; but it was not my fault."
+
+"I didn't do any more than I could help, and you put in all you knew
+how. If you hadn't come, Clinch never would have suspected that I
+wasn't doing enough for a boy. I don't believe in breaking your back
+for six dollars a week. But never mind that now. When can I see you and
+talk over this other matter with you?"
+
+"I can tell you now all I know," I replied.
+
+"I think I shall go up the Missouri, if I have any chance of finding my
+uncle."
+
+"You can't go up this season. No steamers leave so late as this. When
+did you see your uncle?"
+
+"I never saw him, and I shouldn't know him if I met him to-night. He
+has been up in the woods for twenty years, I believe."
+
+"What is his name?"
+
+"Rockwood."
+
+"Rockwood!" I exclaimed, startled by his answer.
+
+"Yes; my mother was his sister."
+
+"What was his other name?"
+
+"Matthew. He left Illinois before I was born; but my mother heard from
+him about ten years ago. Somebody--I don't know who it was--saw him
+at a wood-yard, and he sent word by this person that he was alive and
+well, but did not think he should ever come back to Illinois. His name
+was Matthew Rockwood. Did you ever hear of such a man?"
+
+"I have, and I knew him well."
+
+"You don't say so!" replied he, astonished in his turn. "Where is the
+place?"
+
+"On the Missouri, between Bear and Fish Creeks."
+
+"Well, I don't know any better now than I did before. What was the old
+man doing?"
+
+"He has been hunting, trapping, and selling wood; but he is not living
+now."
+
+"Dead--is he?"
+
+"Yes; he died last spring."
+
+"You don't say it!"
+
+"There was some trouble with the Indians in that region, and he was
+shot in a skirmish with them."
+
+"The last of them is gone, then," added Blair.
+
+"Matt Rockwood had a brother--did he not?"
+
+"He did have--but he is dead; and my mother died two years ago. And so
+uncle Matt is dead too?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"The man that told my mother about him thought he must be making money
+out there, for he sold a great deal of wood to the steamers. Do you
+know anything about it?"
+
+"I know all about it."
+
+"You lived near him, then?"
+
+"I lived with him. To tell the whole story in a few words, I was
+brought up by Matt Rockwood, and I was at his side when he was killed
+by the Indians. But here is my boarding-house, and I don't care about
+going any farther."
+
+"But I want to know more about my uncle."
+
+"Come in, then."
+
+I conducted him up stairs to Mrs. Greenough's kitchen; and, after
+ascertaining that my father was still very comfortable, I seated
+myself with Morgan Blair.
+
+"It is a little odd that I should stumble upon you," said he.
+
+"Rather," I replied; and it seemed to be another of my mishaps, for in
+him had appeared an heir to Matt Rockwood's little property, which had
+come into my possession.
+
+I told him all about his uncle; how he had lived and how he had died.
+
+"Did he have any property?" asked Blair.
+
+"Why do you ask?"
+
+"Why do I ask? Well, that's a good one! My father and mother are both
+dead, and I suppose I am the last of the Rockwoods. I am now out of
+business, with less than ten dollars in the world; and why do I ask
+whether my uncle had any property?"
+
+"He had his farm--a quarter section of land," I added.
+
+"How much is it worth?"
+
+"Perhaps it is worth as much as it would cost you to go up there and
+back."
+
+"That's hopeful."
+
+"There were a couple of horses, a lot of hogs, a log house and barn,
+and the farming tools."
+
+"Well, what are they worth?"
+
+"They are worth considerable to a person who wishes to live up there."
+
+"But I don't wish to live up there."
+
+"Then they are worth whatever you can sell them for. Kit Cruncher has
+the farm; but I think you will find that squatter sovereignty prevails
+up there; and a man in possession, without any claim, is better off
+than a man with a title, but not in possession."
+
+"Then I have no chance, you think?"
+
+"On the contrary, I know that Kit Cruncher is an honest man, and if you
+prove your claim, he will either pay you the fair value of the place,
+or give it up to you."
+
+"But didn't my uncle have any money?"
+
+"Yes; he left about nine hundred dollars in gold," I replied.
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Blair, opening his eyes.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL CALLS UPON MR. LAMAR, AND DOES NOT FIND HIM.
+
+
+I had heard nothing from Mr. Gracewood since my arrival in St. Louis.
+He had in his possession all the moneyed property which had come to me
+from the estate of Matt Rockwood. I had placed no little dependence
+upon the fifteen hundred in gold, which I regarded as my inheritance;
+and now an heir appeared, who certainly had a better legal claim than I
+had.
+
+"Nine hundred dollars!" exclaimed Morgan Blair again, and with as much
+satisfaction as though this large sum was already in his own hands.
+
+"And after his death we sold off wood and produce enough to amount to
+over seven hundred dollars more."
+
+"Better and better," added Blair. "Go on, Phil; perhaps you can make
+it up to two thousand."
+
+"I can't very easily make it any more," I replied.
+
+"Well, I'm satisfied as it is. Now, can you tell me where this money
+is?"
+
+"A friend of mine has fifteen hundred dollars in gold, and I have his
+note for it."
+
+"Exactly so; and perhaps you won't object to handing the note over to
+me, and telling me where I can find your friend."
+
+"I must say that I do object."
+
+"You do?"
+
+"Certainly I do."
+
+"But I am the last of the Rockwoods. Don't you think I look like my
+uncle Matt?"
+
+"I don't see it."
+
+"Nor I; but my mother said I did. Be that as it may, you must see that
+this money belongs to me, and not to you."
+
+"I don't even see that."
+
+"Don't be mean about it, Phil."
+
+"I don't intend to be. I have told you the whole truth, and now I don't
+care about talking any more on the subject."
+
+"That's rather cool. You have my money, and you won't give it to me."
+
+"Certainly not; I don't know anything about you. I never even heard old
+Matt say he had a sister."
+
+"That's nothing to do with me. He did have one, and I am her son."
+
+"It's no use to say anything more about it. When Mr. Gracewood, who has
+the money, arrives, I will speak to him about it."
+
+"But I can't wait."
+
+"You must wait."
+
+"Couldn't you let me have a little of it?" persisted he.
+
+"No, I could not. You haven't proved your claim yet."
+
+"I will prove it."
+
+"When you have done so, the money shall be paid."
+
+"But I must go to Vandalia to obtain the proof; and I haven't money
+enough to pay my expenses."
+
+"I can't help that."
+
+"Haven't you any money?"
+
+"I have, and I intend to keep it for my own use."
+
+"But the money is mine. I am the last of the Rockwoods. I know you have
+nearly a hundred dollars; or you had before you went into that shop.
+That money is mine, and when you spend a dollar of it you steal it.
+That's what's the matter."
+
+"I think you have said enough about it, and we will end up the matter
+here," I replied, disgusted with his impudence, and wondering how he
+knew that I had nearly a hundred dollars.
+
+I refused to say anything more, and he threatened me with the terrors
+of the law, and even with his individual vengeance. He teased me to
+let him have fifty dollars on account, and declared he would have me
+arrested if I did not comply. Finally I put on my cap, and he followed
+me into the street, for I found I could get rid of him in no other way.
+As soon as he was outside of the door, I made a flank movement upon
+him, and returned to the house, shutting him out as I entered. He did
+not trouble me any more that night, but I expected to see him again
+soon.
+
+I was inclined to believe that he was what he represented himself to
+be, for I did not see how he could know anything about Matt Rockwood.
+It was very singular that he had stumbled upon me so blindly, and I
+regarded my fortune as already lost. I was sorry that Matt's heir had
+appeared, for I had considered how convenient this large sum of money
+would be when I began to look for my mother. I had thought, as soon as
+my father's reformation was in a measure assured, of going to Chicago
+to see my grandfather, Mr. Collingsby. My wages, even at six dollars a
+week, would no more than pay my father's and my own board. But I was
+fully determined to be honest; and, if the fifteen hundred dollars
+belonged to Morgan Blair, he should have it, as soon as he satisfied
+me that he was the "last of the Rockwoods," even without any legal
+forms. The next day my father was a little better, and sat up a portion
+of the time. Mrs. Greenough nursed him most tenderly, and insisted
+that I should go to Sunday school and to church in the forenoon. I
+dressed myself in my new clothes, and when my father saw me he smiled,
+and seemed to be proud of his boy. I went to Sunday school at the
+church which my landlady attended; and I realized all my pleasant
+anticipations of the occasion. I was put into a class of boys of my own
+age, and listened attentively to the instructions of my teacher, who, I
+afterwards learned to my surprise, was one of the wealthiest merchants
+in the city, though he was very plain in his manners and in his dress.
+
+What was so new and strange, and withal so exceedingly pleasant to
+me, is familiar to all my readers, and I need not describe it. Mr.
+Phillips, my teacher, had an attentive scholar in me, and immediately
+took an interest in me. He promised to call and see me some evening,
+and presented me a class book for use in the school and at home. I
+was astonished at his kindness and condescension, when Mrs. Greenough
+told me who and what he was. The services in the church were not less
+novel and interesting to me; and I am sure that I was deeply impressed
+by the prayers, the singing, and the sermon. In the afternoon I staid
+at home with my father, and Mrs. Greenough went to church. I read the
+Bible and the library book I had obtained at the Sunday school to him,
+and he was as much interested as I was. In the evening I went to the
+prayer-meeting; and when I retired I felt more like being good and true
+than ever before.
+
+On Monday I was at the plane and plank again, and when night came I
+was never so tired in my life, not even when I had tramped through the
+woods for a day and a night. I did not go out; but Mr. Lamar and Mr.
+Gray called to inquire for my father. As I had told them all about my
+relations with Matt Rockwood, and that I had the money he had left, I
+ventured to ask their advice in regard to the claimant who had appeared
+in the person of Morgan Blair.
+
+"Don't pay him a dollar," said Mr. Lamar, who was a very prudent man,
+as I had learned before.
+
+"I have no doubt he is the nephew of Matt Rockwood," I replied.
+
+"If he is, he must prove his claim. Do nothing, Phil, without the
+advice of your friends, especially Mr. Gracewood."
+
+"As he has the money, I shall not be likely to do anything."
+
+"The fellow may be an impostor," suggested Mr. Gray.
+
+"I think that is impossible. He came to me simply to inquire about the
+country on the upper Missouri, and said he had an uncle up there. Then
+he gave me the name of Matthew Rockwood. If he were an impostor, he
+could not have done that."
+
+"Perhaps it is all right as you say; but don't pay him anything till we
+have the evidence," added Mr. Lamar.
+
+My friends left me, and the door had hardly closed behind them before
+Morgan Blair called to see me. He pressed me to let him have fifty
+dollars to enable him to go to Vandalia; but I continued to refuse, and
+as before he waxed angry and threatened me.
+
+"It's no use, Blair. I shall not let you have a dollar. I have
+consulted Mr. Lamar and Mr. Gray, and I act under their advice. If you
+want to do anything about it, go and see them."
+
+"I don't know them, and don't want to know them. My business is with
+you, and I will follow you till you give me that money. It belongs to
+me, and I ought to have it."
+
+"You can do as you think best; but following me won't do any good. If
+you will wait till Mr. Gracewood comes, he will be able to settle the
+question. He was with us when your uncle was killed. Perhaps Matt spoke
+to him about his sister."
+
+"Do you doubt my word?"
+
+"No; but if I should pay this money to you, Matt's brother might come
+after it."
+
+"I tell you he is dead."
+
+"That must be proved."
+
+"I suppose I shall have to prove that I'm not dead myself, by and by."
+
+"If you can prove the rest as easily, as you can prove that, you will
+be all right. When I hear from Mr. Gracewood I will let you know."
+
+"I can't wait."
+
+"Very well; then go to work at once in the right way."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"Go to the territory where your uncle lived and died, have an
+administrator appointed, and he can legally claim the effects of Matt
+Rockwood," I replied, rehearsing the information imparted to me by Mr.
+Lamar.
+
+"I can't go up there."
+
+"Go to a lawyer, then, and he will advise you what to do."
+
+"I haven't any money to pay a lawyer. I haven't a dollar left. I lost
+nearly all I had."
+
+"Lost it? Where?"
+
+"At Forstellar's," he replied.
+
+"Gambling?"
+
+"Well, I played a little. I wanted to make a little money somehow."
+
+"But you didn't make any?"
+
+"Made it out of pocket."
+
+"I should go to work if I were you."
+
+His confession gave me a new revelation in regard to his character, and
+I was the more determined not to let him have a dollar. He pleaded,
+begged, and threatened; but I was firm, and he left me.
+
+When I came home to dinner the next day, I found a letter from Mr.
+Gracewood in reply to mine. With trembling hands I opened it. The
+writer began by saying that he was very glad to hear from me, and that
+he had worried a great deal about me. Mrs. Gracewood had been very
+sick, but was now slowly improving. He did not think he should be
+able to leave for St. Louis for two or three weeks. Ella was well, and
+sent her regards to me. This was favorable news, and I was very much
+rejoiced to receive the letter. I wrote immediately, giving him a full
+account of what had happened to me since we parted, and sent the letter
+by the next mail.
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL READING THE BIBLE TO HIS FATHER. Page 212.]
+
+My father improved very slowly, but I was not sure that his illness
+was not a blessing to him, for he was unable to go out of the house,
+and the process of weaning him from whiskey was thus assisted very
+materially. On Saturday night, after I had been paid off, I found a
+letter at the house. I opened it, and looked first at the signature,
+which was Pierre Lamar. He wrote that he wished to see me about the
+money matter of which I had spoken to him, and desired me to call
+at a place in Fourth Street which he designated. In a postscript he
+requested me to bring the note which Mr. Gracewood had given for the
+money.
+
+After supper, with the note in my pocket, I hastened to the place
+indicated. It appeared to be a dwelling-house, and I rang the bell at
+the front door, which was presently opened by a man in a white jacket.
+I asked for Mr. Lamar, and was assured that he was in his room. I was
+conducted up three flights of stairs, and the man knocked at a door. I
+thought Mr. Lamar ought to be able to afford better accommodations for
+himself; but the door opened, and I entered the room.
+
+I looked for my friend; but instead of him, I saw only Mr. Leonidas
+Lynchpinne and Morgan Blair.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XIX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER IN THE GAMBLERS' ROOM.
+
+
+I was not suspicious; I had no idea that any one intended to wrong
+me. I was even willing to believe that Morgan Blair was sincere, and
+really thought that I ought to advance him money from the estate of his
+uncle, even before he had proved his claim. After all, it is pleasant
+to believe that no one intends to injure you; it is even better to be
+occasionally deceived than to be always suspicious.
+
+I went up the stairs in the house to which the note from Mr. Lamar had
+given me the address without a suspicion that anything was, or could
+be, wrong. I had never before seen the handwriting of my correspondent,
+and had no reason to suppose that the note was a fraud upon me. Though
+I had had a sharp experience of the villany of men since I came from my
+home in the wilderness, I was still a child in the ways of the great
+world.
+
+I entered the room to which I had been conducted by the man in a white
+jacket, and the door was instantly closed behind me and locked. The
+apartment was an attic chamber, on the fourth floor of the house, and
+contained the ordinary furniture of a bedroom. Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne,
+otherwise Lynch, sat in a rocking-chair, smoking a cigar. Blair had
+slipped in behind me when I entered in order to secure the door; and
+having done this, he took a chair near the blackleg. On a small table,
+over which hung the gas-light, was a silver box, such as I had seen
+in the hands of Redwood at Leavenworth. It contained a pack of cards,
+and another lay upon the table. There was also a dice-box, and some
+other gambling implements, of which I do not even know the names. I
+concluded, from the position of the parties and the articles on the
+table between them, that Lynch had been giving the young man a lesson
+in the art of winning money.
+
+"How are you, Phil Farringford?" said Lynch, with a sort of triumphant
+smile, which indicated the pleasure he felt at the success of his trick.
+
+"How are you, Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne?" I replied, cheerfully; for
+I felt it to be my duty to demonstrate that I was not alarmed at my
+situation.
+
+The demonstration was not a feint, either. I felt an utter contempt
+for Lynch, and, now that I realized his rascality, for Morgan Blair.
+I had fought the savage Indians in the forest, which had developed my
+courage, if nothing more. I glanced around the room, and saw at the
+grate an iron poker, with which I thought I might neutralize the odds
+against me, in case the interview resulted in anything more dangerous
+to life and health than mere words. The letter, in its postscript,
+as though it had been an afterthought, requested me to bring Mr.
+Gracewood's note. Blair had asked me to give it up to him. I was
+inclined to think that the parties before me wanted this note, though
+I could not imagine what earthly use it could be to them.
+
+"You need not call me by that name any longer," added Lynch, biting
+his lip, and evidently vexed to find that I was not intimidated by my
+situation.
+
+"As you gave me the name of Leonidas Lynchpinne, I shall consult my own
+inclination, rather than yours, in the use of it."
+
+"You will change your tune before you are an hour older, Phil."
+
+"If I do I shall take the pitch from you."
+
+"You are here at my summons, my lad."
+
+"I see now that I am; brought here by a lie and a swindle, which seem
+be your stock in trade."
+
+"Don't be impudent, Phil."
+
+"If you speak to me like a gentleman, I will answer you in the same
+way. You need not put on airs."
+
+"I have business with you, Phil."
+
+"I have no business with you; and I respectfully decline having
+anything whatever to do with you."
+
+"Your declination is not accepted. I want to tell you that I never
+forget a friend or forgive an enemy."
+
+"I have fought Indians before, and though I don't like the business, I
+can do it again."
+
+"Do you call that talking like a gentleman, Phil?"
+
+"No gentleman ever utters an Indian sentiment."
+
+"You are in my power, Phil, and you had better come down from that high
+horse."
+
+"I'm not in your power, and never shall be till I become a thief, a
+blackleg, and a swindler," I replied, calmly, as I glanced at Morgan
+Blair, who, I thought, was completely in his power.
+
+"What!" exclaimed Lynch, springing to his feet, his face red with anger.
+
+I fell back two or three steps, and quietly took up the poker, which
+rested against the bracket at the side of the grate.
+
+"What are you going to do with that?" demanded he.
+
+"That will depend upon circumstances."
+
+"Drop that poker!"
+
+"For the present I shall regard this poker as a part of myself; and I
+hope you will so regard it."
+
+"You impudent puppy!"
+
+"Foul words are cheap, defiling only him who utters them," I added,
+quoting a sentence from the instructions of Mr. Gracewood.
+
+"I'm not to be trifled with, Phil," said Lynch, taking a small
+Derringer pistol from his pocket.
+
+"That's just my case," I answered, elevating the poker.
+
+"Look here, Lynch," interrupted Morgan Blair, rising from his chair
+in evident alarm, "if you are going to use pistols and such things, I
+won't have anything to do with the scrape."
+
+"Shut up, Blair!" replied Lynch.
+
+"I won't!"
+
+"You are a fool!" exclaimed the older villain, dropping into his
+rocking-chair with an expression of utter disgust upon his face.
+
+I felt that I was fighting my battle very well indeed, and I was
+encouraged in the course I had chosen.
+
+"I don't want any shooting where I am," said Blair. "I'm willing to
+lick him within an inch of his life, if he don't play fair, but I
+don't want him shot."
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL DEFIES LYNCH. Page 224.]
+
+"I don't intend to shoot him, unless he attacks me with that poker. I
+want to show him that two can play at his game," added Lynch. "Will you
+drop that poker, Phil?"
+
+"I will not."
+
+"If you undertake to use it, I want you to understand that pistol balls
+travel faster than pokers."
+
+"Very true; and if you are satisfied with your pistol, I am with my
+poker. I am ready to end this meeting at any time."
+
+"I am not ready to end it. I have business with you. I don't forgive an
+enemy."
+
+"I do, when he deserves to be forgiven."
+
+"None of your cant! I'm not going to a prayer-meeting with you now."
+
+"It would do you good to go to one; and I know of no one who needs to
+go any more than you."
+
+"If you can hold your tongue long enough, we will proceed to business,
+Phil."
+
+"I have no business to proceed to; and I'm going to speak as I feel
+inclined," I replied, resting the poker in a chair near me.
+
+"I have business with you, if you have not with me. As I told you, I
+never forgive an enemy."
+
+"As I told you before, that is an Indian sentiment."
+
+"Will you hold your tongue?"
+
+"No, sir, I will not."
+
+"You knocked me down in the street, and took my money from me."
+
+"At your request I took it; and you were kind enough to pay me the
+balance in my favor when we parted at the police station," I replied.
+
+"You must give me back that money, Phil."
+
+"Not if I know it. Let me remind you that the money belonged to me, and
+that I did not charge you any interest upon it for the time you had it."
+
+"The money wasn't yours. It belonged to Matt Rockwood. You stole it;
+and I intended to get all I could for my friend here, Morgan Blair, to
+whom all of it belongs."
+
+"You and your friend seem to understand each other very well, except
+so far as the pistol is concerned."
+
+"I act for him. He is a young fellow, and don't know much about the
+ways of the world."
+
+"He appears to be learning very rapidly."
+
+"He is the rightful heir of the man up the river, whose money you have.
+I expect you to give it up to him."
+
+"And I expect to do so myself, just as soon as he proves the claim.
+Though I think I have a better right to the money than he has, I will
+give it up whenever he satisfies me that he is the nephew of Matt
+Rockwood. If this is your business with me, you can't get ahead any
+farther with it to-night."
+
+"Have you the note with you--the note of Mr.--What's his name?"
+
+"Mr. Gracewood," added Blair.
+
+"I respectfully decline to answer," I replied.
+
+"But you must give it up before you leave this house."
+
+"Then I shall stay here longer than you will want to board me."
+
+"I don't intend to board you," sneered Lynch. "You will neither eat nor
+drink till you give up this note, and the hundred dollars you got out
+of me at the police station."
+
+"So far as the money is concerned, I spent a part of it, and the rest I
+left at my boarding-house."
+
+"You can give me an order on your landlady for what you have left, and
+Blair will go and get it."
+
+"I will not give him that trouble."
+
+"You prefer to stay here--do you?"
+
+"I do; this isn't a bad place to stay, and I can stand it here a while."
+
+"Consider well your situation, Phil. This is my room. I board here when
+I am in town, and--"
+
+"It's good enough for me, if it is for you."
+
+"It is a gambling-house, and the people who live here are my friends. I
+can bring in half a dozen men to help me."
+
+"Bring them in," I replied, laughing, though I confess that I was not
+very much amused.
+
+"It's no joke."
+
+"It will not be for you when you are done with it. When my father
+misses me, he will be very likely to send for our friends, Mr. Lamar
+and Mr. Gray."
+
+"In a word, Phil, will you give me that note."
+
+"In a word, I will not; and in another word, I will fight just as long
+as I have a breath in my body, if you or anybody else attempts to
+meddle with me."
+
+"Phil, you go to prayer-meetings, and claim to be honest," continued
+Lynch, changing his tone when he found that he did not terrify me.
+
+"I do go to prayer-meetings when I can, and I try to be honest."
+
+"I hope you will keep on trying. By the merest accident Blair stumbled
+upon you, and turns out to be the heir of the man whose money you have.
+He is the last of the Rockwoods. Do you think it is honest to keep him
+out of his money?"
+
+"I'm not so sure now that he stumbled upon me."
+
+"Didn't he ask you something about the upper Missouri, and tell you he
+had an uncle there? and didn't he tell you the name of his uncle before
+you had mentioned it?"
+
+"He certainly did; but since I have found out what company he keeps, I
+begin to think you posted him up, and sent him to stumble upon me."
+
+"That's absurd."
+
+"Not at all. Didn't you hear me tell the whole story in the police
+station, Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne?"
+
+"I never saw him till after that," replied Lynch, angrily, as he picked
+up the pistol, which he had laid upon the table. "It is useless to
+reason with you. Come, Blair, we will leave him here to think about it
+till morning."
+
+The villain moved towards the door, pointing his pistol at me. It was
+capped, and I supposed it was loaded. Blair unlocked the door, and
+retreated into the entry. Lynch followed his example, and as it was
+possible that he might fire at me, I did not deem it prudent to be the
+aggressor. I heard the door locked upon me.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XX.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL IS STARTLED BY THE SIGHT OF A FAMILIAR FACE.
+
+
+I actually laughed when I heard the bolt of the lock snapped upon me;
+partly because I thought it was better to laugh over my mishaps than to
+cry, and partly because the trick of which I had been made the victim
+was simply ridiculous. Perhaps, if I had been a boy brought up in the
+city, and had never been thrown upon my own resources in times of
+peril, I might have taken a different view of the matter. I can easily
+believe that many boys would have been intimidated, and given up the
+money and the note. Lynch ought to have known me better, though I had
+been a lamb at Leavenworth.
+
+I seated myself in the rocking-chair, and looked around the room. There
+was a luthern window in it, which opened upon the roof. A cheerful
+coal fire burned in the grate, and the room was quite comfortable.
+I examined the silver card box on the table, and the other articles
+there; but I was not much interested in them, and soon gave myself up
+to a consideration of the situation. Of course the whole trick was
+intended to intimidate me; but I positively refused to be intimidated.
+I supposed my persecutors would soon return, and renew the onslaught.
+
+For my own part, I could not see what they intended to gain, even if
+they obtained the note against Mr. Gracewood. It was stupid of them to
+imagine that he would give up the money to total strangers. Still they
+must have believed he would let them have the gold, for they could not
+have taken all this trouble for the seventy dollars which I had. But
+it was no use to speculate upon their intentions. The note was safe in
+my pocket, and the money at my boarding-house. If I had supposed there
+was any possibility of the villains obtaining the former, I would have
+burned it on the spot, for I knew that Mr. Gracewood would pay the
+money whether there was any legal document to show for it or not.
+
+I rose from my chair, and walked to the door, in order to examine it.
+This same Lynch had once before locked me into a room, and it was
+possible that I might break this door open, as I had done on the former
+occasion. But I found this was a different piece of work from that at
+Leavenworth. It fitted well in the frame. I tried the handle, and found
+that it was securely locked.
+
+"No use, Phil," said a voice in the entry, which I recognized as that
+of Morgan Blair.
+
+It appeared that my late fellow-workman was stationed as a sentinel at
+the door to prevent my escape.
+
+"Where's Lynch?" I asked, placing my mouth at the key-hole.
+
+"Down stairs. Are you ready to give up the note?"
+
+"No."
+
+"When you are, let me know."
+
+I made no reply, but walked to the window to see what the prospect was
+in that direction. I did not wish to stay in my prison a great while,
+for I knew that my father would worry about me if I did not return
+soon. I was in the hands of the enemy, and I was afraid that Lynch
+would keep me in the room till the middle of the night, and then, with
+the aid of others, overcome me, and rob me of the note. I was not so
+well satisfied with the situation as at first, when I could realize the
+possibilities of the occasion.
+
+The window opened upon a steep roof. I raised the sash very carefully,
+so that Blair might not know what I was about. But, then, I had hardly
+a hope of being able to escape in this direction; for I did not see how
+it was possible for me to descend to the street. However, I should be
+out of the reach of my inquisitors, even if I passed the night on the
+cold slates of the roof. I climbed out of the window, and my head swam
+when I looked down the fearful depth below me. I was on the rear slope
+of the roof, and beneath me was the back yard of the house.
+
+The darkness rather favored me, for I could not so readily measure
+distances, and in a short time I became accustomed to the giddy height,
+though I thought it best not to look down. Holding on with one hand at
+the side of the luthern window, I closed the lower sash, and dropped
+the upper one. Grasping the inside of the window-frame for support, I
+climbed up till my feet were placed upon the top of the two sashes.
+I could then reach the roof of the luthern window. A ledge on the
+top of it afforded me a good hold, and I drew myself up, though with
+considerable difficulty, and my breath was all gone when I reached the
+point, exhausted by the violence of my exertions.
+
+I lay where I was a few moments to recover my wind and my strength. I
+had placed the poker on the roof before I ascended, for I was afraid
+that I might yet have to fight a battle. I had worked very carefully,
+so as not to disturb the sentinel at the door of the room; and, so far
+as I could judge, I had been successful, for I heard nothing of him. I
+was on the top of the luthern window; and, so far as the inquisitors
+were concerned, I was safe. I preferred to stay there, though the night
+was quite chilly, rather than in the chamber of Lynch. But if I could
+have my choice, it would suit me better to go home, and sleep in my
+own bed.
+
+About half way between the luthern window and the ridge-pole of the
+house there was a skylight. The light shone up through it, and I
+concluded from its position that it was used to light the entry where
+Blair was keeping guard over the door. Lying down on the slated roof,
+with my feet resting upon the luthern window, I found I could reach the
+upper end of the skylight with my hands. I looked through the glass
+into the entry below, and saw a gas-light burning there. Under me was
+the door of the gambling-chamber, but Blair was not there. I tried to
+raise the skylight; but it was secure, and could not be moved. It was
+at least fourteen feet above the floor, and the space between the glass
+and the ceiling of the entry was boxed in, forming a ventiduct for the
+passage of the air.
+
+If I could have opened the skylight, it would have been hardly
+prudent for me to drop down fourteen feet upon a hard floor, with the
+additional peril of encountering my enemies in going down the stairs. I
+could not see Blair, and I concluded that he had heard me, in spite of
+all my precautions, and had gone to procure the aid of Lynch. Whether
+this view was correct or not, I decided to act upon it, and increase
+the distance between myself and my persecutors. Grasping the upper part
+of the skylight, I dragged myself up to the point where I had placed my
+hands. Here I paused to breathe again.
+
+While I was waiting I heard voices through the skylight. Looking
+through the glass, I saw Lynch and Blair, the latter unlocking the
+chamber door. I immediately concluded not to rest any longer, and
+laying hold of the ridge-pole, I drew myself up, and took a seat
+astride the saddle-boards. The block extended as far as I could see in
+the gloom of the night. With my hands upon the saddle-boards, I hopped
+along like a frog till I was satisfied that I was out of the reach of
+any pursuers. But I began to be very anxious to reach _terra firma_
+once more, and I continued to hop till I came to a four-story block
+with a flat roof. This was hopeful, and passing from the steep slope I
+found myself in a very comfortable position.
+
+I could discover no signs of any pursuers behind me; and I concluded
+that the inquisitors were not enterprising enough to follow me in
+the perilous track I had chosen. Pleasant as was my present location
+compared with the slippery sides of the slated roof, I was not disposed
+to spend the night there. But I did not think it safe to jump down into
+the street, for I knew that the pavement could stand the shock of such
+a descent better than I could. On one of the roofs there were planks
+laid down, and places for lines, and I concluded that it was used for
+drying clothes. At every house I found a scuttle, and some of them
+were not fastened; but I did not like the idea of being captured as a
+burglar, and sent to the station-house to remain over Sunday. I walked
+to the end of the block, where a cross-street interrupted my further
+progress in that direction.
+
+Between the several tenements which composed the block there were brick
+walls rising about a foot above the flat roof. They were the dividing
+lines between the houses. I observed that the house at the corner of
+the cross-street occupied as much space as three of the others, and
+was planked all over, with stanchions for clothes-lines. I concluded
+that the building was used for a purpose different from the others. I
+went to the front, and looked down into the street. There were a couple
+of gas-lamps before the door, and people were constantly arriving and
+departing. I satisfied myself that the house was a hotel.
+
+In the rear of the roof there was a kind of crane, with a couple of
+ropes reaching to the ground. I reasoned that the apparatus was used
+for hoisting up baskets of clothes. I also found a scuttle door, which
+was not fastened, and I began to consider whether I should go down by
+the rope or by the stairs. I did not like the idea of dangling in the
+air fifty feet from the ground on the one hand, or of being captured
+as a thief on the other. If I went down the rope, it might drop me in
+some back yard, where I might be liable to suspicion if discovered. On
+the whole, I concluded that the stairs were the safer expedient, and I
+carefully opened the scuttle door.
+
+The steps led down to a well-lighted entry; and, having satisfied
+myself that no one was there, I descended, taking the precaution to
+hook the door behind me, which some careless servant had neglected to
+do, though I was not disposed to blame her for the neglect. Passing
+down the steps, I came to a long entry, from which opened on each side
+the sleeping-rooms. The stairs were at the other end, and I walked
+as lightly as my thick boots would permit through the hall. At the
+stairs I heard the sound of voices on the floor below, and I paused. I
+concluded that the upper floors were used for sleeping-rooms, and that
+no one would remain long in the entry. Presently I heard a door open,
+and then the sound of footsteps on the stairs below. As all was still
+again, I ventured to descend the steps to the next hall.
+
+I had hardly reached this floor before a gentleman came out of one
+of the rooms; but he passed me, and went down stairs without taking
+any notice of me. I was now on the third story, and must descend two
+more flights in order to reach the street. I was not a thief, and
+there was no stolen property upon me. But men in white jackets were
+always whisking about in hotels, as I had observed at the Planters'.
+I determined to be ready with an answer if any of these fellows
+challenged me, and to tell the whole truth if I was detained.
+
+I had hardly reached this conclusion before a waiter in a white jacket
+confronted me, looked at me suspiciously, and demanded my business.
+
+"Where is Mr. Rockwood?" I asked, using the name most familiar to me.
+
+"That's his room over there, where the door is open," said he, pointing
+towards the other end of the hall, and then continuing on his way up
+stairs.
+
+I walked in the direction indicated, intending to rush down stairs as
+soon as the waiter was out of hearing. I went as far as the open door,
+and looked into the apartment. A gentleman sat in an arm-chair, reading
+a newspaper. A glance at him startled me more than anything that had
+ever occurred to me before.
+
+That gentleman was Matt Rockwood, it seemed to me, dressed in his best
+clothes. He glanced from his paper into the entry, as I paused there.
+The face, the expression, the white beard,--everything about him was
+Matt Rockwood.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS HIMSELF SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS OUT.
+
+
+I repeat that I was startled when I saw the gentleman in the room with
+the open door. He was the very image of Matt Rockwood, who had taken
+me from the cold waters of the upper Missouri, and brought me up in
+his log cabin. Of course I could not believe it was old Matt, for I
+had seen him fall before the rifle-shot of the Indian, and had wept
+bitterly over his grave when his remains were committed to the earth.
+
+The gentleman before me was dressed better than old Matt ever clothed
+himself; but his face was as brown from exposure, and his brow as
+deeply indented with wrinkles. If I had not known that my foster-father
+was dead, I should have been willing to declare, at the first glance,
+that this gentleman was he.
+
+"What do you want, young man?" said he, as I paused rather longer that
+politeness would tolerate before his door.
+
+His voice was that of Matt Rockwood; and, as I do not care to prolong a
+sensation, I at once jumped to the conclusion that the person before me
+was the brother of my foster-father, though Morgan Blair had assured me
+that he also was in his grave.
+
+"If you please, sir, I would like to speak to you," I replied to his
+question.
+
+"Come in," he added, laying aside his newspaper. "What is your business
+with me?"
+
+I entered the room, which was a parlor, and from it a bedroom opened
+on one side. The apartments were very handsomely furnished, and as the
+gentleman before me was very well dressed, I concluded that fortune had
+dealt more kindly with him than with Matt.
+
+"Are you Mr. Rockwood?" I asked, gazing earnestly at him.
+
+"I am."
+
+"Mr. Mark Rockwood?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You had a brother, sir?"
+
+"I had."
+
+"And a sister?"
+
+"No; or rather I had two, but both of them died in their childhood," he
+replied, evidently astonished at my line of questions.
+
+He had no sister, and Morgan Blair's story, as I had suspected after I
+found him in the company of Lynch, was all a fiction.
+
+"Have you heard from your brother within a few years?" I inquired.
+
+"Not for twenty years. But who are you, young man?" he demanded,
+evidently supposing that I had known his brother.
+
+At this moment the waiter of whom I had inquired for Mr. Rockwood
+appeared before the door and looked in.
+
+"What do you want, John?" asked the old gentleman.
+
+"Nothing, sir; the young man with you inquired for your room, and I
+came to see if he found you," replied the servant, retiring.
+
+"Who are you, young man, and why do you ask me these questions?"
+
+"I have seen your brother Matthew since you have, and I did not know
+but you might wish to hear about him, though I haven't any good news
+for you."
+
+"You knew Matthew, then?"
+
+"Yes, sir; I lived with him about ten years. In fact, he brought me up."
+
+"But the last I heard of him, he had gone up the Missouri River."
+
+"Yes, sir; and it was there that I lived with him."
+
+"Where is he now?" asked Mr. Rockwood; and I saw that he was
+considerably moved.
+
+"I am sorry to say I have no good news to tell you."
+
+"Is he living?"
+
+"No, sir; he died last spring. But I want to tell you, before I say
+anything more, that no better man than your brother ever lived."
+
+Mr. Rockwood was silent for a few moments. Doubtless the intelligence
+I communicated revived the memories of the past, when they had been
+children together.
+
+"I am glad to hear you speak well of him, young man, for really you
+could not say anything more pleasant of him," said Mr. Rockwood, at
+last. "Since he is dead, nothing can be more comforting than to know
+that he was a good man. Matt was always honest and straightforward; but
+he was almost always unfortunate, he failed in business, and left this
+part of the country discouraged and disheartened. I hope he was never
+in want, or anything of that kind."
+
+"No, sir; he always had plenty; and when he died he left some property."
+
+"I'm very glad to hear it, for I have had times when I worried a great
+deal about it. I tried to find out where he was, but I never succeeded.
+Were you with him when he died?"
+
+"I was, sir," I replied, not a little embarrassed; for I did not like
+to reveal the manner of his death.
+
+"Was he sick long?"
+
+"No, sir; he had been troubled with the rheumatism for two or three
+months; but he was able to be about on crutches at the time he died."
+
+"Did he die of rheumatism?"
+
+"No, sir; he did not die of any disease, nor suffer any pain."
+
+"What do you mean, young man?"
+
+"He was shot, and instantly killed, in a fight with the Indians."
+
+"Poor Matt!" exclaimed Mr. Rockwood, averting his gaze from me.
+
+"I was as near to him as I am to you now when he fell. He never moved
+or breathed after he went down," I added.
+
+"Well, he had lived his threescore and ten, and perhaps one could not
+pass away any easier; but it is grating to one's feelings to know that
+his brother was shot."
+
+I related to him very minutely the history of Matt Rockwood; and he
+listened, as may well be supposed, with the deepest interest.
+
+"And so you found your father?" said he, as I concluded the narrative.
+
+"Yes, sir; and I hope yet to save him from himself."
+
+"I hope so; and I am willing to do all I can for you and for him."
+
+"Thank you, sir. As I said before, sir, your brother left about a
+thousand dollars in gold, and by selling wood and produce we made
+the amount up to about sixteen hundred dollars. A young man, by the
+name of Morgan Blair, says he is the son of Matt's sister, and claims
+this money."
+
+  [Illustration: PHIL BEFORE THE DOOR OF THE SOUTHERN PLANTER.
+  Page 244.]
+
+"Matt had no sister," replied Mr. Rockwood, smiling.
+
+I told him what had happened to me that night; but, as I related the
+story in a good-natured vein, he was rather amused at it.
+
+"Then you did not come to this hotel to see me?"
+
+"No, sir; I blundered upon you;" and I explained how I had happened to
+be before his door when he discovered me, and why I had paused there
+longer than I intended.
+
+He laughed heartily at my story, but I noticed that he suddenly became
+sad whenever I alluded, directly or indirectly, to his brother.
+
+"We will take care of Mr. Morgan Blair in due time," said Mr. Rockwood.
+"Now, Phil, what do you do?"
+
+"I am a carpenter."
+
+"Where do you live?"
+
+I gave him Mrs. Greenough's address, and he wrote it down in his
+memorandum book.
+
+"But I must go home, sir; I ought to have gone long ago. I am afraid my
+father will think something has happened to me," I continued.
+
+"Well I think something has happened to you. But I will not keep you
+any longer. I will go home with you, if you have no objection."
+
+"I should be very glad to have you, sir."
+
+"I should like to see your father."
+
+While he was putting on his overcoat, I took Mr. Gracewood's note from
+my pocket, and tendered it to him.
+
+"What's that, Phil?" he asked.
+
+"It's a note for fifteen hundred dollars--the money your brother left
+and the proceeds of the sale of some of his property."
+
+"This is the note that those ruffians wanted?" he replied, taking the
+paper and reading it.
+
+"I think a little of it belongs to me, for I earned it after the death
+of your brother."
+
+"O, my boy, you shall have the whole of it! I will never touch a penny
+of it."
+
+"But it does not all belong to me."
+
+"Every mill of it," said he, earnestly. "You took care of my brother
+when he was sick, and he brought you up. You have a better claim to his
+property than I have, or should have if I needed it, which I do not."
+
+"You are very kind, sir."
+
+"Only just."
+
+We went down stairs, and I saw that all the people in the hotel treated
+Mr. Rockwood with "distinguished consideration." At his request, the
+landlord called a carriage, and I went home in state. I had never been
+in a carriage before, and I regarded it as a very pleasant mode of
+conveyance.
+
+"I am sorry I did not see you before, Phil, for I must leave for the
+south in a day or two," said Mr. Rockwood, as the carriage drove off.
+
+"Do you live at the south?"
+
+"Yes; I have been in Mississippi almost twenty years. I have a large
+plantation there. I made my fortune down there; but I don't think I
+shall remain there much longer. The climate don't agree with my wife as
+well as St. Louis. I have been investing money in this city for several
+years, and when I can sell my plantation I shall come here to live. I
+own that hotel and the block of buildings with the flat roof over which
+you passed. I have to come here two or three times a year to look after
+the property; and my family generally spend the summer here. I hope I
+shall see more of you, Phil."
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+"If you were a little older, I could give you something better to do
+than carpentering."
+
+"I like that business, sir, and don't care about leaving it at present."
+
+The carriage stopped at Mrs. Greenough's, and we went up stairs. I was
+obliged to show my wealthy friend into the kitchen, for there was no
+fire in the parlor. However, there was not much difference between the
+two rooms.
+
+"I am so glad you have come home, Phil!" said my landlady, descending
+the stairs when she heard me. "We have been really worried about you."
+
+"I am all right," I replied; and then I introduced Mr. Rockwood.
+
+Mrs. Greenough apologized for meeting him in the kitchen. She was
+obliged to stay with Mr. Farringford so much of the time that she did
+not keep a fire in the parlor. She would make one, if he would excuse
+her; but the distinguished gentleman declined to excuse her, and
+thought the kitchen was very comfortable and very pleasant.
+
+"And so you got out, Phil," she added, turning to me.
+
+"Out? How did you know anything about it?" I inquired, very much
+surprised to find that the intelligence of my adventure had preceded me.
+
+"Why, a policeman has been here with your note."
+
+"My note! What note?"
+
+"Didn't you write a billet to me?" she continued, bustling about to
+find the important document.
+
+"I am not aware that I did," I replied.
+
+"Why, yes, you did, Phil. Where is it? I must have left it up stairs. I
+will go up after it."
+
+"But I haven't written any billet," I protested.
+
+"I will show it to you," said she, hastening up stairs to find the note.
+
+"Your friends appear to have doubled on you, after all," laughed Mr.
+Rockwood.
+
+"I don't understand it, though I remember that in order to save the
+rascals the trouble of attempting to get any money out of me, I told
+them I had left my balance at home."
+
+Mrs. Greenough returned with the note, and handed it to me. I read it
+with astonishment and indignation. My name was signed at the end of it;
+but, of course, no part of the contents was written by me. In the note
+I was represented as informing the good lady that I had been arrested,
+and conveyed to the station-house; but I could be bailed out till
+Monday by depositing sixty-five dollars with the sergeant of police.
+
+"Who brought this?" I asked.
+
+"A man who said he was a policeman."
+
+"Did you know him?"
+
+"No; but after consulting a long time with your father, we sent the
+money."
+
+"You did!" I exclaimed.
+
+I concluded that I was sixty-five dollars out.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL RETURNS TO THE DEN OF THE ENEMY.
+
+
+I felt that I could afford to lose sixty-five dollars better than
+ever before; but I did not like the idea of being swindled. It was
+especially repugnant to be overreached by such scoundrels as Lynch and
+Blair, though the latter appeared to be only the tool of the former.
+
+"I did not like to give the man the money, but your father thought
+that, as he was a policeman, it was all right," Mrs. Greenough
+explained. "Your father was very much worried when he heard you were
+arrested."
+
+"I have not been arrested," I replied.
+
+"Your father wishes to see you," added the landlady.
+
+"I will go up with you, if you please," said Mr. Rockwood.
+
+We went up to my father's room, where I introduced my new friend to
+him. It required some time, of course, to explain who and what the
+planter was, and how I had made his acquaintance.
+
+"Then you have not been arrested," said my father.
+
+"No; but I was kept a prisoner by these scoundrels."
+
+"We must attend to them," added Mr. Rockwood, consulting his watch.
+
+"Dear me! there is the door-bell again!" exclaimed Mrs. Greenough. "Who
+can it be at this time of night!"
+
+"It is only half past nine," added the planter, as I took a light to
+answer the bell. "I think Mrs. Greenough had better go to the door,
+for I don't believe these scoundrels will be satisfied with sixty-five
+dollars."
+
+At this suggestion Mrs. Greenough answered the summons, and soon
+returned with another note--from me! I opened it, and read that I had
+been arrested in connection with the claim of Morgan Blair, and that
+when the police sergeant heard there was a note, which represented the
+property claimed, in my possession, he thought it was better to have
+it deposited with the chief of police for safe keeping.
+
+"These fellows evidently think you have not yet returned to your home,
+Phil," said Mr. Rockwood.
+
+"I don't blame them much for thinking so, for I expected to stay on
+those roofs all night; and I think I should if you had not been so wise
+as to put a hotel in the block," I replied.
+
+"The man asked if Phil was at home before he gave me the note," said
+the landlady, "and I evaded the question."
+
+"What shall we do?" asked my father, raising himself in the bed.
+
+"Phil and I will pay a visit to these rascals," answered the planter.
+"Have you an envelope?"
+
+"Yes," I replied, producing one, with some paper.
+
+He folded up a sheet of paper, put it in the envelope, and requested
+the landlady to direct it to the chief of police.
+
+"Where is this messenger?" asked Mr. Rockwood.
+
+"He is waiting in the kitchen."
+
+"Very well, Mrs. Greenough. If you will close the door, so that we can
+get into the street without his knowledge, we will follow him up and
+attend to this business."
+
+The landlady went down stairs, and when she had closed the kitchen
+door, the planter and myself crept softly down stairs, and went into
+the street. We placed ourselves where we could identify the messenger
+when he came out of the house. He was evidently satisfied that the
+envelope contained the document for which he had been sent, for he
+immediately followed us out of the house. He was a well-dressed man, as
+we saw by the light of the corner street lamp. He wore a light-colored
+overcoat, so that we could easily follow him as he passed through the
+streets. Mr. Rockwood went behind him, while I walked on the other side
+of the street, and kept up with him. He went, as I supposed he would,
+to the house to which I had been enticed earlier in the evening. He
+went in by the aid of a night-key, and doubtless believed that he had
+fully accomplished the mission upon which he had been sent.
+
+"You are younger and more active than I am, Phil," said Mr. Rockwood,
+when the man had entered the house and closed the door behind him.
+"If you will stay here, and follow any of the rascals if they come out
+again, I will get an officer."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+The planter hastened to his hotel, and I stationed myself where I could
+see who left the house. My friend was not absent more than a quarter
+of an hour, and returned with two officers, whom the landlord of the
+hotel had procured for him. One of them was in uniform, and the other
+a detective in plain clothes. I concluded that Mr. Rockwood meant
+business, and instead of my spending Sunday as a prisoner, this would
+be the fate of those who were trying to swindle me.
+
+"That's a gambling-house," said the policeman in uniform, when I
+pointed out the door where the man entered.
+
+"Undoubtedly it is a gambling-house," replied the detective, gazing
+inquiringly at me, as though he was not quite satisfied with the story
+related to him by Mr. Rockwood; "but even a gambling-house has certain
+rights, which may not be disturbed without proper cause."
+
+"Proper cause!" exclaimed Mr. Rockwood. "Don't I tell you that this
+young man has been robbed and abused by the villains in this house?"
+
+"You will excuse me, sir, but it is possible to be mistaken. If I
+understand you, Mr. Rockwood, you met this boy for the first time about
+two hours ago."
+
+"But I have entire confidence in him. He is the son of Edward
+Farringford."
+
+"Perhaps he is, though I do not believe it; but that is nothing to
+recommend him. His story is absurd on the face of it."
+
+"My story is true, sir, every word of it," I interposed, indignantly.
+
+Mr. Bogart, the detective, asked me a few questions in regard to my
+escape from the building, and I repeated all the particulars. He shook
+his head, and declared that he was unwilling to enter the house upon
+the strength of such a story. It would damage his reputation as an
+officer, and his superiors would not justify the measure.
+
+"I'll tell you what I will do," he continued.
+
+"Well, what will you do?" demanded Mr. Rockwood, impatiently.
+
+"I will go with this young man to the top of the house, where he left
+the chamber of the gambler. I will follow him into the house by the
+window through which he came out."
+
+"I don't think you can get in at the window."
+
+"I suppose not," said Mr. Bogart, with a palpable sneer.
+
+"But I will go with you, and show you the window," I added.
+
+"I wish you would," replied the officer, who evidently believed that I
+should give him the slip before I verified my position.
+
+Mr. Rockwood and the policeman were to remain in the street and keep
+watch of the house during our absence. If the gambler's messenger who
+had gone to the house of Mrs. Greenough appeared, he was to be arrested.
+
+Mr. Bogart and myself went to the hotel, where, after my companion had
+spoken to the landlord, we ascended to the roof.
+
+"Now, young man, if you will go ahead, I will follow you," said the
+detective.
+
+"I hope you are used to climbing," I replied.
+
+"Don't borrow any trouble on my account; I will follow anywhere that
+you will lead."
+
+"All right, sir; I hope I shall soon be able to prove all that I have
+stated."
+
+"I hope so," replied he, in a tone which assured me that he did not
+expect anything of the kind.
+
+I led the way across the flat roof, and at the next block we mounted
+the ridge-pole of the pitch roof. Mr. Bogart cautioned me to move with
+care, so as not to disturb the inmates of the houses beneath us. I was
+soon in position to see the bright light streaming up from the tenement
+to which I had been decoyed by the villains.
+
+"That's the house," said I, pointing to the light.
+
+"Did you come up through that scuttle?" he asked.
+
+"No, I came up over the top of the luthern window."
+
+"Impossible!" exclaimed he, glancing at the window.
+
+"It is true; and I suppose I shall have to go in that way," I
+continued; and I explained minutely how I had made my exit from the
+chamber.
+
+"Lead on. We will examine the house," said Mr. Bogart.
+
+On a nearer approach to the roof of the gambling-house, I discovered
+that the glass scuttle was open, and I concluded that Lynch and Blair
+had been upon the roof in search of me. When I reached the opening I
+found a ladder conveniently placed for my descent, if I chose to avail
+myself of its aid. I looked down into the entry, where the gas-light
+still blazed cheerfully. The door of Lynch's room was open, and I could
+distinctly hear the voices of my late captors.
+
+"They took me into that front room," I whispered to my doubting
+companion.
+
+"This looks a little as though your story was true," said Mr. Bogart.
+
+"Will you follow me down this ladder?"
+
+"No, not yet. I wish to get a little better idea of what these fellows
+mean. Are you afraid of them?"
+
+"No; not a bit," I answered, raising the poker which I had picked up
+where I left it on the roof.
+
+"Will you go down alone?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, if you desire it."
+
+"I will keep the run of you, and see what is done. If you get into
+trouble with them, just whistle as loud as you can, and I will join
+you."
+
+"But suppose they take away the ladder?"
+
+"Then I will go down as I came up, and enter the house by the front
+door. Don't be afraid of anything."
+
+"I'm not afraid."
+
+"I will be near you. I want to know what these fellows mean to do. If
+they close the door, I will go down the ladder into the entry."
+
+Suddenly my companion appeared to have become very enthusiastic in the
+business upon which we were engaged. Though he did not say so, I was
+satisfied that he was convinced of the truth of my statement.
+
+"What shall I do?" I asked, rather puzzled by the tactics of the
+detective.
+
+"Do whatever they wish you to do; but don't let them know that you have
+been off the roof since you escaped.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I cannot stop to explain now; only I don't think these rascals have
+taken all this trouble with you for fifty or a hundred dollars; and
+they mean to use you as a cat's paw for something else."
+
+"I know they do," I replied, in a whisper. "They want the fifteen
+hundred dollars in gold, for which I hold a note signed by Mr.
+Gracewood."
+
+"No matter now," said he, impatiently. "Go down, and give them all the
+rope they want."
+
+"Shall I give them the note, which I have in my pocket?"
+
+"I haven't heard about the note. If you had told me the whole story
+before now, I should have known better what to do."
+
+We retreated a few paces from the skylight, and I told him all about
+the note and the object of Lynch. I assured him that Mr. Rockwood was
+the legal heir of the property.
+
+"The note is of no consequence then," said Mr. Bogart. "Give it to
+them, but don't indorse it, and I will see that it is returned to you.
+We have them now. They can't escape us. Now, go down, and let them have
+their own way, but with some show of opposition."
+
+I descended the ladder, and stood before the open door of the chamber,
+when I saw Lynch, with his feet on the table, smoking. Morgan Blair sat
+opposite him. They discovered me as soon as I landed in the hall, and
+made haste to place themselves between me and the stairs, in order to
+cut off my escape. As I did not wish to escape, I gave them no trouble
+in this direction, but entered the chamber.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS A PALE GENTLEMAN WITH ONE ARM IN A SLING.
+
+
+"I thought you would come back, my dear Phil," said Mr. Leonidas
+Lynchpinne, as he placed himself in the doorway before me. "I knew you
+had so much respect and regard for us that you would not break our
+hearts by being long absent. By the way, Phil, how is the weather on
+the roof?"
+
+"It is rather cool," I replied, seating myself in the vacant chair,
+"but not quite so cool as you are, Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne."
+
+"Phil, be virtuous, and you will always be happy; that is the secret of
+my uninterrupted cheerfulness; that enables me always and everywhere to
+be perfectly calm and collected. Be honest, just, and upright, Phil;
+and then the man don't live that can make you tremble, or, in other
+words, shake in your boots. But besides being all these, Phil, you
+should be charitable and humane, especially the latter. I am humane,
+Phil, and that adds to the sum total of my bliss on earth."
+
+"You must be an exceedingly happy man, Mr. Leonidas Lynchpinne," I
+added; and I saw that he had been drinking some exhilarating beverage
+since I left him.
+
+"O, I am--happy as the day is long, and the night too. You were so
+very imprudent, Phil, as to make your exit--in other words, your
+departure--from this room by the way of that front window. You might
+have fallen upon the hard pavement in the street below; and then how I
+should have wept over your brief but wasted life!"
+
+"You are very affectionate."
+
+"Affection is the staple fodder of my existence, Phil. By a process
+of reasoning which I need not attempt to develop to your unpractised
+understanding, I arrived at the conclusion that you would be compelled
+to remain all night on the roof of this and the adjacent houses, unless
+something was done for you. Dreading lest, benumbed with cold, you
+should attempt the fearful feat of returning to this humble apartment
+by the same means you used in leaving it, I placed that ladder at the
+skylight for your use. After all the wrongs, injuries, and insults you
+have heaped upon me, I took this means to prevent you from sacrificing
+yourself on the hard pavement below. That is what I call humanity, and
+I offer it to you as an exemplification of that noble attribute."
+
+"Thank you; and I will endeavor to profit by your example, at least so
+far as it illustrates the attribute of humanity. If you have nothing
+more to say to me, I will take my leave of you."
+
+"Stay, Phil; I have more to say to you," he interposed. "Be honest, and
+you will be eccentric--I mean, you will be happy."
+
+"I am glad to hear such lessons of practical wisdom from you, Mr.
+Leonidas Lynchpinne," I replied, hoping he would soon come to the
+point, if he had any point, as Mr. Bogart had suggested.
+
+"You appreciate true wisdom, Phil. Good! Then you will give that note
+to this honest young man."
+
+"Certainly I will give it to him when he proves his claim."
+
+I concluded that he was not satisfied with the blank paper sent in the
+envelope.
+
+"I knew you would be just, Phil, after the good advice I have given
+you; for you are not a bad boy at heart, though you have been led away
+by evil influences. If you stay with me a while, you will be reformed,
+and then you will lead a good and true life, and then you will be
+eccentric--happy, I mean. Won't you smoke a cigar, Phil?"
+
+"No, I thank you; I never smoke."
+
+"That's right, Phil. It's a filthy practice, besides leading to other
+vices more to be condemned," said he, lighting a fresh cigar. "Now,
+Phil, about that note, which justly and rightly belongs to my good
+friend Morgan Blair. Do you happen to have it about you?"
+
+"Yes; I have it in my pocket," I replied, acting upon the advice of Mr.
+Bogart.
+
+"Capital! Things always work right for those who are faithful and
+humane. I'm faithful and humane. Now, we are going to bring you two
+good and true witnesses, who will convince you that Morgan Blair is the
+son of Matt Rockwood's sister. We have taken a great deal of pains to
+send to Vandalia for them, and they will be here to-night--this very
+night, Phil. That's all we want to see you for."
+
+"Very well; I should like to hear what they have to say."
+
+"You shall hear them. I will go down and bring them up," he added,
+rising from the chair.
+
+He had hardly got up before the door was darkened by what to me seemed
+to be an apparition. It was a gentleman with an overcoat thrown loosely
+over his shoulders. He wore no other coat, and no vest. I saw that
+his left arm was suspended in a sling. His face was very pale, and
+he looked very much like my excellent friend Mr. Gracewood, though
+a second glance assured me it was not he. When he discovered me, he
+started back, and was disposed to retreat.
+
+"You have company, Mr. Lynch," said the pale gentleman. "I will come
+another time."
+
+"Come in, Mr. Gracewood. Come in!" replied Lynch, placing the
+rocking-chair for the visitor, who was evidently an invalid.
+
+Mr. Gracewood! It certainly was not my kind friend; but the resemblance
+was strong enough to assure me that he was a relative, if not a brother.
+
+"Is this the way you keep my secret?" said the pale gentleman,
+reproachfully, as he retreated a pace into the entry.
+
+"O, it's all right here. This is Phil Farringford, of whom I spoke to
+you," added Lynch.
+
+"So much the worse!" exclaimed the invalid, impatiently.
+
+"But he is the very essence of discretion and reserve. Your secret is
+as safe with him as with me," protested the gambler.
+
+"The mischief is done, whatever it may be. You have called me by my
+name."
+
+"May I ask if you are a relative of Henry Gracewood?" I inquired, so
+much interested in the pale gentleman that I forgot everything else.
+
+"His own brother, and his only brother," replied Mr. Gracewood,
+bitterly. "I would not have him know that I am here for his fortune
+and mine, though I am guilty of no crime against him."
+
+"Mind that, Phil," interposed Lynch; "and remember that discretion is
+the better part of valor, and sometimes the better part of virtue. This
+honest gentleman has been unfortunate, but not guilty."
+
+I could not understand how a person in his situation, apparently an
+invalid, should happen to be in a gambling-house, and it seemed to me
+that the secrecy he coveted was an indication of something evil. He
+declared that he was guilty of no crime against his brother. Respect
+and regard for the good friend of my early years prompted me not to
+betray him, at least before I knew more about him. Then it occurred
+to me that the detective on the roof, or perhaps in the entry by this
+time, might discover more than it was desirable for him to know.
+
+"Do you know where my brother is now, young man?" asked the invalid.
+
+"He is at Delaware City, where his wife is sick," I replied, giving
+him the details of the illness of Mrs. Gracewood.
+
+"You can talk it over between you," interposed Lynch. "I have an
+engagement with the governor of Missouri and half a dozen congressmen;
+and I hope you will excuse me for half an hour."
+
+Mr. Gracewood nodded, and Lynch and Blair left the room. I had no doubt
+Mr. Bogart, in the entry, would attend to their movements, and I did
+not trouble myself about them. I told my companion all I knew about his
+brother.
+
+"I had a letter from him this autumn, saying he expected to return to
+St. Louis before winter. He spoke about you, and about his wife and
+daughter. I have heard nothing from them since."
+
+"He would have been here a fortnight ago if his wife had not been sick."
+
+"Young man, do you know the character of this house?" said Mr.
+Gracewood, looking at me very sharply.
+
+"I do, sir, very well indeed; and the character of the man who has just
+left us."
+
+"How do you happen to be in such a place, then?"
+
+"I was enticed here by Lynch, who wanted to plunder me of certain
+property in my possession; but I understand him, and he won't make
+anything out of me."
+
+"Perhaps you wonder that I am here," he added, looking upon the floor,
+as though he considered his own position more equivocal than mine.
+
+"I confess that I do, sir, especially as you look like an invalid, and
+I see you have your arm in a sling."
+
+"I would not have my brother know that I am here for all the world,
+for I judge from the tone of his letter that a great change has come
+over him. He talks to me of the mercies of God, which I feel that I
+need more than all else on earth. I am overwhelmed with shame at my
+situation."
+
+Mr. Gracewood covered his face with his hand, and I heard him groan in
+bitterness of spirit. I pitied him, for whatever he had done, he was a
+penitent, and I was sure that God's mercy could reach and comfort him.
+
+"If you wish, I will tell you how I happen to be here," I added,
+intending, if possible, to divert his mind from the woe that
+overwhelmed him.
+
+"No, young man; I do not care to know. As you may see my brother before
+I do, I had better tell you how I happen to be here," he added. "I
+have been gambling, and I have lost thousands and tens of thousands of
+dollars. I have even impaired my fortune; and if this calamity had not
+overtaken me,"--and he pointed to his wounded arm,--"I might even have
+spent my brother's fortune, which, perhaps you know, he placed in my
+keeping. I sold stocks and bonds in which I had invested his money, and
+lost the proceeds at the gambling table.
+
+"In my home at Glencoe, I cursed my own folly and wickedness in wasting
+my substance in games of chance; but I hoped to redeem my heavy losses.
+I was fully resolved, when I had done so, never to play again. But the
+judgment comes when we least expect it. I found, when I looked over
+my accounts in the quiet of my chamber at Glencoe, that I had lost
+about twenty thousand dollars' worth of stocks and bonds belonging to
+my brother. I was appalled, for both his property and mine was largely
+invested in real estate, and I had not the ready money to make good
+the deficiency. A few days before, an offer was made me for a piece of
+property in this city. I proposed to sell it for thirty thousand, and
+was offered twenty-five. Under the pressure of this need to repair my
+brother's fortune, I hastened to the city, and closed the bargain at
+the lower price.
+
+"The purchaser came to me with the money in his hand as soon as I could
+have the papers prepared. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when the
+business was completed, and I had twenty-five thousand dollars in my
+pocket. It was too late to deposit it in the bank that day, and meeting
+one whose acquaintance I had made at Forstellar's, I came here. I lost
+a thousand dollars before I fully realized what I was doing. Then I
+refused to play any more. The one with whom I had come was angry with
+me. In a word, we had a quarrel, and in his wrath he attempted to stab
+me; but I warded off the blow with my arm, which was severely wounded.
+
+"The ruffian escaped; but I was taken to a chamber, and a surgeon sent
+for. Then I thought of the large sum of money in my possession, and the
+character of the place, and--"
+
+Mr. Gracewood suddenly placed his hand against his breast, and, without
+another word, fled from the room.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND, AND MR. LEONIDAS LYNCHPINNE COMES
+  TO GRIEF.
+
+
+I could not imagine what had so suddenly driven Mr. Gracewood from the
+room. He left as though he had been shot from a gun, and did not utter
+a word in explanation of his conduct. On the impulse of the moment I
+followed him. In the entry I looked for Mr. Bogart, in order to report
+progress to him; but I did not see him. The ladder was still standing
+at the skylight, but the detective was not in sight upon the roof, and
+though I called his name as loud as I dared to speak he did not respond.
+
+I descended the stairs to the next floor, where I had understood the
+room of the invalid was located. The door of his apartment was open,
+and I discovered Mr. Gracewood in the act of ransacking his bed. He
+was very nervous and excited, and I saw that the hand he was able to
+use trembled violently.
+
+  [Illustration: THE LOST MONEY. Page 281.]
+
+"What is the matter, Mr. Gracewood?" I asked, as he continued to tumble
+over the mattress and the pillows.
+
+"All is lost!" exclaimed he, in the tones of despair.
+
+"What is lost?"
+
+"My money!" he gasped, in a hoarse whisper.
+
+"Do you mean to say that it is gone!" I asked, startled at the
+suggestion.
+
+"All gone!" groaned he. "Twenty-four thousand dollars!"
+
+"But where did you put it, sir?"
+
+"Between the two beds, when Lynch sent for me to come up into his room."
+
+"Did he send for you, sir?" I interposed.
+
+"He did."
+
+"Then it was a plot to rob you, sir."
+
+"I fear that it was; but I was careless. I had hardly been out of my
+room before; but when I did leave it, I took my money with me. I had
+become accustomed to its possession, and I did not think of it. I did
+not believe Lynch was a bad man. He was very kind to me, and attended
+to my wants after I was hurt."
+
+"Did he know you had this money?"
+
+"I did not tell him, but I think he did. He must have stolen it."
+
+"Don't be alarmed, sir. I don't think you will lose it," I added.
+
+"It is gone already, and I shall never see it again."
+
+"Perhaps you will, sir."
+
+"No, never! The men in this house are all villains," said he, bitterly,
+as he dropped into a chair, apparently from sheer exhaustion, and in
+utter despair.
+
+"No, sir; I happen to know that the eyes of a detective were upon him
+at the very moment when he left the room above. I have no doubt he has
+been arrested by this time."
+
+"Detective?"
+
+"Yes, sir;" and I gave a brief account of the manner in which Lynch had
+swindled me, and stated the purpose for which I had returned to the
+house.
+
+"But I shall be exposed!" exclaimed Mr. Gracewood, bitterly. "I would
+rather lose my money than have my wife and children know that I have
+been gambling, and that I frequent such places as this. I wrote them
+a miserable lie--that I was obliged to go to Memphis--to explain my
+absence. If God will forgive and spare me this time, never will I be
+guilty again!"
+
+"Calm yourself, sir. I am sorry you have done wrong; but seeing and
+repenting the wrong half undoes it--so your brother taught me."
+
+"I shall never be at peace again in this world," groaned the sufferer.
+"But let the money go; I can sell another estate, though a third of all
+I had is gone already."
+
+"The money is not gone, Mr. Gracewood. I am satisfied that Lynch is
+arrested by this time."
+
+"So much the worse! I shall be exposed."
+
+"Perhaps not. Let us look the matter over. Why did Lynch send for you
+to go up into his room?"
+
+"He sent me a note by the young man who was with him. Here it is," he
+added, rising and taking a piece of paper from the table.
+
+I took the paper, which contained a few lines, as follows: "I have seen
+the young fellow, Phil Farringford, who was with your brother. If you
+will come up to my room, I will tell you what he says."
+
+"You seem to have known about me before," I added, when I had read the
+note.
+
+"As I said, this Lynch took care of me when I was hurt. I did not
+intend that any one here should know my name, but I think he read it
+where the tailor had written it on the inside of my coat; at any rate,
+he called me by name. I think he must have seen me take the package
+of bank notes from my pocket and put it under the pillow, before the
+surgeon came. When the doctor left, and I was more comfortable, he told
+me that he had met my brother on board of a steamer up the Missouri,
+and said there was a boy with him whom he had since seen in the city. I
+was very anxious to know when my brother was coming, so that I might be
+prepared to see him.
+
+"Lynch did not know where my brother was, and I asked him if he
+knew where to find you. He thought he should be able to see you,
+and to-night I was very glad to learn that he had succeeded, and I
+hastened up stairs to obtain the intelligence of the absent one."
+
+The plan of the villain appeared to me to be past finding out. I
+concluded that I had been sent for to assist in some manner in the
+plundering of the unhappy gentleman. But they had done the job, so
+far as I could see, without any help from me, unless my presence was
+intended to lure the victim from his room, and thus enable them to do
+the work. Why they had skirmished by robbing me of sixty-five dollars
+was not at all clear to me. I explained to Mr. Gracewood that I had
+left Mr. Rockwood and an officer outside of the house.
+
+"I will go down and see if they are there now," I added. "Perhaps I
+shall be able to tell you something about Lynch."
+
+"Don't leave me, young man. I am miserable."
+
+"But I want to know what has become of Lynch."
+
+"No matter; let him go. Do not allow them to expose me."
+
+I did not wonder that this man's conscience stung him, and that he
+dreaded to have his name in the newspapers in connection with his
+presence at the gambling-house. The only safety for men, young or old,
+is to keep away from evil haunts. Those who enter gambling-houses from
+curiosity may be impelled to repeat the visit from stronger motives.
+
+While I was discussing the question with the miserable man, I heard
+footsteps in the entry. I opened the door, and found Mr. Rockwood and
+the detective, who had come to look for me.
+
+"We have nabbed them both, Phil," said Mr. Rockwood. "They are in irons
+at the next station-house. And a big haul it was, too."
+
+"Whose room is that you came out of just now?" asked Mr. Bogart.
+
+"It is occupied by a gentleman who is stopping here," I replied.
+
+"Do you know what Lynch stole from that room?"
+
+"I do--a package containing twenty-four thousand dollars. Did you see
+him take it?"
+
+"I did," answered Mr. Bogart. "But I don't understand this business."
+
+"Neither do I."
+
+"Where is the gentleman? I want to see him."
+
+"I wouldn't see him to-night. He is quite sick, and suffering terribly."
+
+"I want to tell him that his money is safe."
+
+"I will tell him that."
+
+"And that the thief is in custody. When he is able, he must appear, and
+claim his money."
+
+Fortunately Mr. Bogart was in a great hurry; and when I assured him I
+had no fears in regard to my own safety, he left me in the house, with
+Mr. Rockwood. Before he went he took the occasion to apologize to me
+for doubting my story, earlier in the evening. Leaving Mr. Rockwood in
+the entry, I went in to see Mr. Gracewood again. He was exceedingly
+nervous and uneasy when I told him that his money was safe.
+
+"And the whole story will be out in the newspapers on Monday morning,"
+said he, gloomily.
+
+"I don't know much about these things. I am willing to do anything that
+is right for you," I replied.
+
+"I deserved to be exposed, but I have not the courage to meet the
+ordeal."
+
+"Mr. Rockwood is waiting for me in the entry. He is a wealthy and
+influential gentleman. His brother and your brother were neighbors and
+intimate friends on the upper Missouri. If you will see him, I think he
+could serve you."
+
+At first he was very unwilling to meet any one, but at last he
+consented. I stated the case to Mr. Rockwood in the entry, and then
+introduced him to the sufferer.
+
+"Don't distress yourself, my dear sir," said Mr. Rockwood, when the
+misery of the other was manifested. "The best of men have their
+misfortunes."
+
+"I cannot call that a misfortune which is brought upon me by my own
+folly and wickedness," replied Mr. Gracewood.
+
+"But the best of men have their failings. Your secret is safe with me,
+and I shall only hope that you may be stronger in the future than in
+the past."
+
+"With the help of God, this will be a lesson to me that shall make me
+a better man than ever before," added Mr. Gracewood, fervently.
+
+"But you shall not stay another night in such a place as this, my dear
+sir," continued Mr. Rockwood, earnestly. "The very atmosphere of the
+den is poison."
+
+"I dare not leave it."
+
+"My hotel is only a few steps from here. You shall have my rooms, and
+no one need ever know that you are there."
+
+"You are very kind. I had no right to expect such generous treatment
+from an entire stranger."
+
+"Your brother and my brother were the best of friends for many years;
+we will imitate their example, and be friends for their sake."
+
+Mr. Rockwood insisted upon his arrangement, paid the invalid's bill,
+and sent for a carriage to convey him to his new quarters. We dressed
+the miserable man, and helped him into the vehicle. The driver was
+directed to stop at the private door on the cross-street, and Mr.
+Gracewood was conducted to the rooms of his new friend without
+attracting any attention.
+
+"I used to stay at this hotel myself," said Mr. Gracewood, when he was
+seated in the planter's great arm-chair.
+
+"It is a good house, and you shall have every care you need."
+
+Having seen the invalid so comfortably provided for, I thought it was
+about time for me to go home. I promised to call the next day, and left
+the room. I felt as though a mighty secret had been confided to me; but
+I could not see how Mr. Gracewood could escape the exposure he so much
+dreaded. I could not understand how he had thus far escaped it, if he
+frequented gambling-houses. Certainly he was thoroughly conscious of
+the sin of which he had been guilty, and peace would follow penitence
+and reform.
+
+I descended the stairs to the lower floor of the hotel, and was
+hastening by the office when I discovered my excellent friend Mr. Henry
+Gracewood walking up and down the hall, smoking his pipe. My heart
+thrilled with emotion as I hastened to greet him. He grasped my hand
+with a warmth that assured me he had lost none of his old regard for
+me.
+
+"I am glad to see you, Phil Farringford," said he. "Come right up
+stairs, and see Mrs. Gracewood and Ella."
+
+He led the way to a suit of rooms adjoining those of Mr. Rockwood, and
+it seemed to me that the catastrophe which the invalid so much dreaded
+could not long be postponed.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXV.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE PROSPECT GROWING BRIGHTER.
+
+
+The meeting with the family of Mr. Gracewood was none the less pleasant
+because it was entirely unexpected. I had been expecting and hoping to
+see them, till I was afraid the winter would set in and compel them
+to remain where they were till spring, for Mrs. Gracewood was too ill
+to bear the fatigues of the long journey by land. I thought that Ella
+looked prettier than ever, and the welcome she gave me was worth all
+the patient waiting I had bestowed upon it.
+
+The lady looked very pale and sick; indeed, a great change had come
+over her since we parted, only a few weeks before. I saw that she had
+been very sick, and that she was still very far from being in her usual
+health. Though she had been brought up tenderly and delicately, she
+had done the house-work, with the assistance of Ella and myself, at the
+settlement during the summer. For my own part, I felt quite alarmed
+about her, she looked so pale and sick. She was reclining upon the
+lounge when I entered, but she rose to greet me.
+
+"I am glad to see you, Phil Farringford, for I have thought a great
+deal about you since we parted so strangely," said Mr. Gracewood. "Your
+letter afforded me a great deal of satisfaction."
+
+"I have worried a great deal about you and your family, sir," I
+replied; "and it gives me new life to see you again. When did you
+arrive?"
+
+"We did not get ashore till after nine o'clock, too late to go out to
+Glencoe, where my brother lives at the present time."
+
+I wanted to tell him that his brother was in the very next room; but I
+did not think that I had the right to complicate the affairs of others,
+and I said nothing.
+
+"What have you been doing, Phil?" asked Mr. Gracewood.
+
+"I am a carpenter now; I work at the Plane and Plank, and am doing
+first rate," I replied.
+
+"I have a long story to tell you, but I suppose it is rather late to
+begin it to-night."
+
+"I am afraid it would be rather trying to the nerves of Mrs. Gracewood,
+and we will postpone it," he replied, glancing at his wife.
+
+"Do let me hear it, Phil," interposed Ella.
+
+"I shall be very glad to tell you all about it, Ella; but it is too
+late to-night; I must go home now."
+
+"Where is your home, Phil?"
+
+"I board with a widow lady, who is one of the best women in the world.
+She has acted like a mother to me. I will come in the morning and see
+you again."
+
+I took my leave of the family; but as Mr. Gracewood followed me down
+stairs, I had no opportunity to see Mr. Rockwood, as I had intended, to
+inform him of the new arrival. I hastened home, and found my father and
+Mrs. Greenough very much worried at my prolonged absence: but I had a
+story that was worth telling to relate, and it was midnight before we
+retired.
+
+After breakfast the next morning I dressed myself in my best clothes;
+and I could not help thinking that Ella would be willing to believe I
+was not a bad-looking young fellow. My father was very feeble, but it
+was a satisfaction to know that he was improving. Mrs. Greenough was
+unwearied in her efforts to restore him to moral and physical health.
+Probably his illness in a measure spared him from the cravings of his
+appetite for drink. He sat in his easy chair a large portion of the day
+reading the Bible, and such good books as our kind landlady provided
+for his needs.
+
+I hastened to the hotel to see my friends as soon as I could get away
+from home. I called upon Mr. Rockwood first, and he assured me that his
+patient was doing very well, but had not yet left his bed.
+
+"I am afraid things are getting a little tangled here, sir," I
+suggested.
+
+"What do you mean, Phil? Does anything go wrong?" asked Mr. Rockwood.
+
+"There was an arrival last night at this hotel," I continued, in a low
+tone.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Mr. Gracewood, from the upper Missouri," I replied, in a whisper.
+
+"Is it possible!"
+
+At this moment the invalid tottered through the open door, and stood
+before us.
+
+"I knew it!" said he; "I knew it!"
+
+"What?" inquired Mr. Rockwood.
+
+"That my brother had come. You need not attempt to conceal it from me.
+I heard his voice all night long. He is in the next room."
+
+The planter looked at me, and I looked at him. It was not probable
+that the invalid had heard his brother's voice all night long; and it
+was possible that, whatever the fact might be, he was laboring under a
+delusion.
+
+"Be calm, Mr. Gracewood," said the planter.
+
+"Calm? I am as calm as the surface of a summer lake. Don't you see that
+I am calm? I fear nothing now. I will not be a knave, and I will not be
+a hypocrite. I heard my brother's voice last evening before I went to
+sleep, and the sound of it haunted me all night. I will tell him the
+whole story, for I will not let him believe that I am better than I am.
+If God will forgive me, I know my brother will."
+
+Mr. Gracewood explained the course of his thoughts during the long and
+weary night he had passed. It was but the old story, that he who
+sins must suffer; and his experience made me resolve anew to be always
+true and faithful to the truth and the right; for if the conscience can
+sting here, in the midst of the allurements of the world, what will it
+not do in the hereafter?
+
+  [Illustration: REUNION OF PHIL AND HIS FRIENDS. Page 292.]
+
+Mr. Gracewood declared that he was ready to see his brother, and the
+sooner the better. I was sent to prepare my excellent friend for the
+interview. I found the family in their parlor, and was cordially
+greeted by all of them. I told Mr. Gracewood that I had made the
+acquaintance of old Matt's brother, and that he was a planter. I then
+asked him to go with me and see him. He consented, but in the entry I
+paused to tell him more.
+
+"There is another brother here," I added, as he closed the door of the
+parlor behind him.
+
+"Another of Matt's brothers?"
+
+"No, your brother."
+
+"My brother!"
+
+"Yes, sir; I am sorry to say he is in rather poor health."
+
+"Where is he?"
+
+"In the next room to yours. He is with Mr. Rockwood, who owns this
+hotel."
+
+"Let me see him at once. I hope he is not dangerously sick."
+
+"No; but he is more troubled in mind than in body."
+
+"Is he insane?"
+
+"No, sir; he blames himself very much for something he has done."
+
+"What has he done?" asked my friend, very much troubled.
+
+"He has been gambling; but he regrets it so sincerely, that I am sure
+he will be a better man than he ever was before. You shall see him now,
+and I know you will be very gentle with him."
+
+"It is not for me to condemn him; I can only condemn my own errors,"
+said my Christian friend, as I led him into Mr. Rockwood's rooms.
+
+The invalid rose as he entered, and extended his hand to his brother,
+while the great tears rolled down his pale, wan cheek.
+
+"I am glad to see you, Robert," said Henry. "I am sorry you are sick."
+
+"I am sick at heart."
+
+But I did not stay to hear the confession of the penitent. Ella went to
+church and to Sunday school with me; and after the latter I conducted
+her back to the hotel; for, besides the pleasure her company afforded
+me, I wished to know the condition of affairs between the brothers. As
+I had expected, they were easily reconciled. My excellent friend had no
+malice in his heart; and though his brother's error must have given him
+a severe shock, he was willing to cover the past with the repentance
+that succeeded.
+
+I dined with the family, and went to church in the afternoon; but I
+spent the evening with my father. He was more cheerful than he had been
+for several days, and assured me he had found a peace in the truths of
+the gospel which he had never realized before. He was really happy; and
+if there was ever a changed man in the world, he was the one.
+
+"Philip, I am well enough to think of the future," said he. "It worries
+me, too."
+
+"It need not."
+
+"I may not be able to do anything for some time, for I am very weak. I
+suppose I must be made over anew."
+
+"Don't disturb yourself at all about that," I replied. "I am getting
+six dollars a week, and that will pay our board."
+
+"I cannot live on your hard earnings, Philip," he added, shaking his
+head. "I feel guilty even now; and I should not have come here to be a
+burden to you, if I had not been a wreck of what I was once."
+
+"I assure you, father, it will be the greatest pleasure on earth for me
+to do what I can for you. I may not get a dollar a day all the time,
+but I have fifteen hundred dollars, sure, now."
+
+"I hope I shall soon be able to do something for myself, Philip. For
+the last week I have dared to hope that your mother might come back,
+and that we might be as happy as we were before I dashed down all my
+earthly hopes."
+
+"I hope so, father; nothing could make me so happy as to live with my
+father and mother."
+
+"Perhaps I may get a situation as a clerk, and earn enough to support
+me; though it is hard, at my time of life, to go back and commence
+where I began twenty years ago. But I deserve all that can befall me,
+and I will be as humble as my circumstances are. God has been merciful
+to me; he has spared and redeemed me."
+
+"Do you know where my mother is?" I asked, burning with the old desire
+to see and know her.
+
+"I do not. They have taken pains to keep all knowledge of her from me.
+I was told that she was in Europe, and I have no doubt such is the
+case. I should like to let her know that our lost little one has been
+mercifully restored, but I cannot do even that; and I will not ask her
+to live with me again until I have made myself worthy to do so."
+
+Somehow God always sends good angels to those who, in trust and faith,
+are trying to help themselves. The door bell rang, and Mrs. Greenough
+admitted Mr. Rockwood.
+
+"I am glad to see you again, Phil," said he. "I wished to see your
+father, and I wanted to tell you to be at the police station to-morrow
+forenoon at ten o'clock."
+
+"I will be there, sir, if Mr. Clinch will let me off."
+
+"He must let you off. If he won't, I shall send an officer to summon
+you."
+
+"I have no doubt he will let me go."
+
+"Your evidence is necessary to convict Lynch. I am told that the young
+fellow wants to make a confession."
+
+"I should like very much to hear it, for I don't know even yet why
+those fellows followed me up so closely."
+
+"We shall know to-morrow.--How do you feel, Mr. Farringford?" added Mr.
+Rockwood, turning to my father.
+
+"Better, sir; I hope to be out in a few days."
+
+"You were once a very able business man, and I have no doubt you know
+as much now as you ever did. I have been looking for a man who is
+competent to take charge of my property in St. Louis. You are the right
+man, if--"
+
+"If I keep sober," added my father, when the planter paused. "I have no
+claim whatever upon your confidence; but I assure you I believe it is
+quite impossible for me ever to drink another drop of liquor."
+
+This important matter was discussed for some time, but it ended in the
+appointment of my father as agent of the planter. When our visitor
+had departed, the future looked bright and pleasant; and it seemed to
+me that the day was drawing nearer when our family should be reunited
+under one roof.
+
+
+
+
+  CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+  IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO THE CONFESSION OF HIS PERSECUTOR, AND ENDS
+  PLANE AND PLANK.
+
+
+I went to my work on Monday morning, and Plane and Plank were to
+employ me for the day. Certainly I never went to work so cheerfully in
+my life, for somehow all my mishaps seemed to have been turned into
+blessings. When I found my father a miserable drunkard and outcast,
+that seemed to me the greatest mishap which could possibly befall me.
+But now he was a new man, through the blessed ministrations of Mrs.
+Greenough; and through him I hoped to find the highest of earthly bliss
+in our reunited family.
+
+My mishaps with the villains who had stolen my money, and who had
+probably intended to force me into a course of crime, had given me
+such a powerful friend as Mr. Rockwood. My father had been appointed
+his agent, with a salary at the rate of twelve hundred dollars a year
+for the first three months, with a promise of an increase, if he was
+faithful and steady. I fully believed that my father was sincere, and
+that, as he said, it would be quite impossible for him to drink another
+drop of liquor. I believed it, because I knew that he prayed to God
+morning, noon, and night for strength; and I was sure that he whom God
+helps cannot fail.
+
+Mr. Clinch gave me permission, at nine o'clock, to be absent the rest
+of the day, if necessary. He was curious to know what business I had
+at the courts, and I told him enough of the story to enable him to
+understand the situation.
+
+"I was sure that Morgan Blair was getting into bad ways," said Mr.
+Clinch. "I tell you, Phil, when a young fellow is lazy, and don't take
+any interest in his business, he is getting into a bad way. All I want
+to know about a boy is, whether he feels an interest in his business or
+not. Then I can tell pretty well about his morals."
+
+"I think he fell into bad company, sir."
+
+"Of course he did; idlers always fall into bad company. A young fellow
+must have a taste for bad company before he can be led a great ways
+out of the right track. The first bad company a young fellow keeps is
+himself. If he don't begin there, he won't begin anywhere else. Those
+are my sentiments."
+
+Mr. Clinch talked to me while I was preparing to go to the
+station-house; and when I was ready I hastened to the place appointed.
+I found Mr. Rockwood and both the Gracewoods there, with Lynch and
+Blair in irons. They looked pitiable enough now. They had been arrested
+at the very moment when they considered themselves entirely successful
+in their wicked enterprise, and of course the shock of disaster was
+very heavy.
+
+"You are an old one, Phil Farringford," said Lynch, with a sickly
+smile. "You have brought me to grief finally. If I can get out of this
+scrape, I don't know but I should be willing to go to a prayer-meeting
+with you."
+
+"It would do you good," I replied. "Why were you so determined to rob
+me, Lynch?"
+
+"Because I thought you were a great deal fatter pullet than you turned
+out to be. I heard you and that gentleman," he added, pointing to
+Mr. Henry Gracewood, "talking pretty large about your money. As you
+exhibited some of it, I was satisfied that you really had the gold, and
+I thought it would do me more good than it would you. However, you were
+so full of fight that I gave it up till you vexed me so here in the
+city. After I had given you back your hundred dollars, I was determined
+to be even with you. Then I followed, and made the acquaintance of my
+good friend Morgan Blair."
+
+"Yes; and I wish you had been at the bottom of the Mississippi before I
+had ever seen you," blubbered Blair, his eyes filling with tears.
+
+"After listening to that highly interesting story about the Rockwoods,
+I decided that my friend Blair should be the last of the Rockwoods.
+You were very obstinate, Phil; very. After that affair at the
+station-house, I made the acquaintance of Mr. Gracewood. I supposed, at
+first, that he was the one who had signed that note of yours, Phil. I
+wanted the note then, but I soon found that I was mistaken. About the
+same time I found the wounded man had a large sum of money upon him,
+and I was more anxious to get this. I told Mr. Gracewood that I knew a
+young man who had seen his brother, and then I got the whole story."
+
+"What did you want of me?" I asked.
+
+"That's the point; I wanted you, because you knew Mr. Gracewood's
+brother. He would trust you, for you go to prayer-meetings. He told me
+all about his brother; and I thought if I could get that note, he would
+pay it; but that was to be Blair's perquisite--what he could get of it.
+The sick man told me he had the care of his brother's property, and
+would pay anything on his account that was right."
+
+"But did you mean to have me help you steal the twenty-four thousand
+dollars?" I demanded.
+
+"That was what I wanted you for; and when we left you in the room, I
+went down to see Mr. Gracewood. I intended to tell him, as a friend,
+that it was not safe to keep such a sum in such a house. I meant to
+advise him to send it to the bank by you."
+
+"And then to rob me?"
+
+"Well, you needn't call it by such a hard name; but you never would
+have got out of the house with the money. I have played and lost, and
+now I make the best of it. When you left the room, we heard you on
+the roof; but I expected you back very soon, for I knew you could not
+escape in that direction. I was humane too, for I was afraid you would
+break your neck, and spoil all my plans; I placed the ladder at the
+skylight, so that you could return without danger."
+
+"Why did you send to my boarding-house for my money?"
+
+"Simply to ascertain whether you were there. When you came back, I
+sent a note down to Mr Gracewood, and thus brought you together. While
+you were talking together, I went down into Mr. Gracewood's room, in
+order to ascertain, if I could, where he kept the package of money. Of
+course I did not suppose he had left it there; but, to my surprise, I
+found it between the two beds. I took possession, and Blair and I left
+then. I intended to be a hundred miles from St. Louis before daylight
+the next morning. Instead of that, we were nabbed by this excellent
+gentleman as soon as we stepped upon the sidewalk."
+
+"I was watching you all the time," added the detective.
+
+"And the game is up, and lost," said Lynch.
+
+"A very stupid game it was, too."
+
+"It may look so now; it did not then. It would not have been a hard job
+to persuade a sick man in a gambling-house to send his money to the
+bank for safe keeping."
+
+"I don't think it would," said the invalid.
+
+"Did you expect him to trust Phil at sight?" asked the detective.
+
+"Not at all. Phil goes to prayer-meetings, and I thought he would be
+willing to spend most of the time, from Saturday night till Monday
+morning, with the sick brother of his best friend. By Monday noon he
+would have been willing to trust him with all he had in the world."
+
+"I think he would," added Henry Gracewood.
+
+"If he had sent me to the bank with the money, it would have gone
+there," I said, confidently.
+
+"Perhaps not," replied Lynch.
+
+"There would have been a big fight, at any rate," I continued. "I would
+not have given up the money while I had an arm left."
+
+"Well, gentlemen, it is time to take the prisoners before the court,"
+said Mr. Bogart.
+
+They were taken to the court; Lynch pleaded guilty, and Blair, after
+telling a pitiful story of the manner in which he had been led away,
+put in the same plea. In due time the older villain was sentenced to
+ten years' imprisonment, and the novice to one year. Mr. Gracewood
+recovered his money, and I did mine. Thus the wretch who had been
+persecuting me since he came on board the steamer on the Missouri to
+the present time, was disposed of.
+
+The brothers Gracewood remained at the hotel a week. The case of the
+penitent was known to the public, and to his own family. Those who
+loved him forgave him; and he could afford to be independent, in a
+measure, of the opinions of others. His fortune was still ample for his
+support in elegance and luxury, and his brother lost nothing by his
+misdeeds.
+
+Mr. Henry Gracewood paid me the fifteen hundred dollars, which, by the
+kindness of Mr. Rockwood, became my property. It was deposited in three
+savings banks. The health of Mrs. Gracewood was very much impaired by
+her illness, and the most skilful physician in the city recommended
+a change of climate, advising her to live in the south of France
+during the winter. This was a heavy blow to me, for I had counted upon
+the society of the Gracewoods, especially of Ella. The season was
+advancing, and the family were obliged to hasten away. With a heavy
+heart I bade good by to them, and it was years before I saw them again.
+
+I attended to my work diligently and faithfully, and gave entire
+satisfaction to my employer. But I found that Plane and Plank was hard
+work, and city life did not agree with me as well as that in the wilds
+of the upper Missouri. Still, I was very happy, though I was troubled
+with a longing desire to see my mother.
+
+With the money restored to me after the arrest of the robbers, I
+purchased a suit of nice black clothes for my father; and when he was
+dressed in them, he looked like the new man that he was. He was paler
+and thinner than when I had first seen him, but I was proud of his
+appearance. Though not in robust health, he was able to enter at once
+upon the duties of his position as the agent of Mr. Rockwood.
+
+We continued to live at Mrs. Greenough's, who felt quite as much
+interest in both of us as though we had been her nearest relatives. A
+smaller room over the entry was fitted up for me, and my father took
+my chamber. Here he kept his account-books, and did all his writing.
+I suppose that he was often tempted to drink, but I am certain that
+he never yielded. He always attended every service at the church.
+Mrs. Greenough had both reformed and converted him, though I think my
+presence had some influence with him.
+
+I had work at my trade all winter; but my father insisted upon paying
+my board as well as his own, and I saved nearly all my money. I went to
+an evening school, and studied book-keeping. In fact I spent most of
+my leisure hours in study. I reviewed my old branches. My father was
+a very well educated man, and assisted me in my efforts to improve my
+mind. He instructed me in the usages of business, and helped me with my
+accounts.
+
+In the spring, Mr. Lamar offered my father a much larger salary than
+he was receiving; but his employer promptly doubled his present pay,
+so well was he satisfied with his services. During the summer season,
+besides taking charge of the rents and repairs of the tenements, he
+built several new houses for Mr. Rockwood, which were leased to good
+tenants. His position was, therefore, one of great responsibility, but
+he was competent to fill it. He did his employer's business as though
+it had been his own.
+
+We were both doing exceedingly well, and were in the main contented and
+happy, though I could not be entirely satisfied while my mother was
+separated from us. I said so much about this subject, that my father
+wrote to Mr. Collingsby, in Chicago, informing him that "the long-lost
+son" had been found. No answer was received; and another letter was
+written, which, however, produced no better result. Evidently Mr.
+Collingsby did not believe the statements contained in the letters, and
+he took no notice of them. Foiled in this manner, we were compelled to
+drop the matter for the time.
+
+I worked at my trade for two years; and at the end of that time,
+although I was only fifteen, I did not think there was much more for
+me to learn in that business. Probably I should have continued to work
+at it, however, if Mr. Clinch had not abandoned his trade to go into
+the lumber business in Michigan. I had learned book-keeping pretty
+thoroughly, and I did not care to find a new place as a carpenter. I
+was rather desirous of practising what I had learned on the subject of
+accounts, and, with the advice of my father, I concluded to abandon,
+for the present, the PLANE and PLANK.
+
+
+
+
+                            LEE & SHEPARD'S
+
+                                LIST OF
+
+                        JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
+
+                         OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.
+
+            Each Set In a neat Box with Illuminated Titles.
+
+=Army and Navy Stories.= A Library for Young and
+    Old, in 6 volumes. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol.               $1 50
+
+    The Soldier Boy.              The Yankee Middy.
+    The Sailor Boy.               Fighting Joe.
+    The Young Lieutenant.         Brave Old Salt.
+
+
+=Famous "Boat-Club" Series.= A Library for Young
+    People. Handsomely Illustrated. Six volumes, in neat
+    box. Per vol.                                                 1 25
+
+    The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.
+    All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake.
+    Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright.
+    Try Again; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.
+    Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.
+    Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.
+
+
+=Lake Shore Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
+    In neat box. Per vol.                                         1 25
+
+    Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the
+    Lake Shore Railroad.
+    Lightning Express; or, The Rival Academies.
+    On Time; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.
+    Switch Off; or, The War of the Students.
+    Break Up; or, The Young Peacemakers.
+    Bear and Forbear; or, The Young Skipper of Lake
+    Ucayga.
+
+
+=Yacht Club Series.= Uniform with the ever popular
+    "Boat Club" Series. Completed in six vols. Illustrated.
+    Per vol.                                          16mo        1 50
+
+    Little Bobtail; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.
+    The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat Builders.
+    Money Maker; or, The Victory of the Basilisk.
+    The Coming Wave; or, The Treasure of High Rock.
+    The Dorcas Club; or, Our Girls Afloat.
+    Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs.
+
+
+=Onward and Upward Series, The.= Complete in six
+    volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per vol.                   1 25
+
+    Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.
+    Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.
+    Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.
+    Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.
+    Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier.
+    Sea and Shore; or, The Tramps of a Traveller.
+
+
+=Young America Abroad Series.= A Library of
+    Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. Illustrated
+    by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. Per vol.          16mo 1 50
+
+
+_First Series._
+
+    Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat.
+    Shamrock and Thistle; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.
+    Red Cross; or, Young America in England and Wales.
+    Dikes and Ditches; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.
+    Palace and Cottage; or, Young America in France and Switzerland.
+    Down the Rhine; or, Young America in Germany.
+
+
+_Second Series._
+
+    Up the Baltic; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
+    Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.
+    Cross and Crescent; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.
+    Sunny Shores; or, Young America in Italy and Austria.
+    Vine and Olive; or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.
+    Isles of the Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound.
+
+
+=Riverdale Stories.= Twelve volumes. A New Edition.
+    Profusely Illustrated from neat designs by Billings. In neat box.
+    Per vol.
+
+    Little Merchant.            Proud and Lazy.
+    Young Voyagers.             Careless Kate.
+    Robinson Crusoe, Jr.        Christmas Gift.
+    Dolly and I.                The Picnic Party.
+    Uncle Ben.                  The Gold Thimble.
+    Birthday Party.             The Do-Somethings.
+
+
+=Riverdale Story Books.= Six volumes, in neat box
+    Cloth. Per vol.
+
+    Little Merchant              Proud and Lazy.
+    Young Voyagers.              Careless Kate.
+    Dolly and I.                 Robinson Crusoe. Jr.
+
+
+=Flora Lee Story Books.= Six volumes in neat box.
+    Cloth. Per vol
+
+    Christmas Gift.       The Picnic Party.
+    Uncle Ben.            The Gold Thimble.
+    Birthday Party.       The Do-Somethings.
+
+
+=Great Western Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
+    Per vol.                                                      1 50
+
+    Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy.
+    Out West; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes.
+    Lake Breezes.
+
+
+=Our Boys' and Girls' Offering.= Containing Oliver
+    Optic's popular Story, Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the
+    Clubs; Stories of the Seas, Tales of Wonder, Records
+    of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. Profusely
+    Illustrated. Covers printed in Colors. 8vo.                   1 50
+
+
+=Our Boys' and Girls' Souvenir.= Containing Oliver
+    Optic's Popular Story, Going West; or, The Perils of a
+    Poor Boy; Stories of the Sea, Tales of Wonder, Records
+    of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. With numerous
+    full-page and letter-press Engravings. Covers
+    printed in Colors. 8vo.                                       1 50
+
+
+=Soldier Boy Series, The.= Three volumes, in neat
+    box. Illustrated. Per vol.                                    1 50
+
+    The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army.
+    The Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer.
+    Fighting Joe; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.
+
+
+=Sailor Boy Series, The.= Three volumes in neat box.
+    Illustrated. Per vol.                                         1 50
+
+    The Sailor Boy; or, Jack Somers in the Navy.
+    The Yankee Middy; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer.
+    Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.
+
+
+=Starry Flag Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
+    Per vol.                                                      1 25
+
+    The Starry Flag; or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.
+    Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student.
+    Seek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy.
+    Freaks of Fortune; or, Half Round the World.
+    Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter.
+    Down the River; or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants.
+
+
+=The Household Library.= 3 volumes. Illustrated.
+    Per volume                                                    1 50
+
+    Living too Fast.       In Doors and Out.
+    The Way of the World.
+
+
+=Way of the World, The.= By William T. Adams (Oliver
+    Optic)                                                   12mo 1 50
+
+
+=Woodville Stories.= Uniform with Library for Young
+    People. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol.               16mo 1 25
+
+    Rich and Humble; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant.
+    In School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.
+    Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives.
+    Work and Win; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise.
+    Hope and Have; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians.
+    Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain.
+
+
+
+
+    Transcriber's Note:
+    The punctuation and spelling are as printed in the original
+    publication with the exception of the following:
+
+      Page 33 oocasion is now occasion.
+      Page 63 transportion is now transportation.
+      Page 170 cheerfuly is now cheerfully.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Plane and Plank, by Oliver Optic
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44950 ***