"Nelson the Newsboy" is a Winfield completion,
with the Stratemeyer pseudonym appearing on the
title page.
It is stated in the preface that ^'In its original
form Mr. Alger intended this story of New York
life for a semi- juvenile drama. But it was not
used in that shape, and when the famous author
of so many interesting stories for young people hacf
laid aside his pen forever, this manuscript, with
others, was placed in the hands of the present
author ..."
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/nelsonnewsboyoraOOalge
HE CAUGHT SIGHT OF I'ilK BULLY NEWSBOY WHO HAD ROBBED
HIM. " — Frontispiece.
lVelso7i the Newsboy..
NELSON THE
NEWSBOY
Or^ Afloat in New York
BY
HORATIO ALGER, JR.
AUTHOR OF " ADRIFT IN NEW YORK," " CHESTER RAND,"
" PAUL THE PEDDLER," ETC.
COMPLETED BY
ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
AUTHOR OF "THE ROVER BOYS AT SCHOOL," "THE
ROVER BOYS ON THE OCEAN," ETC.
BHaWiSBaiiMBMBa
NEW YORK
STITT PUBLISHING COMPANY
1905
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
THE YOUNG BOOK AGENT;
Or, Frank Hardy's Road to Success.
FROM FARM TO FORTUNE;
Or, Nat Nason's Strange Experience,
LOST AT SEA;
Or, Robert Roscoe's
Strange Cruise.
JERRY, THE BACKWOODS BOY ;
Or, The Parkhurst Treasure.
NELSON, THE NEWSBOY;
Or, Afloat in New York.
YOUNG CAPTAIN JACK;
Or, The Son of a Soldier.
OUT FOR BUSINESS ;
Or, Robert Frost's Strange Career.
FALLING IN WITH FORTUNE;
Or, The Experiences of a
Young Secretary.
J2m0y finely illustrated and bound. Price,
per volume^ 60 cents.
NEW YOKK
STITT PUBLISHING COMPANY
1905
Copyright, 1901, bt
THK MERSHON COMPANY
All rijrJifs reserved
PREFACE.
"' Nelson the Newsboy " relates the adven-
tures of a wide-awake lad in the great metropolis.
The youth is of unknown parentage and is
thrown out upon his own resources at a tender
age. He becomes at first a newsboy, and froin
that gradually works up to something better.
He is often tempted to do wrong — the tempta-
tion becoming particular^ hard on account of
his extreme poverty — but there is that in his
make-up which keeps him in the right path,
and in the end~ he becomes a victor in more
ways than one.
So much for the seamy side of life in New
York, . which, alas ! is by far the greater side.
On the other hand, there are those who are well-
to-do and aristocratic who are interested in
learning what has become of the boy, and these
furnish a view of life in the upper society of the
metropolis. How the youthful hero fares in the
end is told in the pages which follow.
In its original form Mr. Alger intended this
story of New York life for a semi-juvenile
IV PREFACE.
drama. But it was not used in that shape, and
when the gifted author of so many interesting
stories for young people had laid aside his pen
forever, this manuscript, with others, was placed
in the hands of the present writer, to be made
over into such a volume as might have met
with the noted author's approval. The other
books having proved successful, my one wish
is that this may follow in their footsteps.
Arthur M. Winfield,
Jmiie 15, ipoi.
CONTENTS,
CHAPTER
I. Introducing the Hero,
II. A Quarrel over a Dollar,
III. Sam Pepper's Resort, .
IV. Down at the Ferry, .
V. Nelson Speaks His Mind, .
VI. A Book Agent's Trials,
VII. A Harsh Alternative,
VIII. The Combination of the Safe,
IX. A Pair Well Matched,
X. Gertrude Leaves Her Home,
XI. Afloat in New York,
XII. Nelson Recovers Some Money,
XIII. A Question of Business,
XIV. BuLsoN Receives a Setback,
XV. Buying Out a News Stand,
XVI. Nelson and Pepper Part, .
XVII. A Bold Move,
XVIII. In the Hands of the Enemy,
XIX. Nelson to the Rescue,
XX. The Home in the Tenement,
XXI. Nelson Makes a Present, ,
XXII. A Disappointment,
XXIII. An Unsuccessful Quest,
PAGS
I
9
17
2S
3S
43
S5
63
69
77
S5
94
102
III
119
137
134
140
147
155
162
170
176
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
XXIV. A Decoy Letter,
XXV. Mark Horton Relents, .
XXVI. Nelson on Shipboard,
XXVII. Down the Jersey Coast,
XXVIII. Gertrude Has an Adventure,
XXIX. A Surprise on the Road, .
XXX. Comparing Notes,
XXXI. Bulson Grows Desperate,
XXXII. Somebody Waits in Vain,
XXXIII. Questions of Importance,
XXXIV. Father and Son—Conclusion,
pace
133
190
198
206
215
224
233
240
243
«57
366
NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCING THE HERO.
" Herald, Times, Tribune! All the news of
the day! Have a paper, sir? All about the ter-
rible fire in Harlem! Two lives lost! "
High and clear above the din made by the
cabs, trucks, and street cars a boyish voice could
be heard. The speaker was but fifteen years of
age, tall and thin, with a face that betokened a
refinement unusual to such a station in life. But
if the lad's look was above the average, his
clothes were not, for they were in tatters, while
the hat and shoes he wore had seen far better
days.
" A fire in Harlem, eh? " queried a stout gen-
tleman, as he stopped short in front of the
newsboy.
" Yes, sir; a big one, too, sir. Which paper
will you have? "
2 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
'' Which has the most in about the fire? "
" All about the same, sir. Better take 'em all,
sir. Then you'll be sure to have all the news,**
added the newsboy shrewdly.
At this the stout gentleman laughed.
" I don't know but what you are right," he
said. " Give me one of each."
The words were scarcely uttered when the
newsboy had the papers ready for him. Taking
the several sheets, the stout man passed over a
dime and started to cross the crowded thorough-
fare.
'' Change, sir! " cried the boy, and dove into
his pocket for a handful of cents.
" Never mind the change, lad."
" Thank you, sir! " The newsboy wheeled
quickly. " Herald y Times, Tribune! Who'll
have a paper? All the latest news! Extra!"
The stout man stepped from the curb into the
gutter, and there halted to let a truck go by.
As he waited he began to scan one of the news-
papers he had purchased. Suddenly he gave a
violent start.
" Fire in the Starmore apartment house! " he
muttered. " The building I purchased only last
month ! What bad luck is this ? "
Still staring at the newspaper, he passed on-
ward behind the heavy truck. Another truck
INTRODUCING THE HERO. 3
and a street car were coming from the opposite
direction, and both travehng at a good rate of
speed.
" Hi! look out! " yelled the truck-driver, and
the street-car bell clanged violently. But the
stout man was too absorbed in the newspaper
to heed the warnings.
The cry of the truck-driver reached the ears
of the quick-witted newsboy, and in a flash he
saw the danger.
'' Oh, the gentleman will be run over! " he
muttered, and throwing his papers on the pave-
ment, he made a leap into the street and grabbed
the man by the arm. Just as he drew the stout
individual back the truck horse plunged for-
ward, grazing the man's side. Had it not been
for the newsboy, the stout gentleman would
have collapsed in the gutter. But as it was each,
in a moment more, gained the pavement in
safety.
'' Phew! that was a narrow escape," puffed
the stout gentleman, as soon as he could get
back some of the wind he had lost in his con-
sternation.
''So it was," answered the newsboy, as he
stepped about to pick up his scattering stock in
trade.
The stout gentleman brought out a large
4 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
handkerchief and began to mop his face, for the
excitement had put him into a perspiration.
'* My lad, you've done me a great service," he
went on, after the boy had collected his papers.
" That's all right, sir," was the ready reply.
" Sorry you lost your papers. The truck cut
'em up, and they are all muddy, besides."
'* Never mind the papers — you can sell me
another set. But I want to thank you for what
you did for me."
** You're welcome, sir. Here's the other set
of papers."
'* If it hadn't been for you, I might have fallen
tinder that horse and truck! " The stout man
shuddered. '' Here is pay for the papers and
for your services to me."
As he finished he held out a two-dollar bill.
''Why, it's two dollars!" cried the newsboy
in astonishment. Then he added quickly, " I
can't change it."
'* I don't want you to change it. I want you
to keep it."
" What for? "
*' For what you did for me."
" What I did aint worth two dollars."
'' Let me be the judge of that, my lad. What
is your name? "
'' I'm Nelson, sir."
INTRODUCING THE HERO. 5
*' What is your full name? "
At this question the boy's face fell, and his
mouth trembled a little as he gave his answer.
*' I don't know, sir."
" What, you don't know what your name is? "
cried the stout gentleman in astonishment.
" No, sir."
" But — ^but — ^you must have some name.
Where do you live? "
" I live over on the East Side with an old sailor
named Samuel Pepper. He keeps a lunch room."
" Is he a relative? "
" He calls himself my fathei' — not my real
father, you know; only he says he adopted me
when I was a little kid. Everybody around
there calls me Nelson, or Sam Pepper's boy."
" I see. And he sends you out to sell papers? '*
" No, sir; I go out on my own hook."
*' But you ought to go to school."
"I go to night school sometimes, when Sam
lets me."
*' Didn't he ever send you to day school? "
At this Nelson, for so we will call him for the
present, shook his head.
" Sam don't like the schools. He says if I go
ril get too smart for him. He says I am almost
too smart already."
" Too bad ! " The stout gentleman was going
6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
to say something more, but suddenly remembered
about the fire in Harlem. '' Perhaps Fll see you
again, Nelson. I can't stop now. Do you know
why I forgot myself in the street? It was be-
cause that fire proved to be in an apartment
house that I purchased only a month ago."
'* Your house ! That's a big loss, sir."
" The place was insured, so I shall not expect
to lose much. I must get up there at once and see
see how it was those lives were lost."
In a moment more the stout gentleman was
crossing the street again, but this time taking
very good care that he should not be taken
unawares.
Nelson started to sell more papers, when
another boy, who had been selling papers
further down the block, came hurrying toward
him.
" Wot did de old gent give yer, Nelse? " he
asked.
" Gave me two dollars."
" Two dollars ! Jest fer hauling him back out
of de gutter? "
'* I kept him from being run over by a
truck."
^' Den he oughter give yer ten or twenty."
" Two was more than enough, Billy."
At this Billy Darnley drew down his mouth.
INTRODUCING THE HERO. 7
" I would have struck him fer a twenty, sure,"
he went on.
" You always were greedy, Billy," answered
Nelson.
" Do you mean dat fer an insult, Nelse? "
" I mean it for the truth."
"You're gittin' too high-toned fer dis busi-
ness, Nelse."
" I don't think I am."
'*' Lend me a dollar of dat money, will yer?
ril pay yer back ter-morrow."
At this Nelson shook his head,
"I'm sorry, Billy, but Fd rather keep my
money."
" Are you afraid to trust me? "
" I don't see why I should trust you. You
earn as much money as I do."
" You didn't earn dat two dollars,"
" The gentleman thought I did."
" He was a soft one."
" He was a very nice man," retorted Nelson
promptly.
" O' course you'd stick op fer him. Let ma
have de dollar."
" What do you want to do with it? "
Now in truth Billy thought of nothing but to
have a good time with the money, but he did not
'deem it prudent to tell Nelsoo so.
« NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
*' I — I want to buy myself a new pair of pants,**
he stammered.
" Your pants are better than mine."
'' No, da aint— d'are full o' holes."
*' Why don't you sew them up, as I do? "
" I aint no woman, to use a needle. Come,
hand over de dollar ! " And Billy held out his
dirty fingers.
" I shan't let you have iiy and that ends it,"
said Nelson firmly.
He started to move on, but in a moment more
Billy Darnley was beside him and had him
clutched firmly by the arm.
CHAPTER II.
A QUARREL OVER A DOLLAR.
As Nelson had said, he was of unknown
parentage and practically alone in the world. As
far back as he could remember he had lived with
Sam Pepper, a shiftless, unprincipled man, who in
the last ten years had followed the sea and a dozen
other callings, and who was at present the pro-
prietor of a lunch-room on the East Side — a place
frequented by many persons of shady reputation.
Where he had come from, and what his real
name was, were complete mysteries to Nelson,
and it must be confessed that in the past he had
paid scant attention to them; this being largely
due to his immature years. Now, however, he
was growing older, and he often found himself
vvondering how it was that he was living with
Sam Pepper.
Once he had asked the man, but the only an-
swer he received was a growl and a demand that
he stop asking foolish questions. " You're only
a kid yet," said Pepper. " Wait till you're old
enough; maybe then you'll learn a thing or two/'
lO NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
And so Nelson waited, but did not cease to
wonder.
Many of Sam Pepper's intimates were hard
customers, and Nelson was of the opinion that
Pepper himself was no better, although he was
not in a position to prove it. The boy was
driven out to earn his own living, and the only
time that Pepper was liberal with him was when
the man was in liquor.
More than once Nelson had thought to run
away from the man and his evil associates, but
found himself unable to do so. The main reason
for his remaining was that he felt Pepper held the
mystery of his past, and if he went away that
mystery would remain forever unsolved.
As Nelson had said, he had gained a scanty
education by attending night school. To this
education he had added some useful reading, so
he was advanced as far as most boys in much
better circumstances. Learning appeared to
come easy to him, showing that his mind was of
the superior sort.
Nelson had started out that morning with a
determination to sell all the papers possible, and
keep on with his efforts until he had eight or ten
dollars to his credit. With this amount he in-
tended to invest in a suit which he had seen ad-
vertised for six dollars, a cap, and a cheap pair of
J QUARREL OVER A DOLLAR. II
shoes. He did not know but what Pepper might
find fault with him for '' cutting such a swell," but
he was willing to risk it.
Before meeting the stout gentleman Nelson's
assets amounted to three dollars and forty cents.
With the ten cents for papers and the two dol-
lars extra, he now found himself with five dollars
and half to his credit. This was not a fortune,
but as Nelson had never before possessed more
than three dollars at one time, it was, to his way
of thinking, considerable.
The suggestion that he lend Billy Darnley a
dollar did not appeal to him. In the first place
he knew Billy to be both a bully and a spendthrift,
who was more than likely to squander the money
on pie, ice cream, cigarettes, and a ticket to some
cheap burlesque show, and in the second place he
was more than satisfied that Billy would never
refund the loan, not having returned a quarter
loaned him months before.
" Let go my arm, Billy! " he cried, as the big
newsboy brought him to a halt.
" Why can't yer let me have de dollar? " ques-
tioned Billy. " I'll make it right wid yer, Nelse;
take me word on it."
" How is it you haven't paid back that quarter
I let you have? "
" I did pay it back."
12 NELSON- THE NEWSBOY,
" No, you didn't."
" Yes, I did, I— I give it to Sam one day t@
give to yer/'
By the look on his face Nelson knew that the
bully was falsifying.
'• Sam never told me, and I guess he would if it
was so. Now let me go."
" I want dat dollar first."
" You shan't have it.'*
Nelson had scarcely spoken when Billy Damley
made a sudden clutch for the pocket of his vest.
Much dilapidated, the pocket gave way easily;
and in a twinkle the bully was running up the
street with live dollars in bills and a bit of cloth
clutched tightly in his dirty fist.
"Hi! stop!" cried Nelson, but instead of
heeding the demand, the bully only ran the faster.
Soon he passed around a corner and down a side
street leading to the East River.
Nelson was an excellent runner, and, papers
imder his arm, he lost no time in making after the
thief. Thus block after block was passed, until
pursued and pursuer were but a short distance
from one of the ferry entrances.
A boat was on the point of leaving, and with-
out waiting to obtain a ferry ticket, Billy Darn-
Icy slip|>ed in among llie trucks going aboard. A
^te-keeper tried in vain to catch him, and then
A QUARREL OVER A DOLLAR. IJ
came back and shut the gate, just as Nelson
reached it.
"Open the gate!" cried Nelson, so out of
breath he could scarcely utter the words. '' Open
the gate, quick! "
'* Go around to the other entrance," replied the
gate-keeper, and then added, '' Are you after that
other newsboy? "
*' I am. He stole five dollars from me."
'' Five dollars ! That's a good one. You
never had five dollars in your life. You can't get
a free ride on any such fairy tale as that. You go
around and buy a ticket, or I'll call a policeman."
In despair Nelson looked through the high,
slatted gate and saw that the gates on the ferry-
boat were already down. A bell jangled, and the
big paddle wheels began to revolve. In another
moment the boat had left tlie slip and was on its
way to Brooklyn.
'' He's gone — and the five dollars is gonCs,
too ! " groaned Nelson, and his heart sank. He
knew that it would be useless to attempt to fol-
low the bully. Billy would keep out of sight so
long as the money lasted. When it was spent he
would re-appear in New York and deny every-
thing, and to prove that he was a thief would be
next to impossible, for, so far as Nelson knew^
nobody had seen the money taken.
14 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
He had now but fifty cents left, and a stodc o£
papers worth half a dollar more, if sold. With
a heavy heart he walked away from the ferry-
house in the direction from whence he had come.
Nelson had scarcely taken his stand at the cor-
ner again when a young lady, very stylishly
dressed, came out of a neighboring store, looked
at him, and smiled.
" Did you catch him? " she asked sweetly.
''Who, miss; the big boy who stole my
money ? " questioned Nelson quickly.
" Yes."
"No, ma'am; he got away, on a BrookJjm
ferryboat."
'' And how much did he steal from you? "
" Five dollars."
" Why, I didn't think — that is, five dollars is a
nice sum for a newsboy, isn't it? "
'' Yes, ma'am; but I was saving up for a new
suit of clothes."
"And he got away from you? Too bad! I
wish I could help you, but unfortunately I have
spent all of my money but this." She held out a
quarter. '' Will you accept it? "
Nelson looked at her, and something compelled
him to draw back.
" Excuse me — but Fd rather not," he stam>
mered. " Much obliged, just the same/'
A QUARREL OVER A DOLLAR. l%
" You had better take the money," went on the
young lady, whose name was Gertrude Horton,
Btjt Nelson would not listen to it, and so she had
to place the piece in her purse again. Then she
entered the coach standing near and was driven
rapidly away. The newsboy gazed after the
coach curiously.
" What a lot of money it must take to keep up
such style!" he thought. "Those folks spend
more in a week, I guess, than some folks on the
East Side spend in a year. I don't wonder Sam
is always growling about not being rich — after
he's been out among the wealthy people he knows.
I must say I'd like to be rich myself, just for
once, to see how it feels."
Long before noon Nelson's stock of newspapers
was exhausted. Without going to Sam Pepper's
restaurant for lunch he stopped at a small stand
on a side street, where he obtained several crullers
and a cup of coffee for five cents. His scanty-
meal over he purchased a supply of evening papers
and set to work to sell these, with the result, by
nightfall, that all were gone, and he was thirty-
five cents richer.
Sam Pepper's place on the East Side was half
a dozen steps below the pavement, in a semi-
basement, which was narrow and low and suffer-
ing greatly for a thorough cleaning. In the front
l6 NELSCV THE NEWSBOY,
was a small show window, filled with pies and
vegetables, and behind this eight or ten tables for
diners. To one side was a lunch counter for
those who were in a hurr)% and at tlie back was a
small bar. The cooking was done in a shed in
the rear, and beside this shed were two rooms
which Nelson and Sam Pepper called their home.
The whole place was so uninviting it is a won-
der that Sam Pepper had any trade at all. But
his prices were low, and this was a large attrac-
tion to those whose purses were slim. Besides
this Sam never interfered with those who came to
patronize him, and it may as well be stated here
that many a crime was concocted at those tables,
without the police of the metropolis being thei^
wiser. To Sam it made no difference if his cus-
tomer was the worst criminal on the East Side
so long as he paid his way.
'* We've all got to live," he would say. " The
world owes every man a living, and if he can't
git it one way he must git it in another."
The secret of Sam Pepper's looseness of morals
was the fact that he had seen better days, and his
coming down in the world had caused him to be-
come more and more reckless. At the present
time money was tight with him, and he was fast
approaching that point wlien, as we shall soon see,
he would be fit for any desperate deed.
CHAPTER III.
SAM pepper's resort.
" Well^ how have you done to-day ? " asked
Sam Pepper, when Nelson entered the lunch-
room and came to the rear, where Pepper stood
mixing some liquors.
" Oh, I sold quite a few papers," answered
Nelson.
"How many?"
'' Over a hundred."
'' Then I guess you made over a dollar ? "
" I did."
'* That's more than I've made to-day," growled
Pepper. " Business is growing worse and
worse."
Nelson knew that he must have made more
than a dollar, but he did not say anything on the
point. He saw that Sam Pepper was in an ugly
mood.
" It seems to me you ought to begin paying
something for your keep," went on the lunch-
room keeper, after he had returned from serving
the drinks he had been mixing.
1 8 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" All right, I'm willing/' said Nelson readiij.
"But I don't get much from here now, re-
member/'
'* It's not my fault if you are not here at dinner
time. Plenty of eating going to waste."
" I am not going to eat other folks' left-overs/'
said the newsboy, remembering the offer made to
him several days before.
" Those left-overs are good enough for the
likes of you, Nelson. Don't git high-toned be-
fore you can afford it."
" What do you want me to pay ? "
" You ought to pay me at least five dollars a
week," growled Sam Pepper, after a crafty look
into the boy's face.
''Five dollars a week!" ejaculated Nelson in
surprise. '' Why, I don't make it, excepting
when business is good."
" Well, it's got to be five dollars a week after
this."
" I can get board at other places for three/'
" You won't go to no other place. You'll stay
here, and if you make a dollar or more a day you'll
pay me the five dollars."
" But w^ho will buy me any clothes? "
" Aint that suit good enough ? "
" No, it's not. I was saving up to buy another
suit, but Billy Darnley stole five dollars of the
SAM PEPPER'S RESORT. 19
savings from me this morning," went on Nelson
bitterly.
'' Stole five dollars from you ? I don't believe
you."
" It's true."
" Then you ought to lose the money, seeing
that you didn't pass it over to me," grumbled Sam
Pepper. " After this, you let me save your
money for you."
At this point some customers came in, and Sam
had to wait on them. Seeing this, the newsboy
passed around the bar and into the two rooms
which he and Pepper called home. They were
gloomy and foul-smelling, but the newsboy did
not mind this, for he was used to the surround-
ings. Yet his heart was heavy, as he threw him-
self into a dilapidated chair and gave himself up
to his thoughts.
The new suit of clothes seemed further off than
ever, for, if he must pay Sam Pepper five dollars
a week for his board, it would be utterly impos-
sible for him to save a cent. The extra money
would be needed to buy fresh papers each day.
" It isn't fair ! " he muttered. '' It isn't fair,
and I won't stand it! I'll run away first; that's
whatlTido!"
Running away was no new idea, but, as before,
lie thought of the past and of what Sam Pepper
£o NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
might have locked tip in his breast. No, it would
Tiot do to go away. He must unlock the mystery
of the past first.
" 111 question Sam to-night, and 111 make him
tell something/' he said.
The resolve had hardly crossed his mind when
Pepper opened the door with a bang, as it flew
back against the v\^alL
" Come out here and help me/' he snarled.
'' There is plenty of work to do. The kitchen
woman has left me in the lurch. Throw off your
coat and git into that dishpan, and be lively
about it."
Without a vv^ord. Nelson did as bidden. He
had washed dishes before, and though the pile
beside him was by no means small, he soon made
away with them. Then Pepper set him to polish-
ing up the knives, forks, and spoons, and this task
took until it was time to close for the night.
After the lunch-room had been locked up, and
most of the lights put out, Sam Pepper went to
the bar and mixed himself an extra-large glass of
liquor. This w^as his " nightcap," as he called
it, and usually, after drinking it, he would
retire.
To-night, however, after consuming the liquor..
he went into one of the back rooms and got out
bis best coat and his hat.
SAM PEPPER'S RESORT, 2i
" Vm going out an hour or so/' he said. " You
keq> good watch while I'm away."
"All right," answered Nelson. He was dis-
appointed at not being able to question Pepper,
but saw there was no help for it. Soon the man
was gone, and Nelson was left alone. Pepper
had locked the street door aiid taken the key v/ith
him.
The day's work had made Nelson tired, but he
was in no humor for sleeping, a.nd tumbled and
tossed for a long while after lying down upon his
hard couch. He thought of the stout gentleman,
of the big newsboy who had robbed him., and of
the kind young lady who had oftered him assist-
ance. For some reason he could not get the
young lady out of his mind, and he half wished he
might see her again.
Then his thoughts came back to himself.
Who was he, and how had he come into Sam Pep-
per's care? Surely the man must know all about
the past. What could Pepper be hiding from
him?
At last he fell asleep, and did not rouse up until
early morning. Sam Pepper was just returning,
and a glance showed that the man was more than
half under the influence of liquor.
" It's a good game," muttered Pepper to him-
self, as he stumbled around, preparing to retire.
22 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" A good game, and it will make me rich. And
Nelson shall help me, too."
''Help yop at what?" asked the newsboy
sleepily.
'' Never mind now, you go to sleep," answered
Pepper sharply.
He pitched himself on his bed and was soon
snoring lustily, and seeing this Nelson did not at-
tempt to disturb him. He slept soundly for the
rest of the night, and by six o'clock was outdoors
and on his way to get his supply of morning
papers.
Pepper had warned him to come back by
eleven o'clock, to go at the dishes again, for the
kitchen woman was not coming back. This made
him cautious about investing in newspapers.
However, trade proved brisk, and by ten o'clock
he had sold out, and cleared sixty cents.
'' I won't buy any more papers until after din-
ner," he said to himself. '' I'll walk down to the
ferry and see if I can find out anything about Billy
Damlev."
At the ferry there was the usual rush of pas-
sengers, the noise of the heavy trucks coming and
going, and the shrill cries of the newsboys. Nel-
son stopped near the ferryhouse to view the
scene.
Hardly had he paused when his attention was
SAM PEPPER'S RESORT. 23
attracted to a quarrel between a large newsboy
and a small one. The larger lad was shaking his
fist in the face of the smaller,
" You keep away from dis comer, Paul Ran-
dall ! " said the big newsboy. " If yer don't I'll
iix yer, remember dat ! "
" I have as much right here as you, Len
Snocks ! " replied the little fellow.
" Yer aint got no right here at all ! " blustered
Len Snocks. '' Dis is my spot, see? "
" You didn't pay for it/'
''Don't yer talk back ter me!" howled Len
Snocks, and catching the little lad's stock of
jmpers he threw them down in the mud of the
street. '' Now clear out, or Fll t'row you down
de same way," he went on.
The scene made Nelson's blood boil. He
recognized both boys, and knew that Paul Randall
helped support a mother who was half blind.
Len Snocks was a bully belonging to the crowd
with whom Billy Darnley associated.
Rushing across the roadway, Nelson caught
Len Snocks by the arm and held him tightly.
'* You big brute ! " he cried. " Why don't you
teckle a fellow your own size? "
^ Oh, Nelson, he has spoiled my papers!"
sobbed Paul, running to save what was left of the
stock.
24 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
'' Lemme go ! " snarled Len Snocks. " Lemni€
go, do yer hear? ''
*' Yoii must give Paul clean papers for the dirty
ones/' returned Nelson firmly.
"I won't do it!"
" I'll make you do it/'
"Make me?" roared Len. " Td like to see
you try it."
In a twinkle Nelson placed one foot behind the
bully. Then he gave the big newsboy a shove
which landed him fiat on his back. On the in-
stant he was down on top of Len.
" How many papers are dirty, Paul ? " he asked.
" Two Suyis, a World, and a Journal," was the
quick answer.
" Take 'em out of Len's pile."
" Lemme up, or I'll kill you ! " howled the bully,,
and struggled to arise. But Nelson was master
of the situation. He continued to hold Leo
down, and did not let go until Paul had the papers
he wished. Then he leaped up, squared off on the
defensive, and awaited the outcome of the en-
counter. Paul lost no time in placing himself be-
hind his newly found champion.
CHAPTER IV.
DOWN AT THE FERRY.
Len S nocks' eyes flashed dangerously when
he confronted Nelson. For a long time he had
had matters all his own way around the ferry-
house, and the only boys who were allowed to sell
papers there besides himself were such as would
toady to him and help him sell his over-supply
when trade was dull with him. Often he made
the lads pay him five or ten cents for selling papers
there, when trade was extra lively.
Paul Randall had no father, and his mother
being half blind and quite feeble, the lad felt that
every cent he earned must be brought home.
Consequently he refused to give Len anything,
and this made the big newsboy come to the con-
clusion that Paul must be driven to seek sales else-
where. In matters of business newsboys are
often as scheming and unfair as are certain men
in higher walks of life. Money is everything to
them, and they will do almost anything to
obtain it.
'' Wot do yer mean by t'rowin' me down ? "
26 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
cried Len, as he doubled isp his grimy fists, whick
had not seen soap or water for many a day,
*' You know what I mean, Len Snooks/' re-
torted Nelson. '' Paul has as much right to sell
papers here as you have."
"No, hehaint!"
'' I say he has, and he'll sell papers here^ too^
and you shan't stop him."
"Won't I?"
" If you try it, youll run against me again, r©-
member that."
" I've a good mind to give you a lickin' fer
t'rowin' me down," blustered Len, but he made
no effort to begin the chastisement.
"If you want to fight, I'm here now," answered
Nelson calmly. He understood fully that L^i
was as much of a coward as he was of a bully.
Len looked around, to see if there was anybody
at hand to give him assistance. But all the boys
were small, and he felt they could not do muck
against Nelson, who was known to be strong.
" Yer want to make me lose me trade," he
muttered. " I'll fight yer when de rush is over."
And he moved toward the ferry entrance.
" All right, I'll be ready for you any time,"
called Nelson after him. " And, remember, leave
Paul alone after this."
" Oh, Nelson, how good you are ! " cried Paul
DOWN AT THE FERRY, ^
impulsively. " I don't know what he wouldn't
have done to me if you hadn^t come up."
" If he tackles you again let me know, Paul."
*' I will."
" How is your mother? '*
" She isn't much better. She can just get
iround our rooms, and that's all."
" Can she see? "
" Not much. The landlord said she ought to
go to the hospital and have her eyes operated on^
but she doesn't want to go and leave me."
" But maybe it would be best for her, Paul."
" Well, I'm willing, Nelson. But how is it
you aint selling papers to-day?" went on Paul
curiously.
" I've sold out. What have you got left ? "
Our hero surveyed the stock. '' Phew I Eigh--
t^n! That's a lot."
" Len kept chasing me, so I couldn't sell much,''
answered the little boy, with a look of concern on
his pale face.
'* Give me ten of them," said Nelson, and took
that number. " Now you go over there and FU
stay around here. We ought to get rid of 'em
between us."
" Good for you, Nelson ! " cried Paul, and his
£ace brightened.
Soon both were at it, crying their wares witfe
38 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
the Other boys. Len Snocks saw the move, and
scowled more than ever, but did not dare to inter-
fere. In half an hour the papers were all sold,
and our hero turned the money over to Paul.
" You ought to have something for selling the
ten," said the little fellow.
" Never mind ; you keep the money, Paul.
You'll need it, I know."
" Thank you."
" By the way, have you seen anything of Billy
Darnley since yesterday noon? "
" I saw him about two hours ago."
"Here?"
'* Yes, he came off the boat from Brooklyn."
" Fm sorry I missed him. Do you know where
lie went? "
" Went to get some papers, I think. He
stopped to talk to Len Snocks for a few minutes."
" Humph! Did he give Len anything? "
" I think he gave him a quarter."
" Fm sorry I missed him. He stole five dol-
lars from me yesterday — nearly all I had saved
up."
'' Oh, Nelson ! He ought to be arrested."
** It wouldn't do any good. The police
wouldn't believe me, and I haven't any witnesses,
excepting a young lady I don't know."
Len Snocks was leaving the vicinity, and now
DOWN AT THE FERRY. 29?
Nelson hastened after him. Soon he ranged up
beside the big newsboy.
*' Len, I want to ask you a question."
'* Wot do you want now? " growled Len.
'* Where did Billy Damley go after he came off
the ferry?"
At this question a crafty look came into Len
Snocks' eyes.
" Find out fer j^erself — I haint answerin' ques-
lions," he growled.
"" Billy stole some of my money yesterday."
'' Dat aint none o' my affair, is it ? "
" I suppose not. But he gave some of it to
you?"
'' Didn't give me a cent."
*^ He was seen to give you money."
'' Ha! has dat Paul Randall been a-blabbin'? "
cried Len savagely. '' I'll fix him, if he has ! "
'' You let Paul alone, or it will be the worse for
you. Then . you won't tell me where Billy
went?"
'* I don't know. He didn't tell me nuthin'."
Len Snocks would say no more, and satisfied
that it would be time lost to question him further,
Nelson hurried on and made his way back to the
lunch-room.
He was somewhat late, and as soon as he en-
tered Sam Pepper began to storm at him. The
3© NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
man was in a worse humor than ever, and lashed
our hero with his tongue every time he entered
the kitchen.
" Here I am a-breaking my back to make a liv-
ing, and everything going wrong ! " he muttered.
" You ought to have been here an hour ago. I
wanted some more meat from the butcher shop
and two dozen more of pies. I think I'll shut ug>
the place at the end of the week. An honest man
can't git along, no matter how hard he tries.
Now look out, or you'll smash those plates and
glasses, and that '11 be more money out of my
pocket. Hang the lunch business, anyway ! "
But his troubles were not yet at an end. In his
ill humor he served a customer with a steak that
was both tough and half burnt. The customer
refused to pay for the meat, and a quarrel ensued
which ended in a fight. Two tables were over-
turned and the crockery smashed before the
troublesome customer was ejected, and, in the
meantime, several other customers slipped out
without paying.
*' It's no use, Nelson ; I'm going to give it
up,'* growled Sam Pepper, when it was after two
o'clock, and the run of midday trade had oomt
to an end. " There are easier ways to make a liv-
ing than by running a lunch-room."
'' Last night you spoke about a good game ti»
DOWN AT THE FERRY. JI
make you rich," answered Nelson curiously,
** What did you mean by that? "
"When did I say that?"
" When you came in and went to bed."
** I don't remember it."
** Well, you said it, and you said something
about getting me to help you."
"Did I say anything else?" asked Pepper in
some alarm.
" No."
The man drew a breath of relief.
** I must have been a bit off in my head, Nelsorio
You see I met some old friends, and they treated
to champagne — and I'm not used to that any
more. They make an easy living, they do."
" Perhaps they can help you to something
better."
" They won't have to help me — if I've a mind
to work as they work."
"What do they do?"
" Oh, they work on the principle that the world
owes them a living, and they are bound to
have it."
" Of course they don't beg? "
At this Sam Pepper burst into a loud laugH,
" You're not so green as all that, Nelson."
" Well, what do they do then ? " persisted tha
fcoy.
32 NELSO.V THE NEWSBOY.
" Oh, a number of things ! One runs a mail-
order business. He is advertising two things
just now. One is a steel engraving of Washing-
ton, indorsed by the government as a true picture
of the first President, mounted on cardboard,
all ready for framing, for fifty cents, and the
other is a complete sewing machine for one
dollar."
** How can he sell a sewing machine for a
dollar?"
" When some fool sends on a dollar for the
machine he sends him a needle, and when another
fool sends fifty cents for the steel engraving he
sends him a postage stamp picture of Washington
stuck on a bit of cardboard."
"Oh!"
" He's smart, and the law can't get hold of
him," went on Sam Pepper. " Another of the
men is selling tips on the races. If his customer
wins he gets a percentage. He gets one fool to
bet one way and another fool to bet the other way,
and no matter which wins he gets his share of the
prize."
" I should think he would have a job, looking
for fools," said the newsboy. " Folks ought to
know better."
'' The world is full of people who want to get
something for nothing, and these men know it^
DOWN AT 7 HE FERHY. 33
But they don't make much of a pile. That's got
to be made in another way."
"What way?"
''There are lots of ways, Nelson; some good
and some bad. Ever been down in Wall Street ? "
'* Yes, but I don't know anything of the busi-
ness there."
** Folks down there gamble in stocks and bonds,
and such like. Sometimes they squeeze a poor
man out of everything he's got, but they do it so
as the law can't touch 'em — and there's where they
have the advantage over an East Side gambler,
who runs the risk of being arrested if his victim
squeals. But Wall Street aint any better than the
East Side, for all that."
'' Some nice gentlemen in Wall Street, though,"
said Nelson reflectively.
" A high hat don't make an honest man, Nel-
son ; you ought to know that by this time. They
are all thieves and swindlers, and an honest man
has no show against 'em. If you want to be rich,
you've got to be like 'em ! " went on Sam Pepper,
bringing his fist down on the table at which he sat.
*' You can't make anything bein' honest."
To this the newsboy remained silent. He had
heard such talk before, so he was not as much
shocked as he might otherwise have been.
" I guess I'll go out and sell some evening
$4 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
papers/' he said, after a pause, during which Sam
Pepper seemed to sink into deep thought.
" No, I don't want you to go out; I want to
have a talk with you," answered Pepper. '' There
won't be no business for an hour or two, and I'll
lock the door, so nobody can interrupt us. It's
got to come sooner or later, and it might as well
come now.'*
CHAPTER V.
NELSON SPEAKS HIS MIND.
Locking the front door to the lunch-room,
Pepper came to the rear of the place, poured him-
self a glass of liquor and tossed it off, and then
sank in a chair by the last table.
" Sit down, Nelson," he said.
The boy sat down and gazed curiously at the
man before him. Instinctively he realized that a
crisis in his life was approaching. He felt that
the old life was speedily to become a thing of the
past.
" Nelson, aint you often wondered who you
was? " went on Pepper.
''To be sure I have!" cried the boy. "But
you will never tell me anything," he added bit-
terly.
*' Well, I kept the secret for your own good,
my boy."
"How?"
" When I came to New York and settled on the
East Side I made up my mind to lead an honest
3^ J^ELSON THE NEWSBOY.
life and bring you up honestly. I did it, too;
didn^tl?"
" So far as I know, yes."
" I did it, but it was hard scratching, and you
know it. Many were the times I didn't know how
to turn myself, and if it hadn't been for some
friends helping me, I would have gone under.
Those friends were the only ones I ever knew.
They weren't honest, but — well, we'll let that pass.
They helped me, and I aint going back on 'em."
"But what about me?"
" I'm coming to that, Nelson. As I said be-
fore, I wanted to bring you up honestly ; for your
mother was honest, even if your father wasn't."
'* My father ! " ejaculated the newsboy.
"What was he?"
" He was a good-hearted man. Nelson — a fine-
hearted man, who did lots of good."
" But you said he wasn't honest."
" No, he wasn't, if you must know. He was a
burglar, and made his living by taking from the
rich what they didn't deserve to have. He was
my friend, and he was one of the men who helped
me when I lost all I had at the yacht races."
" But — ^but I don't understand," faltered Nel-
son. "What was his name?"
" I can't tell you that."
"Is he dead?"
NELSON SPEAKS HIS MIND, 37
"Yes; he died when you was a little kid not
more than three years old. We both lived in an-
other city then — I won't tell you where. Your
father was shot w^hile entering a house to rob a
man w^ho had once robbed him when he was in
business. Your father died in a hospital, and I
was with him. Your mother was dead, and he
didn't know what to do with you. I said I'd take
you, and he made me promise to go to sea first and
then to another city and bring you up the best I
could. He didn't want you to know your name,
and so I got to calling you Nelson after the Eng-
lish admiral, and you can sign yourself Nelson
Pepper after this, if you want to,"
'' Then you won't tell me where I came from ? "
'' No; excepting that it was a good many miles
from here. It wouldn't do any good to rake up
old scores. If your father hadn't died of the shot,
he would have been sent to prison for ten or fifteen
years."
" What was the name of the man who shot
him?"
" It won't do you any good to know that, either
— he's dead and gone, too."
There was a pause, and the newsboy gave some-
thing like an inward groan. The revelation that
Pepper had made was truly a shocking one, and
the boy was so dazed and bewildered he could
38 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
scarcely think. His father a burglar, and shot
down while in the act of committing a robbery 1
What a degradation !
" Fve told you all this for a purpose/' went on
the man. '' Now Fve got some more to tell you,
if you'll promise to keep your mouth shut."
"What else is there?"
" Will you keep silent if I tell 3«)u ? "
" Yes."
"And do you promise not to say a word of
what I have just told you ? "
" Why should I — it wouldn't be anything to my
credit," answered Nelson.
" But I want you to promise."
" All right; I promise."
" That's good. I know if you give your word
you'll keep it. Now, I've got a plan in my head
to square accounts, so to speak, and git rich at
the same time."
"What plan? "^
" Well, you see, it's like this : There's a rich
gent lives up near Central Park. I won't give
you his name, but I don't mind tellfng you that
he's a distant relative of the fellow who shot your
father, and he used to help that other man in his
dealings against your father. I don't know as he
remembers your father now, but he's a man you
ought to get square on, anyway."
NELSON SPEAKS HIS MIND. 39
"How?"
" Fm coming to that, my boy. This man is old
and feeble and has something of an office in his
library at home. There is a safe in the library,
but it's old-fashioned and can easily be opened.
In that safe the old man keeps thousands of dol-
lars all the time, for it's too much for him to go
back and forth to the bank, and he aint the one to
trust anybody else."
Sam Pepper paused suggestively and looked
Nelson full in the eyes. Then he began to whistle
softly to himself.
" Do you mean that you think I ought to rob
that safe? " questioned our hero.
" You won't have to do the job alone, lad; I'll
be on hand to help you."
" But I — I never stole anything in my life."
" It won't be stealing, exactly. That man owes
you something. If it hadn't been for him and his
relative your father might have been rich and
never got into any burglary. I *have looked the
ground over, and the job will be dead easy.
There is a back alley and an iron fence that both
of us can climb over without half trying. Then I
can git a diamond cutter for the window glass, and
the rest will be just as easy as wink."
" And if you are caught, what then ? "
" We won't git caught, Nels«3n. The old maa
40 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
has only a niece living with him, a girl of seven-
teen or eighteen, and an old housekeeper who is
half deaf. The rest of the help comes in the
morning and leaves after supper."
There was another pause. Nelson sank beside
the table, with his face in his hands. Suddenly
he looked at Sam Pepper again.
" Did you say that man had robbed my father
— I mean the man who shot him? "
" Sure he did, Nelson."
" Then perhaps my father wasn't a burglar^
after all. Perhaps he was entering the house to
get evidence against the man."
'' No, he went in to — er — well, to steal, if you
must have it straight."
" Sam Pepper, I don't believe you ! "
" Nelson ! "
" I don't believe you, so there ! You won^t tell
me my name, or where I came from, or anything,
and you are only trying to make out my father
was a thief so as to get me to turn thief, too."
" I've told you the truth, lad."
" And I repeat I don't believe you. What is
more, I won't help you in your plans of robbery.
I've been honest so far, and I mean to remain
honest. You ought to be ashamed of yourself for
trying to make me a thief."
The newsboy had risen to his feet and, as he
NELSON SPEAKS HIS MIND. 4 1
Spoke, his face glowed with earnestness. Now
Sam Pepper sprang up, his features full of baffled
passion.
" How dare you talk to me, you miserable
pup? " he roared. '* Fve a good mind to thrash
you well for this ! Haven't I clothed and fed you
for years? And this is what I git for it! I've
told you the truth about yourself, only I didn't
paint your father as black as I might, not wishing
to hurt your feelings. He was a burglar, and be-
fore he was shot he served two sentences in
prison."
*' I don't believe it — and I never will," retorted
Nelson, but with quivering lips. " Where was
this? Tell me, and I'll soon find out if it is true."
"' I won't tell you a thing more — unless you
promise to help me as you should."
" I won't help you — and that's the end of it."
" You owe me something for keeping you all
these years."
" I don't believe you would have kept me if you
weren't paid for it.'
" I never received a cent — not a penny.
You've got to pay me'back somehow."
" Well, I am not going to do it by stealing," an-
swered Nelson doggedly.
" Then how are you going to do it? "
" I don't know yet."
42 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" I'm going to give this place up soon, and of
course the Hving rooms will go, too."
" I can find another place to live."
" You want to git out of paying me that five
dollars a week, don't you ? " sneered Pepper.
" I can't pay live dollars. But I'll pay what I
can. How much do you think I owe you ? "
" A good deal — seeing that I've kept you ten
years or longer."
" Didn't my father leave anything? "
" About forty dollars— not enough to keep you
three months."
'' He hadn't any property ? "
" Nothing."
" Well, as I said before, I'll do what I can — >
when I am able."
"And you won't help me to — — " Pepper
paused.
" I won't steal— I'll starve first," returned Nel-
son, and taking up his hat, he unlocked the door,
and walked away from the lunch-room.
CHAPTER VI.
A BOOK agent's TRIALS.
When Nelson left the lunch-room he scarcely
knew what he was doing. The conversation
which had occurred had been an important one,
but his head was in such a whirl that just now
he could make little or nothing out of it.
He had ho desire to sell papers, — indeed, he had
no desire to do anything, — and all he did was to
walk up the street and keep on walking until he
was well uptown. Then he began to cross the city
in the direction of Broadway.
At last he began to " cool off " a bit, and then
he went over all that had been said with care. As
he did this he became more and more convinced
that Sam Pepper had not told him the truth con-
cerning his parent.
''He is holding something back," he told him-
self. " And he has some object in doing it. He
shall never make me a thief, and some day Til
force him to tell his secret."
*' Hullo, Nelson ! what brings you up here? "
The question was asked by a young man who
44 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
carried a flat bag in his hand. The man was an
agent for books, and the boy had met him many
times before.
" Oh, I just came up for a walk," answered our
hero. " How is business, Van Pelt ? "
** Poor," answered George Van Pelt, as he set
down his bag, which was heavy. " Haven't made
but half a dollar so far to-day."
" That's no better than selling newspapers."
'^ I don't suppose it is, and you don't have to
carry around such a bag as this, either. But I
would have made more to-day if a customer hadn't
tripped me up."
" How was that ? "
'' There was a young gent living near Central
Park named Homer Bulson, wanted me to get
certain French books for him. I got the books,
but when I went to deliver them he refused to take
them, saying they were not what he had ordered."
''Were they?"
" They were. I could make him take them,
according to law, but to sue a man is expensive.
But now I've got the books on my hands, and they
cost me over three dollars.''
*' Can't you sell them to somebody else? "
'' I hardly think so. You see, they are books
on poisons, and there isn't much call for that sort
of thing."
A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS. 4S
" Poisons ! What did he want to do with
them?"
*' He said when he ordered them, that he was
studying to be a doctor, and was going to make
poisons a specialty."
*' It's a shame you can't make him take the
books."
" So it is. I suppose I could make him take
them, if I wanted to create a row. But I can't do
that. I haven't the cheek."
** Fd make him take them, if I was in your
place. Anyway, I'd tell him I was going to sue
him if he didn't pay up. Perhaps that might
scare him."
*' I was thinking something of doing so. Do
you really think it might make him come down? '^
" I know some folks hate to think they are
going to be sued. And if he lives in a fine house
he must be pretty high-toned."
'* Oh, he is ! He's a young bachelor, and lives
in fine style, directly opposite the home of his rich
uncle."
'' Then I'd try him again, before I'd give up."
*' I will. Do you want to come along? " went
on George Van Pelt, who hated a quarrel.
'' I might as well. Fm not doing much just
now," answered Nelson.
" Of course you haven't given up selling
#6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
papers ? " went on George Van Pelt, as the two
walked along.
'' No. But I wish I could get something better
to do."
" That's hard these times, Nelson. How much
a day can you make at it ? ''
*' From seventy-five cents to a dollar and a
quarter. Sometimes I make a dollar and a half,
but that's not often."
" The books used to bring me in from three to
five dollars a day. But the department stores cut
the prices now, and soon the whole book-agent
business will be ruined."
'' What will you go into then? "
'' I don't know. If I had the money I'd start a
newsstand — for papers and books, too."
*' That would pay, if you could get hold of the
right corner," said our hero, with interest.
*' I know of a good comer on Third Avenue.
The man who keeps it now is old and wants to sdl
out."
" What does he want for the stand ? "
" A hundred dollars. Of course the stock iso't
worth it, but the business is."
" That depends on what he takes in a day."
*' He averages seventy-five dollars a week.
But it would be more, if he was able to get arouiMl
and attend to it."
A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS. 47
" A hundred dollaxs a week would mean about
thirty dollars profit," said Nelson, who was quick
at figures. " How much is the rent ? "
*' Five dollars a week."
" That would leave twenty-five dollars for the
stand-keeper. Does he have a boy? "
** Yes, and pays him three dollars a week."
** Maybe we could buy the stand together, Van
Pdt. You know all about books, and I know
about the newspapers. We ought to make a go
of it."
" That's so, but " The book agent looked
rather dubiously at our hero's clothes. " How
about the cash ? "
" We might save it somehow. I'm saving up
for a suit now."
'* You need the suit."
'' I expected to get it in a few days. But Billy
Darnley robbed me of %m^ dollars, so I've got to
wait a bit."
" Well, if we could raise that money we might
buy out the stand and try our luck," continued
George Van Pelt, after a thoughtful pause. " I
think we'd get along. How much have
you."
" Only a dollar or two now."
"I've got fifteen dollars, and about ten dollars'
worth of books."
48 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Couldn't we get the man to trust us for the
stand?"
" He said he might trust me for half the amount
he asks, but fifty dollars would have to be a cash
payment."
^' We'll raise it somehow !" cried Nelson en-
thusiastically. The idea of owning a half interest
in a regular stand appealed to him strongly. In
his eyes the proprietor of such a stand was a regu-
lar man of business.
The pair hurried on, and at length reached the
%acinity of Central Park, and Van Pelt pointed
out the house in which the rich young man who
had refused to take the books lived.
" Perhaps he won't let me in," he said.
" Wait — somebody is coming out of the house,"
returned our hero.
" It's Mr. Bulson himself," said George Van
Pelt.
He hurried forward, followed by Nelson, and
the pair met the young man on the steps of his
bachelor abode.
Homer Bulson was a tall, slim young fellow,
with light hair and blue eyes. His face was
somewhat weak, but in his eyes was a look full of
scheming cunning. He was faultlessly dressed
in the latest fashion, wore a silk hat, and carried a
gold-headed cane.
A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS. 49
*' Mr. Bulson, I must see you about these
books," said George Van Pelt, coming to a halt
on the steps of the stone porch.
'' I told you before that I did not wish to be
bothered," answered the young man coldly.
" But you ordered the books, sir."
'* I will not discuss the matter with you. Go
away, and if you bother me again I shall call a
policeman."
" My friend hasn't done anything wrong," put
in Nelson boldly. '' You ordered some books
from him, and you ought to pay for 'em."
'' What have you to do with this matter? " de-
manded the rich young man, staring harshly at
our hero.
'* This man is my friend, and I don't want to see
him swindled," said our hero.
"Swindled!"
'' That's it. You ordered some books on
poisons from him, and now you don't want to
pay for 'em. It's a swindle and an outrage.
He's a poor man, and you haven't any right to
treat him so."
" Boy, if you speak like that to me, I'll have
you put under arrest," stormed Homer Bulson in
a rage.
" You must take the books," put in George Van
Pelt, growing braver through what Nelson wa«
50 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
saying. " If you won*t take them, I'll sue you
for the amount."
"Sue me?"
" Yes, sue you."
*' And I'll put the reporters on the game," added
the newsboy. " They like to get hold of society
notes." And he grinned suggestively.
At this Homer Bulson's face became filled with
horror. For more reasons than one he did not
wish this affair to become public property.
'' To sue me will do no good," he said
lamely.
" Yes, it will," said the book agent. " You
have money and will have to pay up."
" Or else your rich uncle will pay for you," said
Nelson, never dreaming of how the shot would
tell. Bulson grew very pale.
*' I — I will take the books and pay for them,"
he stammered. " Not because I think I ought to
take them, mind you," he added, '' but because I
wish no trouble in public. Where are the
books?"
" Here." And George Van Pelt brought two
volumes from his satchel.
"How much?"
" Just what I told you before, Mr. Bulson — ^five
dollars."
" It's a very high price for such small books."
A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS. $1
** They are imported from France, remember,
and besides, books on poisons "
'' Give them to me."
The books were passed over, and Homer Bul-
son drew from his vest pocket a small roll of bills.
He handed over a five to George Van Pelt.
** Now begone with you," he said sourly.
** And don't ever come near me again for another
order."
*' Don't worry, I won't come," answered the
book agent. '* You are too hard a customer to
suit."
He pocketed the money and rejoined Nelson on
the sidewalk. Then both started to walk
away.
As they did so our hero glanced across the way
and saw, in a window of the house opposite, the
young lady who had offered her assistance after
Billy Darnley had robbed him.
She recognized him and smiled, and ht
promptly touched his hat respectfully.
Homer Bulson saw the act and so did George
Van Pelt, and both stared at Nelson.
" Whom did you see? " asked Van Pelt, as they
walked down the street.
" A lady who once offered to help me/' said
Nelson. " She was in that house. She has left
tbe window now."
52 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
*' Why, that is where that man's rich uncle
lives ! " exclaimed the book agent.
*' Is it? " cried our hero. '' Then perhaps the
lady is a relative to him."
'' Perhaps."
" What is the uncle's name? "
" Mark Horton. I understood that he was
once a rich merchant of Philadelphia. But he's
a sickly old man now. I wanted to sell him same
books, but they w^ouldn't let me see him."
'' I hope that young lady isn't a relative to that
Homer Bulson," mused Nelson. " If he is, he
can't be very nice company for her."
" That's true, Nelson."
" You said you tried to sell books there but they
wouldn't let you in."
" No, the gentleman was too sick to see me — at
least that is what they said. But perhaps it was
only a dodge to keep me out."
" I suppose they play all sorts of tricks on you
— ^to keep you out of folks' houses," went on the
newsboy thoughtfully.
'' Sometimes they do. Some folks won't be
bothered with a book agent."
" And yet you've got to live," laughed Nelson.
" Yes, all of us have got to live. But lots of
folks, especially those w^ith money, won't reason
that way. They'll set a dog on you, or do worse,
A BOOK AGENT'S TRIALS, 53
just to get rid of you. Why, once I had a man
in Paterson accuse me of stealing."
** How was that? "
" It was the first week I went out selHng books.
I was down on my kick and didn't have any
clothes worth mentioning."
*' Like myself, for instance," interrupted the
newsboy, with a laugh.
'* If anything my clothes were worse. Well, I
was traveling around Paterson when I struck a
clothing shop on a side street. I went in and
found the proprietor busy with a customer, and
while I waited for him I picked up a cheap suit of
clothes to examine it. All of a sudden the pro-
prietor's clerk came rushing out of a back room
and caught me by the arm.
" ' You vos goin' to steal dot coat ! ' he roared.
" ' No, I wasn't,' I said. ' I was just looking
at it'
" * I know petter,' he went on, and then he
called the proprietor and both of them held me."
" I reckon you were scared."
*' I was, for I didn't know a soul in the town.
I said I wasn't a thief, and had come in to sell
books, and I showed them my samples. At first
they wouldn't believe a word, and they talked a
whole lot of German that I couldn't understand.
Then one went out for a policeman."
54 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" And what did you do then ? "
" I didn't know what to do, and was studying
the situation when the other man suddenly said I
could go — that he didn't want any bother with
going to court, and all that. Then I dusted away,
and I never stopped until I was safe on the traiii
and on my way back to New York."
" Did you ever go to Paterson after that? "
" No, I never wanted to see that town agmia^'^
ccmcluded George Van Pelt.
CHAPTER VII.
A HARSH ALTERNATIVE.
Homer Bulson was a fashionable man of the
world. He had traveled a good deal and seen far
more of a certain kind of " high life " than was
good for him, either mentally or morally. He
was fond of liquor and of gambling, and had al-
most run through the money which an indulgent
parent had left him.
He was alone in the world, so far as immediate
members of his family were concerned, but he had
sn uncle, Mark Horton, just mentioned, and also
a cousin, Gertrude Horton, who was the ward of
the retired merchant. This Gertrude Horton
was the young lady who had offered to assist
Nelson, and who had just recognized our hero
from her seat at the window opposite.
In the fashionable world Homer Bulson cut a
"wide swath," as it is commonly called, but he
managed to keep his doings pretty well hidden
from his uncle, who supposed him to be a model
3?oung man.
The young man^s reason for this was, his uncle
56 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
was rich and at his death would leave a large
property, and he wished to become heir to a large
portion of what Mark Horton left behind him.
He knew his uncle was a strict man, and would
not countenance his high mode of living, should
he hear of it.
Homer Bulson watched Nelson curiously, and
then looked across the street to see if he could
catch his cousin Gertrude's eye. But the young
lady was now out of sight.
" How is it that she knows that street boy?"
Bulson asked himself, as he walked into the house
to stow away the books he had purchased. " I
don't like it at all — seeing that he was with the
man who sold me these books. I hope he doesn't
ever tell her I've been buying books on poisons."
Entering one of his rooms — he occupied sev-
eral— he locked the door and threw himself into
an easy-chair. Soon he was looking over the
books, and reading slowly, for his knowledge of
-French was decidedly limited.
** Oh, pshaw! I can't make anything out of
this," he exclaimed at last. '' That English book
on poisons I picked up at the second-hand book
store is good enough for me. I might as well put
these in a fire." But instead he hid them away at
the bottom of a trunk.
With the books on poisons out of his sightj^
A HARSH ALTERNATIVE. 57
Homer Biilson turned to his wardrobe and made
a new selection of a suit of light brown which his
tailor had just brought to him.
He was putting on the suit when there came a
knock on the door.
" Who's there ? " asked the young man.
'' Mr. Grodell, sir,'' was the answer.
Mr. Grodell was the agent of the apartment
house, and had come for his rent.
Homer Bui son was behind four months in pay-
ments, and the agent was growing anxious for his
money.
'' Very sorry, Mr. Grodell, but I am just chang-
ing my clothes,'' said the spendthrift.
" Then I'll wait," was the answer.
" Better not, it will take some time."
'* I am in no hurry, Mr. Bulson," said the
agent.
*' Oh, pshaw! why does he bother me! " mut-
tered Homer Bulson. " I haven't got any money
for him."
He did not know what to do, and scratched his
head in perplexity.
'* Come around Saturday and I will pay you in
full," he called out.
*' You told me you would pay me last Saturday,
Mr. Bulson.''
*' I know I did, but I was disappointed about a
58 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
remittance. I will surely have your money this
coming Saturday."
"Without fail?"
" Without fail."
" All right, Mr. Bulson. But I must have it
then, or else take possession of the rooms." And
with this parting shot the agent departed.
"The impudent fellow!" muttered Homer
Bulson. "To talk to me in that fashion! He
shall wait until I get good and ready to pay him ! "
Nevertheless, the young man's pocketbook was
very nearly empty, and this worried him not a
little.
Several times he had thought of applying to his
uncle for a loan, but each time had hesitated, being
afraid that Mark Horton would suspect his ex-
travagant mode of living.
" But I must get money somehow," he told
himself.
At last he was dressed, and then he peered out
into the hallway.
The agent had really gone, and satisfied on this
point Homer Bulson left the residcaice for a stroll
on Fifth Avenue.
This occupied over an hour, and then he walked
over to one of the clubs to which he was attached,
where he dined in the best of style.
After dinner came a game or two of billiards,
A HARSH ALTERNATIVE. 5^
and then he took a cab to his uncle's mansion
near the Park.
He found Mark Horton seated in an invalid's
chair in the library, and nearby was Gertrude try-
ing her best to make the elderly man comfortable.
Evidently the elderly man was in a bad humor,
for his eyes flashed angrily as the nephew entered.
The trouble was Mark Horton and his niece
Gertrude had had something of a quarrel. The
invalid wished Gertrude to marry her cousin
Homer, and the girl did not desire the match, for
she realized what a spendthrift and generally
worthless fellow Bulson was.
Both knew that their uncle had made a will
leaving his property divided equally between
them, and Gertrude was almost certain that Bul-
son wished to marry her simply in order to gain
control of everything.
The girl hated very much to displease her uncle,
for she realized what troubles he had had in the
past. A fearful railroad accident had deprived
the man of his beloved wife years before, and
shortly after this happening other trials had come
to him, which had broken him down completely.
What these trials were will be revealed as our
story progresses.
''Well, Uncle Mark, how goes it to-day?"
asked Homer Bulson, on walking in.
•O NELSON- THE NEWSBOY.
'' Not very well, Homer," was the feeble an-
swer.
" Uncle Mark had quite a bad attack about two
liours ago," put in Gertrude Horton. " I had to
send for the doctor."
'' Wasn't he here this morning? "
^' Yes, but I thought best to have him again/'
answered the girl.
" That's right."
" " The doctor seems to do me small good," put
in the invalid, in a feeble voice. ''He doesn't
seem to understand my case at all."
*' He is one of the best physicians in New-
York," answered Homer Bulson.
" So you said before, Homer. Well, I doubt if
I ever get any better."
" Oh, Uncle Mark 1 " cried Gertrude, much
shocked.
" I seem to be completely broken down," went
on the invalid. '' At times the strangest of sink-
ing spells come over me. I feel very, very old."
There was a painful silence, and Gertrude re-
arranged the pillow behind the invalid's head.
" Did you see about those stocks to-day.
Homer?" went on Mark Horton. "I had for-
ffotten about them."
" I did, sir."
" And what did the broker say? "
A HARSH ALTERNATIVE. 6l
** He urged me to hold on awhile longer."
*' And you have them still ? "
" Yes, uncle."
** Very well; do as he advises. Some day,
■when I am stronger, I must attend to many other
business matters."
'* Oh, Uncle Mark, don't worry about busi-
ness," pleaded Gertrude, passing her arm around
his neckc
There was another pause and Mark Horton
gazed sharply at Gertrude. Then he turned to
Homer Bulson.
" She won't marry you, Homer — I don't know
why," he said.
The face of the young man fell, and he bit his
lip.
'' Well, I suppose she will do as she pleases," he
remarked, somewhat sarcastically.
" I think I should be allowed to make my own
choice," said Gertrude. She had already refused
Bulson several times.
" I can't understand it," said the invalid, ** T0
my mind you are just suited to each othen"
'* I do not think so," answered Gertrude.
" And why not? "
'' I would rather not say, Uncle Mark,"
" You can't have anything against me person-
ally," put in Bulson, with a scowl.
62 NELSOM THE NEWSBOY.
" But I have ! " cried the girl. '' You go to the
race-track, and drink, and gamble, and I do not
like it."
A stormy scene followed, in which all three in
the room took part. Strange to say, Mark Hor-
ton sided with his nephew, for he did not realize
the blackness of Bulson's character.
" You are prejudiced and foolish," cried the in-
valid at last, turning to his niece. " You do not
wish to please me in anything." And so speak-
ing, he arose and tottered from the room.
Homer Bulson made as if to follow him, then re-
considered the matter and sank back into a chair.
Poor Gertrude burst into a flood of tears«
CHAPTER VIII.
THE COMBINATION OF THE SAFE.
" Gertrude^ you are making a great mistake,*'
said Homer Bulson, after a pause broken only by
the sobbing of the girl.
'* Please don't speak to me, Homer," she an-
swered. " I have heard enough for one day."
'' You have no right to blacken my character/'
he said with assumed dignity.
'' Uncle Mark forced me to speak the truth,"
'* It was not the truth. But let that pass.
Why didn't you tell him you would marry me? "
" Because I don't want to marry you."
*' But you might let him think that you— — =•"
''I am above practicing a deception upon him^
Homer."
''Oh, you aren't a saint!" he sheered. "I
know why you are so loving to him — you thought
to get all of his money. Now you are trying to
blacken my character, so that you may get all of
it, anyway. But the game won't work."
"I told him what I did simply to let him know
why I didn't care to marry you. Cousin Homer. '^
63
64 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" And why are you so opposed to me? "
" I do not like your ways. Isn't that enou^?
As for Uncle Mark's money, I trust he will live a
long time to enjoy it himself."
" Uncle Mark can live but a short while longer.
Anybody can see that. He is exceedingly
feeble."
" You seem to wish his death," replied Gertriadc
sharply.
''I? No, indeed; I hope he does live
Haven't I done what I could for him™ giving him
wines and the like? And he has the best of doc-
tors— on my recommendation."
" I don't think the wine you gave him is doing
any good. He seems to become weaker after it,
instead of stronger."
" Bosh I If he hadn't the wine, he would col-
lapse utterly."
At this the girl merely shrugged her shoulders.
This was not the first time that Homer Bulson
and herself had quarreled over the care their uncle
should have. To the girl the retired merchant
seemed to grow unexpectedly weakin spite of all
she could do. The doctor, too, was bafBed, and
said he had never come across such a strange case
before.
" If you won't marry me, you shall not turtt
Uncle Mark against me," went on Bulson sternly.
THE COMBINATION OF THE SAFE, 65
" If you try it, you will repent it as long as yotf
live.''
So speaking, he strode from the room and made
after Mark Horton, who had gone to his private
apartment on the second floor.
He found the retired merchant resting in an
easy-chair by the window, his head bowed low.
'* Cheer up, uncle," he said, placing his hand on
the other's shoulder. '' Let me pour you a glass
of wine."
And he walked to a medicine closet in a corner
and got out a bottle he had brought a few days
before.
'' Thank you, Homer; I will have a little wine,"
replied the retired merchant.
The wine was poured out and Mark Horton
j^ulped it down. Homer Bulson watched him
closely, and then turned away his face to hide a
sinister smile.
'* I cannot understand Gertrude," said Mark
Horton. '' I always thought she preferred
you."
'' I think she has another person in view," an-
swered Bulson, struck with a certain idea.
"Another? Who is it?"
" I would rather not say, uncle."
" But I demand to know."
" I cannot tell you his name. But he is a cons^
66 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
man sort of person. He went past the house a
while ago and she nodded and smiled to him."
'' And how long has this been going on ? "
'' Oh, several months, I dare say. They meet
in the evening on the sly. But please don't tell
Gertrude that I spoke of this."
" What does the man do ? "
" I am not sure, but I think he is in the
theatrical business, when he has an engagement —
something on the variety stage."
" What ! My Gertrude the wife of a variety
actor? Never, Homer, never!" groaned Mark
Horton. " This is too much ! I will speak to
her at once ! "
" Uncle, you just promised not to let her
know "
" You'll be safe, Homer, never fear. But I
won't have this — I'll cast her out first."
" I suppose she wanted to keep this a secret
until after you — that is "
*' Until after I am dead, so that she can use up
my money on her actor husband," finished Mark
Horton bitterly. He suddenly sprang to his feet.
" But she shall marry you. Homer, and nobody
else. That is final."
'' Pray do not excite yourself too much, uncle.
Let the matter rest for a few days."
" And if I should die in the meantime, what
THE COMBINATION' OF THE SAFE. 67
then? No, Homer; delays are dangerous. I — I
— feel as if I cannot last much longer. Who
knows but what this night may prove my last? " '
And Mark Horton sank back again in his chair
and covered his face with his hands.
" Uncle, in case anything should happen to you,
may I ask what you have done with your will? "
asked Bulson, after a long pause. " Or, perhaps
Gertrude knows about this? "
" Yes, she knows, but you must know, too.
Both the old will and the new one are in the safe
in the library, in the upper compartment on the
right side. On the left side are two gold pieces
which I brought home with me when I visited the
mint in California."
" Is that all the money there is in the safe? "
" No, there is more gold than that — in a secret
compartment at the bottom. There is a spring to
open this compartment on the left side, a small
gilded knob. It is right I should tell you of this,
otherwise you might never find the secret com-
partment."
''' And the combination of the safe? '' went on
Bulson, more anxiously than ever.
" The combination is o, 4, 25, 12, 32, and once
around to the left to o again. You had better put
it down. I have it written on a slip in my pocket-
book."
68 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
'* Then it won't be necessary for me to put it
down," answered the nephew, but he took good
care to remember the combination, nevei'theless.
It was now time for Mark Horton to retire, and,
the wine having made him drowsy, he soon for-
got his anger against Gertrude and went to sleep.
When Homer Bulson went below he paused in
the hallway and glanced through the doorway into
the library.
He saw that Gertrude had left the apartment
and that it was empty.
None of the servants were about, and the house-
keeper, an elderly lady, was also nowhere to be
seen.
'* I wonder if I dare do it so soon? " he mut-
tered to himself. Then he shut his teeth hard.
" I must do something! I have used up my last
dollar, and I can't go around empty-handed.
Uncle Mark will never grow strong enough to
know."
Going to the front door he opened it, then
slammed it violently and made a noise as if he was
descending the steps. Then he closed the door
with care and stole back into the gloom of the
library. It was now after midnight, a fitting time
for the desperate deed this misguided young man
had undertaken.
CHAPTER IX.
A PAIR WELL MATCHED.
After leaving George V'an Pelt Nelson felt
more like working, and buying a large supply of
evening papers he was soon hard at it, crying his
wares as loudly as possible.
Business proved brisk, and by seven o'clock he
had sold out. Then he went back to the lunch-
room,
Sam Pepper met him with a scov/l.
''Concluded to come back after all, eh?" he
said. " Work piling up on me and nobody to
help. Pitch in, quick, or I'll thrash 3'ou good; do
you hear? "
The rest of the evening* passed in almost utter
silence between them. By ten o'clock the most
of the lunch trade came to an end. At eleven
Sam Pepper began to lock up.
" I'm going out," he said. " An old friend is
sick. Maybe I won't be back till morning.
Watch things good while I'm gone."
'* Who is sick? " asked our hero.
*' None of your business. You mind what I
69
70 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
told you, and keep your mouth closed/' growled
the lunch-room keeper.
Nelson had noticed a heavy handbag lying in
the corner of the back room, and now he saw Sam
Pepper pick the bag up. As the man moved it,
something inside struck together with a hard,
metallic sound, as if the bag might contain tools.
When Sam Pepper went out he wore a big
slouch hat and a coat which he had not donned for
years. He usually wore a derby hat, and his gen-
eral appearance surprised the newsboy not a little.
" He acts as if he wanted to be disguised,''
thought the boy. '' Something is up, sure."
Then of a sudden he remembered the talk he
had had with Pepper about robbing an old man —
the man who had in some way been connected
w^ith his father's downfall, if Pepper's story was
true. Was I'l possible Pepper was going to
undertake the job that very night, and alone?
" I believe he is! " thought Nelson. " And if
that's so, I'll follow him ! "
With the boy, to think was to act, and in a few
minutes he was prepared to follow Sam Pepper.
The man had locked the front door and taken the
key with him. Nelson slipped out of a rear win-
dow and fastened the window from the outside by
means of a nail shoved into a hole in a corner — ^a
trick he had learned some time before.
A PAIR WELL MATCHED. T\
When the boy came out on the street he ran up
the thoroughfare for a couple of blocks, and was
just in time to see Sam Pepper making his way up
the stairs of the elevated railroad station. When
the train came along Pepper entered the front car,
and our hero took the car behind it. Nelson but-
toned up his coat and pulled his hat far down over
his eyes to escape recognition, but Sam Pepper
never once looked around to see if he was being
followed.
Leaving the Bowery, the elevated train con-
tinued up Third Avenue until Fifty-ninth Street
was reached. Here Sam Pepper got off, and
Nelson, who was on the watch, did the same.
The man descended to the street and walked
slowly toward Fifth Avenue. Our hero followed
like a shadow. He w^as now certain that Pepper
was bent on the robbery of the place he had men-
tioned that afternoon.
Mark Horton's residence stood on the avenue,
but a few blocks below Central Park. As Sam
Pepper had said, there was an alleyway in the
rear, with a small iron fence. Beyond was a small
courtyard, and here there was a balcony with an
alcove window opening into the library. Over
the window was a heavy curtain, which the retired
merchant sometimes closed when at the safe, so
that curious neighbors might not pry into his
72 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
affairs. But the neighbors were now away on %
vacation in Europe — something which Sam Pep-
per had noted with considerable satisfaction.
It did not take the man long to climb over the
iron fence and on to the Uttle balcony. Noise-
lessly he tried the window, to find it locked. But
the catch was an old-fashioned one, and he readily
pushed it aside with a blade of his knife. Then
he raised the v/indow inch by inch. At last he
had it high enough, and he stepped into the room,
behind the heavy curtain before mentioned.
Sam Pepper was hardly in the room v/hoi
something happened to give him a temporary
shock. He heard the scratch of a match, and then
a gas jet was lit and turned low in the room.
" Tve put my foot into it," he groaned.
" Maybe I had better git out as fast as I came in."
Cautiously he p€€ped from behind the curtain,
and to his astonishment saw Homer Bulson ap-
proach the safe and kneel down before it. He
also saw that Bulson was alone, and that the doors
to the other parts of the mansion were tightly
closed.
" Something is up that's not on the level," he
told himself. " This man don't live here."
Scarcely daring to breathe, he watched Homer
Bulson work at the combination of the safe. To
get the strong box open was not easy, and soon
A PAIR WELL MATCHED. 1%
the fashionable young man uttered a low exclanna-
tion of impatience.
" I must have it wrong," Pepper heard him
say. " Confound the luck ! And I wanted that
money to-night, too."
xA.t last the safe came open, and Homer Bulson
breathed a sigh of satisfaction. With trembling
fingers he pulled open one of the upper drawers.
''Found!" he murmured. *' I wonder if I
have time to read them over, to make sure they
are all right ? Uncle is a queer stick and he may
have made some mistake."
He brought some documents forth and began
to unfold them. Then he reconsidered the matter
and placed the papers on a chair beside the safe.
In a moment more he had found the gilded knob,
pressed upon it, and opened the secret compart-
ment at the bottom of the strong box.
The sight that met his gaze caused his eyes to
glisten. There were several stacks of ten- and
twenty-dollar gold pieces — at least two thousand
dollars in all. Without waiting he placed a large
handful of the coins in the outer pocket of his coat.
*' I won't take it all — it won't be safe," he mur-
mured. '' I can get more some other time — if I
need it." Then he shut the compartment.
Sam Pepper had seen the gold, and it set his
heart to thumping madly. Here was more wealth
74 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
than he had seen in many a day — right within his
reach. Why had not the young man taken it all ?
" He's chicken-hearted and a fool/" thought
Pepper.
A second later a big fly, awakened by the swing-
ing of the curtain and the light, buzzed close to
Pepper's ear and caused him to start. At the
same moment Homer Bulson glanced up and
caught sight of the other's face.
'' Who — what — who are you ? " stammered
Bulson, leaping to his feet.
" Hush ! " cried Sam Pepper warningly.
" Hush, unless you want to wake up the whole
house."
" But who are you, and where did you come
from?"
" Never mind about that. Why didn't you
take all of the gold from the safe while you were
at it?"
"I — er— what do you know of the gold?"
stammered Homer Bulson. He was pale and
confused.
" I saw you open the safe and take it. Is that
your uncle's money ? "
" Ye— yes."
''' What are you going to do with it? "
*' What business is that of yours ? "
" I am going to make this job my business.**
A PAIR WELL MATCHED. |S
" You look like a burglar."
'' Well, if I am a burglar, 3^ou won't give me
away, for you are a burglar yourself."
The shot told, and Homer Bulson became paler
than before.
'' I reckon we might divide up on this job,*'
went on Sam Pepper with a boldness that was
astonishing.
" I don't understand."
'' Give me half the gold and I won't say any-
thing about this to anybody."
"And if I refuse?"
" If you refuse, perhaps I'll make it mighty un-
pleasant for you, I know you. You are Homer
Bulson, the fashionable nephew of Mark Horton,
and the man who expects to come into a good
share of his property when he dies."
" And who are you ? "
" I am a rnan who used to be up in the world,
but one who is now down on his luck. I want you
to help me. If you will, I'll help you."
At this Homer Bulson was a good deal be-
wildered.
" I don't understand you. I am not of your
kind, my man."
At this Sam Pepper gave a contemptuous snifF,
** If you aint, you aint any better," he growled.
" Let me tell you I know a thing or two. I didn't
76 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
come here blindly. I know all about Mark Hor-
ton and his niece, and you — and I know a good
deal more — about the past. You and that girl
expect to get his property. Well, maybe you will,
and then, again, maybe you won't."
'' x\nd why won't we get his property? " asked
Homer Bulson, in deep interest.
'' Hush ! not so loud, or you'll have the rest of
the house down on us." Sam Pepper leaned for-
ward and whispered something into the 3^oung
man's ear. " There, how do you like that ? "
Homer Bulson fell back as if shot.
'* You — you speak the trutli ? " he faltered.
" I do."
'' But after all these years! Impossible! "
'' It's true, I tell you, and I can prove it — if I
want to. But I'm not his friend. Now are you
willing to make a deal with me? "
'' Yes ! yes ! " groaned the young man. " First,
however, you must prove your words. But that
can't be done here. Come to my bachelor apart-
ment, across the way. There we will be perfectly
safe."
" All right. But I must have some of that gold
first."
'* Well, you shall have some — as much as I
took, but no more," concluded Homer Bulson, and
opened the secret compartment again.
CHAPTER X.
GERTRUDE LEAVES HER HOME.
Left to himself in the alleyway, our hero
scarcely knew what to do next.
Under ordinary circumstances he would have
notified a policeman of what was going on. But
he reflected that Pepper had done him many kind-
nesses in the past, and that it was barely possible
the man was not doing as much of a wrong as he
imagined.
" I'll wait a while and see what turns up," he
soliloquized, and hid himself in a dark corner,
where he could watch not only the library win-
dow, but also the side alleyway leading to the
street in front of the mansion.
Slowly the minutes wore away until Nelson
felt certain that Sam Pepper was going to remain
inside all night.
'' Perhaps something happened to him,'' he
thought. "Maybe he got a fit, or somebody
caught him."
He waited a while longer, then, impelled by
7S NELSOX THE NEWSBOY.
curiosity, approached the balcony, climbed up, and
tried to look into the window of the library.
As he did this the curtain was suddenly thrust
aside, and in the dim light he found himself face
to face with Gertrude Horton !
He was so astonished that, for the moment, he
did not know what to say or do. Gertrude was
equally amazed. She quickly raised the window.
"What brought you here?" she questioned.
^' Did you make the noise I heard a while ago? "
" No, miss. I — er — I just came," stammered
cair hero. He knew not what to say.
" But I heard a noise. It was that which
brought me downstairs. What are you doing
here?"
*' I came to see if — if your home was safe."
'' To see if it was safe? "
" Yes. I was on the street a while ago and a
man sneaked in here. Is he around ? "
" I saw nobody. But I heard a noise, as I said
before. I guess I had better investigate. Did
the man look like a thief? "
" He looked like lots of men," answered Nel-
son noncommittally.
It must be confessed that our hero's head was
in a whirl. What had become of Sam Pepper?
Was it possible that he had robbed the mansion
and made his escape without discovery? And if
GERTRUDE LEAVES HER HOME. 79
he was gone, should he expose the man who, good
or bad, had cared for him so many years?
Gertrude was looking around for a match, and
now she lit the gas and turned it up full. She
had scarcely done so when her eyes rested on a
ten-dollar gold piece lying in front of the safe.
'' A gold piece! " she cried.
'' Here is another, miss," returned Nelson, step-
ping into the room and picking it up from where
it had rolled behind a footstool. '' Twenty dol-
lars! Gracious!"
'' Gertrude ! What is the meaning of this ? "
The voice came from the hallway, and looking
around the girl and our hero saw Mark Horton
standing there, clad in his dressing gown and slip-
pers. His face was filled with anger.
'* Oh, uncle ! " cried the girl. Just then she
could say no more.
" So I have caught you, have I ? " went on the
retired merchant. He turned to our hero,
" Who are you, young man? "
"I? I'm Nelson, sir."
'' Nelson? Is that your name? "
" Yes, sir."
" Fine company you keep, Gertrude, I must
say," sneered Mark Horton. '' I would not have
believed it, had I not seen it with my own eyes."
" Why, uncle "
So NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Don't talk back to me. I know all about your
doings. You wish " The retired merchant
broke .off short. ''What is that in your hand?
A gold piece, as I live! And this young man
has another ! Ha ! you have been at my safe ! *'
Pale with rage, Mark Horton tottered into the
room and clutched Gertrude by the arm.
'' Oh, Uncle Mark, let me go! " she gasped in
horror.
" To think it has come to this! " groaned the
invalid. ''My own niece turned robber! It is
too much! Too much! " And he sank into an
armchair, overcome.
" Hold on, sir; you're making a mistake," put
in Nelson.
" Silence, you shameful boy ! I know her per-
haps better than you do, even though you do come
to see her on the sly."
"Me? On the sly?" repeated our hero,
puzzled.
" You talk in riddles, uncle," put in Gertrude
faintly.
" I know what I am saying. Iwill not argue
with you. How much have you taken from the
safe?"
" Nothing," said Gertrude.
" I haven't touched your safe," added our hero
stoutly.
GERTRUDE LEAVES HER HOME. 8 1
" I will soon see." Mark Horton glanced at
the window, which was still wide open. '* Is any-
body else outside? "
" I guess not," said Nelson.
Arising with an effort, the retired merchant
staggered to the safe and opened it. Then he
opened the secret compartment.
'* Gone ! At least six hundred dollars stolen ! "
he muttered. He turned upon both of the others.
" What have you done with that gold? "
" Uncle, I have not touched it," sobbed Ger-
trude.
*' This is all I have, and I just picked that up,"
added our hero^ and flung the piece on the table,
beside that which the girl had picked up.
'* I will not believe it ! " stormed Mark Horton,
more in a rage than ever. He turned to Nelson.
" You took that money away and then thought to
come back for more. Or perhaps you came back
to see Gertrude."
*' I am no thief ! " cried Nelson. " I never stole
in my life."
" You are a thief, and this girl is your accom-
plice. Stop, did you not go past the house this
afternoon ? "
'^ I did, but "
** And you saw Gertrude ? "
" I saw this young lady, but ^*
Bz NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" As I suspected. You planned this thing."
''Oh, Uncle Mark! what are you saying?'*
sobbed Gertrude. Her heart was so full she could
scarcely speak. She had always treated her uncle
with every consideration, and to have him turn
against her in this fashion cut her to the quick.
'' Gertrude, my eyes are open at last. From
to-night you leave me! "
" What, going to throw her out of this house —
out of her home ! " ejaculated Nelson. " Sir, I
don't know you, but I think you must be off in
your mind."
" I am not so crazy as you imagine. I am sick
■ — nay, I have one foot in the grave. But this
shameless girl shall no longer hoodwink me. As
soon as daylight comes she shall leave this house,
and she shall never set foot in it again."
" But, sir "
'' I will waste no further words on you, young
man. Out you go, or I will call a policeman at
once."
'' Oh, uncle, don't do that ! " burst out Ger-
trude. '' I will go away, if you insist upon it."
'' I do insist upon it. Pack your things at once.
If it were not night I would insist upon your leav-
ing now."
Gertrude looked at him, and then drew herself
up with an effort=
"'AT LEAST SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS STOLEN,' HE MUTTERED."
Nelson the Newsboy. — P'-ig^ 8l.
GERTRUDE LEAVES HER HOME. ^l
" I will go now, I will not wait," she said.
^^ But if ever you need me "
" ril not send for you," finished Mark Horton
quickly. " I never want to see you again." He
turned to our hero. " Are you going, or must I
call an officer? " he added harshly.
" I will go," said Nelson. He paused as if
wishing to say more, then leaped through the win-
dow and disappeared into the darkness of the
alleyway.
As our hero left the library by the window, Ger-
trude left by the hall door. Slowly she mounted
the steps to her own room. Once inside, she
threw herself on the bed in a passionate fit of
weeping. But this did not last long. Inside of
half an hour she was packing a traveling case with
such things as she absolutely needed.
'' I will take nothing else," she told herself.
" His money bought them and they shall remain
here."
A_t last her preparations were complete, and she
stole downstairs with her traveling case in her
hand. She looked into the library, to see her
uncle sitting in a heap in the armchair.
" Good-by, Uncle Mark," she said sadly.
''Go away!" he returned bitterly. "Go
away ! "
He would say no more, and she turned, opened
•4 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
the door to the street, and passed outside. He
listened as she hurried down the steps and along
the silent street. When he could no longer hear
her footsteps he sank back again into the arm-
chair.
"Gone!" he muttered. ''Gone, and I drove
her away ! What a miserable man I am ! What
a miserable man ! " And then he threw himself
down again. He remained in the armchair for
the rest of the night, weaker than ever, and tor-
tured by an anguish he could not put into words.
CHAPTER XL
AFLOAT IN NEW YORK.
Once out on the street again, Nelson did not
know which way to turn or what to do. He was
bewildered, for the scene between Gertrude and
her uncle had been more than half a mystery to
him.
" He suspects her of stealing, but I don't," he
told himself bluntly. '' Such a girl, with such
eyes, would never steal. He wouldn't think so if
he was in his right mind. I guess his sickness has
turned his brain." And in the latter surmise our
hero was partly correct.
Slowly he walked to the end of the block, then,
struck by a sudden thought, came back. H the
young lady did really come out, he meant to see
her and have another talk with her.
The newsboy was still some distance from the
mansion when, on looking across the way, he saw
the door of the house in which Homer Bulson
lived open, and a second later beheld Sam Ftpptc
come out
85
86 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
"Gracious — Sam!" he cried to himself, and
lost no time in hiding behind a convenient stoop.
Soon Pepper passed by, and our hero saw him
continue on his way along Fifth Avenue until
Fifty-ninth Street was reached.
" He's going home," thought Nelson. '' I
ought to get down there before him. What will
he say if he finds me missing? "
He was now more perplexed than ever. What
had Sam Pepper been doing in the house in which
Homer Bulson lived? Had the man robbed that
place, and had he himself made a mistake in re-
gard to the Horton mansion ?
'' It's too deep for me," he mused. " Fll never
get to the bottom of it. But that young lady — -
hullo, here she comes, sure enough ! "
He stepped behind the stoop again and waited.
In a moment Gertrude passed him. Evidently
the darkness and the strange silence frightened
her. When Nelson came out of his hiding place
she started back.
" Oh ! " she gasped. " Is it you ? "
'' Yes, miss. I — I v/as wondering if you would
really leave," he answered.
" There was nothing else for me to do."
" He is your uncle? "
" Yes. He is Mark Horton and I am Gertrude
Horton, his dead brother's only child."
AFLOAT IN NEW YORK. 87
" He treated you mighty bad for a brother's
child."
" My father was poor and Uncle Mark has
taken care of me for years. He wanted me to
marry my cousin, Homer Bulson, and it made
him angry when I refused."
'' Homer Bulson ! " cried Nelson. '' I don't
wonder you didn't want to marry him.'"
" Do you know my cousin? "
" Fve met him. He tried to cheat a friend of
mine out of a sale of some books. He acted the
sneak."
" It seems my uncle's heart has been set on this
marriage/' went on Gertrude.
" But that didn't give him the right to call you
a thief/' put in our hero warmly.
" To be sure it did not. But — but — who are
you?"
" Vm Nelson."
" You said that before. What is vour real
name?"
At this Nelson hung his head.
*' I don't know what m.y real name is, Miss Ger-
trude. They all call me Nelson the Newsboy. I
live with a man named Pepper. He keeps a
Itinch-room on the East Side, and I sell papers for
a living. I don't know where I came from."
It is too bad. But you are better off than I
a
Sa NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
am— you have a home/' she added, her eyes fill-
ing again with tears.
'' Don't you worry^ 111 help you all I can/' said
Nelson sympathetically. " But about this affair
of the safe — I can't make head or tail of that/'
" Nor can I, Nelson. I came downstairs, hav-
ing heard some strange noises. But everything
seemed to be all right. Then I looked out of the
window and saw you."
" I saw a man go into the alleyway, back of the
house/' answered our hero lamely. '' I'll be real
truthful with you and tell you that I know the
man, and that he has done lots of good things for
me. Well, I thought the man got into that
library window, although it was pretty dark and I
might have been mistaken."
*' The window was locked when I went to
open it."
'* You are certain of that ? "
'' I am."
" Then I must have made a mistake.'^ And
our hero drew a sigh of relief. Perhaps, after all,
Sam Pepper was innocent.
" One thing is sure, some money was gone, and
we found those gold pieces on the floor," went on
Gertrude. " Who could have opened the safe? "
" Who knew the combination beside your
uncle?''
AFLOAT IN NEW YORK. 5f
_ '* Myself — he told me last month — when he
had his last bad spell."
'' Nobody else — that cousin, for instance? "
*' I don't believe Mr. Bulson knew it."
'* Then that's what made it look black for you.
The safe wasn't forced open, that's sure. Some-
body opened it who knew the combination."
" The money might have been taken some time
ago," said Gertrude. " Anyway, it is gone, and
you and I are supposed to be the thieves." She
smiled bitterly. '* Flow strange ! and we hardly
know each other ! ' '
'* And I don't see any way of clearing our-
selves," said the newsboy, with equal bitterness,
" But let that drop. What are you going to do?
Going to some friend's house? "
" I have no friends here. You see, we came
from Philadelphia, and I am not much acquainted
as yet."
" Then you'll go to Philadelphia ? If you wish,
I'll carry that bag and see you to the train."
" No, I'm not going to Philadelphia. I would
rather remain in New York, near my uncle. He
may need me some day."
'' He's a hard-hearted man ! " burst out the
newsboy. " I don't see how he could treat you so
mean! "
*' It is his sickness makes him so, Nelson; he
90 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
was never so before." Gertrude heaved a long
sigh. '' I must say I really do not know what to
do."
'' I know a hotel on Third Avenue, but it's not
a very nice place."
" No, I don't wish to go there. If I could
think of some friend "
'' Did your uncle send you away without any
money?"
'' I took only the clothing I needed, nothing
more."
" Then I'll give you what I've got," answered
Nelson promptly, and drew out what little money
he possessed.
'' No; I won't rob you, Nelson. But you arc
very, very kind."
'' It aint any robbery," he answered. " Come,
you must take it." And he forced it into her
hand. *' I know an old lady who'll take you in,"
he continued suddenly. '' Her name is Mrs.
Kennedy. She's only a fruit and candy woman,
but she's got a heart as big as a balloon. She's ai
nice, neat woman, too."
The matter was talked over for a few minutes,
and Gertrude consented to go to the two rooms
which Mrs. Kennedy called her home.
These were close to Third Avenue, and late as it
was, they boarded a train and rode down. The
AFLOAT IN NEW YORK. 9«
building was dark, and Nelson had some trouble
in rousing the old woman.
" To be sure I'll take the lady in, Nelson," said
Mrs. Kennedy, when the situation was partly ex-
plained. " Come in, miss, and welcome."
Gertrude was glad enough to enter and drop
into a chair, and here our hero left her, and
at once hurried down to the lunch-room with
all speed.
Not wishing to arouse Sam Pepper if he was
asleep, he went around to the rear window, opened
that, and crawled through.
To his surprise Pepper was not there.
" I'm lucky, after all," he thought, and un-
dressed with all speed. Hardly had he crawled
into bed when Pepper came in. He lit the gas
and looked at our hero, but Nelson snored and
pretended to be fast asleep. Sam appeared re-
lieved at this, and soon retired. His bag, which
he had brought with him, he placed under his bed,
in a comer next to the wall.
The newsboy could not sleep, and from the time
he lay down until daylight appeared he turned and
tossed on his cot, reviewing in a hundred ways all
that had occurred. But he could reach no satis-
factory conclusion. The one thing, however,
which remained fixed in his mind was that Ger-
trude Horton was how homeless, and he felt that
92 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
he must, in some measure at least, look out for
her.
" I don't suppose I can do much/' he thought
dismally. *' But what I can do I will, that's cer-
tain."
Long before Sam Pepper was stirring Nelson
was up and dressed. As he was going out Pepper
roused up.
'' Where are you bound ? " he asked.
" Going to sell papers."
" You're starting early to-day."
'' I've got to hustle, if I want to make any
money." And so speaking, Nelson left the
place.
He was soon down at ** Newspaper Row," as it
is commonly called, that part of Park Row^ and
Nassau Street where are congregated the offices
of nearly all of the metropolitan dailies. He had
not a cent in his pocket, but this did not bother
him. He soon found Paul Randall, who was
being shoved right and left in the big crowd of
boys who all wanted to gt^. papers at once.
" What papers do you want, Paul ? " he asked.
The little newsboy told him, and Nelson said he
would get them for him.
" And I'd like to borrow a dollar, Paul," he
went on. '' I had to give up every cent I had."
" That's too bad, Nelson," replied Paul. " I
AFLOAT IN NEW YORK. 93
can't loan you a dollar. All I've got extra is
sixty-five cents. You can have that."
" Then I'll make that do," said our hero.
He took all of Paul's money and started into
the crowd, to get papers for his friend and himself.
He was struggling to get to the front when, on
chancing to look to one side, he caught sight of
Billy Damley, the newsboy bully who had robbed
him of the fiwt dollars.
CHAPTER XII.
NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY.
" Billy Darnley ! " gasped our hero, in aston-
ishment.
The bully saw Nelson and instantly ducked his
head. He, too, was after newspapers, but now
thought it best to quit the scene.
'' I didn't t'ink he'd be here so early," he mut-
tered, and pushed to the rear of the crowd. Once
in the open, he took to his heels and dashed down
Frankfort Street in the direction of the Brooklyn
Bridge arches.
But Nelson was not to be " lost " so readily, and
he was out of the crowd almost as soon as the
bully.
'' I'm after Billy Darnley! " he shouted to Paul.
" Come on ! "
There now ensued a race which was highly ex-
citing, even if not of long duration. Darnley was
swift of foot, and the fear of what might follow
lent speed to his flying feet. But Nelson was also
a good runner.
At the comer of Rose Street were a number of
94
NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY. 9S
heavy trucks. Darnley managed to pass these,
but it took time. When our hero came up, the
trucks blocked the street completely.
In and out Nelson dodged among the trucks,
between the wheels and under the very hoofs of
the heavy horses. In a twinkle he was clear of
the mass and again making after Darnley, who
was now flying toward Vandewater Street.
At this point there is a large archway under the
approach to the Brooklyn Bridge, and toward this
archway the bully directed his footsteps. But
Nelson was now close at hand, and underneath
the archway he succeeded in reaching the big
newsboy, catching him firmly by the arm.
'' Lemme go ! " growled Billy Darnley.
** Lemme go, Nelse, or I'll hammer yer good."
'' Maybe I'll do the hammering," retorted Nel-
son. '' Where's my five dollars ? "
'' I aint got no money of yours."
" You have, and I want you to hand it over."
'' Aint got it, I say. Lemme go ! "
Instead of complying our hero grasped the bully
by the throat and ran him up against the stone-
work of the arch.
" I want my money," he said sternly. " If you
don't give it to me "
" Let up — yer — yer chokin' me ! " gasped Billy
Darnley.
fo NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Will you give me the money ? "
" No."
The bully struggled fiercely, and so did Nelson,
Down went both on the pavement and rolled over
and over. But our hero's blood was up, and he
put forth every ounce of strength he possessed.
At last he had Darnley flat on his back, and then
he sat astride of the bully.
''Now will you give up?" he panted. "Or
must I hammer you some more? "
'* Oh, Nelson ! have you got him? " asked Paul,
running up.
*' Yes, and he's got to give me my money."
" A fight ! a fight ! " cried some of the boys who
began to collect.
" This aint a fight," said Nelson loudly.
" He's a thief, and stole five dollars from me.
He's got to give it up."
He caught Darnley by the throat again, and
now the bully was only too glad to give in.
*' Let — let up ! " he gasped. " Let up! "
" Will you give me my money ? " ,
" I've onlv o^ot two dollars and ten cents."
" Hand it over."
"Let me up first."
" Not much ! "
With something like a groan Darnley brought
out the money and passed it over.
NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY. 97
*' Now I'm going to search you," went on Nel-
son, in as determined a voice as ever.
*' No, no! " pleaded Darnley in alarm. He did
not like the crowd that was gathering.
** Yes, search him, Nelse," said a boy named
Marks,
'* That's right, search him," put in another
newsboy, named Wilson. "' I think he stole
something from me last wxek."
In spite of his protestations Billy Darnley's
pockets were turned inside out.
There were brought to light another dollar,
which our hero also pocketed, a pearl-handled
pocket-knife, a silver badge, and half a dozen
other articles.
"My knife!" shouted Nat Marks. "Boys,
you all know it."
" So it is, Nat," said Frank Wilson. " x\nd
this is my badge — the one I won in the new^sboys'
competition last month."
The boys took the things, and then gathered
around Billy Darnley with clenched fists. Nel-
son slipped outside of the crowd, and Paul went
with him.
In vain Billy Darnley tried to clear himself of
the other lads. He struck one boy down, but the
others pounced upon him front and rear, and soon
had him again on his back. It looked like a foot-
98 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
ball scrimmage, but the ball in this case seemed to
be the bully's head. For ten minutes the tussle
went oh, and when at last the cry of " Cop ! cop !
run for it ! " arose, Darnley found himself with his
nose bleeding, two teeth loose, and his left eye all
but closed. Moreover, his coat was torn to
shreds.
" What is the meaning of this? " demanded the
poHceman.
'' They all piled on top of me! " whined Darn-
ley, looking the picture of misery.
^' He's a thief ! " exclaimed one of the other
boys, but from a safe distance. " He stole some-
thing from three of the boys, he did. He didn't
git nuthin' but what was comin' to him, officer."
" That's right; he ought to be locked up," put
in another boy, also from a safe distance.
" Begone with you ! " said the policeman
sternly, and gave Darnley a shove. " If I see any
more fighting I'll run you all in," and he walked
away, twirling his club as he did so.
"Oh, me eye!" groaned Darnley, and limped
away, a sadder if not a wiser youth. It was many
a day before he dared to show himself in News-
paper Row again.
'* Well, I got back three dollars and ten cents,"
remarked Nelson, as he and Paul walked up
Frankfort Street, *' so I won't need your loan.
NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY. 99
But, just the same, I am much obliged." And he
passed over the money.
" I wish you had gotten it all, Nelson," said
Paul earnestly. " Oh, but didn't they just pitch
into Billy ! And it served him right, too."
" Yes, I showed him up in his true colors," re-
turned our hero.
He soon had the papers he and Paul wanted,
and then the pair separated, and our hero hurried
over to his old stand on Broadway.
His clothing had suffered considerably from
the encounter with the bully and, though he
brushed himself off as best he could, he felt that
he made far from a handsome appearance.
" I must look better than this before I call on
Miss Horton," he mused. '' If I don't, she'll take
me for a regular tramp."
He wondered if there would be anything in the
newspapers about the robbery in Fifth Avenue,
and snatched a few moments to scan several
sheets. But not a word appeared.
'' I guess they are too high-toned to let it get
into print," he reasoned. " Well, it's a good
thing. I guess it would almost kill Miss Ger-
trude to se^ it in the papers."
When Nelson got back to the lunch-room he
found business was poor, and he expected to see
Sam Pepper ill-humored in consequence. On the
lOO NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
contrary, however. Pepper was all smiles, and
even hummed a tune to himself as he waited on
his customers.
'' Something has happened to tickle him,"
thought the boy. " Or else he's got a new plan
on hand."
"How is the sick friend — any better?" he
asked Pepper.
'' Much better, Nelson. And what do you
think ? He's loaned me money to turn this place
into a first-class cafe. Don't you think that will
pay better than a common lunch-room? "
'' I don't know. I'd rather be in the lunch
business than running a saloon."
" I wouldn't. I want to make money," re-
sponded Pepper.
'' What are you going to do? "
" Rip out that old show window and put in a
new and elegant glass front, and put in a new bar
and buffet. It will be as fine as anything around
here when it's finished."
'' I wish I had a friend to loan me money."
" What would you do with it ? "
" I'd buy out a good news stand. There's
money in that."
" So there is." Sam Pej^per mused for a mo-
ment. " Maybe my friend will advance enough
for that, too."
NELSON RECOVERS SOME MONEY. loi
" Thank you, but you needn't bother him," said
Nelson coldly.
" And why not, if I can get the rocks? "
" I'd rather get the money myself."
'' Won't the money be good enough ? " de-
manded Pepper, his face darkening.
*' I'd rather know where it came from," re-
turned the boy.
The two were in the kitchen at the time, and
Sam Pepper had a frying pan in his hand.
** See here, Nelson, Fl! whack you over the
head with this, if you talk like that ! " exclaimed
the man, flying into a rage.
" You w^on't whack me more than once, Sam
Pepper."
"Won't I?"
'' No, you won't."
" Who is master around here, I'd like to
know?"
'' You are, but I'm not your slave."
** You talk as if you knew something," went on
Pepper, growing suddenly suspicious.
'' Perhaps I do know something," replied the
newsboy, and then hurried into the dining room
to wait on a customer who had just entered.
" I'll have it out wath you later," muttered Pep-
per savagely. '' If you know too much, I'll find
a way to keep your mouth closed."
CHAPTER XIIL
A QUESTION OF BUSINESS.
Sam Pepper got no chance to talk to Nelson
further that day. As soon as the noon trade was
over, our hero hurried off to sell afternoon papers.
This time he went up the Bowery, to where Mrs.
Kennedy kept her fruit-and-candy stand. It was
a small stand, and the entire stock was not worth
over ten dollars, but the old woman made enough
to keep the wolf from the door, and she was
content.
'' I was after thinking you'd come," she said,
smiling broadly. " I knew you'd want to know
about the young lady."
"How is she?"
'' I left her this morning, sorrowful enough, I
can tell ye that. Nelson. She don't know how to
turn. She thinks she might take in sewing, or
something like that, but, bless ye! how much
would she make at that? Why, thim Jews that
work night and day hardly make enough to keq>
'em from starving ! "
" Yes, I know it, and it's a shame," said the
A QUESTION OF BUSINESS. lOJ
boy. " They get about five cents for a pair of
pants and ten cents for a coat, and some of 'em
make shirts for three and four cents apiece. I
don't see how they stand it. No, she wouldn't
earn anything at that."
" I was a-telHng her of Gladys Summers, who
sells flowers up on Fourteenth Street and at the
theater doors, but she said she didn't want to go
out on the street. She's afraid some of her
friends would see her, I suppose/'
" She hasn't any friends^ — 'cepting you and me,
Mrs. Kennedy. We've got to do for her."
"It's little I can offer, Nelson; ye know that
well enough. She can stay under my roof, but to
board her— — "
" I'll pay her board, until she finds something
to do. I'll give you three dollars a week for
keeping her."
" Will ye now ? Nelson, you're more than
kind-hearted. But where will ye be after getting
the money? "
" I'll earn it," he answered resolutely. " I
earn a dollar and over a day now, and I know I
can make it more, if I try real hard."
He soon left the fruit-and-candy stand and
started in to sell papers. He felt that he had a
new responsibility on his shoulders, and he deter-
mined to do his best. Soon his efforts l^egan to
104 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
tell, and by five o'clock he was sold out, and the
day's earnings amounted to a dollar and thirty-
two cents.
" Half for Miss Horton and half for myself/'
he murmured. ^' That's the way it's got to be,
after this."
He was soon on his way to the tenement house
in which Mrs. Kennedy's rooms were located.
Ascending two flights of stairs, he knocked on
one of the doors.
'' Who is it? " came from Gertrude Horton.
" It's Nelson."
** Oh ! " And instantly the door was unlocked.
A glance at the girl's face told the boy that she
had been crying. More than this he saw she was
far from well, and the hand she gave him was as
hot as fire.
"Oh, Miss Horton, you're sick!" he ex-
claimed. " What's the matter ? "
" I have a severe headache," she answered. " I
think it will pass away soon."
She sank down on a dilapidated lounge, and he
took a kitchen chair. He saw that she trembled
from head to foot, and that she had been worry-
ing ever since he had left her.
" You mustn't worry too much," he said, as
kindly as he could. " Mrs. Kennedy says you can
stay here as long as you feel like it."
A QUESTION OF BUSINESS. 105
*' But she is poor, Nelson, and I — I haven't any
money, excepting what you gave me, and you
must take that back — you need it."
'* No, I don't need it. Miss Gertrude. See, I've
got a lot of money now. I collared that thief and
made him give up what he had left, over three dol-
lars— and I've earned the rest selling papers.
That's why I didn't come before. I've fixed it up
with Mrs. Kennedy, and you can stay just as long-
as you please.''
"And you are going to pay her?" cried the
girl warmly. *' Oh, Nelson ! you are indeed
good-hearted. But, no; I must support myself."
'' Well, you needn't hurry about it. I can earn
enough for both of us just now — and that's what
I am going to do. Why shouldn't I ? It was
my fault that your uncle put you out."
'' No, Nelson ; the fault, if it was a fault, was
my own. The matter was of long standing.
Homer Bulson had wished to marry me for a long
time, but I have constantly refused him. Now
he has gotten my uncle to side with him. They
expect to bring me to terms, I suppose. More
than likely my uncle thought I would come back
to-day, to do as he wishes."
*' I wouldn't go back."
*' I shall not. I have made up my mind fully.
I will support myself, and Homer Bulson can have
Io6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Uncle Mark's whole estate, if he wishes it
Surely, in such a big city as this there is something
I can do."
" I wouldn't go at sewing — it don't pay.",
" What does pay — that I can do? "
" You might gti. a. position in a store. Or
maybe you know how to play the piano ? " went on
our hero suddenly.
" I do know how to play. I took instructions
for several years, and have played at private con-
certs, in Philadelphia."
" Then you can give piano lessons."
*' But where can I get pupils? "
" We'll advertise in the papers," went on the
newsboy, with some importance. " I know an
advertising man down on the Row. He says any-
body can do business by advertising. I'll ask him
about it. Of course you'll want to give lessons
at folks' houses — being as you haven't a piano of
your own."
" Yes," answered Grertrude, and her face bright-
ened greatly. " I could do that, and I would go
cheaply first, to get a start."
" Do you want to put your name in the adver-
tisement?"
" No, have the letters sent to the newspapo*
offices, and sign the advertisement " Ger-
trude paused in thought.
A QUESTIOX OF BUSINESS. 107
" Weber," finished Nelson. " That's the name
of a swell piano, isn't it ? "
'' It might be too grand for the folks we wish
to reach," said Gertrude. '' Sign it ' Earnest.' "
'* And how much will the lessons be? "
" I ought to get at least fifty cents."
" Then I'll tell the advertising man that. Oh,
he's a dandy to write the ads up — makes 'em look
like regular bargains!'' added the boy enthusi-
astically.
Nelson remained at the rooms a while longer,
and then hurried to Sam Pepper's place. To his
surprise Pepper had locked up, and on the win-
dow was the sign :
" Closed for repairs. Will open as a first-class
cafe in about two weeks.'^
" He hasn't lost any time in going ahead,*'
thought our hero. ** I wonder where he is ? "
'* Sam's out of town," called out a bootblack
who had some chairs close by. '' Told me to give
you this." And he passed over an envelope, con-
taining a sheet of paper and the store key. On
the sheet was written :
" Am going away for two or three days on
business. A man will be here at ten o'clock to-
morrow morning to measure the place for ne\f
loS NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
fixtures. You stay around while he is here.
Then you keep the place locked up until I get
back."
'' Gone away for two or three days," thought
Nelson. " I wonder what he is up to now ? "
He went inside, and saw at once that many of
the old fixtures had been removed, and that the
little kitchen in the rear had been turned almost
inside out. The living apartment, however, was
as it had been, excepting that Sam Pepper had
used it for packing purposes, and the floor was
strewn with bits of paper and some excelsior.
'' If I'm to stay here, I might as well clean up,"
thought our hero, and set to work with a broom.
" And then I'll take an hour off and clean and
mend my clothes."
In cleaning up Nelson came across several
letters, which were old and mussed. Whether
Sam Pepper had thought to throw them away or
not, he did not know. To make sure, he picked
the letters up and looked them over.
'' Hullo ! " he cried. " Here's more of a
mystery."
The letters were addressed to Pepperill Samp-
son and were signed Mark Horton. The ma-
jority of them concerned some orders for dry
g-oods to be shipped to various Western cities, but
A QUESTION OF BUSINESS, 109
tkere was one which was not of that nature. This
ran in part as follows :
" I have watched your doings closely for three
weeks, and I am now satisfied that you are no
longer working for my interest, but in the interest
of rival concerns. More than that, I find that
you are putting down sums to your expense ac-
count which do not belong there. The books for
the past month show that 3^ou are behind over a
hundred and fifty dollars. At this rate I cannot
help but wonder how far behind you must be on
the year and two months you have been with our
house.
'' You can consider yourself discharged from
this date. Our Mr. Smith will come on imme-
diately and take charge of your samples. Should
you attempt to make any trouble for him or for
us, I will immediately take steps to prosecute you.
You need never apply to our house for a recom,-
mendation, for it will not be a satisfactory
one."
The letter was dated twelve years back, and had
been sent to Pepperill Sampson while he was stop-
ping in Cleveland. Nelson read the communica-
tion twice before he put it away.
Who was Pepperill Sampson? The name
fio NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
sounded as if it might belong to Sam Pepper.
Were the two one and the same person ?
" They must be the same," thought Nelson.
" Sam was once a commercial traveler after he
gave up the sea, and Fve heard him speak of
Cleveland and other Western towns. But to
think he once worked for Mark Horton ! " He
scratched his head reflectively. *' Let me see,
what did Sam say about the man he wanted me to
rob? That he had helped the man who had shot
my father. Is there really something in this?
And if there is, what can Mark Horton know
about the past ? "
CHAPTER XIV.
BULSON RECEIVES A SETBACK.
The mystery was too much for Nelson, and at
last he put the letters on a shelf and finished the
cleaning. Then he sat down to mend his cloth-
ing, and never did a seamstress work more faith-
fully than did this newsboy. The garments
mended, he brushed them carefully.
" There, they look a little better, anyway," he
told himself. '' And sooner or later I'll have a
new suit."
Having finished his toilet, he walked down to
Newspaper Row. The tall buildings were now
a blaze of lights, and many men of business were
departing for their homes. But the newsboy
found his friend in his office, a little box of a place
on an upper floor of the World building.
The advertising man had always taken an in-
terest in our hero, and he readil}^ consented to
transact the business gratis. The advertisements
were written out to the boy's satisfaction, and Nel-
son paid two dollars to have them inserted in sev-
eral papers the next day and that following.
" If the young lady is a good teacher, I might
112 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
get her to give my little girl lessons/' said Mn
Lamson, as Nelson was leaving.
" I know she's all right, sir," answered the boy.
*' Just give her a trial and see. She's a real lady,
too, even if she is down on her luck."
" Then let her call on my wife to-morrow
morning. I'll speak to my wife about it to-
night."
'' I will, sir, and thank you very much, Mr.
Lamson." And our hero went off, greatly
pleased. Late as it was, he walked up to Mrs.
Kennedy's rooms again. This time the old Irish-
woman herself let him in.
'* Sure and it's Nelson," she said.
'' I've got good news. Miss Gertrude," he said,
on entering. " I put the advertisements in the
papers through Mr. Lamson, and he told me that
you might call on his wife to-morrow morning
about giving his little girl lessons."
'' Hear that now ! " exclaimed Mrs. Kennedy
proudly. " Sure, and it takes Nelson to do
things, so it does! It meself wishes I had such
a by
*' I am very thankful," said the girl. " Have
you the address ? "
" Yes, here it is, on the back of his business
card. I know you'll like the place, and maybe
they can put you in the way of other places.''
BULSON RECEIVES A SETBACK. 113
*' Av course," said Mrs. Kennedy. ' Before I
had rheumatism I wint out washing, and wan
place always brought me another, from some rila-
tive or friend of the family."
'' I will go directly after breakfast," said Ger-
trude. " And I hope I shall prove satisfac-
tory."
Knowing the girl must be tired, Nelson did not
stay long, and as soon as he had departed Mrs.
Kennedy made Gertrude retire. Happily for the
girl her headache was now much better, and she
slept soundly.
In the morning she helped Mrs. Kennedy pre-
pare their frugal repast. As the old Irishwoman
had said, she was troubled with rheumatism, and
could not get around very well. So Gertrude in-
sisted upon clearing the table and washing the
dishes.
" But, sure, and a lady like you aint used to this
work," remonstrated Mrs. Kennedy.
" I mean to get used to it," answered Gertrude.
'' I mean to fight my w;ay through and put up with
what comes."
Mr. Lamson's home was over a mile away, but
not wishing to spend the carfare Gertrude walked
the distance.
She was expected, and found Mrs. Lamson a
nice lady, who occupied a flat of half a dozen
114 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
rooms on a quiet and respectable side street. She
played several selections, two from sight, which
the lady of the house produced.
'' That is very good indeed, Miss Horton/' said
Mrs. Lamson. " You read music well. Little
Ruth can begin at once, and you can give her a
lesson once a week. Ruth, this is Miss Horton,
your new music-teacher."
A girl of nine came shyly forward and shook
hands. Soon Gertrude was giving her first les-
son in music. It was rather long, but Ruth did
not mind it. Then Mrs. Lamson paid the fifty
cents, and Gertrude went away.
'' She's awfully nice," said Ruth to her
mamma. " I know I shall like her."
'' She is certainly a lady," was Mrs. Lamson's
comment. ''It is easy to see that by her breed-
ing."
A new look shone in Gertrude's eyes as she
hurried down the street. In her pocket was the
first money she had ever earned in her life. She
felt a spirit of independence that was as delight-
ful as it was novel.
She had already seen her advertisements in two
of the papers, and she trusted they would bring
her enough pupils to fill her time. She felt that
she could easily give five or six lessons a day. If
she could get ten or twelve pupils, that would
BULSON RECEIVES A SETBACK. 115
mean five or six dollars per week, and if she could
get twenty pupils it would mean ten dollars.
" I wish I could get the twenty. Then I could
help Nelson. He is so very kind, I w^ould like to
do something in return for him," was her thought.
The weather was so pleasant she decided to take
a littlie walk. She did not know much about the
lower portion of the city, and walked westward
until she reached Broadway, not far from where
our hero was in the habit of selling morning
papers.
Gertrude was looking into the show window of
a store, admiring some pretty pictures, when she
felt a tap on her shoulder, and turning, found her-
self face to face with Homer Bulson.
" Gertrude ! " exclaimed the young man, " I
have been looking high and low for you ! Where
have you been keeping yourself ? "
" That is my business, Mr. Bulson," she an-
swered stiffly.
'' Why, Gertrude, you are not going to be angry
at me, are you ? "
''Why shouldn't I be angry? Haven't you
made enough trouble for me? "
*' I haven't made any trouble — you made that
yourself/' he answered, somewhat ruffled by her
tone.
" I do not think so."
Ii6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
'' Uncle Mark is very much upset aver your
disappearance."
" Does he wish me to come back? " she ques-
tioned eagerly.
" No, I can't say that," answered Homer Bul-
son smoothly. '' But he doesn't want you to
suffer. He said, if I saw you, I should give you
some money."
'' Thank you, but I can take care of myself."
'' Have 3^ou money ? "
'' I can take care of myself; that is enough."
" Why don't you let me take care of you, Ger-
trude? "
'' Because I do not like you, Mr. Bulson. How
is Uncle Mark to-day? "
'* About as usual. You must have upset him
very much. Of course I don't believe you took
any money out of his safe," went on Bulson. '* I
guess the guilty party was that young rascal who
called on you."
'* Nelson is no rascal. He is an honest boy."
*' Nelson ! " ejaculated the young man. " Is
Ijis name Nelson ? "
*' Yes. You act as if you had met him."
'* I — er — no — but I have— have heard of him/'
stammered the young man.
'' He called on you once, I believe, with some-
body who sold you some books."
BULSON RECEIVES A SETBACK. Hf
•' I don't remember that. But he must be the
thief."
" I tell you Nelson is no thief."
'* Thank you for that, Miss Gertrude/' came
from behind the pair, and our hero stepped up,
" Mr. Bulson, you haven't any right to call me a
thief," he went on, confronting the fashionable
young man.
'* Go away, boy ; I want nothing to do with
you," answered Bulson. Nevertheless, he looked
curiously at our hero.
" I am no thief, but you are pretty close to being
one," went on Nelson.
'^Me!"
" Yes, you. You tried to swindle a friend of
mine out of the sale of some books you had
ordered from him. I call that downright mean."
'' Boy, don't dare to talk to me in this fashion ! "
stormed the young man. " If you do, I'll — I'll
hand you over to the police."
" No, you won't. You just leave me alone and
I'll leave you alone," answered the newsboy.
" And you leave Miss Gertrude alone, too," he
added warmly.
" Gertrude, have you taken up with this com-
mon fellow ? " asked Bulson.
" Nelson has been my friend," answered the
girl. *' He has a heart of gold."
Ii8 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" I can't agree with you. He is but a common
boy of the streets, and- "
Homer Bulson went no further, for Nelson
came closer and clenched his fists.
" Stop, or I'll make you take it back, big as you
are," said the boy.
" Then you won't accept my protection ? " said
Bulson, turning his back on our hero.
" No. If Uncle Mark wishes to write to me
he can address me in care of the General Post
Office," answered Gertrude^
"All right; then I'll bid you good-day," said
Homer Bulson, and tipping his silk hat, he hurried
on and was soon lost to sight on the crowded
thoroughfare.
" I hate that man ! " murmured Nelson, when
he had disappeared.
" I both hate and fear him," answered Gertrude.
** I am afraid he intends to cause me a great deal
of trouble."
CHAPTER XV.
BUYING OUT A NEWS STAND.
After the above incident several weeks slipped
by without anything out of the ordinary happen-
ing.
In the meantime Sam Pepper's place was thor-
oughly remodeled and became a leading cafe on
the East Side — a resort for many characters
whose careers would not stand investigation.
The man seemed wrapped up in his business, but
his head was busy with schemes of far greater
importance.
He had said but little to Nelson, who spent a
good part of his time at Mrs, Kennedy's rooms
with Gertrude. Sam had found the letters and
put them in a safe place without a word, and the
boy had not dared to question him about them.
Nor had Pepper questioned Nelson concerning
what the lad knew or suspected.
The results of Gertrude's advertising were not
as gratifying as anticipated; still the girl obtained
seven pupils, which brought her in three dollars
119
130 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
and a half weekly. Most of the lessons had to be
given on Saturdays, when her pupils were home
from school, and this made it necessary that she
ride from house to house, so that thirty-five cents
of the money went for carfare.
'' Never mind," said the newsboy; '' it's better
than nothing, and you'll get more pupils, sooner
or later."
The boy himself worked as never before, get-
ting up before sunrise and keeping at it with
*' sporting extras " until almost midnight. In this
manner he managed to earn sometimes as high as
ten dollars per week. He no longer helped Pep-
per around his resort, and the pair compromised
on three dollars per w^eek board money from Nel-
son. The rest of the money our hero either saved
or offered to Gertrude. All he spent on himself
was for the suit, shoes, and hat he had had so long
in his mind.
"I declare, you look like another person!"
cried the girl, when he presented himself in his
new outfit, and with his hair neatly trimmed, and
his face and hands thoroughly scrubbed. " Nel-
son, I am proud of you ! " And she said this so
heartily that he blushed furiously. Her gentle
influence was beginning to have its efifect, and our
hero was resolved to make a man of himself in the
best meaning of that term.
BUYING OUT A NEWS STAND. lai
One day Nelson was at work, when George
Van Pelt came along.
'* How goes it, George ? " asked the boy.
** Nothing to brag about," returned Van Peh,
'' How goes it with you? '*
'' I am doing very well. Made ten dollars and
fifteen cents last week."
'' Phew! That's more than I made."
"' How much did you make ? "
'*' Eight dollars. I wish we could buy out that
news stand. I am sick of tramping around trying
to sell books," went on George Van Pelt. '' Last
week I was over in Jersey City, and one woman
set her dog on me."
'' I hope you didn't get bit," said Nelson with
a laugh.
'' No, but the dog kept a sample of my pants."
'' Have you heard anything more of the
stand?"
'' The owner says he's going to sell out sure by
next week. He told me he would take ninety
dollars cash. He's going away and don't want a
mortgage now."
'* Ninety dollars. How much have you got ? "
" Jean scrape up forty dollars on a pinch."
*' I've got fifteen dollars."
^' That makes fifty-five dollars. We'll want
thirty-five more. How can we get that amount ? '*
122 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
'' I reckon we can save it up — inside of a few
weeks, if we both work hard."
" The man won't wait. There's a party will
give him seventy-five dollars cash right awaye
He's going to take that if he can't get ninety."
At that moment Nelson caught sight of the
familiar figure of a stout gentleman crossing the
street toward him, and ran out to meet the
party.
" Good-morning, sir ! " he said. " Have some
papers this morning? "
'' Hullo ! you're the boy that saved me from
being run over a few weeks ago," returned the
stout gentleman.
" Yes, sir."
" I'll have a Sun and a Journal, and you can
give me a Times, too. How is business ? "
" Good, sir."
" I was in a hurry that day, or I would have
stopped to reward you," went on the gentleman.
" You did reward me, sir."
" Did I ? I had forgotten. You see, that fire
in Harlem was in a house of mine. I was terribly
upset. But the matter is all straightened out
now."
" I hope you didn't lose much."
" No, the loss went to the insurance com-
panies." The stout gentleman paused. "My
BUYING OUT A NEWS STAND. 12$
lad, I would like to do something for you/' he
went on seriously.
" Have you got a job for me? "
" I don't know as I have, just now. But if you
need help-^ "
" I do need help, sir. Are you a capitalist? "
"A capitalist?" queried the man, puzzled-
*' What do you mean by that ? "
" I mean one of those gentlemen that loan
money out on business ? IVe heard of *em, down:
in Wall Street."
" Well, I sometimes loan money out."
" Then Fd like to borrow thirty-five dollars/''
Nelson beckoned to George Van Pelt, who had
moved off a short distance. " You see, it's this^
way," he went on, and then told about the news
stand that was for sale, and what he and the book
agent wished to do.
Mr. Amos Barrow, for such was the gentle-
man's name, listened attentively.
" And you think this would be a good invest-
ment? " he questioned.
" Yes, it's a good stand," said Van Pelt.
" But you ought to have some money with
which to stock up."
" We'll work hard and build It up/' said our
hero. " I know that neighborhood well. Old
Maxwell never 'tended to business. I'll ^m
124 . NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
around and get twice as large a paper route as he
ever had. And we can keep plenty of ten-cent
paper-covered books, and all that."
'* And we can keep things for school children,
too," put in George Van Pelt. " There is a school
near by, and many of the children pass the stand
four times a day."
" Well, ril give you fifty dollars. Nelson," said
Mr. Barrow. '* That will help you to buy the
stand and give you fifteen dollars working
capital."
** You can't give me the money, sir. But you
can loan it to me.''
" But why won't you let me give it to you ? '*
laughed the stout gentleman. " Isn't my life
worth that ? "
'• It isn't that, sir. I want to do this in a regu-
lar business fashion."
'* All right; have your own way. my lad."
*' We'll give you a mortgage on the stand," said
George Van Pelt.
" Never mind the mortgage. I believe I can
read faces, and I'll take the boy's word." answered
Mr. Barrow.
Hauling out a fat pocketbook. he counted out
five new ten-dollar bills and passed them over to
our hero.
*' There you are," he said. ** I would rather
BUYING OUT A NEWS STAND. 125
you would keep them. But if not, you can pay
the amount back whenever it is convenient."
And he passed over his business card. A few
minutes later he hurried on.
** He's a brick! " was George Van Pelt's com-
ment. '' Now we can buy the stand."
'' All right," answered Nelson. '' But I want
to gti rid of my morning papers first."
" Well, I have several books to deliver. I'll do
that, and then VvC can meet at the stand after
dinner."
So it was agreed, and the pair separated.
Business continued good with our hero, and by
eleven o'clock he had sold out. Anxious to look
the stand over, he hurried off in that direction.
He found old Maxwxll sitting on a soap-box,
reading a sporting paper. The stand was full of
dust and the stock much disarranged. Evidently
the owner had lost interest in it.
'' I understand you want to sell out," said
Nelson.
. '' I do," answered Maxwell. '' Want to buy? "
'' I might buy if you sell out cheap enough."
'* I want a hundred dollars."
'' A hundred ? I thought you'd sell out for
seventy-five."
" N05 I've been asking a hundred. I might
knock off ten dollars, though."
Ja6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Nelson looked the stand over, and asked some
questions about the trade done.
•' ril give you eighty dollars cash," he said, at
last.
" Make it ninety."
'' No, eighty, and not a cent more/*
" When will you take the stand? "
" This afternoon, and I'll pay fifty dollars
now."
" All right, you can have it," replied Maxwell.
A bill of sale was drawn up, and Nelson paid
the fifty dollars on account Then he went c^
for lunch; first, however, taking an account of the
stock on hand.
" What you take in from now on is mine," he
said.
" All right, you shall have it/' replied the old
stand-keeper.
CHAPTER XVI.
NELSON AND PEPPER PART.
Nelson remained on watch, and as soon as he
saw George Van Pelt coming he headed him off
and took him around the corner.
" I've bought the stand," he said.
"Already?"
" Yes. I had a talk with old Maxwell, offered
him eighty cash, and he took me up. So weVe
saved ten dollars."
" He'll be mad when he learns he might have
had ninety."
" He needn't know. Give me your money, and
I'll pay him the balance."
So it was arranged, and Nelson went to the
stand and closed the deal. Old Maxwell, had
taken in thirty-two cents, and this was passed over
to the boy.
" Going to run the stand alone? " queried the
old man.
" No, a man is going to help me," said our hero,
"Who is it?"
" George Van Pelt."
laS NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
*' Oh, that's it, is it ? " exclaimed old Maxwell
** I thought he wanted the stand himself."
*' He couldn't raise the money. Here he comes
now."
Nelson beckoned to Van Pelt, and soon both
were hard at work cleaning up the stand. They
talked the matter over and agreed to give old
Maxwell a dollar more, if he would come around
for two mornings and explain whatever proved
strange to them,
'' Sure, ril do it," said Maxwell. " I want you
to get the best of the man up on the elevated
station and the man on the next block. They are
both mean fellows and don't deserve any trade/'
" We intend to hustle and get all the trade we
can/' said our hero.
It must be confessed that he felt very proud of
his situation. He was no longer a mere newsboy,
but a business man, and he felt, somehow, as if
he had grown several inches taller.
'' We must have a sign," said Van Pelt.
" What will we make it — Van Pelt & Pepper,
Newsdealers?"
*' I don't like the name Pepper — for a last name,
I mean," said our hero, scratching his curly head.
'' Better make it Van Pelt & Company, for the
present." And the next day an oilcloth sigii was
tacked up proclaiming the new firm, and notifying
NELSON AND PEPPER PART. 129
all that they dealt in newspapers, magazines,
books, and school supplies. While Nelson tended
the stand George Van Pelt went downtown to a
jobbing house and bought some extra stock. In
a few days business was in full blast and prospects
looked very bright.
'' I am glad to see you doing well," said Ger-
trude, on visiting the stand one Saturday, after
giving her music lessons. " It looks quite like a
place of business. It won't be long before you'll
have a store."
** We'll have to save up for it," answered our
hero.
He wanted the girl to stay a little while, but she
could not, for Mrs. Kennedy was down with rheu-
matism and was next to helpless.
** She has been very kind to me and I wish to do
what I can for her," said Gertrude.
'' Is her stand closed? "
" No, Gladys Summers is running it for her.
She has put her flowers in with the other stock."
" Gladys is good-hearted, too," was Nelson's
comment.
Sam Pepper heard of the newsboy's new move
two days after the stand was bought.
*' Going into business with George Van Pelt,
eh ? " he observed, when Nelson came home that
night.
I30 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" Yes."
"He's a poor sort. Hell never get ridi.
He^s not slick enough.''
" Tm satisfied with him/' returned the newsboy
briefly,
" What did you take in to-day? "
'* A little over nine dollars."
"Phew! that's better than I thought How
much profit?"
" About three dollars and a half above ex-
penses."
"And you git half?"
" Yes."
" Then you ought to pay me more board
money."
" I'm paying all it's worth now. I get no more
meals, remember — I only use this place to sleq>
in."
" Well, that's worth more."
" I'm thinking of getting a room near the
stand," went on Nelson, after a pause.
" What! you want to leave me! " roared Sam
Pepper.
" Why not ? There is nothing to keep me
here. I don't want anything to do with your
saloon."
" That's a nice way to talk to me."
** I can't help it. I hate the saloon, and it's too
NELSON AND PEPPER PART. 131
far to come down here just to sleep; especially
when I have to leave so early in the morning."
" Supposing I don't let you leave? "
To this Nelson made no reply.
** You're a nice son, I must say," went on Sam
Pepper. '* This is what I git for raising
you/'
" I am not )^our son, Sam Pepper. As for
what you've done for me, I'm willing to pay you
for that. You let me leave without any fuss and
ril give you two dollars a week until the debt is
paid."
" Two dollars a week aint much."
*' It's all I can afford, with my other expenses."
" Reckon you don't care much for me, any
more,"
" I never did care for you, and you know it. I
don't like drinking people and the other kind that
hang around here. I want to become respectable
and make something of myself."
"Aint I respectable?" roared Pepper, raising
liis fist in anger. " Say that again, and I'll knock
you down."
" I said that I didn't like the crowd that hangs
around here. I'm going to get out, whether you
take up my offer or not."
" Then clear out — and the sooner the better.
It's a pity I didn't kick you out,'' growled Sam
132 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Pepper, walking the floor savagel)^ *'Go! ge
to-night ! "
" I will," answered our hero.
No more was said, and the boy tied up what
little clothing he had in a newspaper. He was
soon ready to depart, and then he faced Pepper
again.
" Good-by," he said, holding out his hand.
*' Let us part friends."
*' You've missed it by turning against me," said
Pepper, with a strange look in his eyes. " I
might have made you rich."
"How?"
" Never mind now. You can go your way,
and I'll go mine. I don't want to shake hands.
Go ! " And he turned his back on the newsboy.
'' One word more, before I leave," said our
hero. '* Will you tell me my right name? "
" I won't tell you anything. If Nelson Pepper
aint good enough for you, you can make the name
what you please."
''Then good-by," said Nelson, a -little sadly.,
and in a moment more he was gone.
It was so late he knew not where to look for a
room that night, so trudged back to the stand. It
was entirely inclosed with wooden shutters, and
large enough inside for him to make himself fairly
comfortable, and there he remained until daylight.
NELSON AND PEPPER PART. I33
" Fm glad to hear you've left Pepper," said
George Van Pelt, when he heard the news.
*' He's a bad fellow, and getting worse. If you
want, you can get a room in the house next to
where I live."
'* What will they charge me? "
" You can get a small, but clean, hall bedroom
for a dollar a week."
" That will just suit me," answered our hero.
The place was but three blocks away from the
stand, and Nelson made the necessary arrange-
ments that afternoon, during the time when trade
was dull.
Nelson wondered what Pepper had meant by
saying he had missed it in turning against the
man. Did Pepper refer to the past, or did he
have in mind what he could leave when he died ?
" I don't want a cent of his money," our hero
told himself; '' but I would like to solve the mys-
tery of my birth and parentage."
CHAPTER XVIL
A BOLD MOVE.
On the night following Nelson's leave-taking
from Sam Pepper's establishment the keeper of
the resort stood behind his bar, doing business as
usual. The place now glistened with glasses and
mirrors, but its so-called beauty was lost to view
in the tobacco smoke which filled every nook and
corner.
The lunch tables had given place to little round
affairs where the patrons might drink and play
cards, and several of the tables were filled by a
noisy crowd.
Sam Pepper had just gotten rid of two tramps
who wished drinks without paying for them, when
he was surprised to see the door open slowly, and
Homer Bulson showed himself.
''Ah! how do you do, Mr. Bulson?'* he said
cheerily.
" Please don't talk so loud," replied the young
man, as he came in and walked to the rear end ol
the polished bar.
«34
A BOLD MOVE. 1 35
" All right, if you want it that way. Have a
drink?"
*' Some whisky ! " was the careless answer.
" How are you making out with the girl? "
" Haven't you heard ? She has left the house.
My uncle cast her out."
Sam Pepper gave a long, low whistle.
" Things seems to be coming all your way,'*
he remarked.
*' I don't know about that. Don't you know
that Gertrude Horton and Nelson the Newsboy
are friends?"
" I've heard they knew each other."
" They are friends,"
" What do you know of it ? ''
** I met her on Broadway one day, and he came
tip and wouldn't give me a chance to talk to her.
Do you know where she is now? "
"No."
" Nelson must know. Question him when he
comes in, will you? "
" I will — when he comes. He doesn't live with
tne any longer, you must remember."
" He doesn't ? When did he leave ? "
" Yesterday. He and a man have bought out
a hews stand, and he's going to live near by."
" You mustn't lose track of him — just yet."
^* Trust me for that. Mr. Bulson,"
J 3^ NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" If 3^ou hear anything of Gertrude, let mc
know at once. If you can help me, I'll pay you
well/'
'' I'm your man and I'll remember," answered
Sam Pepper, and thereupon Homer Bulson fin-
ished his liquor, threw down a quarter dollar, and
started to leave.
*' Where can I find you, if you're not at home? "^
called Pepper after him.
"Generally at the Broxton Club," answered
Bulson. " You know where that is, near Union
Square." And as Pepper nodded, he opened the
door and walked away.
After this, business continued brisk for half an
hour, when Sam Pepper found it necessary to go
to a back room for some bottles.
Hardly had he left the saloon when the door
was opened, and much to the astonishment of the
men at the round tables a young lady, plainly
dressed, stepped in. It was Gertrude.
" I say, that's a fine girl," remarked one of the
men, a rounder named Worden. " She's a new
one around here, aint she? "
" Reckon she is," returned another.
** How do you do, miss?" went on the first
man, getting up and tipping his hat.
" Excuse me, sir," said the girl. " Is Mr.
Pepper in ? "
A BOLD MOVE. 137
" Yes, here he comes now," answered Con
Worden, and fell back to the table again, folloAved
by his companion.
'* You are Mr. Sam Pepper?" said Gertrude
timidly. The general appearance of the place
frightened her.
'* That's my name, miss. But you've got the
advantage of me."
"I am Gertrude Horton."
Sam Pepper stared at her in the greatest aston-
ishment.
'* Well, I'm blowed," he muttered to himself.
"This beats the Dutch! "
'' I believe you are Nelson's foster father," con-
tinued Gertrude.
The cafe keeper nodded.
"Is he here?"
" Well — er — he aint here yet," answered Pep-
per, hardly knowing what to say. " But if you'll
sit down he may come soon."
" I — I guess I had better remain outside." said
Gertrude, looking around with much disgust.
" You are quite sure he'll come soon? I wish to
see him about Mrs. Kennedy. She has been taken
dangerously ill, and I do not know what to do.
Could you send him over to her place when he
comes? "
" Better wait for him, ISIiss Horton. Come
138 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
ril show you into our sitting room. It's not S
grand place, but it's clean and quiet. Come."
He pointed to one of the back rooms, now fixed
up as a sitting room. She hesitated, but before
she could resist he caught her by the arm.
" Nobody shall disturb you here," he half whis-
pered. And before she knew it she was in the
sitting room. The gas was turned down, but he
turned it up. Then he went out, closing the door
after him. '' Nelson must come in soon," he
said.
Gertrude sank down on a chair. Her mind was
concerned entirely over the serious sickness which
had suddenly overtaken good Mrs. Kennedy, and
consequently she thought little of herself. But
when she heard some shutters to the window of
the sitting room slam from the outside she leaped
to her feet.
" What can that mean? " she cried, and ran to
the window. Trying the shutters, she found
them fastened from the outside. At once she
crossed over to the door, to find it locked.
'' He has made me a prisoner ! " she moaned.
Then she knocked loudly on the door, but nobody
came to answer her summons.
In the meantime Sam Pepper, having locked the
door and fastened the window shutters, called
Con Worden to him.
A BOLD MOVE. ^39
** Worden, do you want to earn a quarter? " be
asked.
" Well, I should smile," answered the hanger-
on eagerl}^
" You saw that gentleman who was here a w^hile
ago — him with the silk hat and gold-headed cane/^
'' Of course I did."
*' Go over to the Broxton Club, near Union
Square, and see if he is there. Call for \lr. Btil-
son. If you find him, tell him to come at once."
^* All right/' said Con Worden, and hurried off.
m
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.
The Broxton Club was a fashionable resort for
young gentlemen who usually had more money
than brains. It was located near the upper side
of Union Square, and the club apartments con-
sisted of a parlor, a dining and wine room, and a
room for card-playing. In the latter apartment
gambling went on at nearly all hours of the day
and night.
Reaching the club Homer Bulson found several
congenial companions, and presently sat down to
a game of cards. Bets were made, first at a dol-
lar, then at five, and then at ten and twenty. Bul-
son had no luck, and soon lost forty dollars.
*' I'm on the wrong side to-night," was his dis-
mal comment, and he went to the wine room to
forget his losses in the flowing bowl.
He had just finished a glass of liquor when a
servant came to him.
*' A man at the door to see you, sir," said the
servant. " Says he has a private message for
you."
Wondering who the messenger could be,
140
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. 141
Homer Bulson hurried below and found Cou
Worden awaiting him.
*' You want to see me? " he questioned sharply.
He did not Hke the dilapidated appearance of the
hanger-on.
" Are you the gent that just came from Sam
Pepper's place ? "
*' What if I am ? " asked Bulson cautiously.
*' He says he wants to see you at once."
"At once?"
" That's it."
'' He didn't say what about? "
" No."
*^ All right; I'll be over as soon as I can get
there."
" I'll tell him that."
Homer Bulson expected Worden to make off at
once, but the hanger-on did not budge.
"Well, aren't you going?" asked the young
man sharply.
" Certainly, sir; soon as I git paid," sai^ Wor-
den coolly.
" Oh, that's it ! What do you want ? "
" It's worth a quarter, aint it ? "
" I suppose so," answered Bulson carelessly,
and passed over a silver piece.
" Thanks; I'm off now," said Con Worden, and
speedily disappeared.
142 NELSON THE NEIVSBOY.
In a few minutes Homer Bulson followed the
man, and it did not take him long to reach Sam
Pepper's resort once more.
As he entered he found Pepper in the act of
clearing out all the hangers-on, including Wor-
den, who had just received the quarter promised
to him.
'' Well, what is it? " asked Homer Bulson.
" I've got news that I guess will surprise you/'
was the answer.
''What is it?"
** You want to find your cousin Gertrude."
" I do."
" What will you give me for finding her for
you?"
'' Oh, I don't know. What do you want? "
" Is it worth a hundred dollars ? "
'' What, for just finding her? "
" For finding her and putting her in yottr
power."
'' Can you put her in my power? "
" Perhaps I can."
"When?"
*' Very soon, — if you'll pay the hundred."
" I will," returned Bulson eagerly. " Per-
haps you've got her in your power already," h©
went on hastily.
" I have."
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY, 143
"Where?"
" Here."
Homer Bulson looked around him and then
stared at Pepper in amazement.
" I don't see her."
" She is in my sitting room, under lock and
key."
"Back there?"
The cafe keeper nodded.
*' But I can't understand it, Pepper. How did
you get her here, and so soon ? You didn't have
her when I was here before, did you ? "
"Of course not. Right after you went away
she came in, looking for Nelson, because the
woman she lives with is very sick. I told her to
wait in the sitting room, and then I locked the
door and the window on her."
" What is she doing now ? "
As if in reply to the young man's question there
was a loud knock on the sitting-room door.
" Mr. Pepper ! Mr. Pepper ! " came in Ger-
trude's voice.
" She has knocked several times," said Pepper.
" But I didn't mind that. I'm thankful she hasn't
begun to kick and scream."
" I must have a talk with her. Now that she
finds she is in our power, perhaps she'll come to
terms."
144 NELSON- THE NEWSBOY.
'' More than likely."
The door was unlocked, and Sam Pepper al-
lowed Homer Bulson to enter the room.
'' Watch the door, if you don't want her to get
away," w^hispered Sam Pepper, and the young*
man winked one eye knowingly.
On seeing her cousin Gertrude fell back in
astonishment.
" What, you? " she faltered.
'* Yes, Gertrude, IVe been looking for you," he
answered.
"Where is Nelson?"
" I don't know, and I don't care. I don't see
how you can interest yourself in that young
ruffian."
" He is more of a true gentleman than you will
ever be, Mr. Bulson."
*' You are truly complimentary, Gertrude.
But you do not know your own mind, nor what is
best for you. This running away has upset your
judgment."
" I did not run away— I was driven away — and
all because of you."
" Then let me set matters right for you."
" Will you do that ? " she asked eagerly.
" I promise I will — if you'll only marry me."
" Always the same thing ! " she cried, bursting
into tears. ''' I will not listen. Let me go."
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. I45
She started for the door, but he placed himself
directly in her path.
'' Wait a minute. Where do you hve? "
'' I decline to answer that question."
'' ril wager it is in some low tenement house,
among the poorest people."
" I live among poor people, it is true, but they
are not low, as you understand the word."
*' Did Nelson Pepper find the place for you ? "
" He did."
" Always that boy ! You make me angry
with your foolishness. Why don't you come
back? I want to share Uncle Mark's fortune
with you."
"' I have talked all I wish upon the subject."
" How are you to live? You never did any
work in your whole life."
'' I can work when it is necessary."
"At what?"
" I am giving piano lessons."
" At starv^ation wages, I presume," he sneered.
*' I am making an honest living. Thousands
can do no more. Now I demand that you let
me go."
Again she moved toward the door, and again
he stood in her path.
''Did you hear what I said?" she cried.
"Stand aside!"
10 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
"I will Stand aside— when we have come to
terms," he answered, setting his teeth. " You
shall not leave this house until you have promised
to do as I and your uncle desire,"
CHAPTER XIX.
NELSON TO THE RESCUE.
On the same evening that Gertrude visited Sam
Pepper's establishment, Nelson, after closing up,
determined to run down and call upon the girl and
tell her about the stand and how well they had
done that day.
'' She'll be pleased, I know," he told himself.
" She wants me to make a man of myself."
Arriving at the tenement house, he ascended
the stairs to Mrs. Kennedy's rooms and knocked
upon the back door. To his surprise Gladys
Summers, the flower girl, let him in.
'' Hullo, Gladys! you here? " he said.
" Oh, Nelson ! I thought it was Gertrude," an-
swered the flower girl. " Did you bring her
along?"
•' Along? I haven't seen her."
" She went over to Sam Pepper's place to bring
you here. Mrs. Kennedy is very sick, and we
didn't know what to do."
" I haven't been to Sam's place. I left there
147
148 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
yesterday for good. What's the matter with the
old lady?"
" Her rheumatism has got up around her heart,
and she's very bad. I think she ought to have a
doctor."
'* She shall have one, Gladys. Was Gertrude
going to get one? "
*' No, she was going to get you to do that.
She doesn't know anything of doctors down here,
so she said."
'* I'll have one here in a little while," said our
hero, and ran down the stairs, two steps at a time-
Two blocks below the house there was a drug
store, and a doctor had his office upstairs. The
physician was in, and listened to what Nelson had
to say.
'' I'll go," he said. '' But you know my terms
to strangers."
" How much will the visit be? "
" A dollar."
*' There's your money." And oui^ hero handed
it over.
The pair were soon at Mrs. Kennedy's bedside,
and after an examination the doctor wrote out a
prescription and Nelson had it filled at the drug
store. The physician said he would call again the
following afternoon.
*' She's in a bad state," he said. " She has
N'ELSOJSr TO THE RESCUE. I4f
likely had this rheumatism for years, and her
age is against her."
" Don't you think she'll get over it ? " asked our
hero.
** I think she will. But she may be helpless for
many weeks."
" It's hard luck. She hasn't any money."
" Then you had better send her to the hospital.**
" No, she shall stay home, if she wants to," said
Nelson. '' I guess I and the rest can take care of
her. She was always good to me and the others."
After the medicine had been administered and
Mrs. Kennedy was a trifle easier, Nelson began to
grow impatient that Gertrude had not yet re-
turned.
*' I guess I'll ^o out and hunt her up," he said
to Gladys Summers. '' Will you stay here? "
" Yes; I promised to stay all night, Nelson."
Our hero was soon in the street again and mak-
ing his way rapidly over to the East Side in the
direction of Sam Pepper's resort. It was now
late, but this part of the city was still bustling
with life. Yet to our hero's surprise, when he
reached Pepper's place he found it locked up.
'' Closed! " he muttered. " This is queer. I
wonder where Gertrude went? "
He stood for a moment on the pavement, then
went and rapped loudly on the glass of the door*
150 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
For a minute there was no response, then, as he
rapped again, Sam Pepper appeared. His face
fell when he lifted a door shade and saw our hero.
" What do you want now ? " he growled, as he
opened the door for a space of several inches.
** Was that young lady over here to find me? "
asked our hero.
" Nobody here to see you," answered Sam Pep-
per gruffly.
*' She wasn't? Why, she started for here."
" I haven't seen anybody. Is that all you
want?"
** Yes. Why are you shut up so early ? "
" I didn't feel very well and thought I'd go to
bed and sleep it off," answered Pepper smoothly.
'^ I'm going back again. Good-night ! "
'* Then you haven't seen her at all? " persisted
the newsboy.
" Haven't I told you so before ? Now, don't
disturb me again." And with this Sam Pepper
slammed the door shut and locked it
Nelson was nonplused, not so much by what
Pepper had said as by the man's manner.
'' He wanted to get rid of me in a hurry," he
mused. " Somehow, this affair doesn't look right
to me."
While our hero was standing near the curb,
speculating upon where next to look for Gertrude,
NELSON TO THE RESCUE. 151
he was surprised to see Paul Randall come down
the street.
" Why, Paul, how is it you are out so late? " he
asked.
" Got stuck on some sporting extras and was
bound to sell 'em," answered Paul. " Say, I hear
youVe bought out a stand,"
" George Van Pelt and I have bought out a
stand."
" Hope you make lots of money. If you need
a clerk, don't forget me."
" I won't forget you, Paul. We have a boy
now who delivers papers for us. He talks of leav-
ing. If he does, I'll let you know. But, I say,
have you been around here long? "
" Most all the evening."
*^ You know that young lady who is stopping
with Mrs. Kennedy, don't you ? "
" Yes. Gladys Summers calls her * the angel/ *'
answered Paul readily. " She's a real lady, aint
she, Nelson? "
" She is."
** I saw her go into Pepper's an hour or two
ago."
'' You did ! I was going to ask you if you had
seen her. You haven't made any mistake ? "
" Not much ! I'd know her in a whole city
full — she's so sweet and beautiful,"
152 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" Did you see her come away ? "
" No."
" Were you around so you could have seen
her?"
" Yes; and I kept my eye on the door for almost
an hour. I thought you might be with her."
'' No; Sam Pq)per and I have parted for good,
Paul. I've got a room uptown, near the stand.
I'd like to know what became of the young lady."
" If she came out, it must have been after I went
away."
Paul knew that his mother, who was now get-
ting better, would be anxious about him, so, with-
out waiting longer, he hurried on. Nelson re-
mained on the sidewalk, in deep thought.
Presently, as he was looking toward Sam Pep-
per's resort, he saw a corner of a curtain lifted and
saw the man peer out at him. Then the curtain
was dropped again.
" He's watching me," thought the newsboy.
*' Something is wrong here, and I know it. He
and that Homer Bulson are friends, and Bulson
is bound to make Miss Gertrude marry him.
Perhaps they have hatched up some game against
Miss Gertrude."
Not to make Sam Pepper more suspicious, Nel-
son walked briskly away, up the street. But at
the first corner he turned, sped down the side
NELSON TO THE RESCUE. \%%
street, and then into the alleyway connecting with
the rear of Pepper's resort.
It took him but a minute to ascertain that the
shutters to the rear room were tightly closed,
and held together by a wire bound from one
catch to the other.
The shutters were solid, but near the tops were
several round holes, put there for ventilating
purposes.
Looking around our hero discovered an empty
barrel, and standing- on this he managed to look
through one of the holes into the apartment.
He saw Gertrude sitting on a chair, the picture
of misery. The hot tears were flowing down her
cheeks.
The sight went straight to his heart, and with-
out w^aiting to think of results, he leaped from the
barrel, pulled away the wire, and flung the shut-
ters open. Then he lifted the window, which had
been pulled down, but not fastened.
Gertrude heard the noise and leaped up in fresh
alarm. But when she saw our hero she gave a
cry of joy.
" Oh, Nelson! will you help me? " she gasped.
" Certainly Fll help you, Miss Gertrude," he
answered. '' What are they doing — keeping you
a prisoner here? "
" Something like that. Mr. Bulson was here
154 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
and went out to get a coach, so that he could take
me away. Mr. Pepper is on guard in his saloon."
" Just come with me, and you'll be safe."
Gertrude came to the window, and Nelson
helped her into the alleyway. Just as she leaped
from the window Sam Pepper unlocked the door
and opened it.
: " Stop ! " roared the man. '^ Stop, I say ! "
" Don't stop ! " said Nelson, and caught Ger-
trude by the hand. Dark as it was, the boy knew
the narrow and dirty thoroughfare well, and soon
led his companion to the street beyond. Pepper
came as far as the window, and called after than
once more, but did not dare to follow further.
"'stop!' roared the man. 'stop, I say!'" — f^age /j^.
N'elson the Newsboy.
CHAPTER XX.
THE HOME IN THE TENEMENT.
** Oh, how thankful I am that you came! " ex-
claimed Gertrude, when she felt safe once more.
" I'm glad myself/' answered Nelson heartily.
" But how was it Pepper made you a prisoner ? '*
" I went there to find you, because Mrs. Ken-
nedy is so sick. I must get back to her at once/'
" There is no need to hurry." And Nelson
told of what he and Gladys had done for the
patient.
Then Gertrude related her story and told how
Homer Bulson had said she must marry him.
*' He was going to take me to some place in
New Jersey," Gertrude continued. " I heard him
and Sam Pepper talk it over."
*' The both of them are a big pair of rascals ! "
burst out Nelson. " Oh, I wish I was a man !
Fd teach them a lesson ! " And he shook his head
determinedly.
" I am afraid Mr. Bulson will find out that I
am living with Mrs. Kennedy, and he'll watch his
duuice to make more trouble for me," said the girl
zss
15^ NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
despondently. " Oh, why can't he let me alone?
He can have my uncle's money, and welcome."
" We'll all be on guard," answered Nelson*
*' If he tries to harm you, call a policeman. Per-
haps that will scare him."
Gertrude returned to her home with Mrs. Ken-
nedy, and satisfied that Homer Bulson would do
nothing further that night, the newsboy started to
walk uptown.
But presently he changed his mind and turned
his footsteps toward the East Side. When he
reached the vicinity of Sam Pepper's resort he
saw a coach drawn up in front of the place.
Homer Bulson was just coming out of the re-
sort with Sam Pepper behind him.
"It's too bad," our hero heard Bulson say.
'' You're a fine rascal ! " cried the boy boldly.
" For two pins I'd have you locked up."
" Here he is now ! " exclaimed Bulson. *' Pep-
per, you ought to take him in hand for his im-
pudence."
" Sam Pepper won't touch me, and you won't
touch me, either," cried our hero, with flashing
eyes. '' You thought you were smart, Mr.
Homer Bulson, but your game didn't work. And
let me tell you something. If you trouble Miss
Horton in the future, she and I are going to put
X\\% police on your track."
THE HOME IN THE TENEMENT, ^ST
"Me? The police!" ejaculated the young-
man, in horror.
'' Yes, the police. So, after this, you had bet-
ter let her alone."
'* Nelson, you talk like a fool," put in Sam
Pepper.
'* I don't think so."
"What is that girl to you? If you'd only
stand in with us, it would be money in your
pocket."
" I'm not for sale."
"" Mr. Bulson wants to do well by her. She
don't know how to w^ork. If she marries him,
she'll have it easy for the rest of her life."
" But she don't want him, and that's the end
of it. I've given you warning now. If anything
happens to her I'll call in the police, and I'll tell alt
I know, and that's more than either of you
dream of," concluded our hero, and walked off.
" He's an imp ! " muttered Bulson savagely,
'* Fd like to wring his neck for him ! "
" I wonder how much he knows? " said Pep«
per, in alarm. '' It was always a mystery to me
how he and the girl fell in with each other."
" He can't know very much, for she doesn't
know a great deal. Pepper. He's only talking to
scare us," said Bulson. His uncle had not told
him of the meeting in the library.
15* NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" What are you going to do next ? ''
" Better wait till this affair blows over. Then
Gertrude will be off her guard," concluded Homer
Bulson.
After that several weeks slipped by without any-
thing unusual happening. Gertrude kept on her
guard when going out to give piano lessons, but
neither Bulson nor Pepper showed himself.
Gertrude, Gladys, and Nelson all took turns in
caring for Mrs. Kennedy, and the old lady speedily
recovered from the severe attack of rheumatism
she had experienced. She was anxious to get
back to her f ruit-and-candy stand.
" It's meself as can't afford to be idle at all,"
she declared. " Sure an' I must owe yez all a
whole lot av money."
'' Don't owe me a cent," said Nelson, and Ger-
trude and Gladys said the same.
Business with the firm was steadily increasing.
The boy who had carried the paper route had left,
and Paul Randall was now filling the place and
doing his best to bring in new trade.
" We'll soon be on our way to opening a regular
store," said George Van Pelt, one day. " We
really need the room already."
" Let us go slow," said Nelson. " I know a
idlow who had a stand near the Fulton ferry.
He swelled up and got a big store at fifty dollars
THE HOME IN THE TENEMENT, IS9
a month, and then he busted up in less than half
a year. I want to be sure of what I am doing-.''
And Van Pelt agreed with him that that was best*
Of course some newsboys were jealous of our
hero's success, and among these were Billy
Darnley and Len Snocks. Both came up to the
stand while Nelson was in sole charge one after-
noon, and began to chaff him.
" T'ink yer big, don't yer ? " said Darnley. '* I
could have a stand like dis, if I wanted it."
'' Perhaps you could, if you could steal the
money to buy it," replied our hero suggestively.
*' Dis aint no good spot fer business," put in
Len Snocks. " Why didn't yer git furder down-
town ? "
'*' This is good enough for me," said our hero
calmly. '' If you don't like the stand, you don't
have to patronize me."
'^ Yer don't catch me buyin' nuthin here," burst
out Snocks. " We know better where to spend
our money; don't we, Billy? "
'' Perhaps you called to pay up that balance you
owe me," said Nelson to Billy Darnley. " There
is a dollar and ninety cents still coming my way."
*' Ah, go on wid yer ! " growled Billy Darnley,
with a sour look. " I wouldn't have de stand, if
ytx ^ve it to me. Come on, Len ! " And he
hauled his companion away.
i6o NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Our hero felt that he could afford to laugh at
the pain " I guess it's a case of sour grapes," he
said to himself. *' They'd think they were mil-
lionaires if they owned a place like this.''
Both Darnley and Snocks were out of money,
and hungry, and they were prowling along the
street, ready to pick up anything which came to
hand.
" It's a shame Nelse's got dat stand," said Dam-
ley. ** He don't deserve it no more'n I do."
" No more dan me," added Snocks. " It beats
all how some fellers strike it lucky, eh? "
" I wish we could git something off of him,"
went on the larger bully.
" Off de stand? " queried Snocks.
" Yes."
" Maybe we can — to-night, after he locks up."
" Say, dat would be just de t'ing," burst out the
larger boy. '' Nobody is around, and it would be
easy to break open de lock. If only we had a
push-cart, we could make a big haul."
" I know an Italian who has one. We can
borrow dat."
"Will he lend it?"
" I'll borrow it on de sly."
So a plan was arranged to get the push-cart that
night, after the news stand was locked up and
Nelson and Van Pelt had gone away. Billy
THE HOME IN THE TENEMENT. i6l
Darnley had a bunch of keys in his pocket, and
he felt fairly certain that one or another would
fit the lock to the stand.
" Won't Nelse be surprised when he finds de
t'ings gone?" said Snocks. ''But it will serve
him right, won't it? "
" To be sure," added Darnley. '' He's gittin'
too high-toned. He wants to come down out of
de clouds."
CHAPTER XXI.
NELSON MAKES A PRESENT.
In some manner of her own Mrs. Kennedy had
found out that that day was Gertrude's birthday,
and she had concocted a scheme with Nelson and
Gladys to give her a surprise.
" Sure an' the poor dear deserves a bit av pleas-
ure," said the old Irishwoman. " This humdrum
life is almost a-killin' av her. We'll buy her a
few things, and have a bit av a party supper."
'' She shall have my best bouquet," said the
flower girl. She loved Gertrude dearly.
Nelson was in a great state of perplexity con-
cerning what to give Gertrude. One after an-
other, different things were considered and re-
jected.
'' You see, she's a regular lady," he said to
George Van Pelt, " and I want to give her some-
thing that just suits. Now a common girl would
like most anything, but she's — well, she's differ-
ent; that's all."
" Most girls like dresses and hats," suggested
Van Pelt.
162
NELSON MAKES A PRESENT. 163
Nelson shook his head.
" It won't do. Her dresses and her hat are
better than I could buy. Besides, I want to give
her something she can keep."
" Does she like to read? "
" I guess she does."
" I saw a new book advertised — a choice collec-
tion of poems. It's really something fine— far
better than most collections. How would that
suit?"
" How much was the book? "
" Two dollars and a half, but we, as dealers, can
get it for a dollar and seventy-five cents."
" Then that's what I'll get. And I'll write in
it, ' To Miss Gertrude Horton, from her true
friend Nelson,' " said the boy.
The book was duly purchased, and our hero
spent the best part of half an hour in writing in it
to his satisfaction. That night he closed up a
little early and walked down to the Kennedy home
with the volume under his arm.
" Oh, what a splendid book ! " cried Gertrude,
on receiving it. Then she read the inscription on
the fly-leaf. " Nelson, you are more than kind,
^nd I shall never forget you ! " And she squeezed
his hand warmly.
Gladys had brought her largest bouquet and
also a nice potted plant, and Mrs. Kennedy had
1^4 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
presented a sensible present in the shape of a
much-needed pair of rubbers.
*' Winter will soon be here," said the old
woman. '' And then it's not our Miss Gertrude
is going to git wet feet, at all ! "
The girl was taken quite by surprise, and even
more so when Mrs. Kennedy brought in a sub-
stantial supper, which had been cooking on the
stove of a neighbor. To this Nelson added' a
quart of ice cream from a near-by confectioner's,
and the birthday party was voted a great success
by all who participated.
" You have all been so kind to me," said Ger-
trude, when they broke up, '' you make me forget
what I had to give up."
" Don't ye be after w^orryin', dear," said Mrs.
Kennedy. " 'Twill all come out right in the end.''
" I trust so, Mrs. Kennedy. But I ask for
nothing more than that I can earn my own living
and keep the friends I have made," answered the
girl.
*' How many scholars have you now?" ques-
tioned Gladys.
"' Fourteen, and two more are promised."
'' Sixteen is not bad," said our hero, who knew
that that meant eight dollars a week for the
teacher.
It was after juidnight when the party broke up,
NELSON MAKES A PRESENT. l6$
and Nelson had to take Gladys to her home, sev-
eral blocks away. The flower girl lived with a
bachelor brother, who supported himself and paid
the rent. The rest Gladys had to supply herself,
*' I wish I had a regular stand for flowers," she
said to Nelson. " I could make a good deal more,
then."
*' I'll help you buy a stand some day, Gladys,"
he replied. " I know a good place up in your
neighborhood."
That was Nelson, helping everybody he could,
and that is why he is the hero of this tale of New
York street life.
'* If you'll help me I'll pay you back," said the
flower girl earnestly. *' You know flowers keep
so much better when they are in a glass case," she
explained.
A light rain was falling when the newsboy at
last started for the house where he roomed. He
buttoned his coat up around his throat and pulled
his hat far down over his eyes.
He was almost to his room when, on turning a
comer, he saw^ two big boys shoving a push-cart
along, piled high with goods concealed under
some potato sacking. As the boys passed in the
glare of an electric light he recognized Billy Darn-
ley and Len Snocks.
" Hullo, this is queer ! " he murmured.
1 66 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Where are they going with that push-cart? I
didn't know either of 'em was in the peddling
business."
The pair soon passed out of sight, and Nelson
continued on his way. Quarter of an hour later
he was in bed and in the land of dreams.
It was George Van Pelt's turn to open up the
stand on the following morning, our hero being
entitled to sleep an hour longer than otherwise in
consequence. But hardly had the time for open-
ing arrived when George Van Pelt came rushing
around to our hero's room in high excitement.
" Nelson, what does this mean ? " he demanded.
''What does what mean?" asked our hero
sleepily.
" All the things are gone from the stand ! "
"Gone?"
" Yes, everything — papers, books, pens, pencils,
writing pads, ink, mucilage, everything. It's a
clean sweep. Do you know anything about it ? "
*' No, I don't," answered Nelson, and now he
was as wide awake as his partner. '' When did it
happen?"
'' I don't know — some time before I got there.
One of the padlocks was broken and the other un-
locked. The rascals even took the money
drawer," went on Van Pelt bitterly.
"That had fifteen cents in it," said Nelsoa
NELSON MAKES A PRESENT. 167
" I took it in after I made up the cash for the
day."
" Well, we're in a pickle now/' groaned Van
Pelt. ** And just think, we were insured only day
before yesterday."
" But not against burglars," groaned Nelson in
return. " If we can't trace up the stuff, we'll
have to lose it."
'* But we can't afford to lose the stuff. It was
worth sixty dollars if it was worth a penny."
** Nearer seventy dollars, for I bought some new
pads and paper-bound books yesterday, and they
cost seven dollars and a quarter. We must find
the robbers." The newsboy hit his washstand
with his fist. ^' By jinks, I've got it! I know
who robbed us ! "
"Who?"
*' Len Snocks and Billy Darnley, those news-
boys I told you about. I saw them eying the
stand pretty closely, and last night, when I came
home from the party, I saw them on the block be-
low here with a push-cart full of goods. I
thought it funny at the time. They had the stuff
covered with old sacks. I never saw either of
them with a push-cart before.'*
" That certainly is suspicious.''
" Have you notified the police ? "
" Yes, I told the officer oo the beat as I came
1 68 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
along. He's goiog to send in a report. But if
you think those fellows are guilty we had better
go after them without delay. Otherwise they'll
sell the stuff and clear out."
" I think I know where to look for them," said
Nelson.
He was soon into his clothing, and he and Van
Pelt hurried to the stand, where they found Paul
selling such papers as had come in for the morn-
ing trade.
*' It's awful," said the small boy. " Such
thieves ought to be placed behind the bars."
It was decided that Paul should run his route
and then tend the stand, while Nelson and his
partner went oo a hunt down the Bowery and on
the East Side for Darnley and Snocks.
" I can't say when we'll be back, Paul," said
Van Pelt. " But until we return you must do
the best you can." And this the little lad
promised.
Our hero knew that Darnley and Snocks lived
not far from each other on a street running to-
ward the East River, and thither he led the way.
" Seen anything of Len Snocks? " he asked of
a newsboy he met in the vicinity.
" Yes, I did," answered the boy. ** Saw him
early this morning."
"Where?"
NELSON MAKES A PRESENT, I»f
" Down by the ferry to Brooklyn."
" Was he alone? ''
" No; he had Billy Darnley with him."
" Were they carrying anything? '*
" Yes, each had a couple of heavy bundles, about
all he could manage."
'' Did you see them get on the ferry? " ques-
tioned George Van Pelt.
*' Saw 'em go into the ferryhouse. They must
have gone over," answered the newsboy.
A few words more followed, and Nelson and
Van Pelt hurried to the ferry and soon found
themselves on Fulton Street, one of the main
thoroughfares of Brooklyn.
" Now to find them," said our hero. " I'm
afraid it's going to prove a big job."
CHAPTER XXII.
A DISAPPOINTMENT.
" How shall we strike out ? " asked George
Van Pelt, as he and our hero came to a halt under
the elevated railroad.
" It's more than likely they'll try to sell those
things to some stationer or at a second-hand
store," answered Nelson. " And the chances are
that they'll sell 'em as quick as possible."
" You are right there," answered his partner.
" Supposing you take one side of the street and
I'll take the other, and we'll ask at the different
stores."
This was agreed upon, and soon our hero had
visited five stores.
Nobody had seen the thieves or knew anything
about them.
" It's no use," he thought, and then entered a
sixth establishment, kept by an old man.
" Yes, I saw them," said the old man. " They
were here early this morning, and wanted to sell
me the things dog-cheap. But I was suspicious
of them, so I didn't buy."
170
A DISAPPOINTMENT. I7«
" Do you know where they went next ? "
" One of them said something about taking the
elevated train."
*' You didn't watch them? "
" No ; I was going to, but a customer took my
time."
The old man described both Darnley and
Snocks, and also some of the goods offered, so
there could not possibly be any mistake.
" I hate thieves," he concluded. '' I hope you
catch them."
" If we need a witness, will you aid us ? " asked
Nelson.
" I will."
'' Thank you," said Nelson, and left him one of
the business cards he and Van Pelt had had
printed.
On the corner he beckoned to his partner and
told Van Pelt of what he had learned.
" We'll ask the elevated railroad gate-keeper
below," said Van Pelt.
But at the station they got no satisfaction.
" I came on an hour ago," said the gate-keeper.
" The other man has gone home."
" And you haven't seen 'em ? " asked Nelson.
" No. The fact is, so many people come and
fo we hardly notice anybody."
^ That is so," said George Van Pelt, as he and
172 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
our hero walked away. '' Nelson, I am afraid we
are stumped."
" It looks like it," said the newsboy soberly.
" What shall we do next? "
" I hardly know, George. I hate to give up.
The stuff we lost cost too much money."
" Do you suppose either Darnley or Snocks
went home? "
" It's possible."
" We ought to visit their homes and make
sure."
The matter was talked over for several minutes,
and it was finally agreed that Nelson should visit
the homes of the two boys while George Van Pelt
returned to the news stand to relieve Paul.
Billy Darnley lived on the fourth floor of a large
rear tenement on one of the dirtiest streets of the
East Side. To get to the place our hero had to
pass through an alleyway filled with rubbish and
teeming with neglected children. Hardened as
he was to the rougher side of city life he could not
help but shudder at the sight.
'' Poor things ! they are a heap worse off than
myself," was his thought.
At a corner of the alleyway he ran across a
small girl and one several years older. The little
girl was a cripple, and the larger girl was mak-
ing fun of her deformity.
A DISAPPOINTMENT. 173
**Limpy leg! Limpy leg!" she cried shrilly,
** Limpy leg, aint you ugly ! *' At this the cripple
began to cry.
*' Stop that! " called out Nelson. '' You ought
to be ashamed of yourself. This little girl can't
help being a cripple. Perhaps some day you'll be
a cripple yourself, and then you won't want any-
body to make fun of you." And at this the big
girl fell back abashed.
'* She always does that," said the cripple.
'* She's awful mean."
Nelson asked the girl where Billy Darnley
lived, and the girl pointed out the rooms. Soon
the newsboy was knocking on one of the doors
to the apartment.
" Come in," said a rough voice, and Nelson
entered, to find himself confronted by a burly
man slightly the worse for the rum he had been
drinking.
'* Is this where Billy Darnley lives? " he
asked.
'' I'm Billy Darnley," answered the man.
'* I mean Billy Darnley, the newsboy."
*' That's my son. He lives here, but he aint
here now. He's out selling papers."
" Has he been home in the last two or three
hours?"
" No,"
174 NELSON" THE NEWSBOY.
There was an awkward pause, and the man
eyed Nelson curiously.
" What do you want of Billy? " he questioned
at last.
"" I want to recover some things he stole from
my news stand," answered our hero stoutly.
" Things he stole? " cried Darnley senior.
'' Yes."
"Are you sure Billy stole them?"
'' Yes — he and another boy named Lea
Snocks."
''When was this?"
'' Last night."
" Humph! Tell me all about it."
Nelson did as requested. Before he had fin-
ished Darnley senior gave a long yawn.
" Hang that boy! " he observed. '' He's go-
ing from bad to worse. He will end up on the
gallows if he aint careful."
To console himself he got out a black bottle
and took a deep drink. Evidently he was not
deeply impressed.
" Have you any idea where Billy is now? "
asked our hero.
" No. He'll keep shady, I suppose. I can't
help you. Go to the police. If he gets hung
some day it will be his own fault."
The man turned his back on Nelson as if to
A DISAPPOINTMENT, 1 75
end the interview. In a minute more our hero
was in the street again.
" A fine father for any boy to have," was his
thought. " I reckon one is about as bad as the
other, and perhaps both will end up in the elec-
tric chair/'
CHAPTER XXIII.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST.
From the tenement where Billy Darnley lived
Nelson made his way to where Len Snocks re-
sided.
This home in the tenements was in strong
contrast to that of the Darnleys. There were
but three rooms, but each was as clean and
bright as hard work could make them.
A small, trim-looking woman carrying a baby
in her arms answered his knock. This proved
to be Mrs. Snocks. In the rooms were several
other children of various ages.
" No, I haven't seen Len since last night,"
she said, in reply to our hero's question. '' He
went off with another boy named Billy Darn-
ley."
" Did he say where he was going or when
he would be back? "
" He did not. I am anxious about him, too.
He never stayed away all night before. What
do you want of him? "
ITS
AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST. i77
'' He and Billy Darnley robbed my news
stand last night."
'* Robbed your stand! " Mrs. Snocks grew
very pale. " Can this be true? "
*' Yes, ma'am, it is." And Nelson gave the
particulars once more.
*' Too bad! " cried the woman, and, dropping
on a kitchen chair, she covered her face with
her apron.
Nelson saw that she was suffering keenly, and
felt sorry for her.
" It's that Darnley boy," she said presently,
'* He is a bad tgg and is leading our Len
astray. My husband and I have warned Len
time and time again to let Billy alone; but he
won't mind, and Billy leads him into all kinds
of mischief."
'' Well, Fm sorry for you, ma'am, but we
have got to have our stuff back."
*' How much was it worth? "
'' About seventy-five dollars."
"Oh, dear! I'm sure I don't know what
to do."
"Is your husband to work?"
" No; he hasn't had any work for several
months. Wait; I'll call him."
Mrs, Snocks went to a rear window and called
to somebody in the courtyard below. Soon Mr.
I7S NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
Snocks appeared. He was an iron molder, but
looked far from healthy.
" Stole from your stand," he said, after listen-
ing to his wife and Nelson. " This is the worst
yet."
" It's Billy Darnley's fault," put in the wife.
" He hasn't any business to go with Billy,
Mary. That rascal will lead him to prison."
" You're right there," said our hero.
" I don't know what to do," went on Mr.
Snocks, to Nelson. " I'd square this up^ only
I'm out of work, and haven't more than two
or three dollars to my name."
'' We have three dollars and twenty-five
cents," said the wife. " You can have that."
And she brought out a well-worn pocketbook.
Her manner touched the newsboy to the
heart.
'' No, I won't take your last cent," he said.
'' You'll need it for yourself and the children.
Only if you see Len, try to get back the goods
or the money he got for them."
''We'll do that— don't fear," said Mr.
Snocks. " And I'll thrash him everlastingly in
the bargain."
No more could be accomplished at the
Snockses' home, and soon Nelson was oh his way
back to the stand.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST. 1 79
" What luck? " questioned George Van Pelt,
as soon as he appeared,
" Not much/' he answered, and told his story,
*' We'll never hear from old Damley," he
added. " But perhaps we'll get something
from the Snockses."
'' Fm glad you didn't take that woman's last
dollar," said Van Pelt. '' We're not as hard up
as all that, even if we have been almost cleaned
out."
Fortunately for the partners they had paid all
bills promptly since taking charge of the stand,
so their credit was good. On the following
morning Van Pelt went around and explained
the situation to several wholesale dealers, and
also to the news company, and succeeded in get-
ting a fresh supply of goods on thirty and sixty
days' time.
"We've got to hustle to make it up," he
said.
" Well, I'm in the business to hustle," an-
swered Nelson, with a grim smile. " I never
yet was idle, as far back as I can remember."
" Always sold newspapers? "
" Mostly. Once in a while I blacked boots
and carried baggage, but not very often."
" Are you related to Sam Pepper? "
" I don't think I am."
iSo NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Hasn't he ever told you anything about
yourself? "
" He has and again he hasn't. He told me
some things that I don't believe are true,
George."
'* Humph! Well, I wouldn't trust him too
much."
"I don't trust him at all, since the time he
tried to help Mr. Bulson against Miss Ger-
trude."
" It's queer that Bulson is so possessed to
marry Miss Horton, when she doesn't care for
him."
" I guess the reason is that Bulson is afraid
Mr. Horton will relent and take Miss Gertrude
back, and then she'll come in for half the money,
after all. He is so piggish that he wants to get
it all."
'' Mr. Horton ought to be told how Bulson
is acting."
'' Miss Gertrude says he is a strange man and
won't believe what anybody says about his
nephew."
" He must be strange, or he wouldn't turn
such a nice young lady as Miss Horton out of
doors," said Van Pelt feelingly. He had met
Gertrude several times and was much interested
in her.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL QUEST. l8l
On the week following Mrs. Kennedy was
served with a notice to quit her apartments, as
the tenement was to be torn down. She and
Gertrude hunted up other rooms, not far from
Nelson's stand. These were bright and cheer-
ful and a very great improvement over those
vacated.
*' And I will feel safer,*' said Gertrude. " For
I fancy Homer Bulson knew the other home
and often watched me going in and coming
out."
Gertrude was right in her surmise. Homer
Eulson was watching her very closely and laying
his plans to make her his own, in spite of
herself.
But when everything was in readiness to
make a move, he found to his chagrin that the
rooms were empty and the building was being
torn down.
Hang the luck, anyhow ! " he muttered
sulkily. " Now where in the world shall I look
for her?"
He questioned several people in the neigh-
borhood, but nobody seemed to be able to give
him any information.
The truth of the matter was Mrs. Kennedy
had requested her friends to say nothing to a
gentleman in a silk hat who asked about Ger-
iZi NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
trade, and for this reason they were according^
mum.
'' Never mind, 111 find her sooner or latw*,"
£ulson toid himself. '' And then my next move
will surely surprise her.**
CHAPTER XXIV,
A DECOY LETTER.
One day Nelson was folding some evening
fmpers at the stand when, on glancing up, he
saw Homer Bulson standing not far away eye-
ing him sharply.
'' Hullo, what does he want now? '' thought
our hero.
Bulson waited until several customers had re-
ceived papers and departed, and then came
closer.
''How is trade?" he asked, in as pleasant a
voice as he could command.
" Very good," returned Nelson coolly.
" I presume you do better with the stand than
you did selling papers on the street."
" Much better."
" I am glad to hear it."
To this Nelson made no reply, for he felt cer-
tain that Homer Bulson was playing the part
€i a hypocrite.
" He wants to find out about Gertrude," he
told himself.
J&4 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" How is Miss Horton making out these
days? " went on the young man.
" She is doing nicely."
" Is she working? "
" She gives piano lessons."
" Humph! she can't make much at that/'
" She make enough to keep her."
"If she wouldn't be so headstrong she might
have a comfortable home without working/*
" She intends to do as she pleases/' replied
Nelson sharply. " And she doesn't ask you for
advice."
" Where is she living now? "
" You'll have to find that out for yourself/'
" Her uncle wants to know."
" Then let him write to her and address the
letter to the general post-office."
*' Does she go there for her letters? "
" No; somebody goes for her."
At this Homer Bulson bit his lip in increased
vexation.
" What rot all this is! " he cried. " Vm not
going to eat her up."
" YouVe right there/' grinned Nelson.
" We won't let you. The best you can do is
to leave her alone. If you don't somebody will
get hurt."
*' Ha! do you threaten mc? "
A DECOY LETTER, 1^5
" You can take the warning as you please."
" Boy, you are a fool! "
'' If I am, I am too smart a fool to be taken in
by you, Mr. Homer Bulson."
" I want to help Miss Horton."
" You want to harm her, you mean."
" Then you won't tell me where she lives? "
'' No. And let me add, if you find out and
try to harm her you'll get hurt."
" Oh, you make me tired," muttered Bulson,
and walked away.
Everything seemed to be against the young
man, but two days later his luck — if such it can
be called — changed.
He was walking along a fashionable side
street, when on chancing to look ahead he saw
Gertrude leave a house and hurry to the
corner.
He started to follow her, but before he could
reach her she had boarded a street car and was
out of his reach.
Going back to the house he met a girl of
twelve coming out on the stone stoop.
" Good-afternoon," he said politely. '* Am I
right about seeing Miss Horton just coming
from here? "
" You are," answered the girl. '' She's just
been giving me a music lesson,"
1 86 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Oh, SO she gives music lessons here. Does
she teach anybody else in the neighborhood? "
"Yes; she teaches on the block above here
and around on the avenue." And the girl gave
the names and addresses.
Homer Bulson made a note of the names and
addresses and walked off in high satisfaction.
" Now to work my little scheme," he said to
himself.
Two days later he left New York and took
a train at Jersey City for Lakewood, down in
New Jersey.
At the fashionable resort he managed to find
a house on the outskirts of the town. It was
owned and kept by an old woman, who was
more than half deaf.
To this old woman, whose name was Sarah
Higgins, Bulson told a long story of a cousin
who was a little crazy and who wanted absolute
rest.
'* She is harmless, excepting for her tongue,"
said Bulson. '' I would like to bring her here
for several months. If you will take her, I will
give you twenty-five dollars a week for your
trouble."
Sarah Higgins was a natural-bom miser,
and she readily consented to take the young
lady and watch her.
A DECOY LETTER, iSf
** I've taken care of them as is out of their
mind before/' she said. '' I know how to treat
'em."
Homer Btilson's next move was to write a
long letter to Gertrude. This letter was signed
with the name of a fashionable lady of society;
and ran as follows:
*' Dear Miss Horton : Perhaps you will be
surprised to receive this from me, a stranger,
but Mrs. Jackson has been speaking to me
about you, and the good lessons you are giving
her daughter Belle.
" My husband used to know your father welt
and the pair were warm friends^ and he joins me:
in making this offer to you.
'' I have three children, two girls and a boyr.
and I wish to obtain a music-teacher for them
who willnot only give lessons, but also take a
personal interest in the little ones. There is
nobody here at Lakewood who is suitable, and
I wish to know if we cannot arrange to have
you come down every Wednesday or Thursday?
I will pay your carfare and give you five dollars
per week for the lessons. Of course you can
also have lunch with me.
^' I think you will find this a good opening for
you, and perhaps we can get you more pupils
i8S NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
here. Please call upon me next Wednesday
afternoon, and we can then talk it over and com-
plete arrangements.
'* Yours truly,
" Mrs. James Broaderick/-
The letter came as a complete surprise to
Grertrude, and she scarcely knew what to make
of it.
Of course, as was natural, she felt much
pleased. A trip to Lakewood each week would
be delightful, and five dollars would add quite
something to her income.
The letter reached her on Tuesday morning,
so she had not long to consider it. That noon
she met Gladys and told her she was going to
Lakewood on business the following morning,
on the early train.
" Lakewood! " cried the flower girl.
" Yes. What makes you look so surprised,
Gladys? "
" I didn't think you'd leave New York."
" I shall only be gone for the day. There is
a lady there who wants me to give lessons to
her three children."
'' Ob! "
'* She will pay well, and the trip each week
will be quite an r)uting."
NELSON THE NEWSBOY. 189
" It will be cold traveling this winter, I'm
thinking."
*' Lakewood is a famous winter resort now.
The hotels are fine, so I've been told/'
'* Does the lady live at a hotel? "
'' No; she has a private cottage near by— so
her letter says."
*'' Well, I wish you luck," said Gladys, and so
the pair parted.
CHAPTER XXV.
MARK HORTON RELENTS.
After having mailed the letter to Gertrude
from Lakewood, Homer Bulson returned to
New York to complete his plans for the
future.
Evening found him at his uncle's mansion, as
smiling as ever, with nothing to betray the
wicked thoughts which were in his mind.
Mr. Mark Horton had changed greatly. He
was very feeble, his face was pinched, and kis
hair was fast growing white.
He had had two doctors waiting upon him,
but neither of them had been able to make him
well
His malady baffled all their science, and
despite their most carefully administered medi-
cines he grew steadily worse.
" I cannot understand the case,'' said one
physician to the other. " I was never so both-
ered in my life."
" It is certainly strange," answered the other.
" I shall make a report on the case before the
MARK HORTON RELENTS. 19'
fraternity. Ordinarily this man should grow
better quickly. He has no organic trouble
whatever."
As Mark Horton grew more feeble he longed
for Gertrude, remembering how she had min-
istered to him day and night.
'* How goes it, uncle? " asked Homer Bulson,
as he entered the room in which Mark Horton
sat in an easy-chair.
" I am very weak, Homer. I don't think I
shall ever be better. It is not because I fear
death, for I have little to live for. But Ger-
trude " He did not finish.
'* She treated you badly, uncle, after all you
had done for her."
'' I am afraid that I was the one that was to
blame."
'' You? You were too indulgent, that was
the trouble. She used to have her way in every-
thing."
" Have you heard anything of her yet.
Homer?"
" I think she went to Boston."
*' To Boston? Do you know if she had much
money? "
" I do not."
" Did she go alone? "
"I believe not. That actor got a position
192 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
with same traveling company, and I think she
went with the company, too."
"" It is too bad! I do not wish her to throw
her whole life away in this fashion. I wish she
were here. Won't you write to her? "
" I would if I had the address."
" But you can find out where the theatrical
company is, can't you? "
" The company went to pieces after visiting
Boston."
" Then she must be in want," groaned Mark
Horton. " If you cannot write to her, ycu
can at least advertise for her in the Boston
papers."
" I'll do that, if you wish it."
" I do. Homer. Tell her to return — that all
will be forgiven. I am fairly dying to see the
child again."
At this latter remark Homer Bulson drew
down the corners of his mouth. But the dim
light in the room hid his features from his
uncle's gaze.
At this moment the servant came to the
door.
" Tlie nurse is here," she said.
" Oh, all right! " exclaimed Bulson. " Send
her up."
'' The new nurse," said Mark Horton wearily,.
MARK H OR TON RELENTS. 193
" They simply bother me. Not one of them
does as well as did Gertrude."
Presently a middle-aged woman came in,
dressed in the outfit of a trained nurse. She
bowed to both men.
" You are the nurse Dr. Barcomb said he
would send? " said Homer Bulson, as he eyed
her sharply.
" Yes, sir."
'* What is your name, please? "
'' Mrs. Mary Conroy."
'' As the doctor sent you, I suppose it is all
right. You have had suiBcient experience? "
*' Plenty, sir; plenty! What is the matter with
the gentleman? "
'' Nervous debility."
'* That is too bad. I nursed one patient
with it."
" Did he recover? " questioned Mark Horton,
with a slight show of interest.
" He did, sir."
'' Then there may be hope for me, Mrs.
Conroy?"
*' Certainly there is hope," put in Homer
Bulson, with a hypocritical smile.
'' I'll do my best by you, sir," said Mrs. Con-
roy pleasantly.
'' Thank you."
194 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" You had better give my uncle a little wine/*
put in Bulson. " He needs it as a tonic."
" I do not care much for the wine," said Mark
Horton. " It does not seem to strengthen as it
should."
'' You would be weaker still if you didn't have
it, uncle."
The wine was brought and the retired mer-
chant took a small glass of it.
" Won't you drink with me, Homer? " asked
the invalid.
" Thank you, uncle, but I bought this espe-
cially for your own use, and you must have it
all"
A private conversation, lasting the best part
of an hour, followed, and then Bulson took his
leave.
When Bulson was gone Mrs. Conroy came in
again^ having been to the room assigned to her
by the housekeeper. She found the retired
merchant sitting with his chin in his hands, gaz-
ing moodily into the small grate fire which was
burning before him.
*' Is there anything I can do for your com-
fort, Mr. Horton?" she questioned sympatheti-
cally.
" I don't know," he returned, with a long
drawn sigh.
OUR HERO RAN TOWARD THE SHIP AND CLAMBERED ABOARD.
^^elson the Newsboy. — Page 201.
MARK HORTON RELENTS. 195
'' Perhaps I can read the paper to you? " che
suggested.
" No; I don't care to listen. I am tired."
" Would you like to retire? "
" Not yet. I cannot sleep/'
** Have you any medicine to put you to sleep,
sir? I must ask the doctor all particulars to-
morrow/'
'' He has given me some powders, but they do
not help me. At times my brain seems to be on
fire while my heart is icy cold,"
'' Let me shake your pillows for you." She
did so, and tried to make him otherwise com-
fortable.
'' Thank you, that is better," he remarked, as
he sank back and closed his eyes. ''It is hard
to be alone in the world."
" You are alone then."
'' Almost. Mr. Bulson, who was just here, is
my nephews My wife is dead, my son gone,
and my niece, who lived with me up to a few
months ago, has left me."
" It is too bad."
*' In one way it is my own fault. I drove my
niece from my house by my harshness. I sin-
cerely wish she was back."
"If it was your fault, as you say, why not
send for her? "
i9^ NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
*' I do not know where to send. Mr. Bulson
heard she went to Boston, and he is going to
advertise for her in some Boston papers. Poor
Gertrude!"
"That was her name?"
" Yes, Gertrude Horton. She was my
brother's child. I wanted her to marry my
nephew, and we had a bitter quarrel, and after
that there was a robbery, and — but I am satis-
fied now that Gertrude was innocent."
" Why, it seems to me I've heard something
of this before! " exclaimed the nurse. " The
story came to me through a friend who knows
an old woman who keeps a fruit-and-candy
stand on the Bowery. She said the girl was
driven away from home because her uncle
wanted her to marry a man she didn't want, and
because the uncle thought she had robbed his
safe — she and a boy who happened to call at the
house about that time."
'' It must be my Gertrude! '' said Mark Hor-
ton. *' And did she marry that actor fellow? "
'' He wasn't an actor. He's a newsdealer —
keeps a stand with a man, somewhei-e uptown;
and he's not old enough to marry."
" And the girl — what of her? "
" I heard she was supporting herself by
teaching the piano."
MARK NORTON RELENTS. 197
*' Is it possible! Do you know where she is? ''
" I don't knovv. But 1 think I can find out."
'' Then you must do so — to-morrow morn-
ing-," returned Mark Horton. " Gertrude may
still be in New York! Pray Heaven she v/ill
come back to me ! '*
CHAPTER XXVI.
NELSON ON SHIPBOARD.
Nelson was tending the stand on the morning
following the conversation just recorded, wheis
suddenly Paul Randall came running up, all out
of breath.
" I just saw Billy Damley," gasped the little
newsboy, when able to speak.
" Where did you see him? '' questioned
Nelson quickly.
'* Right straight across town, on the East
River. He was talking to the captain of a big
schooner named the Victory. I guess he was
wanting to ship in her."
" Tend the stand, Paul, and I'll go after him/'
said Nelson, and leaped outside. Soon he was
making his way toward the East River with all
possible speed.
When he came in sight of the docks half a
dozen vessels met his view, all with their bows
stuck far over into the street. Of a sailor stand-
ing near he asked which was the Victory,
198
NELSON ON SHIPBOARD. 199
** There she is," answered the tar, pointing
with his sunburnt hand. " Want to ship? "
" Not much! " laughed Nelson. " I want to
keep another fellow from shipping."
'' Then you'll have to hurry, for the Victory
is going to sail putty quick."
Nelson was soon picking his way across the
dock where the big schooner lay. Merchandise
was on every hand, and on turning a pile of this
he suddenly found himself face to face with Billy
Darnley and a burly man dressed in a sea suit.
'* So I've got you at last, have I? " cried Nel-
son, as he grasped Darnley by the arm.
'' Lemme go!" howled the bully, in great
alarm. '' Lemme go, Nelson! "
'' Not much! I'm going to hand you over to
the police," was Nelson's firm answer.
" I won't go! "
'* What's the trouble?'* demanded the nauti-
cal-looking m.an curiously.
'' He's a thief, that's the trouble," answered
our hero.
" It aint so. I never stole nuthin' in my Hfe,"
retorted Darnley sulkily. *' He's down on me,
and he's always tryin' to git me into trouble."
" I am telling the truth," said Nelson. " He's
got to go with me."
" I won't go! " roared the bully.
ftoo NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
For a moment the face of the seafaring man
was a study. His name was Grabon, and he was
part owner and captain of the Victory.
'* Darnley has signed articles with me, for
a trip to the West Indies and Brazil/' he
said.
'' Well, he can't go to the West Indies and
Brazil. He's going to the lock-up," returned
Nelson firmly.
" What is he guilty of? "
'' Of two robberies, so far as I know» He
once robbed me of some money, and only a
short while ago he robbed a news stand belong-
ing to me and another party."
'' Humph! What did he rob you of— -half a
dozen newspapers? " sneered Captain Grabon.
** If he did, you shan't keep him ashore on that
account. I am short of hands as it is, and must
sail by the tide to-day."
*' The trouble was all over ten newspapers,"
said Billy Darnley, quick to take up an idea that
had come to him. " He says I stole 'em, but I
didn't."
'* I won't listen to such nonsense." Captain
Grabon shoved Nelson back. '' Let my man
go."
*' I won't! " exclaimed our hero.
''You will!" put in Billy Darnley, and
NELSON ON SHIPBOARD, 201
wrenching himself free, he ran along the dock
toward the Victory and clambered aboard the
vessel.
** You're going to get yourself into a whole
lot of trouble! '* ejaculated Nelson to the cap-
tain.
" You clear out! "
'* Not much — not until I've caught that
thief."
As quickly as he could, our hero ran toward
the ship and clambered aboard after Darnley.
For the moment he had lost sight of the bully,
but now he saw him peering out from behind
the mainmast. At once a chase ensued.
In the meantime Captain Grabon came on
board, and going quickly to his mate, he or-
dered the lines flung off and the boat towed
out into the stream.
Around and around the deck flew Darnley,
with Nelson after him. Then the bully leaped
down the companion-way steps and into the
cabin. Undaunted, our hero followed, and pres-
ently the pair found themselves at the end of a
narrow passageway.
" Now I've got you! " panted Nelson. " You
shan't get away from me again."
" I won't go! " howled Billy Darnley desper-
ately. " I'm booked for this trip to sea.''
202 NELSON THE NEIVSBOY.
'* Well, a sea trip might do you some good*
Billy, but you are not going to take it just yet.
What did you do with the stuff you stole from
the stand? "
'* Didn't steal anything from the stand."
" Yes, you did — -you and Len Snocks. Van
Pelt and I know all about it. You got to give
up the goods, do you hear? "
" I aint got nuthin," growled Darnley.
He tried to break away again, and a hand-to=
hand tussle ensued. Presently both boys went
down and rolled over. As they did this Nel-
son's head struck an iron projection, and he was
partly stunned. Before he could recover the
bully was on his feet once more,
" Take that! " roared Darnley, and gave Nel-
son a cruel kick in the side. A kick in the head
followed, and with a groan our hero wa&
stretched out insensible.
By this time Captain Grabon was coming be-
low to see what was going on. He met Darn-
ley in the cabin.
'' Hold on! " he cried. *' Where are you go-
ing?"
" On deck," answered the bully, but did not
add that he wanted to go ashore.
'' Where's the other boy? "
" I knocked him down."
NELSON ON SHIPBOARD, so^
Damley was about to move on, but the cap-
tain would not allow it.
" You stay here for the present," he said. '' I
want to investigate this."
'* I'm going on deck,'' growled the bully.
'' What! " roared the captain. " Why. yow
monkey, don't you know you are now under
my orders? "
At this Darnley fell back, aghast.
" Under your orders? "
*' Certainly. x\nd you mind me, or I'll have
you rope-ended well."
Still holding fast to Da.rnley, he forced his
way to the narrow passage, and here saw Nelson
still lying motionless. He gave a low whistle.
" So this is your game," he said. " You must
have hit him hard."
'* I did," answered the bully, telling the false-
hood without an effort.
'' This may be serious. Help me carr}' him
into the cabin."
Alarmed, Darnley did as requested, and our
hero was placed on a lounge. There was a big-
lump on Nelson's forehead, and this the captain
made Darnley bathe with some water from an
ice-cooler in the corner.
It was nearly an hour before our hero came
to his senses, for the kicks from the bully had
204 NELSON THE NEIVSBOV.
been severe. He sat up, completely bewil-
dered.
''Where am I?" was the first question he
asked himself. Then he stared around him, to
behold a negro sitting near, reading a news-
paper.
''Hullo!" he said feebly. ''What place is
this? "
" Dis am de foxastle of de Victory^' was the
negro's reply.
" The fo'castle of the Victory? " repeated
Nelson, puzzled. " Where — who placed me
here? And who put this rag on my head? "
" Cap'n Grabon had you carried here. You
had a row wid one of de new hands. Don't you
remember dat? "
*' Certainly I remember it,'' answered Nelson,
and sat up. His head ached severely. *' Who
are you? "
" My name am Puff Brown. I's de cook ob
de boat."
" Oh! And where is Billy Darnley? "
" De feller you had de fight wid? "
" Yes."
" He's on deck, learnin' how to become a
Bailor."
" I want him arrested. He's a thief."
So speaking. Nelson staggered to his feet and
NELSON ON SHIPBOARD. 205
made for the doorway of the forecastle. When
he got on deck he stared around him in amaze-
ment. The dock had been left behind, and
around the ship were the blue w^aters of New
York Bay.
CHAPTER XXVII.
DOWN THE NEW JERSEY COAST,
" My gracious, we've sailed ! "
The words came with a groan from Nelson.
They were no longer at the dock in New
York, but on the sea. What was to be done
next?"
'' They are not going to carry me off! " he
told himself, and rushed aft.
'' Hullo! so you've got around again," sang
out Captain Grabon, on catching sight of
him.
'' Yes, I've got around, and I want to know
what this means."
*' What what means, lad? "
'' Why did you carry rne off? "
'* You carried yourself off. I told you we
were about to sail. You had no business to
come on board."
" I want to go ashore."
To this the captain made no answer,
" Where is Darnley? " went on our hero, and
206
DOWN THE NEW JERSEY COAST. 207
began to look around. Soon he espied the
bully helping some sailors trim one of the
sheets.
" Here, you stay where you are," cried Cap-
tain Grabon, as Nelson started forward, and he
caught our hero by the arm. '' We are on the
sea now, and I am master here, and I don't pro-
pose to allow you to interfere with any of my
men."
'* I told you I want to go ashore," insisted
Nelson.
*' Well, I'm not going to stop my vessel for
every monkey like you who gets himself in a
pickle. You can go ashore — ^when we make a
landing, not before."
" When will that be? "
*' Keep your eyes open, and you'll soon find
out."
The captain of the Victory turned away, leav-
ing Nelson much nonplused. To tell the truth,
our hero's head ached so hard he could think of
little else. He walked over to a pile of rape and
sat down.
'' I hope they land soon," he thought dis-
mally. " I don't want to get too far from home.
I wonder what George Van Pelt thinks of my
absence? "
An hour slipped by, and soon the Victory was
2o8 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
well on her way down the bay and heading out-
side of Sandy Hook. The air was cool and
bracing, and under any other conditions the
newsboy would have enjoyed the sail very
much.
But by noon he began to grow alarmed again.
Instead of putting in, the ship was standing still
further from shore.
'' See here, this doesn't look as if you were
going to land soon,'' he said to one of the sailors
who happened to pass him.
'' Land soon? " repeated the tar. '' That we
won't, lad.''
" Well, when will we land? "
" Not afore we get to the West Indies, I
reckon."
'' The West Indies! " And Nelson leaped up
as if shot. " You don't mean it."
"All right; ask the cap'n." And the sailor
sauntered off.
The captain had gone to the cabin, and
thither Nelson made his way without cere-
mony.
" You told me you were going to land
soon? " he cried.
" No, I didn't tell you anything of the
kind," answered Captain Graboh, with a leer.
*' I told you to keep your eyes open, and
nOlVN THE NEW JERSEY COAST. 209
you'd soon find out what we were going
to do."
'* I was told you wouldn't land until you
reached the West Indies."
" That's right too."
*' I don't intend to go with you to the West
Indies."
"All right, lad; as you please."
" You have no right to carry me off like
this."
" As I said before, you carried yourself off.
You came aboard my vessel without my per-
mission, and you engaged in a row with one of
my hands. Now you must suffer the conse-
quences."
*' Then you intend tO' take me to the West
Indies with you? "
'' I will, lad; but you must work your pas-
sage, as soon as you're over being knocked
out."
" It's a shame! " cried Nelson indignantly.
'' I shan't submit."
'' You can do nothing. You are on my ship,
and I am master here. If you have any row to
settle with Darnley, you can settle it when
we land. I've told him, and now I tell you
again, I won't have any more quarreling on
board."
2IO NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" You are not fair," pleaded our hero, half
desperately.
" I know what Fm doing. Now get back to
the fo'castle with you, and remember, to-
morrow you take your place with the crew.*'
And so speaking, Captain Grabon waved the lad
away.
Nelson returned to the deck with a heavy
heart. Had the shore been within a reasonable
distance he would have leaped overboard and
risked swimming, but land was far away, a mere
speck on the western horizon.
At noon Nelson messed with the crew, and
feeling hungry he ate his full share of the food,
which was not as bad as might be supposed.
He was not allowed to go near Damley, and
the bully was wise enough to keep his dis-
tance.
Slowly the afternoon wore along. The breeze
remained good, and having passed Sandy Hook,
the Victory stood straight down the Nev/ Jersey
coast.
'' Might as well learn the ropes, sooner or
later," said one of the sailors to Nelson, as he
lounged up.
" I don't want to learn," was the ready an-
swer. '' I wasn't cut out for a sailor. City life
is good enough for me."
DOWN THE NEW JERSEY COAST. 311
"And I can't stand shore life at all. Queer,
aint it? The minit I'm ashore I'm in trouble
and wanting to go to sea again."
" What kind of a man is this Captain Gra-
bon? "
'' Hard to please, lad. You'll have your
hands full with him. Better learn your duty at
once, and save trouble."
"I shall not do a hand's turn on this
ship."
" Didn't you sign articles with him? "
'' I did not. But that other young fellow
did."
*' But how came you here? "
" I followed that other fellow on board. He's
a thief, and I was after him."
" Did he rob you? "
'* He did. I wanted to hand him over to the
police when we were on the dock, but Captain
Grabon interfered. I suppose he didn't want to
lose the hand."
" That's the truth — we are short, as it is.
Well, now you are on board, what do you in-
tend to do? "
*' I don't know." Nelson looked the sailor
straight in the eyes. '' Can I trust you? "
'' You can, my lad. If it's as you say, I'm
sorry for you."
212 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" If you'll help me to escape Fil give you all
the money I have in my pockets — two dollars
and a half."
'' How can I help you? "
'* Didn't I see you steering a short time
ago?"
'^ You did."
''When will you steer again?"
" In a couple of hours."
'' Then, if you get the chance, steer close to
some other boat, will you? I mean some small
craft that belongs along this shore."
" And if I do, vvhat then? "
'' I'll jump overboard and trust to luck to
have the other boat pick me up," explained
Nelson.
The two talked the plan over, and at last the
sailor agreed for the two dollars to do as our
hero desired — providing the opportunity arose.
He insisted upon Nelson keeping the remaining
fifty cents.
'' I won't clean you out, lad," he said. " And
I sincerely trust all goes well with' you." And
they shook hands.
The sailor took his next trick at the wheel
at six o'clock, and half an hour later a sloop
hove in sight, far to the southwestward. He
nodded to Nelson, but said nothing. Most of
DOWxV THE NEW JERSEY COAST, 213
the sailors were below, and Captain Grabon had
also disappeared.
*' Go on to supper," said the mate of the
vessel to our hero, and turned away to inspect
something forward.
" What shall I do? " w^hispered Nelson to the
man at the wheel.
'* Get your grub, lad," replied the sailor.
*' When we're close to that craft I'll begin to
whistle ' Annie Laurie.' "
''All right; I'll listen with all ears," re-
sponded our hero.
He was soon at the mess, and eating as
though nothing out of the ordinary w^as on his
mind. But his ears w-ere on the alert, and no
sooner had the first bars of the sailor's whistle
risen on the evening air than he pushed back
his seat.
'' I've had all I want," he muttered, for the
other sailors' benefit.
" Getting seasick, I reckon," said an old tar,
and laughed. Billy Darnley was already sick,
and lay on a bunk, as white as a sheet and
groaning dismally.
Soon Nelson had picked his way to the stern,
being careful to keep out of sight of the mate.
The Victory was now close to the sloop, and
presently glided by the smaller craft
214 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
"Thanks! Good-by!" called Nelson, to the
man at the wheel, and in another moment he
had dropped into the ocean and was swimming
toward the sloop with all the strength at his
command.
CHAPTER XXVIII,
GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVENTURE
It was with a light heart that Gertrude hur-
ried to the ferry, crossed to the New Jersey side,
and took the express train for Lakewood. She
did not dream of the trick that had been prac-
ticed upon her, and anticipated only a good en-
gagement and a delightful ride on the cars.
For a long while she sat by the window,
drinking in the swiftly moving panorama as the
train flew by station after station, and farms,
and woods. But few stops were made, and she
had the entire seat to herself. She would have
been very much surprised had she known that
Homer Bulson was watching her, yet such was
the case.
The man had seen her get on board, and now
occupied a seat in the smoker. His face wore
a smile of triumph, for he felt that the girl was
already in his power.
It was just noon when the train pulled into
the elegant little station at Lakewood, and
825.
2l6 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Gertrude alighted. Hotel stages were every-
where, and so were cabs and cabmen.
At last she found a newsboy who directed her
where to go. She thought he looked at her
rather queerly when he found out where the
place was, but he said nothing, and she asked
no further questions. Soon she was hurrying
down the country road leading toward Sarah
Higgins' place.
As she moved along she had to confess to
herself that the surroundings were hardly what
she had anticipated. The road was little more
than a bypath, and was by no means well kept.
'' Perhaps this is a short cut to something
better," she thought. " That newsboy didn't
want me to walk any further than necessary.
But I must say I see no mansions anywhere
around — only the plainest kind of farmhouses."
At last she reached the spot the boy had men-
tioned. In a clump of pines was a dilapidated
cottage, half stone and half wood, with a door-
yard in front choked with weeds.
" There surely is some mistake," said the girl
to herself. '' This can't be the house. I'll go
in and find out where Mrs. Broaderick's home
really is."
She passed through the open gateway and
made her way up the rough garden path. The
GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVEXTURE. llj
door was closed to the cottage, and so were all
the windows. She knocked loudly.
There was a wait of a minute, and she
knocked again. At length the door was opened
cautiously and Sarah Higgins, dressed in a
dirty wrapper and vvith her hair flying in all di-
rections, showed herself.
" Excuse me, but can you tell me where Mrs.
Broaderick's house is? " asked Gertrude po-
litely.
" What's that? " asked Sarah Higgins, in a
high-pitched voice, and placed one hand behind
her ear.
" I wish to find Mrs. Broaderick's house.
Will you tell me where it is? " went on the girl,
in a louder key.
'' Don't know Mrs. Broaderick," repHed
Sarah Higgins. Then she gave Gertrude a
searching look. " Come in and rest, won't you?
You look tired out."
" Thank you; Til rest a moment," answered
Gertrude. She was somewhat dismayed by the
turn affairs had taken. " And do you know-
most of the folks around here?" she con-
tinued.
The question had to be repeated twice before
the half-deaf woman understood.
'' Of course I do, miss,'' she answered.
2l8 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Haven't I lived here going on forty-five years
— since I was a little girl? "
" Then you must know Mrs. Broaderick— or
perhaps she is a newcomer."
" Never heard the name before. But, tell me,
is your name Gertrude? "
'' It is! " cried the girl in wonder. " How did
you guess it? "
" I've been expecting you, my dear. It's all
right, make yourself at home," went on Sarah
Higgins soothingly. ^' Let me take your hat,
that's a good young lady." And she started to
take Gertrude's hat from her head.
She had been told that the girl would ar-
rive that noon and would most likely inquire
for an imaginary person named Broaderick,
Homer Bulson had certainly laid his plans well.
"Don't! leave my hat be!" cried Gertrude,
and shrank back in alarm. " You seem to know
my first name, madam, but I do not know
you."
" Never mind; make yourself at home," said
Sarah Higgins soothingly.
'' But I do not wish to remain here. I want
to find the lady I have come to Lakewood to
see," insisted poor Gertrude. Then she started
for the door — to find herself confronted by
Homer Bulson.
GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVENTURE. 219
" You! " she gasped, and sank back on a
chair.
" You didn't expect to see me, did you? " he
asked sarcastically, as he came in and shut the
(ioor.
*'I-— I did not," she faltered. "What
brought you here? "
*' Well, if you must know, I was curious to
learn where you were going, Gertrude," he said
in a low voice, that Sarah Higgins might not
understand. " I followed you from the ferry in
New York."
'' You were on the express train? "
" I was."
" You had no right to follow me."
** But what are you doing here? " he went on,
bound to '' mix up " matters both for her and
lor Sarah Higgins, so that the latter might think
Gertrude quite out of her mind.
" I came to Lakewood on business." Ger-
trude arose. " Let me pass."
'' Don't be in such a hurry, Gertrude; I wish
to talk to you."
'* But I do not wish to speak to you, Mr.
Bulson."
'* Gertrude, you are cruel — why not listen? "
'' Because I do not wish to hear what you
want to say."
9»0 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" Rut you don't know what I have to say/'
he persisted.
" I know all I wish to know. Now let nie
pass."
She tried to make her way to the door, but he
quickly caught her by the arm.
*' You shall not go," he said.
At this she let out a scream, but he only
smiled, while Sarah Higgins looked on curi-
ously.
" Screaming will do you no good, Gertrude.
This house is quarter of a mile from any other,
and the road is but little used."
''You are cruel — let me go!" said she, and
burst into tears.
'' You shall never leave until you listen to
me," he said. And then he tried his best to
reason with her for fully an hour, but she would
not hearken. At last she grew as pale as a
sheet.
" This whole thing is a trick — the letter and
all! *' she gasped, and fell in a swoon. He
caught her and carried her to ar^ upper chamber
of the cottage. Here he placed her on a couch,
and then went below again, locking the door
after him.
" It's a way she has at times," he explained
to Sarah Higgins. " She is not always so bad.
GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVENTURE, 22r
She will be quite herself in a few days, and then
she will remember nothing of this."
*' Poor dear! " was the answer. " It's dread-
ful to be so out of one's mind."
*' You must take care that she does not
escape."
'' I will, sir. But about that money? " And
the woman's eyes gleamed greedily.
'' There is ten dollars on account." And
Homer Bulson handed over the amount,
•' Thank you, sir. She shall have the best of
care — and she won't get away, never fear,"
" I was going to remain over in Lakewood
to-night, but I find I must return to New
York," went on Bulson. *' I'll be back again
some time to-morrow or the day after. In the
meantime do not let her get out of the room."
'' I will do as you say, sir," answered Sarah
Higgins, and then Gertrude's cousin took his
departure.
It did not take the girl long to come out of
her swoon, and she at once ran to the door.
Finding it locked she went to the window, de-
termined to leap to the ground, if she could do
nothing better. But, alas! Homer Bulson had
made his calculations only too well. The win-
dow was slatted over on the outside, making
the apartment virtually a prison cell.
22 2 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
She saw that the slats had been put on re-
cently, and this made her more sure than ever
that the whole thing was a plot. The letter had
been a decoy, and had been used solely to get
her in his power.
*' What does he expect to do? " she asked
herself. " I have given him every claim on
Uncle Mark's fortune; what more can he wish?
Is he afraid I may go back? Perhaps he wants
to take my life, so as to be certain I will not
cross his path again.'' And she shivered.
Listening, she heard Homer Bulson bid
Sarah Higgins good-by and leave the cottage.
At this she breathed a sigh of relief. She
knocked steadily on the door, and presently the
woman came up.
"" What do you want? " she asked through the
keyhole.
" Are you going to keep me a prisoner
here? "
" Only for a little while, my dear/'
" Where has Mr. Bulson gone? "
" To New York, I believe."
"When will he be back?"
" To-morrow, or the day after."
" You expect to keep me here all night? "
cried Gertrude, in astonishment.
" Now, don't grow excited," pleaded Sarah
GERTRUDE HAS AN ADVENTURE. 223
Higgins. '' Yes, you'll have to stay here until
to-morrow, and perhaps some time longer.
Now you had better lie down and rest yourself."
And then the woman tramped off, leaving
Gertrude filled with wonder and dismay.
CHAPTER XXIX.
A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD.
When Nelson struck the water he was all of
fifty feet away from the sloop. Down he went
over his head, but quickly reappeared and
struck out boldly.
'' Hullo, somebody's overboard from the
ship! " cried a young man, who sat at the bow
of the sloop. " Port your helm, Bob, or you'll
run into him! "
The helm was thrown over, and the sloop
veered around. Then Nelson set up a shout.
''Help! Pick me up! " he cried. "Onboard
the sloop! Help!"
"We'll pick you up, don't fear!" cried the
young fellow at the bow% and the sloop came
around and the mainsail was lowered. The two
young men on the craft were skillful sailors, and
soon came within reach of Nelson. One held
out a boathook, and presently cur hero was
haw led on board.
'* It's a lucky thing we were near by, or you
A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD. 225
might have been drowned/' said the young man
called Bob. " Isn't that so, Clarence? "
■' That's true," answered Clarence Bell. " I
see your ship isn't stopping for you."
" She isn't my ship, and I don't want her to
stop," answered Nelson, shaking the water
from him.
" Oh! Tlien you jumped overboard on pur-
pose."
'' I did, and I am thankful you picked me up.
The captain who runs that boat was going to
carry me to the West Indies against my will."
"Great Caesar! Bob, do you hear that?"
" I do," returned Bob Chalmer. *' Was it a
case of kidnaping? "
*' Hardly that," replied Nelson. *' I'll tell you
the whole story, if you'd Hke to hear it. Only
I want to be sure that that boat doesn't put back
after me," he continued.
He watched the Victory for fully five minutes^
but nothing was done tow^ard turning back, and
at last he gave a great sigh of relief.
" I guess I'm safe," he remarked.
" You are, lad. But you had better take off
those wet clothes, or you'll take cold. You'll
find a dry suit in the cuddy."
This was sensible advice, and Nelson followed
it. As soon as he had donned the other suit he
926 ' NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
sat down and told how he had chased Billy
Darnley on board the Victory^ and of what had
followed.
"Humph! that captain is pretty hard-
hearted/' remarked Clarence Bell.
" He ought to be arrested," put in Bob Chal-
mer. '' You were lucky to get away. I guess
that thief is out of your reach now."
" Well, anyway, I left him as sick as he could
be," said Nelson, and could not help but laugh
over Darnley's woe-begone appearance. '' He'll
have enough of the sea by the time he gets
back."
From the young men he learned that they
had been out for two days on a fishing trip.
They had had good luck, as the mess on board
proved, and they were now sailing for Manas-
quan Inlet, where they were boarding for a few
weeks.
'' We belong in New York," said Bob Chal-
mer later. " And I guess we can see you
through all right."
" I'll be much obliged, if you would," said
Nelson. " I'll pay you back as soon as I reach
the city." And then he told of the news stand,
and the business he and Van Pelt were doing.
The breeze was as brisk as ever, and it veered
around, so that the sloop made the Inlet with-
A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD. 227
out difficulty. They ran up the river to a small
collection of cottages and boathouses known as
Reefer's. Here they tied up, and Nelson went
ashore, wearing the old fishing suit he had bor-
rowed.
" You can't get home to-night, so you shall
stay with us," said Bob Ghalmer, and procured
a room at one of the cottages for Nelson.
Tired out, our hero slept well. But he arose
early, and by that time his own clothes were
dry, and he put them on.
*' I've got a railroad ticket in my pocket good
from Lakewood to New York," said Chalmer,
while they were having breakfast " It's a lim-
ited ticket and runs out to-morrow. Why can't
you use that? You can have it at half price."
" How far is Lakewood from here? "
" Not over six or seven miles. The stage will
take you over for fifteen cents."
'' That will suit me," answered our hero.
^ I've got half a dollar left."
" Oh, I'll lend you some money, Nelson! "
" No; I won't need it."
The matter was talked over, and our hero
took the ticket. Quarter of an hour later he
was on the stage, bound for Lakewood.
It was a clear day, and the ride among the
smooth roads was thoroughly enjoyable. Yet
2a8 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Nelson thought but little of the journey. His
mind was filled with his personal affairs. He
wondered what Van Pelt thought of his con-
tinued disappearance.
" He'll think I've captured Darnley sure," he
reasoned. '' Well, what's happened can't be
helped, and I'm lucky to escape, I suppose."
On and on went the stage, making good
time, for the team was fresh.
When about two miles from Lakewood they
reached a bend, where the road was being re-
paired.
A steam roller was at work, and at this one
of the horses grew frightened and started to run
away. His mate went with him, and in a twin-
kle the stage was bumping along at a high rate
of speed.
"Stop! stop!" shrieked a lady sitting near
Nelson. " Stop, or we'll all be killed! "
''Whoa! whoa!" roared the stage-driver,
and tried to pull the horses in. But his lines
were old, and suddenly one snapped, and then
the horses went along faster than ever.
Not far down the road were several heaps of
stone, to be used in repairing the highway, and
the team headed directly for the first of these
heaps. The driver tried to sheer them around,
but with one line gone was nearly helpless, and
A SURPRISE ON THE ROAD. 229
in a second more the stage struck the pile and
went over with a crash. Then the horses came
to a halt.
No one was seriously injured by the mishap,
although the lady who had cried out was much
shaken up. Soon all gathered around, to learn
the extent of the damage to the stage.
It was found that one of the front wheels was
knocked to pieces. The driver was much down-
cast, and knew not what to do.
'* ril have to leave the turnout here and go
back to Berry's shop for a new wheel, I sup-
pose/' he said. He could not state how soon
he would return, or how soon the stage would
be ready to start forward once more.
'' How far is it to the Lakewood railroad sta-
tion from here? " questioned Nelson.
" Not over a mile and a half."
'' Then , I'll walk it, if you'll show me the
shortest road."
" The shortest road is that over yonder," an-
swered the stage-driver. " It aint no good for
driving, but it's plenty good enough for hoof-
ing it."
" Thanks," said Nelson, and without waiting
he started off to walk the remainder of the
journey.
He had still an hour and a half before the
230 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
train would be due at Lakewood, so he took his
time and often stopped to look at the dense
woods and the beautiful green fields.
" What a difference between this and New-
York streets! '' he said to himself. ''And how
quiet it is! I don't beheve I could sleep here at
night, it would be so still! "
At length he came within sight of an old cot-
tage, where a woman was hanging up a small
wash on a line. Feeling thirsty, he resolved to
go into the yard and ask her for a drink of
water.
But no sooner had he set foot in the weedy
garden than the woman came running toward
him, waving him away.
" Don't want to buy anything! " she cried
shrilly. " Don^t want to buy! Go away! "
" I haven't anything to sell," answered Nel-
son, with a smile. '' I was going to ask for a
drink of water."
'' Oh ! " The woman eyed him suspiciously.
" Water, did you say? "
"Yes; I'd like a drink."
" The well is mighty poor here. You can
get a drink up to the next house."
'' Very well," returned Nelson, and started
to leave the garden. As he did so he heard a
sudden crash of glass and, looking up, saw some
A SURPRISE ON- THE ROAD. 131
panes from a window in an uoper room of the
cottag-e fall to the ground.
" Nelson! Nelson! Help me! " came the un-
expected cry.
'* My gracious!" burst out our hero, in be-
wilderment. " Gertrude! What does this
mean? "
'' I am held a prisoner," answered Gertrude.
'* Save me!"
" A prisoner? "
" Yes, Nelson. You will help me, won't
you? "
" To be sure Fll help you. But — but who
did this? "
" My cousin, Mr. Bulson."
'' The scoundrel! Is he here now? "
" I think not. But he may come back at any
moment."
" Go away from here! " shrieked Sarah Hig-
gins, in alarm. ''Go away! That girl is
crazy! "
" I guess you are crazy! " returned Nelson
hotly. " Stand aside and let me get into the
house."
''No, no! You must go away!" went on
Sarah Higgins.
Then of a sudden she leaped back and ran for
the cottage with might and main. Reaching it,
232 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
she closed the door and locked it. Then she
appeared at a near-by window, armed with a
rolling-pin.
"Don't you dast come in!" she shrieked.
'* If you do, you'll have to take the conse-
quences!" And she flourished the rolling-pin
defiantly.
CHAPTER XXX.
COMPARING NOTES.
It must be confessed that for the moment
Nelson was completely nonplused. He wished
to get into the cottage, and at once, but the
woman looked as if she meant what she said,
and he had no desire to have his skull cracked
open by the rolling-pin.
"See here, madam; you are making a great
mistake," he said as calmly as he could.
'' Eh? " And Sarah Higgins put her hand
up to her ear.
'' I say you are making a great mistake/'
bawled Nelson. ** That lady is not crazy."
'' I say she is."
^' Who told you she was crazy — Mr. Bui-
son? "
At this the woman looked astonished.
*' Do you know that gentleman? "
" I know that man, yes. He is no gentleman.
He robbed that lady of her property."
^* How do you know? "
** I know — and that's enough. If you don't
•33
234 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
let me in at once, I'll have the law on you, aiid
you'll go to prison for ten or twenty years,"
went on Nelson, bound to put his argument as
strongly as possible.
At this Sarah Higgins grew pale, and the
hand with the rolling-pin dropped at her side.
" Sure you aint making a mistake, boy? "
" No; I know exactly what I am talking
about. That young lady is not crazy, and
neither you nor Bulson have any right to keep
her a prisoner.*'
" He said she was crazy; that she needed rest
and quiet. That's why he brought her here."
" He is a villain, and if you know when you
are well off, you'll have nothing to do with him.
Now let me in, before I hammer down the door
and turn you over to the police."
" Oh, my! don't hammer down the door, and
don't call the police! " shrieked Sarah Higgins,
'' I meant to do no wrong, I can assure you."
" Then open the door."
" You will not — not touch me if I do? " she
asked timidly.
'' Not if you behave yourself. If Bulson de-
ceived you, that's in your favor. But you had
better not help him further."
With trembling hand Sarah Higgins un-
bolted the door and opened it. At once Nelson
COMPARING NOTES. 235
marched in, and, espying the stairs, mounted to
the upper floor of the cottage.
" Nelson, is that you?"
" Yes."
"Oh, how thankful I am!"
" Where's the key to this door? " demanded
our hero of the woman, who had followed him.
" There." And she pointed to a near-by nail.
Soon he had the door unlocked, and at once
Gertrude rushed out to meet him. The tears of
joy stood in her eyes.
" How did you find the way so sor»n? " she
asked.
"The way? What do you mean? ''
" Why, the way from the railroad station at
Lakewood. Did they know I came here? "
" I haven't been to Lakewood," answered
Nelson. " I came here by pure accident."
And then in a few words he told his story.
When he had finished Gertrude told of the
decoy letter and of what had followed. Our
hero was deeply interested and very angry that
Homer Bulson had played such a trick.
" He ought to be put behind the bars for it,"
he said. " Certainly I am going to tell the po-
lice about it. He hasn't any right to follow you
up in this fashion, even if he is your cousin."
" He is growing more bold every day," an-
«36 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
swered Gertrude. '' I shall never feel safe so
long as he is near me."
Sarah Higgins now calmed down, and tried
to clear herself by saying she had been imposed
upon. She readily consented to tell all she
knew, if called upon to do so in a court of law,
providing she herself was not prosecuted.
*' That gives us one witness against your
cousin," said Nelson. '* If we can get another,
we'll put him behind the bars."
*' I don't want him locked up, if only he will
leave me alone," returned Gertrude.
Nelson's visit to the cottage had taken time,
and when Gertrude was ready to leave it was
found to be too late to take the train our hero
had started to catch.
'' Never mind, we can take the afternoon
train," said the boy. " But we will have to get
dinner somewhere." He turned to Sarah Hig-
gins. '' I think you ought to furnish that."
At this the miserly woman winced.
'' Well, if you really think so " she began.
" I don't wish to stay here," cried Gertrude,
" Mr. Bulson may be back at any moment."
" Well, if he comes, I guess he'll get the worst
of it," answered Nelson.
But Gertrude would not stay, and a few min-
utes later they quitted the cottage.
COMPARING NOTES. 237
The girl still had her pocketbook, with her
money and the railroad ticket, so she would
have no trouble in getting back to the metrop-
olis. She also had over a dollar in addition, and
she insisted upon having Nelson dine with her
at a modest-looking restaurant, where the rates
were not high.
'' Your uncle ought to be told of your
cousin's doings," said our hero, when they were
waiting for the train. '' I don't believe he would
stand for it, no matter if he is displeased with
you."
" I will not take the story to him," answered
Gertrude with spirit. '' He cast me out, and I
shall not go near him until he asks me to
come."
" Well, I guess I'd feel that way," answered
Nelson, after a thoughtful pause. " I can't un-
derstand how he can treat his own blood as he
is treating you."
" Uncle Mark was not always this way^
Nelson. In years gone by he was very kind and
considerate."
*' But what made the change? "
'' His sickness. Ever since he has been con-
fined to the house he has been nervous, peevish^
and altogether a different person. I really can't
understand it."
23S NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" It's queer. Do you suppose having Bulson
around makes any difference? "
'' How could it affect his sickness? "
" Perhaps he gives your uncle something that
affects his mind."
*' Oh, Nelson! could anybody be so dreadfully
cruel?"
'' Some folks are as mean as dirt. I want to
tell you something that I never spoke of before,
because I thought it wouldn't be right to mis-
judge Bulson when I didn't know him as well as
I know him now. Do you remember I once
told you how he tried to cheat George Van Pelt
out of the sale of some books? "
*' Yes, I remember. You said Van Pelt made
him take the books."
'' So he did. And do you know what the
books were? "
'* I can't imagine."
" They were works on poisons, written in
French."
'' Poisons! " Gertrude grew pale. " Oh,
Nelson! and you think " She could not
go on.
'* I don't know what to think, but if I were
you I'd have the doctors examine everything
that Mr. Plorton takes, especially the stuff
Homer Bulson gives him."
COMPARING NOTES. 239
*' I will do that. Mr, Bulson can no longer
be trusted. He is a high liver, and may be very
anxious to get hold of Uncle Mark's fortune in
the near future."
" He said he wanted the books because he
was going to become a doctor and make poisons
a specialty. That is what he told Van Pelt."
"A doctor! I don't believe he has brains
enough to become a doctor — or if he has, he is
too lazy to apply himself. Why, when he was
a boy he was turned out of school because he
wouldn't study."
"' Well, if he would lie and use you as he has,
he would do worse, Gertrude. For your uncle's
sake he ought to be watched."
'' He shall be watched," said Gertrude de-
cidedly. " No matter how badly Uncle Mark
has treated me, I will see to it that Homer Bul-
son no longer plays him foul"
CHAPTER XXXI.
BULSON GROWS DESPERATE.
Sam Pepper was taking it easy at the rear
of his resort on the evening of the day when
Gertrude went to Lakewood, when the door
opened and a messenger boy came in.
" Is Sam Pepper here? " asked the boy, ap-
proaching Bolton.
" That's my handle, sonny. What do you
want? "
" Here's a message. I was to wait for an
answer."
Pepper took the message and read it with in-
terest.
" Friend Pepper : Meet me to-night between
eleven and twelve o'clock at my apartments.
Something important. Bring those old papers
with you. I have the cash.
" H. B."
*' Humph! so Bulson wants to close that deal
to-night," muttered Sam Pepper, as he tore the
message to shreds. " He's in a tremendous
•4»
BULSON GJiOWS DESPERATE. 241
hurry, all at once. I wonder what's new in the
wind? Well, I'm low on cash, and I might as
well take him up now as later on."
•' Where's the answer? " asked the messenger
boy.
" Here you are," returned Pepper, and scrib-
bled a reply on a slip of paper. Then the mes-
senger received his pay and made off.
Promptly on time that night Sam Pepper
went up Fifth Avenue. Just as he reached
Homer Bulson's home the young man came
down the steps.
'* Come with me — the house is full of com-
pany," he said. '* I want to talk to you where
we will be free from interruption."
'' I'm agreeable," answered Pepper.
The pair w^alked rapidly down a side street.
Homer Bulson seemed ill at ease, and Pepper
noticed it.
*' You are not yourself to-night," he said.
** I've got lots to think about," growled
Bulson.
*' Still mad because the girl won't have you, I
suppose."
*' No, I've given her up. I don't want a wife
that won't love me."
'* That's where you are sensible."
" Gertrude can go her way and I'll go mine/'
a4« NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
'' Well, you'll have the softest snap of it,"
laughed Pepper. '' She'll get nothing but hard
knocks."
" That's her own fault/'
" She don't make more than half a living,
teaching the piano."
" Oh, if she gets too hard up, I'll send her
some money," responded Bulson, trying to af-
fect a careless manner.
" By your talk you must be pretty well fixed."
" I struck a little money yesterday, Pepper —
that's why I sent to you. I want to go away
to-morrow, and I wanted to clear up that- — er —
that little affair of the past before I left."
"What do you want?"
" I want all those papers you once showed
me, and if you have that will 1 want that,
too."
"You don't want much." And Sam Pepper
laughed suggestively.
" Those papers will never do you any good."
" They might."
" I don't see how? "
" The boy might pay more for them than
you'll pay."
" He? If he knew the truth, he'd have you
arrested on the spot."
" Don't be so sure of that, Bulson. I know
BULSON GROWS DESPERATE. 243
the lad better than you do. He has a tender
heart — far more tender than you have."
" Well, if it's a question of price, how much
do you want? " demanded Homer Bulson
sourly.
'' I want five thousand dollars cash."
''Five thousand! Pepper, have you gone
crazy? "
" No; I'm as sane as you are."
" You ask a fortune."
'' If that's a fortune, what's the amount you
expect to gain? Old Horton is worth over a
hundred thousand, if he's worth a cent."
" But I'm not sure of this fortune yet. He's
a queer old fellow. He might cut me off at the
last minute."
'' Not if you had that will. You could date
that to suit yourself, and you'd push your game
through somehow."
'' I can give you two thousand dollars — not a
dollar more."
" It's five thousand or nothing," responded
Sam Pepper doggedly.
'' Will you accept my check? "
"No; I want the cash."
''That means you won't trust me!" cried
Bulson, in a rage.
" Business is business."
244 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Homer Bulson breathed hard. The pair were
on a side street, close to where a new building
was being put up. The young man paused.
'* You're a hard-hearted fellow, Pepper," he
said. '' You take the wind out of my sails.
I've got to have a drink on that. Come, though.
I don't bear a grudge. Drink with me."
As he spoke he pulled a flask from his pocket
and passed it over.
'' I'll drink with you on one condition," an-
sw^ered Pepper. '' And that is that I get my
price."
" All right; it's high, but you shall have it."
Without further ado Sam Pepper opened the
flask and took a deep draught of the liquor in-
side.
''Phew! but that's pretty hot!" he mur-
mured, as he smacked his lips. *' Where did
you get it? "
'' At the club — the highest-priced stuff we
have," answered Bulson. Then he placed the
flask to his own lips and pretended to swallow a
like portion to that taken by his companion,
but touched scarcely a drop.
'* It's vile — I sell better than that for ten
cents," continued Pepper.
" Let us sit down and get to business," went
on Bulson, leading the way into the unfinished
BULSON GROWS DESPERATE, 245
building. " I want to make sure that you have
everything I want. I am not going to pay five
thousand dollars for a bUnd horse."
*' I'm square," muttered Sam Pepper. '' When
I make a deal I carry it out to the letter."
'' You have everything that proves the boy's
identity? "
'' Ever>^thing."
'' Then sit down, and I'll count out the
money."
'' It's — rather — dark — in — here," mumbled
Sam Pepper, as he began to stagger.
'' Oh, no! it must be your eyesight."
" Hang — me — if I — can — see — at — all," went
on Pepper, speaking in a lower and lower tone.
" I— that is — Bulson, you — you have drugged
me, you — you villain ! " And then he pitched
forward and lay in a heap where he had
fallen.
Homer Bulson surveyed his victim with gloat-
ing eyes. '' He never sold better knock-out
drops to any crook he served," he muttered.
" Now I shall see what he has got in his
pockets."
Bending over his victim, he began to search
Sam Pepper's pockets. Soon he came across a
thick envelope filled with letters and papers. He
glanced over several of the sheets.
34^ UELSON THE NEWSBOY.
'' All here," he murmured. '' This is a lucky
strike. Now Sam Pepper can whistle for his
money."
He placed the things he had taken in his own
pocket and hurried to the street.
Nobody had noticed what was going on, and
he breathed a long sigh of relief.
" He won't dare to give me away," he said to
himself. " If he does he'll go to prison for
stealing the boy in the first place. And hell
never be able to prove that I drugged him^
because nobody saw the act. Yes, I am
safe."
It did not take Homer Bulson long to reach
his bachelor apartments, and once in his rooms
he locked the door carefully.
Then, turning up a gas lamp, he sat down near
it, to look over the papers he had taken from the
insensible Pepper.
" I'll destroy the letters," he said. He smiled
as he read one. " So Uncle Mark offered five
thousand for the return of little David, eh?
Well, it's lucky for me that Sam Pepper, alias
Pepperill Sampson, didn't take him up. I
reckon Pepper was too cut up over his dis-
charge, for it kept Him from getting another fat
job.'' He took up the will. '' Just what I want
Now, if Uncle Mark makes another will, I can
BULSON GROWS DESPERATE. 247
always crop up with this one, and make a little
trouble for somebody."
He lit the letters one by one, and watched
them turn slowly to ashes. Then he placed the
other papers in the bottom of his trunk, among'
his books on poisons, and went to bed.
CHAPTER XXXII.
SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN.
Mrs. Kennedy was busy at her stand, piling
tip some fruit, when a woman who was a
stranger to her approached.
" Is this Mary Kennedy? " the newcomer
asked.
" That's me name," answered the old woman.
'' But I don't know you, ma'am."
" My name is Mrs. Conroy. I'm a nurse.
Mrs. Warden sent me to you."
" Yes, I know Mrs. Wardell. But what is it
you want, ma'am? I don't need a nurse now,
though I did some time ago, goodness knows."
" I am not looking for a position," smiled
Mrs. Conroy. " I am looking for a young lady
named Gertrude Horton."
"Gertrude Horton! Who sint you?" ques-
tioned Mrs. Kennedy suspiciously.
" Her uncle, Mark Horton, sent me."
At this Mrs. Kennedy was more interesteit
than ever.
94t
SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN. 249
'' An' what does he want of the darling, Mrs.
Conroy ? "
" He wants her to return home."
'* Heaven be praised fer that! "
'' Where can I find Miss Horton ? "
Again Mrs. Kennedy grew suspicious.
" I can tell you that quick enough, ma'am—
but I must know if it's all right, first."
" Why, what do you mean? "
" There's a villain of a cousin, Homer Bulson,
who's been tryin' to git Miss Gertrude in his
clutches. You're not doing this work for
him? "
" No, indeed, Mrs. Kennedy. Mr. Horton
sent me himself. He w^ants Miss Gertrude to
come straight home. He wants her to forgive
him for his harshness."
*' To hear that now!" ejaculated Mrs. Ken-
nedy joyfully. " What a change must have
come over him! "
" I do not know how he was before, but he
is now very anxious for her to return. He
thinks he might get better if she were with him."
" What a pity Gertrude can't go to him this
minit! " said Mrs. Kennedy.
" Will you tell me where I can find her? "
" She is not in New York, Mrs. Conroy. She
went to Lake wood early this morning,"
25° NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
"To Stay?"
" Oh, no! She'll be back to-ni^ht/'
''Will you see her then?"
"To be sure — she lives with me.''
"Oh!"
" ril send her home the minit I see her," wart
on Mrs. Kennedy.
" Then I'll return and tell him that," said the
nurse. " Be sure and insist upon her coming.
He is so anxious he is almost crazy over it."
" Sure and he ought to be — drivin' her away
in that fashion."
" I guess it was his sickness did it, Mrs. Ken-
nedy. The man is not himself; anybody can
see that. The case puzzles the doctors very
much."
Mrs. Conroy had some necessary shopping to
do, but an hour saw her returning to the man-
sion on Fifth Avenue.
" Well? " questioned Mark Horton anxiously.
" Did you see her? "
" She had gone out of town — to Lakewood.
But she will be back to-night."
" And will she come to me? "
" I cannot answer that question, Mr. Horton.
I told the woman with whom she lives to send
her up here."
" Did you say she must come — that I wanted
SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN. 25 r
her to come?" persisted the retired merchant
eagerly.
'' I did, and the woman was quite sure Miss
Gertrude would come."
" When was she to get back from Lake-
wood? "
'' By seven or eight o'clock."
'' Then she ought to be here by nine or
ten."
All that afternoon Mark Horton showed his
impatience. Usually he took a nap, but now he
could not sleep. He insisted upon getting up
and walking around.
'' The very thought that she will be back
makes me feel stronger," he declared. " It is
more of a tonic than Homer's wine."
*' Please do not grow impatient," said Mrs.
Conroy. /'You know there may be some
delay."
Slowly the evening came on and the street
lamps were lit. Mr. Horton sat at a front win-
dow, looking out. He did not want a light in
the room.
'' I wish to watch for her," he explained.
" You may light up when she comes."
He was now feverish, but would not take the
soothing draught the nurse prepared. Hour
after hour passed, and presently he saw Homer
352 NELSOr^ THE NEWSBOY,
Bulson enter his quarters, and then g^o out
again.
'' I do not know how Homer will take the
news," he told himself. *' But he will have to
make the best of it. Of one thing I am re-
solved— Gertrude shall do as she pleases if only-
she remains with me, and she shall have half of
my fortune when I die."
At last it was nine o'clock, and then the sick
man became more nervous than ever. Every
time a woman appeared on the dimly lit street
he would watch her eagerly until she went past
the mansion.
" She will not come! " he groaned. '' She will
not come! "
At ten o'clock Mrs. Conroy tried to get him
to bed, but he was stubborn and would not go.
Another hour went by, and then another. As
the clock struck twelve Mark Horton fell for-
ward in his chair.
" She has deserted me! " he groaned. " And
I deserve it all! " And he sank in a chair in a
dead faint.
With an effort the nurse placed him upon the
bed and did what she could for him. But the
shock had been great, and in haste she sent for
a physician.
"He has had them before," explained the doc-
SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN. 253
tor. '^ I will give him something quieting — I
can do no more. Each shock brings him closer
to the end. It is the most puzzling case on.
record."
As he was so feeble Mrs. Conroy thought best
to send for his nephew, and Homer Bulson was
summoned just as he was waking up.
** All right, I'll be over," he said, with a yawn.
He did not feel like hurrying, for he was tired^
and had been through such an experience be-
fore. It was after eight when he at last showed
himself.
** You are worse, Uncle Mark," he said, as he
took the sufferer's hand.
'* Yes, I am worse," was the low answer.
'' Much worse."
*' It is too bad. Hadn't you better try some
of that new wine I brought you? "
'' Not now, Homer. I feel as if I never cared
to eat or drink again." And Mark Horton gave
a groan.
" You must not be so downcast, uncle."
'' Homer, Gertrude has turned her back upon
me!"
'* Gertrude ! " cried the nephew, very much
startled.
*' Yes, Gertrude. I — I did not think it pos-
sible."
254 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
" But I don't understand, Uncle Mark. Did
you — er — did you send to her? "
'' I will confess I did, Homer. I could stand
it no longer. I wanted to see the dear child
again."
'' And she turned her back on you? " went on
Bulson, hardly knowing what to say.
'' She did. I sent for her to come at once.
She had not gone to Boston, but to Lakewood,
and w^as to be back in the evening. That was
yesterday. She is not yet here, and that proves
that she has forsaken me and wants nothing
more to do with me."
At these words a crafty look came into Homer
Bulson's eyes.
'' Uncle Mark, I am sorry for you, but I could
have told you as much some time ago," he said
smoothly.
'' You could have told me? "
" Yes. I went to Gertrude when she was
thinking of going to Boston and begged her to
come back. I even offered to go away, so that
she would not be bothered with me. But she
would not listen. She said that she was done
with you, and that she preferred her theatrical
friends to such a home as this, where there was
no excitement. She is changed — and changed
for the worse/'
SOMEBODY WAITS IN VAIN, 255
"" Oh, Homer! can this be true? The dear^
gentle Gertrude I once so loved and petted t
But it is my own fault. I drove her away. I
have only myself to blame." And burying- his
face in his pillow, the sick man sobbed aloud.
Instead of replying, Homer Bulson got out
of a medicine closet the bottle of wine he had
brought two days before and poured out a
glassful.
'' Take this. Uncle Mark. I know it will do
you good," he said.
''No, I want no wine!" cried Mr. Horton,
And suddenly he dashed wine and glass to the
floor. "I hate it! It does me no good. I want
nothing but Gertrude! " And he buried his face
in his pillow again.
'' I will do my best to bring her to you," said
Bulson hypocritically.
He remained at the mansion a short while,
and was then told that there was a man who
wished to see him.
He hurried to his own apartments across the
way, and here found himself face to face with
Sam Pepper.
" You played me a fine trick," growled
Pepper. " Give me back the papers you stole
from me."
" Let us come to an understanding," said
256 NELSON- THE NEWSBOY.
Bulson. " I am willing to pay for what I took^
Pepper. Come with me."
" Want to drug me again? "
" No. I want to get where it is quiet.
Come."
'' All right, I'll go along. Supposing you
come to my place? "
'' That will suit me. I want to make a new
deal with you."
And the pair started for Sam Pepper's resort
on the East Side.
■ J
CHAPTER XXXIII.
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE.
*^ Sure, and this is a double mystery, so it is.
What do you make of it, Mr. Van Pelt? "
It was Mrs. Kennedy who spoke. The non-
appearance of Gertrude had worried her greatly,
and she had visited Van Pelt, to learn that Nel-
son was also missing.
" I don't know what to make of it," answered
George Van Pelt. '' Nelson went after Billy
Darnley, who robbed our stand. Perhaps he has
met with foul play."
'' Could our Gertrude have met with foul play
at Lakewood? "
" I shouldn't think so. She knew where she
was going, didn't she? "
" To be sure — to a Mrs. Broaderick's; she
read the letter to me herself."
'' Perhaps Mrs. Broaderick asked her to stay
over," said Van Pelt. *' I can't think of any-
thing else."
While the pair were talking Mrs. Kennedy
happened to look up the street
as?
258 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" Here comes Nelson now! " she cried sud-
denly.
She was right, and soon our hero was at the
stand, and shaking each by the hand.
" I feel as if I've been on a long trip," he said,
with a broad smile.
" Where have you been? " questioned Van
Pelt and Mrs. Kennedy in a breath, and then
he told them his story, and also told of what had
happened to Gertrude.
*' The dirty villain! '' cried Mrs. Kennedy, re-
ferring to Bulson. '' He ought to be put in
prison. But the poor girl's troubles are over
now."
Then she told of how Mark Horton wanted
his niece to come back to him.
" Perhaps he wants her back, and perhaps
this is another trick," said Nelson. '' After
this I am going to help guard her more than
ever."
*' Where is she now? "
" At home. She doesn't know what to do.
She thinks of calling on her uncle — to warn him
against Bulson. We've got an idea the man is
poisoning his uncle in order to get the entire
fortune."
" Those books on poison " began Van
Pelt.
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE. «S9
" Exactly/' said Nelson. " You can testify to
them, can't you? "
" To be sure. You had better tell the police
of this."
" I shall," said Nelson, quietly but firmly.
The matter was talked over, and our hero de-
termined to call again upon Gertrude, whom he
had just left at Mrs. Kennedy's rooms.
When told of the message her uncle had sent
the poor girl burst into tears of joy.
" Dear Uncle Mark! He is not as bad as I
thought!" she cried. "He would be as kind
as ever, if he wasn't so sick. Yes, I will go at
once, and I will tell him all."
" And I'll go along — to prove your story and
to tell him about the books on poisons," said
Nelson.
Soon the pair were on their way to the man-
sion on Fifth Avenue. Gertrude was all in a
tremble, and could scarcely contain herself far
joy. The housekeeper let her in, with a smile.
" I am glad to see you back," she said
warmly. " I hope you'll stay. Miss Gertrude."
" How is my uncle? "
" Very feeble. I hope the shock doesn't hurt
him."
" Is that Gertrude? " came in Mark Horton's
voice from the head of the stairs.
26o NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
Instead of replying the girl ran to meet him^
and in another moment uncle and niece were in
each other's arms.
" Oh, Uncle Mark ! " was all Gertrude could
say.
'' My dear Gertrude," murmured the feeble
man, " I am so thankful you have come back
to me! I was cruel, nay crazy— but I will never
be so again. Will you forgive me? "
'' Willingly, uncle," she answered. '' You
were not yourself; it was your sickness made
you act so. Now I will nurse you back to health
and strength."
" Ah! Gertrude! I do not feel as if I can get
back my strength again. I am too far gone,"'
murmured the retired merchant.
'' Rest yourself, uncle." And she led him to
a chair. '' After a while I want to have a long
talk with you. But tell me first, have you been
taking any wine lately — I mean the wine Homer
Bulson gave you? "
" A little. But I do not like it — although he
almost forces me to take it. Why do you
ask?"
" If you will hear me out, I will tell you. It
is a long story."
'* I will listen to every word, Gertrude."
As briefly as she could she told of what had
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE. 261
happened to her since she had left home, how
Homer Bulson had followed her up, and what
he had done at Lakewood. Then she spoke of
Van Pelt and Nelson, and how they could prove
that Bulson had purchased several books on
poisons. At this last revelation Mark Horton
gfrew deadly pale.
''And you think " He faltered, and
paused. '' Oh, Heavens, can it be possible? My
own nephew! ''
" I would have the wine analyzed," said Ger-
trude. '* And I would have him watched care-
fully."
At that moment came a ring at the front door
bell, and the doctor appeared.
''Ah, Miss Horton!" he said with a smile.
'' I am glad that you are back."
" Doctor, I want that wine examined without
delay," broke in the retired merchant.
"Examined? What for? "
'* See if it is pure. I have an idea it is im-
pure."
The doctor smiled, thinking this was another
of the sick man's whims. But Gertrude called
him aside.
" We think the wine is poisoned," she whis-
pered. " Examine it as soon as you can, and
report to me."
262 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
''Oh!" The doctor's face became a study,
** By Jove, if this is true " He said no more,
but soon departed, taking the wine with him^
and also a glass of jelly Bulson had brought in
for his uncle's use.
'' And so you have brought Nelson with you,"
said Mark Horton. " Perhaps I had better see
him."
'* Do you remember him?" asked Gertrude,
her face flushing. '' He was in the library that
night "
'' So that is the young man that was here \
Gertrude, for the life of me I cannot understand
that afifair."
'' Nelson did not want to explain all he kneWy
because he wanted to shield a man who used to
care for him, uncle. He thought the man came
here to rob you, but he made a mistake, for
after he left this house he saw the man come
out of the house opposite, with Homer
Bulson."
'' Who was the man? "
" A rough kind of a fellow who keeps a
saloon on the East Side. His name is Samuel
Pepper."
'' Samuel Pepper? Samuel Pepper? " Mark
Horton repeated the name slowly. " That
sounds familiar. Pepper? Pepper? Ah!" He
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE, 263
drew a breath. " Can it be the same? '' he
mused.
"Shall I bring Nelson up?'^
" Yes, at once."
Soon our hero was ushered into the sick
room. He was dressed in his best, and cut far
from a mean figure as he stood there, hat in
hand.
" You are Nelson? " said Mark Horton
slowly.
" Yes, sir."
" I must thank you for all you have done for
my niece. I shall not forget it."
'' That's all right," said Nelson rather awk-
wardly. '' I'd do a good deal for Gertrude, any
day."
'' You are a brave bo)^ Nelson. I believe I
once misjudged you."
" You did, sir. I'm no thief."
" I am willing to believe that I was mistaken.*'
Mark Horton paused for a moment. " Gertrude
tells me you live with a man named Sam
Pepper," he went on slowly.
'' I used to live with him, but we parted some
time ago. I didn't want anything to do with
idrink or with a saloon, and I did want to make
a man of myself."
" That was very commendable in you. But
264 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
tell me, is this man's right name Sam
Pepper?"
*' I hardly think it is, sir. I once saw same
letters, and they were addressed to Pepperill
Sampson."
** The same! He must be the same! '' Mark
Horton breathed hard. " Do you know any-
thing about him— where he came from, and
so on ? "
" Not much. You see, Tm not very old. But
he did tell me once that you had been an enemy
to my father."
" Me? Who was your father? "
Our hero hung his head and flushed up,
" I don't know, sir."
" This Pepperill Sampson is a villain. Why,
he robbed me of my son years ago, to get square
with me because I had discharged him for
stealing."
"Robbed you of your son?" repeated Nel-
son. " Do you mean to say he killed your
boy? "
*' I don't know what he did. At first he was
going to let me have my little David back for
live thousand dollars, but then he got scared,
and disappeared, and that was the last I heard
of him or of my child."
" Then David may be alive! " cried Gertrude,
QUESTIONS OF IMPORTANCE. 265
*' Nelson " She stopped short. Each per-
son in the room gazed questioningly at the
others. Our hero's breath came thick and fast.
Then the door bell below rang violently, and
Nelson and Gertrude heard Mrs. Kennedy ad-
mitted.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
FATHER AND SON— CONCLUSION.
'* It''s Nelson an' Miss Gertrude I want to
see," those in the sick chamber heard Mrs. Ken-
nedy exclaim. '' An' I want to see 'em at once.
I have great news for 'em."
'' I'll go," said Nelson, and slipped down-
stairs, followed by Gertrude. They found Mrs.
Kennedy in a state of high excitement. Her
faded bonnet was on one ear, and she walked the
floor rapidly.
" Oh, my! Upon me soul, I can't belave it! '*
she burst out. " It's like a dream, Nelson, so
it is."
" What is like a dream, Mrs. Kennedy? "
" The story I have to tell. Nelson. Poor, poor
man ! but it was all for the best — wid that crime
on his mind."
" What are you talking about? " put in
Gertrude.
" Fm talkin' av poor Sam Pepper, Miss Ger-
trude. He's dead."
266
FATHER AND SON— CONCLUSION, 267
*'Dead!" burst out Gertrude and Nelson
simultaneously.
Mrs. Kennedy nodded her head half a dozeii
times.
" Yes, dead; cut to pieces on the elevated rail-
road, at the station close to me little stand. He
died wid me a-holdin' av his hand."
*' It's too bad," murmured Nelson. " Poor
fellow! he had some ways about him that I
liked."
*' But it's not that I came about," went on
Mrs. Kennedy. '' Whin they brought the poor
man to the sidewalk to wait for an ambulance^
I stayed by him, and he says to me, says he^
*' Mrs. Kennedy, I have something on me mind,*
says he. ' I want to tell it to you,' says he. Sa
says I, * What is it? ' Says he, * It's about Nel-
son. He's a good boy,' says he. * And I aint
done right by him. Tell him I stole him from
his father, and that his father is Mr. Mark Hor-
ton. Miss Gertrude's uncle.' "
" Mark Horton my father! " gasped Nelson,
and the room seemed to go round and round in
a bewildering whirl. *' He my father! Can it
be true? "
'' It must be true! " cried Gertrude.
" And he says, too, ' Beware of Homer Bul-
son. He is a thief — he robbed his uncle's safe^.
268 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
I caught him at it. He has his uncle's will, too/
says poor Pepper. ' He wants to git hold of all
the money/ says he."
'* Yes, I know Homer Bulson is a rascal," said
Nelson. " But this other news— — " He sank
in a chair.
''Then you are David Horton, Nelson!"
cried Gertrude. " I am indeed very glad of it.
I know of no one I would like more for a
cousin."
'' David Horton! " came a hollow voice from
the doorway, and Mr. Horton staggered in.
'' Can this be possible? It must be! See, I rec-
ognize his face now. Yes, yes; you are my son
David! Come to me!" And he held out his
arms.
Nelson came forward slowly, then of a sudden
he reached forth, and grasped Mark Horton's
hands tightly.
'' I — I suppose it's true/' he faltered. " But
it will take me a long time to — to get used
to it."
'' My little David had just such eyes and hair
as you have/' went on Mark Horton, as he still
held Nelson closely to him. " And your face re-
minds me greatly of your mother. There
can be no mistake. You are my own little
David."
FATHER AND SON— CONCLUSION. 269
"Well, I'm glad that Fm not Nelson, the
nobody, any longer," stammered our young-
hero. He could scarcely talk intelligibly, he felt
so queer.
" My own cousin David! " said Gertrude, and
she, too, embraced him.
'' Well, I always thought we'd be something^
to each other, Gertrude," said he. '' But, come
to think of it, if I am David Horton, then Homer
Bulson is a cousin, too."
'' Unfortunately, yes."
"Do not fear! He shall not come between
you," said Mark Horton. " My eyes are being
opened to his schemes."
" Sure an' he's a snake in the grass," burst
out Mrs. Kennedy.
She had scarcely spoken when there was an->
other arrival at the mansion, and Homer Bulson
came in.
On seeing the assembled company, he was
nearly struck dumb. He looked from one to
another in open-mouthed and speechless amaze-
ment.
" Why — er — how did you get here? " he
questioned at last, addressing Gertrude.
" That is my affair, Mr. Bulson," she an-
swered coldly.
" And you? " he added, turning sharply to our
270 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
hero. " You have no business in a gentleman's
house."
''Homer!" exclaimed Mark Horton, and
shook his list at his nephew.
''Hush, uncle! We will deal with him," re-
monstrated Gertrude. " Pray, do not excite
yourself."
" I have business here," said our hero dryly,
realizing that he had a great advantage over
Bulson. " You hardly expected to see Ger-
trude come back from Lakewood so soon, did
you?"
" I — er — I know nothing of Lakewood,"
stammered Bulson.
" That proves you have a wonderfully short
memory. Homer Bulson."
" I won't listen to you. You get right out of
this house."
" I won't get out."
" Then I'll call an officer, ani have you put
out."
" If you call an officer, you'll be the one to
go with him," returned our hero calmly.
" Homer Bulson, your game is played to the
end, and you have lost."
" Boy, you talk in riddles."
" Then I'll explain myself. You plotted to
drive Gertrude from this house, and you sue*
FATHER AND SON— CONCLUSION. 27^
ceeded. Then you plotted against your uncle^
and had Gertrude made a prisoner at Lake-
wood."
'' Stuff and nonsense! "
'' It is the truth. Perhaps you'll deny next
that you ever knew Sam Pepper."
*' Why, has that fool come here? " roared
Bulson, in a rage. '' I told him " He
stopped short in confusion.
** Sam Pepper is dead — killed on the elevated
railroad. Before he died he confessed several
things, and, among others, what a villain you
were."
"Ah! and what else?"
" He said I was the son of Mr. Horton
here."
At this Homer Bulson grew as pale as death.
He clutched at a table, then sank heavily on a
near-by chair.
'' It is — is false," he muttered, but his looks^
belied his words.
" It is true," broke in Mark Horton. " The
boy is my son. This Sam Pepper was merely
Pepperill Sampson in disguise. Homer, you are
a villain! "
" Uncle Mark "
" No, I won't listen to you. I listened before^
now I am done. If you ever try to lift a finger
272 NELSON THE NEWSBOY.
against Gertrude or David, I will cut you off
without a penny."
- But— but "
" I am having the wine which you gave me
examined. If I find that it was doctored— well,
you had better be missing, that's all," added
Mark Horton sternly. '' I am willing to do
much to avoid a family scandal, but I will not
stand too much."
'' Who — who has the wine? "
" The doctor."
At this piece of information Homer Bulsoti
leaped to his feet.
"It's an outrage! I won't stand it!" he
shouted. ''You are all plotting against me!"
And so speaking, he ran to the hall, picked up
his silk hat, and hastily rushed from the man-
sion.
'' Shall I go after him ? " questioned our
hero.
" No; let him go," returned the retired mer-
chant.
*' But he will never come back — you may be
certain of that."
" So much the better, for then all scandal will
be avoided, and we will be very well rid of
liim."
"Yes; let him go," added Gertrude. " Pos-
FATHER AND SON— CONCLUSION. 275
sibly he will repent and turn over a new
leaf."
''All right! Give him the chance," mur-^
mured the boy, and then turning to his father,
he added: '' I guess I can afford to be generous
when I've gained a father, and such a cousin as
Gertrude!"
A few words more, and then we will bring
this story of life in New York City to a
close.
As anticipated, Homer Bulson fled from the
city without delay, and nothing was heard of
him for months, when it was learned that he had
joined an exploring expedition bound for South
Africa. A year later he sent a long letter to his
uncle, stating that he was in the mines of the
Transvaal, and doing fairly well. He added
that he bitterly repented of his wrongdoings,
and hoped his uncle and the others would for-
give him. To this Mr. Horton replied that he
would forgive him if he continued to make a
man of himself, and this Bulson did, within his
limited ability.
Great was George Van Pelt's astonishment
when he learned that Nelson was Mr. Horton's
lost son. At first he refused to believe what
was told him.
274 NELSON THE NEWSBOY,
" You are lucky," he said at last. '' You won't
want the news stand any longer."
'' No," said our hero. '' I'm going to give
my share to Paul Randall. And what is more,
I'll pay that money we borrowed from Mr. Amos
Barrow; so neither of you will have any debt
hanging over you."
Our hero was as good as his word, and not
only did he clear the news stand, but some time
later he purchased a better fruit-and-candy stand
for Mrs. Kennedy, and also a first-class flower
stand for Gladys Summers.
'' You're a line young gentleman," said Mrs.
Kennedy. '' A fine boy, Nelson — beggin' your
pardon. Master David."
'' I'm not used to the name yet," laughed our
liero. " I guess I will be Nelson the Newsboy
for a long time to come among my old
friends."
" I am very thankful to you," said Gladys.
" That flower stand is just what I wanted." And
she gave Nelson her sweetest smile.
Nothing had been heard of the Victory or of
Billy Darnley. The ship sailed to the West
Indies and to South America, and from there to
the Pacific, and whatever became of the bully
David Horton never learned, nor did he care.
Len Snocks drifted to Jersey City, and then to
JFATHER AND SON—CONCLUSION, ^7%
the West, and became a tramp, and was at
last killed while stealing a ride on a freight
train.
As soon as it was discovered how Mr. Hortott
had been slowly poisoned, the doctor set to
work to counteract the effects of the drugs.
Gertrude, our hero, and Mrs. Conroy took turns
in caring for the sick man, and before very-
long he began to show signs of rapid improve-
ment.
" It is like some terrible nightmare," he ex-
plained one day, when walking out, with Ger-
trude on one side of him and David on the other.
" I was not myself at all."
" No, you were not yourself," said Gertrude.
" But you soon will be." And she was right.
By the following spring Mark Horton was a
comparatively well man.
These events all occurred a number of years
ago, and since that time several important
things have happened to our hero. As soon as
his identity was established he was provided
with a private tutor, who taught him for several
years and prepared him for Columbia College.
He passed through college with flying colors^
and then took up civil engineering, and to-day-
be is building large bridges for a leading rail-
road company. He is doing well, and is de-
27^ KELSON THE NEWSBOY.
voted to His work. He lives with his father mA
his cousin and is very happy. But even In Ms
happiness it is not likely that he will ever
forget the days when he was " Nelson the News-
boy."
THE EN®.
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