HORATIO ALGER
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.archive.org/details/strongsteadyOOalge
STRONG
AND STEADY
BY
HORATIO ALGER, JF
GHICAGO
M. A. DONOHUE & COMPAlfr
iger Series
• Ciottb, UBiform ■with iMs VoSnnie
THE MOST WHOLESORIE OF ALL STORIES
Adrift !a ISew York; or, Tom and Florenca Braving tte Worlr'-
h Cousin's Coaffcsracy; or, A Boy's Struggie fvom InberitflBe,
Andy Gordlciai or. The Fortuoes of a Young .Janitor
Aisdy Grant's Pluck, and How He Won Out
Stociid t^ Rj,se; or, Up the Ladder
Brave and Bold; ov, The Fortunes cf Bobert Rusi.fe>a
Cask Boy; or, Frank lowiera Early Struggles
Cbail'ia Codju-^ii's Cruise
Cfaesteir &%b.&i or. The New Path to Fortune
£Jo an^ U.ars; or A Brave Boy's Fight for Fortwas
Brhfea. from Hoaie; or Csrl Crawford's Experience
Erie Ttaip. Boy; on, Fred's Raiirosd Adveaturss
Faflteg Tiitt World; or, The Hspg and Mishaps of Haxiy Vaut
Fivs Huadtsd Dollars; or Jacob Ms-r^owe's Seojrat
Wtank'z Cami'cdfi'u-, or, The Farm sad the Cdmp
Grit; or. The Yo'jbs Boatman cf Fine Hii!
Hector's InhsriUiacs; or, The Boys cf S-jjith Institjifcs
HaSni'ttg Himself; or. Grant Tborntoa's Rapid Rise ia New Yo?^
Hei'&ert Gaiter's Legacy; or. The Inventor's Son
%n a New Woiid; or, Among the Goid Fields of Australia
Sed, The Poor'aoose Boy; or, From JPoverty ti Title
oe's Ltacfe; or Always Wide Awake
uJius, ti>e Street Boy; or, Out West
dasing His Way; or, Franli Co\ii-tne5''s Straggle Upward
Mark Mason; Hia Trials and Triumphs
Paul, the Pecjdier; or The Adventures of a Young Street MerohaSt*
PanS Prescott's Charge; or, a Turn of Foitune.
Phil, the- Fsdfiiei-; or, The Story of a Young Street Musieiaa
Ralph Raymond's Heir; or, James Cromweli's Triumijh
Risen from tue Ranks; or, Jlarry Walton's Sucoesa
Sara's Chance, and How H& Improved It
Shifting for Himself; or, Gilbert Grayson's Fortune
Sink or iTvadin; or Harry Raymond's E.esoive
Slow and S'jre; or From the Street to the Top
Store Boy; or, The Fortunes of Ben Barclay ^
Strive and Succeed: or, The Progress of Waiter Conrad
Strong and Steady; or Paddle Your Own Canoe
Strugg:iiag Upv^ard; or Luke Larkin's Luck
The telegraph Boy; or. Making Hia Way in New York
Tin Bos, aiid 'What It Contained
Tom the Bootblack; or, A Western Boy's Success
Try aad Trust; or, Abner Hoklen's Bound Boy
Wait and Hope; or, a Plucky Boy's Luck
Walter Snerv/ood's Probation; or Coo! Head and Warm Hearl
Young Aorohat, of the Great North American Circus
Young Adventurer; or, Tom's T-ln Across the Flazns
Young Explorer; or, Aruong the Sierras
Young Miner; or, Tom Nelson Out We3t
Young Musician, or, Fighting His Way •
Young Salesman: or, Scot Walton's Early Struggles
All of above t^*leB can be procured at the store •w^here t'n
book was bought, o.. sent to any address for 25c eacii, or any
for $1.00, jMJstage paid, by the publishers.
M. A. DONOHUE & CX>.,
j 701-727 South Dearborn Street - CHICAGO
STRONG AND STEADY
CHAPTER I
SCHOOLMATES
"This is a nice room you've got, Walter."
"Yes, you know I am to stay here for two years,
and I might as well be comfortable. "
"It's a good deal better than my room — t^dce
as big to begin with. Then, my carpet looks as
if it had come down through several generations.
I'll bet the old lady had it when she was iirst mar-
ried. As for a mirror^ I've got a seven-by-nine
looking-glass that I have to look mto twice before
I can see my whole face. As for the bedstead, it
creaks so when I jump into it that I expect every
night it'll fall to pieces like the *one-hoss shay,'
and spill me on the floor. Now your room is
splendidly furnished. "
"Yes, it is now, but father furnished it at his
own expense. He said he was willing to spend a
little money to make me confortable. "
"That's more than my father said. He told
me it wouldn't do me any harm to rough it."
"Perhaps he's right," said Walter. "Of
2 STRONG AND STEADY
course, I don't object to the new carpet and furni-
ture " — and he looked with pleasure at the hand-
sorjie carpet with its bright tints, the black wal-
nut bookcase with its glass doors, and the tasteful
chamber furniture — " but I shouldn't consider it
any great hardship if I had to rough it, as you call
it."
" Wouldn't you ? Then I'll tell you what we'll
do. Let's change rooms. You can go round
and board at Mrs. Glenn's, and I'll come here.
What do you say? "
" I am not sure what my father would think of
that arrangement," said Walter, smiling.
" I thought you'd find some way to crawl out,'*
said Lemuel. " For my part, I don't believe
you'd enjoy roughing it any better than I."
" I don't know," said Walter; " I've sometimes
thought I shouldn't be very sorry to be a poor boy,
and have to work my own way."
" That's very well to say when you're the son
of a rich man."
" So are you."
" Yes, but I don't get the benefit of it, and you
do. What would you do now if you were a poor
boy?"
" I can't say, of course, now, but I would go
to work at something, I am sure I could earn ray
own living."
" I suppose I could, too, but I shouldn't wan*
to."
STRONG AND STEADY 3
" You're lazy, Lem, that's what's the matter
with you."
" I know I am," said Lemuel g-ood-naturedly.
** Some people are born lazy; don't you think
so?"
" Perhaps you are right," answered Walter,
with a smile. " Now suppose we open our
Csesar."
" I suppose we might as well. Here's another
speech. I wish those old fellows hadn't been so
fond of speech-making. I like the accounts of
battles well enough, but the speeches are a
bother."
"I like to puzzle them out, Lem."
" So do L How much have we got for a les-
son?"
" Two sections."
While the boys are at work reading these two
sections, two-thirds of the work being done by
Walter, whose head is clearer and whose knowl-
edge greater than his companion's, a little ex-
planation shall be given, in order to better under-
stand the position and prospects of the two boys
introduced.
Of Lemuel Warner, it need only be said that
he was a pleasant-looking boy of fourteen, the
son of a prosperous merchant in New York»
Walter Conrad was from a small country town,
where his father was the wealthiest and most
prominent and influential citizen, having a hand-
4 6TRONG AND STEADY
some iiiansion-hoiise, surrounded by extensive
grounds.
Nobody knew how rich he was; but he was
generally supposed to be worth two hundred thou-
sand dollars. Mrs. Conrad had been dead for
five years, so that Walter, who was an only child,
had no immediate relation except his father. It
was for this reason, perhaps, that he had been
sent to the Essex Qassical Institute. Being a boy
of talent, and well-grounded in Latin, he was easily
able to take high rank in his class. Lemuel War-
ner had become his intimate friend, being in the
same class, but inferior to him in scholarship.
They usually studied tlieir Latin lessons together,
and it was owing to this circumstance that Lemuel
made a better figure in his recitations than before
Walter came to school.
" There, that job's done," said Lemuel, closing
his book with an air of satisfaction. " Now we
can rest."
" You forget the Latin exercise."
" Oh, bother the Latin exercise ! I don't see
what's the use of writing Latin, anyway. English
composition is hard enough. What's to be
done?"
" You know the doctor expects each boy to
MH-ite a letter in Latin, addressed to his father, not
less than twelve lines in length."
" It isn't to be sent home, is it? That would
be ridiculous. Mr. Warner, senior, would stare
STRONG AND STEADY S
<t good deal if he got a ietter in Latin. He
wouldn't know Latin from Cherokee."
" Possibly your Latin won't differ much from
Cherokee, Lem." '
" What's the use of being sarcastic with a fel-
low, and hurting his feelings ? " said Lem, laugh-
ing in a way to show that his feelings were not
seriously hurt. " I say, couldn't we crib a little
from Csesar ? "
" Not very well, for the doctor is pretty familiar
with that author."
" I wonder whether Caesar used to write home
to his father when he was at boarding school. If
he did, I should like to get hold of some of his
letters."
" They would have to be altered. a good deal to
adapt them to the present time."
" Well, give me a sheet of paper and I'll begin."
The boys started on their new task, and finished
by nine o'clock. Lemuel's letter was written with
a brilliant disregard of grammatical rules, but it
was considerably revised in accordance with sug-
gestions from Walter.
" I've a great mind to send my letter home,
Walter," said Lemuel. " Father expects me to
write home every week, and this would save me
some trouble. Besides, he'd think I was getting
on famously, to write home in Latin."
" Yes, if he didn't lind out the mistakes."
" That's the rub. He'd show it to the minister
6 STRONG AND STEADY
the first time he called, and then my blunder*
would be detected. I guess I'd better wait till it
\ comes back from the doctor corrected."
"I expect to hear from home to-morrow," said
; Walter.
" Why to-mowow in particular? Do you gen-
erally get letters Thursday ? "
*' No, my letters generally come on Saturday^
but to-morrow is my birthday."
" Is it ? Let me be the first to congratulate you.
How venerable will you be ? "
" As venerable as most boys of fifteen, Lera."
" You're three months older than I am, then.
Do you expect a present ? "
" I haven't thought much about it, but I don't
believe father will fprget me."
** Can't you guess what you are likely to get? "
" I can guess, but I may not be right. Father
promised to give me a gold watch-chain some
time. You know I have a gold watch already/*
" Yes, and a regular little beauty."
"So it wouldn't surprise me much to get a
chain for a present."
" You're a lucky boy. My watch is silver, and
only cost twenty dollars."
" I dare say I should be just as happy with a
silver watch, Lem."
" I suppose you wouldn't like to buy, would
you ? If so, ril give you the chance. A fair ex*
change is no robbery."
STRONG AND STEADY 7
" No, I suppose not; but it wouldn't do to ex-
change a gift."
" Perhaps, if my watch were gold and yours
silver, you wouldn't have any objections."
" I don't think that would alter the case with
me. A gift is a gift, no matter about its value."
" How long have you had your watch, Wal-
ter?"
" Ever since my thirteenth birthday."
" I have had mine a year. I broke the crystal
and one of the hands the very first day."
" That was pretty hard usage, Lem^"
" The watch had a pretty good constitution, so
it has survived to the present daj But I'm get-
ting sleepy, Walter. It's the hard study, I sup-
pose, that's done it. I must be getting back to
Ma'am Glenn's. Good-night."
" Good-night, Lem,"
Lemuel Warner gathered up his books, and left
the room. Walter poked the fire, putting some
ashes on, so that it would keep till the next morn-
ing, and commenced undressing. He was inter-
rupted by a heavy step on the stairs, and directly
afterward a knock resounded upon his door.
Wondering who his late visitor could be, Wal«»
, ter stepped to the door and opened it.
CHAPTER II
THE TELEGRAM FROM HOME
If "Walter was surprised at receiving a visit at
so late an hour, lie was still more surprised to rec-
ognize in the visitor Dr. Porter, the principal of
the institute.
" Good-evening, Conrad," said the doctor. " I
am rather a late visitor. I was not sure but you
might be in bed."
" I was getting ready to go to bed, sir. Won't
you come in ? "
" I will for five minutes only."
" Take the rocking-chair, sir."
All the while Walter was wondering what
could be the doctor's object in calling. He was
not conscious of having violated any of the regu-
lations of the institute, and even had he done so,
it would be unusual for the principal to call upon
him at such an hour. So he watched the doctor
with a puzzled glance, and waited to hear him
state his errand.
" Have you heard from home lately, Conrad ? "
asked the doctor.
' Yes^ sir. I f^ecei^'ed a letter a few f''> ys since."
STRONG AND STEADY g
** Did your father speak of being unwell ? "
" No, sir," said Walter, taking instant alarm,
*VHave — have you heard anything?"
" Yes, my boy; and that is my reason for call-
ing upon you "at this unusual hour. I received
this telegram twenty minutes since."
Walter took the telegram, with trembling fin-
gers, and read the following message :
" Dr. Porter : Please send Walter Conrad home
by the €rst train. His father is very sick.
" Nancy Forbes."
" Do you think there is any danger, Dr. Por-
ter ? " asked Walter, with a pale face.
" I cannot tell, my boy; this telegram furnishes
all the information I possess. Who is Nancy
Forbes ? " '
" She is the housekeeper. I can't realize that
father is so sick. He did not say anything about
it when he wrote."
" Let us hope it is only a brief sickness. I
think you had better go home by the first train
to-morrow morning."
" Yes, sir."
*' I believe it starts at half-past seven."
" I shsll be ready, sir."
" By the way, are you provided with sufficient
money to pay your railway fare? If not, I will
advar':e von the necessarv =tiro-"
lo STRONG AND STEADY
" Thank you, sir, I have five dollars on hand,
and that will be more than sufficient."
" Then I believe I need not stay any longer,"
and the doctor rose. " Don't think too much of
your father's sickness, but try to get a good
night's sleep. I hope we shall soon have you
coming back with good news.'*
The principal shook hands with Walter and
withdrew.
When his tall form had vanished, Walter sat
down and tried to realize the fact of his father's
sickness; but this he found difficult.
Mr. Conrad had never been sick within his
remembrance, and the thought that he might be-
come so had never occurred to Walter. Besides,
the telegram spoke of him as very sick. Could
there be danger ?
That was a point which he could not decide,
and all that remained was to go to bed. It was
a long time before he got to sleep, but at length
he did sleep, waking in time only for a hasty prep»
aration for the homeward journey.
He was so occupied with thoughts of his
father that it was not till he was well on the way
home that it occurred to him that this was his
fifteenth birthday, to which he had been looking
forward for some time.
The seat in front of Walter was for some time
vacant; but at the Woodville station two gentle*
men got in and entered upon an animated convf»r-
STRONG AND STEADY n
sation. Walter did not at first pay any attention
to it. He was looking otit of the window list-
lessly, unable to fix his mind upon anything except
his father's sickness. But at length his attention
was caught by some remarks, made by one of the
gentlemen in front, and from this point he listened
languidly.
" I suspected him to be a swindler when he first
came to me," said the gentleman sitting next the
window. " He hadn't an honest look, and I was
determined not to have anything to do with his
scheme."
" He v/as very plausible.*'
'* Yes, he made everything look right on paper.
That is^asy enough. But mining companies are
risky things always. I once got taken in to the
tune of five thousand dollars, but it taught me
a lesson. So I was not particularly impressed
with the brilliant prospectus of the Great Metro-
politan Mining Company, in spite of its high-
sounding name, and its promised dividend of
thirty per cent. Depend upon it, James Wall and
his confederates will pocket all the dividends that
are made."
" Very likely you are right. But it may be
that Wall really believed there was a good chance
of making money."
" Of course he did, but he was determined to
make the money for himself, and not for the
stockholders."
12 STRONG AND STEADY
" I might have been tempted to invest, but all
my money was locked up at the time, and I could
not have done so without borrowino- the money,
and that I was resolved not to do."
" It was fortunate for you that you didn't, for
the bubble has already burst."
'' Is it possible ? 1 was not aware of that."
" I thought you knew it. The news is in this
morning's paper. There will be many losers.
By the way, I hear that Mr. Conrad, of Willough-
by, was largely interested."
" Then, of course, he is a heavy loser. Can he
stand it?"
" I am in doubt en that point. He is a rich
man, but for all that he may have gone in beyond
his means."
" I am sorry for him, but that was reckless."
" Yes, he was completely taken in by Wall.
He's a smooth fellow."
Walter had listened with languid attention;
still, however, gathering the meaning of what
was said until the mention of his father's name
roused him, and then he listened eagerly, and with
a sudden quickening of the pulse. He instantly
connected the idea of what he had heard with his
father's sudden illness, and naturally associated
the two together.
" My father has heard of the failure of the com-
pany, and that has been one cause for ^^is break-
down " he thought.
STRONG AND STEADY 13
Tnough this implied a double misfortune, it
relieved his anxiety a little. It supplied a cause
for his father's illness. He had been afraid that
his father had met with some accident, perhaps
of a fatal nature. But if he had become ill in
consequence of heavy losses, it was hardly likely
that the illness would be a very severe one.
He thought of speaking to the gentlemen and
making some further inquiries about the mining
company and Mr. James Wail, but it occurred to
him that his father might not like to have him pi-y
into his affairs, and he therefore refrained.
When the gentlemen had left the cars, be saw
one of them had left a morning paper lying in the
seat. He picked it up, and examined the colurans
until his eyes fell upon the following paragraph :
" The failure of the Great Metropolitan Mining
Q)mpany proves to be a disastrous one. The
assets will not be sufficient to pay more than five
per cent, of the amount of the sums invested by
the stockholders, possibly not that. There must
have been some gross mismanagement somewhere,
or such a result could hardly have been reached.
We understand that the affairs of the company
are in the hands of assignees who are emipowered
to wind them up. The stockholders in this vicin«
ity will await the result with anxiety."
*' That looks rather discouraging, to be sure,'*
thought Walter. '* I suppose father will lose a
good deal. But I'ii tell him he needn'<^ ^' rv
14 STRONG AND STEADY
about me. I shan't mind being poor, even if it
comes to that. As long as he is left to me, I won't
complain."
Walter became comparatively cheerful. He
felt convinced that loss of property was all that
was to be apprehended, and with the elastic spirits
of youth he easily reconciled himself to that. He
had never had occasion to think much about
money. All his wants had been provided for
with a lavish hand. He had, of course, seen poor
people, but he did not realize what poverty meant.
He had even thought at times that it must be
rather a pleasant thing to earn one's own living.
Still he did not apprehend that he would have to
do this. His father might have lost heavily, but
probably not to such an extent as to render this
necessary.
So the time passed until, about half-past eleven
o'clock, the cars stopped at Willoughby station.
The station was in a lonely spot — that is, no
houses were very near. Walter did not stop to
speak to anybody, but, on leaving the cars, carpet-
bag in hand, jumped over ar fence, and took his
way across the fields to his father's house. By
the road it would have been a mile, but it was
scarcely more than half a mile by the footpath.
So it happened that he reached home without
meeting a single person. He went up the path-
way to the front door and rang the bell.
The door wa^ opened by Nancy Forbes, the
STRONG AND STEADY H
housekeeper, whose name was appended to the
telegram.
" So it's you, Master Walter," she said. " T am
glad you are home, but it's a sad home you're
comiC to."
"Is father very sick, then?" asked Walter,
turning pale.
" Didn't anybody tell you, then? "
"Tell me what?"
" My dear child, your father died at eight
o'clock this morning."
CHAPTER III
THE DEADLY LETTER
The sudden announcement of his father's deatH
was a great shock to Walter. Before he left
home, Mr. Conrad had seemed in his usual health,
and he could not now realize that he was dead.
The news stunned him, and he stood, pale and
motionless, looking into the housekeeper's face.
" Come in, Master Walter, come in, and have
a cup of hot tea. It 'II make you feel better.''
A cup of hot tea was Nancy's invariable remedy
for all troubles, physical or mental.
" Tell me about it. Nancy ; I — I can't think it's
tme. It's so sudden."
" That's the way I feel, too, Master Walter.
And only yesterday morning, too, he looked just
as usual. Little did I think what was to be."
" When was he first taken sick ? "
Walter had seated himself on a chair in the hall,
and waited anxiously for an answer.
** I didn't notice nothing till last night just after
supper. Richard went to the post office and got
your father's letters. When they came he took
*em into the library, and began to read 'em.
Ti- — <=. ^j^as three. I remember. It w^s an hour
STRONG AND STEADY 17
Defore I went into the room to tell him the car-
penter had called about repairing the carriage
house. When ^ came in, there was your poor
father lying on the carpet, senseless. He held a
letter tight in his hand. I screamed for help.
Mr. Brier, the carpenter, and Richard came in
and helped me to lift up your poor father, and we
sent right off for the doctor."
" What did the doctor say? "
" He said it was a paralytic stroke — a very
bad one — and ordered him to be put to bed di-
rectly. But it was of no use. He never recov-
ered, but breathed his last this morning at eight
o'clock. The doctor told me I must telegraph
to your t^^f^'-ier; and so I did."
" Nancy, have you got that letter which my
father was reading?"
" Yes, Master Walter, I put it in my pocket
without reading, I think there must have been
bad news in it."
She drew from her pocket a letter, which she
placed in Walter's hands. He read it hastily,
and it confirmed his suspicions. It was from a
lawyer Mr. Conrad had asked to make inquiries
respecting the Great Metropolitan Mining Com-
pany, and was as follows:
" William Conrad, Esq.
" Dear Sir : I have, at your request, taken
pains to inform myself of the present manaQ[e-
18 STRONG AND STEADY
ment and condition of the Great Metropolitan
Mining Company. The task has been less diffi-
cult than I anticipated, since the failure of the
company has just been made public. The man-
agement has been in the hands of dishonest and
unscrupulous men, and it is doubtful whether the
stockholders will be able to recover anything.
'" Hoping you are not very largely interested,
I remain,
" Yours very respectfully,
" Andrew Holmes."
Walter folded up the letter, and put it into
his pocket. He felt that this letter had cost his
father his life, and in the midst of his grief he
had very bitter thoughts about the unscrupulous
man v/ho had led his father to ruin. Had it been
merely the loss of property, he could have for-
given him, but he had been deprived of the kind-
est and most indulgent of fathers.
" I should like to see my father/' he said.
We will not accompany him to the dark cham-
ber where his father lay, unobservant, for the first
lime, of his presence. Such a scene is too sacred
to be described. .,
An hour later he came out of the chamber,
pale but composed. He seemed older and more
thoughtful than when he entered. A great and
sudden sorrow often has this effect upon th<»
young.
STRONG AND STEADY 19
" Nancy," he said, " have any arrangements
been made about the funeral ? "
" No, Walter, we waited till you came. Mr.
Edson will be here in a few minutes, and you can
speak with him about it."
Mr. Edson, though not a professional under-
taker, usually acted as such whenever there was
occasion for his services. When he arrived, Wal-
ter requested him to take entire charge of the
funeral.
" Are there any directions you 'would like to
give, Walter? " asked Mr. Edson^ who, like most
of the villagers, had known Walter from birth.
" No, Mr. Edson, I leave all to you."
" What relations are there to be invited? "
" My father had no near relatives. There is
d cousin, Jacob Drummond, who lives in Staple-'
ton. It will be necessary to let him know." .
" Would a letter reach him in time ? "
" It will be best to telegraph. Stapleton is
forty miles distant, and it is doubtful if a letter
would reach there in time."
" If you will write the telegram, Walter, I'll
see that it's sent right off."
" I won't trouble you, Mr. Edson; you will have
enough to attend to. I can send Richard to the
telegraph office, or go myself. I shall feel better
for the exercise."
" Very well, Walter, I will do whatever else is
necessary"
CHAPTER IV
THE VILLAGE STORE
Jacob Dnimmond kept a dry-goods store in the
village of Stapleton. As the village was of con-
siderable size, and he had no competitors, he
enjoyed a flourishing trade, and had already
acquired quite a comfortable property. In fact,
even had he been less favorably situated, he was
pretty sure to thrive. He knew how to save
money and he had the reputation of being a very
mean man. He carried his meanness not only
into his business, but into his household, and there
was not a poor mechanic in Stapleton, and
scarcely a poor laborer, who did not live better
than Mr, Drummond, who was the rich man of
the place.
No one, to look at Jacob Drummond, would
have been likely to mistake his character. All the
lines of his face, the expression of his thin lips,
his cold, gray eyes, all bespoke his meanness.
Poor Mrs. Drummond, his wife, could have testi-
fied to it, had she dared ; but in this house, at least,
the hushard was master, and she dared not ex=
20
STRONG AND STEADY 21
{>icss the opinions she secretly entertained of the
man to whom she was bound for Hfe.
At five o'clock on the afternoon of the day
after Mr. Conrad's death, Mr. Drummond en-
tered the house, which was on the opposite side of
the street from the store.
This was the supper hour, and supper was
ready upon the table.
A single glance was sufficient to show that Mr.
Drummond was not a man to indulge in luxurious
living. There was a plate of white bread, cut in
thin slices, a small plate of butter, half a pie, and
a plate of cake. A small pitcher of milk, a bowl
of coarse brown sugar, and a pot of the cheapest
kind of tea completed the preparations for the
evening meal. Certainly there was nothing ex-
travagant about these preparations; but Mr.
Drummond thought otherwise. His attention
was at once drawn to the cake, and instantly a
frown gathered upon his face.
" Are you going to have company to-night,
Mrs. Drumm.ond ? ^ he asked.
*' Not that I know of," answered his wife, in
somie surprise.
" Then why is it that you have put both pie and
cake on the table ? "
" There is only half a pie, Mr. Drumn^ond,"
she said nervously.
"Well, there are but three of us. fou can
^et three good-sized pieces from half a pie. That
22 STRONG AND STEADY
will be one for each of us. What would you have
more ? "
*' The cake is a cheap kind."
" No cake is cheap, Mrs. Drummond. I take
it you used eggs, butter, and sugar in making it."
" Yes, but "
" No buts, if you please, Mrs. Drummond.
You are probably not aware that all these articles
are very dear at present. Until they get lower
we need not have cake, except when company is
present,"
That being the case, Mr. Drummond was not
likely to be put to much expense on this score.
They seldom had company, and those who came
once were not anxious to come again. For even
on such occasions Mr. Drummond could not for-
get his ruling principle. The overflowing hos-
pitality which even in the humblest village house-
holds crowns the board with plenty when visitors
are present was never to be found there; and be-
sides, the visitors could not help having an uneasy
suspicion that their host grudged them the nig-
gardly entertainment he did provide. So for
three years the Stapleton Sewing Circle had met
but once at the Drummonds', and there was no
immediate prospect of their meeting there for an-
other three years.
It may be supposed that Mr. Drummond was
not fond of good eating. This, however, would
he quite a mistake. When he dined or took ter
STRONG AND STiL/vDY 23
out, he always did full justice to the different
dainties which were provided, and seemed to en-
joy them as long as they were furnished at the
expense of another.
" Take away the cake, if you please, Mrs,
Drummond," continued her husband. " You can
save it for Sunday evening."
" I am afraid it will be dried up by that time,"
" If it is dry, you can steam it,"
* That spoils cake."
" You seem very contrary to-night, Mrs.
Drummond. I have continually to check you in
your extravagant tastes. Cake and pie, indeed!
If you had your way, you would double my house-
hold expenses,"
Mrs, Drummond rose from the table and
meekly removed the offending cake.
Just then the third and only other member of
the family entered.
This was Joshua Drummond, the only son, now
eighteen years of age, though he looked scarcely
more than sixteen. He inherited his father's
meanness, but not his frugality. He was more
self-indulgent, and, though he grudged spending
money for others, was perfectly ready to spend as
much as he could get hold of for himself.
CHAPTER V
THE UNDERLYING MOTIVE
Over Joshua Mr. Drummond had less centred
than over his wife. The latter gave way meekly
to his unreasonable requisitions; but Joshua did
not hesitate to make opposition, being as selfish
and self-willed as his father, for whom he enter-
tained neither respect nor affection.
Joshua looked round him disdainfully.
" Is this Fast Day? " he asked.
*' You know very well that Fast Day comes in
April," said his father.
" I only judged from the looks of the table/*
said Joshua, not very respectfully. " You don't
mean that we shall any of us suffer from the
gout."
" Bread and butter and pie are good enough
for anybody," said Mr. Drummond stiffly.
*' I don't see any pie. Excuse me, there is a
little — so little that I did not at first see it."
This was too much for Mr. Drummond's
temper.
" Unmannerly boy ! " he exclaimed ; "i^ yow are
24
STRONG AND STEADY 25
dissatisfied with the fare you get at home, you can
engage board elsewhere."
"I would like to," muttered Joshua, in a low
voice, which his father chose not to hear.
In silence he helped himself to bread and but-
ter, and in due time accepted a piece of pie, which
Mrs. Drummond made larger at the expense of
her own share.
Harmony thus being restored, Mr. Drummond
remarked :
" I've had a telegram to-day from Willough-
by."
"From Willoughby?" repeated his wife.
* Isn't that where your cousin, William Conrad,
Hves?"
" He doesn't live there any longer. He's
dead."
"Dead! When did he die?"
" I don't know. Yesterday, I suppose. The
funeral is to be day after to-morrow."
"Shall you go?"
" Yes. It will cost me considerable ; as much
as five dollars or more; but he was my cousin,
and it is my duty to go," said Mr. Drummond,
with the air of a man who was making a great
sacrifice.
" He was rich, wasn't he? " asked Joshua, be-
coming interested.
" Probably worth a hundred thousand dollars.'"
said his father complacently.
26 STRONG AND STEADY
" I should think he might have left me some-
thing," said Joshua.
" He never saw you, Joshua," said his mother.
" Joshua stands a better chance of getting a
legacy from one who doesn't know him than from
one who does," said Mr. Drummond, with grim
pleasantry.
" He leaves children, doesn't he, Mr. Drum-
mond?"
" One child — a boy. Let me see, he must be
fifteen by this time."
''And his mother isn't living?"
" No."
"Poor boy!"
" He'll be a rich boy, Mrs. Drummond, and I'll
tell you what, I shouldn't wonder if we had a
good chance to know him."
"How so?"
" It's likely I will be appointed his guardian.
I'm the nearest relative, so that will be the most
proper course,"
" Will he come here, then ? " asked Joshua.
" Very probably."
" Then I hope you'll live better, or he won't
stand it."
" When I require any advice from you, Joshua,
I will apply for it," said his father^
Joshua inwardly hoped that his father would
be appointed guardian, for he hoped that in this
event it would make a difference in the family
STRONG AND STEADY 27
Kving'; and, besides, if his cousin were rich, he
meant to wheedle himself into his confidence, ia
the hope of future advantage.
*' When shall you set out ? " asked Mrs. Drum-
mond.
" To-morrow morning, I think," said her hus-
band. " It will be hard to leave, but it's due to
my cousin's memory."
Mr. Drummond had become very punctilious
all at once, considering that for the last dozen
years Mr, Conrad, who had by no means admired
him, had had little or no communication with him.
But then he had died rich, and who knows what
sort of a will he had left? At any rate, Jacob
began to feel a strong interest in him now. He
might have put off going to Willoughby till the
morning train on the day of the funeral, for two
o'clock was the hour fixed for the last ceremony;
but he M^as in a hurry to learn all he could about
the property, and secure, if possible, the guardian-
ship for himself. This was the secret of his will-
ingness to sacrifice time and money out of regard
to his cousin's memory. The next day, therefore,
he started, taking with him in his valise a lundi
of bread and meat tied up in a piece of brown,-
paper. He didn't intend to spend any more
money than was absolutely necessary on tavern
bills.
Shortly after his arrival, he called at the house
of mourning.
28 STRONG AND STEADY
" I am Jacob Drumraond, of Stapleton, the
UyUsin of the deceased," he explained to Nancy,
who opened the door to admit him. " Is my
youn^^ relative, Mr. Conrad's son, at home r "
" Yes, sir," said Nancy, taking an inventory of
his features, and deciding that he was a very dis-
agreeable-looking man.
" \N\\\ you mention my name to him, and say
that I would like to see him? "
Mr. Drummond was ushered into the parlor,
where he had a little chance to lock around him
before Walter appeared.
" It's all nonsense wasting so much money on
furniture," he mentally ejaculated. " The money
spent is a dead loss when it might be drawing
handsome interest."
Walter did not long keep him waiting.
Mr. Drummond rose at his entrance.
" I suppose you don't know me," he said; " but
I was your father's nearest living relative."
" Mr. Drummond, I believe."'
" Yes, Jacob Drummond, of Stapleton. You
ijave probably heard your father speak of me ? '*
"Yes, sir." said Walter.
" I came as soon as I could after getting the
telegram. I left my business to take care of it-
self. ~ wanted to ofifer you my svmnaLny on youf
sa<- "ops."
"^'T. Drummond's words were kin J!, ^^ousfh the
reicrence to his .sacrifice in leavmj^^ his business
STRONG AND STEADY 29
might have been as well left out. Still Walter
could not feel as grateful as he wanted to do.
Somehow he didn't fancy Mr. Drummond.
" You are very kind," he said.
" I mean to be. You know I'm your nearest
relation now. I truly feel for you in your deso-
late condition, and though it m.ay not be the right
time to say it, I must tell you I hope, when the
funeral is over, you will' accompany me home,
and share our humble hospitality. Mrs. Drum-
mond joins me in the invitation."
Mrs. Drummond had not been consulted in the
matter, but her husband thought it would sound
•well to say so.
" I have not had time to think of future ar-
rangements," said Walter; " but I thank you
for your invitation."
Walter did not know the motives which induced
Mn Drummond to extend this invitation, but sup-
posed it to be meant in kindness, and so acknowl-
edged it.
" My son Joshua, too," said Mr. Drummond
" is longing to make your acquaintance. He i£
older than you, but not much larger. How old
are you ? "
" I am fifteen.*'
" You are well grown of your age; Joshua is
eighteen, but he will make a very pleasant com-
panion for you. Let m^. hop^- that you will accet^
my mvitation."
30 STRONG AND STEADY
" Thank you, Mr. Drummond; I will consult
my friends about it."
" I wonder how much I could venture to ask
for board," thought Mr. Drummond. " If I am
his guardian, I can fix that to suit myself. A
hundred thousand dollars would make me a rich
man. That is, I could make money from it, with-
out injuring the boy."
Mr, Drummond asked a few more questions
about Mr. Conrad's sickness and death. Walter
answered them, but did not think it necessary to
speak of his losses by the mining company. Mr.
Drummond was a stranger, and not a man to in-
spire confidence. So Walter told as little as he
could. At length the visitor, having exhausted
inquiries, rose.
" I shall be here to-morrow," he said. " I am
stopping at the tavern. I shall return to Staple-
ton after the ceremony. I hope you will make
up your mind to go back with me."
" I could not be ready so soon," answered Wal-
ter doubtfully.
" I can wait till next day."
" That will not be necessary, Mr. Drummond,
I shall have no difficulty in making the journey,
alone, if I conclude to accept your kind invita-
tion."
Mr. Drummond shook our hero's hand sym-
pathetically, and at length withdrew. As he went
down the avenue, he took a backward glance at-
STRONG AND STEADY 31
the handsome mansion in which his cousin had
lived.
"That boy owns all that property," he said
half-enviously, "and never worked a day frr it.
I've had to work for all my money. But it was
foolish to spend so much money on a house. A
thiid the sum would have built a comfortable
house, and the rest might have been put at inter-
est. If it turns out that I am the boy's guardian,
I think I shall sell it. That '11 be the best course."
With these reflections Mr. Drummond pursued
bis way back to the village tavern, where he had
taken the precaution to ascertain that he should be
charged but a dollar and a quarter a day. He
considered that a dollar would have been suffi-
cient, but still it was proper to make some sacri-
fice to his. cousin's memory. Mr. Conrad's min-
ing speculation was not generally known in the
village as yet, so that Mr. Drummond did not hear
a word as to his loss of property.
CHAPTER VI
THE OPENING OF THE WILL
The funeral was over. Mr. Drummond, as
indeed his relationship permitted, was one of the
principal mourners. Considering that he had not
seen Mr. Conrad for five years preceding his
death, nor during that time communicated with
him in any way, he appeared to be very much
overcome with grief. He kept his eyes covered
with a large white handkerchief, and his move-
ments indicated suppressed agitation. He felt
that this was a tribute due to a cousin who had
left over one hundred thousand dollars.
When they had returned from the grave, Mr.
Drummond managed to have a word with Walter.
" Have you decided to accept my offer, and
make your home beneath my humble roof ? " he
asked.
' " There has been no time to consult with my
friends here, Mr. Drummond. I will let you
know next week. I thank you at any rate for
your kindness."
*' Do come, Walter," said his cousin, twisting
|j«c :iean features into an affectionate smilc-
%2
STRONG AND STEADY 33
" With you beneath my humble roof, I shall want
nothing to complete my happiness."
Walter thanked him again, wondering at the
same time why Mr. Drummond's kindness did not
affect him. more sensibly.
So Jacob Drummond went back to Stapleton,
still ignorant of the state of Mr, Conrad's affairs,
and still regarding Walter as a boy of great
wealth.
When the will was opened it was found to bear
date two years back, before Mr. Conrad had
plunged into the speculation which had proved so
disastrous to him. He bequeathed all the prop-
erty which he did possess to Walter, with the ex-
ception of five hundred dollars, which were left
as a legacy to his faithful housekeeper, Nancy
Forbes. At the time the will was made, its pro-
visions made Walter heir to a large fortune.
Now it was quite uncertain how things would
turn out. Clement Shaw, the village lawyer, an
honest and upright man, was made executor, be-
ing an old and tried friend of tlie deceased.
With him Walter had a long and confidential
conversation, imparting to him what he knew o£
his father's mining speculation and its disastrous
result, with its probable effect in accelerating his
death.
" I knew something of this before, Walter,**
said Mr. Shaw. " Your father spoke to me of
being largely interested in the Great Metropolitan
34 STRONG AND STEADY
Mining Company; but of the company itself ana
the extent to which he was involved I knew
nothing."
" I think my father must have been very seri-
ously involved," said Walter. " It may, perhaps,
swallow up the whole property."
" Let us hope not. Indeed, I can hardly be-
lieve that your father would have ventured so deep
as that."
" He had every confidence in the company; he
thought he was going to double his money. If
only a part of his property was threatened, I don't
think it would have had such an effect upon him."
" I will thoroughly examine into the affair,"
said Mr. Shaw. " Meanwhile, Walter, hope for
the best ! It can hardly be that the whole prop-
erty is lost. Do not be too anxious."
" Do not fear for me on that account," said
Walter. " I always looked forward to being rich,
it is true, but for all that I can bear poverty. If the
worst comes, and I am penniless, I am strong, and
can work. I can get along as well as thousands
of other boys who have to support themselves."
Walter xlid not speak boastfully by any means,
but in a calm, confident way, that argued a con-
sciousness of power.
" Yes," said the lawyer, regarding him atten-
tively, " I think you are right there. You are
just the boy who can make his own way; but "^<
hope you will not be obliged to do so."
STRONG AND STEADY 3S
•* There is one thing I would like to say, j\lFi
Shaw," said Walter, " and that is about the money
my father leayes in his will to Nancy."
" The circumstances were different. She will
not expect it now, that is, of course, unless things
turn out more favorably than we fear,"
" That is not what I mean. Nancy must have
the money, if there is so much left after selling
the estate."
" But suppose only five hundred dollars are
left. Of course I hope it will be much more, but
we must think of all contingencies."
" If only five hundred dollars are left, let Nancy
have them."
'* But, Walter^ consider yourself."
" I am young and strong. Nancy has spent
her best years in my father's service, and she is
no longer young. It is right that she should
have some provision. Besides, my father meant
her to have it," and I want to carry out his
wishes."
" This is all very generous, Walter; but I am
afraid it is inconsiderate. It would not be 5'-our-
father's wish to provide even for Nancy, however
faithful she may have been, at the expense of his
son."
" It is right," said Walter. " Besides, Mr.
Shaw, I find that Nancy had laid up six hundred
dollars, which she had deposited in my father's
hands. That also must be paid, if there is enough
36 STRONG AND STEADY
to pay it; if not, I will take it upon myself to pay
whenever I am able."
^' You're an excellent boy, Walter," said Mr,
Shaw. " I always had a gooc, opinion of you,
and I find it is more than deserved. I honor yo\x
for the resolution you have expressed, though I
cannot quite agree with you about the five hun-
dred dollars. As to the debt, that must be paid,
if there is money enough to pay it. But we can
leave the further discussion of this question for
the present. Now let us consider what is to be-
come of you in the meantime. You were at the
Essex Classical Institute, I believe?"
" Yes, sir."
" You would like to go back again, I sup-
• pose? "
" No, Mr. Shaw. It is an expensive school,
and while it is uncertain how my father's affairs
will come out, I should not feel justified in going
there."
" Perhaps you are right. Of course, you can*
not stay here, and keep house by yourself. I
would invite you to my own house, but my wife
is an invalid, and I have to consider her in the
matter."
" Thank you, Mr. Shaw; but I think perhaps I
hsd better accept the offer of Mr. Drummond, of
Stapleton. He invites me to make my home at
his hous*^, and, for tne present, perhaps, that will
be the test arrangement."
STRONG AND STEADY 37
" I am not acquainted with Mr. Drummond.
He is a relation, I believe."
" Yes, he is my father's cousin, and so, of
course, my second cousin."
" I think I saw him at the funeral."
" Yes, he was present."
Mr. Shaw had seen Jacob Drummond, and had
not been favorably impressed by his appearance.
Still, his offer was not one to be hastily rejected,
for no better reason than a little prejudice, which
might prove unfounded. Accordingly he said:
" Well, Walter, as you say, I am not sure whether
this may not be the best arrangement for you,
that is, for the present. If you don't like to stay
at Stapleton, you can write me, and I will see what
I can do for you."
" Thank you, Mr. Shaw."
Nancy was much troubled at the thought of
parting from Walter, whom she had known from
his infancy; but a situation was immediately
offered her in the village, and Walter promised
to take her as his housekeeper whenever he had
a home of his own, and this comforted her, al-
though it was likely to be a long time until then,
since our hero was at present but fifteen.
*' Your six hundred dollars shall be paid,
Nancy," said Walter, " as soon as father's affairs
are settled."
" Don't bother . yourself about that, Master
Walter/' said Nancy. ** I've e:ot fifty dollars in
38 STRONG AND STEADY
my trunk, and I don't^ need the other at all. I
can wait for it five years."
" It won't be necessary to wait as long as that,
Nancy."
" And so you are going to that Mr. Drum-
mond's ? I'm sorry for it. I don't like the man's
looks at all."
" He may be a good man. He was kind to
invite me."
"He isn't a good man," said Nancy posi-
tively. " He's got a mean sort of look to his
face."
" You mustn't try to prejudice me before I go
to him, Nancy."
" You'll think as I do before you've been there
a week," said Nancy, shaking her head. " I took
a good look at him when he was here, and I didn't
like bis looks."
" He isn't very handsome," said Walter, with a
laugh, " but everybody can't be handsome."
Secretly he did not wonder much at Nancy's
prejudice. Mr. Drummond certainly was a mean-
looking man. How he could be so nearly related
to his father, who was a generous, open-handed,
and open-hearted man, was surprising. Still
Walter was just enough to reserve his judgment
until his opportunities of judging were greater
than at present.
He -wrote a brief letter to Stapleton as fol-
lows:
STRONG AND STEADY 39
** Mr. Drummond :
" Dear Sir : I will accept the invitation you were
kind enough to extend to me, for the present, at
least, and will come to Stapleton about the middle
of next week. You are the only relation of my
father that I know of, and I think it would be his
wish that I should go to you. If it should be in-
convenient for you to receive me at that time,
please write me at once.
" Yours respectfully,
" Walter Conrad."
In return, Walter received a letter couched in
the most cordial terms, in which Mr. Drummond
signed himself, " Your affectionate cousin." He
was delighted, he said, to think that he was about
to receive, under his humble roof, the son of his
revered and lamented cousin.
CHAPTER VII
Walter's welcome
" Mrs. Drummond," said her husband, " young
Mr. Conrad will be here by four o'clock this after-
noon. You will have a nice supper ready at five^"
" Shall I have cake and pie both ? " inquired
Mrs. Drummond doubtfully.
" Certainly. Indeed, it may be as well to have
two kinds of pie, say apple and pumpkin; and, as
we have not had hot biscuit for some time, you
may bake some."
Mrs. Drummond looked at her husband as if
she had doubts as to his sanity. Such a luxurious
meal was quite unheard of in the Drummond
household.
" Cake, two kinds of pie, and hot biscuit ! " she
repeated.
" Yes," he replied. " I am not in general in
favor of such extra living, but it is well to pay
some respect to the memory of my deceased kins-
man in the person of his son. Being the son of
a rich man, he has been accustomed to rich living,
and I wish himi, on his advent into our family,,
to feel at home."
|0
ST-RONG AND STEADY 4a
Mrs, Drummond prepared to obey her hus-
band's directions with alacrity.
" Joshua will get a good supper for once," she
thought, thinking more of her son than of the
Stranger who was to enter the family, " How
surprised he will be to see such a variety on the
table ! '"
Not that Joshua was strictly confined to the
spare diet of his father's table. Through his
mother's connivance there was generally an extra
piece of pie or cake in the pantry laid aside for
him. Had Mr, Drummond suspected this, he
would have been very angry; but, being at the
store a greater portion of the time, he had no
knowledge of the extra indulgence allowed his
son.
Mr. Drummond himself met Walter at the
depot.
" I am delighted to welcome you to Stapleton,
my young friend," he said, shaking his hand
cordially. " In the affliction which has come
upon you, let me hope that you will find a haven
of rest beneath my humble roof."
" I wonder why he always speaks of his ' hum-
ble roof,' " thought Walter. " Does he live in
a shanty, I wonder ? "
He made suitable acknowledgments, and pro-
ceeded to walk beside Mr. Drummond to the
house which he termed humble.
^<- did not deserve that nrnat» being a substantial
42 STRONG AND STEADY
two-story house, rather ugly, architecturally, but
comfortable enough in appearance.
" That is my humble dwelling," said Mr.
Drummond, pointing it out. " It is not equal
to the splendid mansion in which you have been
accustomed to live, but my worldly circumstances
differ widely from those of your late lamented
parent; but I trust that in our humble way we
shall be enabled to make you comfortable."
" Thank you, Mr. Drummond; I have no doubt
of that. Your house looks very comfortable."
" Yes, it is plain and humble, but comfortable.
We are plain people. We are not surrounded by
the appliances of wealth, but we manage, in our
humble way, to get through life. That is my
son, Joshua, who is looking out of the front win-
dow. I hope you may become good friends, con-
sidering how nearly you are related."
Weaker raised his eyes and saw Joshua, whose,
small, mean features, closely resembling his
father's, expressed considerable curiosity. Wal-
ter secretly doubted whether he should like him;
but this doubt he kept to himself.
Mr. Drummond opened the outer door, and
led the way in.
*' This is my wife, Mrs. Drummond," he said,
as she approached and kindly welcomed the
young stranger.
" I think I shall like her," thought Walter, suf»
fering his glance to rest for a moment on her
STRONG AND STEADY 43
mild, placid features; ''she is evidently quite
superior to her husband."
" Joshua, come here and welcome Mr. Conrad,**
said his father.
Joshua came forward awkwardly, and held out
his hand with the stiffness of a pump-handle.
" How dy do ? " he said. " Just come? "
" Yes." said Walter, accepting the hand, and
shaking it slightly.
" Are you tired with your journey, Mr. Con-
rad ? " asked Mrs. Drummond. " Perhaps you
would like to be shown to your room."
" Thank j^ou," said Walter. " I will go up for
a few minutes."
" Where are you going to put our young friend,
Mrs. Drummond ? "
" In the spare chamber."
" That is right. You will find some differ-
ence, Mr. Conrad, between our humble accom-
modations and the sumptuous elegance of your
own home; but w^ will try and make it up by a
hearty welcome."
*' I wish he wouldn't use the word * humble *
so much," thought Walter.
Walter went upstairs, preceded by Mr. Drum-
mond, who insisted on carrying his carpetbag,
for his trunk would not arrive till the next day,
having been forwarded by express.
" I say, mother," remarked Joshua, " the oldi
man's awfullv oolite to this younsr fellow."
44 STRONG AND STEADY
" You shouldn't speak of your father in that
way, Joshua."
" Oh, what's the odds ? He is an old man, isn't
he? I just wish he'd be as pohte to me. I say,
I hope he'll like his boarding place. What are
you going to have for supper ? "
V Hot biscuit, cake, and two kinds of pie."
" Whew ! won't the old man look like a thun-
der-cloud ? "
" That's what he told me to get. You do your
father injustice, Joshua."
Mrs. Drummond knew in her secret heart that
her husband was intensely mean ; but she was one
of those who like to think as well as possible of
everyone, and was glad of an opportunity to
prove that he could, on rare occasions, be more
generous.
*" Father's brains must be softening," said
Joshua, after recovering in a measure from his
astonishment. " I hope it will be permanent
Isn't supper 'most ready? "
" At five o'clock, Joshua."
" This young chap's got a lot of money, I sup-
pose, and the governor's after some c^ -t. That
explains the matter."
" I wish you wouldn't speak so disrespectfully
of y^^t* father, Joshua,"
" i won't if he'll keep on a.« He » oegun. I'm
glad this young Conrad has coiue to board he^'e
I'm going to get thick with him."
STRONG AND STEADY 45
" He seems like a very nice boy," said Mrs.
Drummond.
" I don't care what sort of a boy he is as long
as he's got the tin. I'm going to make him
treat."
" You must be considerate of his feelings,
Joshua. Remember that he has just lost his
father."
" Suppose he has, there's no need of looking
glum about it."
Had Jacob Drummond died, Joshua would have
borne the loss with the greatest fortitude. Of
that there was no doubt. Indped, he would rather.
have hailed the event with joy, if, as he expressed
it, the " old man did the right thing," and left
him the bulk of his property. Though such feel-
ings did not do Joshua much credit, it must be
said in extenuation that his father was far from
being a man to inspire affection in anyone, how-
ever nearly related.
At five o'clock ttiey sat down to supper.
" I hope, Mr. Conrad," said Jacob, " you will
be able to relish our humble repast."
" Humble again ! " thought Walter. He was
about to say that everything looked very ni^**-
when Joshua said:
" If you call this humble, I don't know what
you'd say to the suppers that we commonly
have/'
Mr. Dnmunond, who desired, lor this dav. at
46 STRONG AND STEADY
least, to keep up appearances, frowned with vex-
ation.
" Joshua," he said, " I desire that you will act in
r more gentlemanly way, or else leave the table.'*
^s leaving the table on the present occasion
would have been, indeed, a deprivation, Joshua
thought it wise not to provoke his father too far,
at any rate, until after he had made sure of his
supper. He therefore left, most of the conversa-
tion to his father.
" Have you ever been in Stapleton before, Mr.
Conrad ? " asked Mr. Drummond.
" No, sir; never."
" It is not a large place, but it is growing; the
people are plain, but they have kind hearts. I
hope you may like the town after a while."
" Thank you, sir; I have no doubt I shall."
" If you feel inclined for a walk, Joshua will
go out with you after supper, and show you the
mill dam, the church, and the schoolhouse. He
will also point out the store — it is only across the
way — where, in my humble way, I try to earn a
living. I shall be very glad if you will come in
and take a look inside. I may be busy, for work
has accumulated during my absence, but Joshua
will show you around."
" Thank you, sir."
" Will you have another cup of tea, Mr. Coo-
fad? " asked Mrs. Drummond.
"Thank you."
STRONG AND STEADY 47
" May I ask, Mr. Conrad — excuse my intruding
the question — who is left executor of your father's
estate ? "
" Mr. Shaw, the lawyer in our village.'*
" Is he ? Do you have confidence in him ? "
" He is an excellent man, very honest and up-
right. He was an intimate friend of my father.'*
" Ah, indeed ! I am glad of it. Then he will
consult your interests."
" Yes, sir, I feel quite safe in his hands."
" I am glad to hear you say so. So many law-
yers, you know, are tricky."
" Mr. Shaw is not tricky."
" We have no lawyer here," pursued Mr.
Drummond. " You will perhaps be surprised to
hear it, but my humble services are frequently
called into requisition, in administering and
settling estates."
" Indeed, sir."
" Yes ; but I am glad you have got a man you
can trust. Mrs. Drummond, I think Mr. Conrad
will have another piece of pie."
Supper was over at length, and Walter, bv
invitation, went out to walk with Joshua.
CHAPTER VIII
A RICH JOKE
Walter did not anticipate a very pleasant walk
with Joshua. The little he had seen of that
young man did not prepossess him in his favor.
However, having* no other way of spending his
time, he had no objection to the walk.
" That's the eld man's store just across the
street," said Joshua, as they emerged from the
house.
''Your father's?"
" Of course. Don't you see the name on the
sign ? '* Walter did see it, but never having been
accustomed to speak of his own father as " the
old man," he was not quite sure he apprehended
Joshua's meaning.
" You were an only child, weren't you ? '* said
IJoshua.
** Yes," said Walter soberly.
He could not help thinking what a comfort
it would have been to him to have either brother
or sister. He would have felt less alone in the
w^orld.
48
STRONG AND STEADY 49
So am I," said Joshua, adding complacently,
" Between you and I, the old man has laid up
quite a snug sum. Of course, it'll all come to me
some day."
" I am glad to hear it," said Walter, wondering
that Joshua should have made such a communica-
tion to a comparative stranger.
"To hear the old man talk," pursued Joshua,
" you'd think he was awful poor. He's stingy
enotigh about everything in the house. There
isn't a family in town that don't live better than
we do."
" I thought we had a very good supper," said
Walter, who experienced not a little disgust at
Joshua's charges against his father.
" That was because you were with us. ,The
old man laid himself out for the occasion.'^
" I'm sorry if any difference was made on my
account."
" W^ell, I ain't. It's the first decent supper Vvi
eaten at home since the Sev/ing Circle met at our
house three years ago."
" Is that the church ? " asked Walter, desiroUiS
of diverting the conversation into another chan-
nel.
" Yes, that's the old meeting house. I hate
to go there. The minister's an old fogy."
*' '^^ha. !s t^at I see through the trees? Is it a
river ? "
"No,it*sai>.^."
50 STRONG AND STEADY
" Do you ever go out on it ? "
" Not very often, I tried to get the old man
to buy me a boat, but lie wouldn't do it. He's too
stingy."
" I wouldn't talk so about your father."
"Why not?"
" Because he is entitled to your respect."
" I don't know about that. If he'd treat me as
he ought to, I'd treat him accordingly. He never
gives me a cent if he can help it. Now how much
do you think he allows me a week for spending
money ? "
" I can't tell."
" Only twenty-five cents, and I*m eighteen
years old. Isn't that mean? "
" It isn't a very large sum."
" Of course not. He ought to give me five dol-
lars a week, and then I'd buy my own clothes.
Now J have to take up with what I can get. He
wanted to have his old overcoat, that he'd worn
three winters, made over for me; but I wouldn't
stand it. I told him I'd go without first."
Though these communications did not raise
Joshua in the estimation of Walter, the latter
could not help thinking that there was probably
some foundation for what was said, and the prej-
udice against Mr. Drummond, for which he had
blam.ed himself as without cause, began to find
some extenuation.
" When I talk to the old man about his stinting
STRONG AND STEADY 51
me so,*' continued Joshua, " he tells me to go to
work, and earn some money."
"Why don't you do it?"
" He wants me to go into his store, but he
wouldn't pay me anything. He offered me a dol-
lar and a half a week; but I wasn't going to work
ten or twelve hours a day for no such sum. If I
could get a light, easy place in the city, say at ten
dollars a week, I'd go. There ain't any chance
in Stapleton for a young man of enterprise."
" I've thought sometimes," said Walter, " that
I should like to get a place in the city; but I sup-
pose I couldn't get enough at first to pay board."
" You get a place ! " exclaimed Joshua, in as-
tonishment. " I thought you were going to col-
lege."
" Father intended I should; but his death will
probably change my plans."
" I don't see why."
" It is expensive passing through college : I can-
not afford it."
" Oh, that's all humbug. You're talking like
the old man."
" How do you know that it is humbug? " de-
manded Walter, not very well pleased with his
companion's tone.
" Why, you're rich. The old man told me that
your father left a hundred thousand dollars,
You're the only son; you told me so yourself,"
" Your father is mistaken."
^2 STRONG^ AND STEADY
" What, wasn't your father rich ? " asked
Joshua, opening his small eyes in amazement.
" My father was unfortunate enough to get in-
volved in a speculation, by which he lost heavily.
I can't tell how his affairs stand until they are
settled. I may be left penniless."
" Do you m.ean that? " asked Joshua, stopping
abruptly and facing his companion.
" I generally mean what I say," said Walter
rather stiffly.
Joshua's answer was a low whistle of amaze-
ment.
" Whew ! " he said. " That's the biggest joke
I've heard of lately." And he followed up his re™
mark with a burst of merriment.
V/alter looked at him in surprise. He cer-
. tainly did not know what to make of Joshua's
conduct. ,■
" I don't see any joke about it," he said. ** I
don't complain of being poor, for I think I can
earn my own living-; but it doesn't strike me as a
thing to laugh at."
" I was laughing to think how the old man is
+aken in. It's rich ! "
Joshua burst into another fit of boisterous
laughter.
" "^ow is he taken in?"
" He thinks ^^ou are worth a hundred thousand
nouars," said Jooiiua, going off into another peal
*»^ merriment.
STRONG AND STEADY S3
" Well, he is mistaken, that's all. I don't see
how he is taken in."
" He's been doing the polite, and treating you
as if you was a prince of the blood. That's the
reason he told the old woman to get up such a
nice supper. He expected to get you to take him
for a guardian, and then he'd have the handling
of your money. Won't he be mad when he finds
out how he's been taken in ? Giving you the best
room, too ! Are you sure that none of the prop-
erty will be left ? "
" Probably not much."
That Walter listened with mortification and
disgust to what Joshua had told him about his
father's selfish designs, is only what might be ex-
pected. It is always disagreeable to find out the
meanness of those whom you have supposed kind
to you for your own sake. This, to Walter, who
had been accustomed to an atmosphere of kind-
ness, was a painful discovery. It was his first
experience of the coldness and hollo wness of the
world, and to the sensitive nature of youth
this first revelation is very painful and very
bitter.
" I am sorry to think that your father made
such a mistake," he said coldly. " I will take
care to undeceive him."
" What ! You're not going to tell him, are
you?"
" Certainly, I meant to do so; but I did nofc
54 STRONG AND STEADY
suppose he invited me just because he thought t
was rich."
"What for, then?"
" Being my father's cousin and nearest relation,
it didn't seem very strange that he should have
invited me on that account."
" The old man's pretty shrewd," said Joshua
rather admiringly. " He knows which way his
bread is buttered. He don't lay himself out for
any poor relations, not if he knows it."
" I am sorry if he has laid himself out for me
under a mistake."
" I ain't. It's a good joke on the old man.
Besides, we all got a better supper by it. Don't
you tell him about it till to-morrow."
"Why not?"
^ " Because, if you do, we'll have a mean break-
fast as usual. I just want him to think you're
rich a little while longer, so we can have some-
thing decent for once."
" I don't feel willing to deceive your father
any longer. I have not willingly deceived him at
all."
" You're a fool, then ! "
" Look here," said Walter, flushing a little, "I
don't allow people to call me by that name."
" No offense," said Joshua, whose physical
courage was not very great. " I didn't mean
anything, of course, except that it was foolish to
blurt it all out to-night, when there isn't any need
STIRONG AND STEADY 55
of it. There isn't such an awful hurry, is
there?"
" I would rather your father knew at once."
** To-morrow will be soon enough."
" At any rate, I shall tell him to-morrow then.
But I've got tired of walking. Suppose we go
back."
" Just as you say."
They went back together. Mr. Drummond
was in the store, but Mrs. Drummond was at
home.
** You didn't go far," she said. " But I sup-
pose you were tired, Mr. Conrad."
" A little," answered Walter.
"I wonder," thought our hero, " whether she
will change as soon as she finds out that I am
poor?" Somehow he felt that she would not.
She seemed very different from her husband and
her son, and Walter was inclined to like her better.
Joshua went out again soon, not having much
taste for staying home; and, as Walter retired
early, he did not see either him or his father till
the next morning at breakfast
CHAPTER IX
A MORTIFYING REVEL ATIOX
JoS;iiia's expectations of a good breakfast were
realized. As he entered the room where the table
was set, he saw a dish of beefsteak, another of
fried potatoes, and some hot biscuit. This with
coffee was very much better than the breakfast
usually provided in the Drummond household.
Joshua burst into a fresh fit of laughter, think-
i 'g how his father had been taken in.
"What's the matter, Joshua?" asked his
mother, who was the only person in the room be-
sides himself.
" Oh, it's the richest joke, mother! "
"What is?" asked Mrs. Drummond, per-
plexed.
" I can't tell you now, but you'll find out pretty
soon. Ho, ho ! "
And Joshua commenced ro laugh again.
" Has Mr. Conrad come downstairs ? "
" I haven't seen Mr. Conrad this morning," an-
swered Joshua, imitating his mother's tone in re-
peating the name.
Just then Walt'^** entered, and said, " Good-
morning."
56
STRONG AND STEADY $?
'* Good-morning, Mr. Conrad," said Mrs.
Drnmmond. " I hope you slept well."
"Very well, thank you," said Walter.
Mr. Drummo«d here entered from the street,
having been for an hour in the store opposite.
" Good-mornin,!?-, Mr, Conrad," he said. " I
trust you rested well, and hope you will be able to
do justice'TO our humble repast. I have been in
the store an hour. We who are not endowed
with the gifts of Fortune must be early astir!"
Joshua tried to suppress a laugh, but not with
entire success.
" What are you snickering at, Joshua ? " de-
manded Mr. Drummond, in a displeased tone.
** I don't know what Mr. Conrad will think of
your manners."
" You'll excuse them, won't you, Mr. Con-
rad ? " asked Joshua, beginning to chuckle again.
Knowing very well the source of his amuse-
ment, and feeling his own position to be an awk-
ward one, Walter was all the more resolved to
impart to Mr. Drummond without delay the con-
dition of his father's affairs. He tijd not answer
Joshua's appeal.
" I don't see what has got into you this morn-
ing, Joshua," said Mrs. Drummond mildly.
" You seem in very good spirits."
" So I am," said Joshua, with a grin.
His father suspected that the unusual excel-
^nce of the breakfast had something to do with
58 STRONG AND STEADY
Joshua's mirth, and was afraid he would kt out
something about it This made him a Httle nerv-
ous, as he wanted to keep up appearances before
his young guest.
Walter's appetite was not very good. His
father's death weighed heavily upon him, and
Joshua's revelation of the night before was not
calculated to cheer him. It was mortifying to
think that Mr. Drummond's gracious m.anner was
entirely owing to his supposed wealth; but of this
he entertained little doubt. He was anxious to
have the truth known, no matter how unfavorably
it might affect his position with the Drutnmonds,
There were some, he knew, whose kindness did
not depend on his reputed wealth. " You have
a poor appetite, Mr. Conrad," said Mr, Drum-
mond. " Let me give you another piece ol
steak."
" No, I thank you," said Walter.
" I'll take another piece, father," said Joshua,
" I have already helped you twice," said the
father, frowning.
" I'm hungry this morning," said Joshua, who,
knowing that he could not expect another as good
breakfast, determined to do full justice to this.
" If you are, you need not overeat," said Mr,
Drummond, depositing on his son's outstretched
plate a square inch of meat.
Joshua coolly helped himself to fried potatoes^
and appropriated a hot biscuit,, much to hi?
STRONG AND STEADY 59
tather's annoyance. He resolved to give Joshua
a private hint that he must be more sparing- in
his eating. He did not Hke to speak before Wal-
ter, desiring him to believe that he was a liberal
man. Joshua understood his father's feelings,
and it contributed to the enjoyment which he felt
at the thought of how richly his father was sold.
At length breakfast was over.
" I must go back to the store/' said Mr. Drum-
mond. " Joshua will look after you, Mr. Con-
rad. I hope you will be able to pass the time
pleasantly."
" If you can spare me five minutes, Mr. Drum-
mond, I should like to speak to you in private,"
said Walter, determined to put an end to the mis-
understanding at once.
" Certainly. I can spare you five or ten min-
utes, or more, Mr. Conrad. Won't you walk into
the parlor? "
The parlor was a very dreary-looking room,
dark, cold, and cheerless. A carpet, of an ugly
pattern, covered the floor ; there was a center table
in the middle of the room, with a few books, that
were never opened, resting upon it. Half a dozen
cane-bottomed chairs stood about the room, and
there were besides, a few of the stock articles
usually to be found in country parlors, including
a very hard, inhospitable-looking sofa. As the
Drummonds did not have much companv. this
room wa.<s ■«'^**" seldom used
6o STRONG AND STEADY
" Take a seat, Mr. Conrad," said Mr. Drun^
mond, seating himself.
Mr. Drummond was far from anticipating" the
nature of Walter's communicatior Indeed, he
cherished a hope that our hero was aoout to ask
his assistance in settling up the estate — a request
with which he would gladly have complied.
*' I don't suppose you know how I am situated *
Walter commenced — '^ I mean in relation to my
father's estate."
" I suppose it was all left to you, and very prop-
erly. I congratulate you on starting in the world
under such good auspices. I don't, of course,
know how much jT-our father left, but "
" It is not certain that my father left anything,'* -
said Walter, thinking it best to reveal everything
at once.
" What ! " exclaimed Mr. Drummond^. his
lower jaw falling, and looking very blank.
" My father made some investments recently
that turned out badly."
" But he was worth a very large property — it
can't all be lost."
" I am afraid there will be very little left, if
anything. He lost heavily by some mining stock,
which he bought at a high figure, and which ran
down to almost nothing."
"There's the house left, at any xc^te."
" My father borrowed its value, I understand;
I am afraid that must go, too."
STRONG AND STEADY 6i
Now, at length, it flashed upon Mr. Drurn-
mond how he had been taken in. He thought of
the attentions he had lavished upon Walter, of
the extra expense he had incurred, and all, as it
appeared, for a boy likely to prove penniless. He
might even expect to live upon him. These
thoughts, which rapidly succeeded each other,
mortified and made him angry.
" Why didn't you tell me this before, young
man ? " he demanded with asperity.
His change of tone and manner showed Walter
that Joshua was entirely right in his estimate of
his father's motives, and he in turn became indig-
nant.
" When did you expect me to tell you, Mr.
Drumraond ? " he said quickly. " I only arrived
yesterday afternoon, and I tell you this morning.
I would have told you last night, if you had been
in the house."
" Why didn't you tell me when I was in Wil-
loughby ? •*'
" I had other things to think of," said Walter
shortly. " The thought of my father's death and
of my loss shut out everything else."
" Well, what are you going to do? " asked Mr.
Drummond, in a hard tone.
" I shall have to earn my own living," said
Walter. " I am well and strong, and am nol
Hfraid'*
That is a good plan," saidi Mr. Drumw*^**^
62 STRONG AND STEADY
who knew Walter so little as to fear that he
wanted to become dependent upon him.
" When I was your age I had my own living
to- earn. What do you propose to do?"
" Have you a vacancy for me in your store ?
Joshua told me you wished him to go in."
** You couldn't earn much, for you don't know
anything of the business."
" I should not expect to. I am perfectly will-
ing to work for my board until I find out how my
father's affairs are going to turn out."
This proposal struck Mr. Drummond favor-
ably. He judged that Walter would prove a
valuable assistant when he w^ broken in, for it
was easy to see that he had energy. Besides, it
was desirable to keep him near until it was decided
whether Mr. Conrad's affairs were really in as
bad a state as his son represented. Even if a few
thousand dollars were left, Mr. Drummond would
like the handling of that sum. Then, again, no
one knew better than Mr. Drummond that Wai-
ter's board would cost him very little; for, of
course, he would at once return to his usual frugal
fare.
" Very well," he said; "you can go into the
store on those terms. As you say, you've got
your own living to earn, and the sooner you begin
the better."
Walter had not said this, bv<- ^e agreed withi
Mr. Drummond.
STRONG AND STEADY 6$
It may be thought strange that our hero should
liave been wilHng to enter the employment of such
a mean man; but he thought it wisest to remain
in the neighborhood until he could learn some-
thing definite about his father's affairs. He pre-
pared to go to work at once, partly because he
didn't wish to be dependent, partly because he
foresaw that he should be happier if employed.
When Mr. Drummond and Walter came out of
the parlor, Joshua was waiting in the next room,
and looked up eagerly to see how his father bore
the communication. He was disappointed when
he saw that Mr. Drummond looked much ^^
usual.
" Conrad has been telling me," said Mr. Drum-
mond, *' that his father lost a good deal of money
by speculation, and it is doubtful whether he has
left any property."
" I am very sorry," said Mrs. Drummond; and
Walter saw and appreciated her look of sym-
pathy. ^
" As he will probably have to work for a living,
he has asked for a place in my store," pursued
Mr. Drummond, " and I have agreed to take him
on trial. Conrad, you may get your hat and come,
over at once." ,
Joshua whistled in sheer amazement. The
affair had by no means terminated as he antici*
Dated.
THE NEW ASSISTANT
Mr. Drummond's store was of fair size, and
contained a considerable and varied stock of dry
goods. Not only the people of Stapleton, but a
considerable number of persons living outside the
town limits, but within a radius of half a dozen
miles, came there to purchase goods.
Besides Mr. Drummond there was a single
salesman, a young man of twenty-two, who wore
a cravat of immense size, and ostentatiously dis-
played in his bosom a mammoth breastpin, with
a glass imitation diamond, which, had it been real,
would have been equal in value to the entire con-
tents of the store. This young man, whose name
was Nichols, received from Mr. Drummond the
munificent salary of four hundred dollars per an-
num. Having a taste for dress, he patronized
the village tailor to the extent of his means, and
considerably beyond, being at this moment thirty
dollars in debt for the suit he wore.
Besides this young man. there had formerly
been a younger clerk, receiving the salary of four
64
STRANG AND STEAD\ 6$
dollars weekly. He had been dismissed for cok-
ing iv. have his pay raised to five dollars a week,
and since then Mr. Drummond had got along with
but one salesman. As, however, the business
really required more assistance, he was quite will-
ing to employ Walter on board wages, which he
estimated would not cost him, at the most, more
than two dollars a week.
" Mr. Nichols," said Mr. Drummond, " I have
brought you some help. This is Walter Conrad,
a distant relative " — had Walter been rich, Mr.
Drummond would no doubt have styled him a
near relative; " as he knows nothing of the busi-
ness, you can take him in charge, and give him
som.e idea about prices, and so forth."
" Yes, sir," said the young man, with an impor-
tant tone. " I'll soon break him in."
Mr. Nichols, who gave up what little mind he
had to the subject of clothes, began to inspect
Walter's raiment. He had sufficient knowledge
to percieve that our hero's suit was of fine fabric
and tastefully made. That being the case, he con-
cluded to pay him some attention.
" I'm glad youVe come," he said. " I have
to work like a dog.' I'm pretty well used up to»
day. I was up till two o'clock, dancing."
"Were you?"
" Yes. There was a ball over to Crampton. I
go to ^11 the balls within ten miles. Th^y can't
do without mr :"
66 STRONG AND STEADY
"Can't they?" asked Walter, not knowingf
what else to say,
" No. You see there isn't much style at these
country balls — I mean am.ong the young men.
They don't know how to dress. Now I give my
mind to it, and they try to imitate me. I don't
trust my tailor entirely. I just tell him what I
want and how I want it. Higgins, the tailor
here, has improved a great deal since he began to
make clothes for me."
"Indeed!"
" Where do you have your clothes made ? "
" In Willoughby, That's where I have alwa3rs
lived till I came here."
" Is there a good tailor there? "
" I think so; but then I am not much of a
judge." -
Just then a customer came in, and Mr. Nichols
was drawn away from his dissertation on
dress.
" Just notice how I manage," he said in a low
voice.
Accordingly Walter stood by and listened.
" Have you any calicoes that you can recom-
mend ? " asked the woman, who appeared to be
poor.
" Yes, ma'am, we've got some of the best in the
market — some that will be sure to suit you."
He took from the shelves and displayed a verj^
tiglv Dattern.
STRONG AND STEADY 6f
" I don't like that," she said. " Haven't yotl
got some with a smaller figure? *'
" The large figures are all the rage just now,
ma'am. Everybody wears them."
" Is that so ? " asked the woman irresolutely.
" Fact, I assure you."
*' How much is it a yard ? **
*' Fifteen cents only."
" Are you sure it will wash ? **
** Certainly."
" I should like to look at something else."
*' I'll show you something else, but this is the
thing for you."
He brought out a piece still uglier; and finally,
after some hesitation, his custorner ordered ten
yards from the first piece. He measured it with
an air of triumph and, folding it up, handed it to
the customer, receiving in return a two-dollar bill,
while the poor woman sighed as she tendered it,
for she had worked hard for it.
" Is there anything more, ma'am ? "
" A spool of cotton, No. loo."
When the customer left the store, Nichols
turned complacently to Walter.
" How did you like that calico ? " he asked
" It seemed to me very ugly."
" Wasn't it, though ? It's been in the store five
years. I didn't know as we should ever get rid
of it."
" I thought you said it was all the rage."
tm J5TRONG AND STEADY
" That's all g..niT;on, of course."
" T^Hven't you got any prettier patt^^nis ? "^''
" Pk ^y."
" Why did "*■ you show them? "
*' I wanted to get off the old rubbish first. It
isn't everybody that would buy it; but she swal-
lowed everything I said."
" She seemed like a poor woman, who couldn't
afford to buy a dress very often/'
" No, she doesn't come here more than twice a
year."
" I think you ought to have given her the best
bargain you could."
" You don't understand the business, Walter/*
said Nichols complacently.
" Mr. Drummond/' he said, going up to his
em.ployer, " I've just sold ten yards of those old-
style calicoes."
'' Very good/' said Mr. Drummond approv-
ingly. " Shove them off whenever you get a
chance."
" If that's the way they do business, I shan't
like it," thought Walter.
" You can fold up those goods on the counter,
and put them back on the shelves/' said Nichols.
*' Customers put us to ^ great deal of trouble that
way sometimes. Mrs. Captain Walker was in
yesterday afternoon, and I didn't know but I
should have :o get down all the sto^k ''^'■e ha('
^ow 'W4 j*f\n\6 ^"'<" hen"
STRONG AND STEADY "^
** Why didn't you pick out something, and tcri
ht it was all the rage? " asked Walter, smiling.
" That v/ouldn't go down with her. She's rich
and she's proud. We have to be careful how we
manage with such customers as she is. That re-
minds me that her, bundle hasn't gone home yet.
I'll get you to carry it up right away."
" I don't know where she lives."
" It's a large, square white house, about a
quarter of a mile down the road, at the left hand.
You can't miss it."
The bundle was produced, and Walter set off
in the direction indicated. He had only gone a
few rods when he overtook Joshua, who was
sauntering along with a fishing pole in his hand,
*' Where are you going with that big bundle? '*
asked Joshua,
" To Mrs. Captain Walker's."
" I'll show you where it is. I'm going that
way."
Joshua's manner was considerably less deferen-
tial than the day before, when he supposed Wal-
ter to be rich. Now he looked upon him as his
father's hired boy.
" Isn't that bundle heavy? '* he asked.
" Yes, rather heavy."
''' I wouldn't be seen carrying such a hmdle.'^'
"Why not?"
" I feel above it '
'■' T don't."
70 STRONG AND STEADY
" It's dififerent with you — now I mean. My
father's worth money, and I suppose you will be
poor."
" I don't mean to be poor all my life, but I shall
have to work for all the money I am worth."
" It'll take a good while to get rich that way.
If your father hadn't lost his money, you could
have fine times."
" I don't know about that I never cared much
about inheriting money."
They were passing the village schoolhouse*
Through the open windows floated the strain o£
a song which the children were singing. This
was the verse which the boys heard :
•* It's all very well to depend on a friend, —
That is, if you've proved him true ;
But you'll find it better by far in the end
To paddle your own canoe.
To ' borrow ' is dearer by far than to ' buy,'—
A maxim, though old, still true ;
You -never will sigh, if you only will try
To paddle your own canoe ! "
" That's going to be my motto," said Walter.
*'What?"
" * Paddl; your own canoe.' I am going to
depend upon myself, and I mean to succeed."
" That's all very well, if you've got to do it;
but I expect the old man will leave me twenty-
five thousand dollars, and thcifs Q gcxH deal bette?
than paddling my own canof-^
STRONG AND STEADY 7«
*• Suppose your father should fail ? "
" There isn't any danger. He'll take good
care of his money; I'll warrant that. I wish he
wasn't so mighty stingy, for I'd like a little now.
But there's Captain Walker's. I'll wait here,
while you go in and leave the bundle."
Walter performed his errand, and rejoined
Joshua, who had seated himself on the fence.
" I'm going a-fishing," said Joshua. " If you
didn't have to work you could go with me."
" I must hurry back to the store."
So the two parted company.
" I wish he'd been rich," thought Joshua.
'* I'd have borrowed some money of him. It
won't pay to be polite to him, now it turns out
he isn't worth a cent."
Walter went back to the store with a lighter
heart than before. There was something in the
song he had heard which gave him new strength
and hopefulness, and he kept repeating over to
himself at intervals, " Paddle your own canoe." ,
CHAPTER XI
PUNISHING AN INSULTER
Whew Walter went into the house to dmncr,
the appearance of the table indicated the truth of
what Joshua had told him. Since Mr. Drum-
mond had ascertained the pecuniary position of
his visitor, he no longer felt it incumbent upon
him to keep up appearances. Corned beef and
potatoes, and bread without butter, constituted
the midday meal. This certainly differed con-
siderably from the supper and breakfast of which
Walter had partaken.
" Sit right down, Conrad," said Mr. Drum-
mond. " Eat your dinner as fast as you xian, and
go back to the store."
It did not take Walter long to eat his dinner.
Corned beef he had never liked, though now, hav-
ing no choice, he managed to eat a little.
" If you're through, you needn't wait for me,"
said Mr. Drummond. " We don't stand on cere-
mony here. Tell Nichols he may go to dinner.
I'll be right over; so, if there are any customers
you can't wait on, ask them to wait."
In the evening Walter found that 'li? c^rr^f'
72
STRONG AND STEADY fS
bag had been removed from the spare chamber
to a small, uncarpeted room, furnished with the
barest necessaries.
He smiled to himselt.
" I shan't be in any dang-er of forgetting- my
change of circumstances," he said to himself.
He was tired, ht^-r'^ver, and, though the bed
was harder than he haa ever before slept on, he
managed to sleep soundl}?. He was woke up
early by Mr. Drummond. "
" Hurry up, Conrad," said that gentleman
unceremoniously. " I want you to be up within
fifteen minutes to open store."
Walter jumped out of bed and hurriedly
dressed. His position was so new that he did
not at first realize it. '\Vhen he did reflect that
he was working for his board in a country store,
he hardly knew whether to feel glad or sorry. He
had begun to earn his living, and this was satis-
factory; but he was working for a man whom he
could neither like nor respect, and his pay was
very poor of its kind. That was not so agree-
able.
Walter was not a glutt'n, nor inordinately fond
of good living, but he had the appetite of a
healthy boy, and when he cntpred the room where
breakfast was spread — this was alter he had been
in the store an hour — he did wish that there had
been so ^ething on the table besides the remains
>t I ^ corned beef and a rMe o*" Vead and button
74 STRONG AND STEADY
" Do you take milk and sugar in your tea,
Walter? " asked Mrs. Drummond.
" If you please."
" I don't take either," remarked Mr. Drum-
mond. " It is only a habit, and an expensive one.
If you'd try going without for a week, you would
cure yourself of the habit."
" How intolerably mean he is! " thought Wal-
ter, for he understood very well that the only con-
sideration in Mr. Drummond's mind was the ex-
pense.
" I don't think I shall ever learn to go without
milk and sugar," said Walter quietly, not feeling
disposed to humor his employer in this little mean-
ness.
" There isn't anything fit to eat on the table/*
grumbled Joshua, looking about him discon-
tentedly.
" You are always complaining," said his father
sharply. "If you earned your breakfast, you
wouldn't be so particular."
" Why can't you have beefsteak once in a while^
instead of corned beef? I'm sick to death o£
corned beef."
" We shall have some beefsteak on Sunday
morning, and not till then. I don't mean to
pamper your appetite,"
"That's so!" said Joshua. "Not much
danger of that."
" If you are not satisfied, you can go without.*
STRONG AND STEADY /$
" I will, then," said Joshua, rising from the
table.
He knew very well that, as soon as his father
had gone to the store, he could get something bet-
ter from his mother.
It had been a considerable disappointment to
Joshua to find that Walter was poor instead of
rich, for he had proposed to make as free use of
Walter's purse as the latter would permit. Even
now it occurred to him that Walter might have
a supply of ready money, a part of which he
might borrow. He accordingly took an oppor«
tunity during the day to sound our hero on the
subject.
" Walter, have you a couple of dollars about
you to lend me for a day or ^wo ? " he asked, in a
tone of assumed carelessness.
" Yes, I have that amount of money, but I am
afraid I must decline lendmg."'
" Why shouldn't you lend me ? It's only for a
day or two."
But Walter knew very well Joshua*s small al-
lowance, and that he would not be able to return
a loan of that amount, even if he were desirous
of so doing, and he judged Joshua so well that
he doubted whether he would hav6 any such
desire.
" You know my circumstances, Joshua," he
said, " and that I am in no positio» ♦o lend any-
body money."
7t STRONG AND STEADY
•* Two dollars isn't much. Y^n said you had
it"
" Yes, I have it; but I must te'-*^ care of what
little I have. I am working for my board, as you
know, and have got to provide for all my other
expenses myself; therefore I shall need all my
money."
" You talk as if I wanted you to give me the
money. I only ai-ked you to lend it."
" That's about the same thing," thought Vv'al-
ter; but he only said, " Why don't you ask 3^our
father for the money ? "
" Because he wouldn't give it to me. He's as
mean as dirt."
*' Then where would you get the money to re-
pay me in case I lent it to you r "
" You're just as mean as he is," exclaimed
Joshua angrily, not caring to answer this ques-
tion. " A mighty fuss you make about lenclmg
a fellow a couple of dollars."
" It makes no particular difference to me
whether you think me mean or not." said Walter.
" I have got to be richer than I am now before I
lend money."
Joshua stalked away in a fret, angry thst Wal-
ter would not permit himself to be swindled.
From that time he cherished a dislike to our hero,
and this he showed by various little slights and
annoyances, of which Walter took little notice.
He thoroughly despised Joshua fo*- ^^s meannes?
STRONG AND STEADY 77
anc£ selfishness, and it mattered very little to him
what such a boy thought of him.
This forbearance Joshua utterly misinterpreted.
, He decided that Walter was deficient in courage
and spirit, and it encouraged him to persevere in
his system of petty annoyances until they might
almost be called bullying. Though Walter kept
quiet under these provocations, there was often
a warning flash of the eye which showed that it
would not be safe to go too far. But this Joshua
did not notice, and persisted.
" Joshua," said his mother one day, " I really
thiii ; you don't treat Walter right You are not
polite to him."
" Why should I be ? What is he but a beg-
gar?"
" He is not that, for he works for a living."
" At any rate, he's a mean fellow, and I shall
treat him as I please."
But one day matters came to a climax.
One afternoon there were a few young fel-
lows standing on the piazza in front of Mr.
Drummond's store. Joshua was one of them,
and there being no customers to wait upon, Wal-
ter joined the company^ They were discussing
plans for a picnic to be held in the woods on the
next Saturday afternoon. It was to be quite a
g-eneral affair.
" You will come, Walter, won't voil? *' asked
one of the number.
78 STRONG AND STEADY
" No," said Joshua; "he can't come."
" I didn't authorize you to speak for me," said
Walter quietly.
" You didn't authorize me to speak for you ? "
repeated Joshua in a mocking tone. " Big
words for a beggar ! "
" What do you mean by calling me a beggar ? "
demanded Walter quietly, but with rising color.
" I don't choose to give you any explanation/*
said Joshua scornfully. " You're only my
father's hired boy, and working for your board."
" That may be true, but I am not a beggar, and
I advise you not to call me one again."
Walter's tone was still quiet, and Joshua wholly
misunderstood him ; otherwise, being a coward at
heart, he would have desisted.
" I'll say it as often as I please," he repeated.
*' You're a beggar, and if we hadn't taken pity on
you, you'd have had to go to the poorhouse."
Walter was not quarrelsome; but this last in-
sult, in the presence of half a dozen boys between
his own age and Joshua's, roused him.
" Joshua Drummond," he said, " you've in-
sulted me long enough, and I've stood it, for- 1
didn't want to quarrel; but I will stand it no
longer."
He walked up to Joshua, and struck him in the
face, not a hard blow, but still a blow.
Joshua turned white with passion, and ad-
vanced upon our hero furiously, with the intention
STRONG AND STEADY 79
oi giving him, as he expressed it, the worst whip-
ping he ever had.
Walter parried his blow, and put in another,
this time sharp and stinging. Joshua was an
inch or two taller, but Walter was more than a
match for him. Joshua threw out his arms, de-
livering his blows at random, and most of them.
failed of effect. Indeed, he was so blinded with
rage that Walter, who kept cool, had from this
cause alone a great advantage over him. Joshua
at length seized him, and he was compelled to
throw him down. As Joshua lay prostrate, with
Walter's knee upon his breast, Mr. Drummond,
who had gone over to his own house, appeared
upon the scene.
"What's all this?" he demanded, in mingled
surprise and anger. " Conrad, what m.eans this
outrageous conduct ? "
Walter rose, and, turning to his employer, said
manfully, " Joshua insulted me, sir, and I have
punished him That's. all !"
CHAPTER XII
SMOOTHING OVER TROUBLE
Without waiting- to hear Mr. Drummond's re*
ply, V\'^alter re-entered the store. He had no dis-
position to discuss the subject in the presence of
the boys who were standing- on the piazza.
Mr, Drummond followed him into the store,
and Joshua accompanied him. He was terribly
angry with Walter, and determined to get re-
venged upon him through his father.
" Are you going to let that beggar pitch into
ine like that?" he demanded. "He wouldn^t
have got me down, only he took me at a disad-
vantage."
" Conrad," said Mr. Drummond, " I demand
an explanation of your conduct. I come from
my house, and find you fighting like a street
rowdy, instead of attending to your duties in the
store."
" I have already given you an explanation, Mr.
Drummond," said Walter firmly. " Joshua chose
to insult me before all the boys, and I don't allow
myself to be insulted if I can help it. As to be-
ing out of the store, there was no customer to
'^^'■" -ipon. and I went to the door for a breath of
to
STRONG AND STEADY 8i
iicsh air. I hd"'^ never been accustomed to such
confinement bcSre."
" You say Joshua insulted you. How did he
insult you ? "
" I was asked if I would go to the picnic on
Saturday afternoon. He didn't wait for me to
answer, but said at once that I couldn't go,"
"Was that all?"
" When I objected to his answering for me, he
charged me with being a beggar, and said that but
for you I would have been obliged to go to the
poorhouse. If this had been the first time he had
annoyed me I might have passed it over, but it is
far from being the first; so I knocked him down."
Mr. Drummond was by no means a partisan of
Walter, but in the month that our hero had been
in his employ he had found him a very efficient
clerk. Whatever Walter undertook to do he did
well, and he had mastered the details of the retail
dry-goods trade in a remarkably short time, so
that his services were already nearly as valuable
as those of young Nichols, who received eight
dollars a week. Therefore Mr. Drummond was
disposed to smooth over matters, for the sake of
retaining the services which he obtained so cheap.
He resolved, therefore, to temporize.
"You are both of you wrong," he said.
*' Joshua, you should not have called Conrad a
beggar, for he earns his living. You, Conrad,
should not have been so violent. You "hould
82 STRONG AND STEADY
have told me, and I v/ould have spoken to
Joshua."
" Excuse me, Mr. Drummond, but I don't Hke
talebearing. I did the only thing I could."
" Ahem. ! " said Mr. Drummond. " You were
too violent. L would suggest that you should
each beg the other's pardon, shake hands, and
have done with it."
" Catch me begging pardon of my father's
hired boy ! " exclaimed Joshua scornfully. " I
haven't got quite as low as that."
" As for me," said Walter, " if I thought I had
been in the wrong, I would beg Joshua's pardon
without any hesitation. I am not too proud for
that, but I think I acted right under circum-
stances, and therefore I cannot do it. As for be-
ing a hired boy, I admit that such is my position,
and I don't see anything to be ashamed of in- it."
"You are right thtre," said Mr. DiTimmond;
for this assertion chimed in with his own views
and wishes. " Well, it seems to me you are about
even, and you may as well drop the quarrel here."
" I am ready to do that," said Walter promptly.
"- If Joshua treats me well, I will treat him well."
" You're mighty accommodating," sneered
Joshua. " You seem to think that you are on an
equality with me." '
'' I am willing to treat you as an equal,"
answered Walter, purposely misinterpreting
Joshua's remark.
STRONG AND STEADY 83
"Oh, you are, are you? " retorted Joshua, with
a vicious snap of the eyes. " Do you think you,
a hired boy, are equal to me, who am a gentle-
man ? "
" I ai 1 glad to hear you consider yourself a
gentleman, and hope that you will take care to
act like one."
" I'll give you the worst licking you ever had ! "
exclaimed Joshua, clinching his fists furiously.
" If it isn't any worse than you gave me just
now, I can stand it," said Walter.
He was a little angry, also, and this prompted
him to speak thus. ^
Joshua was maddened by this remark, and
might have renewed the battle if his father had
not imperatively ordered him to leave the store.
'' Conrad," said Mr. Drummond, " you have
behaved badly. I did not think you were so quar-
relsome."
" I don't think J am, sir; but I can't stand
Joshua's treatment."
" Will you promise not to quarrel with him
again? "
" That depends on whether he provokes me."
" Of course, I can't have you fighting with my
son."
" I don't care about doing it. If I find he
won't let me alone, I have made up my mind what
to do."
"What'"
84 STRONG AND STEADY
" I will leave the store and g-o back to Wil-
loiighby; then I will decide what to do. I know
that I have got to earn my own living, but I would
rather earn it somewhere where I can be at
peace."
" Humph ! " said Mr. Drummond, who did not
fancy this determination. " Don't be too hasty.
I will speak to Joshua, and see that he doesn't
annoy _you again."
With this assurance Walter felt satisfied.
He felt that he had won the victory and rrain-
tained his self-respect. There was one thing
more he desired, and that was to go to the picnic.
He would not have urged this request, but tliat he
was v/ell aware that Joshua would report that he
was kept at hom.e by his request.
" It won't be very convenient for 37-ou to be
aAvay Saturday afternoon," said Mr. Drummcnd,
who was principled against allowing clerks any
privileges. " You know we have more trade
than usual on Saturday afternoon."
" I don't think we shall have next Saturday,"
said Walter; " everybody will be gone to the pic-
nic."
" If 5'ou insist upon going," said Mr. Drum-
)mond reluctantly, " I must let you go."
Walter felt no scruples about insisting. He
knew that he earned his limited pay twice over,
and that his absence would do his employer no
harm. He answered, therefore, " Thank you, sir;
STRONG AND STEADY 85
•jc will be home at six o'clock, so as to be in the
store all Saturday evening."
Meanwhile Joshua went home in a very un-
happy frame of mind. He had not succeeded in
humiliating Walter as he intended, but had an
unpleasant feeling that Walter had got the better
of him. He was very angry with his father for not
taking his part, and was not slow in making his
feelings known to his mother.
" What's the matter, Joshua ? " asked Mrs.
Drummond, observing the scowl upon his face.
" Matter enough ! That beggar has been in-
sulting me."
" What beggar ? I haven't seen any beggar
about," answered Mrs. Drummond.
" You know who I mean — that upstart, Con-
rad."
" What's he been doing? I'm sure he is a very
gentlemanly young man."
" Oh, yes, that's just the way. You take his
part against your own son," said Joshua bit-
terly.
"What's he been doing? You haven't told
me.
" He pitched into me and tried to knock me
over."
" What for? I am surprised to hear it, he
seems so polite and well-bred."
" Nothing at all. He sprung at me like a tiger,
and all for nothing. He took me by surcrise.
m STRONG AND STEADY
so at first he- got the advantage, but I soon gave
him as good as he sent."
" I am really sorry to hear this," said -Mrs=
Drummond, distressed. " Are you sure you
didn't say something to provoke him ? "
" I only said, when he was invited to go to the
picnic Saturday afternoon, that he wouldn't be
able to leave the store,"
"I am afraid you said it in such a way as to
offend him."
" Seems to me you think a good sight more of
him than of me in the matter," grumbled Joshua.
" That's just the way with father. He wanted
us both to beg each other's pardon. Catch me
begging pardon of a beggarly hired boy! "
" He isn't any worse because your father hires
him, Joshua."
'* Oh, yes, of course, you stand up for him,"
said Joshua, sneering.
" Now, Joshua, you know I always take your
part when you are right."
So Joshua continued to scold, and Mrs. Drum-
mond to soothe him, until she found a more
effectual way, by placing at his disposal half an
apple pie which was in the cupboard. In the even-
ing she told Walter that she was sorry there had
been any difficul'y between him and Joshua.
" So am I," said Walter frankly, for he was
grateful for her gentle kindness. " I am sorry,
if only. for your sake, Mrs. Drummond.'*
STRONG AND STEADY . ^7
" I know he's provoking; but he qioesn't mean
what he says, Mr. Conrad."
" I'll try to keep on good terms with him, Mrs.
Drummond," said Walter earnestly, " if only in
return for his mother's kindness."
" I am sure Joshua was hasty, and misjudged
Walter," said the mother to herself, trying to
find an excuse for her son. /
- CHAPTER XIII
THE BOAT RACE
After this Joshua was more careful about aa«
noying Walter. Though he was older, and a
little taller than our hero, he found to his cost that
he was not a match for him, in strength. He had
also made the unwelcome discovery that Walter
did not intend to be imposed upon. So, though
he ventured to sneer at times, he thought it best
to stop short of open insult. There was also an»
other motive which influenced him. His father
forbade him in tones more decided than usual
to interfere with Walter, whose services he was
anxious to retain in the store. Mr. Drummond
also had another reason for this command. He
thought that Walter might be rnistaken as to the
_state of his father's^ffairs, and that a few thou-
sand dollars might be rescued by his executor
from the ruin. In that case, there would be a
chance of his obtaining control of Walter's prop-
erty during his minority.
The picnic cam.e off on Saturday afternoon.
Tlie weather, v/hich often throws a wet blanket
upon the festivities of such occasions, was highly
STRONG AND STEADY 89
propitious, and several hundred persons, young
and middle-aged, turned out en masse. The place
selected for the picnic was a field of several acres,
bordering upon a pond. This had been fitted up
by the proprietor with swings and a roofed build-
ing without sides, under which were placed rough
board tables for the reception of provisions. A
number of oak trees with their broad branches
furnished shelter.
Besides these arrangements for enjoyment,
there were two boats confined by iron chains,
which were thrown around trees near the brink
of the water.
After enjoying the swing for a time, there
was a proposition to go out in the boats.
The boats could comfortably accommodate
eight persons each. This number had been ob-
tained when Joshua came up.
" I'm going," he said unceremoniously.
" You will have to wait till next time," said
Ralph Morse. " We've got the full number "
" No, I'm going this time," said Joshua
rudely.
" I don't believe there's room. We have eight
already.*'
" There's room for nine. If there isn't, you can
wait till next time yourself. Besides, you want
me to steer.'
*' Do you know how to stee ? "
** Of course I do," said Joshua boastfully.
90 STRONG AND STEADY
'' I guess we can make room," said Mary
Meyer, who was always in favor of peaceful meas-
ures.
Joshua clambered in, and took his place as
steersman.
The other boat had already set off, and, as it
happened, under the guidance of Walter Conrad,
who had long been accustomed to managing a
boat, having had one of his own at home.
" They've got a great steerer on the other
boat," said Joshua, sneering.
"It's your cousin, isn't it? Doesn't he know
how to steer ? "
" About as well as an old cat. He thinks he
does, though."
Attention was thus directed to the other boat^
which was making easy progress through the
water.
" I don't see but he manages well enough," said
Ralph, after watching for a m.oment.
" Oh, it's easy enough steering here. Wait
till we get out a little way."
" Where are you steering, Joshua ? " asked
Ralph suddenly, for the boat nearly half turned
round. The fact was that Joshua himself knew
very little about steering. In speaking of Wal-
ter's want of skill, he had precisely described him-
self.
" I understand what I'm about," answered
Joshua, suddenly reversing the direction, and
STRONG AND STEADY 91
overdoing the matter, so as to turn the boat half-
j^^ay round the other way,
" I hope you do," said Ralph, " but it don't look
much like it."
" I was looking at the other boat," Joshua
condescended to explain, " and the rudder
slipped."
Walter's boat kept the lead. His perfect steer-
ing made the task easier for the rowers, who got
the full advantage of their efforts. Joshua, how-
ever, by his uncertain steering, hindered the
progress of his boat.
" Can't we beat the other boat? " asked Joseph
Wheeler, who was rowing, " I can row as well
as either of those fellows."
*' So can I/* said Tom Barry; " let's try."
The boats were about five lengths apart, the
rowers in the foremost boat not having worked
very hard, when Tom and Joe began to exert
themselves. The intention was soon manifests
and the spirit of rivalry was excited. -
" Do your best, boys ! " said Walter. " They're
trying to catch us. Don't let them do it.'*
The rowers of the two boats were about evenly
^matched. If anj^hing, however, Tom and Joe
were superior, and, other things being equal,
would sooner or later have won the race. But
Joshua, by his original style of steering, which be-
came under the influence of excitement even more
unreliable, caused them to lose perceptibly.
92 JTRONG AND STEAD\
" Can't you steer straight by accident, Joshua ? '*
asked Tom, in a tone of vexation.
" I know more about steering than you do,
Tom uarry," growled Joshua, getting led in the
face, for he could not help seeing that he was
not appearing to advantage,
" Show it, then, if you do," was the reply. " If
we had your cousin to steer us, we could soon get
ahead."'
This was very mortifying to Joshua, He did
not care to be outdone by anyone, but to be out-
done by Walter was particularly disagreeable.
" It isn't the steering, it's the rowing," he said.
" You don't row even."
" Won't you try it, then," said Joe, " and show
us what you can do ? "
" No, I'd rather steer."
Joshua considered that the steersm^an's place
was the place of honor, and he was not disposed
to yield it.
Meanwhile Walter, from his place in the first
boat, watched the efforts of his rivals. He was
determined to keep the lead which he had secured,
and had little fear of losing it.
" Give way, boys ! " he cried. " We'll distance
them, never fear! "
Every moment increased the distance between
the two boats, to the great satisfaction of those
on bonrfi the " Arrow." for that w?* ♦he n^n'
of ♦•"» ifpnd boat.
STRONG AND STEADl: 93
Jtist at the northwestern corner of the pond
there was an inlet of considerable length, but nar-
row. Here the water was shallower than in the
remainder of the pond.
" Shall we go in there ? " asked Walter.
" Yes, yes," said his fellow-passengera
According-ly, he steered in, and shortly after-
wards the " Pioneer," Joshua's boat, also entered.
At this time the distance between the two boats
was quite two hundred feet.
The " Arrow " pursued her way steadily to the
head of the inlet, a distance of nearly a quarter
of a mile; and then, making a graceful turn,
started on her homeward trip. The width of
the inlet there was very much contracted. After
making the turn the " Arrow " met the " Pio- ,
neer " after a little distance. There was abun-
dant room for the boats to pass each other, if they
had been properly managed. There was no fault
in Walter's steering, but, by an awkward blunder
of Joshua's, the " Pioneer " veered in her course
so that the " Arrow " struck her, to use a nautical
term, amidships. As she was being impelled
rapidly at the time, the shock was considerable,
and the fright still greater. The girls jumped to
their feet screaming, and Joshua himself turned
pale with fright, but recovered himself suffi-
ciently to call out in an angry manner to his
cousin, "What made voa run Into tia. v^*'
fool?**
94 STRONG AND STEADY
" It's your own fault, Joshua," said Tom Barry;
angrily.
" You're the most stupid steerer I ever saw.
What made you turn the boat ? "
*' It's his fault," said Joshua doggedly.
" Let somxebody else steer/' said Joe Wheeler.
** A baby could steer better than he."
So a younger boy was put in Joshua's place,
much to his mortification, and he was degraded,
as he considered it, to the rank of a passenger.
" I'm going ashore," he said sDurly. '* Let me
out here."
" All right ! " said Tom Barry. " I guess we
€an get along without you. Here, you fellows
on the ' Arrow,' just wait a minute, till we've
landed Joshua, and we'll race you back."
True to his determination, Joshua jumped off
at the head of the inlet, and the " Pioneer " was
turned by her new pilot.
The " Arrow " and the " Pioneer " took their
places side by side, and the race commenced.
The boats were similar, and thus neither had the
advantage on this score. But the rowers on the
*' Pioneer " were on the whole stronger and mors
skillful than those on the " Arrow." On the
other hand, Walter steered perfectly, while
Joshua's successor, though he made no bad blun-
der, was a novice.
The result was that the race was a close one.
Finally the " Arrow " came in a length ahead, and
STRONG AND STEADY ^$
Walter felt with quiet satisfaction that the vic-
tory had been gained by his efforts.
He thought once more of the song he had
heard, and hoped that he would be as successful
through life in paddling his own canoe.
Joshua went home sulky, and was not seen
again on the picnic grounds.
CHAPTER XIV
THE spider's web
One morning, a few days later, Joshua was
walking moodily up the village road with his
hands in his pockets. He was reflecting, in a
spirit of great discontent, on the hardships of his
situation.
" Here am I," he said to himself, **' eighteen
years old, and father treats me like a boy of ten,
I'm 'most a man, and all he gives me for pocket
money is twenty-five cents a week. There's Dick
Storrs, whose father isn't a quarter as rich as
mine, gets a dollar a week. He's only sixteen,
too.'*
One important difference between himself and
Dick Storrs did not occur to Joshua. Dick
worked in a shoeshop, and it was out of his own
wages that his father allowed him a dollar a week,
Joshua earned nothing at all.
" It's mean ! " reflected Joshua. " There ain*t
a boy of my age in Stapleton that's so meanly
treated, and yet my father's the richest man in
town. I wish I knew what to do to gQt a little
«lone^^**
96
STRONG AND STEADY 97
At this moment he saw Sam Crawford ap-
proaching him. Sam was a year younger than
Joshua. He had formerly hved in the village,
but was now in a situation in New York, and was
only in Stapleton for a few days,
" How are you, Joshua ? " said Sam.
" Weil enough," said Joshua. " Where are
you gomg ? "
" I'm going round to the ice-cream saloon.
Won't you come with me ? '*
" Yes, if you'll treat. I haven't got any
inoney."
" You ought to have. The old man's got
plenty."
" That's so. But he's getting meaner every
day. What do you think he allows me for spend-
ing money r "
"I don't know. A dollar a week?"
" A dollar ! I should think myself lucky if t
got anywhere near that. What do you say to
twenty-five cents ? "
'' You don't mean to say that's all he gives
you?"
" Yes, I do."
" Why, I can't get along on ten times that.
Why don't you ask for more? "
" I have, fifty times; but that's all the good ^
does/'
" If my father treated me like that, I'd cut his
acquaintance."
98 STRONG AND STEAD\
" I don't know as that would do me any good,"
said Joshua sensibly. " I wish I knew of any
way of getting some money."
" You might hire out to saw wood for the
neighbors," said Sam.
'' I haven't got so low as that," said Joshua
haughtily.
" Of course, I meant it m joke; but you might
get a place, and earn some money."
This suggestion, however, did not suit Joshua,
for ,it carried with it the idea of work, and he was
as lazy as he was selfish, which is saying as much
as can well be said on that point.
" The old man ought to give me enough to
spend, without work," he 'said. " He don't spend
more than a third of his income."
" He's saving it up for you."
" I'm not likely to get it for a good many
years," said Joshua, who actually seemed to be
angry with his father for living so long. How-
ever, though it is doubtful whether Joshua would
have been a dutiful or affectionate son under any
circumstances, it must be admitted that Mr.
Drummond had done very. little to inspire filial
affection.
" Look here ! " said Sarn suddenly; " I have an
idea. Did you ever buy a lottery ticket? "
" No," answered Joshua.
'' There'^ a fellow I know in New York that
drew a prize for a thousand dollars, and how
STRONG AND STEADY 99
frmcfi do you think he paid for the ticket that
won it ? " ^,
" I don't know." • ^'.
" Five dollars. How's that for high ? *'
"How long ago is that?" asked Joshtiaj be-
coming interested.
" Only two months ago."
" Do you know him? "
" Yes, I know him as well as I know yoK Hfe
is a clerk in a store just opposite ours. When
he got the money he gave half .a dozen, of tis a
big dinner at Delmonico's. We had a jolly time,'*
" A thousand- dollars for five ! " repeated
Joshua. " He was awfully Iv-^ky. What lot-
tery was it ? "
" It was one of the Delaware lotteries."
" Do you know the name of it? "
" No, but I'll tell you what I'll do. The fellovT
I was speaking of gets lottery papers regularly.
I'll ask him for one, and send it to you as soon as
I get back to the city."
" I wish you would," said Joshua. " Wouldn't
it be somethings, great if I could draw a prize of
a thousand dollars ? ''
" I'll bet it would. It would make you inde- ,.
pendent of the old man. You wouldn't care
much for his twenty-five cents a week then ? "
" No, I'd tell him he might keep it^till he got
fich enough to afford me more."
" He'd open his ^yes a little at that. I reckon.**
200 STRONG AND STEADY
" I guess he would. When are you going back
to the city.? "
" The last of the month. My time will be up
then."
" You won't forget to send me the paper?"
" N<y, I'll remember it. Come in and have an
ice cream. You can return the compliment when
you've drawn the prize."
" All right ! Is a thousand dollars^the highest
prize ? "
" No, there are some of two, three, and five
thousand. Then there are five hundred dollar
prizes, and so along to five dollars. Five hun-
dred wouldn't be so bad, eh ? "
" No, I should feel satisfied with that. I would
come up to New York, and spend a week."
" If you do, just step in upon me, and I'll
show 3'-ou round. I know the ropes."
" I wish I could," said Joshua enviously,
" This is an awfully stupid place. I tried to get
leave to go to the city last fall, but the old man
wouldn't let me. He wasn't willing to spend the
money."
I hope none of my readers will so admire the
character of Joshua Drummond as to imitate him
in the disrespectful manner in which he speaks of
his father. Yet I am aware that many boys and
young men, who are not without respect and
afTection for their parents, have fallen into the
very discreditable way of referring to them as
STRONG AND STEADY -ot
•• the oW man " or " the old woman." They may
be sure that such a habit will prejudice against
tliem all persons of right feeling.
Joshua and Sam went into the ice-cream saloon,
which was kept open during the summer only,
in a small candy store, by a maiden lady who
made a scanty income from such limited patron-
age as the village could afford. Joshua plied his
companion with further questions, to all of which
he readily replied, though it is doubtful whether
all the answers were quite correct. But Sam,
having been in the city a few months, wished to
be thought to have an extensive acquaintance with
it, and was unwilling to admit ignorance on any
point.
Early the next week Sam r CLv'rned to his duties
m the city, and Joshua awa? ^ i impatiently the
promised lottery papers.
Sam did not forget his promise. On the third
da.y after his departure a paper came to the vil-
Jage post office, directed:
** Joshua Drummond, Esq.,
" Stapleton."
This was promptly taken from the office by
Jfoshua, who had called on an average twice a
day for this very paper. It proved to be printed
on yellow paper, and fairly bristled with figures,
^dicating the larare suras which were weekly dis-^
I02 STRONG AND STEADY
tributed all over the country by the benevolent
managers of the lottery. Here was a scheme in
which the principal prize was but a thousand dol-
lars. However, the tickets were but a dollar
each, and a thousand dollars for one was certainly
a handsome return for a small outlay. There
were others, however, in which the principal prize
was five thousand dollars, and the tickets were, in
due proportion, five dollars each.
Joshua went off to a somewhat secluded place,
for he did not wish to be interrupted, and eagerly
read the paper through from beginning to end.
Certainly the representations made were of a very
seductive character. One might suppose, from
reading the para'^.'^nhs sandwiching the several
schemes, that the r-ances were strongly in favor
of every holdei r,.^ a ticket drawing a prize,
though a little cr.ic'siation would have shown that
the chances of drawing even the smallest were
scarcely more than one in a hundred. Here, for
instance, is one of the paragraphs :
" A mechanic in a country town in New York
State met with an accident which confined him to
his home for three months. He had a large
family of children, and had never been able to lay
up any money. The consequence was, that the
family was reduced to great distress, and he saw"'
no resource except to try to borrow a little money»
which would create a debt that he might be years
in paying off. But, fortunately, only a week be-
STRONG AND STEADY 103
fore the accident, his wife had seen one cf our
advertisements. She had five dollars by her,
which she had intended to appropriate to the pur-
chase of a new dress. Instead of doing this, a
happy impulse led her to send for one of our
tickets. She concealed this from her husband,
however, thinking that he would blame her.
What was her joy, when they were reduced to
their last dollar, to receive from us intelligence
that she had drawn a prize of two thousand dol-
lars ! The joy of the poor family can better be
imagined than described. They were enabled at
once to purchase the house in which they lived,
and thus to lay the foundation of permanent pros-
perity. Thus, as in numberless other cases, have
we been the means of bringing joy to lucky house-
holds."
Now, this story was probably manufactured out
of whole cloth. At any rate, even if true, for
every such fortunate household there were a hun-
dred to which the lottery had carried disappoint-
ment and privation. But, of course, the lottery
managers could not be expected to allude to these,
nor did Joshua, as he greedily read the para-
graph,-so consider. On the contrary, his imagin-
ation and cupidity were both excited, atid he was
foolish enough to suppose that his chances of suc-
cess, in case he invested, would be very good
indeed.
CHAPTER XV
wanted: a loan
Having decided to purchase a lottery ticket,
the important question suggested itself, " Where
was he to obtain the necessary five dollars ? "
To most boys or young m.en of eighteen this
would not have been a difficult question to solve.
But to Joshua it was a perplexing problem. If
he saved his entire weekly allowance, it would
take him twenty weeks to obtain the needed sum.
This delay was not to be thought of. Was there
any pretext on which he could ask his father for
five dollars? He could think of none that would
be likely to succeed. Had he been trusted with
the purchase of his own clothes, he might have
asked for a new coat and misapplied the money;
but Mr, Drummond took care to order Joshua's
clothes himself from the village tailor, and never
did so without grumbling at the expense he was
obliged to incur. Indeed, Joshua was not able*
to boast much, of his clothes, for his father was
Slot disposed to encourage extravagance in dress»
"Perhaps motber may have the money*
S02^
STRONG AND STEADY 105
thought Joshua. " If she has, I'll get it out of
her/'"
He resolved at once to find out whether any
help was to be obtained from this quarter, and
with this object turned his steps at once home-
ward.
Mrs. Drummond was engaged in the homely
employment of darning stockings when Joshua
entered the house.
" You're home early, Joshua," she remarked,
looking up.
" Yes, mother. Have you got anything good
to eat?"
" I baked a small pie for you in a saucer. I
thought that was the best way. The other even-
ing your father noticed that a piece was gone
from the half pie that was taken from the supper
table."
" How awful mean he is ! "
" You shouldn't say that of your father,
Joshua."
" It's true, mother, and you know it. He's
the meanest man in town."
" I don't like to hear you talk in that way,
Joshua. You must net forget that he is your
•father."
" I wish he'd treat me like a father, then. 1
Itt. ^ it to you, mother, if twenty-five cents a
wer'- isn't a miserable allowance for a fellow of
!o6 STRONG AND STEADY
" It is rather small," said Mrs. Drummona
cautiously. ,^^
"Small! I should think it was. It's just
about right for a boy of ten. That's just the way
he treats me."
" Perhaps if you would speak to your father
about it, Joshua "
'' I have spoken to him, and that's all the good
it does. He blows me up for my extravagance.
Extravagance on twenty-five cents a week ! "
" ril speak to him myself, Joshua," said his
mother — a heroic resolve, for she knew that the
request would bring anger upon herself.
" He won't mind your talk any more than mine.
But I'll tell you what you can do to oblige m^
mother."
"Well, Joshua?"
" I know of a way to make considerable money,
and all I need to go into it is five dollars. If
you'll lend me that, I'll pay it back to you as soon
as I can. I think it won't be more than a fort-
night."
" What is the plan you are thinking of,
Joshua?"
But upon this subject Joshua thought it best
to preser/e a discreet silence. He knew that the
lottery scheme would not impress his mother
favorably,' and that she would not lend him the
money for any such purpose. He was aware in
what light lotteries are generally regarded. Still
STRONG AND STEADY 107
his imagination had been inflamed by the stories
he had read of other's people's luck, and he had
succeeded in convincing himself that his own
chance would be very good. Thus he referred
to it, in speaking to his mother, as if he were
sure of obtaining a large amount for his invest-
ment.
" I can't tell you just at present, mother," he
said; " the fact is, somebody else is concerned in
it, and I am not allowed to tell."
" I hope. Joshua, you have not allowed yourself
to be imposed upon. You know you are not
used to business."
*' I know what I'm about, mother. I'm not a
baby. All I want is the money. Can you lend
me five dollars? "
" I wish I could ; but you know your father
doesn't allow me much money. I get my dress
patterns and most of what I want out of the store,
so I don't need it."
" You have to buy things for the house — •
groceries, and so on."
" We have a bill at the grocery store. Your
father pays it quarterly; so no mone|r passes
through my hands for that purpose."
" Then you haven't got the money, mother,'*
said Joshua, disappointed.
" I haven't had as much as five dollars in my
possession at o«e time for years," answered his
mother.
lo8 STRONG AND STEADY'
It was true that Mr. Drummond keot his wife
uncommonly close. She was allowed to obtain a
limited amount of goods from the store for her
own wardrobe, but apart from that her husband
appeared to think' she had no need of money.
More than once she wished she could have a little
money at her control to answer occasional calls
for charity. But, on one occasion, having been
indiscreet enough to give twenty-five cents and a
good meal to a woman, sick and poor, who
crawled to her door and asked for help, Mr.
Drummond indulged in such a display of ill-
humor at her foolish extravagance, as he called it,
that she was forced afterward to deny her gener-
ous impulses, or give in the most secret manner,
pledging the recipient to silence.
" I'm sorry I can't oblige you, Joshua," Said his
mother. " Will you have +he pie ? "
" Yes," said Joshua sullenly, for he was at a
loss where next to apply, and felt that his scheme
of sudden riches was blighted at its inception.
Notwithstanding his disappointment, however,
he was able to dispose of the pie. After consum-
ing it, he went out of doors, to reflect upon other
ways of raising the necessar-y money.
There was his cousin, Walter; he was quite
s"'»- chat he had the monev, but quite as sure that
he would not lend it. Besides, nc wouiu have
hesitated to apply, on account of the '^'shke he
had -ome to entertain for our hero* -This dis*
STRONG AND STEADY i©9
like had been inereasexi by the result of the boat
face between the " Pioneer " and 4;he " Arrow,"
He had occasion to know that the defeat of the
former boat was generally ascribed to his own
imperfect steering, and he also knew that Walter
had obtained considerable credit for his own per-
formance in the same line. Now Josliua knew in
his own heart that he coald not steer^ hot hse
wanted the reputation of steering well, and it was
very irksome to him to have to play second fiddle
to Walter. He had indicated his dislike ever
since by refusing to notice or speak to Walter,
except in so far as it -^vas absolutely necessary.
Of course Walter noticed this want of cordiality,
and was in a measure sorry for it; still he had
become pretty _ thoroughly acquainted with
■Joshua's character by this time, and this knowl-
edge led him to feel that the loss of his friendship
was not a very serious one. He had made some
other acquaintances in the village, with boys of
his own age, in whose society he found consider-
ably more pleasure than he was ever likely to do
in Joshua's.
" He can go his way, I'll go mine," he said to
himself. "' I'll paddle my own canoe, and he
may paddle his. Perhaps he will succeed better
in that than in steering," bethought, with a smile.
Help from Walter, therefore, was not to be
expected. Was there anyone else to help him?
Joshua thought doubtf ullv of his father'i^ ckik.
no STRONG AND STEADY
young Nichols, who has already been introduced
to the reader. He did not think there was much
prospect of obtaining a loan from Nichols; still
there might be. At any rate there seemed no
other resource, and he made up his mind to sound
him.
He stepped into the store one day when Walter
was absent on an errand, and his father was out
also.
" Good-morning, Joshua," said the salesman.
** What's up this morning ? "
" Nothing that I know of."
" You have an easy time. Nothing to do but
to lounge about all day. You ain't cooped up in
a store fourteen hours a day."
" That's so; but I suppose I'll have to begin
some time."
" Oh, you're all right. Your father's getting
richer every year."
" Yes, I suppose he is; but that doesn't give me
ready money now. The fact is, I'm hard up for
five dollars. Can't you lend it to me for a week ?
I'll give it back in a week, or ten days at any
rate."
" You couldn't come to a worse place for
money," said Nichols, laughing. " The fact is,
I'm hard up myself, and always am. Old Jones,
the tailor, is dunning me for this very suit I have
on. Fact is, my salary is so small I have the
hardest kind of work to get along."
STRONG AND STEADY m
" Then you can't lend me the money ? It's for
only a week I want it."
" I've got less than a dollar in my pocket, and
I'm owing about fifty dollars to the tailor and
shoemaker. Perhaps Walter can lend you the
money."
" I shan't ask him," said Joshw shortly^
** I'll go without it first."
"Don't you like him?"
" No, I don't. He's a mean fellow."
Nichols was privately of the opinion that the
term described Joshua himself much more aptly,
but did not express his opinion.
CHAPTER XVI
ENTANGLED
The more Joshua thought it over, the more con-
vinced he was that a large sum of money was
likely to come to him through the lottery, if he
CDuld only manage to raise money enough to buy
a ticket. But the problem of how to get the
necessary five dollars he was as far as ever from
solving.
While in this state of mind he happened one
day to be in the store at noon, and alone.
Nichols, the head clerk, wished to go to dinner,
and was only waiting for Walter to get back from
an errand.
" I wish Walter would hurry up," he grumbled.
" My dinner will get cold."
" I'll take your place till he gets back, Mr.
Nichols," said Joshua, with extraordinary kind-
ness for him.
" Much obliged, Joshua," said the salesman.
** I'll do as much iov you another time. I don't
think you'll have long to wait."
" You'd better hurry off," said Joshua. " I'd
just as lief wait as not."
H8
STRONG AND STEADY 113
" I never knew him so accommodating' before/'
thought Nichols, with a feeling of surprise.
He seized his hat and hurried away.
No sooner had he gojie than Joshua, after fol-
lowing him to the door, and looking carefully up
and down the street, walked behind the counter
with a hasty step, and opened the money drawer.
There was a small pile of bills in one compart-
ment and in the otlier a collection of currency.
He took the bills into his hand, and looked over
them. His hands trembled a little, for he con-
templated a dishonest act Unable to obtain the
money in any other way, he meant to borrow — -
that was what he called it — live dollars from the
money drawer, and expend it in a lottery
ticket.
Singling out a five-dollar bill from the pile, he
thrust it into his vest pocket. He had scarcely
done so when he was startled by hearing the door
open. He made a guilty jimip, but perceived, to
his relief, that it was a woman not living in the
village, but probably in some adjoining town.
" What can I show you, ma'am? " he asked, in
a flurried manner, for he could not help thinking
of what he had in his vest pocket.
" I should like to look at some of your shawls,**
said the woman.
Joshua knew very little abocit his father's stock*
He did know, however, where the shawls were
kept, and going to that portion of the shelve^
114 STRONG AND STEADY
pulled down half a dozen and showed them to
his customer.
" Are they all wool ? " she asked, critically ex-
amining one of them,
" Yes," answered Joshua confidently, though
he had not the slightest knowledge on the sub-
ject.
" What is the price of this one?" asked the
customer, indicating the one she had in her hand.
" Five dollars," answered Joshua, with some
hesitation. He knew nothing of the price, but
guessed that this would be about right.
" And you say it is all wool? "
" Certainly, ma'am."
" I guess I'll take it. Will you wrap it up for
me?"
This Joshua did awkwardly enough, and the
customer departed, much pleased with her bar-
gain, as she had a right to be, for the real price
of the shawl was nine doliai^, '.ut, thanks to
Joshua's ignorance, she had been able to save
four.
Joshua looked at the five-dollar bill he had just
received, and a new idea occurred to him. He
replaced in the drawer the bill he had originally
taken from it, and substituted that just received.
" I won't say anything about having sold a
shawl," he said, " and father'll never know that
one has been sold. At any rate, till I get money
enough to replace the bill I have tfll<-en."
STRONG AND STEADY 115
Just then a little girl came in and inquired for a
Spool of cotton.
Joshua found the spools, and let her select one.
" How much is it? " asked the young customer.
. " Ten cents."
" Ten cents ! Mother told me it wouldn't be
but five."
" Very well, if that is all you expect to pay, you
shall have it for that/'
" Thank you, sir." And the little girl departed
with her purchase.
Joshua now hurriedly folded up the shawls and
replaced them on the shelves. He had just fin-
ished the task when Walter entered.
" Are you tending store ? " he said, in surprise.
" Yes," said Joshuat " Nichols got tired wait-
ing for you, so I told him I'd stay till you got
back."
" I had some distance to go, and that detained
me. Did you have any customers?"
" Yes, I just sold a spool of cotton to a little
girl."
" I met her a little way up the road, holding
the spool in her hand."
" Well," said Joshua, " I guess I'll go, now
you've got back."
He went across the street to his father's house,
and, going up into his own 'oom, locked the door,
not wishing to be interrupted. Then, opening his
•flesk, he took out a sheet of paper, and wrote a
Ii6 STPONG AND STEADY
note to the address given in the lottery circular,
requesting the parties to send him by return mail a
lottery ticket. He added, shrewdly as he thought^
" If '^is ticket draws a prize, I will keep on buy-
ing: but if it don't I shall get discouraged and
st-^p."
" I guess that '11 fetch 'em," thought Joshua.
He folded up the paper, and, enclosing the bill,
directed it.
The next thing to do was to mail it.
Now this seemed a very simple thing, but it
really occasioned considerable trouble. The
postmaster in a small village can generally iden-
tify many of the correspondents who send letters
through his office by their handwriting. He
knev\^ Joshua's, and such a letter as this would
attract his attention and set him to gossiping.
Considering the circumstances under which he ob-
tained the money, this was hardly desirable, and
Joshua therefore decided, though unwillingly, on
account of the trouble, to walk to the next post
office, a distance of three miles, and post his letter
there.
He came downstairs with his letter in his
pocket.
" Where are you going Joshua ? " asked his
mother.
" Going out to walk,'* said Joshua shortly.
" I want to send a little bund1<> to Mr. Faulk-
ner's, bu' ;hat is too far off."
S'^RONG AND STEADY n;
" I'll carry it," said Joshua.
Mrs. Drummond was astonished at this mi-
ttsual spirit of accommodation, for Joshua was, in
general, far from obliging. The truth was, how-
ever, that, though Mr, Faulkner lived over a mile
T,nd a quarter distant, it was on his way to the
jj^jst office.
" Thank you, Joshua," said Mrs. Drummond.
** I was afraid you wouldn't be willing to go so
far."
" I feel just like taking a long walk to-day,
mother."
" Here is the bundle. I will bake a little pie
for you while you are gone."
So things seemed to be working very smoothly
for Joshua, and he set out on his three-mile walk
in veiy good spirits. His walk, he knew, would
make him hungry, and the pie which his mother
promised him would be very acceptable on his
return.
Arrived in front of Mr. Faulkner's, he saw
Frank Faulkner, a boy of twelve, playing outside.
" Frank," called out Joshua, " here's a bundle
I want you to carry into the house. Tell your
•folks my mother sent it."
"All right," said Frank, and he carried it in.
Joshua proceeded on his way, and finally
reached the post office.
" Give me a two-cent postage stamp," he said
to the postmaster.
118 STRONG AND STEADY
This was speedily affixed to the letter, ana^
after resting a short time, he set out on his walk
homeward.
Reaching the house of Mr. Faulkner, he was
hailed by Frank, who was still playing outside.
" Where have you been, Joshua ? "
Joshua was not desirous of having it knov;.
where he had been, and he answered, in the surly
manner characteristic of him, " What business is
that of yours ? '.'
"Where did you learn manners?" asked
Frank, who was a sturdy scion of Young
America, and quite disposed to stand up for his
rights,
" If you're impudent, Til give you a licking/*
growled Joshua.
" Next time you come along this way, you may
take in your own bundles," retorted Frank.
" If I had a stick, I'd give you something you
wouldn't like."
" You'd have to catch me first," said Frank.
Joshua's temper, which was none of the sweet-
est, was by this time roused, and he started in
pursuit of Frank, but the younger boy dodged
so adroitly as to baffle his pursuit. However, in
attempting to catch him, Joshua stubbed his toe
violently against a projecting root, and measured
his length by the roadside.
"Who's down, I wonder?*" asked Frank-
scrambling over the fence, where he felt safe.
STRONG AND STEADY 119
* I'll wring your neck some time, you young
imp ! " exclaimed Joshua, gathering himself up
slowly and painfully, and shaking his fist vindic-
tively at Frank.
" I'll wait till you're ready," returned Frank.
" I*m in no hurry."
At length Joshua reached home, feeling tired
and provoked, but congratulating himself that Le
had taken the first step toward the grand prize
which loomed in dazzling prospect before his eyes.
CHAPTER XVII
" TRY AGAIN "
In due time, to Joshua's delight, the lottery
ticket reached him. It was several days in com-
ing, and he had almost given it up, but the sight
of it raised his spirits to the highest pitch. It
seemed to him the first step to a fortune. He be-
gan at once to indulge in dazzling visions of what
he would do v/hen the prize came to hand; how
the " old man " would be astonished and treat
him with increased respect; hoAv he would go to
the city and have a good time seeing the lions, and
from henceforth throw off the galling yoke of
dependence which his father's parsimony had
made it so hard to bear.
Whenever he was by himself, he used to pull
out the ticket and gaze at it with the greatest satis-
faction, as the key that was to unlock the portals
of fortune, independence, and happiness.
He had been afraid that his appropriation of
five dollars would be detected, and every time his
father entered the^ house he looked into his face
with some apprehension; but days rolled by, and
nothing was heard. He congratulated himself
I20
STRONG AND ST5:ADY 121
that he had been able to sell tli'e shawl for pre-
cisely the sum he needed, otherwise the money
m^'g-ht have been missed that very night. As it
was, neither the shawl nor the bill had been
missed.
About this time he received a letter from Sam
Crawford, describing the gayeties of the city. It
closed thus :
" By the way, Josh, when are you coming up
to the city to take a look at the lions? It's a
shame that a young man of your age should be
cooped up in an insignificant little village like
Stapleton. I wouldn't exchange the knowledge
of the world I have obtained here for five hundred
dollars ! What a green rustic I was when I first
came here! But it didn't take me long to find
the way round, and now I know the ropes as well
as the next man. I generally play billiards in the
evening, and, if I do say it myself, I am rather
hard to beat. When you come up, I'll give you
a few lessons. I can't help pitying you for lead-
ing such a slow, humdrum life in the country. I
should be moped to death if I were in your place.
Can't you induce the old man to fork over the
stamps, and come up here, if only for a week? '*
This letter had the effect of making Joshua
very much disgusted with Stapleton. Brilliant
visions of city life and city enjoyments flitted be-
I2« STRONG AND STEADY
fore his eyes, and he felt that nothing was needea
to make a man of him except the knowledge of
life which a city residence would be sure to give.
" It's all true what Sam says," he soliloquized.
" A man can't learn anything of life here. No
wonder he looks upon me as a green rustic. How
can I be anything else in this miserable village?
But as for the old man's paying my expenses on
a visit, he's too mean for that. But then there
is the lottery ticket. Just as soon as I get hold
of my prize, I'll go on my own hook."
I append a passage from Joshua's reply to
Sam's letter:
" There isn't any chance of the old man's fork-
ing over stamps enough to pay for my visit to
New York. He's too thundering mean for that.
All he cares for is to make money. But I'm com-
ing, for all that I've bought a lottery ticket, as
you advised, and just as soon as I get hold of
the prize, I shall come and make you a visit. I
should like very much to learn billiards. I wish
there was a billiard table in Stapleton, though
it wouldn't do me much good if there were, the
old man keeps me so close. I shall be glad when
I am twenty-one. I don't see why he can't let
me have a few thousand dollars then, and set me
up in business in the city. Perhaps we could go
in together as partners. However, there is n«
use talking to him, for he won't do it. But T o^^y
STRONG AND STEADY 125
get hold of the money some other way. Would
five thousand dollars be enough to set a fellow
up in business in New York ?
" You will hear from me again soon. I Hope
I shall be able to write you that I am coming to
see you.
" Your friend,
" Joshua Drummond."
It will be seen that Joshua was willing to go
into business for himself, though he did not care
to take a situation. He had the idea, which I
think is entertained by a large number of boys
and young men, that an employer has nothing to
do but to sit at his desk, count over his money^
and order his clerks around. For such an em-
ployment as this Joshua felt that he was well
adapted, and would very much have enjoyed the
sense of importance it would give him.. But
Joshua made a great mistake. Many employers
look back upon the years which they passed as
clerks as years of comparative leisure and ease,
certainly of freedom from anxiety. They find
that they have a heavy price to pay for the priv-.
ilege of being their, own masters, and the masters
of others. But Joshua was thoroughly lazy, and
it was this feeling that 'dictated the wish which he
expressed in his letter to Sam Crawford.
The days passed very slowly, it must be"ac-
*aiow°ledged. Toshua was in a restless and ex-
124 STRONG AND STEADY
cited state. Though he expected to draw a. pri/^e,
he knew that there was a remote chance of fail-
ing to draw anything, and- he wanted the matter
decided.
But at length the long-expected letter arrived.
Joshua did not like to open it in the post ofiice,
lest it should attract the attention of the post-
master. He therefore withdrew to a place where
he was not likely to be disturbed, and with trem-
bling fingers opened the letter.
Something dropped out.
"I wonder is it a check?" thought Joshua,
stooping over and picking it up.
But no, it was an announcement of the drawing.
Joshua's numbers — for each lottery ticket con-
tains three numbers — were 9, 15, 50. But of tl;e
thirteen lucky numbers drawn out of sixty-five,
neither of them was one.
Slowly it dawned upon Joshua that he had
drawn nothing, tnat his five dollars had been ab-
solutely thrown away. But there was a letter,
perhaps this would explain it.
Joshua read as follows :
" Dear Sir : We regret to say that we are un-
able to send you a prize this time. We hope,
however, you will not be discouraged. Some of
our patrons who have been most fortunate have
commenced by being unlucky. Indeed, singu-
larly enough, this is a general rule. Let us cite ao
STRONG AND STEADY 125
instance. Mr. B , of your State, bought his
first ticket of us last spring. It turned out a
blank. We wrote him not to be discouraged,
but we did not hear from him for some weeks.
Finally he sent us a remittance for a ticket, adding
that he sent it with a very faint hope of success.
He was convinced that he was born to ill-luck.
But what was the result? In less than a fort-
night we had the pleasure and gratification of
sending him five thousand dollars, minus our
usual commission. Suppose he had been discour-
aged by a first failure, you can see how much he
would have lost.
" Hoping to hear from you again, and to send
you in return better news, we subscribe ourselves,
" Very respectfully,
" Grabb & Co."
The effect of Joshua's ill success was to make
him very despondent.
" It's all very well to say ' Tr}' again,' " he said
to himself, " but where can I get the money?
That five dollars is thrown away, and I've got
nothing to show for it."
He thought of all he had intended to do, and
now his castles had crumbled, and all in con-
sequence of this letter. He had been so sanguine
of success. Now he must write to Sam that his
visit to New York was indefinitely postponed—
^at is, unless he could induce his father to pro*
126 STRONG AND STEADY
vide him with money enough to go. The pros-
pect was not very encouraging, but he felt desper-
ate, and he determined to make the attempt
Accordmgly, just after supper, he detained his
lather, just as he was returning to the store, and
said :
" Father, I wish you'd let me go to New York
on a visit."
"What for? " asked Mr. Drnmmond, elevating
his brows. ^
"Because I'm eighteen years old, and I've
never been there yet/'
" Then, if you've gone eighteen years without
seeing the city, I think yo- c- qo a while longer '*
said his father, under the impression that he had
made a witty remark. But Joshua did not appre-
ciate the humor of it.
" I've lived in Stapleton ever since I was born '*
grumbled Joshua, " and have got tired of it. *I
want to see something of life."
" Do you ? Well, Fm sure IVe no objectlon."-
"Mavlgo then.?" ■
" Yes."
" When ? " asked Joshua joyfully.
"To-morrow, if yon like; but, of course, yott
will pay your own expenses."
"How can I.?" exclaimed Joshm, in angry
disappomtm.ent. "I have no money."
" Then you can save up your allowance tiS! yota
liave enough."
STRONG AND STEADY 127
Save up on twenty-five cents a week! I
couldn't go till I was an old man ! "
" I know no other way," said Mr. Drummond,
with provoking indifference, "unless you earn
the money in som,e way."
" You treat me like a little boy ! " said Joshua
angrily.
" You are better off than I am. I have to work
for all I get. You get your board, clothes, and
pocket money for nothing."
" Other boys go to New York when they are
much younger."
" I have told you you can go v^en you like,
but you mustn't expect me to supply the money."
Mr. Druramond put on "his hat and crossed the
street to the store, leaving Joshua in an unfilial
frame of mind.
CHAPTER XVin
BRx\NDED AS A THIEF
Two days later two women entered Mr. Drum-
mond's store. One was Joshua's customer, and
she wore the same shawl which she had purchased
of him.
It happened that Walter was out, but Mr.
Drummond and Nichols were both behind the
counter.
"Have you got any more shawls like this?"
asked the first lady, whom we will call Mrs. Blake.
*' Mrs. Spicer, who is a neighbor of mine, liked
it so well that she wants to get another like it."
This was addressed to Mr. Drummond, who
happened to be nearest the door.
" Did you buy this shawl of us?" asked Mr.
Drummond.
" Yes, sir. I bought it a fortnight ago, and
paid five dollars for it."
" Five dollars ! There must be some mistake.
We never sell such a shawl as that for less than
ten dollars."
" I can't help it," said Mrs. Blake positively.
**I bought it here, and paid five dollars for it."
" Why, those shawls cost me seven dollars anr*
123
STRONG AND STEADY 29
a half at wholesale. It is not likely I would sell
them for five."
" I didn't buy it of you."
" Mr. Nichols," said Mr. Drummond, " did you
sell this lady the shawl she is wearing, for five
dollars?"
" No, sir; I have not sold a shawl like that for
two months. I know the price well enough, and
I wouldn't sell it for less than ten dollars."
" I didn't buy it of him, I bought it of a boy,"
said Mrs. Blake.
" It must have been that stupid Conrad," ex-
claimed Mr, Drummond angrily. " Wait till he
comes in, and I'll haul him over the coals."
" Then .you won't let my friend have another
like it for five dollars? "
" No," said Mr. Drummond, provoked. " I
don't do business that way, I've lost nearly
three dbllars by that shawl of yours. You ought
to make up the wholesale price to me."
" Ishan't do it," said Mrs. Blake. " If you've
inade a mistake, it's your lookout. I wasn't will-
ing to pay more than five dollars.'*
The two ladies were about to leave the store
when Mr. Drummond said : " The boy will be
back directly. I wish you would wait a few min-
utes, so that if he denies it you can prove it upon
him."
" I've got a call to make," said Mrs. Blak^
** but I'll come in again in about an hour.**
i.30 STRONG AND STEADY
They left the store, and Mr. Drummond begati
to berate the absent Walter. He was provoked
to find that he had lost two dollars and a half,
and, if Walter had been in receipt of any wages,
would have stopped the amount out of his salary.
But, unfortunately for this plan of reprisal, our
hero received his board only, and that could not
very well be levied upon. However, he might
have some money in his possession, and Mr.
Drummond decided to require him to make up the
loss.
" When did she say she bought the shaw' ^'^''
Nichols ? " asked his employer.
" About a fortnight ago."
" Will you look at the books and see if yoti
find the sale recorded? I am surprised that i%
escaped my attention."
Nichols looked over the books of sales, and
announced that no such entry could be found.
Mr. Drummond was surprised. Though nol
inclined to judge others any too charitably, he
at least had never suspected Walter of dis*
honesty.
" Are you sure you looked back far enough ? "
he asked.
"Yes," said Nichols; "to make sure, I have
looked back four weeks. The woman said only
a fortnight, you know."
" I know. Then it seems Conrad has conceal^
the sale and kep*- the money."
STRONG AND STEADY 138
** Perhaps," suggested Nichols, who rather
liked Walter, " he forgot to put it down."
" If he did, he forgot to put the money in the
drawer, for the cash and the sales have always
balanced. He's an ungrateful young rascal,"
continued Mr. Drummond harshly, " After I
took him into my house and treated him as a son "
— this was not saying much, if Joshua be believed
— " he has robbed me In the most cold-blooded
manner."
Why there should be anything cold-blooded in
appropriating the price of the shawl, even had the
charge been true, I cannot say, nor could Mr.
Drummond probably, but he thought that the use
of this term would make the offense seem more
aggravated.
Even Nichols was astonished by the evidence
against our hero. He did not like to think h'lva
guilty, but it certainly seems as if he must
be.
" What are you going to do about it, Mr.
Drummond ? " he asked.
" I suppose I ought to have him arrested. He
deserves it."
" I hope you won't do that. He may be able
to explain it."
" If I do not proceed to extremities, it will br
on account of his relationhsip, which I blush to a?
knowledge."
The time had been, and that not long since,.
132 STRONG AND STEADY
when Mr. Drummond felt proud of his relation-
ship to the rich Squire Conrad, of Willoughby;
but that '.vas before his loss of property. Cir-
cumstances alter cases.
Quite unconscious of the storm that was g-ath-
ering, V/iiilter at this moment entered the store.
" So you've got back ! " said Mr, Drummond
harshly.
" Yes. sir."
'' You haven't been in any particular hurry.
However, that is not what I wish to speak to you
about. We have made a discovery since you
went out."
"Have you, sir?" asked Walter, rather sur^
prised by the peculiar tone which Air. Drum-
mond saw fit to adopt.
"' Yes, and not a very agreeable one."
" I am sorry for that," said Walter, not know-
ing what else was expected of him.
" No doubt you are sorry," sneered Mr.
Drummond. " I should think he would be, eh,
Mr. Nichols?"
" I am sorry also," said Nichols, who, though
rather weak-minded, was a good-hearted young
man.
" So am I sorry," said Mr. Drummond. " It
strikes me I have most reason to be sorry, con-
sidering that the loss has fallen on me."
All this was an enigma to Walter, and he had
nr^t the faintest idea of what his employer meant.
STRONG AND STEADY 133
He inferred, however, that some blame was about
to be laid upon him.
" If you have no objection, Mr. Drummond,"
he said quietly, "perhaps you will tell me what
has happened."
' " I have found out your ingratitude, Conrad,'*
said Mr. Drummond, preparing for a lecture,
which he rather liked to indulge in, as his wife
could have testified. " I have discovered how,
like a viper, you have repaid me for my kindness.
You didn't think I would find out, but your
iniquity has providentially come to light. While
I was loading you with benefits, you prepared to
sting the hand of your benefactor."
" I don't know what you are talking about, Mr.
Drummond," said Walter imipatiently. " I wish
jrou would stop talking in riddles, and let me
know in what way I resemble a viper."
" Did you ever witness such brazen effronteiy,
Mr. Nichols ? " demanded Mr. Drummond, turn-
ing to his head salesman. " Even when he is
found out, he brazens it out."
" Wouldn't it be as well to tell him what is the
matter, Mr. Drummond ? " asked Nichols, who
was in hopes our hero would be able to prove his
innocence.
" Won't you tell me, Mr. Nichols ? " said
Walter.
" No," said Mr. Drummond, waving his hand;
**it is my duty to tell him myself. I will do sa
134 STRONG AND STEADY
briefly. Walter Conrad, when I admitted yoa
into my house I little dreamed that I was harbor-
ing a thief."
"A thief!" exclaimed Walter, his eyes flash-
ing with anger, and elevating his fist involun-
tarily. " Who dares to call me a thief ? "
" No violence, Conrad," said Mr. Drummond.
" Such a theatrical display of indignation and sur-
prise won't help you any. We are not to be im-
posed upon by your artful demonstration."
" Mr. Drummond," burst forth Walter, fairly
aroused, " you are insulting me by every word
you speak. I am no more a thief than you
are."
"Do you call me a thief?" exclaimed Mr.
Drummond, turning white about the lips.
" No, I don't; but I have as much right to call
you one as you have to charge such a thing upon
me."
" I can prove what I say," said his employer*
" I have got you in a net."
" It won't take me long to get out of any net
you may set for me. I insist upon your telling
me at once what you mean."
" This language is rather extraordinary for a
boy convicted of dishonesty to use toward his em-
ployer."
" I am not convicted of dishonesty. Mr.
Nichols, I appeal to you to tell me, what Mr,
Drummond does not seem disposed to do, wha*"
STRONG AND STEADY t3S
is the meaning of this false charge which has
been trumped up against me."
" I am sure you can prove your innocence, Con-
rad," said Nichols soothingly.
" Mr. Nichols, will you do me the favor to
be silent?" said his employer sharply. "The
matter concerns Conrad and myself, and I don't
choose that anyone should comm.unicate with him
except myself. To come to the point, did you, or
did you not, a fortnight since, sell one of those
shawls, such as you see on the counter, for five
dollars ? " ' -
" I did not," said Walter promptly.
" It might not have been exactly a fortnight.
Have you sold a shawl within four weeks?"
" I have not sold such a shawl since I have been
Jli your employ, Mr. Drummond."
" You hear what he says, Mr. Nichols," said
Mr. Drummond. " You see how he adds false-
hood to dishonesty. But that is not uncommon.
It is only what I expected. Do you mean to say,
Walter Conrad, that you didn't sell such a shawl
for five dollars — only half price — ^and, instead of
entering the sale, put the money into your own
pocket ? " -
" I do deny it most emphatically, Mr. Drum-
mond," said Waiter impetuously, " and I chal-
lenge you to prove it"
CHAPTER XIX
THE STAIN REMOVED
" I shall soon be able to prove it," said Mr.
T)rummond. " The lady who bought the shawl
came into the store half an hour since, and asked
for another. When I told her that it would cost
ten dollars, she said she only paid five for the one
she had on. She then told us that she bought it
of you a fortnight since." •
" How did she know my name? "
" She did not mentioi) your name. She said
that it was a boy she bought it of, and, of course,
that can only be you."
" There is some mistake about this, Mr.
Drnmmond. She has made a mistake. She
must have bought it somewhere else."
" She would not be likely to make such a mis-
take as this. Besides, the shawl is like others I
have. How do you account for that ? " queried
Mr. Drumrnond triumphantly.
** I don't pretend to account for it, and don't
feel called upon to do so. All I have to say is
that I did not sell the shawl, nor pocket the
monev "
t3f
STRONG AND STEADY 137
** I snouldn't be surprised if you had the money
about you at this very moment."
",You are mistaken/' said Walter firmly.
*' Show me your pocketboc!;."
" My pocketbook is my own property,"
" You are afraid to show it. Observe that,
Mr. Nichols. Does not that look like guilt? "
" I am willing to show it to Mr. Nichols,'*
said Walter.
He took it from his pocket and handed it to
Mr. Nichols, who took it rather unwillin<^■j3^
" Open that pocketbook^ Mn Nichols, and
shov/ me what is in it."
" Shall I do so, Walter? " asked Nichols^
" Yes, Mr. Nichols. There is nothing in it
that I am ashamed of."
Nichols opened the pocketbook and took out
three bills.
"What are those bills, Mr. Nichols? " asked
his employer.
" There is a one, here is a two, and here is "—
Nichols hesitated and looked disturbed — " here is
a five."
Mr. Drummond's mean face was radiant with
exultation.
" I told you so. 1 ttiink we need no further
proof. The stolen money has at<;n found in Con-
rad's possession, and his falsehood and dishonesty
pre clearly proved. Hand me that five."
* Stop a minute„ Mr. Drummond," said WalteJf
138 STRONG AND STEADY
coolly. " You are in far too great a hurry. You
have proved nothing whatever. That five-dollar
bill I brought from home with me, and I have
kept it ever since, having no occasion to spend it."
" Do you think I will believe any such story? "
asked his employer, with a sneer. " That is very
plausible, Conrad, but very improbable. I have
no doubt whatever that the bill is the same one
which w-as paid you for the shawl."
" Then you are entirely mistaken."
" That remains to be seen. Air. Nichols, I will
relieve you of that pocketbook. As the shawl
should have been sold for ten dollars, the entire
contents will not be sufficient to pay for the loss
I have sustained."
" Mr. Nichols," said Walter, " I forbid your
giving that pocketbook to Mr. Drummond. He
has no claim to it whatever. You give it to me/*
" I forbid you giving it to Conrad," broke in
his employer.
" I don't know what to do," said Nichols, per-
plexed, looking from one to the other.
" You know that it belongs to me, Mr.
Nichols," said Walter.
" I — I think I had better lay it down on the
counter," said Nichols, by way of compromise. ■
Walter who was on the outside, sprang to the
counter, and seized it just in tinie to prevent Mr.
Drummond obtaining it. The latter was very
angry at his want of success, and exclaimed vio-
STRONG AND STEADY «35
lently, " Walter Conrad, give me that pocketbook,
instantly ! "
Walter, who had f i:t it in the inside pocket of
his coat, coolly buttoned the coat and answered :
" If yon had any claim to it, Mr. Drummond, you
would not have to speak twice; but as it is mine,
I prefer to keep it."
Mr. Drummond, though he had an irritable,
aggravating temper, was not one to proceed to
violence on ordinary occasions. But just now he
was thoroughly provoked, and showed it. He
sprang over the counter with an agility worthy
of his youth, and advanced threateningly upon
Walter.
" Walter Conrad." he exclaimed furiously,
" how dare you defy me in this outrageous man-
ner? Do ydu know that I can have you arrested;
but in consideration of your being a relation, I
may be induced to spare you the penalty of the law
if you will give me What money you have toward
making up my loss."
" So I would if the loss had come through me.
But I have already told you that this is not the
case. I know nothing whatever about the shawl."
" And this," said Mr. Drummond, folding his
arms, " this is the viper that I have warmed in my
bosom. This is the friendless orphan that I ad-
mitted beneath my roof and made a companion of
my son. This is the ungrateful serpent who has
crept into my confidence and abused it ' "
I40 STRONG AND STEADY
Mr. Drummond was an orator on a small scale,
and the pleasure of giving utterance to this scath-
ing denirnciation caused hin :o delay his intention
to obtain possession of the pocketbock by vio-
lence.
Walter ought to have been withered by this
outburst of righteous anger, but he wasn't. He
stood it very well, and did not seem in the least
affected.
" Behold his hardened effrontery, Mr. Nich-
ols!" pursued Mr. Drummond, unfolding his
arms, and pointing at our hero witli qairering
forefinger. " I could not have believed tliat a boy
of his years could be so brazen.'"
" Mr. DrmTimond/' said \Yalter, " I am sus-
tained by a consciousness of my innocence, and
therefore what you say has no effect upon me. It
doesn't seem to be very just to convict me vvithout
evidence, and sentence me without trial."
"Will you give up that pocketbook?" de-
manded Mr. Drummond furiously, having in-
dulged in his little flight of oratory, and now be-
ing ready to proceed to business.
" No, sir, I v/ill not," returned Walter, locking
him firmly in the face.
Mr. Drummond made a dash for him, but Wai-
ter was used to dodging, and, eluding his grasp,
ran behind the counter,
" Mr. Nichols, help me catch him," said Mr.
Drummond, quite red in the face.
STRONG AND STEADY 141
But Nichols did not show any great readiness
to obey. He let Walter pass him, and did nol
make the least effort to retain him.
Mr. Drummond was making ready to jump
over the counter, when Nichols, to his great relief,
observed the ladies, already referred to> coming
up the steps from the street
*' Mr. Drummond, the Hdies have retiirnedj''
he said hastily.
*' Aha ! *' said his employer, with exultatioa.
" Now we will be able to prove your giiilt, yoa
young rascal! Here is the lady who bought the
shawl 01 you,**
Mrs. Blake and her friend, Mrs. Spicer, here
entered the store,
Mr, Drummond went forward to meet them.
His face was flushed, but he tried to look com«»
posed.
*' I am glad to see you back, ladies," he said,
*' You told me that you bought your shawl of a
l)oy? " turning to Mrs. Blake.
" Yes, sin"
" Come forward, Conrad," said Mr. Dr^mK
Kiond, a malignant smile overspreading his face.
" Perhaps you will deny now, to this lady's face,
that you sold her the shawl she has on."
" I certainly do," said Walter. ** I never, to
my knowledge, saw the lady before and I know
'hat I did not sell her the shawl."
'*What do you think of that. Mr. Nichols?'*
142 STRONG AND STEADY
said Mr. Drtimmond. " Did you ever witnes?
such unblushing falsehood?"
But here a shell was thrown into Mr. Dnim-
mond's camp, and by Mrs. Blake herself.
" The boy is perfectly right," she said. " 1 did
not buy the shawl of him."
" What ! " stammered Mr. Drummond.
Mrs. Blake repeated her statement.
" Didn't you say you bought the shawl of a
boy?" asked Mr. Drummond, with a sickly hue
of disappointment overspreading his face.
" Yes, but it was not that boy."
" That is the only boy I have in my employ-
ment."
" Come to think of it, I believe it was your
son," said Mrs. Blake. " Isn't he-a little older
than this boy ? "
" My son — Joshua ! " exclaimed Mr. Drum-
mond.
" Yes, I think it must be he. He's got rather
an old-looking face, with freckles and reddish
hair; isn't so good looking as this boy."
"Joshua!" repeated Mr. Dnunmond, be-
wildered. " He doesn't tend in the store."
" It was about dinner time," said Mrs. Blake,
" He was the only one here."
** Do you know anything about this, Mr.
Nichols ? " asked Mr. Drummond, turning to his
head clerk.
Light dawned upon Nichols. He remembered
STRONG AND STEADY H%
now Joshua's offer to take his place, and he felt
sure in his own mind who was the guilty party.
" Yes, Mr. Drummond," he answered; *' about
a fortnight ago, as Walter was rather late in get-
ting back, Joshua offered to stay in the store for
a v/nile. He must have sold the shawl, but he
must have guessed at the price."
" A mistake has been made," said Mr. Drum-
mond hurriedly to the ladies — "a mistake that
you have profited by. I shall not be able to sell
you arjother shawl for less than ten dollars."
The ladies went out, and Mr. Drummond and
his two clerks were left alone.
"' Mr. Drummond," said Walter quietly, " after
what has happened, you will not be surprised if I
decline to remain in your employ. I shall take
the afternoon train to Willoughby."
He walked out of the store, and crossed the
Street to Mr. Drummond's house.
CHAPTER XX
AN ALARMING THREAT
Walter went up to his room, and hastily packed
fiis trunk. He felt wronged and outra.^ed by the
unfounded charge that had been made against
him. Why, he argued, should Mr. Drummond
so readily decide that he had cheated him oiit of
live dollars ? He felt that he could not, with any
self-respect, remain any longer under the saine
roof with a man who had «^uch a poor opinion of
him.
He was not sorry that his engagement was at
an end. He had obtained some knowledge of the
dry-goods business, and he knew that his ser-
vices were worth more than his board. Then again,
though he was not particular about living luxuri-
ously, the fare at Mr. Drummond's was so un-
commonly poor that he did sometimes long for
one of the abundant and well-cooked meals which
he used to have spread before him at hom.e, or
even at his boarding house while a pupil of the
Essex Classical Institute.
He was packing his trunk when he heard a
step on the stairs, and his door was opened by Mr,
Drii'^mond, considerably to Walter's surprise-
144
STRONG AND STEADY HS
The fact is that Mr. Drummond, on reahzin^
what a mistake he had made, and that Joshua was
the real culprit, felt that he had gone altogether too
far, and he realized that he would be severely cen-
sured by Walter's friends in Willoughby. Be-
sides, it was just possible that Walter might re-
cover a few thousand dollars from his father's
estate, and therefore it was better to be on good
terms with him. Mr. Drummond detenPxined,
therefore, to conciliate Walter, and induce him, if
possible, to rernain in his house and employ.
" What are you doing, Conrad ? " he asked, on
entering Walter's chamber.
" Packing my trunk, sir," said Walter.
" Surely you are not going to leave us,"
** I thinly it best," said Walter quietly.
** You won't — ahem ! — bear malice on account
of the little mistake I made. We are all liable
to mistakes.''
" It was som.ething more than a mistake, Mr.
Drummond. What had you seen in me to jus-
tify you in such a sudden charge of dishonesty? "
" Almost anybody would have been deceived
under the circumstances," said Mr. Drummond
awkwardly.
" You did not give me an opportunity to de»
fend myself, or rather you disbelieved all I
said."
" Well, Conrad, I was mistaken. I shall be
'lad to have vou come back to the store.*'
'46 STRONG AND STEADY
" Thank you, Mr. Drummond, but I have de-
cided to go back to Willoughby for a short time
.1 want to consult Mr. Shaw about the future It
IS time i formed some plans, as I shall probably
have to earn my living."
"Don't you think you had better wait a few
months ? "
"No, sir, I think not." ^
" If you have made up your mind, all I have'to
say IS that my humble dwelling will be ever open
to receive you in the future. Perhaps, after a
short visit at your old home, you may feel inclined
to return to my employment. I will give you a
dollar a week besides board."
Mr. Drummond looked as if he felt that this
was a magnificent offer, for which Walter ought
to feel grateful. But our hero knew very well
that he could command better p^y elsewhere, and
was not particularly impressed. Still he wished
to be polite.
" Thank you for your offer, Mr. Drum.iiiond,"
he said; "but I am not prepared to say, as yet,
what I will do."
"I hope," said Mr. Drummond, rather em- '
barrassed, " you won't speak of our little differ-
ence to your friends at Willoughby."
" No, sir, not if you wish me not to do so."
By this time the trunk was packed, and Walter,
locking it, rose from his knees.
" If it won't be too much trouble, Mr. Drum-
STRONG AND STEADY Hf
niond," he said, '* I will send for my trufik to-
morrow."
" Certainly. Why won't you wait till to-mo"'
rowyourself ? "' ?,
" As I am ready, I may as well take the aft<
noon train."
" Very well; just as you think best."
" I will go down and bid good-by to Mrs.
Dfummond."
Mrs. Druftimond had just come from the
kitchen. She looked with surprise at Walter and
her husband, whose presence in the house at that
hour was unusual.
" What is the matter ? " she asked.
" Conrad is going home a short time on busi-
ness," explained Mr. Drummond.
" When shall we see you back again, Walter? "
asked Mrs. Drummond.
"That is uncertain," said Walter. "It dei-
pends upon my plans for the future."
"I have offered him increased pay," said Mr»
Drummond, " if he will return to the store. I
hope he may decide to do so. Our humble roof
will ever be ready to shelter him."
Considering that Mr. Drummond had not lately
made any such hospitable references to the hum-
ble roof, his wife looked somewhat puzzled.
Just at that moment Joshua, unconscious of the
damaging discovery that had been made relative
to himself, entered the room."
148 STRONG AND STEADY
"Hello! what's up?" he asked.
It was the first time his father had seen him
since the discovery of his dishonesty, and his
ang-er was kindled.
" You ous^ht to be ashamed to show your face
here, you young reprobate ! " he exclaimed.
Joshua stared in amazement, and Mrs. Drun>
mond exclaimed, " What makes you talk so, Mr,
Drummond ? What has he done ? "
"What has he done?" ejaculated Mr. Drum-
mond, adding rather ungrammatically, " He's a
thief — that's what he's done."
" How can you say such things of your own
son?"
" Shvit up, Mrs. Drummond ; you don't know
Adiat you're talking about, or you wouldn't de-
fend him. It would serve him right if I should
flog him within an inch of his life."
'' If you try it," said Joshua sullenly, " I'll
have you arrested for assault and battery."
" Take care, boy, or you may find yourself in
custody for theft."
" What do all these dreadful words mean ? "
asked Mrs. Drummond, distressed. " Tell me,
Walter, if you know."
" I would rather Mr. Drummond informed
you," said Walter.
" I'll tell you, Mrs. Drummond," said her hus-
band. " That boy sold a shawl a fortnight ago,
when alone in the store, and pocketed the money."
STRONG AND STEADY 1^9
" Who said I did ? " asked Joshua boldly,
though he looked a little pale.
" The woman who bought it of you was »v^
the store to-day."
"Did she say I sold it to her?*'
" Yes."
"Did she know my name?"
" No, but she described you."
" So I did," said Joshua, finding it advisable
to remember. " I remember now I sold it for
five dollars."
" What made you keep the money? "
" I didn't. I waited till Conrad came into the
store, and gave the money to him. What he di(*
with it, I don't know. Perhaps he forgot to put
it in the drawer," he added, with a spiteful look
at Walter.
" That's a lie, Joshua Drummond ! " said Wal-
ter quietly, " and you know it is. I think your
father knows it is also."
" Do you mean to say I lie ? " blustered Joshua*
" I wouldn't if I wasn't obliged to ; but in my
own defense I am compelled to do so."
" What could I want of the money ? " de-
manded Joshua, with a look of virtuous indigna-
tion.
" I might as well ask the same question of my-
self; but that would be a poor defense. If you
really want me to answer that ouestion, I will
do it"
I50 STRONG AND STEADY
" Go ahead, then," said Joshua. " I hope my
word is better than that of a beggar living on
charity."
"Joshua!" said his mother in a tone of re-
monstrance.
" I think you wanted the money to buy lottery
tickets with," said Walter calmly.
Joshua turned pale and looked thunder-
struck.
" To buy lottery tickets with ! " he gasped, star-
ing at Walter in dismay.
" What's that? " asked Mr. Drummond, prick-
ing up his ears.
" Your son can tell you," said Walter.
" What does this mean, Joshua ? " demanded
his father sternly.
" It's a lie," said Joshua unblushingly.
" Have you bought no lottery tickets?"
"No."
*' Can you prove this charge which you have
made against my son?" asked Mr. Drummond,
turning to Walter.
" I can, but I am sorry to be obliged to do so.
I picked up this letter a day or two since, and
intended to give it back to Joshua, but it escaped
my mind. I would not have exposed him if he
} ad not tried to charge me with theft."
He placed in Mr. Drummond's hands the letter
already given, announcing to Joshua that he bar*
drawn a blank.
STRONG AND STEADY «5i
Mr. Drummond read it with no little anger, for
fie detested lotteries.
" Unhappy boy ! " he said, addressing- Joshua.
** I understand now what became of the five dol-
lars. This decides me to do what I had intended
to do sooner. I have supported you in laziness
long- enough. It is time you wei t to work..
Next week you must go to work. I will take
you into my store; but as I am not sure of your
honesty, if I find you appropriating money to
your own use, I will put you into a shoe shop and
make a shoemaker of you."
This was an alarming threat to Joshua, who
had a foolish pride which led him to look upon a
trade as less respectable than the mercantile pro-
fession. He slunk out of the house and Mr.
Drummond went back to the store, while Walter
set out on foot for the railway station, three^
quarters of a mile distant*
CHAPTER XXI
THE BOOK AGENT
" Give me a ticket to Willoughby," said Walter,
offering the five-dollar bill which he had come so
near losing.
The ticket was handed him, and three dollars
and seventy-five cents were returned to him.
" How long are you going to stay away ? '*
asked the station master, with whom Walter had
some acquaintance.
" I may not come back at all."
" Have you left Drummond's store ? '^
" Yes."
** Isn't this rather sudden ? '*
" A little so ; but I didn't mean to stay long.'*
The shriek of the locomotive was now dis-
tinctly heard, and Walter went out on the plat-
form. Five minutes later he was occupying a
seat, or rather half a seat, for there sat next to
him a brisk, energetic-looking man, of about
thirty years of age.
He had been reading the morning paper, but
apparently he had got through with it, for he
folded it up. and put it in his pocket.
153
STRONG AND STEADY IS3
•'' Fir.e day," he said briskly.
*' Yes, sir, very fine," answered Walter.
"Some people are affected by the weather: I
am not," pursued his feilow-traveier. " I feel
as smart one day as another."
" It isn't quite so cheerful when it rains," ob-
served Walter.
" Vm always cheerful. I've ^ot too much busi-
ness to do to m.ojje. When a n^an's got enous^h
to busy himself about, he hasn't time to be in the
dum.ps,"
" I suppose there is a good deal in that," said
Walter.
" Of course there is. Push along, keep mov-
ing, that's my motto. Are you in business ? '''
" No, sir, not at present."
" I'm in the subscription-book business — got an
office in New York. We send out agents everv-
where to canvass for our publications. Lots of
money in it."
"Is there?"
" Yes. I used to be an agent myself, and,
though I say it, I don't think there are many
agents that can get ahead of me. Sometimes I used
to make twenty dollars a day. At last I thought
I'd like to settle down, so I bought a partnership,
and now, instead of being an agent, I send out
agents."
" Isn't twenty dollars a day pretty large for an
^ent to make? " asked Walter.
S54 STRONG AND STEADY
" Yes, there are not many who do it, but
plenty make from five to ten right along. You
look as if you would make a good agent."
" What makes you think so? " asked Walter.
" You look smart."
'' Thank you," said Walter, laughing. " I am
afraid you won't think so much of my ability
when T tell you that I have been working for the
last three months for my board."
" It's a shame. You'd better come with us.
We'll do much better for you than that."
" I am going to consult some friends about my
future plans. If you are willing to tell me a little
of your business, I will think of what you pro-
pose."
" I have with me our latest publication. It's
going like wildfire. Just the thing to please peo-
ple. I will show it to you."
Walter looked with interest while his new ac-
quaintance drew out from a carpetbag, which he
had beneath the seat, a good-sized parcel wrapped
in brown paper. Untying it, he produced a bulky
octavo, in flashy binding, and abounding in illus-
trations. He opened the book and turned over
the leaves rapidly.
" It is stuffed full of illustrations, you see," said
he. ** The expense of the pictures alone was ab-
solutely e-nor-m.ous ! " he added, dwelling on the
last word by way of emphasis. " But we're go-
ing to n^J^ it pay. The sale will be immense*
STRONG AND STEADY 15S
Our agents already in the field report remarkable
sales."
" What's the title of the book? " asked Walter,
who had yet been unable to detennine this point,
by reason of the rapid turning of the pages.
" * Scenes in Bible Lands.' We include other
countries besides Palestine, and we've made a
book that '11 sell. 'Most every family will want
one."
" What terms do you offer to agents ? "
" Why, the book sells at retail at three dollar.^,
and fifty cents. Of this the agent keeps one doJ*
lar and twenty-five cents. Pretty good, isn't
it?"
" Yes, .1 should think it was."
" You see you have only to sell four copies a
day to make five dollars. If you're smart, you can
do better than that."
It really did seem very good to Walter, who
couldn't help comparing it with the miserable
wages he had received from Mr. Drummond.
" I think that would pay very well," he said.
" Most paying business out," said the other.
** Say the word, and I'll engage you on the spot."
** Where would you want me to sell? "
" I should like to have you go West. This
way districts are mostly taken up. It would give
you a good chance to travel and see the world."
Now Walter was, like most young people, fond
of new scenes, and this consideration was a
*56 STRONG AND STEADY
weighty one. It would enable him to travel, and
pay his expenses while doing so.
" Better say the word."
" I can't say now. I must see my friends
" Where are you going ? "
"To ^yiI]■oughby."
"How long are you going to stay?"
" I can't tell. A few days, probably.''
"AVell, I will give you the number of cur
office in New York. 'When you set readv, report
to us there, and we'll put you in the field.''"
To this Waiter assented, -id asked several
questions further, to whicli ne received encourag-
ing answers. The stranger gave hmi Ins card
from which our hero learned tlictL ... nad niad^ t!ie
acquaintance of Mr. James Pusher, of tUe firm^
of Flint & Pusher, subscription publishers. No. ™-
Kassau Street, New York.
" Goed-by," said Mr. Pusher cordiaily, when
Walter left the train for the Wiilotsghby station-?
"hope to see you again.''
" Thank yoir," said Walter; " very likely you
Taking his carpetbag in his hand, for he had
arranged to have his trunk come the next dc^y he
walked over to the 6©use o4 Mr. Shaw, his
father's executor.
Mn Sfcaw was- in Us office, a little one-ston'
buiWiiig staad»^ hy itself a Ifttl^ to the Mr ol
STRONG AND STEADY i57
iiis house. He was busily writing, and did not
at once look up. When he saw who it was, he
rose up and welcomed Walter with a smile.
" I'm very glad to see you, Walter," he said.
*' I was just wishing you were here. W^hen did
you leave Stapleton? "
" This afternoon, Mr. Shaw. I have ju^
reached Willoughby."
"And how did you like Stapleton?"
"Tolerably wefl>
" And Mr. Drummond — how were you pleased
with him? "
" As to that," said Walter, smiling, " I can't
say that I liked him as well as I might."
" I judged that from what I have heard of his
character. He has the reputation of being very
mean. A cent in his eye is as large as a dollar to
some men. How did he pay you for your ser-
Vices ?
*' I worked for board wages."
" And pretty poor board at that, I imagine."
" I had no fear of the gout," said Walter,
** The living isn't luxurious."
" Well, I'm glad you are back again. For the
|)resent I shall expect you to be my guest."
This settled the embarrassing question which
had suggested itself as to where he should stay.
His late father's house was, of course, shut up,
and he had no relatives in Willoughby.
" Thank j^ou, Mr. Shaw," he said. **For -?
158 STRONG AND STEADY
few days I shall be glad to accept your kind offer.
What progress have you made in settling the
estate?"
" I can give you some idea of how it stands.
There will be something left, not much. After
paying all debts, including Nancy's, there will cer-
tainly be a thousand dollars; but if you pay
Nancy's legacy, that will take half of this sum."
" The legacy shall be paid," said Walter
promptly, " no matter how little remains. I am
glad there is enough for that."
" I honor your determination, Walter, but I
don't think Nancy will be willing to take half of
what you have left."
" Then don't let her know how little it is."
" There is a chance of something more. I have
made no account of the Great Metropolitan Min-
ing stock, of v/hich your father held shares to the
amount of one hundred thousand dollars, cost
price. . How these will come out is very uncer-
tain, but I think we can get something. - Suppose
it were only five per cent., that v/ould make five
thousand dollars. But it isn't best to count on
that."
" I shan't make any account of the mining
stock," said Walter. " If I get anything, it wiU
be much more than I expect."
" That is the best way. It will prevent dis-
appointment."
" How long before we can find out about it?*^
STRONG AND STEADY i59
" It is wholly uncertain. - It may oe six
months; it, may be two years. All I can say is,
that I will look after your interests."
" Thank 3'-ou, I am sure of that."
" Now, as to your plans. You were at the
Essex Classical Institute, I think?"
" Yes, sir."
" What do you say to going back for a year?
It is not an expensive school. You could stay
a year, including all expenses, for the sum of five
hundred dollars."
Walter shook his head.
" It would consume all rhy money; and as long
as I am not going to college, my present educa-
tion will be sufficient."
" As to consuming all your money," said Mr.
Shaw, " let me say one thing. I received many
favors from your father, especially when a young
man just starting in business. Let me repay them
by paying half your expenses for the next year at
school."
" You are very kind, Mr. Shaw," said Walter
gratefully, " and I would accept that favor from
you sooner than from anyone; but I've made up
my mind to take care of myself, and paddle my
own canoe."
" Well, perhaps you're right," said the lawy^
''indly.
CHAPTER XXII
A ROVING COMMISSION"
Now that he was again in his native village,
W?.lter realized how unpleasant had been his
position at Mr. Drummond's from the new elas-
ticity and cheerfulness which he felt. There had
been something gloomy and oppressive in the at-
mosphere of his temporary home at Stapkton,
and he certainly had very little enjoyment in
Joshua's society. Mrs. Drummond was the only
one for whom he felt the least regard.
He passed a few days quietly, renewing old
acquaintances and friendships. Nancy Forbes
had gone to live with a brother, who was an old
bachelor, and very glad to have her with him.
Her savings and the legacy left her by Mr. Con-
rad together amounted to a thousand dollarS; or
rather more — sufficient to make Nancy rich, in
her own opinion. But she was not quite satisfied
about the legacy.
" They say, Walter, that you'll be left poor,"
she said. " You'll need this money."
" No, I shan't, Nancy," answered Walter.
** Besides, there's a lot of mining stock that '11
«x>^^ to something — I don*t know h^^^ much-'*
STRONG AND STEADY i6i
** But I don't feel right about taking this money,
Walter."
" You needn't feel any scruples, Nancy. I can
take care of myself. I can paddle my own
canoe."
" But you haven't got any canoe," said Nancy,
who did not comprehend the allusion. " Besides,
I don't see how that would help you to a living."
Walter laughed.
" I shall get a canoe, then/* he said^ " and I'll
steer it on to fortune."
" At any rate," said Nancy, " I will leave you
my money when I die."
" Who knows but you'll marry and have a lot
of children ? "
" That isn't very likely, Walter, and me forty-
seven a'ready. I'm 'most an old woman."
So the conversation ended. Nancy agreed,
though reluctantly, to take the legacy, resolved
some time or other to leave it to Walter. If she
had known how little he really had left, she would
not have consented to accept it at all.
The same evening Walter sat in the lawyer's
comfortable sitting room, and together they dis-
cussed the future.
" So you want to be a book agent, Walter?"
said Mr. Shaw. " I can't say I think very highly
of this plan."
"Why not, Mr. Shaw?"
'* It will lead to nothing/*
i62 STRONG AND STEADY
" I don't mean to spend all my life at it. I am
more ambitious than that. But it will give me a
chance to travel without expense, and I always
wanted to see som.ething- of the world."
" How old are you now? "
" Fifteen."
" You are well grown of your age. You
might readily be taken for sixteen."
" Do you really tliink so ? " asked Walter, grati-
fied, like most boys of his age, at being thought to
look older than he really was.
" Yes, at sixteen I was smaller than you now
are."
" You see, Mr. Shaw, that, as I am so young,
even if I spend a year at this business, I shall not
be too old to undertake something else afterward.
In the meantime I shall see something of the
world."
" Well, Walter, I won't oppose you. If I had
not so much confidence in you, I should warn
you of the temptations that are likely to beset
your youth, left, as you will be, entirely to your-
self. Of course, you will be thrown among all
kinds of associates."
" Yes, sir; but I think I shall be wise enough
to avoid what will do me no good."
*' So I hope and believe. Now, what is the
name of this publisher you were speaking of ? "
" Pusher. He is of the firm of Flint &
Pusher."
STRONG AND STEADY 163
** I have heard of them. They are an enter-
prising firm."
" I think I had better start prett)?- soon, Mr.
Shaw. I shall enjoy myself better when I am at
work."
" Next Monday, then, if you desire it."
It was then Friday.
On Monday morning Mr. Shaw handed Walter
a' pocketbook containing a roll of bills. " You
will need som.e money to defray your expenses,"
he said, " until you are able to earn something.
You will find fifty dollars in this pocketbook.
There is no occasion to thank me, for I have only
advanced it from money realized from your
father's estate. If you need any more, you can
write me, and I can send you a check or money
order."
" This will be quite enough, Mr. Shaw," said
Walter confidently. " It won't be long before
I shall be paying my way; at least, I hope so. I
don't mean to be idle."
" I am sure you won't be, or you will belie your
reputation. Well, good-by, Walter. Write me
soon and often. You know I look upon myself
as in some sort your guardian."
" I will certainly write you, Mr. Shaw. By
the way, I never thought to ask you about the
furniture of my room at the Essex Classical In-
stitute."
" It was purchased by the keeper of the board-
i64 STRONG AND STEADY
ing house; at a sacrifice, it is true, but I thought
it best to let it go, to save trouble."
" I should like to see Lem," thought Walter,
with a little sigh as he called to mind the pleasant
hours he had passed with his schoolfellow. " I'll
go back and pay the old institute a visit some time,
after I get back from my travels."
Walter reached New York by ten o'clock.
Though his acquaintance with the city streets was
very limited, as he had seldom visited it, he found
his way without much trouble to the place of
business of Messrs. Flint & Pusher. As they did
not undertake to do a retail business, but worked
entirely through agents, their rooms were not on
the first floor, but on the tliird. Opening the
door of the room, to which he was guided by a
directorv in the entry beneath, Walter found him-
self in a large apartment, the floor of which was
heaped up with piles of books, chiefl}'- octavos.
An elderly gentleman, with a partially bald head,
and wearing spectacles, was talking with two
men, probably agents.
" W^ell, young man," said he, in a rather sharp
voice, " what can I do for you ? "
" Is Mr. Pusher in ? " asked Walter.
*' He went out for a few minutes ; will be back
directly. Did you wish to see him? "
" Yes, sir."
"Take a seat, the; and wait till he comes
STRONG AND STEADY 165
Walter sat down and listened to the conversa-
tion.
" You met with fair success, then?" inquired
Mr. Flint.
, " Yes, the book takes well. I sold ten in one
day, and six and eight in other days."
Walter pricked up his ears. He wondered
whether the book was the one recommended to
him. If so, a sale of ten copies would enable the
agent to realize twelve dollars and a half,, which
was certainly doing very well.
Just as the agents were going out, Mr. Pusher
bustled in. His sharp eyes fell upon Walter,
whom he immediately recognized.
" Ha, my young friend, so you have found us
out," he said, offering his hand.
" Yes, sir."
*' Come to talk business, I hope? *'
" Yes, sir, that is my object in coming.'*
" Mr. Flint," said Mr. Pusher, " this is a young
friend whose acquaintance I made a short time
since. I told him, if ever he wanted employment,
to come here, and we would give him something
to do."
Mr, Flint, who was a slower and more cautious
man than Mr. Pusher, regarded Walter a little
doubtfully.
** Do you mean as an agent? " he said
** Certainly I do."
* He seems very young."
l66 STRONG AND STEADY
" That's true, but age isn't always an advan-
tage. He looks smart, and I'll guarantee that he
is all he looks. I claim to be something of a judge
of human nature, too."
" No doubt you're right," said Mr. Flint, who
was accustomed to defer considerably to his more
impetuous partner. " What's the young man's
name?"
" You've got me there," said Mr. Pusher,
laughing. "If I ever knew, which is doubtful,
I've forgotten."
" My name is Walter Conrad," said our hero.
" Very good. Well, Conrad," continued Mr.
Pusher, in an off-hand manner, " what are your
wishes? What book do you want to take hold
of?".
" You mentioned a book the other day —
* Scenes in Bible Lands.' "
" Yes, our new book. That would be as good
as any to begin on. How's the territory, Mr,
Flint?"
Mr. Flint referred to a book.
" Most of the territory near by is taken up,"'
he said. " Does Mr. Conrad wish to operate near
home ? "
" I would rather go to a distance," said Walter.
"As far as Ohio?"
" Yes."
" In that case you could map out your own
route pretty much. We haven't got the West
STRONG AND STEADY 167
portioned out as we have the Middle and New
England States."
" In other words, Vv^e can give you a kind of
roving commission, Conrad," put in Mr. Pusher.
" That would suit m.e, sir," said Walter.
" Still it would be best not to attempt to cover
too much territory. A rolling stone gathers no
moss, you know. There is one important question
. I must ask yon to begin with. Have you got any
money?"
" Yes, sir, I have fifty dollars."
" Good. Of course, you will need money to
get out to your field of labor, and will have to pay
your expenses till you begin to earn something.
Fifty dollars will answer very well."
" As I don't know very well how the business
is managed," said Walter, " I must ask for in-
structions."
" Of course. You're a green hand. Sit down
here, and I'll make it all plain to you."
So Mr. Pusher, in his brief, incisive way, ex-
plained to Walter how he must manage. His in-
structions were readil»; comprehended, and Wal-
ter, as he listened, felt eager to enter upon the
adventurous career which he had chosen.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE BLAND STRANGER
Walter, by the advice of Mr. Pusher, bought
a ticket to Cleveland. There was a resident agent
in this city, and a depository of books published
by the firm. As Walter would be unable to carry
■ with him as large a supply of books as he needed,
he was authorized to send to the Cleveland agency
when he got out, and the books would be sent to
him by express.
" I will give you a letter to Mr. Greene, our
agent in Cleveland," said Mr. Pusher, " and you
can consult him as to your best field of opera-
tions."
The letter was hastily written and handed to
Walter.
" Good-by, Mr. Pusher," he said, preparing to
leave the office.
" Good-by, my young friend. I shall hope to
hear good accounts from you."
So Walter went downstairs, and emerged into
the street. He had no particular motive for re-
maining in New York, and felt eager to com-
iTjence work. So he went at once to the Er?'
168
STRONG AND STEADY 169
railway depot, and bought a through ticket to
Cleveland, via Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Though
he had not much money to spare, he determined
not to neglect the opportunity he would have of
seeing this great natural wonder, but to stop over
a day in order to visit the falls.
He selected a comfortable seat by a window,
and waited till the train was ready to start. He
realized that he had engaged in quite a large en-
terDrise for a boy of fifteen who had hitherto had
all his wants supplied by others. He was about
to go a thousand miles from home, to earn his
own living — in other words, to paddle his own
canoe. But he did not feel in the least dismayed.
He vv'as ambitious and enterprising, and he felt
confident that he could earn his living as well as
other boys of his age. He had never been far
from home, but felt that he should enjoy visiting
new and unfamiliar scenes. So he felt decidedly
cheerful and hopeful as the cars whirled him out
of the depot, and he commenced his Western
journey.
Walter put his strip of railway tickets into his
vest pocket, and his pocketbook, containing the
I ilance of his m.oney, into the pocket of his panta-
Icons. He wished to have the tickets at hand
when the ccnductor came round. He sat alone at
first, but after a while a lady got in who rode
thirty miles or more, and then got out. A little
%ter a vouno- man passed through the cars, look-
I70 STRONG AND STEADY
-'ig about him on either side. He paused at Wal-
ler's seat, and inquired, " Is this seat taken? "
" No, sir," said Walter.
" Then, with your permission, I will take it/*
said the stranger. " Tiresome work traveling,
isn't it?"
" I don't know," said Walter; " I rather like it;
but then I never traveled much."
" I have to travel a great deal on business,"
said the other, " and I'm tired of it. How many
times do you think I have been over this road ? "
" Couldn't guess."
" This is the fifteenth time. I know it like a
book. How far are you going? "
" To Cleveland."
" Got relations there, I suppose ? "
" No," said Walter; " I am going on busi-
ness."
He was rather glad to let his companion know
that he, too, was in business.
" You're young to be in business," said his
companion. " What sort of business is it ? "
" I am an agent for Flint & Pusher, a New
York firm."
"Publishers, ain't they?"
'' Yes, sir."
Walter's companion was a young man of
twenty-five, or possibly a year or two older. He
was rather flashily attired, with a cutaway coat
and a low-cut vest, double-breasted, across which
STRONG AND STEADY tyi
g"littered a massive chain, which might have been
gold, or m!gh<: only have been gilt, since all that
glitters is not gold. At any rate, it answered the
purpose of making a show. His cravat was
showy, and liis whole appearance indicated the
absence of good taste. A cautious, employer
Would scarcely have selected him from a crowd of
applicants for a confidential position. Walter
was vaguely conscious of this. Still he had seen
but little of the world, and felt incompetent to
judge others.
" Are you going right through to Cleveland ? "
'nquired the stranger.
'' No ; I think I shall stop at Buffalo. I want
to see Niagara Fails."
" That's right. Better see them. They're
stunning."
" I suppose you have been there? " said Walter,
•^ith some curiosity.
" Oh, yes, several times. I've a great mind to
go again and show you around, but I don't know
*f I can spare so long a time from business."
" I should like your company," said Waker
jX)litely; " but I don't want to interfere with your
^gagements."
" I'll think of it, and see how I can arrange
matters," said the other.
Walter was not particularly anxious for the
^xmtinued society of his present companion. He
^ras wiUitiiS enough to talk with him» but there
17- STRONG AND STEADY
was something- in his appearance and mannef
which prevented his being attracted to him. He
turned away and began to view the scenery
through which they were passing. The stranger
took out a newspaper and appeared to be reading
attentiveh^ Half an hour passed thus without
a word being spoken on either side. At lengthl
his companion fokled up the paper.
" Do you smoke ? " he asked.
" No," said Walter.
" I think I'll go into the smoking car and smol^
a cigar. I shouM like to offer you one if you will
take one."
"No, thank you." said Walter; "I don*t
smoke, and I am afraid my first cigar wouldn't
give me much pleasure."
" I'tt be back in a few minutes. Perhaps you'd
like to look over this paper while 1 am gone."
** Thank you," said Walter.
He took the paper — an illustrated weekly — and
looked over the pictures with considerable inter-
est. He had jusr com.menced reading a story
wnen a boy passed througn the car with a basket
cf oranges and apples denennino- from his arm.
" Oranges — apples! " he called out, looking to
the right and left in quest of customers.
The day was warm, and thrcngh t^^e open win-
dow dust had blown into the car. Walter's f roat
felt parched, a»d the oranges looked tempting.
'* How much are your oranges ? " he inquire^*
STRONG AND STEADY 173
" Five cents apiece, or three for a dime," an-
swered the boy.
" I'll take three," said Walter, reflecting- that
he could easily dispose of two himself, and con-
sidering that it would only be polite to offer one
*o his companion, whose paper he was reading,
when he should return.
" Here are three nice ones," said the boy, pick-
ing them out, and placing them in our hero's
hands.
Walter felt in his vest pocket, tliinking he had
a little change there. He proved to be mistaken.
There was nothing in that pocket except his rail-
way tickets.
Next, of course, he felt for his pocketbook,
but he felt in vain.
He started in surprise,
" I thought my pocketbook was in that pocket,**
he reflected. " Can it be in the other ? "
He fell in the other pocket, but search here
was equally fruitless. He next felt nervously in
tJie pocket of his coat, though he was sure he
couldn't have put his pocketbook tliere. Then it
flashed upon him, with a feeling of dismay, that
he had lost his pocketbook and all his remaining
money. How or whce, he could not possibly
imagine, for the sudder«iess of the discovery quite
bewildered him.
''^ I won't take the oranges,^ he said to the boy,
" i can't find my moneyc"
174 STRONG AND STEADY
The boy, who had made sure of a sale, took
back the fruit reluctantly, and passed on, crying
out: "Here's your oranges and apples! "
Walter set about thinking what had become of
his money. The more he thought, the more cer-
tain he felt that he had put his pocketbook in
the pocket in which he had first felt foi it. Why
was it not there now? That was a question
which he felt utterly incompetent to answer.
"Have you lost anything? " inquired a gen-
tleman who sat just behind Walter. Looking
back, he found that it was a gentleman of fifty
who addressed him. ,
"Yes, sir," he said, "I have lost my pocket-
book."
"Was there much money in it? "
"About forty dollars, sir."
"That is too much to lose. Was your ticket
in it also?"
"No, sir; that I have in my vest pocket."
"Where was your pocketbook when you last
saw it? " inquired the gentleman.
"In this pocket, sir."
"Humph!" commented the other. "MHio
was that yotmg man who was sitting with yoi?
a few minutes since ? ' '
"I don't know, sir."
"He Vv^as a stranger, then? "
"Yes, sir: I never met him till this morn-
ing."
STRONG AND STEADY I7S
*'' Then I think I can tell you where your money
has gone."
"Where, sir?" demanded Walter, beginning
to understand him.
" I think your late companion was a pick-
pocket, and relieved you of it, while he pretended
to be reading. I didn't like his appearance
much."
" I don't see how he could have done it with-
out my feeling his hand in my pocket."
" They understand their business and can
easily relieve one of his purse undetected. I once
had my watch stolen without being conscious of
it. Your pocketbook was in the pocket toward
the man, and you were looking from the window.
It was a very simple thing to relieve you of it."
CHAPTER XXIV
DETECTED
It is not natural for a boy of Walter*s a^e
to distrust those with whom he becomes ac-
quainted even slightly. This lesson unfortu-
nately is learned later in life. But the words of
his fellow-traveler inspired him with conviction.
He could think of no other way of accounting
for his loss.
He rose from his seat.
" V/here are you going ? '* asked the old gentle-
man.
*'I am going to look for the thief."
" Do you expect to find him ? "
*' He said he was going into the smoking car."
" My young friend, I strongly suspect that this
was only to blind you. The cars have stopped at
two stations since he left his seat, and if he took
your money he has doubtless effected his escape."
Walter was rather taken aback by this consider-
ation. It seemed reasonable enough, and, if true,
he didh't see how he was going to get back his
money.
" I dare say you are right," he said ; ** but I
will ^e 'nto the smoking car and see.'*
176
STRONG AND STEAD'x ^77
" Come back again, and let me know whether
you find him."
" Yes, sir."
Walter vv^ent through two cars, looking about
him on either side, thinking it possible that the
thief might have taken his seat in one of them.
There was very little chance of this, however.
Next he passed into the smoking car, where, to
his joy no less than his surprise, he found the
man of wliom he was in search playing cards with
three other passengers.
He looked up carelessly as Walter approached,
but did not betray the slightest confusion or sign
of guilt. To let the reader into the secret, he had
actually taken Walter's pocketbook, but was too
cunning to keep it about him. He had taken out
the money, and thrown the pocketbook itself from
the car" pi? tform, taking an opportunity when he
thought himself unobserved. As the money con-
sisted of bills, which could not be identified as
Walter's, he felt that he was in no danger of de-
taction. He thought that he could afford to be
indifferent.
" Did you get tired of waiting? " he asked, ad-
dressing our hero.
" That's pretty cool if he took the money,"
thought Walter,
''May I speak to you a moment?" asked
Walter.
"Certainly." ;
178 STRONG AND STEADY
" I mean alone."
" If you will wait till I have finished the game,**
said the pickpocket, assuming a look of surprise,
" Something private, eh? "
" Yes," said Walter gravely.
He stood by impatiently while the game went
on. He was anxious to find out as soon as pos-
sible what had become of his money, and what
was the chance of recovering it.
At length the game was finished, and a new one
was about to be commenced, when Walter tapped
his late companion on the shoulder.
"Oh, you wanted to speak to me, did you?"
he said indifferently. " Can't you wait till we
have finished this game? "
" No," said Walter resolutely, " I can't wait
It is a matter of great importance."
" Then, gentlemen, I mus. beg to be excused
for five minutes," said the pickpocket, shrugging
his shoulders, as if to express good-natured an-
noyance. " Now, my young friend, I am at your
service."
Walter proceeded to the other end of the car,
which chanced to be unoccupied. Now that the
moment had come, he hardly knew hov/ to intro-
duce the subject. Suppose that the person he ad-
dressed were innocent, it would be a rather awk-
ward matter to charge him with the theft.
"Did you see anything of n^y oocketbook ? '*
tie said, at length.
STRONG AND STEADY i7»l
" Your pocketbook ! " returned the pickpocket,
arching his brows. " Why, have you lost it ? '*
" Yes."
" When did you discover its loss? "
" Shortly after you left me," said Walter sig-
nificantly.
" Indeed ! was there much money in it ? "
" Over thirty dollars."
" That is quite a loss. I hope you have some
more with you."
"No, it is all I have."
" I'm very sorry indeed. I did not see it
Have you searched on the floor ? "
" Yes; but it isn't there."
" That's awkward. Was your ticket in the
pocketbook ? "
" No, I had that in my vest pocket."
" That's fortunate. On my honor, I'a sorr^
for you. I haven't much money with me, but I'll
lend you a dollar or two with the greatest pleasr-
ure."
This offer quite bewildered Walter. He felt
confident that the young man had stolen his
money, and now he was offering to lend him
some of it. He did not care to make such a com-
promise, or to be bought off so cheap ; so, though
quite penniless, he determined to reject the
offer, ~
" I won't borrow," he said coldly^ " T was
hoping you had seen my money,"
l8o STRONG AND STEADY
" Sorry I didn't. Better let me lend you some.**
" I would rather not borrow."
Walter could not for the life of him add
" Thank yon," feeling no gratitude to the man
who he felt well assured had robbed him.
The pickpocket turned and went back to his
game, and Walter slowly left the car. He had in-
tended to ask him point-blank whether he had
taken the money, but couldn't summon the neces-
sary courage. He went back to his old seat.
" Well," said the old gentleman who sat be-
hind him, " I suppose you didn't find your
man ? "
" Yes, I did."
"You didn't get your money?" he added ini
surprise.
" No, he said he had not seen it."
"Did ^''ou tax him with taking it?"
"No, I hardly -ventured to do that."
"Did he show any confusion ? "
" No, sir, he was perfectly cool. Still, I think
he took it. He offered to lend me a dollar or
two."
*' That was cool, certainly."
" What would you advise me to do ? " asked
Walter.
" I hardly know what to advise," said the other
thoughtfully.
" I don't want him to make off with my
moiiey."
STRONG AND STEADY i8i
" Of course not. That wouldn't be agreeable.'*
" If he could only be searched, I might find the
pocketbook on him."
" In order to do that he must be charged with
tiie robbery."
" That is true. It will be rather awkward for
a boy like me to do that"
" I'll tell you what you had better do, my young
friend. S,peak to the conductor."
" I think I will," said Walter.
Just at that moment the conductor entered the
car. As he came up the aisle Walter stopped
him, and explained his loss, and the suspicions
he had formed.
"You say the man is in the smoking car?'*
said the conductor, who had listened attentively.
" Yes."
"Could you point him out?"
" Yes."
" I am glad of it. I have received warning by
telegraph that one of the New York swell-mob is
on the train, probably intent on mischief, but no
description came with it, and I had no clew to the
person, I have no doubt that the man you speak
of is the party. If so, he is familiarly known as
* Slippery Dick.' "
" Do you think you can get back my money? "
asked Walter anxiously,
" I think there is a chance of it. Come wltfe
.e anrf noint out your man.*'
182 STRONG AND STEADY
Walter gladly accompanied the conductor to
the smoking car. His old acquaintance was
busily engaged as before in a game, and laughing
heartily at some favorable turn.
" There he is," said Walter, indicating him
with his finger.
The conductor walked up to him, and tapped
him on the shoulder.
" What's wanted ? *' he asked, looking up.
** You've looked at my ticket."
" I wish to speak to you a moment."
He rose without making any opposition, and
walked to the other end of the car.
" Well," he said, and there was a slight nerv-
ousness in his tone, *' what's the matter? Wasn't
my ticket all right? "
" No trouble about that. The thing is, will
you restore this boy's pocketbook? "
" Sir," said the pickpocket, blustering, ** do you
mean to insult me ? What have I to do with his
pocketbook ? "
" You sat beside him, and he missed it directly
after you left him."
" What is that to me ? You may search me
if you like. You will find only one pocketbook
upon me, and that is my own."
" I am aware of that," said the conductor
coolly. " I saw you take the money out and
throw it from the car platform."
The pickpocket turned pale.
STRONG AND STEADY 183
"* You are mistaken in the person," he said.
" No, I am not. I advise you to restore the
money forthwith."
Without a word the thief, finding- himself
cornered, took from his pocket a roll of bills,
which he handed to Walter.
" Is that right ? " asked the conductor.
" Yes." said our hero, after counting the
money.
" So far, so good. And now. Slippery Dick,**
he continued, turning to the thief, *' I advise you
to leave the cars at the next station or I will have
you arrested. Take your choice."
The detected rogue was not long in making
his choice. Already the cars had slackened their
speed, and a short distance ahead appeared a small
station. "The place seemed to be of very little
importance. One man, however, appeared to
have business there. Walter saw his quondam
acquaintance jump on the platform, and congratu-
lated himself that his only loss was a pocketbook
whose value did not exceed a dollar.
I will only add that the conductor, on seeing the
pocketbook thrown away^ had thought nothing
of it, supposing it to be an old one, but as soon
as he heard of the robbery suspected at once the
thief and his motive.
CHAPTER XXV
ON THE ROAD
Walter stopped long enough at Buffalo to visit
Kiagara Falls, as he had intended. Though he
enjoyed the visit, and found the famous cataract
fully up to his expectations, no incident occurred
during the visit which desen'^es to be chronicled
here. He resumed his journey, and arrived in
due time at Cleveland.
He had no difficulty in finding the office of Mr.
Greene, the agent of Messrs. Flint & Pusher. He
found that this gentleman, besides his agency,
had a book and stationery business of his own.
" I don't go out myself," he said to Walter;
*'' but I keep a supply of Flint's books on hand,
and forward them to his agents as called for.
Have you done much in the business ? "
" No, sir; I am only a beginner. I have done
nothing yet." ^
" I thought not. You look too young."
" Mr. Pusher told me I had better be guided by
your advice."
" I'll advise you as well as I can. First. I
suppose you want to know where to go."
"Yes, sir »•
ji6^
STRONG AND STEADY 185
" You had better go fifty miles off at least.
The immediate neighboorhood has been pretty
well canvassed. There's C now, a flourish-
ing and wealthy town. Suppose you go there
first."
'* Very well, sir."
" It's on the line of railway. Two hours will
carry you there."
" I'll go this afternoon."
" You are prompt."
" I want to get to work as soon as possible.'*
" I commend your resolution. It speaks well
for your success."
Walter arrived in C in time for supper.
He went to a small public house, where he found
that he could get board for a dollar and a half
a day, or seven dollars by the week. He engaged
a week's board, reflectinr^ that he could probably
work to advantage a week in so large a pia^.e, or,
if not, five days at the daily rate would amount to
more than the weekly tenns.
He did not at first propose to do anything that
evening until it occurred to him that he might
perhaps dispose of a copy of his book to the land-
lord in part payment for his board. He went
into the public room after supper.
" Are you traveling alone ? " asked the land-
lord, who had his share of curiosity.
" Yes," said Walter.
" Not on business ? "
186 STRONG AND STEADY
" Yes, on business."
" What might it be now ? You are rather
young to be in business."
" I am a book agent."
" Meeting with pretty good success ? "
'' I'm just beginning," said Walter, smiling.
" If 5^ou'll be my first customer, I'll stop with you
a week."
" What kind of a book have you got ? "
Walter showed it. It was got up in the usual
style of subscription books, with abundance of
illustrations.
" It's one of the best books we ever sent out,*
said Walter in a professional way. " Just look '
at the number of pictures. If you've got any
children, they'll like it; and, if you haven't, it will
be just the book for your center table."
. " I see you know how to talk," said the land-
lord, smiling. " What is the price? "
" Three dollars and a half."
" That's considerable."
" But you know I am going to take it out iti
board."
" Well, that's a consideration, to be sure. A man
doesn't feel it so much as if he took the money
out of his jJocket and paid cash down. What do
you say, Mrs. Burton ? " addressing his wife, who
just then entered the room. " This young man
wants to stay here a week, and pay partly in a
book he is agent for. Shall I agree? " ^
STRONG AND STEADY i8;
'■ Let me see the book," said Mrs. Burton, who
was a comely, pleasant-faced woman of middle
age. " What's the name of it ? "
" The name is ' Scenes in Bible Lands,' " said
Walter.
He opened it, taking care to display and point
out the pictures.
" I declare it is a nice book," said Mrs. Burton.
*' Is there a picture of Jerusalem ? "
" Here it is," said Walter, who happened to
know just where to find it. " Isn't it a good pic-
ture? And there are plenty more as good. It's
a book that ought to be in every family,"
" Really, Mr. Burton, I don't know but we
might as well take it," said the landlady. " He
takes it out -in board, you know."
" Just as you say," said the landlord. " I am
willing."
" Then I'll take the book. Emma will like to
look at it."
So Walter made the first sale, on which he
realized a profit of one dollar and a quarter.
" It's a pretty easy way to earn money," he
deflected with satisfaction, " if I can only sell
copies enough. One copy would pay for a day's
board."
He went to bed early, and enjoyed a sound and
refreshing sleep. He was cheered with hopes of
success on the morrow. If he could sell four
copies a dav. that WQuld give him a profit of five
188 STRONG AND STEADY
dollars, and five dollars would leave him a hand-
some profit after paying expenses.
The next morning after breakfast he started
out, carrying with him three books. Knowing
nothing of the residents of the village, he could
only judge by the outward appearance of their
houses. Seeing a large and handsome house
standing back from the street, he decided to
call.
" The people living here must be rich," he
thought. " They won't mind paying three dol-
lars and a half for a nice book."
Accordingly he walked up the graveled path
and rang the front-door bell. The door was
opened by a housemaid.
''Is the lady of the house at home?" asked
Walter.
" Do you want to see her ? "
" Yes."
" Then wait here, and Til tell her."
A tall woman, with a thin face and pinched
expression, presented herself after five minutes.
" Well, young man," she asked, after a sharp
glance, '\ what is your business ? "
Her expression was not very encouraging, but
Walter was bound not to lose an opportunity.
" I should like to show you a new book,
madam," he commenced, " a book of great value,
beautifully illustrated, which is selling like wild-
fire."
STRONG AND STEAD\ 189
** How many copies have you sold ? " inquired
the lady sharply.
" One," answered Walter, rather confused.
" Do you call that selling like wildfire ? " she
demanded with sarcasm.
" I only commenced last evening/' said Walter.
" I refer to the sales of other agents."
** What's the nam_e of the book ? "
*' ' Scenes in Bible Lands/ '^
" Let me see it."
Walter displayed the book.
" Look at the beautiful pictures," he said.
" I don't see anything remarkable about them.
The binding ion't very strong. Shouldn't won-
der if the book would g'o to pieces in a week."
" I don't think there will be any trouble that
way," said Walter.
" If it does, you'll be gone, so it won't trouble
you.
" With ordinary care it will hold long enough.**
" Oh, yes, of course you'd say so. I expected
it. How much do you charge for the book?**
" Three dollars and a half."
" Three dollars and a half ! *' repeated the
woman. " You seem to think people are made of
money,"
" I don't fix. the price, madam," said Walter^
rather provoked; " the publishers do that."
" I warrant they malce two-^^^r^r^*' nm6t, T*'^"^
%ey now ? **
190 STRONG AND STEADY
" I don't know," said Walter. " I don't know
anything about the cost of publishing books; but
this is a large one, and there are a great many
pictures in it. They must have cost consider-
able." - -
" Seems to me it's ridiculous to ask such a
price for a book. Why, it's enough to buy a nice
dress pattern ! "
*' The book will last longer than the dress,"
said Walter.
*' But it is not so ne«^3sarf . FlI tell you what
I'll do. I'd like the book well enough to put on
my parlor table. I'll give you two dollars for it."
"Two dollars!" ejaculated Walter, scarcely
crediting the testimony of his ears.
" Yes, two dollars; and i warrant you'll make
money enough then."
" I should lose money," said Walter. " I
couldn't think of accepting such an offer/'"
" In my opinion there isn't any book worth
even two dollars."
" I see we can't trade,'* said Walter, disgusted
at such meanness in a lady who occupied so large
a house, and might be supposed to have plenty of
money.
He began to replace the book in its brown-
paper covering.
" I don't know but I might give you twenty-
five cents more. Come now, I'll give you two
dollars and a quarter."
STRONG AND STEADY I9«
" I can't take it/' said Walter shortly. " Three
dollars and a half is the price, and I will not take
a cent less." „ ^ a
'' You won't get it out of me then, retorted
the lady, slamming the door in displeasure.
Walter had already made up his mind to this
effect, and had started on his way to the gate.
"I wonder if I shall meet many people like
her? " he thought, and he felt somewhat despond-
gtit.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE POLITE PEDDLER
vV alter 'began to think that selling- books would
^rove a harder and more disagreable business
than he had anticipated. He had been brought
face to face with meanness and selfishness, and
Jhey inspired, him with disgust and indignation.
Not that he expected everybody to buy his books,-
even if ihey could afford it. Still it was not
necessary to insult him by offering half price.
He walked slowly up the street, wondering if
he should met any more such customers. On the
opposite side oJ vhe street he noticed a small siioe-
maker's shop.
" I suppose it is of no use to go in there,"
thought Wulter. " If they won't buy at a big
house, there isn't much chance here."
Still he thought he would go in. He had
plenty of time on his hands, and might as well
let slip no chance, however small.
He pushed open the door, and found himself
in a shop about twenty-five feet square, littered
up with leather shavings and finished and unfin-
ished shoes. A boy of fourteen was pegging.
19a
STRONG AND STEADY 193
and his father, a man of middle age, was finishing
a shoe.
" Good-morning," said Walter.
" Good-morning," said the shoemaker^ turning
round. " Do you want a pair of shoes this moni«
ing? "
" No," said Walter, '* I didn't come to buy, but
to sell."
" Well, what have jou got to sell ? "
*' A sLibscription book, finely illustrated.**
" What is the name of it ? "
" ''Scenes in Bible Lands,' **
" Let me L)ok at it,"
He wiped his hands on his apron, and, taking
the book, began to turn over the leaves,
" It seems like a good book," be said " Does
itself well? ^'
" Yes, it sells largely. I have only Jtist com-
menced, but other scents are doing well on it"
" You are rather young for ao. agent"
" Yes, but Fm old enoiigh to work, and I'm
going to give this a fair triaL**
" That's the way to talk. How much do yos
expect to get for this book ? "
" The price is three dollars and a half.**
" It's rather high."
'* But there are a good many pictures. Tho^.
are what cost money.'*
*' Yes, I suppose they do. Well, I've a greal
mind to take one."
194 STRONG AND STEADY
' *' r don't think you'll regret it. A good book
will give you pleasure for a long time."
'' That's so. Well, here's the money." And
the shoemaker drew five dollars from a leather
pocketbook. '' Can you give m,e the change? "
Walter was all the more pleased at effecting
this sale because it was unexpected. He had ex-
pected to sell a book at the great house he had just
called at, but thought that the price of the book
might deter the shoemaker, whose income prob-
ably was not large. He thought he would like
to know the name of the lady with whom he had
such an unpleasant experience.
" Can you tell me." he inquired, " who lives i'"
that large house a little way up the street ? "
" You didn't sell a book there, did you ? " askea
the shoemaker, laughing.
" No, but I got an offer of two dollars for
one."
" That's just like Mrs. Belknap,*' returned the
other. " She has the name of being the meanest
Woman for miles around."
" It can't be for the want of money. She lives
in a nice house."
" Oh, she's rich enough — the richest woman in
town. When her husband was alive — old Squire
Belknap — she wasn't quite so scrimping, for he
was free-handed and liberal himself; but now
she's a widow, she shows out her meanness. So
she offered you two dollars ? "
STRONG AND STEADY I9f
"Yes, but she afterward offered twenty-five
cents more."
" Then she must have wanted the book. She
makes it her boast that no peddler ever took her
in, and I guess she's about rig-ht."
" I hope there are not many such people in
town. If there are, I shall get discouraged."
" We've got our share of mean people, I ex-
pect, but she's the worst."
" Well, I suppose I must be going. Thank
you lor your purchase."
" That's all right. If I like the book as well
as I expect, I shall thank you."
Walter left the shoemaker's shop with consider"
ably higher spirits than he entered. His confi-
dence in human nature, which had been rudely
shaken by Mrs. Belknap, was in a degree restored,
and his prospects looked brighter than a few min-
utes before.
" I wonder who'll make the siext purchase ? " h^
thought.
He stopped at a plain two-story house a Hltls
further up the road. The door was opened by
an old lady.
" What do you want ? " she asked.
" I am agent for an excellent book," com*
tnenced Walter.
" Oh, you're a peddler," broke in the old !ady«
without waiting to hear him through.
" I suppose I may be called so."
10 STRONG AND SI liAuY
" Are you the man that was round last spring
selling jewelry? "
" No, I have never been here before."
" I don't know Vv'hether to believe you or not/*
said the old lady. " Your voice sounds like his.
I can't see very well, for I've mislaid my specs.
If you're the same man, I'll have you took up for
selling bogus jewelry."
*^ But I'm not the same one.*'
" I don't know. The man I spoke of sold my
darter a gold ring for a dollar, that turned out
to be nothing but brass washed over. *T wasn't
worth five cents."
" I'm sorry you got cheated, but it isn't my
fault"
'*' Wait a minute, I'll call my darter.*'
In reply to her mothers call a tall maiden lady
of forty advanced to the door, with some straw
in her hand, for she was braiding straw.
"What's wanted, mother?" she asked.
" Isn't this the man that sold you that ring?"
"La,- no, mother. He was a man of forty-
five, and thfs is only a" boy."
" I s'pose you must be right, but I can't see
without my specs. Well, I'm sorry you're not
the one, for I'd have had you took up onless you'd
g-ive back the dollar."
Under the circumstances Walter himself was
not sorry that there was no chance of identifying
bim with his knavish predecessor.
STRONG AND STEADY ^ 197
" What have yon got to sell ? " asked the
younger woman.
" A book beautifully illustrated, called ' Scenes
in Bible Lands.' Will you allow me to show it
to you?"
" He seems quite polite," said the old lady, now
disposed to regard Walter more favorably.
*' Won't you come in ? "
Walter entered, and was shown into a small
sitting room, quite plainly furnished. The book
was taken from him and examined for a consider-
able length of time by the daughter, who, how-
ever, announced at the end that though she should
like it very much, she couldn't afford to pay the
price. As the a^Dpearance of the house bore out
her assertion, Walter did not press the purchase,
but was about to replace the book under his arm,
when she said suddenly : " Wait a minute.
There's ]\Irs, Thurman just coming in. Perhaps
she'll buy one of your books."
Walter was, of course, perfectly willing to wait
on the chance of a sale.
Mrs. Thurman was the wife of a trader in good
circumstances, and disposed to spend liberally,
according to her means. Walter was not obliged
to recommend his book, for this was done by the
spinster, who was disinterestedly bent on making
a sale. So he sat quiet, a passive but interested
auditor, while Miss Nancy Sprague extolled ih€
hook for hinx
198 STRONG AND STEADY
" It does seem like an excellent book, oai^
Mrs, Thumian, looking at the pictures.
" Just the thing for your Delia," suggested
Miss Nancy; " I am sure she would like it."
" That reminds me to-morrow is Delia's birth-
day."
" Then give her the book for a birthday
present."
" I had intended to buy 1 er something else.
Still I am not sure but, this would suit her quite
as well."
" I am sure it would," responded Miss Nancy.
" Then I will take it. Young man, how much
do you ask for your book ? "
" Three dollars and a half.'*
Mrs. Thurman paid the money, and received
the book.
" I am much obliged to you," said Walter, ad-
dressing Miss Nancy, " for recommending my
book."
" You're quite welcome," said Miss Nancy,
who felt some satisfaction in gaining her point,
though it would not benefit her any. " I'm sure
you are quite polite for a peddler, and I hope
you'll excuse mother for making such a mistake
about you."
" That is of no consequence," said Walter,
smiling. " I think if your mother had had her
glasses on she would not have made such a mis-
take."
STRONG AND STEADY 199
He left the house still further encouraged.
But during the next hour he failed to sell anotlier
copy. At length he managed to sell a third. As
these were all he had brought with him, and he
was feeling somewhat tired, he went back to tr,e
tavern, and did not come out again till after din-
ner. He had sold three copies and cleared thre^
dollars and seventy-five cents, and he regarded
himself as being a very promising book agent.
CHAPTER XXVII
IN STRANGE QUARTERS
Walter found a good dinner ready for him at
twelve o'clock, which he enjoyed the niore be-
cause he felt that he had earned it in advance.
He waited till about two o'clock and again set out,
this time in a different direction. As it takes all
sorts of people to make a world, so the reception
he met with at different places differed. In some
he was received politely; in others he was treated
as a humbug. But Walter v/as by this time get-
ting accustomed to his position, and found that he
must meet disagreeable people with as good humor
as he could command. One farmer was willing
to take the book if he would accept pay in apples,
of which he offered two barrels; but this offer he
did not for a moment entertain, judging that he
would find it difficult to carry about the apples,
and probably difficult to dispose of them. How-
ever, he managed to sell two copies, though he li'id
to call at twenty places to do it. Nevertheless, he.
felt well repaid by the degree of success he ret
with.
"Five books sold to-day!" thouo^ht Walter
Complacently, as he started on his walk home.
STRONG AND STEADY 201
" That gives me six dollars and a quarter profit,
I wish I could keep that up."
But our young merchant found that he was not
likely to keep up such sales. The next day he sold
but two copies, and Ihe day succeeding three.
Still for three days and a half the aggregate sale
was eleven copies, making a clear profit of thirteen
dollars and seventy-five cents. At the end of the
week he had sold twenty copies ; but to make up
this number he had been obliged to visit one or
two neighboring villages.
He now prepared to move on. The next place
at which he proposed to stop for a few days we
will call Bolton. He had already written to
Cleveland for a fresh supply of books to be for-
warded to him there. He had but two books left,
and his baggage being contained in a small valise,
he decided to walk this distance, partly out of
economy, but principally because it would enable
him to see the country at his leisure. During the
first five miles he succeeded In selling both books,
which relieved him of the burden of carrying
them, leaving him only his valise.
Walter was strong and stout, and enjoyed his
walk. There was a freshness and novelty about
his present mode of life which he liked. He did
not imagine he should like to be a book agent all
his life, but for a time he found it quite agree-
able.
He stopped under the siiade of a large elm tree
.202 STRONG AND STEADY
and ate the lunch which he had brought with him
from the inn. The sandwiches and apples were
good, and, with the addition of some water from
a stream nearby, made a very acceptable lunch.
V\'lien he resumed his walk after resting a couple
of hours, the weather had changed. In the morn-
ing it was bright sunshine. Now the clouds had
gathered, and a storm, was imminent. To make
matters worse, Walter had managed to stra)'- from
the road. He found himself walking in a narrow
lane, lined on either side by thick woods. Soon
the rain came pattering down, at first in small
drops, but quickly poured down in a drenching
shoAver. Walter took refuge in the woods, con-
gratulating himself that he had sold the books,
wliich otherwise would have run the risk of being
spoiled.
" I wish there were some house near by in
which T could rest," thought Walter. The pros-
pect of being benighted in the woods in such
weather was far from pleasant.
Looking around anxiously, he espied a small
footpath, which he followed, hoping, but hardly
expecting", that it might lead to some place of
refuge. To his agreeable surprise he emerged
after a few minutes into a small clearing, perhaps
half an acre in extent, in the middle of which was
a rough cabin. It was a strange place for a house,
but, rude as it was, Walter hailed its appeirance
with joy. At all events it promised protection
STRONG AND STEADY 203
from the weather, and the people who occupied it
would doubtless be willing to give him, for p^y,
of course, supper and lodging. Probably the
accommodations would not be first-class, but our
hero was prepared to take what he could get and
be thankful for it. Accordingly he advanced
fearlessly and pounded on the door with his fist,
as there was neither bell nor knocker.
The door not being openea immediately, he
pounded again. This tim^e a not particularly
musical voice was heard within :
"Is that you, Jack?"
" No," answered Walter, " it isn't Jack."
His voice was probably recognized as that of
a boy, and any apprehension that might have been
felt by the person within was dissipated. Walter
heard the bolt withdrawn, and the door, opening,
revealed a tall, gaunt, bony woman, who eyed him
in a manner which could not be considered very
friendly or cordial.
" Who are you ? '* she demanded abruptly,
keeping the door partly closed.
" I am a book agent," said Walter.
" Do you expect to sell any books here ? " asked
the woman, with grim humor.
" No," said Walter, " but I have been caught in
the storm and lost my way. Can I stop here
overnight, if the storm should hold on? "
" This isn't a tavern," said the woman un-
graciously.
204 STRONG AND STEADY
" No, I suppose not," said Walter; " but it will
be a favor to me if you will take me in, and I will
pay you whatever you think right. I suppose
there is no tavern near by."
He half hoped that there might be, for he had
already made up his mind that this would not be
a very agreeable place to stop at.
" There's one five miles off," said the woman.
'' That's too far to go in such weather. If
you'll let me stay here, I'll pay you whatever you
ask in advance."
" Humph ! " said the woman doubtfully, " I
don't know how Jack will like it."
As Walter could know nothing of the senti-
ments of the Jack referred to_, he remained silent,
and waited for the woman to make up her mind,
believing that she would decide in his favor.
He proved to be right,
" Well," she said, half unwillingly " 1 don't
know but I'll take you in, though it isn't my cus-
tom to accommodate travelers."
" I will try not to give you much trouble," said
Walter, relieved to find that he was sure of food
and shelter.
" Humph ! " responded the woman.
She led the way into the building, which ap-
peared to contain two rooms on the first floor, and
probably the same number of chambers above.
There was no entry, but the door opened at once
into the kitchen.
STRONei AND STEADY 205
•* Come up to the fire if you're wet," said the
.woman.
The invitation was hospitable, but the manner
was not. However, Walter was glad to accept the
invitation, without thinking much of the manner
in which it was expressed, for his clothes were
pretty well saturated by the rain. There was no
stove, but an old brick fireplace, on which two
stout logs were burning. There was one con-
venience, at least, about living in the woods — fuel
was abundant, and required nothing but the labor
of cutting it.
" I think I'll take-off my shoes," said Walter.
" You can, if you want to," said his grim
hostess.
He extended his wet feet toward the fire, and
felt a sense of comfort stealing over him. He
could hear the rain falling fiercely against the
sides of the cabin, and felt glad that he was not
compelled to stand the brunt of the storm.
He looked around him guardedly, not wishing
to let his hostess see that he was doing so, for
she looked like one who might easily be offended.
The room seemed remarkably bare of furniture.
There was an unpainted table, and there ¥/ere ako
three chairs, one of which had lost its backi
These were plain wooden chairs, and thotiglj they
appeared once to have been painted, few vestiges
of the original paint now remained. On a. shelf
were a few articles of. tin, but no attide? oi
2o6 STRONG AND STEADY
crockery were visible, except two cracked cups.
Walter had before this visited the dwellings of the
poor, but he had never seen a home so poorly-
provided with what are generally regarded as the
necessaries of life.
" I wohder what Lem would say if he should
see me now," thought Walter, his thoughts going
back to the Essex Classical Institute, and the
friend whose studies he shared. They seemed far
away, those days of careless happiness, when as
yet the burdens of life were unfelt and scarcely
even dreamed of. Did Walter sigh for their re-
turn ? I think not, except on one account. His
father was then alive, and he would have given
/ears of his own life to recall that loved parent
from the grave. But I do not think he would
have cared, for the present at least, to give up his
business career, humble though it was, and go
back to his studies. He enjoyed the novelty of
his position. He enjoyed even his present adven-
ture, in spite of the discomforts that attended it,
and there was something exciting in looking about
him, and realizing that he was a guest in a rough
cabin in the midst of the woods, a thousand miles
away from home.
Guarded as he had been in looking around hinij;
it did not escape without observation,
•* Well, young mauj this is a poor place, isn't
iff '* asked the woman suddenly^
" I don't know,'' said Walt**-
STRONG AND STEADY 20;
"That's what you're thmkin', I'll warrant," said
the woman. "Well, you're not obliged to stay,
if you don't want to."
"But I do want to, and I am very much obliged
to you for consenting to take me," said Walter
hastily.
"You said you would pay in advance." said
the woman.
"So I will," said Walter, taking out his pocket-
book, "if you will tell me how much I am to pay."
"You may give me a dollar," said the woman.
Walter drew out a roll of bills, and, finding a
one-dollar note, handed it to the woman.
She took it, glancing covetously at the remain-
ing money which he replaced in his pocketbook.
Walter noticed the glance, and, though he was
not inclined to be suspicious, it gave him a vague
feeling of anxiety.
At length the silence was broken by a step out-
side.
"That's Jack," said the Vv-oman, rising hastily;
and over her face there came a transient gleam of
satisfaction, the first Walter had observed.
Before she could reach the door it was opened,
and Jack entered. Walter looked up with some
curiosity to see what sort of a man the husband
of this woman might be. He saw a stout man,
with a face like a bulldog's, lowering eyes, and
matted red hair and beard.
So8 STRONG AND STEADY
"They are fitly mated," thought our hero.
The man stopped short as his glance rested
upon Walter, and he turned quickly to his wife.
"Who have you got there, Meg?" he asked, in
a rough voice.
"He was overtaken by the storm, and wanted me
to take him in, and give him supper and lodging."
About nine o'clock Walter intimated a desire
to go to bed.
She lit a candle, and left the roomi, followed
by Walter. She led the way up a rough, un-
painted' staircase and opened the door of the room
over the one in which they had been seated.
When the woman returned from conducting
Walter to his room, she found her husband sitting
moodily beside the fire.
"Well, Meg," he said, looking up, "v/here di*^
you put him?"
"In the room above."
"I hope he'll sleep sound," said Jack, with a
sinister smile. "I'll go up by and by and see how:
he rests."
"What do you mean to do?" asked Meg.
"He has got seventy dollars in that pocketbook:
of his. It must be ours."
CHAPTER XXVIII
It was about nine o'clock when he went to bed.
Two hours passed, and still there was no sign of
the apprehended invasion.
Walter had closed his eyes, thinking it best to-
appear to be asleep ; but he heard this exclamation,
and it satisfied him of Jack's dishonest intentions.
The robber paused a moment, then stooping
over, inserted his hand into Walter's pocket. He
drew out the pocketbook, Walter making no sign
of being aware of what was going on.
'T've got it," muttered Jack with satisfaction,
and stealthily retraced his steps to the door. He
went out, carefully closing it after him, and again
the steps creaked beneath his weight,
"What's the matter ?" asked our hero, this time
opening his e3^es, and assuming a look of sur-
prise. "Is it time to get up?"
"It's time for you to get up."
*Tt isn't morning, is it?"
"No ; but I've got something to say to you."
"Well," said Walter, sitting up in the bed, "I'm
ready."
"Where've you put that money you had last
night?"
209
2IO STRONG AND STEADY
"Why do you want to know ?" demanded Y/al-
ter, eyeing his host fixedly.
'*No matter why I want to know," said Jack
impatiently. "Tell me, if you know what's best
for yourself."
Walter put his hand in his pocket.
"It was in my pocketbook," he said; "but it's
gone."
"Here is your pocketbook," said Jack, pro-
ducing it.
"Did you take it out of my pocket? What
made you take it?"
"None of your impudence, boy!"
"Is it impudent to ask what made you take my
property?" said Walter firmly.
"Yes, it is," said Jack, with an oath.
"Do you mean to steal my money ?"
"Yes, I do; and the sooner you hand it over
the better."
"You have got my pocketbook already."
"Hunt up the rest of that money, and pretty
quick, too."
"I hid some in that closet," said Walter. "I
thought you would not think of looking there."
No sooner was the closet pointed out than Jack
eagerly strode toward it and threw open the door.
He entered it, and began to peer about him, hold-
ing the candle in his hand.
3ut he had scarcely spoken when our hero
STRONG AND STEADY 211;
closed the door hastily, and, before Jack could re-
cover from his surprise, had .bolted it on the out-
side. To add to the discomfiture of the impris-
oned robber, the wind produced by the violent
slamming of the door blew out the candle, and he
found himself a captive in utter darkness.
"Let m-e out, or I'll murder you!" he roared,
kicking the barrier that separated him from his
late victim, now his captor.
Walter saw that there was no time to lose. The
door, though strong, would probably soon give
way before the strength of his prisoner. When
the liberation took place, he must be gone. He
held the handle of his carpetbag between his teeth,
and, getting out of the window, hung down. The
distance was not great, and he alighted upon the
ground without injury. Without delay he plunged
into the woods, not caring in what direction he
jwent, as long as it carried him away from his
dishonest landlord.
CHAPTER XXIX
WALTER S GUIDE
Meanwhile Walter had the advantage of quite
a st:irt on his pursuer. Jack had indeed been
released within live minutes, but he had consumed
ten minutes more in searching for the money. It
was too dark, hovv'ever, to m.ake rapid progress.
Still Walter pushed on, resolved to put as great a
distance as possible between the cabin and himself,
for he anticipated pursuit, and judged that, if
caught, he would fare badly for the trick he had
played upon his host.
He had proceeded half a mile when he stopped
to rest. Two or three times he had tripped over
projecting roots which the darkness prevented his
seeing in time to avoid.
"ril rest a few minutes, and then push on," he
thought.
Searching about he found such a place as he
desired. He lay down, and was soon fast asleep.
So pursuer and pursued had yielded to the spell
of the same enchantress, and half a mile distant
from each other were enjoying welcome repose.
Some hours passed away. The sun rose, and
212
STRONG AND STEADY 215
its rays lighted up the dim recesses of the forest.
When Walter opened his eyes he could not at first
remember where he was. He lifted his head from
his carpetbag, which he had used as a pillow, and
looked around him in surprise; but recollection
quickly came to his aid.
"I must have been sleeping several hours," he
said to himself, "for it is now morning. I won-
der if the man who was after me has gone home ?"
He decided that this was probable, and resolved
to make an attempt to reach the edge of the forest.
He wanted to get into the region of civilization
again, if for no other reason, because he felt mn-
gry and was likely to remain so as long as he con-
tinued in the forest. He now felt fresh and
strong, and taking his carpetbag in his hand, pre-
pared to start on his journey. But he had scarcely
taken a dozen steps when a female figure stepped
out from a covert, and he found himself face to
face with Meg.
Not knowing but that her husband might be
close behind, he started back in alarm and hesita-
tion. She observed this, and said : "You needn't
be afraid, boy. I don't want to harm you."
"Is your husband with you ?" asked Walter, on
his guard.
"No, he isn't. He started out after you before
piidnight, and hasn't been back since. That made
me uneasy, and I came out to look for him."
214 STRONG AND STEADY
"I have seen him," said Walter.
"Where and when?" asked the woman eagerly.
It was strange that such a coarse brute should
have inspired any woman with love, but Meg did
certainly love her husband, in spite of his frequent
bad treatm-ent.
"Did he see you?"
"No, I was hidden."
"How long did he stay?"
"Only a few minutes; to get rested, I suppose.
Then he went on."
"In what direction?" . .
"That way."
"I'm glad he did not harm you. He was so
angry when he started that I was afraid of what
would happen if he met you. You must keep out
of his way."
"That is what I meaij to do, if I can," said
Walter. "Can you tell me the shortest way out
of the woods?"
"Go in that direction," said the woman, point-
ing, "and half a mile will bring you out."
After walking for fifteen minutes, they came to
the edge of the forest. Skirting it was a meadow,
wet in parts, for the surface was low.
"I hear my husband's steps," she said hur-
riedly. "Fly, or it will be the worse for you."
A minute later Jack came in sight.
"Why, Meg, are you here?" he said, in surprise.
STRONG AND STEADY . 215
He did not wait for an answer, for, looking i:p
he saw the flying figure of our hero.
"Stop!" called out Jack hoarsely.
Only a few rods in advance was a deep ditch,
at least twelve feet wide, over which a single
plank was thrown as a bridge for foot-passengers.
Walter summoned his energies, and sped like a
deer forward and over the bridge, when, stooping-
down, he hastily pulled it over after him, thus
cutting off his enemy's advance. Jack sav/ his
intention, and tried to reach' the edge of the ditch
soon enough to prevent it. But he was just too
late.
"You wanted to take my money."
"I'll have it yet."
"If was all I could do," said Walter, who did
not wish to excite any additional anger in his
alrfeady irritated foe. "I haven't got but a little
money, and I wanted to keep it."
"Money isn't the only thing you may lose,"
said the ruffian significantly. "Put back that
plank. Do you hear me?"
"Yes," said Walter; "I hear but I cannot
do it." •
"You're playing a dangerous game, young one,"
said Jack. "Perhaps you think I can't get over."
"I don't think you can," said Walter, glancing
at the width of the ditch.
"You may find yourself mistaken."
'2i6 STRONG AND STEADY
Walter did not answer.
"Will you put back that plank?" demanded
Jack, once more.
"No," answered Waltei*.
"You'll be sorry for it, then, you young cubl"
said Jack fiercely.
He had walked back about fifty feet, and then
faced round. His intention was clear enough.
He meant to jump over the ditch. Could he do it?
That was the question which suggested itself to
the anxious consideration of our hero. If the
ground had been firm on the other side, such a
jump for a grown man would not have been by
any means a remarkable one. But the soft,
springy soil was unfavorable for a spring. Still,
it was possible that Jack might succeed. If he
did, was there any help for Walter?
Our hero took the plank, and put it over his
shoulder, moving with it farther down the edge.
An idea occurred to him, which had not yet sug-
gested itself to Jack, or the latter might have been
less confident of success.
Jack stood still for a moment, and then, gath-
ering up his strength, dashed forward. Arrived
at the brink, he made a spring, but the soft bank
yielded him no support. He fell short of the oppo-
site bank by at least two feet, and, to his anger and
disgust, landed in the water and slime at the bot-
tom of the ditch. With a volley of execrarions.
STRONG AND STEADY 217
he scrambled out, landing at last, but with the loss
of one boot, which had been drawn off by the
clinging mud in which it had become firmly
planted. Still he was on the same side with Wal-
ter, and the latter was now in his power. This
was what he thought ; but an instant later he saw
his mistake. Walter had stretched the plank over
the ditch a few rods further up, and was passing
over it in safety.
Jack ran hastily to the spot, hoping to gain pos-
session of the plank which had been of such ser\^-
ice to his opponent, and want of which had
entailed such misfortunes upon him. But Walter
was too quick for him. The plank was dravv'n
over, and again he faced his intended victim with
the width of the ditch between.
He looked across at Walter with a glance of
baffled rage. It was something n6w to him to be
worsted by a boy, and it mortified him and an-
gered him to such an extent that, had he got hold
of him at that moment, murder might have been
committed.
"Put down that plank and come across," he
called out.
Walter did not reply.
"Why don't you answer, you rascal?"
"You know well enough what I would say,"
said Walter. "I don't care to come."
"I shall get hold of you sooner or later."
'2i8 STRONG AND STEADY
"Perhaps you will," said Walter; "but not if I
ean help it."
"You're on the wrong side of the ditch. You
can't escape."
"So are you on the wrong side. You can't get
home*' without crossing."
"I can keep you there all day."
"I can stand it as well as you," said Walter.
He felt bolder than at first, for he appreciated
the advantage which he had in possessing the
plank. True, the situation was not a comfortable
cne, and he would have gladly exchanged it fori
one that offered greater security. Still, on the'
whole, he felt cool and calm, and waited patiently
for the issue.
CHAPTER XXX
OUT OF DANGER
Jack might have waded again across the
3Itch without inflicting much additional damage
upon his already wet and miry clothing; but he
fancied that Walter was in his power, and hoped
he would capitulate. To this end, he saw that it
was necessary to reassure him, and deceive him
as to his own intentions.
" Come across, boy," he said, softening his
tone. " You needn't be afraid. I didn't mean
nothing. I was only try in' to see if I could
frighten you a little."
" I'm very well off where I am," said Walter,
"* I think I'll stay where I am."
" You won't want to stay there all da^."
" I'd rather stay here all day than be on the
same side with you."
"You needn't be afraid."
" I am not afraid," said Walter.
*"* You think I want to hurt you.'*
*' I think I am safer on this side.**
** Come, boy, I'll make a bargain with yott.
QTou've put me to a good deal of trouble '*
*' J ^on't see that."
219
220 STRONG AND STEADY
" You locked me up in the closet, and ycii'vs
kept me all night huntin' after you,"
'"' You were not obHged to hunt after m?.. -nd
as for locking- you up in the closet, it was the : . v
way I had of saving miy money."
Jack. did not care to answer Walter's argument,
but proceeded : '* Now I've got you sure, but I'K
do the fail thing. If you'll come across and [.z'j
me ten dollars for my trouble, I'll let you go with-
out hartin' you."
" What's to prevent you taking all my micney,
if you get me over there ? "
'" Haven't I said I v/ouldn't? "
" You might forget your promise," said \Val-
ter, whose confidence in Jack's word was by no
means great. A man who would steal probably
would not be troubled by any scruples en the sub-
ject of violating his word.
" If you don't come, I'll take every cent, and
give you a beating beside," said Jack, his anger
gaining the- ascendency.
" Well, what are you goin' to do about it?" de^
manded Jack, after a brief pause. ^
" I'll stay where I am."
" I can come over anv time, and get hold of
you."
" Perhaps you can," said Walter. " I'll take
the risk."
"I'll wait a while." thought Jack. " H3ll
come round after a while."
STRONG AND STEADY 221
He sat down, and taking a clay pipe from his
pocket, filled the bowl with tobacco, and com-
menced smoking. Walter perceived that he was
besieged, but kept cool, and clung to his plank,
•which Avas his only hope of safety. He began to
speculate as to the length of time the besieging
force would hold out. He was already hungry,
and there was a prospect of his being starved into
a surrender_, or there would have been, if luckily
his opponent had not been also destitute of pro-
visions. In fact, the besieging party became dis-
organized from this cause. A night in the open
air had given keenness to Jack's appetite, and he
felt an uncomfortable cr3.ving for food.
"I wish Meg would come along," he mut-
tered. " I feel empty."
But Meg did not come. She stood for a few
minutes in the edge of the woods, and watched
her husband's pursuit 01 Walter. She saw his
failure to overtake his intended victim, and this
made her easier in her mind. I do not wish to
represent her as better than she was. Her
anxiety was chiefly for her husband. She did not
iwish him to commit any act of violence which
iwould put him without the pale of the law. It
was this consideration, rather than a regard for
(Walter's safety, that influenced her, though she
felt some slight interest in our hero. She went
home, feeling that s^e could do no good m ^tay»
^^' J^ck resented her disappearance.
222 STRONG AND STEADY
" She rnight know I \vanted some breakfast/'
he growled to himself. " As long as she gets
enough to eat herself, she cares little for me."
This censure was not deserved. Meg was not
a good woman, but she was devoted to ^he coarse
brute whom she called husband, and v/as at any
time ready to sacrifice her own comfort ro
his.
Two hours passed, and still besieger arid be-
sieged eyed each other from opposite sides of the
bank. Jack grew more and more irritable as the
cravings of his appetite increased, and the slight
hope that Meg might appear with some breakfast
was dissipated. Walter also became more hun-
gry, but showed no signs of impatience.
At this time a boy was seen coming across the
meadow. Jack espied him, and the idea struck
him that he might, through him, lay in a stock
of provisions.
" Come here, boy/' he said. " Where do you
live?"
The boy pointed to a small farmhouse half a
mile distant.
" Do you want to earn some money? "
" I dunno/' said the boy, who had no objec-
tions to the money, but, knowing Jack's shady
reputation, was in doubt as to what was expected
of him.
" Go home and get a loaf of bread and some
cold meat, and I'll give you half a dollar."
STRONG AND STEADY 223
*' Didn't you bring your luncheon ? " asked the
boy.
" No, I came away without it, and 1 can't spare
time to go back."
It occurred to the boy, noticing Jack's lazy
posture, that business did not appear to be very
driving with the man whose time was so valuable,
" Perhaps mother won't give me the bread and
meat," he said.
" You can give her half the money."
The boy looked across to Walter, wondering
what kept him on the other side. Our hero saw
a chance of obtaining help.
"I'll give you a dollar," he called out, " if you'll
go and tell somebody that this man is trying to
rob me of all my money. I slept in his house last
night, and he tried to rob me there. Now he will
do the same, if he can get hold of me."
" If you tell that, I'll wring your neck," ex-
claimed Jack: *' It's all a lie. The boy slept at
my house, as he says, and stole some money from
me. He escaped, but I'm bound to get it back if
I stay here all day."
" That~is not true," said Walter. " Carry my
message, and I will give you a dollar, and will,
besides, reward the men that come to my as-
sistance."
The boy looked from one to the other in doubt
{what to do.
-< ** If you want your head broke, you'll do as he
B24 STRONG AND STEADY
says," said Jack rather uneasily. " He won't
ipay what he promises."
" You shall certainly be paid," said Walter.
" You'd better shut up, or it'll be the worse for
you," growled Jack. " Go and get my breakfasfc
quick, boy, and I'll pay you the fifty cents."
" All right," said the boy, " I'll go."
He turned, but when he was behind Jack, sg
that the latter could not observe him, he made a
sign to Walter that he would do as he wished.
Fifteen minutes later Jack rose to his feet. An
idea had occurred to him. At the distance of a
furlong there was a rail fence. It occurred to
him that one of these rails would enable him to
cross the ditch and getat his victim. He was not
afraid Walter would escape, since he could easily
turn back and capture him if he ventured across.
Walter did not understand his design in leav-
ing the ditch. Was it possible that he meant to
raise the siege? This seemed hardly probable.
He watched, with some anxiety, the movements
of his foe, fearing some surprise.
When Jack reached the fence, and began to
pull out one of the rails he understood his object
Hi3 position was evidently becoming more dan-
gerous.
Jack came back with a triumphant smile upon
hi? face.
" Now, you young cub," he said, " Fve got
youl "
STRONG AND STEADY 225
Walter watched him warily, and lowered the
plank, ready to convert it into a bridge as soon
as necessary. Jack put down the rail. It was
long enough to span the ditch, but was rather nar-
row, so that some caution was needful in crossing
it.
Walter had moved several rods farther up,
and thrown the plank across. Though liis
chances of escape from the , peril that menaced
him seemed to have diminished since his enemy
,v/as also provided with a bridge, and it became
now a question of superior speed, Walter was not
alarmed. Indeed, his nrospects of deliverance ap-
peared brighter than ever, for he caught sigrjt of
two men approaching across the meadow, and he
suspected that they v/ere sent by the boy vv^hom
he had hired. These men had not yet attracted
the attention of Jack, whose back was turned to-
wards them. He crossed the rail, and, at the
same time, Walter crossed the plank. This he
drew across, and then, leaving it on the bank, set
out on a quick run.
" Now I'll catch him," thought Jack, with ex-
ultation; but he quickly caught sight of our
hero's re-enforcerrients. He saw that his game
was up, and he abandoned it. His reputation was
• too well known in the neighborhood for the story
he had told to the boy to gain credence. He was
forced to content himself with shaking his fist at
[Walter, and then, in discomfiture, returned to the
S26 STRONG AND STEADY
woods, where he made up for his disappointmeiJt
by venting his spite on Meg. She would have
fared worse, had he known that Walter had
found his way out of the wood through her
guidance.
CHAPTER XXXI
JACK MANGUM^S VOW
** What's the matter?" asked one of the two
IJien as Walter came up.
" I got lost in the woods, and passed the night
In that man's house," said our hero. " He tried
to rob me, but I locked him in the closet, and
jumped out of the window and escaped. This
morning he got on my track, and would have
caught me if it hadn't been for that ditch."
" You locked him in the closet ! " repeated the
other. " How were you able to do that ? You
are only a boy, while he is a strong man."
Walter explained the matter briefly.
" That was pretty smart," said Peter Holcomb,
for this was the name of the man who questioned
fiim. " You're able to take care of yourself."
" I don't know how it would have turned out
if you hadn't come up."
" I happened to be at home when my boy came
and told me that Jack Mangum had offered him
fifty cents for some breakfast. He told me about
you also, and, as I suspected Jack was up to some
of his tricks, I came along."
** T am very much obliged to you," said Wdh
227
228 STRONG AND STEADY
ter, "and I hope you'll let me pay you for youp
trouble."
" I don't want any pay, but you may pay my,
boy wliat you promised him, if you want to."
" I certainly will; and I never paid away
money with more pleasure. As I haven't had
anything to eat since yesterday afternoon, I
should hkQ to have you direct me to the nearest
place where I can get some breakfast."
" Come to my house; I guess my wife can scare
up some breakfast for you. She'll be glad to see
the boy that got the better of Jack Mangum."
" How long has this Jack Mangum lived about
here? " asked Walter, after accepting with thanks
the offer of a breakfast.
" About five A^ears. He's been in the county
jail twice during that time, and there's a warrant
out for him now. He's a confirmed thief. He'd
rather steal any time than earn an honest living.'*
"Has he ever stolen anything from you?"
" I've missed some of my chickens from time
to time, and, though I didn't catch him taking
thern, I've no doubt ne was the thief. Once I
lost a lamb, and I suppose it went in tiie same di-^
rection."
" So tl ere is a warrant out for him now ? "
"Yes, and I expect he'll be taken in a day or
two. In that case he'll have the privilege of d
few months' free board in the county jail."
"Where is the jail?"
STRONG AND STEADY J229
*«In T ."
** That's the town I'm going to."
** Is it ? Do your folks hve there ? "
" No, I'm travehng on business."
" What's your business ? " asked the farmer.
The question was an abrupt one, but was not
meant to be rude. In country towns everybody
feels that he has a right to become . acquainted
with the business of anyone with whom he comes
in contact, even in its minutest details. Walter
understood this, havifi'g lived in a country viliage^_
and answered without taking offense:
" I am a book agent."
" Be you ? Hovv^ do you make it pay ? "
** Pretty well, but I can tell better by and by;]
3've only been in it a week."
" You're pretty young to be a book peddler,
.Where do your folks live ? '*
" In New York State."
" You've come some ways fr6m home."
" Yes; I thought I should like to see t!i@
country."
" How old are you ? "
"Fifteen."
*' You'll make a smart man if you keep on."
** I hope I shall," said Walter modestly; " bufi
I am afraid you overrate me."
" I'll tell you what I judge from, A boy of
€fteen that can get the better of Jack Mangum id
smart, and no mistake."
^30 STRONG AND STEADY
" I hope I shall realize your prediction," re-
turned Vv'^alter, who naturally felt pleased with
the compliment. Like most boyj, he liked to be
considered smiart, although he did not allow him-
self to be puffed up by inordinate ideas of r.is own
importance, as is the case witii rriany of his age.
While this conversation was iE;oing on, they
had been walking toward the farmhouse in which
Peter Holcomb lived. It was an humble one-
story building, with an attic above. On each side
of it were broad fields, some under cultivation;
and there was an appearance of thrift and com-
fort, despite the sm.allness of the house.
" Come in," said Peter, leading the way.
*' John," he added, addressing the hired man,
. v;ho had accompanied him, '' you may go into the
]>orato field and hoe. I'll be out directly."
Walter followed him into a broad, low room — ■
the kitchen — in which Mrs. Ilolcom.b, a pleasant-
looking woman, was engaged in cooking.
" Mary," said her husband, " can't you scare
wp some breakfast for this young man? He
stopped at Jack Mangum's last night, and didn't
like his accommodations v/ell enough to stay to
breakfast."
" You don't say so," repeated Mrs. Holcomb,
her countenance expressing curiosity. " That's
about the last place I'd v/aiit to stop at"
" I shouldn't want to go there again," ?aid
fSValtefj '■ but I didn't know anything about thg
STRONG AND STEADY 231
man, or I would rather have stayed out in the
woods."
" Well, Mary, how about the breakfast? "
" I guess I can find some," said she. " Sit
right down here, and I'll see what I can do for
you."
She went to the pantry, and speedily reap-
peared with some cold meat, a loaf of bread, and
some fresh butter, which she placed on the table.
" I've got som.e hot water," she said, " and, in
about five minutes, I can give you some warm
tea. It won't be much of a breakfast, but if you'll
stop for dinner, I can give you something
better."
"It looks nice," said Walter, "and I don't
know when I have been so hungry."
At that moment the farmer's boy, who had
served as Walter's messenger, came into the
kitchen.
" You got away," he said, smiling.
" Yes, thanks to you," said Walter. " Here is
what I promised you."
" I don't know as I ought to take it," said the
boy, hesitating, though he evidently wanted it.
" You will do me a favor by accepting it," said
Walter. ^' You get me out of a bad scrape. Be-
sides, you had a chance to earn some money frorn
Jack Mangum."
" I wouldn't have done anything for him, al
any rate. He's a thief,"
^32 STRONG AND STEADY
Finally Peter, for he was named after his
'father, accepted the dollar, and, sitting down by
(Walter, asked him about his adventure in the
.wood, listening with great interest to the de-
tails.
" I wouldn't have dared to do as you did," he
said.
" Perhaps you would if you had been obliged
to."
By this time the tea was steeped, and Walter's
breakfast was before him. He made so vigorous
an onslaught on the bread and meat that he was
almost ashamed of his appetite; but Mrs. Hol-
tomb evidently felt flattered at the complim.ent
paid to her cookery, and watched the dem.olition
of the provisions with satisfaction.
" You had better stop to dinner," she said.
" We shall have some roast meat and apple
pudding."
" Thank you," said Walter; " but I have eaten
enough to last me for several hours. Can you tell
me how far it is to the next town ? "
" About five miles. I'm going to ride over
there in about an hour. If you'll wait till then I'll
take you over."
Walter very readily consented to wait. He
was rather afraid that if he ventured to walk he
might -find Jack Mangum waiting to waylay him
isomevv'here in the road, and he had no desire for
a second encounter with him.
STRONG AND STEADY 233
The farmer absolutely refused to accept pay
for brealrfast, though Walter urged it It was
contrary to his ideas of hospitality.
" VVe -don't keep a tavern," he said; " and we
never shall miss the little you ate. Come again
and see us if you come back this way."
" Thank you," said Walter, " I will accept your
invitation with pleasure, but I shall not feel like
calling on Mr. Mangum.''
'* I've no doubt he would be glad to see you,"
said Peter Holcomb, smiling.
" Yes, he was very sorry to have me leave him
last nip-ht."
VVDiLer thought he had seen the last of Jack
Mar gum; but he was mistaken. Three days
later, v/hile walking in the main street of T -,
with a book under his arm, for he had received a
fresh supply from the agent at Cleveland, he
heard the sound of wheels. Looking up, he saw
a wagon approaching, containing two men. One
of them, as he afterwards learned, was the
sheriff. The other he immediately recognized as
Jack Mangum. There was no mistaking his
sinister face and forbidding scowl. He had been
taken early that morning by the sheriff, who, with
a cor.rle of men to assist him, had visited the
cabirr m the forest, and, despite the resistance of-
ferc'I by Jack, who was aided by his wife, he had
beer oound, and was now being conveyed to jaiL
He aiso looked up and recognized Walter. His
^34 STRONG AND STEADY
face became even more sinister, as he shook his
fist at our hero.
" I vow I'll be even with you some day, you
young cub ! " he exclaimed,
" Not if I can help it," thought Walter, but
he did notanswer in words.
He was rather gratified to hear the next day
that Jack had been sentenced to six months' im-
prisonment. He felt some pity, however, for
Meg, who might have oeen a good woman if she
fiad been married to a different man.
CHAPTER XXXli
JOSHUA'*^ DETERMINATION
l-,eaving Walter busily engaged in selling
t)ooks, we will glance at the Drummond house-
liold, and inquire how the members of that in-
teresting family fared after Walter's departure.
Joshua's discontent increased daily. He was
now eighteen, and his father absolutely refused to
increase his allowance of twenty-five cents a
week, which was certainly ridiculously small for
a boy of his age.
*' If you want money, you must work for it/*
lie said.
" How much will you give me if I will go into
grour store ? " asked Joshua.
'Tifty cents a week and your board/*
" I get my board now."
" You don't earn it."
"I don't see why I need to/* said Joshua.
** Ain't you a rich man ? "
" No, I'm not," said his father; " and if I were
I am not going to waste my hard-earned moriey
on supporting you extravagantly,"
*' There's no danger of that," sneered Joshua*
•* We live meaner than any family in towa**
235
236 STRONG AND STEADY
" Yon needn't find fault with your victuals, as
long" as you get them free," retorted his father.
" If you'll give me two dollars a v^'eek I'll come
into the store."
" Two dollars ! " exclaimed Mr. Drummond.
" Are you crazy ? "
" You think as much of a cent as most peop^'i
do of a dollar," said Joshua bitterly. " Tv/o dol-
lars isn't much for the son of a rich man."
" I have already told you that I am not
rich."
" You can't help being rich," said Joshua, " for
you don't spend any money."
" I've heard enough of your impudence," said
his father angrily. " If you can get more wages
than I offer you, you are at liberty to engage
anywhere else."
" Tom Burton gets a dollar and a quarter a day
for pegging shoes," said Joshua. " He dresses
twice as well as I do."
" He has to pay his board out of it."
" He only pays three dollars a week, and that
leaves him four dollars and a half clear."
" So you consider Tom Burton better off than
you are ? "
" Yes."
" Then I'll make you an offer. I'll get you a
place in a shoe shop and let you have all you earn
over and above three dollars a week, which vou
can t^ay for your board.'*
STRONG AND STEADY -o/
Joshua seemed by no means pleased with this
proposal.
" I'm not going- to work in a shoe shop," he
said sullenly.
"Why not?"
" It's a dirty business."
" You were envying Tom Burtcm just now."
**' It '11 do well enough for him. He's a poor
man's son."
" So was I a poor man's son. I had to work
when I was a boy, and that's the way I earned all
'I have. Not that I am rich/' added Mr. Drum-
mond cautiously, for he was afraid the knowl-
edge of his wealth would tempt his family to ex-
pect a more lavish expenditure, and this would
not by an}' means suit him.
" You didn't work in a shoe shop."
" I should have been glad of the chance to do
5t, for I could have earned more money that way
than by being errand boy in a store. It's just as
honorable to work in a shop as to be clerk in a
store."
Though we are not partial to Mr. Drummond,
he was undoubtedly correct in this opinion, and it
would be well if boys would get over tlieir preju-
dice against trades, which, on the whole, offer
■more assured prospects of ultimate prosperity
than the crowded city and countiy stores.
This conversation was not particularly satis^
{factory to Joshua. As he now received his board
238 STRONG AND STEADY
and twenty-five cents a week, he did not care to
enter his father's store for only twenty-five cents
a week more. Probably it would have been wiser
for Mr. Drunimond to grant his request, and pay
him two dollars a week. With this inducement
Joshua might have formed habits of industry.
He would, at all events, have been kept out of
mischief, and it would have done him good to
earn his living by hard work. Mr. Drummond's
policy of mortifying his pride by doling out a
weekly pittance so small that it kept him in aj
state of perpetual discontent was far from wise.
Most boys appreciate considerable liberality, and
naturally expect to be treated better as they grow
older. Joshua, now nearly nineteen, found him-
self treated like a boy of twelve, and he resented
it. It set him speculating about his father's death,
which would leave him master, as he hoped, of
the " old man's" savings. It is unfortunate when
such a state of feeling comes to exist between a
father and a son. The time came, and that
speedily, when ]\Ir. Drummond bitterly repented
that he had not made some concessions to
Joshua.
Finding his father obstinate, Joshua became
gloomiy and sullen, and for several days he sat at
the table without speaking a word to his father,
excepting when absolutely obliged to do so. Mr.
Drummond, however, was not a sensitive man^
and troubled himself little about Joshua's moods.
STRONG AND STEADY 239
** He'll get over it after a while," he said to
ihimself. " If he'd rather hold his tonguCj I don't*
care."
Next Joshua began to consider whether there
was any way in which to help himself,
" If I only had a hundred dollars," he
thought, " I'd go to New York, and see if I
couldn't get a place in a store."
That, he reflected, would be much better and
more agreeable than being in a country store.
He would be his own m.aster, and would be able
to put" on airs of importance whenever he came
home on a vacation. But his father would give
him no help in securing such a position, and he
could not go to the city without money. As for a
hundred dollars, it might as well be a million, so
far as he had any chance of securing it.
While he was thinking this matter over, a dan-
gerous thought entered his mind. His father, he
knew, had a small brass-nailed trunk, in which he
kept his money and securities. He had seen him
going to it more than once.
" I wonder how much he's got in it,"- thought
Joshua. " As it's all coming to me some day
there's no harm in my knowing."
There Seemed little chance of finding out, how-
ever. The trunk was always locked, and Mr.
Drummond carried the key about with him in his
pocket. If he had been a careless man, there
might have been some chance of his some day
240 STRONG AND STEADY
leaving the trunk unlocked, or mislaying the keyj
but in money matters Mr. Drummond was never
careless. Joshua would have been obliged to wait
years, if he had depended upon this contingency.
One day, however, Joshua found in the road
a bunch of keys of various sizes attached to 3
ring. He cared very little to whom they be-
longed, but it flashed upon him at once than one
of these keys might fit his father's strong-box.
He hurried home at once with his treasure, and
ran upstairs breathless with excitement.
He knew where the trunk was kept. Mr.
Drummond, relying on the security of the lock,
kept it in the closet of his bed-chamber.
" Where are you going, Joshua ? " asked his
mother.
" Upstairs, to change my clothes," was the
answer.
*' I've got a piece of pie for you."
" I'll come down in five minutes."
Joshua made his way at once to the closet, and,
entering, began to try his keys, one after the
other. The very last one was successful in open-
ing the trunk.
Joshua trembled with excitement as he saw the
contents of the trunk laid open to his gaze. He
turned over the papers nervously, hoping to come
upon some rolls of bills; in one corner he found
fifty dollars in gold pieces. Besides these, there
were some mortgages, in which he felt little in-^
STRONG AND STEADY 241
terest. But among the contents of the trunk were
some folded papers which he recognized at once
as United States bonds. Opening one of them,
he found it to be a Five-Twenty bond for five
hundred dollars.
Five hundred dollars! What could he not do
with five hundred dollars! He could go to the
city, and board, and enjoy himself meanwhile, till
he could find a place. His galling dependence
would be over, and he v/ould be his ovv^n n:aster.
True, it would be a theft, but Joshua had an ex*
cuse ready.
" It will all be mine some day," he said to him-
self. " It's only taking a part of my own in ad-
vance."
He seized the gold and the bond, hastily con-
cealing both in his breast pocket, went down-
stairs, first locking the trunk, and putting it away
where he found it.
" What's the matter, Joshua ? " asked his
mother, struck by his nervous and excited
mariner.
*' Nothing," he answered shortly.
"Are you well?"
" I've got a little headache — that is all."
" Perhaps you'd better not eat anything, then.**
" It won't do me any harm. I'll take a cup of
lea, if you've got any."
" I can make som^ in five minutes."
Joshua ate b«<* lunch, and, going upstairs agaii^
242 ■ STRONG AND STEADY
came down speedily, arrayed in his best clothes.
He got out of the house without his mother see-
ing him, and made his way to a railway station
four miles distant, where he purchased a ticket
for New York.
He took a seat by a window, and, as the car
began to move, he said to himself, in exultation^
** Now I am going to see life."
CHAPTER XXXIII
CONCLUSION
Three months later Walter arrived at Golxim*
bus, the capital of the State, after a business total
of considerable length, during which he had vis-
ited from twenty to thirty different towns and vil-
lages. He had now got accustomed to the busi-
ness, and understood better what arguments to
employ to those whom he wished to purchase his
book. The consequence was, that he had met
with a degree of success which had far exceeded
his anticipations. He had tested his powers, and
found that they were quite equal to the task he
had underatken — that of earning his own living.
He had paddled his own canoe thus far without
assistance, and he felt confident that, if his health!
continued good, he should be able to do so heres.
after.
After eating supper, and spending an hour or
two in the public room of the hotel, Walter went
up to his room. Here he took out a blank-book,
in which he kept an account of his sales and ex-
penditures, and, taking a piece of paper, figured
tip the grand result. He wished to know just
*»Qw he stood.
243
244 STRONG AND STEADY
After a brief computation, he said, with satis-'
faction, " I have sold two hundred and eighty
books, which gives a gross profit of three hundred
and fifty dollars. My expenses have been exactly
two hundred and sixty-three dollars. That leave!
me eighty-seven dollars net profit."
This was a result which might well yield Wal-
ter satisfaction. He was only fifteen, and this
was his first business experience. Moreover, hi
was nearly a thousand miles away from home and
friends, surrounded by strangers. Yet, by his
energy and business ability, he had been able to
pay all his expenses, and these, of course, were
considerable, as he was constantly moving, and
yet had made a dollar a day clear profit.
'* That is rather better than working for m;^
board in Mr. Drammond's store/' he reflected.
" I am afraid it would have taken me a long time"
to make my fortune if I had stayed there. I
wonder how my amiable cousin Joshua is get*
ting along."
This thought led to the sudden recollection that
he had written to Mr. Shaw, asking him to writfi
to the hotel at Columbus, where he v/as stopping",
giving him any news that he might consider in-
teresting. Such a letter might be awaiting him.
He went downstairs, and approached the clerk«
" Have any letters been received here for me?^
lie inquired.
" What name ? " asked the clerk.
STRONG AND STEADY 245
« Walter Conrad."
"There is a letter for that address. It was re^
ceived a week since/'
" Give it to me," said Walter eagerly.
He took the letter, and recognized at once m
the address Clement Shaw's irregular handwrit-
ing. Cut ofif, as he had been for over a month,
from all communication with former friends, he
grasped the letter with a sensation of joy, ancfi
hurried back to his room to read it quietly, ancll
without risk of interruption.
The letter ran as follows :
" My Dear Young Friend : I have just
received your letter asking me to write you at
Columbus. I am glad to obtain your addre&s, as'
I have a matter of importance to speak of. First,
however, let me congratulate you on the success
;/ou have met with as a book agent. It is not a
business to which I should advise you to devote
yourself permanently; but I have no doubt that
fhe experience which 50U acquire, and the neces-
sary contact into which it brings you with differ-
ent classes of people, will do you good, while the
new scenes which it brings before your eyes v/ill
gratify the natural love of adventure which you
share in common with those of your age. When,
you set out, I had misgivings as to your success,
I admit. It was certainly an arduous undertak-
ing: fcr a boy of fifteen; but you have alreadj)
1246 STRONG AND STEADY
demonstrated that you are able to paddle your
own canoe, and I shall hereafter feel confident of
your success in life, so far at least as relates to
earning your livinp. That you may also be suc-
cessful in building up a good character, and tak-
ing an honorable position among your fellowmen.
I earnestly hope.
*' I now come to the business upon which I
wish to speak to you.
" You -will remember that a man named James
Wall was prominently identified with the Great
Metropolitan Mining Company, by which your
poor father lost his fortune. Indeed, this Wall,
who is a plausible sort of fellow, was the one v/ho
induced him to embark in this disastrous specula-
tion. I suspect he has feathered his own nest
pretty well already, and that he intends to do so
still more, I was surprised to hear from him
some ten days since. I will not copy the letter,
but send you the substance of it. He reports that
in winding up the alTairs of the company there is
a prospect of realizing two per cent, for the stock-
holders, which, as your father owned a thousand
shares, would yield two thousand dollars. It may
be some time, he adds, before the divideni^ will be
declared and paid. He professes a willingness,
however, to pay two thousand dollars cash for a
transfer of your father's claims upon ihQ
company.
" Now, two thousand dollars are not to be
STRONG AND STEADY 247
'despised; but my impression is that sV ch a man as
James Wall would never have made such an offer
if he had not expected the assets would amount
to considerably more than two per cent. I am
unwilling to close with the offer until I know
more about the affairs of the company. Here it
has struck me that you can be of assistance. This
Wall lives in a town named Portville, in Wiscon-
sin, on the shore of Lake Superior. I would sug-
gest that you change your name, go at once toi
Portville, and 'find cut what you can. I can give
you no instructions, but must trust to your own
native shrewdness, in which I feel sure you are
not deficient. If it should be necessary to give up
your present business, do so without hesitation,
since the other business is of more importance. I
will write Mr. Wall that I have his offer under
consideration. If you need money, draw upon
me.
" I hear that Joshua Drummond has run away
from home, carrying away considerable money
belonging to his father. The latter appears to
lament the loss of his money more than of his son*
" I remain, your smcere friend,
"Clement Shaw."
This letter gave Walter much food for reflec-
tion. He determined to give up his book agency,
and leave as soon as possible for Portville. It
was encouraging to think that, in any event, hci
1248 STRONG AND STEADY
was likely to realize two thousand dollars from
the mining shares, which he had looked upon as^
valueless. Besides, he felt there was every rea-
ison to hope they would prove even more valuable.
Three days later, having closed his accounts
as agent, he started for Portville. Those who
may desire to follow him in his new experiences,
and learn his success, as well as those v/ho may
be desirous of ascertaining Joshua Drummond*£<
fortunes, are referred to
Strive and Succeed;
OR,
^!jiiE Progress of Waltes Coksab
a&Euws^
Falways ask for~the donohueI
I Co?np«e'e Editions and you 'will get the best for the least Kioney |
BEST BOOKS
NOW READY
UNIFOR]VI WITH THIS VOLUME
For a full generation the youth of America has been
reading and re-reading "Oliver Optic." No genuine
boy ever tires of this famous author who knew just
what boys wanted and was always able to supply hie
wanta. In this famous series are:
Boat Club
Now or Never
Poor and Prood
Try Again
The Yankee
All of the above books may be had at the store
•where this book was bought, or will be sent postpa.id
at 25c per copy or any five for $1.00 by the publisherso
M. A. DONOHUE & GO.
701-727 S. Dearborn Street, CHICAGO
EASK YOUR BOOKSELLER FOR
E DONOnUJC COMPLETE EDETIOi^"S
anajyoti wiH get the best for the least'money.
ALWAYS -*«* FOR THE DONOHUE
COMPLETE EDITIONS — THE BEST FOR LEAST MONEY
WOODCRAFT
for Boy Scouts and Others
B^, OWEN JONES and MARCUS WOODMAN
With, a Message to Bay Scouts by SIR BADEN-
POWELL, Founder of the Boy Scotds' Movement,
r^^lNE of the essential requirements of the Boy
Bjl Scout training is a Knowledge of Woo<i-
^tM\ craft. This necessitates a book embracing
all the subjects and treating on all the topics that
a thorough knowledge of Woodcraft implies.
This book thoroughly exhausts the subject. It im-
parts & comprehensive knowledge of woods from fungus
growth to the most, stately monarch of the forest;
it treats of the habitsand iairs of ail the feathered and
furry inhabitants of the woods. Shows how to trail
wild animals; how to identify birds and beasts by
their tracks, calls, stc. Tells how to forecast the
weather, and in fact treats on every phase of nature
with which a Boy Scout or any woodman or lover of
nature should be familiar. The authorship guarantees
it's authenticity amd Teiiability. Indispensable to "Boy
Scouts" and otheis. Friniea fFom large clear type on
superior paper.
Embellished With Over 100 Thumb Nail
Illustrations Taken From Life
Bound in Cloth. Stamped with unique and
appropriate designs in ink.
Price, /*!>C Postpaid
M. A. DONOHUE & CO.
701-727 S. Dearborn St. CHICAGO
SJHM
%