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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 


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WOODCRAFT 

for  Boy  Scouts  and  Others 

B^,  OWEN  JONES  and  MARCUS  WOODMAN 
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SJHM 


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