Bound to Rise 12

Bound to Rise 12

"Don't you think he'll pay me?" asked Harry.

 

"He won't if he can help it," was the answer. "He's a slippery customer.

I believe his money is in his pocket at this moment."

 

Mr. Merrill was not quite right; but it was only as to the whereabouts

of the money. It was in Luke's trunk. He intended to run away, leaving

all his creditors in the lurch. This was the "new way to pay old debts,"

which occurred to Luke as much the easiest.

 

The next Saturday evening, Mr. Merrill waited in vain for a call from

his debtor.

 

"What excuse will he have now?" he thought.

 

On Monday morning he learned that Luke had left town without acquainting

anyone with his destination. It transpired, also, that he was owing at

his boarding house for two weeks' board. He was thus enabled to depart

with nearly thirty dollars, for parts unknown.

 

"He's a hard case," said Mr. Merrill to Harry. "I am afraid he means to

owe us for a long time to come."

 

"Where do you think he is gone?" asked Harry.

 

"I have no idea. He has evidently been saving up money to help him out

of town. Sometime we may get upon his track, and compel him to pay up."

 

"That won't do me much good," said Harry, despondently. And then he told

the tailor why he wanted the money. "Now," he concluded, "I shan't be

able to have the money ready in time."

 

"You'll have most of it ready, won't you?"

 

"I think I will."

 

"I would lend you the money myself," said the tailor, "but I've got a

heavy payment to meet and some of my customers are slow pay, though I

have not many as bad as Luke Harrison."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Merrill," said Harry. "I am as much obliged to you as if

you could lend the money."

 

But it is said that misfortunes never come singly. The very next day Mr.

Leavitt received a message from the wholesale dealer to whom he sold his

shoes, that the market was glutted and sales slow.

 

"I shall not want any more goods for a month or two," the letter

concluded. "I will let you know, when I more."

 

Mr. Leavitt read this letter aloud in the shop.

 

"So it seems we are to have a vacation," he said. "That's the worst of

the shoe trade. It isn't steady. When it's good everybody rushes into

it, and the market soon gets overstocked. Then there's no work for

weeks."

 

This was a catastrophe for which Harry was no prepared. He heard the

announcement with a grave face, for to him it was a serious calamity.

Twenty-three dollars were all that he had saved from the money lost and

this would be increased by a dollar or two only, when he had settled up

with Mr. Leavitt. If he stayed here did not obtain work, he must pay his

board, and that would soon swallow up his money. Could he get work in

any other shop? That was an important question.

 

"Do you think I can get into any other shop in town?" he inquired

anxiously of Mr. Leavitt.

 

"You can try, Harry; but I guess you'll find others no better off than

I."

 

This was not very encouraging, but Harry determined not to give up

without an effort. He devoted the next day to going around among the

shoe shops; but everywhere he met with unfavorable answers. Some had

ready suspended. Others were about to do so.

 

"It seems as if all my money must go," thought Harry, looking

despondently at his little hoard. "First the ten dollars Luke Harrison

stole. Then work stopped. I don't know but it would be better for me to

go home."

 

But the more Harry thought of this, the less he liked it. It would be an

inglorious ending to his campaign. Probably now he would not be able to

carry out his plan of paying for the cow; but if his father should

lose it, he might be able, if he found work, to buy him another Squire

Green's cow was not the only cow in the world and all would not be lost

if he could not buy her.

 

"I won't give up yet," said Harry, pluckily. "I must expect to meet with

some bad luck. I suppose everybody does. Something'll turn up for me if

I try to make it."

 

This was good philosophy. Waiting passively for something to turn up is

bad policy and likely to lead to disappointment; but waiting actively,

ready to seize any chance that may offer, is quite different. The world

is full of chances, and from such chances so seized has been based many

a prosperous career.

 

During his first idle day, Harry's attention was drawn to a handbill

which had been posted up in the store, the post office, the tavern, and

other public places in the village. It was to this effect:

 

 

"PROFESSOR HENDERSON,

 

"The celebrated Magician,

 

"Will exhibit his wonderful feats of Magic and Sleight of Hand in the

Town Hall this evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. In the course of the

entertainment he will amuse the audience by his wonderful exhibition of

Ventriloquism, in which he is unsurpassed.

 

"Tickets 25 cents. Children under twelve, 15 cents."

 

 

In a country village, where amusements are few, such entertainments

occupy a far more important place than in a city, where amusements

abound.

 

"Are you going to the exhibition, Walton?" asked Frank Heath.

 

"I don't know," said Harry.

 

"Better come. It'll be worth seeing."

 

In spite of his economy, our hero wanted to go.

 

"The professor's stopping at the tavern. Come over, and we may see him,"

said Frank.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXIII. THE VENTRILOQUIST

 

 

The boys went into the public room of the tavern. In the center was

a stove, around which were gathered a miscellaneous crowd, who had

assembled, as usual, to hear and talk over the news of the day. At the

farther end of the room was a bar, where liquor and cigars were sold.

The walls of the room, which was rather low-studded, were ornamented by

sundry notices and posters of different colors, with here and there

an engraving of no great artistic excellence--one representing a horse

race, another a steamer of the Cunard Line, and still another, the

Presidents of the United States grouped together, with Washington as the

central figure.

 

"Have a cigar, Walton?" asked Frank Heath.

 

"No, thank you, Frank."

 

"You haven't got so far along, hey?"

 

"I don't think it would do me any good," said Harry.

 

"Maybe not; but jolly comfortable on a cold night. The worst of it is,

it's mighty expensive."

 

Frank walked up to the bar and bought a ten-cent cigar. He returned and

sat down on a settee.

 

"The magician isn't here," said Harry.

 

"Hush, he is here!" said Frank, in a low voice, as the door opened, and

a tall, portly man entered the room.

 

Professor Henderson--for it was he--walked up the bar, and followed

Frank Heath's example in the purchase of a cigar Then he glanced

leisurely round the apartment. Apparently, his attention was fixed by

our hero, for he walked up to him, and said: "Young man, I would like to

speak to you."

 

"All right, sir," said Harry, in surprise.

 

"If you are not otherwise occupied, will you accompany me to my room?"

 

"Certainly, sir," returned Harry, in fresh wonder.

 

"Perhaps he's going to take in Walton as partner," Frank Heath suggested

to Tom Frisbie.

 

"I wonder what he want anyway?" said Frisbie. "Why didn't he take you?"

 

"Because I'm too sharp," said Frank. "I should see through his tricks."

 

Meanwhile, Harry had entered the professor's chamber.

 

"Sit down," said the magician. "I'll tell you what I want of you. I want

you to take tickets at the door of hall to-night. Can you do it?"

 

"Yes, sir," said Harry, promptly.

 

"It seems easy enough," said the professor; "but not everyone can do it

rapidly without making mistakes. Are you quick at figures?"

 

"I am usually considered so," said our hero.

 

"I won't ask whether you are honest, for you would so, of course."

 

"I hope--" commenced Harry.

 

"I know what you are going to say; but there is no need of saying it,"

interrupted the magician. "I judge from your face, which is an honest

one. I have traveled about a good deal, and I am a good judge of faces."

 

"You shall not be disappointed, sir."

 

"I know that, in advance. Now, tell me if you are at work, or do you

attend school?"

 

"I have been at work in a shoe shop in this village, sir."

 

"Not now?"

 

"No, sir; business is dull, and work has given out."

 

"What are you going to do next?"

 

"Anything by which I can earn an honest living."

 

"That's the way to talk. I'll take you into my employ, if you have no

objection to travel."

 

Objection to travel! Who ever heard of a boy of fifteen who had an

objection to travel?

 

"But will your parents consent? That is the next question. I don't want

to entice any boys away from home against their parents' consent."

 

"My parents do not live here. They live farther north, in the town of

Granton."

 

"Granton? I never was there. Is it a large place?"

 

"No, sir, it is a very small place. My father consented to have me leave

home and he will have no objection to my earning my living in any honest

way."

 

"Well, my young friend, I can assure you that my way is an honest one,

though I frankly confess I do my best to deceive the people who come to

my entertainments."

 

"What is it you want me to do, sir?"

 

"Partly what you are going to do to-night--take tickets at the door; but

that is not all. I have to carry about considerable apparatus and I need

help about arranging it. Sometimes, also, I need help in my experiments.

I had a young man with me; but he is taken down with a fever and obliged

to go home. It is not likely, as his health is delicate, that he will

care to resume his position. I must have somebody in his place. I have

no doubt you will answer my purpose."

 

"How much pay do you give, sir?"

 

"A practical question," said the professor, smiling.

 

"To begin with, of course I pay traveling expenses, and I can offer you

five dollars a week besides. Will that be satisfactory?"

 

"Yes, sir," said Harry, his heart giving a great throb of exultation as

he realized that his new business would give him two dollars week more

than his work in the shop, besides being a good deal more agreeable,

since it would give him a chance to see a little of the world.

 

"Can you start with me to-morrow morning?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then it is settled. But it is time you were at the hall. I will give

you a supply of small bills and, change, as you may have to change some

bills."

 

He drew from his side pocket a wallet, which he placed in the hands of

our hero.

 

"This wallet contains twenty dollars," he said: "Of course you will

bring me back that amount, in addition to what you take at the door this

evening."

 

"Very well, sir."

 

"You can wait for me at the close of the evening, and hand me all

together. Now go over to the hall, as the doors are to be open at half

past seven o'clock."

 

When Frank Heath and his companion went over to the Town Hall they found

Harry making change.

 

"Hello, Walton!" said Frank. "Are you the treasurer of this concern?"

 

"It seems so," said Harry.

 

"You'll let in your friends for nothing, won't you?"

 

"Not much. I charge them double price."

 

"Well here's our money. I say, Tom, I wonder the old fellow didn't take

me instead of Walton."

 

"That's easily told. You don't look honest enough."

 

"Oh, if it comes to that, he passed over you, too, Tom."

 

"He wouldn't insult a gentleman of my dignity. Come on; there's room on

the front seat."

 

Harry was kept busy till ten minutes after eight. By that time about

all who intended to be present were in the hall and the magician was

gratified by seeing that it was crowded. He was already well known in

the village, having been in the habit of visiting it every for years

and his reputation for dexterity, and especially for ventriloquism, had

called out this large audience.

 

The professor's tricks excited great wonder in the younger spectators. I

will only dwell slightly on his ventriloquism. When he came to this part

of the entertainment, he said: "Will any young gentleman assist me?"

 

Frank Heath immediately left his seat and took up his position beside

the professor.

 

"Now, sir," said the professor, "I want to ask you a question or two.

Will you answer me truly?"

 

A gruff voice appeared to proceed from Frank's mouth, saying: "Yes,

sir."

 

"Are you married, sir?"

 

Again the same gruff voice answered: "Yes, sir; I wish I wasn't;" to the

great delight of the small boys.

 

"Indeed, sir! I hope your wife doesn't make it uncomfortable for you."

 

"She licks me," Frank appeared to answer.

 

"I am sorry. What does she lick you with?"

 

"With a broomstick."

 

Frank looked foolish and there was a general laugh.

 

"I hope she doesn't treat you so badly very often, sir."

 

"Yes, she does, every day," was the answer. "If she knowed I was up here

telling you, she'd beat me awful."

 

"In that case, sir, I won't be cruel enough to keep you here any longer.

Take my advice, sir, and get a divorce."

 

"So I will, by hokey!"

 

And Frank, amid hearty laughter, resumed his seat, not having uttered a

word, the professor being responsible for the whole conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXIV. HARRY'S LETTER

 

 

During Harry's absence, the little household at Granton had got along

about as usual. They lived from hand to mouth. It required sharp

financiering to provide food and clothes for the little family.

 

There was one neighbor who watched their progress sharply and this was

Squire Green. It will be remembered that he had bound Mr. Walton to

forfeit ten dollars, if, at the end of six months, he was not prepared

to pay the forty dollars and interest which he had agreed to pay for the

cow. It is a proof of the man's intense meanness that, though rich while

his neighbor was poor, he was strongly in hopes that the latter would

incur the forfeit and be compelled to pay it.

 

One morning Squire Green accosted Mr. Walton, the squire being at work in his own front yard.