2016년 9월 18일 일요일

Mark the Match Boy 25

Mark the Match Boy 25



"They don't keep but a few dollars in the drawer at one time."
 
"But didn't you tell me there was another drawer?"
 
"Yes; but that is always kept locked."
 
"Open it then."
 
"I have no key."
 
"Get one that will fit it then."
 
"I don't like to do that."
 
"Well, it's nothing to me," said Ralph, "only I should like to have
you belong to the club, and you can't unless you are able to pay the
initiation fee."
 
"I would like very much to belong," said Roswell, irresolutely.
 
"I know you would enjoy it. We have splendid times."
 
"I'll see what I can do to raise the money," said Roswell.
 
"That's the way to talk. You'll manage to get it some way."
 
It was a great temptation to Roswell. The more he thought of it, the
more he thought he should like to say that he was a member of the
Madison Club. He had a weak love of gentility, and he was persuaded
that it would improve his social standing. But he did not wish to adopt
the course recommended by Ralph if there was any other way of getting
the money. He determined, therefore, first to make the effort to obtain
the money from his mother on some pretext or other. By the time he
reached home, which was at an earlier hour than usual, he had arranged
his pretext.
 
"I am glad you are home early," said Mrs. Crawford.
 
"Yes, I thought I'd come home early to-night. Mother, I wish you'd let
me have four dollars."
 
"What for, Roswell?"
 
"I want to buy a new hat. This one is getting shabby."
 
Roswell's plan was, if he could obtain the four dollars from his
mother, to make up the extra dollar out of sales unaccounted for. As to
the failure to buy the hat, he could tell his mother that he had lost
the money, or make some other excuse. That thought did not trouble him
much. But he was not destined to succeed.
 
"I am sorry you are dissatisfied with your hat, Roswell," said Mrs.
Crawford, "for I cannot possibly spare you the money now."
 
"So you always say," grumbled Roswell.
 
"But it's true," said his mother. "I'm very short just now. The rent
comes due in a few days, and I am trying hard to get together money
enough to pay it."
 
"I thought you had money coming in from your lodgers."
 
"There's Mr. Bancroft hasn't paid me for six weeks, and I'm afraid I am
going to lose his room-rent. It's hard work for a woman to get along.
Everybody takes advantage of her," said Mrs. Crawford, sighing.
 
"Can't you possibly let me have the money by Saturday, mother?"
 
"No, Roswell. Perhaps in a few weeks I can. But I don't think your hat
looks bad. You can go and get it pressed if you wish."
 
But Roswell declared that wouldn't do, and left the room in an
ill-humor. Instead of feeling for his mother, and wishing to help her,
he was intent only upon his own selfish gratifications.
 
So much, then, was plain,--in his efforts to raise the money for the
initiation fee at the club, he could not expect any help from his
mother. He must rely upon other means.
 
Gradually Roswell came to the determination to follow the dangerous
advice which had been proffered him by Ralph Graham. He could not bear
to give up the project of belonging to the club, and was willing to
commit a dishonest act rather than forego the opportunity.
 
He began to think now of the manner in which he could accomplish what
he had in view. The next day when noon came he went round to the locked
drawer, and, lighting a piece of sealing-wax which he had taken from
one of the cases, he obtained a clear impression of the lock.
 
"I think that will do," thought Roswell.
 
At that moment a customer entered the store, and he hurried the stick
of sealing-wax into his pocket.
 
When the store closed, Roswell went round to a locksmith, whose sign he
remembered to have seen in Third Avenue.
 
He entered the shop with a guilty feeling at his heart, though he had a
plausible story arranged for the occasion.
 
"I want a key made," he said, in a business-like manner; "one that will
fit this lock."
 
Here he displayed the wax impression.
 
"What sort of a lock is it?" asked the locksmith, looking at it.
 
"It is a bureau drawer," said Roswell. "We have lost the key, and can't
open it. So I took the impression in wax. How soon can you let me have
it?"
 
"Are you in a hurry for it?"
 
"Yes; didn't I tell you we couldn't open the drawer?"
 
"Well, I'll try to let you have it by to-morrow night."
 
"That will do," said Roswell.
 
He left the locksmith's shop with mixed feelings of satisfaction and
shame at the thought of the use to which he was intending to put the
key. It was a great price he had determined to pay for the honor of
belonging to the Madison Club.
 
 
 
 
CHAPTER XXI.
 
ROSWELL JOINS THE MADISON CLUB.
 
 
It was not until Saturday night that Roswell obtained the key. The
locksmith, like tradesmen and mechanics in general, kept putting him
off, to Roswell's great annoyance.
 
As he did not get the key till Saturday night, of course there would
be no opportunity of using it till Monday. The only time then was the
hour in which Mr. Baker and Mr. Jones were absent, and Roswell was left
alone. But to his great vexation, an old gentleman came in directly
after Mr. Baker went out, and inquired for him.
 
"He's gone to dinner," said Roswell.
 
"I think I'll wait till he returns," said the visitor, coolly sitting
down in Mr. Baker's arm-chair.
 
Roswell was in dismay, for this would of course prevent his using the
key which he had taken so much trouble to obtain.
 
"Mr. Baker is always out a good while," said Roswell.
 
"Never mind, I can wait for him. I came in from the country this
morning, and shall not need to start back till four."
 
"Perhaps," suggested Roswell, "you could go out and do the rest of your
errands, and come back at two o'clock. Mr. Baker will be sure to be
back then."
 
"Who told you I had any more errands to do?" asked the old gentleman,
sharply.
 
"I thought you might have," said Roswell, somewhat confused.
 
"You are very considerate; but, as my business is over for the day, I
will ask your permission to remain till my nephew returns."
 
So this was Mr. Baker's uncle, a shrewd old gentlemen, if he did live
in the country.
 
"Certainly," said Roswell, but not with a very good grace, adding to
himself; "there'll be no chance for me to get the money to-day. I hope
the old fellow won't come round again to-morrow."
 
The next day was Tuesday. In the evening the club was to meet, so there was no time to lose. 

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