Luck and Pluck 52

Luck and Pluck 52

"I am as hungry as a bear, aunt," said John, smiling.

 

In the evening Martha went into the store by her mother's request, and

asked Mr. Hall to step in after closing the store.

 

He did so.

 

"I believe you wished to see me, Mrs. Berry," he said.

 

"Yes, Mr. Hall. Will you sit down?"

 

"Thank you." And the young man seated himself, looking furtively at

Mrs. Berry, as if to inquire the object of his being summoned.

 

"Mr. Hall, this is my nephew, John Oakley. I believe you have already

met."

 

"Yes, he came into the store," said Mr. Hall, glancing at John.

 

"He has agreed to remain here for the present, and will assist you in

the store."

 

Mr. Hall looked as if he was not pleased with this intelligence.

 

"I do not think that I shall need any assistance," he said.

 

"I am surprised to hear that," said Mrs. Berry. "Certainly you cannot

expect to do alone the business which formerly required Mr. Berry and

yourself to do."

 

"The business is not so large as it was," said Hall.

 

"Then you must try to bring it up to where it used to be. You must

remember that I have a young family to support, and it will require an

effort to do it."

 

"That is why I thought it would be better to save the wages of an extra

clerk," said Hall.

 

"You are considerate, especially as it would require you to work harder

yourself. But my nephew knows my circumstances, and does not wish large

compensation."

 

"Has he any experience in tending store?" asked Hall.

 

"No," said John.

 

"Then I should have to teach you. It would be more trouble than the

help I would get."

 

"I don't think you would find me so hard to learn," said John,

quietly. "I have always lived in the country, and know something about

the business of a country store. I don't think I shall be long in

learning."

 

"I agree with John," said Mrs. Berry.

 

"Of course it must be as you say," said Mr. Hall, appearing

dissatisfied; "but I hoped to save you the expense. And I cannot say

I think any help necessary; or, if it were, it would be better, with

all respect to Mr. Oakley, to take James Sanford, who has had some

experience at Trafton."

 

"Very well, Mr. Hall," said John, taking no notice of the opposition,

"then I will come in to-morrow morning. What time do you open the

store?"

 

"At six o'clock."

 

"Won't that be rather early for you, John?" asked his aunt.

 

"You are making me out to be lazy, aunt," said John.

 

"There isn't much business early in the morning," said Hall. "You need

not come till seven."

 

"I would rather go early," said John. "I want to learn the business as

soon as I can."

 

"Did you wish to speak about anything else, Mrs. Berry?" said Mr. Hall.

 

"No, Mr. Hall; but you need not be in haste."

 

"Thank you; I am feeling rather tired."

 

"Good-night, then."

 

"Good-night."

 

"It seems to me," said John, when they were alone, "that Mr. Hall did

not much want me to enter the store."

 

"No; I was surprised at that. It must be very hard for one."

 

"I have my thoughts about it," said John.

 

"What are they?" asked his aunt.

 

"I will not say anything now. They may amount to nothing. But I think

Mr. Hall is afraid I will find out something, and therefore he objects

to my going into the store. I shall keep good watch, and if I find out

anything I will let you know."

 

"I think you must be tired, John. You can go to bed when you please."

 

"Then I think I will go now, particularly as I am to be up by six in

the morning."

 

"Never mind about to-morrow morning."

 

"I had better begin as I am going to hold out, aunt. Good-night."

 

John took the lamp and entered his bedchamber with a happier and more

home-like feeling than he had had for months. He felt so interested in

his aunt's troubles that he almost forgot that he had any of his own.

 

In the morning, as the village clock struck six, John stood in front of

the store. A minute later, Mr. Hall, who boarded at a little distance,

came up. He greeted John coldly, and they entered.

 

"Now I hope you will make me useful," said John.

 

"You may sweep out," said Hall.

 

"Where shall I find the broom?"

 

Hall told him and John commenced. It was new work to him, but he did

it well, and then went to work to arrange things a little more neatly.

Occasionally he asked information of Mr. Hall, which was ungraciously

given. Still John learned rapidly, and in a fortnight had learned as

much as many boys in three months.

 

One day, when Hall was gone to dinner, John chanced to open the stove,

in which there had been no fire for the summer months. It was full of

papers and letters of various kinds, which had been crowded into it, as

a convenient receptacle. It was so full that, on the door being opened,

a considerable portion fell on the floor. John began to pick them up,

and, in doing so, naturally looked at some of the papers.

 

All at once he started with excitement as a particular paper caught his

attention. He read it eagerly, and his eyes lighted up with pleasure.

 

"I must show this to my aunt," he said. "I suspected that note of Mr.

Hall's was a forgery, and now I feel sure of it."

 

He carefully deposited the paper in his pocket-book, and, putting back

the rest of the papers, shut the stove door, and resumed his place

behind the counter, just as Mr. Hall returned from dinner.

 

He little guessed that John had made a discovery of the utmost

consequence to him.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXIX.

 

MR. HALL'S DISCOMFITURE.

 

 

The paper which John had discovered among the rubbish in the stove

was a half sheet of foolscap, which was covered with imitations of

Mr. Berry's handwriting, the words occurring being those of the note

of hand which Hall had presented for payment. The first attempts were

inexact, but those further down, with which pains had evidently been

taken, were close copies of Mr. Berry's usual handwriting. This of

course John could not know, not being familiar with his uncle's hand,

but his aunt confirmed it.

 

"It is clear," said John, "that Mr. Hall has forged the note which he

presented against my uncle's estate."

 

"What a wicked man," said Mrs. Berry, "to seek to defraud me and my

poor fatherless children! I never could have suspected him."

 

"It was the love of money, aunt. He thought you would not detect the

fraud."

 

"I should not but for you, John. How lucky it was you came! Now tell me

what I ought to do."

 

"Is there a lawyer in the place?" asked John.

 

"Yes; there is Mr. Bradley."

 

"Then, aunt, you had better send for him, and ask his advice."

 

"I will do so; I think that will be the best way."

 

Mr. Bradley, though a country lawyer, was a man of sound judgment, and

quite reliable. When the circumstances were communicated to him, he

gave his opinion that John's suspicions were well founded.

 

"I should like to see Mr. Hall here," he said. "Can you not ask him to

be present, and bring the note with him?"

 

"The store closes at nine. I will invite him then, if you can meet him

at that hour."

 

"That will suit me, Mrs. Berry," said the lawyer.