Bound to Rise

H >> Horatio Alger >> Bound to Rise

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"Yes; he suspected you."

"I'd like to choke him!" said Luke, fiercely. "The miserly scoundrel!"

"It seems to me he is justified in trying to recover his money.
What have you done with the rest of it?"

"Tell me what will be done to me," said Luke, sullenly.

"I didn't steal it. I only picked it up when he dropped it. He
deserves to lose it, for being so careless."

"Why didn't you tell him you had found it?"

"I meant to give it to him after a while. I only wanted to keep
it long enough to frighten him."

"That was dangerous, particularly as you used it."

"I meant to give him back other money."

"I don't think that excuse will avail you in court."

"Court of justice!" repeated Luke, turning pale.

"He won't have me taken up--will he?"

"He will unless you arrange to restore all the money."

"I've paid you part of it."

"That I shall hand over to him. Have you the rest?"

"I've spent a few dollars. I've got eight dollars left."

"You had better give it to me."

Reluctantly, Luke drew out his pocketbook and passed the eight
dollars to Mr. Merrill.

"Now when will you pay the rest?"

"In a few weeks," said Luke.

"That won't do. How much do you earn a week?"

"Fifteen dollars."

"How much do you pay for board?"

"Four dollars."

"Then you will be able to pay eleven dollars at the end of this
week."

"I can't get along without money," said Luke.

"You will have to till you pay back the money, unless you prefer
appearing before a court of justice."

Luke was just going out when the tailor called him back.

"I believe you owe me thirty dollars. When are you going to pay
it?"

"I can't pay it yet a while," said Luke.

"I think you had better," said the tailor quietly.

"I'll pay you as soon as I can."

"You make eleven dollars a week over and above your board and spend
it on drink, billiards and fast horses. You are fully able to pay
for your clothes promptly and I advise you to do it."

"I'll pay you as soon as I can."

"If you neglect to do it, I may as well tell you that I shall let
it be known that you stole Walton's pocketbook."

An expression of alarm overspread Luke's face, and he hastily made
the required promise. But he added, "I didn't steal it. I only
found it."

"The whole story would be told, and people might think as they
pleased. But it is much better for you to avoid all this by paying
your bills."

Luke Harrison left the tailor's shop in a very unhappy and disgusted
frame of mind.

"If I had the sense to wait till it blew over," he said to himself,
"I should have escaped all this: I didn't think Merrill would act
so mean. Now I'm in for paying his infernal bill besides. It's
too bad."

Just then he came upon Frank Heath, who hailed him.

"Luke, come and play a game of billiards."

"If you'll promise not to beat me. I haven't got a cent of money."

"You haven't? What have you done with those bills you had this
afternoon?"

"I've paid 'em over to Merrill," said Luke, hesitating.

"He was in a deuced stew about his bill."

"When are your pants going to be ready?"

"I don't know," said Luke, with a pang of sorrow.

"Merrill's making them, isn't he?"

"He says he won't till I pay the whole bill."

"Seems to me your credit ain't very good, Luke."

"It's good enough, be he's hard up for money. I guess he's going
to fail. If you'll lend me a couple of dollars, I'll go around
and have a game."

Frank Heath laughed.

"You'll have to go to some one else, Luke," he said.

Luke passed a disagreeable evening. Cut off by his want of money
from his ordinary amusements, and depressed by the thought that
things would be no better till he had paid his bills, he lounged
about, feeling that he was a victim of ill luck. It did not occur
to him that that ill luck was of his own bringing.

CHAPTER XXII

THE COMING OF THE MAGICIAN

The week passed and Luke carefully avoided our hero going so far
as to cross the street so as not to meet him. On Saturday evening,
according to his arrangement, Luke was to have paid the surplus of
his wages, after meeting his board bill, to Mr. Merrill, for Harry.

But he did not go near him. On Monday, the tailor meeting him,
inquired why he had not kept his agreement.

"The fact is," said Luke, "I have been unlucky."

"How unlucky?"

"I had my wages loose in my pocket, and managed to lose them
somehow."

"That is very singular," said the tailor, suspiciously.

"Why is it singular?" asked Luke. "Didn't Harry Walton lose his
money?"

"You seem to have lost yours at a very convenient time."

"It's hard on me," said Luke. "Owing so much, I want to pay as
quick as I can, so as to have my wages to myself. Don't you see
that?"

"Where do you think you lost the money?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said Luke.

"Well," said Merrill, dryly, "I hope you will take better care of
your wages next Saturday evening."

"I mean to. I can't afford to lose anymore."

"I don't believe, a word of what he says about losing his money,"
said the tailor, privately, to Harry. "I think it's only a trick
to get rid of paying you."

"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.

"Good morning, neighbor Walton," he said.

"Good morning, squire."

"How is that cow a-doin'?"

"Pretty well."

"She's a good cow."

"Not so good as the one I lost."

"You're jokin' now, neighbor. It was my best cow. I wouldn't have
sold her except to obleege."

"She doesn't give as much milk as my old one."

"Sho! I guess you don't feed her as well as I did."

"She fares just as well as the other one did. Of course, I don't
know how you fed her."

"She allers had her fill when she was with me. Le' me see, how long
is it since I sold her to ye?"

Though the squire apparently asked for information, he knew the
time to a day and was not likely to forget.

"It's between four and five months, I believe."

"Jus'so. You was to be ready to pay up at the end of six months."

"That was the agreement."

"You'd better be a-savin' up for it."

"There isn't much chance of my saving. It's all I can do to make
both ends meet."

"You don't say so," said the squire, secretly pleased.

"My farm is small and poor, and doesn't yield much."

"But you work out, don't you?"

"When I get a chance. You don't want any help, do you, squire? I
might work off part of the debt that way."

"Mebbe next spring I'd like some help."

"That will be too late to meet my note, unless you'll renew."

"I'll see about it," said the squire, evasively. "What do you hear
from that boy of yours? Is he doin' well?"

"He's at work in a shoe shop."

"Does it pay well?"

"He doesn't get much just at first."

"Then he won't be able to pay for the cow," thought the squire.
"That's what I wanted to know."

"He'd better have gone to work for me," he said

"No, I think he will do better away from home. He will get a good
trade that he can fall back upon hereafter, even if he follows some
other business."

"Wal, I never learned no trade but I've got along middlin' well,"
said the squire, in a complacent tone. "Farmin's good enough for
me."

"I would say the same if I had your farm, squire. You wouldn't
exchange, would you?"

"That's a good joke, neighbor Walton. When I make up my mind to do
it. I'll let you know."

"What a mean old curmudgeon he is!" thought Hiram Walton, as he kept
on his way to the village store. "He evidently intends to keep me
to my agreement and will exact the ten dollars in case I can't pay
for the cow at the appointed time. It will be nothing but a robbery."

This was not the day for a letter from Harry but it occurred to Mr.
Walton to call at the post office. Contrary to his anticipations,
a letter was handed him.

"I won't open it till I get home," he said to himself.

"I've got a letter from Harry," he said, as he entered the house.

"A letter from Harry? It isn't his day for writing," said Mrs.
Walton. "What does he say?"

"I haven't opened the letter yet. Here, Tom, open and read it
aloud."

Tom opened the letter and read as follows:

"Dear Father:--I must tell you, to begin with, that I have been
compelled to stop work in the shoe shop. The market is overstocked
and trade has become very dull.

"Of course, I felt quite bad when Mr. Leavitt told me this, for I
feared it would prevent my helping you pay for the cow, as I want
so much to do. I went round to several other shops, hoping to get
in, but I found it impossible. Still, I have succeeded in getting
something to do that will pay me better than work in the shop. If
you were to guess all day, I don't believe you would guess what
business it is. So, to relieve your suspense, I will tell you that
I have engaged as assistant to Professor Henderson, the famous
magician and ventriloquist and am to start to-morrow on a tour with
him."

"Assistant to a magician!" exclaimed Mrs. Walton

"What does the boy know about magic?"

"It's a bully business," said Tom, enthusiastically. "I only wish
I was in Harry's shoes. I'd like to travel round with a magician
first-rate."

"You're too thick-headed, Tom," said Marry.

"Shut up!" said Tom. "I guess I'm as smart as you, any day."

"Be quiet, both of you!" said Mr. Walton. "Now, Tom, go on with
your brother's letter."

Tom proceeded: "I am to take money at the door. We are going about
in the southern part of the State and shall visit some towns in
Massachusetts, the professor says. You know I've never been round
any and I shall like traveling and seeing new places. Professor
Henderson is very kind and I think I shall like him. He pays my
traveling expenses and five dollars a week, which is nearly twice
as much money as I got from Mr. Leavitt. I can't help thinking
I am lucky in getting so good a chance only a day after I lost my
place in the shoe shop. I hope, yet, to be able to pay for the cow
when the money comes due.

"Love to all at home.

"Harry."

"Harry's lucky," said Mary. "He can get along."

"He is fortunate to find employment at once," said his father;
"though something which he can follow steadily is better. But the
pay is good and I am glad he has it."

"How long it seems since Harry was at home," said his mother. "I
wish I could see him."

"Yes, it would be pleasant," said Mr. Walton; "but the boy has his
own way to make, so we will be thankful that he is succeeding so
well."

CHAPTER XXV

A STRANGE COMPANION

At ten o'clock the next day, Harry presented himself at the hotel.
He carried in his hand a carpetbag lent him by Mr. Leavitt, which
contained his small stock of under-clothing. His outside suits he
left at Mr. Leavitt's, not wishing to be encumbered with them while
traveling.

"I see you are on time," said the professor.

"Yes, sir; I always mean to be."

"That's well; now if you'll jump into my buggy with me, we will ride
round to the Town Hall and take in my apparatus. I have to keep a
carriage," said the magician, as they rode along. "It saves me a
great deal of trouble by making me independent of cars and stages."

The apparatus was transferred to a trunk in the back part of the
buggy and securely locked.

"Now we are all ready," said Professor Henderson,

"Would you like to drive?"

"Yes, sir," answered Harry, with alacrity.

"I am going to give an entertainment in Holston this evening," said
his new employer. "Were you ever there?"

"No, sir."

"It is a smart little place and although the population is not
large, I always draw a full house."

"How far is it, sir?"

"About six miles."

Harry was sorry it was not farther, as he enjoyed driving. His
companion leaned back at his ease and talked on various subjects.
He paused a moment and Harry was startled by hearing a stifled
child's voice just behind him: "Oh, let me out! Don't keep me locked
up here!"

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