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The Tin Box, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 29. Harry Becomes A "Bondholder" |
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_ CHAPTER XXIX. HARRY BECOMES A "BONDHOLDER." When Harry entered the office of Mr. Wheeler, the lawyer was engaged with a client. He nodded pleasantly to our hero, and said: "I shall be at leisure very soon. You will find the morning paper on that table." When his interview with the client was over, he beckoned to Harry to approach. "Well," he said, "thanks to your good management, we have triumphantly succeeded. The stolen property is recovered, and the thieves are in custody." "It was not so much good management as good luck," said Harry. "Partly both; but, however that may be, the owner of the property authorizes me to make a substantial acknowledgment for the service you have rendered him. Let me see--the reward offered was two hundred and fifty dollars." "That's too much, sir." "The gentleman who gives it does not think so. Indeed, he authorizes me to somewhat exceed it. In this envelope"--here the lawyer produced a large-size package--"you will find two one-hundred-dollar government bonds and one fifty. The value of the three, at present prices, is nearer three hundred dollars than two hundred and fifty. I need not caution you to take good care of them." "Are they for me?" asked Harry, his cheeks flushing with pleasure. "Yes; they are six per cent. bonds, and will bring you fifteen dollars a year in interest--not quite enough to live upon," the lawyer added, with a smile, "but something to add to your income." "I can hardly realize that I am worth so much money," said Harry, as he took the package and put it into his inside coat pocket. "Have you a watch?" asked Mr. Wheeler. "No, sir," replied Harry, in surprise. "I thought not; and I, therefore, ask you to accept one as a gift, not from my client, but from me." He produced a handsome silver watch, manufactured at Waltham, with a silver chain attached. Now, Harry had long wanted a watch, but the prospect of obtaining one before he was of age had seemed very remote. At the moment, I think, the present of the watch gratified him as much as that of the bonds, though the latter were ten times as valuable. "It is beautiful," he said; "but, Mr. Wheeler, why should you give me a present? The bonds were not yours." "That is true, but they were under my charge, and I should have been seriously troubled had they not been recovered. Take the watch, my boy, and I hope it will please you as much to receive it as it does me to give it." "Thank you, sir," said Harry, warmly. "It seems to me there is no end to my good fortune." "Continue to deserve it, my boy, and I think it will continue. I must bid you good-morning now, as I have another appointment." "Good-morning, sir, and thank you." "By the way," the lawyer added, "I shall bear you in mind, and, should I have any work which I think you can do, I will send for you." "I shall be glad to serve you in any way, sir." So saying, Harry left the office. He was so much in a hurry to show his present at home that, though it was still early, he decided to take the next train, which would bring him home about noon. His mother and Mr. Wilkins had just seated themselves at the dinner table when Harry entered. "What! home already, Harry?" asked his mother, in surprise. "I judge from your tone, mother, that you haven't got enough dinner for me," said Harry, gayly. "If that's the case, I'll eat a little less," said Uncle Obed. "But why didn't you stay longer?" "Because I got through with my business, and thought I might as well come home," answered Harry. By this time his mother's eyes happened to fall on the silver chain displayed across his vest. "What is that, Harry?" she asked. Harry drew out the watch, with pardonable pride. "Where did you get it?" asked his mother, in amazement. "A lawyer in New York gave it to me." "But what lawyer do you know, my son?" asked his mother, more and more bewildered. "That isn't all, mother. Look at that!" Harry drew out the package of bonds, and displayed them to his astonished mother. She at once concluded that he had found them. "They are not yours, Harry," she said. "If you found them, you must restore them to the owner." "So I will, Mrs. Gilbert. I give these bonds to you, and recommend you to take good care of them." "What does all this mean, Harry? You cannot give away what does not belong to you." Harry felt that it was time to explain, and he did so. It was necessary to begin with the account of Philip's treatment of him in the wood. Mrs. Gilbert was very indignant, and she spoke warmly. "It was shameful!" she said. "To leave you there alone in the dark wood, tied hand and foot! The boy ought to be served in the same way himself!" "Wait till I get through my story, mother," he said, "and perhaps you will find that Philip got into a little trouble of his own." So he continued his story, and told, finally, of how he found Philip Ross bound, and trembling for his life, in the cabin of Ralph Temple. "Served him right," said Mrs. Gilbert, satisfactorily. "As things have turned out, I can afford to overlook his past meanness. He has suffered punishment, though not at my hands." "If I had known that you were mixed up with burglars, I should have felt very anxious, Harry." "I know it, and that is why I didn't tell you. However, all's well that ends well. The tin box is found, the robbers are caught, and I have a rich mother." As he spoke, he put the bonds into his mother's hands. "But, Harry, they are yours. I cannot accept them." "Take care of them, at any rate, mother, and use the interest. I shall like it better than to keep them myself." "You are a good boy, Harry," said Uncle Obed. "I like to see boys think considerable of their mothers. And now, if you are both ready for dinner, I am." "Excuse me, Mr. Wilkins. I was so intent upon Harry's story that I am afraid the dinner is cold." They sat down to dinner, and the meal was a very happy one, even if the dishes were somewhat cold. Harry's good luck put them all in fine spirits. After dinner Harry went out into the village, in the direction of the store. I suspect he wanted to show his watch, as most boys do when for the first time they become the proud possessor of one. On the way he met Philip Ross and James Congreve. The latter he had not seen since they parted in the wood. "There's our young captive, Philip," said Congreve. "He's got a watch. At any rate, I see a watch chain," said Philip, whose curiosity was excited. "Hello!" called out Congreve, as they met; "where did you get that watch?" "I don't see wherein my having a watch should concern you; but I do know, after the contemptible treatment I received at your hands yesterday, your questions deserve no notice from me. But, as matters turned out so well, I can afford to swallow my indignation." "It was rather a mean trick, leaving you bound in the wood," said Congreve, candidly. "I wouldn't have done it, except to oblige Philip." "Has he told you how he liked being tied himself?" Congreve looked, in surprise, at Philip. The latter had not chosen to say anything about his own adventure in Temple's hut. When Harry told the story, not omitting to mention that he had compelled Philip to beg his pardon before he released him, Congreve burst into hearty laughter, while Philip stood by, angry and ashamed. "That's the best joke I ever heard," said Congreve. "I wish I had been there to see." "I thought you were my friend," said Philip, indignantly. "I laugh at my friends sometimes," said Congreve. "What a splendid joke!" Philip didn't see it in that light, and was so mortified that he didn't give Congreve an opportunity to ask further about the watch, but hurriedly moved on. All the remainder of the afternoon he passed in a sullen frame of mind. _ |
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