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Luke Walton, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 7. A Strange Encounter |
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_ CHAPTER VII. A STRANGE ENCOUNTER Luke went home that evening in high spirits. The gift he had received from Mr. Afton enabled him to carry out a plan he had long desired to realize. It was to secure a sewing machine for his mother, and thus increase her earnings while diminishing her labors. He stopped at an establishment not far from Clark Street, and entering the showroom, asked: "What is the price of your sewing machines?" "One in a plain case will cost you twenty-five dollars." "Please show me one." "Do you want it for your wife?" "She may use it some time. My mother will use it first." The salesman pointed out an instrument with which Luke was well pleased. "Would you like to see how it works?" "Yes, please." "Miss Morris, please show this young man how to operate the machine." In the course of ten minutes Luke got a fair idea of the method of operating. "Do you require the whole amount down?" asked Luke. "No; we sell on installments, if preferred." "What are your terms?" "Five dollars first payment, and then a dollar a week, with interest on the balance till paid." "Then I think I will engage one," Luke decided. "Very well! Come up to the desk, and give me your name and address. On payment of five dollars, we will give you a receipt on account, specifying the terms of paying the balance, etc." Luke transacted his business, and made arrangements to have the machine delivered any time after six o'clock, when he knew he would be at home. As Luke was coming out of the sewing-machine office he saw Tom Brooks just passing. Tom looked a little uneasy, not feeling certain whether Luke had recognized him as one of his assailants or not the evening previous. Luke felt that he had a right to be angry. Indeed, he had it in his power to have Tom arrested, and charged with a very serious crime--that of highway robbery. But his good luck made him good-natured. "Good-evening, Tom," he said. "I didn't see you selling papers to-day." "No; I was on Dearborn Street." "He doesn't know it was me," thought Tom, congratulating himself, and added: "Have you been buying a sewing machine?" This was said in a joke. "Yes," answered Luke, considerably to Tom's surprise. "I have bought one." "How much?" "Twenty-five dollars." "Where did you raise twenty-five dollars? You're foolin'." "I bought it on the installment plan--five dollars down." "Oho!" said Tom, nodding significantly. "I know where you got that money?" "Where did I?" "From the gentleman that bought a couple of papers yesterday." "You hit it right the first time." "I thought you weren't no better than the rest of us--you that pretended to be so extra honest." "What do you mean by that, Tom Brooks?" "You pretended that you were going to give back the man's change, and spent it, after all. I thought you weren't such a saint as you pretended to be." "I see you keep on judging me by yourself, Tom Brooks. I took round the money this morning, and he gave it to me." "Is that true?" "Yes; I generally tell the truth." "Then you're lucky. If I'd returned it, he wouldn't have given me a cent." "It's best to be honest on all occasions," said Luke, looking significantly at Tom, who colored up, for he now saw that he had been recognized the night before. Tom sneaked off on some pretext, and Luke kept on his way home. "Did you do well to-day, Luke?" asked Bennie. "Yes, Bennie; very well." "How much did you make?" "I'll tell you by and by. Mother, can I help you about the supper?" "You may toast the bread, Luke. I am going to have your favorite dish--milk toast." "All right, mother. Have you been sewing to-day?" "Yes, Luke. I sat so long in one position that I got cramped." "I wish you had a sewing machine." "So do I, Luke; but I must be patient. A sewing machine costs more money than we can afford." "One can be got for twenty-five dollars, I have heard." "That is a good deal of money for people in our position." "We may as well hope for one. I shouldn't be surprised if we were able to buy a sewing machine very soon." Meanwhile Luke finished toasting the bread and his mother was dipping it in milk when a step was heard on the stairway, the door was opened, and Nancy's red head was thrust into the room. "Please, Mrs. Walton," said Nancy, breathlessly, "there's a man downstairs with a sewing machine which he says is for you." "There must be some mistake, Nancy. I haven't ordered any sewing machine." "Shall I send him off, ma'am?" "No, Nancy," said Luke; "it's all right. I'll go down stairs and help him bring it up." "How is this, Luke?" asked Mrs. Walton, bewildered. "I'll explain afterwards, mother." Up the stairs and into the room came the sewing machine, and was set down near the window. Bennie surveyed it with wonder and admiration. When the man who brought it was gone, Luke explained to his mother how it had all come about. "You see, mother, you didn't have to wait long," he concluded. "I feel deeply thankful, Luke," said Mrs. Walton. "I can do three times the work I have been accustomed to do, and in much less time. This Mr. Afton must be a kind and charitable man." "I like him better than his clerks," said Luke. "There is a red-headed bookkeeper and a boy there who tried to snub me, and keep me out of the office. I try to think well of red-headed people on account of Nancy, but I can't say I admire them." After supper Luke gave his mother a lesson in operating the machine. Both found that it required a little practice. The next morning as Luke was standing at his usual corner, he had a surprise. A gentleman came out of the Sherman House and walked slowly up Clark Street. As he passed Luke, he stopped and asked, "Boy, have you the _Inter-Ocean?_" Luke looked up in his customer's face. He paused in the greatest excitement. The man was on the shady side of fifty, nearly six feet in height, with a dark complexion, hair tinged with gray, and a wart on the upper part of his right cheek! _ |
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