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Transcriber’s note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).
In the advertising at the end of the text, several
ornate headings are enclosed by tilde characters
(example: ~The “Bells” Series.~).
Please consult the note at the end of this text for a
discussion of any textual issues encountered in its
preparation.
[Illustration: FIRST APPEARANCE OF DIONYSIUS]
DIGGING FOR GOLD
A Story of California
by
HORATIO ALGER, JR.
Author of “The Ragged Dick Series,” “Tattered Tom Series,”
“Luck and Pluck Series,” “Pacific Series,” etc., etc.
[Illustration]
Philadelphia
Porter & Coates
Copyright, 1892,
by
Porter & Coates.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. GRANT AND HIS MOTHER, 1
II. RODNEY BARTLETT, 10
III. A TERRIBLE RESPONSIBILITY, 20
IV. GRANT SAVES THE TRAIN, 29
V. GRANT ORDERS A NEW SUIT, 38
VI. SETH TARBOX MAKES A DISCOVERY, 47
VII. GRANT MAKES UP HIS MIND, 57
VIII. ALL IS SETTLED, 66
IX. THE LONG JOURNEY BEGINS, 76
X. MR. SILVERTHORN’S TREACHERY, 86
XI. AN INDIAN ENCOUNTER, 96
XII. IN DIRE DISTRESS, 105
XIII. THE SOLITARY CABIN, 114
XIV. THE NEW ACQUAINTANCE, 123
XV. ARRIVAL AT SACRAMENTO, 132
XVI. GRANT GETS A JOB, 137
XVII. AN UNPLEASANT ADVENTURE, 142
XVIII. A TRUE FRIEND, 149
XIX. GRANT FALLS UNDER SUSPICION, 158
XX. BENTON IS TRAPPED, 168
XXI. ALBERT BENTON IS UNMASKED, 176
XXII. PULLING UP STAKES, 188
XXIII. THE FIRST DAY AT THE MINES, 197
XXIV. GRANT HAS AN ADVENTURE, 205
XXV. ANOTHER LONELY CABIN, 211
XXVI. NAHUM STOCKTON, 219
XXVII. PAUL CRAMBO, 226
XXVIII. THE BEGINNING OF SUCCESS, 236
XXIX. BENTON HAS A PLAN, 246
XXX. BENTON LAYS HIS PLANS, 256
XXXI. BENTON OPENS THE TRUNK, 262
XXXII. A LETTER FROM MR. CROSMONT, 272
XXXIII. ON TO THE GOLDEN GATE, 277
XXXIV. A STARTLING INCIDENT, 283
XXXV. A TRAGEDY, 293
XXXVI. THE TARBOX FAMILY, 303
XXXVII. MRS. BARTLETT’S LITTLE SCHEME 314
XXXVIII. FINDING THE PRODIGAL, 322
XXXIX. GRANT HEARS FROM HOME, 332
XL. CONCLUSIONS, 340
DIGGING FOR GOLD.
-------
CHAPTER I.
GRANT AND HIS MOTHER.
“Mother, this is an important day for me,” said Grant Colburn, as he
entered the kitchen with an armful of wood, and deposited it in the box
behind the stove.
His mother looked up from the table where she was cutting out pie crust,
and asked in surprise, “What do you mean, Grant? Why is to-day any
different from ordinary days?”
“I am sixteen to-day, mother!”
“So you are, Grant. I ought to have thought of it. I am sorry,” she
added wistfully, “that I haven’t got a present for you, but you know Mr.
Tarbox——”
“Is the stingiest man in the country. Yes, I know that well enough.”
“I actually haven’t a cent that I can call my own, Grant.”
“I know that very well, mother. It was an unlucky day when you married
that old skinflint.”
“Don’t call him that, Grant,” said his mother, with an apprehensive look
in the direction of the door.
“He’s all that, and more if possible. When did he give you any money
last?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“And how much did he give you at that time?”
“Twenty-five cents.”
“What a shame! Why, if you had hired out as his housekeeper he would
have been compelled to give you more.”
“Yes, Grant,” sighed Mrs. Tarbox, “I wish I were his housekeeper instead
of his wife. I should be more independent.”
“He made a good bargain when he married you, mother. But I never
understood why you married _him_.”
“I acted for the best, as I thought, Grant. You know how your poor
father left us. After his affairs were settled, there were only two
hundred and fifty dollars left, and you were but twelve years old. I
took in sewing, and earned what I could, but at the end of a year I had
used up a hundred dollars of our small capital. Then Mr. Tarbox asked me
to marry him, and I agreed, for I thought it would give us a comfortable
home.”
“A comfortable home!” repeated Grant. “We have enough to eat, it is
true, but you never worked so hard in your life, and I can say the same
for myself. I was barely fourteen when Mr. Tarbox took me away from
school, and since then I have had to work early and late. At five
o’clock, winter and summer, I have to turn out of bed, and work all day,
so that when night comes I am dead tired.”
“That is true, Grant,” said his mother, with a look of distress. “You
work too hard for a boy of your age.”
“And what do I get for it?” continued Grant indignantly. “I haven’t any
clothes. Charlie Titus asked me the other day why I didn’t go to church.
I was ashamed to tell him that it was because I had no clothes fit to
wear there. It is a year since I had my last suit, and now I have grown
out of it. My coat is too short in the sleeves, and my pantaloons in the
legs.”
“Perhaps I can lengthen them out, Grant.”
“You did it six months ago. There is no more chance. No, I’ll tell you
what I am going to do. I’ll ask Mr. Tarbox for a new suit, and as it is
my birthday, perhaps he will open his heart and be generous for once.”
“It is a good plan, Grant. There he is now, out by the well curb.”
“Then I’ll speak at once. Wish me luck, mother.”
“I do, my son. I heartily wish you good luck now and always.”
Grant opened the side door, and went out into the yard. Seth Tarbox
looked up, and his glance fell upon his step-son.
“Come here, Grant,” he said, “I want you to turn the grindstone while I
sharpen my scythe.”
“Wait a minute, Mr. Tarbox. I want to speak to you.”
“Go ahead! You can speak if you want to,” said Tarbox, slightly
surprised.
“It is my birthday to-day.”
“Is it? How old be you?”
“Sixteen.”
“A boy of sixteen ought to do a great deal of work. Why, you are ’most a
man.”
“I do a good deal of work, Mr. Tarbox, but I don’t seem to get much pay
for it.”
“Hey? You want pay? Why, don’t you get your victuals and clothes?”
“I get my victuals, yes. But I don’t get clothes, and that is just what
I want to speak to you about.”
Mr. Tarbox began to grow uneasy. He knew what was coming.
“What have you got on, I’d like to know?” he inquired.
“Some rags and overalls,” answered Grant bluntly.
“They’re good enough to work in. You’ve got a suit to wear Sundays.”
“Have I? It’s hardly fit to wear common days. Why, it’s a year since I
had the suit, and I’ve outgrown it.”
“I’m afraid you’re getting proud, Grant,” said his step-father uneasily.
“I’m not proud of my clothes, I can tell you that. Mr. Tarbox, I’ve
worked for you the last year early and late, and I think I ought to have
a new suit. It will make a nice birthday present.”
“Money’s very skerce, Grant,” said his step-father uneasily, “and
clothes are very high. I gave twelve dollars for that last suit of
yours. It came hard. Think how long it takes to earn twelve dollars. I
haven’t had a suit myself for ten months.”
“But you can have one if you want it.”
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Grant,” said Mr. Tarbox, with a bright
idea. “You’re ’most as big as I am. You’re unusually large for your age.
I’ll buy a new suit for myself, and give you mine. Your mother can fix
it over to fit you.”
Grant’s face assumed a look of disgust.
“Thank you, Mr. Tarbox,” he said, “but I don’t want to wear your old
clothes. If I can’t have a new suit I don’t want any.”
“’Pears to me you’re mighty particular.”
“I don’t think so. I only want what’s right. Most boys of my age have at
least two new suits a year. Charlie Titus had three.”
“Then his father’s very foolish to gratify his love of finery. Come,
we’d better go to work.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet, Mr. Tarbox.”
“What is it?” asked Tarbox peevishly.
“Will you buy me a new suit?”
“Wait two or three months, Grant.”
“Why should I wait two or three months? I need the clothes now.”
“Money may be easier then.”
“I am not willing to wait.”
“’Pears to me you’re very headstrong, Grant Colburn,” said the farmer in
a tone of displeasure.
“I want my rights. I won’t work if you are going to deal so closely with
me.”
Seth Tarbox frowned, and looked perplexed. But presently an idea came to
him and his face smoothed.
“Perhaps we can fix it, Grant,” he said in a conciliatory tone.
Grant felt encouraged. It looked as if his request were to be granted.
“I shall be very much obliged to you,” he said.
“Wait a minute! You aint got my idea. Your mother has money.”
“What if she has?” asked Grant suspiciously.
“If she will lend you ten or twelve dollars to buy a suit I’ll make it
up to her in, say three or four months.”
Grant’s face darkened. He knew very well that the money never would be
repaid, and he penetrated the crafty design of his step-father.
“No, Mr. Tarbox,” he said. “My mother’s money must not be touched.
There’s little enough of it, and I don’t want her to run the risk of
losing it.”
“But she won’t lose it. Didn’t I say I would pay it back?”
“Why can’t you advance the money yourself?”
“Didn’t I tell you money was skerce?” said Seth Tarbox irritably.
“I know you’ve got money in two savings banks, besides some railroad
bonds. Tom Wilson told me the other day that you had over five thousand
dollars in money and bonds.”
“Tom Wilson don’t know anything about my affairs,” said Tarbox hastily.
“I’ll think it over, Grant, and mebbe—I won’t promise—I’ll see what I
can do for you. Now we’ll go to work. It’s a sin to be idle.”