IN WHICH PHIL LISTENS TO THE CONFESSION OF HIS PERSECUTOR, AND ENDS
PLANE AND PLANK.
I went to my work on Monday morning, and Plane and Plank were to
employ me for the day. Certainly I never went to work so cheerfully in
my life, for somehow all my mishaps seemed to have been turned into
blessings. When I found my father a miserable drunkard and outcast,
that seemed to me the greatest mishap which could possibly befall me.
But now he was a new man, through the blessed ministrations of Mrs.
Greenough; and through him I hoped to find the highest of earthly bliss
in our reunited family.
My mishaps with the villains who had stolen my money, and who had
probably intended to force me into a course of crime, had given me
such a powerful friend as Mr. Rockwood. My father had been appointed
his agent, with a salary at the rate of twelve hundred dollars a year
for the first three months, with a promise of an increase, if he was
faithful and steady. I fully believed that my father was sincere, and
that, as he said, it would be quite impossible for him to drink another
drop of liquor. I believed it, because I knew that he prayed to God
morning, noon, and night for strength; and I was sure that he whom God
helps cannot fail.
Mr. Clinch gave me permission, at nine o'clock, to be absent the rest
of the day, if necessary. He was curious to know what business I had
at the courts, and I told him enough of the story to enable him to
understand the situation.
"I was sure that Morgan Blair was getting into bad ways," said Mr.
Clinch. "I tell you, Phil, when a young fellow is lazy, and don't take
any interest in his business, he is getting into a bad way. All I want
to know about a boy is, whether he feels an interest in his business or
not. Then I can tell pretty well about his morals."
"I think he fell into bad company, sir."
"Of course he did; idlers always fall into bad company. A young fellow
must have a taste for bad company before he can be led a great ways
out of the right track. The first bad company a young fellow keeps is
himself. If he don't begin there, he won't begin anywhere else. Those
are my sentiments."
Mr. Clinch talked to me while I was preparing to go to the
station-house; and when I was ready I hastened to the place appointed.
I found Mr. Rockwood and both the Gracewoods there, with Lynch and
Blair in irons. They looked pitiable enough now. They had been arrested
at the very moment when they considered themselves entirely successful
in their wicked enterprise, and of course the shock of disaster was
very heavy.
"You are an old one, Phil Farringford," said Lynch, with a sickly
smile. "You have brought me to grief finally. If I can get out of this
scrape, I don't know but I should be willing to go to a prayer-meeting
with you."
"It would do you good," I replied. "Why were you so determined to rob
me, Lynch?"
"Because I thought you were a great deal fatter pullet than you turned
out to be. I heard you and that gentleman," he added, pointing to
Mr. Henry Gracewood, "talking pretty large about your money. As you
exhibited some of it, I was satisfied that you really had the gold, and
I thought it would do me more good than it would you. However, you were
so full of fight that I gave it up till you vexed me so here in the
city. After I had given you back your hundred dollars, I was determined
to be even with you. Then I followed, and made the acquaintance of my
good friend Morgan Blair."
"Yes; and I wish you had been at the bottom of the Mississippi before I
had ever seen you," blubbered Blair, his eyes filling with tears.
"After listening to that highly interesting story about the Rockwoods,
I decided that my friend Blair should be the last of the Rockwoods.
You were very obstinate, Phil; very. After that affair at the
station-house, I made the acquaintance of Mr. Gracewood. I supposed, at
first, that he was the one who had signed that note of yours, Phil. I
wanted the note then, but I soon found that I was mistaken. About the
same time I found the wounded man had a large sum of money upon him,
and I was more anxious to get this. I told Mr. Gracewood that I knew a
young man who had seen his brother, and then I got the whole story."
"What did you want of me?" I asked.
"That's the point; I wanted you, because you knew Mr. Gracewood's
brother. He would trust you, for you go to prayer-meetings. He told me
all about his brother; and I thought if I could get that note, he would
pay it; but that was to be Blair's perquisite--what he could get of it.
The sick man told me he had the care of his brother's property, and
would pay anything on his account that was right."
"But did you mean to have me help you steal the twenty-four thousand
dollars?" I demanded.
"That was what I wanted you for; and when we left you in the room, I
went down to see Mr. Gracewood. I intended to tell him, as a friend,
that it was not safe to keep such a sum in such a house. I meant to
advise him to send it to the bank by you."
"And then to rob me?"
"Well, you needn't call it by such a hard name; but you never would
have got out of the house with the money. I have played and lost, and
now I make the best of it. When you left the room, we heard you on
the roof; but I expected you back very soon, for I knew you could not
escape in that direction. I was humane too, for I was afraid you would
break your neck, and spoil all my plans; I placed the ladder at the
skylight, so that you could return without danger."
"Why did you send to my boarding-house for my money?"
"Simply to ascertain whether you were there. When you came back, I
sent a note down to Mr Gracewood, and thus brought you together. While
you were talking together, I went down into Mr. Gracewood's room, in
order to ascertain, if I could, where he kept the package of money. Of
course I did not suppose he had left it there; but, to my surprise, I
found it between the two beds. I took possession, and Blair and I left
then. I intended to be a hundred miles from St. Louis before daylight
the next morning. Instead of that, we were nabbed by this excellent
gentleman as soon as we stepped upon the sidewalk."
"I was watching you all the time," added the detective.
"And the game is up, and lost," said Lynch.
"A very stupid game it was, too."
"It may look so now; it did not then. It would not have been a hard job
to persuade a sick man in a gambling-house to send his money to the
bank for safe keeping."
"I don't think it would," said the invalid.
"Did you expect him to trust Phil at sight?" asked the detective.
"Not at all. Phil goes to prayer-meetings, and I thought he would be
willing to spend most of the time, from Saturday night till Monday
morning, with the sick brother of his best friend. By Monday noon he
would have been willing to trust him with all he had in the world."
"I think he would," added Henry Gracewood.
"If he had sent me to the bank with the money, it would have gone
there," I said, confidently.
"Perhaps not," replied Lynch.
"There would have been a big fight, at any rate," I continued. "I would
not have given up the money while I had an arm left."
"Well, gentlemen, it is time to take the prisoners before the court,"
said Mr. Bogart.
They were taken to the court; Lynch pleaded guilty, and Blair, after
telling a pitiful story of the manner in which he had been led away,
put in the same plea. In due time the older villain was sentenced to
ten years' imprisonment, and the novice to one year. Mr. Gracewood
recovered his money, and I did mine. Thus the wretch who had been
persecuting me since he came on board the steamer on the Missouri to
the present time, was disposed of.
The brothers Gracewood remained at the hotel a week. The case of the
penitent was known to the public, and to his own family. Those who
loved him forgave him; and he could afford to be independent, in a
measure, of the opinions of others. His fortune was still ample for his
support in elegance and luxury, and his brother lost nothing by his
misdeeds.
Mr. Henry Gracewood paid me the fifteen hundred dollars, which, by the
kindness of Mr. Rockwood, became my property. It was deposited in three
savings banks. The health of Mrs. Gracewood was very much impaired by
her illness, and the most skilful physician in the city recommended
a change of climate, advising her to live in the south of France
during the winter. This was a heavy blow to me, for I had counted upon
the society of the Gracewoods, especially of Ella. The season was
advancing, and the family were obliged to hasten away. With a heavy
heart I bade good by to them, and it was years before I saw them again.
I attended to my work diligently and faithfully, and gave entire
satisfaction to my employer. But I found that Plane and Plank was hard
work, and city life did not agree with me as well as that in the wilds
of the upper Missouri. Still, I was very happy, though I was troubled
with a longing desire to see my mother.
With the money restored to me after the arrest of the robbers, I
purchased a suit of nice black clothes for my father; and when he was
dressed in them, he looked like the new man that he was. He was paler
and thinner than when I had first seen him, but I was proud of his
appearance. Though not in robust health, he was able to enter at once
upon the duties of his position as the agent of Mr. Rockwood.
We continued to live at Mrs. Greenough's, who felt quite as much
interest in both of us as though we had been her nearest relatives. A
smaller room over the entry was fitted up for me, and my father took
my chamber. Here he kept his account-books, and did all his writing.
I suppose that he was often tempted to drink, but I am certain that
he never yielded. He always attended every service at the church.
Mrs. Greenough had both reformed and converted him, though I think my
presence had some influence with him.
I had work at my trade all winter; but my father insisted upon paying
my board as well as his own, and I saved nearly all my money. I went to
an evening school, and studied book-keeping. In fact I spent most of
my leisure hours in study. I reviewed my old branches. My father was
a very well educated man, and assisted me in my efforts to improve my
mind. He instructed me in the usages of business, and helped me with my
accounts.
In the spring, Mr. Lamar offered my father a much larger salary than
he was receiving; but his employer promptly doubled his present pay,
so well was he satisfied with his services. During the summer season,
besides taking charge of the rents and repairs of the tenements, he
built several new houses for Mr. Rockwood, which were leased to good
tenants. His position was, therefore, one of great responsibility, but
he was competent to fill it. He did his employer's business as though
it had been his own.
We were both doing exceedingly well, and were in the main contented and
happy, though I could not be entirely satisfied while my mother was
separated from us. I said so much about this subject, that my father
wrote to Mr. Collingsby, in Chicago, informing him that "the long-lost
son" had been found. No answer was received; and another letter was
written, which, however, produced no better result. Evidently Mr.
Collingsby did not believe the statements contained in the letters, and
he took no notice of them. Foiled in this manner, we were compelled to
drop the matter for the time.
I worked at my trade for two years; and at the end of that time,
although I was only fifteen, I did not think there was much more for
me to learn in that business. Probably I should have continued to work
at it, however, if Mr. Clinch had not abandoned his trade to go into
the lumber business in Michigan. I had learned book-keeping pretty
thoroughly, and I did not care to find a new place as a carpenter. I
was rather desirous of practising what I had learned on the subject of
accounts, and, with the advice of my father, I concluded to abandon,
for the present, the PLANE and PLANK.
LEE & SHEPARD'S
LIST OF
JUVENILE PUBLICATIONS.
OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.
Each Set In a neat Box with Illuminated Titles.
=Army and Navy Stories.= A Library for Young and
Old, in 6 volumes. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol. $1 50
The Soldier Boy. The Yankee Middy.
The Sailor Boy. Fighting Joe.
The Young Lieutenant. Brave Old Salt.
=Famous "Boat-Club" Series.= A Library for Young
People. Handsomely Illustrated. Six volumes, in neat
box. Per vol. 1 25
The Boat Club; or, The Bunkers of Rippleton.
All Aboard; or, Life on the Lake.
Now or Never; or, The Adventures of Bobby Bright.
Try Again; or, The Trials and Triumphs of Harry West.
Poor and Proud; or, The Fortunes of Katy Redburn.
Little by Little; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway.
=Lake Shore Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
In neat box. Per vol. 1 25
Through by Daylight; or, The Young Engineer of the
Lake Shore Railroad.
Lightning Express; or, The Rival Academies.
On Time; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.
Switch Off; or, The War of the Students.
Break Up; or, The Young Peacemakers.
Bear and Forbear; or, The Young Skipper of Lake
Ucayga.
=Yacht Club Series.= Uniform with the ever popular
"Boat Club" Series. Completed in six vols. Illustrated.
Per vol. 16mo 1 50
Little Bobtail; or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.
The Yacht Club; or, The Young Boat Builders.
Money Maker; or, The Victory of the Basilisk.
The Coming Wave; or, The Treasure of High Rock.
The Dorcas Club; or, Our Girls Afloat.
Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the Clubs.
=Onward and Upward Series, The.= Complete in six
volumes. Illustrated. In neat box. Per vol. 1 25
Field and Forest; or, The Fortunes of a Farmer.
Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic.
Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk.
Cringle and Cross-Tree; or, The Sea Swashes of a Sailor.
Bivouac and Battle; or, The Struggles of a Soldier.
Sea and Shore; or, The Tramps of a Traveller.
=Young America Abroad Series.= A Library of
Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. Illustrated
by Nast, Stevens, Perkins, and others. Per vol. 16mo 1 50
_First Series._
Outward Bound; or, Young America Afloat.
Shamrock and Thistle; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland.
Red Cross; or, Young America in England and Wales.
Dikes and Ditches; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium.
Palace and Cottage; or, Young America in France and Switzerland.
Down the Rhine; or, Young America in Germany.
_Second Series._
Up the Baltic; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia.
Cross and Crescent; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece.
Sunny Shores; or, Young America in Italy and Austria.
Vine and Olive; or, Young America in Spain and Portugal.
Isles of the Sea; or, Young America Homeward Bound.
=Riverdale Stories.= Twelve volumes. A New Edition.
Profusely Illustrated from neat designs by Billings. In neat box.
Per vol.
Little Merchant. Proud and Lazy.
Young Voyagers. Careless Kate.
Robinson Crusoe, Jr. Christmas Gift.
Dolly and I. The Picnic Party.
Uncle Ben. The Gold Thimble.
Birthday Party. The Do-Somethings.
=Riverdale Story Books.= Six volumes, in neat box
Cloth. Per vol.
Little Merchant Proud and Lazy.
Young Voyagers. Careless Kate.
Dolly and I. Robinson Crusoe. Jr.
=Flora Lee Story Books.= Six volumes in neat box.
Cloth. Per vol
Christmas Gift. The Picnic Party.
Uncle Ben. The Gold Thimble.
Birthday Party. The Do-Somethings.
=Great Western Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
Per vol. 1 50
Going West; or, The Perils of a Poor Boy.
Out West; or, Roughing it on the Great Lakes.
Lake Breezes.
=Our Boys' and Girls' Offering.= Containing Oliver
Optic's popular Story, Ocean Born; or, The Cruise of the
Clubs; Stories of the Seas, Tales of Wonder, Records
of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. Profusely
Illustrated. Covers printed in Colors. 8vo. 1 50
=Our Boys' and Girls' Souvenir.= Containing Oliver
Optic's Popular Story, Going West; or, The Perils of a
Poor Boy; Stories of the Sea, Tales of Wonder, Records
of Travel, &c. Edited by Oliver Optic. With numerous
full-page and letter-press Engravings. Covers
printed in Colors. 8vo. 1 50
=Soldier Boy Series, The.= Three volumes, in neat
box. Illustrated. Per vol. 1 50
The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army.
The Young Lieutenant; or, The Adventures of an Army Officer.
Fighting Joe; or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.
=Sailor Boy Series, The.= Three volumes in neat box.
Illustrated. Per vol. 1 50
The Sailor Boy; or, Jack Somers in the Navy.
The Yankee Middy; or, Adventures of a Naval Officer.
Brave Old Salt; or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.
=Starry Flag Series, The.= Six volumes. Illustrated.
Per vol. 1 25
The Starry Flag; or, The Young Fisherman of Cape Ann.
Breaking Away; or, The Fortunes of a Student.
Seek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart Boy.
Freaks of Fortune; or, Half Round the World.
Make or Break; or, The Rich Man's Daughter.
Down the River; or, Buck Bradford and the Tyrants.
=The Household Library.= 3 volumes. Illustrated.
Per volume 1 50
Living too Fast. In Doors and Out.
The Way of the World.
=Way of the World, The.= By William T. Adams (Oliver
Optic) 12mo 1 50
=Woodville Stories.= Uniform with Library for Young
People. Six volumes. Illustrated. Per vol. 16mo 1 25
Rich and Humble; or, The Mission of Bertha Grant.
In School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.
Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives.
Work and Win; or, Noddy Newman on a Cruise.
Hope and Have; or, Fanny Grant among the Indians.
Haste and Waste; or, The Young Pilot of Lake Champlain.
Transcriber's Note:
The punctuation and spelling are as printed in the original
publication with the exception of the following:
Page 33 oocasion is now occasion.
Page 63 transportion is now transportation.
Page 170 cheerfuly is now cheerfully.