Produced by Gary Sandino, from a scanned UC library book
kindly provided by the Internet Archive (www.archive.org.)
If this is borrowed by a friend
Right welcome shall he be
To read, to study, not to lend
But to return to me.
Not that imparted knowledge doth
Diminish learning's store
But books I find if often lent
Return to me no more.
The
Erie Train Boy
HORATIO ALGER,
JR.
Copyright, 1891,
UNITED STATES BOOK COMPANY
(All Rights Reserved)
The Erie Train Boy
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER. PAGE.
I. On the Erie Road 5
II. A Fair Exchange 11
III. Fred's Rich Relation 14
IV. Zebulon Mack 20
V. An Adventure on the Train 24
VI. Mr. Bascomb's Peril 30
VII. Ferdinand Morris 85
VIII. Mr. Bascomb's sad Plight 41
IX. A Long Trip 46
X. What Took Place in No. 21 51
XI. Fred Falls under a Terrible Suspicion 56
XII. Fred is a Prisoner 62
XIII. The Hotel Clerk's Mistake 67
XIV. The Missing Valise 73
XV. Mr. Palmer Walks into a Trap 78
XVI. Palmer's Malice 83
XVII. Two Young Lady Passengers at Odds 88
XVIII. Unsatisfactory Relations 94
XIX. Ruth Patton Calls on Mr. Ferguson 99
XX. A Friend in Need 104
XXI. Luella's Painful Discovery 109
XXII. Miss Ferguson Writes a Note 115
XXIII. Another Railroad Adventure 126
XXIV. Fred's Good Luck 125
XXV. Rose Wainwright's Party 131
XXVI. Fred Becomes a Newspaper Hero 136
XXVII. A Confidential Mission 141
XXVIII. St. Victor 146
XXIX. Fred Takes the First Step 154
XXX. A Hunting Excursion 157
XXXI. Fred has an Understanding with Sinclair 163
XXXII. Finding a Clue 168
XXXIII. Success 173
XXXIV. Bowman's Panic 179
XXXV. Fred's Reward 185
XXXVI. A Letter from Tom Sloan 190
XXXVII. Cousin Ferguson 193
XXXVIII. Conclusion 197
THE ERIE TRAIN BOY
CHAPTER I.
ON THE ERIE ROAD.
"Papers, magazines, all the popular novels! Can't I sell you something
this morning?"
Joshua Bascom turned as the train boy addressed him, and revealed an
honest, sunburned face, lighted up with pleasurable excitement, for he
was a farmer's son and was making his first visit to the city of New
York.
"I ain't much on story readin'," he said, "I tried to read a story book
once, but I couldn't seem to get interested in it."
"What was the name of it?" asked Fred, the train boy, smiling.
"It was the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' or some such name. It had pictures
into it. Aunt Nancy give it to dad for a birthday present once."
"I have heard of it."
"It was a mighty queer book. I couldn't make head nor tail on't."
"All books are not like that."
"I don't feel like readin'. It's a nuff sight more interestin' lookin'
out of the winder at the sights.
"I'm going to York to spend a week," added Joshua, with an air of
importance.
"That's where I live," said the train boy.
"Do you? Then you might tell me where to put up. I've got ten dollars.
I reckon that ought to keep me a week."
Fred smiled.
"That is more than enough to keep me," he said, "but it costs a
stranger considerable to go around. But I shall have to go my rounds."
It was a train on the Erie road, and the car had just passed
Middletown. Joshua was sitting by the window, and the seat beside him
was vacant. The train boy had scarcely left the car when a stylishly
dressed young man, who had been sitting behind, came forward and
accosted Joshua.
"Is this seat engaged?" he asked.
"Not as I know of," answered the young farmer.
"Then with your permission I will take it," said the stranger.
"Why of course; I hain't no objection. He's dreadful polite!" thought
Joshua.
"You are from the country, I presume?" said the newcomer as he sank
into the seat.
"Yes, I be. I live up Elmira way--town of Barton. Was you ever in
Barton?"
"I have passed through it. I suppose you are engaged in agricultural
pursuits?"
"Hey?"
"You are a farmer, I take it."
"Yes; I work on dad's farm. He owns a hundred and seventy-five acres,
and me and a hired man help him to carry it on. I tell you we have to
work."
"Just so! And now you are taking a vacation?"
"Yes. I've come to see the sights of York."
"I think you will enjoy your visit. Ahem! the mayor of New York is my
uncle."
"You don't say?" ejaculated Joshua, awestruck.
"Yes! My name is Ferdinand Morris."
"Glad to know you, Mr. Morris. My name is Joshua Bascom."
"Indeed! An aunt of mine married a Bascom. Perhaps we are related."
Joshua was quite elated at the thought that he might in some way be
related to the mayor of New York without knowing it, and he resolved to
expatiate on that subject when he went back to Barton. He decided that
his new acquaintance must be rich, for he was dressed in showy style
and had a violet in his buttonhole.
"Be you in business, Mr Morris?" he asked.
"Well, ahem! I am afraid that I am rather an idler. My father left me a
quarter of a million, and so I don't feel the need of working."
"Quarter of a million!" ejaculated Joshua. "Why, that's two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars."
"Just so," said Morris, smiling.
"That's an awful pile of money! Why, dad's been workin' all his life,
and he isn't wuth more'n three thousand dollars at the outside."
"I am afraid three thousand dollars wouldn't last me a very long time,"
said Morris, with an amused smile.
"Gosh! Where can anybody get such a pile of money? That's what beats
me!"
"Business, my young friend, business! Why I've made that amount of
money in one day."
"You don't say!"
"Yes, by speculating in Wall Street."
"You must be smart!"
"My teachers didn't seem to think so. But life in the city is very
different from life in the country."
"I wish I could make some money."
"A man must have money to make money. If now you had a little money----"
"I've got ten dollars to pay my expenses."
"Is that all?"
"No; I've got fifteen dollars to buy a shawl and dress for marm, and
some shirts for dad. He thought he'd like some boughten shirts. The
last marm made for him didn't fit very well."
"You must take good care of your money, Mr. Bascom. I regret to say
that we have a great many pickpockets in New York."
"So I've heerd. That's what Jim Duffy told me. He went to York last
spring. But I guess Jim was keerless or he wouldn't have been robbed.
It would take a smart pickpocket to rob me."
"Then you keep your money in a safe place?"
"Yes, I keep my wallet in my breeches pocket;" and Joshua slapped the
right leg of his trousers in a well satisfied way.
"You are right! I see you are a man of the world. You are a sharp one."
Joshua laughed gleefully. He felt pleased at the compliment.
"Yes," he chuckled, "I ain't easy taken in, I tell you, ef I was born
in the woods."
"It is easy to see that. You can take care of yourself."
"So I can."
"That comes of being a Bascom. I am glad to know that we are related.
You must call on me in New York."
"Where do you live?"
"At the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Just ask for Ferdinand Morris. They all
know me there."
"Is that a good place to stop?"
"Yes, if you've got money enough. I pay five dollars a day for my
board, and some extras carry it up to fifty dollars a week."
"Gosh all hemlock!" ejaculated Joshua, "I don't want to pay no more'n
five dollars a week."
"You can perhaps find a cheap boarding-house for that sum--with plain
board, of course."
"That's what I'm used to. I'm willin' to get along without pie."
"You like pie, then?"
"We ginerally have it on the table at every meal, but I can wait till I
get home."
"I will see what I can do for you. In fact, all you've got to do is to
buy a morning paper, and pick out a boarding-house where the price will
suit you. You must come and dine with me some day at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel."
"Thank you! You're awful kind, but I'm afraid I ain't dressed up enough
for such a stylish place."
"Well, perhaps not, but I might lend you a suit to go to the table in.
We are about the same build."
"If you've got an extra suit----"
"An extra suit? Mr. Bascom, I have at least twenty extra suits."
"Gee-whillikens! What do you want with so many clothes?"
"I never wear the same suit two days in succession. But I must bid you
good morning, Mr. Bascom. I have a friend in the next car."
Morris rose, and Joshua, feeling much flattered with his polite
attentions, resumed his glances out of the window.
"Apples, oranges, bananas!" called the train boy, entering the car with
a basket of fruit.
"How much do you charge?" asked Joshua. "I feel kind of hungry, and I
haven't ate an orange for an age. Last time I bought one was at the
grocery up to hum."
"The large oranges are five cents apiece," said Fred. "I can give you
two small ones for the same price."
"I'll take two small ones. It seems a great deal of money, but I'm
traveling and that makes a difference."
"Here are two good ones!" said Fred, picking out a couple.
"All right! I'll take 'em!"
Joshua Bascom thrust his hand into his pocket, and then a wild spasm
contracted his features. He explored it with growing excitement, and a
sickly pallor overspread his face.
"What's the matter?" asked Fred.
"I've been robbed. My wallet's gone!" groaned Joshua in a husky voice.