Rupert's Ambition. Alger Horatio Jr.
boy," said the lawyer, "I must ask your pardon for doubting you even for a moment. This good lady, too, ought to apologize to you."
The old lady sniffed contemptuously.
"I never apologize to boys," she said.
"Then, madam, take care you don't do them injustice," said the lawyer gravely.
"I am old enough to manage my own affairs," cried the old lady, with asperity.
"You are certainly old enough, but–"
"Don't you speak to me again, sir."
The lawyer smiled, and crossing the car sat down at Rupert's side.
"My boy," he said, "you came near getting into a scrape because you did not know how much the purse contained. Suppose you count the money now."
Rupert took out the purse and followed this friendly advice. To his gratification and surprise he found a ten-dollar gold piece and two dollars and a half in silver.
His face expressed the joy he felt.
"That is a godsend," he said. "Do you think Mr. Sylvester knew about the gold?"
"I have no doubt of it. He is a very kind-hearted and generous man. You may keep the money without hesitation."
The time soon came when Rupert was to leave the Elevated train. He hurried home with joyful heart, feeling that he was carrying good news. When he entered the little room he found his mother again in an attitude of despondency.
"What is the matter, mother?" he asked.
"I don't know what we shall do, Rupert," she said. "I went round to Mr. Jacob Grubb's clothing store this afternoon for more work, and he said business was so dull he would not have any more work for a month."
"Then you can take a vacation, mother," said Rupert, lightly.
"But how shall we live in that case, Rupert? You are out of work."
"Mother, don't worry. I have made more to-day than in any week when I had regular work. First, here is a basketful of provisions," and he removed the cover from the basket, displaying the contents. "Have you had supper yet?"
"No."
"Then suppose you make some tea, and we will have a nice supper."
"You didn't buy those provisions, Rupert?"
"No, they were given me by a new friend. But that isn't all. What do you say to this?" and he emptied the purse on the table.
"Truly you have been fortunate," said Mrs. Rollins, with new cheerfulness. "It has come in good time, too, for our rent will fall due on Saturday."
"Then, mother, you had better take this money, and take care of it till it is wanted."
Just as Mrs. Rollins was placing the purse in a bureau drawer Mrs. Marlow, who lived on the floor below, opened the door and entered the room without knocking.
"Excuse my comin' in without knockin'," she said. "I didn't think."
Mrs. Marlow was in the habit of moving about in a noiseless, stealthy way, and was not a favorite with Rupert or his mother. They felt that there was something suspicious and underhanded about her.
"What can I do for you, Mrs. Marlow?" asked Mrs. Rollins, civilly.
"I'm all out of matches. Can you give me a few?"
"Certainly."
Mrs. Marlow took the matches, but did not go. She sank into a chair and grew social.
"And how is the times affectin' you, Mrs. Rollins?" she asked.
"Rupert is out of employment. All he has to depend upon are odd jobs."
Mrs. Marlow darted a curious glance at the bureau drawer in which her neighbor had deposited the purse.
"It don't make so much difference as long as a body has got money to fall back upon," she said.
"That is not my condition."
"I'm sorry for it. I surmised you might have money ahead. You're better off than I am, for I have no boy to work for me."
"If I am better off than anybody," said Mrs. Rollins, with a faint smile, "I suppose I ought not to complain."
"My! What a nice lot of provisions!" exclaimed Mrs. Marlow, espying for the first time the open basket. "Sure, you buy things by the quantity."
"That was a present to Rupert from a rich gentleman whose acquaintance he made."
"It's a nice thing to have rich friends. Rupert, would you mind tellin' the gentleman that you know a poor widder that would be thankful for his kind assistance?"
"I don't feel well enough acquainted with Mr. Sylvester for that," said Rupert, annoyed.
"Sure his name is Sylvester, is it? And where does he live?"
"In Harlem."
"And what's the street and number?"
"I should prefer not to tell you."
"Ah, it's selfish you are. You want to keep him to yourself."
"I don't expect to see him again."
"Then why do you mind tellin' me where he lives?"
"I don't want to annoy him."
Mrs. Marlow turned her attention to his mother.
"Would you mind givin' me a small bit of meat for my supper, you've got so much?" she said.
Her request was complied with, and she at length left the room.
"What a disagreeable woman!" exclaimed Rupert. "She was prying about all the time she was here."
"Yes. I don't enjoy her company much, but I can't order her out of the room."
They had a nice supper, which Mrs. Rollins and Grace enjoyed. Rupert sat down at the table, but confined himself to a cup of tea, having already supped at Mr. Sylvester's.
The next day he resumed his hunt for a place, knowing well that his good luck of the day previous would not take the place of regular employment. But in dull times searching for a place is discouraging work.
He was indeed offered a position in a drug store up town at three dollars a week, but there were two objections to accepting it. The small pay would not more than half defray the expenses of their little household, and, besides, the hours would be very long.
Resolving to leave no means untried, Rupert decided to remain out till five o'clock. Perhaps something might turn up for him at the last moment. He was walking in front of the Metropolitan Hotel when a boy hailed him in evident surprise.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Why shouldn't I be all right, George?" asked Rupert, in great surprise.
"I thought you had broken your leg."
"Who told you such nonsense?"
"There was a slip of paper brought to your mother early this afternoon, saying that you had been run over by a horse car, and had been carried into a drug store near Thirtieth Street."
Rupert was amazed.
"Who brought the paper?"
"A messenger boy."
"And I suppose my mother was very much frightened?"
"She went out directly, and took the car up to Thirtieth Street."
"What can it mean?"
"I don't know," said George Parker, shaking his head. "I am glad it isn't true."
"If anybody played this trick on purpose, I'd like to give him a good shaking."
"You'd better go home and let your mother know you are all right."
"I will."
CHAPTER V.
MRS. MARLOW'S SCHEME
Mrs. Marlow was of a covetous disposition, and not overburdened with principle. When she saw Mrs. Rollins drop a purse into her bureau drawer, she