Hector's Inheritance, Or, the Boys of Smith Institute by Jr. Horatio Alger (short novels to read .txt) 📕

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HECTOR'S INHERITANCE *** Produced by Carrie Fellman, and David Widger

HECTOR’S INHERITANCE
OR
THE BOYS OF SMITH INSTITUTE

By Horatio Alger, Jr.

Author of “Eric Train Boy” “Young Acrobat,” “Only an Irish Boy,” “Bound to Rise,” “The Young Outlaw,” “Driven from Home” etc.

NEW YORK

CONTENTS

HECTOR’S INHERITANCE.

CHAPTER I.   MR. ROSCOE RECEIVES TWO LETTERS

CHAPTER II.   RESENTING AN INSULT

CHAPTER III.   HECTOR LEARNS A SECRET

CHAPTER IV.   A SKIRMISH

CHAPTER V.   PREPARING TO LEAVE HOME

CHAPTER VI.   SMITH INSTITUTE

CHAPTER VII.   THE TYRANT OF THE PLAYGROUND

CHAPTER XIII.   IN THE SCHOOLROOM

CHAPTER IX.   THE CLASS IN VIRGIL

CHAPTER X.   DINNER AT SMITH INSTITUTE

CHAPTER XI.   HECTOR RECEIVES A SUMMONS

CHAPTER XII.   THE IMPENDING CONFLICT

CHAPTER XIII.   WHO SHALL BE VICTOR?

CHAPTER XIV.   SOCRATES CALLS HECTOR TO ACCOUNT

CHAPTER XV.   THE USHER CONFIDES IN HECTOR

CHAPTER XVI.   TOSSED IN A BLANKET

CHAPTER XVII.   JIM SMITH’S REVENGE

CHAPTER XVIII.   THE MISSING WALLET IS FOUND

CHAPTER XIX.   A DRAMATIC SCENE

CHAPTER XX.   HECTOR GAINS A VICTORY

CHAPTER XXI.   THE USHER IS DISCHARGED

CHAPTER XXII.   THE WELCOME LETTER

CHAPTER XXIII.   ANOTHER CHANCE FOR THE USHER

CHAPTER XXIV.   THE YOUNG DETECTIVES

CHAPTER XXV.   SMITH INSTITUTE GROWS UNPOPULAR

CHAPTER XXVI.   HECTOR’S ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK

CHAPTER XXVII.   LARRY DEANE

CHAPTER XXVIII.   TWO MORE ACQUAINTANCES

CHAPTER XXIX.   JIM SMITH EFFECTS A LOAN

CHAPTER XXX.   A BRAVE DEED

CHAPTER XXXI.   AN IMPORTANT LETTER

CHAPTER XXXII.   A WAYWARD YOUTH

CHAPTER XXXIII.   MR. ROSCOE MAKES A DISCOVERY

CHAPTER XXXIV.   FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SAN FRANCISCO

CHAPTER XXXV.   THE PRODIGAL

CHAPTER XXXVI.   HOW HECTOR SUCCEEDED IN SACRAMENTO

CHAPTER XXXVII.   A NARROW ESCAPE

CHAPTER XXXVIII.      CONCLUSION

HECTOR’S INHERITANCE.

CHAPTER I. MR. ROSCOE RECEIVES TWO LETTERS.

Mr. Roscoe rang the bell, and, in answer, a servant entered the library, where he sat before a large and commodious desk.

“Has the mail yet arrived?” he asked.

“Yes, sir; John has just come back from the village.”

“Go at once and bring me the letters and papers, if there are any.”

John bowed and withdrew.

Mr. Roscoe walked to the window, and looked thoughtfully out upon a smooth, luxuriant lawn and an avenue of magnificent trees, through which carriages were driven to what was popularly known as Castle Roscoe. Everything, even to the luxuriously appointed room in which he sat, indicated wealth and the ease which comes from affluence.

Mr. Roscoe looked around him with exultation.

“And all this may be mine,” he said to himself, “if I am only bold. What is it old Pindar says? ‘Boldness is the beginning of victory.’ I have forgotten nearly all I learned in school, but I remember that. There is some risk, perhaps, but not much, and I owe something to my son—”

He was interrupted by the entrance of the servant with a small leather bag, which was used to hold mail matter, going from or coming to the house.

The servant unlocked the bag, and emptied the contents on the desk. There were three or four papers and two letters. It was the last which attracted Mr. Roscoe’s attention.

We will take the liberty of looking over Mr. Roscoe’s shoulder as he reads the first. It ran as follows:

“DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt of your favor, asking my terms for boarding pupils. For pupils of fifteen or over, I charge five hundred dollars per year, which is not a large sum considering the exceptional advantages presented by Inglewood School. My pupils are from the best families, and enjoy a liberal table. Moreover, I employ competent teachers, and guarantee rapid progress, when the student is of good, natural capacity, and willing to work.

“I think you will agree with me that it is unwise to economize when the proper training of a youth is in question, and that a cheap school is little better than no school at all.

“I have only to add that I shall be most happy to receive your young nephew, if you decide to send him to me, and will take personal pains to promote his advancement. I remain, dear sir, your obedient servant,

“DIONYSIUS KADIX.”

Mr. Roscoe threw the letter down upon the desk with an impatient gesture.

“Five hundred dollars a year!” he exclaimed. “What can the man be thinking of? Why, when I went to school, twenty-five years since, less than half this sum was charged. The man is evidently rapacious. Let me see what this other letter says.”

The second letter was contained in a yellow envelope, of cheap texture, and was much more plebeian in appearance than the first.

Again we will look over Mr. Roscoe’s shoulder, and read what it contains. It was postmarked