American library books ยป Fiction ยป The Cash Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (good ebook reader .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•

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He gets very poor pay where he is.โ€

โ€œI wonโ€™t forget him,โ€ said John, carelessly.

In his heart he thought Thomas Bradley a very low, obtrusive fellow, whom he felt by no means inclined to assist, but it was cheap to make promises.

The reader understands now why Mrs. Bradley made a morning call at Gilbert & Mackโ€™s store.

She knew at what part of the counter her nephew was stationed, and made her way thither at once. He did not at first recognize her, until she said:

โ€œGood-morning, Thomas.โ€

โ€œGood-morning, aunt. What brings you here this morning? Any good news for me? Has the old gentleman come around and concluded to do something handsome?โ€

โ€œMr. Wharton is not in the city. He has gone to Washington. But that isnโ€™t what I came about this morning. You remember that boy who has been reading to Mr. Wharton?โ€

โ€œOne of our cash-boys. Yes; there he is, just gone by.โ€

โ€œWell, he has stolen Mr. Johnโ€™s pocketbook and some jewelry belonging to him.โ€

โ€œWhat have you done about it? What does Mr. Wharton say?โ€

โ€œHeโ€™s away from home. He doesnโ€™t know yet. Mr. John gave him a lecture, and ordered him to leave the house.โ€

โ€œDoes he admit that he took the things?โ€

โ€œNo; he denied it as bold as brass, but it didnโ€™t do him any good. There were the things in his trunk. He couldnโ€™t get over that.โ€

Thomas fastened a shrewd glance on his auntโ€™s face, for he suspected the truth.

โ€œSo youโ€™ve got rid of him?โ€ he said. โ€œWhat do you propose to do next?โ€

โ€œMr. John thinks your employer ought to know that he is a thief.โ€

โ€œAre you going to tell them?โ€

โ€œI want you to do it.โ€

โ€œYou must tell them yourself, aunt. I shanโ€™t.โ€

โ€œThen introduce me to Mr. Gilbert, Thomas, and Iโ€™ll do it.โ€

โ€œFollow me, aunt.โ€

He led his aunt to the rear of the store, where Mr. Gilbert was standing.

โ€œMr. Gilbert,โ€ he said, โ€œallow me to introduce my aunt, Mrs. Bradley.โ€

The housekeeper was courteously received, and invited to be seated. She soon opened her business, and blackened poor Frankโ€™s character as she had intended.

โ€œReally, Mrs. Bradley, I am sorry to hear this,โ€ said Mr. Gilbert. โ€œYou think there is no doubt of the boyโ€™s guilt?โ€

โ€œI am sorry to say that I have no doubt at all,โ€ said the housekeeper, hypocritically.

โ€œMr. Mack and myself have had a very good opinion of him. He is faithful and prompt.โ€

โ€œOf course, sir, you will retain him in your employ if you are willing to take the risk, but I thought it my duty to put you on your guard.โ€

โ€œI am obliged to you, Mrs. Bradley; though, as I said, I regret to find that my confidence in the boy has been misplaced.โ€

Late in the afternoon, Frank was called to the cashierโ€™s desk.

โ€œI am directed by Mr. Gilbert to say that your services will not be required after to-day,โ€ he said. โ€œHere are the weekโ€™s wages.โ€

โ€œWhy am I discharged? What have I done?โ€ demanded Frank, while his heart sank within him.

โ€œI donโ€™t know. You must ask Mr. Gilbert,โ€ answered the cashier.

โ€œI will speak to him, at any rate,โ€ and Frank walked up to the senior partner, and addressed to him the same question.

โ€œCan you not guess?โ€ asked Mr. Gilbert, sternly.

โ€œI can guess that a false accusation has been brought against me,โ€ said Frank.

โ€œA respectable lady has informed me that you are not honest. I regret it, for I have been pleased with your diligence. Of course, I cannot retain you in my employ.โ€

โ€œMr. Gilbert,โ€ said Frank, earnestly, โ€œthe charge is false. Mrs. Bradley is my enemy, and wishes me harm. I donโ€™t understand how the things came into my trunk, but I didnโ€™t put them there.โ€

โ€œI hope you are innocent, but I must discharge you. Business is dull now, and I had decided to part with four of my cash-boys. I wonโ€™t pass judgment upon you, but you must go.โ€

Frank bowed in silence, for he saw that further entreaty would be vain, and left the store more dispirited than at any moment since he had been in the city.

Ten days Frank spent in fruitless efforts to obtain a place.

All this time his money steadily diminished. He perceived that he would soon be penniless. Evidently, something must be done. He formed two determinations. The first was to write to Mr. Wharton, who, he thought, must now have returned from Washington, asserting his innocence and appealing to him to see Gilbert & Mack, and re-establish him in their confidence. The second was, since he could not obtain a regular place, to frequent the wharves and seek chances to carry bundles. In this way he might earn enough, with great economy, to pay for his board and lodging.

One morning the housekeeper entered the library where John Wade sat reading the daily papers.

โ€œMr. John,โ€ she said, holding out a letter, โ€œhere is a letter from that boy. I expected he would write to your uncle.โ€

John Wade deliberately opened the letter.

โ€œSit down, Mrs. Bradley, and I will read the letter aloud.โ€

It will be only necessary to quote the concluding sentences:

โ€œโ€˜I hope, Mr. Wharton, you will not be influenced against me by what Mrs. Bradley and your nephew say. I donโ€™t know why it is, but they are my enemies, though I have always treated them with respect. I am afraid they have a desire to injure me in your estimation. If they had not been, they would have been content with driving me from your house, without also slandering me to my employers, and inducing them to discharge me. Since I was discharged, I have tried very hard to get another place, but as I cannot bring a recommendation from Gilbert & Mack, I have everywhere been refused. I ask you, Mr. Wharton to consider my situation. Already my small supply of money is nearly gone, and I do not know how I am to pay my expenses. If it was any fault of mine that had brought me into this situation, I would not complain, but it seems hard to suffer when I am innocent.

โ€œโ€˜I do not ask to return to your house, Mr. Wharton, for it would not be

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