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Read book online ยซTry and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger (best e books to read .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Jr. Horatio Alger



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from the window, and for a moment he was apprehensive, but the train was fairly on the way.

โ€œStop! stop!โ€ vociferated Abner. โ€œStop, I say!โ€ for he had also caught sight of his bound boy on the way to freedom.

โ€œYou don't think they will stop the train for you, you fool!โ€ said a man standing by. โ€œYou ought to have come sooner if you wanted to go by this train.โ€

โ€œI don't want to go by it,โ€ said Abner.

โ€œWhat do you want, then?โ€

โ€œMy boy's run away, and I have just seen him aboard the train.โ€

โ€œOh, that's it, is it? Your son?โ€

โ€œNo, I hope not. It's a young rascal that's bound to me.โ€

โ€œIf he's a young rascal, I shouldn't think you'd want him back.โ€

Turning away, for he saw that he had failed, his glance rested on Ralph.

Instantly his anger rose.

โ€œIt's your doings,โ€ said he, shaking his fist in impotent wrath at the sturdy hunter, whom he would have attacked had he dared. โ€œIt's your fault, and you shall pay for it if there's law in the land.โ€

โ€œWhat will the law say to your attempt to shoot the boy?โ€ demanded Ralph, coolly.

Abner turned pale, and realized that his best course was to keep quiet about an affair which might seriously compromise himself.





CHAPTER XVII NEW ACQUAINTANCES

Herbert stopped overnight at Columbus.

The first train eastward left Columbus at seven o'clock in the morning. It was Herbert's intention to take this train, but unfortunately, as he thought at the time, the clock at the hotel by which his movements were guided was ten minutes too slow. The consequence was, that before he had quite reached the depot he saw the cars going out at the other end. He ran as fast as possible, hoping still to make up for lost time, but it was in vain.

โ€œYou're too late, youngster,โ€ said a porter, who had been assisting to stow away baggage. โ€œYou'll have to wait till the next train.โ€

โ€œWhen does the next train start?โ€ asked our hero.

โ€œTwelve o'clock.โ€

โ€œThen I shall have to wait till that time,โ€ Herbert concluded, with regret.

Yet, as he directly afterwards thought, it could make no particular difference, since he had no stated engagement to meet, and this consideration enabled him to bear the inevitable delay with a better grace.

โ€œI suppose,โ€ he reflected, โ€œI might as well go back to the hotel.โ€

He turned to leave the building when a carriage drove hastily up to the station. It was drawn by two horses, and driven by a negro in livery. A lady put her head out of the window and inquired anxiously if the train had started. She addressed this question to Herbert, who happened to be nearest.

โ€œYes, madam,โ€ he answered, respectfully.

โ€œI am so sorry,โ€ said the lady, in a tone of vexation and perplexity. โ€œIt was very important that my father should take that train.โ€

โ€œThere is another train that starts at twelve,โ€ said Herbert. โ€œIt will make a difference of a few hours only.โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ said the lady, โ€œbut you do not understand my difficulty. The few hours' difference in time would be of small importance, but my father is blind, and is, of course, for that reason, dependent upon the kindness of others. A gentleman of our acquaintance was going by this train, who would have taken charge of him and seen him safe to his destination. By losing the train we lose his services.โ€

โ€œMy dear,โ€ said an elderly gentleman, sitting on the opposite seat, โ€œif I can get somebody to see me on board, I think I can manage very well.โ€

โ€œOn no account, father,โ€ was the hasty reply, โ€œparticularly under present circumstances.โ€

โ€œWhere is the gentleman going?โ€ asked Herbert, with interest.

โ€œTo Philadelphia.โ€

โ€œI am going on to New York,โ€ said our hero. โ€œI have been disappointed like you. I expected to take the early train.โ€

โ€œDo you intend to go by the next train, then?โ€ asked the lady.

โ€œYes, madam.โ€

โ€œThen, perhapsโ€”I have a great mind to ask you to take charge of my father.โ€

โ€œI shall be very glad to be of service to you,โ€ said Herbert. โ€œThere is only one objection,โ€ he added, with some embarrassment.

โ€œWhat is that?โ€

โ€œWhy,โ€ said Herbert, frankly, โ€œI am obliged to be economical, and I was thinking of buying a second-class ticket.โ€

โ€œOh,โ€ said the lady, promptly, โ€œthere need be no difficulty about that. If you will take the trouble to look after my father, we will gladly pay for your ticket.โ€

โ€œI am afraid my services will not be worth so much,โ€ said Herbert, modestly.

โ€œYou must leave us to estimate them. If you do what you have undertaken, we shall consider the expense well incurred.โ€

Herbert made no further objection. He felt, indeed, that it would be quite a lift to him, in the present state of his finances, and besides would be a very easy way of earning the money. He therefore signified his thanks and his acceptance of the offer.

โ€œWhen did you say the train starts?โ€ asked the lady.

โ€œAt twelve.โ€

โ€œNearly five hours. That will be too long to wait. I think, father, we will go home.โ€

โ€œYes, my dear, I think that will be best.โ€

โ€œAre you obliged to go home before starting?โ€ the lady inquired, addressing Herbert.

โ€œNo, madam, I have no home in Columbus. I passed last night at a hotel.โ€

โ€œHave you any particular plan for spending the next few hours?โ€

Herbert answered in the negative.

โ€œThen will you not ride home with us? You will then be ready to start with my father.โ€

โ€œI shall be happy to do so.โ€

โ€œI think that will be much the best plan. Pompey, open the carriage door for the young gentleman.โ€

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