Walter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
Read book online ยซWalter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐ยป. Author - Jr. Horatio Alger
โWell, what do you mean to do?โ asked Ranney, doggedly.
โTo capture you, Dick Ranney, and hand you over to the law which you have so persistently violated.โ
โThat you will never do,โ said Ranney, and he dashed toward the window, thrusting Manning to one side.
But what he saw increased his dismay. The ladder had been removed, and if he would leave the room he must leap to the ground, a distance of over twenty feet.
โConfusion!โ he exclaimed. โThe ladder is gone!โ
โYes, I directed the stable-boy to keep awake and remove it,โ explained Manning.
โI may be taken, but I will be revenged first,โ shouted Dick Ranney, and he flung himself on Manning, who, unprepared for the sudden attack, sank to the floor, with Ranney on top. But the outlaw's triumph was short-lived. Walter sprang to Manning's rescue, seized the revolver, and, aiming it at the burglar, cried quickly:
โGet up, or I'll fire!โ
Dick Ranney rose sullenly. He paid Walter the compliment of believing he meant what he said.
โIt's your turn, boy,โ he muttered.
โStay where you are!โ ordered Walter, and he walked slowly backward, still covering the robber with the revolver, till he reached the door opening into the entry.
Dick Ranney watched him closely, and did not offer any opposition, for it occurred to him that the opening of the door would afford him a better chance for flight.
No sooner, therefore, was the door open than he prepared to avail himself of the opportunity, running the risk of a bullet wound, when his plans were frustrated by the entrance of two village constablesโstrong, sturdy men.
โDick Ranney, do you surrender?โ asked Walter, in a clear, resolute tone.
Ranney looked slowly from one to the other and calculated the chances. The ladder was gone and he found himself facing four foes, three of them strong men, some of them armed.
โIt's all up with me!โ he said quietly. โI surrender.โ
โYou do wisely,โ remarked Manning. โNow, will you restore my wallet?โ
The outlaw took it out of his pocket and handed it over.
โThere it is,โ he said. โI suppose you won't me to pay interest for the use of the money.โ
The two constables advanced, and one of them took out a pair of handcuffs.
โHold out your hands!โ he said.
The burglar did so. He saw that opposition would not benefit him, and he yielded to the inevitable with a good grace.
โIt seems I walked into a trap,โ he said. โIf you don't mind telling me, were you expecting me?โ
โYes,โ answered Walter.
โDid the boy betray me?โ he asked quickly.
โNo; the boy suspected nothing wrong, but his questions excited suspicion.โ
โDick Ranney,โ said the outlaw, apostrophizing himself, โyou're a fool! I should like to kick you!โ
โI think you were imprudent, Mr. Ranney,โ said Manning,
โIt was this revolver that undid me,โ said Ranney. โI wanted to recover it, for it was given me by my old captain. It was never out of my possession till that boy snatched it from me. I suppose it was to be,โ and he sighed, comforted, perhaps, by the thought that it would have been useless to struggle against fate.
CHAPTER XXVII WALTER BECOMES A CAPITALIST
Professor Robinson slumbered on, blissfully unconscious of the events that had made the night an exciting one. When he came downstairs early in the morning he strayed accidentally into the room where Dick Ranney was confined under guard. Being short-sighted, he did not see the captive until Ranney hailed him.
โGood morning, professor!โ
The professor skipped nimbly back and gazed at the prisoner in alarm.
โYou here?โ he exclaimed.
โYes,โ answered Dick, grimly.
โBut how did it happen?โ
โI came to the hotel a little after midnight to make you a call, but went first to the room of your assistant.โ
โWhat, after midnight?โ
โYes. It is hardly necessary to explain what happened. Here I am!โ
โAh, my friend,โ said the professor, โthis may be fortunate for you, if it leads you to consider and reflect upon the errors of your life.โ
โOh, stow that!โ exclaimed Ranney, in disgust. โI'm not that kind of a man. I follow my own course and take the consequences.โ
The professor shook his head sadly and went out. Later, when he heard what had happened, he said to Walter: โIf that man had come into my room at midnight I should have died of fright.โ
โThere was no occasion to be alarmed,โ returned Walter, โWe were prepared for him.โ
โIโI am afraid I was never cut out for a hero,โ said the professor. โMy nervous system is easily upset.โ
The plain truth was that Professor Robinson was a born coward, though he was stronger and more muscular, probably, than Grant, Sherman or Sheridan. But it is not brawn and muscle that make a hero, but the spirit that animates the man, and of this spirit the professor had very little. Yet in after years when he had retired from business and was at leisure to live over again his past life, he used to tell with thrilling effect how he and Walter had trapped and captured the daring outlaw, Dick Ranney, and received admiring compliments upon his courage and prowess, which he complacently accepted, though he knew how little he deserved them.
It so chanced that Stilwell was the county seat and court was in session at that time, and nearly ready to wind up its business. It was owing to this circumstance that the trial of Dick Ranney was held at once. By request Walter and the professor remained to bear testimony against the prisoner, and Manning also strengthened the case against him. Within less than a week the trial was concluded, a verdict of guilty was brought in, and the prisoner sentenced to a ten years' term of imprisonment.
Dick Ranney heard the sentence with philosophical calmness.
โMy good friend,โ said the professor, โI trust that in your long years of confinement you will reflect uponโโ
โDon't worry about that,โ interrupted Dick. โI sha'n't be
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