Helping Himself; Or, Grant Thornton's Ambition by Jr. Horatio Alger (no david read aloud .txt) ๐
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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โThe boy is a liar,โ exclaimed Ford, harshly.
โGet back into the bed, Herbert,โ said Miss Stone. โThis man shall not take you away.โ
โPerhaps you will tell me how you are going to help it,โ retorted Ford, with an evil smile.
โIf my brother were hereโ-โ
โBut your brother is not here, and if he were, I would not allow him to interfere between me and my cousin. Herbert, unless you continue dressing, I shall handle you roughly.โ
But sounds were heard upon the stairs, and Ford, as well as Miss Stone, turned their eyes to the door.
The first to enter was Abner.
โOh, it's you, is it?โ said Ford, contemptuously.
He had thought it might be Dr. Stone, whom he was less inclined to face than he professed.
โYes, it is. What are you doing here?โ
โIt is none of your business, you cub. He's got to come with me.โ
โMaybe you want me, too?โ
โI wouldn't take you as a gift.โ
โHo, ho,โ laughed Abner, โI reckon you'd find me a tough customer. You won't take bub, either.โ
โWho is to prevent me?โ
โI will!โ said a new voice, and Grant Thornton, who had fallen in with Abner outside, walked quietly into the room.
Willis Ford started back in dismay. Grant was the last person he expected to meet here. He had no idea that any one of the boy's home friends had tracked him this far. He felt that he was defeated, but he hated to acknowledge it.
โHow are you going to prevent me, you young whippersnapper?โ he said, glaring menacingly at Grant.
โMr. Willis Ford, unless you leave this room and this town at once,โ said Grant, firmly, โI will have you arrested. There is a local officer below whom I brought with me, suspecting your object in coming here.โ
โOh, Grant, how glad I am to see you! Is papa with you?โ exclaimed Herbert, overjoyed.
โI will tell you about it soon, Herbert.โ
โYou won't let him take me away?โ
โThere is no danger of that,โ said Grant, reassuringly. โI shall take you home to New York as soon as this good lady says you are well enough to go.โ
Ford stood gnawing his nether lip. If it had been Mr. Reynolds, he would not have minded so much; but for a mere boy, like Grant Thornton, to talk with such a calm air of superiority angered him.
โBoy,โ he said, โit sounds well for you to talk of arrestโyou who stole my aunt's bonds, and are indebted to her forbearance for not being at this moment in State's prison.โ
โYour malicious charge does not affect me, Mr. Ford,โ returned Grant. โIt was proved before you left New York that you were the thief, and even your stepmother must have admitted it. Mr. Reynolds discharged you from his employment, and this is the mean revenge you have takenโthe abduction of his only son.โ
โI will do you an injury yet, you impudent boy,โ said Ford, furiously.
โI shall be on my guard, Mr. Ford,โ answered Grant. โI believe you capable of it.โ
โDon't you think you had better leave us, sir?โ said Miss Stone.
โI shall take my own time about going,โ he answered, impudently.
But his words were heard by Dr. Stone, who had returned sooner than he anticipated, and was already at the door of the room. He was a powerful man, and of quick temper. His answer was to seize Ford by the collar and fling him downstairs.
โThis will teach you to be more polite to a lady,โ he said. โNow, what does all this mean, and who is this man?โ
The explanation was given.
โI wish I had been here before,โ said the doctor.
โYou were in good time,โ said Grant, smiling. โI see that Herbert has found powerful friends.โ
Willis Ford, angry and humiliated, picked himself up, but did not venture to return to the room he had left so ignominiously. Like most bullies, he was a coward, and he did not care to encounter the doctor again.
Within an hour, Grant telegraphed to the broker at his office: โI have found Herbert, and will start for New York with him to-morrow.โ Mr. Reynolds had only just returned from his fruitless Southern expedition, weary and dispirited. But he forgot all his fatigue when he read this message. โGod bless Grant Thornton!โ he ejaculated.
CHAPTER XXXIX โ THE HOUSEKEEPER'S RETRIBUTION
The train from Chicago had just reached the Grand Central Depot. From the parlor car descended two boys who are well known to us, Grant Thornton and Herbert Reynolds.
Herbert breathed a sigh of satisfaction.
โOh, Grant,โ he said, โhow glad I am to see New York once more! I wonder if papa knows we are to come by this train?โ
The answer came speedily.
The broker, who had just espied them, hurried forward, and his lost boy was lifted to his embrace.
โThank God, I have recovered you, my dear son,โ he exclaimed, fervently.
โYou must thank Grant, too, papa,โ said the little boy. โIt was he who found me and prevented Mr. Ford stealing me again.โ
Mr. Reynolds grasped Grant's hand and pressed it warmly.
โI shall know how to express my gratitude to Grant in due time,โ he said.
On their way home Grant revealed to Mr. Reynolds for the first time the treachery of the housekeeper, who had suppressed Herbert's letter to his father, and left the latter to mourn for his son when she might have relieved him of the burden of sorrow.
As Mr. Reynolds listened, his face became stern.
โThat woman is a viper!โ he said. โIn my house she has enjoyed every comfort and every consideration, and in return she has dealt me this foul blow. She will have cause to regret it.โ
When they entered the house Mrs. Estabrook received them with false smiles.
โSo you are back again, Master Herbert,โ she said. โA fine fright you gave us!โ
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