The Errand Boy; Or, How Phil Brent Won Success by Jr. Horatio Alger (bearly read books .txt) ๐
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- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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โWe are only at the beginning of our perplexities, Philip,โ said Mr. Carter. โYour friends may be near us, or they may be a hundred miles away.โ
โThat is true, sir.โ
โOne method of finding them is barred, that of advertising, since they undoubtedly do not care to be found, and an advertisement would only place them on their guard.โ
โWhat would you advise, sir?โ
โWe might employ a detective to watch the post-office, but here again there might be disappointment. Mrs. Brent might employ a third person to call for her letters. However, I have faith to believe that sooner or later we shall find her. Time and patience accomplishes much.โ
โWere you ever a detective, sir?โ asked Phil, smiling.
โNo, Philip, but I have had occasion to employ them. Now how would you like to go to the theater this evening?โ
โVery much, sir.โ
โThere is a good play running at McVicker's Theatre. We will go there.โ
โAnywhere will suit me, Mr. Carter.โ
โYoung people are easily satisfied,โ he said. โWhen they get older they get more fastidious. However, there is generally something attractive at McVicker's.โ
It so happened that Philip and his employer took a late dinner, and did not reach the theater till ten minutes after the hour. They had seats in the seventh row of orchestra chairs, a very eligible portion of the house.
The curtain had risen, and Philip's attention was given to the stage till the end of the first act. Then he began to look around him.
Suddenly he started and half rose from his seat.
โWhat is the matter, Philip?โ asked Mr. Carter.
โThere, sir! look there!โ said the boy, in excitement, pointing to two persons in the fourth row in front.
โDo you recognize acquaintances, Philip?โ
โIt is my step-mother and Jonas,โ answered Philip eagerly.
โIt is, indeed, wonderful!โ said Mr. Carter, sharing the boy's excitement. โYou are confident, are you?โ
โOh, sir, I couldn't be mistaken about that.โ
Just then Mrs. Brent turned to a gentleman at her side and spoke. It was Mr. Granville.
โWho is that gentleman?โ said Mr. Carter reflectively. โDo you think Mrs. Brent is married again?โ
โI don't know what to think!โ said Philip, bewildered.
โI will tell you what to do. You cannot allow these people to elude you. Go to the hotel, ask a direction to the nearest detective office, have a man detailed to come here directly, and let him find, if necessary, where your step-mother and her son are living.โ
Philip did so, and it was the close of the second act before he returned. With him was a small, quiet gentleman, of unpretending appearance, but skilled as a detective.
โNow,โ continued Mr. Carter, โyou may venture at any time to go forward and speak to your friendsโif they can be called such.โ
โI don't think they can, sir. I won't go till the last intermission.โ
Phil was forestalled, however. At the close of the fourth act Jonas happened to look back, and his glance fell upon Philip.
A scared, dismayed look was on his face as he clutched his mother's arm and whispered:
โMa, Philip is sitting just back of us.โ
Mrs. Brent's heart almost ceased to beat. She saw that the moment of exposure was probably at hand.
With pale face she whispered:
โHas he seen us?โ
โHe is looking right at us.โ
She had time to say no more. Philip left his seat, and coming forward, approached the seat of his step-mother.
โHow do you do, Mrs. Brent?โ he said.
She stared at him, but did not speak.
โHow are you, Jonas?โ continued our hero.
โMy name isn't Jonas,โ muttered the boy addressed.
Mr. Granville meanwhile had been eagerly looking at Philip. There appeared to be something in his appearance which riveted the attention of the beholder. Was it the voice of nature which spoke from the striking face of the boy?
โYou have made a mistake, boy,โ said Mrs. Brent, summoning all her nerve. โI am not the lady you mention, and this boy does not bear the name of Jonas.โ
โWhat is his name, then?โ demanded Philip.
โMy name is Philip Granville,โ answered Jonas quickly.
โIs it? Then it has changed suddenly,โ answered Phil, in a sarcastic voice. โSix months ago, when we were all living at Planktown, your name was Jonas Webb.โ
โYou must be a lunatic!โ said Mrs. Brent, with audacious falsehood.
โMy own name is Philip, as you very well know.โ
โYour name Philip?โ exclaimed Mr. Granville, with an excitement which he found it hard to control.
โYes, sir; the lady is my step-mother, and this boy is her son Jonas.โ
โAnd youโwhose son are you?โ gasped Mr. Granville.
โI don't know, sir. I was left at an early age at a hotel kept by this lady's husband, by my father, who never returned.โ
โThen YOU must be my son!โ said Mr. Granville. โYou and not this boy!โ
โYou, sir? Did you leave me?โ
โI left my son with Mr. Brent. This lady led me to believe that the boy at my side was my son.โ
Here, then, was a sudden and startling occurrence. Mrs. Brent fainted. The strain had been too much for her nerves, strong as they were. Of course she must be attended to.
โCome with me; I cannot lose sight of you now, MY SON!โ said Mr. Granville. โWhere are you staying?โ
โAt the Palmer House.โ
โSo am I. Will you be kind enough to order a carriage.โ
Mrs. Brent was conveyed to the hotel, and Jonas followed sullenly.
Of course Philip, Mr. Granville and Mr. Carter left the theater.
Later the last three held a conference in the parlor.
It took little to convince Mr. Granville that Philip was his son.
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