American library books ยป Fiction ยป Walter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซWalter Sherwood's Probation by Jr. Horatio Alger (good romance books to read txt) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   Jr. Horatio Alger



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professor when you are on your feet.โ€

โ€œYou want to be a professor some time, Gates, don't you?โ€

โ€œYes,โ€ answered his chum, his face flushing, โ€œI should be proud to become a professor in old Euclid.โ€

โ€œIt would be awfully slow, I think,โ€ returned Walter, stifling a yawn.

โ€œWhat then, is your ambition?โ€

โ€œI want to go out among men. I want to take an active part in the world.โ€

โ€œYou will have to work harder than you do in college, then.โ€

โ€œI suppose I shall. But I am young, Gates. I am only seventeen.โ€

โ€œAnd I am nineteen, and look twenty-one.โ€

โ€œAll the better! The older you look the better, If you are going to be a college instructor. I would have to wait a long time if I wanted to, even if I were a good deal wiser than I am now. I am so young, in short, that I can afford to have a good time.โ€

โ€œIt seems to me that is all you think of, Sherwood.โ€

โ€œOh, well, I'll reform in time and become a sober old duffer like you,โ€ and Walter Sherwood laughed carelessly.

โ€œI hope, at any rate, that you will change your views of life. You know what Longfellow says: 'Life is real! Life is earnest!'โ€

โ€œOh, yes, I know that by heart. But it's no use, Gates, you can't make an old man of me before my time. Will it disturb you if I play a tune or two on my violin?โ€

โ€œWell, to tell the truth, it will. I want to get my Greek lesson, and you had better do the same.โ€

โ€œNo, I will read a novel, and you can read over the Greek to me when you have dug it out.โ€

โ€œI will if you wish, but I am afraid I am spoiling you by doing your studying for you.โ€

โ€œRemember, I was out late last night.โ€

โ€œYou have something almost every evening, Walter.โ€

โ€œOh, well, I'll turn over a new leaf next term.โ€

โ€œWhy not begin now?โ€

โ€œIf you knew how stupid I feel you wouldn't ask.โ€

Walter stretched himself out on a comfortable lounge, and took up a new novel which he had partially read, while Gates spread the big Greek lexicon on the study-table, and opening his Aristophanes, began slowly and laboriously to translate it into English.

Fifteen minutes passed when a knock was heard at the door.

โ€œCome in!โ€ called out Walter.

He looked up eagerly, hoping the visitor might prove to be one of his jovial comrades of the night before. But he did not look so well pleased when, as the door opened, he caught sight of the pudgy figure and shrewd face of Elijah Daniels, the proprietor of the Euclid Hotel.

โ€œGood morning, Mr. Daniels.โ€ he said, rather apprehensively. โ€œSo you have found me out.โ€

โ€œNo, I have found you in,โ€ returned the landlord, with a smile. โ€œI hope I don't intrude upon, your studies, young gentlemen.โ€

โ€œWell, I am taking a little rest from my labors,โ€ said Walter.

โ€œYou were up rather late last evening, Mr. Sherwood.โ€

โ€œThat's a fact, and you gave us a first-class supper, Daniels. You did yourself proud.โ€

โ€œI did my best, Mr. Sherwood, and I am glad you were satisfied.โ€

โ€œAll the fellows praised the supper.โ€

โ€œThat's good. I know what you young gentlemen like, and I get it, no matter what it costs. I don't make much on the suppers I give the college boys, but of course I like to please them.โ€

โ€œYour price is quite reasonable, I think.โ€

โ€œI am glad you do. I have brought in the bill for last night's entertainment, and if you can let me have the money, I shall be glad.โ€

โ€œWell, the fact is, Daniels, I haven't got the money by me this morning.โ€

The landlord's countenance changed.

โ€œI like prompt pay,โ€ he said. โ€œIt is a good deal of trouble, and, as I said, there isn't much money to be made.โ€

โ€œThat's all right. You won't have to wait long.โ€

โ€œHow long, Mr. Sherwood?โ€

โ€œI expect a check for a hundred dollars from my guardian to-day. I wrote three days since, for I knew you wouldn't like to wait.โ€

โ€œA hundred dollars!โ€ repeated the landlord, feeling a little easier in mind.

โ€œYes.โ€

โ€œPerhaps your guardian may object to sending it.โ€

โ€œOh, no! He's a nice old fellow, Doctor Mack is. He is very indulgent.โ€

โ€œWhat name did you mention?

โ€œDoctor Mack. Ezekiel Mack.โ€

โ€œIndeed! Why, we had a gentleman stopping at the hotel last night of that name.โ€

โ€œWhat!โ€ ejaculated Walter, in astonishment. โ€œDo you mean to tell me that Doctor Mackโ€”my guardianโ€”was at the hotel last night? It can't be. He would have called on me.โ€

โ€œIt may not have been the same man. Now I come to think of it, he didn't put himself down on the book Doctor Mack. He just put himself down E. Mack. He seemed a plain sort of man.โ€

โ€œWhere did he register from?โ€ asked Walter eagerly.

โ€œFrom Albany.โ€

โ€œIs he at the hotel now?โ€

โ€œHe went away by the morning train.โ€

โ€œThen it couldn't have been he,โ€ said Walter, in a tone of relief. โ€œHe doesn't live in Albany. Besides, he would have called on me. No, it must have been some other Mack.โ€

โ€œPerhaps you wouldn't have liked to have him catch you at a gay supper, Mr. Sherwood?โ€ said the landlord shrewdly.

โ€œWell, no, I'd a little rather receive him in my room, with a book open before me.โ€

โ€œHe might object to pay out money for such doings.โ€

โ€œHe won't know anything about it. Just leave your bill, Mr. Daniels, and as soon as I get the check I'll call round and pay it.โ€

โ€œThere's another bill, too, a livery bill. I brought that along, too.โ€

โ€œHow much is it?โ€ asked

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