CHAPTER XL.Conclusion.
Conclusion.
"I see you know me, Mr. Walton," said the Cuban, quietly. "I have a few words to say to you. Do you wish your son to listen?"
"Clarence, you may leave the office," said the merchant, in a husky voice.
Clarence, whose curiosity was aroused, was very unwilling to go.
"Sha'n't Ben go, too?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I beg pardon, but I wish him to remain," said the Cuban. "He is deeply concerned in what I have to say."
Clarence was still more curious. He left the office, but he lingered within ear-shot.
"Mr. Walton," said Novarro, "I am a man of few words, and will come to the point. As the guardian of this boy, and the friend of hisfather's friend, I have come to demand from you the fortune of which you deprived him."
"I don't know what you are talking about," said the merchant, trying to speak firmly.
"I beg your pardon, but you do. I call for the money you obtained for the securities which you took from the dead body of Dr. Baker, who died in your house of heart disease—a sum which you appropriated to your own use, leaving your sister and your sister's son poor and dependent."
"You must be crazy, sir. Where is the proof of your strange and unfounded charge?"
"I can produce the broker who sold these securities for you in the year 18—."
"It is easy to say this. May I know the name of this broker?" asked the merchant, making a feeble attempt to deny the charge.
"His name is John Goldsmith, and his office is No. —— Wall street," answered Novarro, promptly.
Nicholas Walton leaned back in his chair and seemed ready to faint, but uttered no word.
"Well, sir, your answer?"
"Can't we—compromise—this—thing?" asked Walton, feebly.
"No, sir; we will promise not to expose you, but it will be only upon condition that you pay principal and interest. The only favor we will extend is, that we will not demand compound interest."
"But it will ruin me! I cannot take so large a sum from my business."
"That I can understand.On behalfof my young ward and his mother, I will agree to accept half cash, and half in notes maturing at different dates, secured by your stock in trade. Do you consent, or shall we bring suit?"
"Can't you throw off the interest? That boy and his mother will be amply provided for by the principal."
"If you had received your nephew differently when he applied for help just now, we might have consented. Now it is out of the question."
Nicholas Walton was forced to make an unconditional surrender, and the terms were agreed to upon the spot.
"Ben," said Mr. Novarro, as they left the office, "I congratulate you. You are now rich."
"Thanks to you kind management, Mr. Novarro."
It is said that listeners never hear any good of themselves. Clarence was in a terrible panic when he heard the conference between his father and the Cuban. That his despised cousin Ben should become suddenly rich was a bitter pill to swallow. He sneaked out of the store, perturbed in mind.
"Now, Ben, I suppose you will want to carry the news to your mother," said the Cuban.
"That is what I was about to ask, Mr. Novarro."
"We will take the next train for Sunderland, preparing your mother by a telegram."
I do not propose to describe Ben's happy meeting with his mother. Mrs. Baker was grieved to hear of her brother's treachery, but it was a relief to her to think that he had nothing to do with her husband's death. As we know, he was directly responsible for it,but the knowledge of this was confined to his own breast. Even the Cuban never suspected what had brought on the attack that terminated the poor doctor's life.
"Now, Ben, what career do you select?" asked his guardian.
Ben took a week to consider. He then decided not to go into business, but to obtain a liberal education, and study law. He and his mother removed to Cambridge, where he completed his preparatory studies, and entered Harvard College. He is now a young lawyer, and has commenced the practice of his profession under flattering auspices.
Clarence Plantagenet, on the other hand, is a young man about town, and his father cannot induce him to enter upon any business. He has professed his willingness to become a broker, if his father will purchase him a seat at the Stock Board, but Mr. Walton wisely thinks it will be cheaper to give him a liberal income than give him the chance of squandering a fortune in stocks.
We must not forget the Beauforts. They removed to a fashionable locality, and purchasinga house, furnished it with elegance and taste. It is surprising how many people found them out in their days of prosperity who had ignored them before. Even Mrs. Tilton essayed to apologize for her outrageous treatment, and tried to ingratiate herself with Rose, but the latter treated her with such distant civility that she gave up the attempt. In less than a year Rose Beaufort became Mrs. Clinton Randall, and her star rose still higher.
There is one person who never will forgive her for her good fortune, and that is Miss Arethusa Jayne, who had strongly hoped to secure the hand of Clinton Randall for herself. No one would have been more amazed than Randall himself, for he was happily unconscious of Miss Jayne's admiration for him.
Ben has not forgotten his early friends. Hugh Manton, the reporter, by his help has secured an interest in a flourishing daily paper in an inland city, and is earning a liberal income.
Major Grafton is earning a precarious livingat European spas and gambling resorts, and is beginning to show the marks of age. Filippo Novarro has established himself as a permanent resident of the United States, and spends much of his time with Ben and his mother.
And now, with all our characters satisfactorily disposed of, the good rewarded, and the bad punished, we bid the reader farewell and ring down the curtain.
HORATIO ALGER, JR.
The enormous sales of the books of Horatio Alger, Jr., show the greatness of his popularity among the boys, and prove that he is one of their most favored writers. I am told that more than half a million copies altogether have been sold, and that all the large circulating libraries in the country have several complete sets, of which only two or three volumes are ever on the shelves at one time. If this is true, what thousands and thousands of boys have read and are reading Mr. Alger's books! His peculiar style of stories, often imitated but never equaled, have taken a hold upon the young people, and, despite their similarity, are eagerly read as soon as they appear.
Mr. Alger became famous with the publication of that undying book, "Ragged Dick, or Street Life in New York." It was his first book for young people, and its success was so great that he immediately devoted himself to that kind of writing. It was a new and fertile field for a writer then, and Mr. Alger's treatment of it at once caught the fancy of the boys. "Ragged Dick" first appeared in 1868, and ever since then it has been selling steadily, until now it is estimated that about 200,000 copies of the series have been sold.
—"Pleasant Hours for Boys and Girls."
A writer for boys should have an abundant sympathy with them. He should be able to enter into their plans, hopes, and aspirations. He should learn to look upon life as they do. Boys object to be written down to. A boy's heart opens to the man or writer who understands him.
—From "Writing Stories for Boys," by Horatio Alger, Jr.
RAGGED DICK SERIES.
6 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$6.00
Ragged Dick.Fame and Fortune.Mark the Match Boy.Rough and Ready.Ben the Luggage Boy.Rufus and Rose.
TATTERED TOM SERIES—First Series.
4 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$4.00
Tattered Tom.Paul the Peddler.Phil the Fiddler.Slow and Sure.
TATTERED TOM SERIES—Second Series.
4 vols. $4.00
Julius.The Young Outlaw.Sam's Chance.The Telegraph Boy.
CAMPAIGN SERIES.
3 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$3.00
Frank's Campaign.Charlie Codman's Cruise.Paul Prescott's Charge.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES—First Series.
4 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$4.00
Luck and Pluck.Sink or Swim.Strong and Steady.Strive and Succeed.
LUCK AND PLUCK SERIES—Second Series.
4 vols. $4.00
Try and Trust.Risen from the Ranks.Bound to Rise.Herbert Carter's Legacy.
BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES.
4 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$4.00
Brave and Bold.Jack's Ward.Shifting for Himself.Wait and Hope.
VICTORY SERIES.
3 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$3.00
Only an Irish Boy.Adrift in the City.Victor Vane, or the Young Secretary.
FRANK AND FEARLESS SERIES.
3 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$3.00
Frank Hunter's Peril.Frank and Fearless.The Young Salesman.
GOOD FORTUNE LIBRARY.
3 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$3.00
Walter Sherwood's Probation.A Boy's Fortune.The Young Bank Messenger.
HOW TO RISE LIBRARY.
3 vols.By Horatio Alger, Jr.$3.00
Jed, the Poorhouse Boy.Rupert's Ambition.Lester's Luck.
COMPLETE CATALOG OF BEST BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS MAILED ON APPLICATION TO THE PUBLISHERS
THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.PHILADELPHIA, PA.
A GOOD GIRL'S BOOK IS HARD TO FIND!
One often hears the above quoted.Thesebooks have stood the tests of time and careful mothers, and will be of the greatest interest to girls of all ages. Free from any unhealthy sensationalism, yet full of incident and romance, they are the cream of the best girls' books published. These volumes, each one well illustrated, carefully printed on excellent paper, substantially bound in cloth, 12mo.
WAYS AND MEANS LIBRARY.By Margaret Vandegrift. 4 vols.
$3.00
Queen's Body Guard.Rose Raymond's Wards.Doris and Theodora.Ways and Means.
STORIES FOR GIRLS.3 vols.
$2.25
Dr. Gilbert's Daughters.Marion Berkley.Hartwell Farm.
HONEST ENDEAVOR LIBRARY.By Lucy C. Lillie. 3 vols.
$2 25
The Family Dilemma.Allison's Adventures.Ruth Endicott's Way.
MILBROOK LIBRARY.By Lucy C. Lillie. 4 vols.
$3 00
Helen Glenn.The Squire's Daughter.Esther's Fortune.For Honor's Sake.
RECENT SUCCESSES
The following, though of recent date, have at once reached such a height of popularity that they can already be classified as standards. 75 cents each.
Lady Green Satin. By Baroness Deschesney.Marion Berkley. By Elizabeth B. Comins.Lenny, the Orphan. By Margaret Hosmer.Family Dilemma. By Lucy C. Lillie.Question of Honor. By Lynde Palmer.Girl's Ordeal. A. By Lucy C. Lillie.Elinor Belden; or The Step Brothers. By Lucy C. Lillie.Where Honor Leads. By Lynde Palmer.Under the Holly. By Margaret Hosmer.Two Bequests, The; or, Heavenward Led. By Jane R. Sommers.The Thistles of Mount Cedar. By Ursula Tannenforst.
$1.25
Catalogue sent on application to the Publisher
A Veritable "Arabian Nights" of Entertainment
Illustration in Catalogue
HURLBUT'SSTORY OF THEBIBLEtold forYOUNG AND OLDbyRev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, D.D.
THE BIBLE MADE FASCINATING TO CHILDREN.—The heroes and the noble men and women of the Bible are made to appear as living, acting people. The book is an original work, and in no sense an imitation. It has been in preparation for a number of years.
THE DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR.—Dr. Hurlbut has long been associated with, and director of, the Sunday School work of one of the largest denominations, and he has been more closely associated with the detail work of the Chautauqua movement than has any other man. He is also well-known as a writer.
REMARKABLE FOR THE BEAUTY AND NUMBER OF ITS ILLUSTRATIONS.—There are sixteen pictures in color prepared for this work by the distinguished artist, W. H. Margetson, and reproduced with the beauty and attractiveness of the artist's original work. There are alsonearly 300 half-toneengravings in this remarkable book, which is as original in the selection of its illustrations as it is in its stories.
WHAT OTHERS THINK OF IT
"It is a needed and original work. Not an imitation."—Christian Advocate, New York.
"Written in such a style as to fascinate and hold the interest of child or man."—Rev. F. E. Clark, Pres. Society of Christian Endeavor.
"It is a beautiful book. I hope every family in the land will secure 'Hurlbut's Story of the Bible.'"—General O. O. Howard.
"The best book of its kind, and that kind the most important."—Rev. James A. Worden, Presbyterian B'd. of Pub. and S. S. Work.
"I like very much the vocabulary you have used, and I can see how careful you have been in choosing understandable words."—Mr. Philip E. Howard,Sunday-School Times, Philadelphia.
"It is the completest and best thing of the kind I have seen. The book is splendidly illustrated."—Marian Lawrance, General Secretary, International Sunday-School Association.
"Many will be drawn to the Bible who otherwise might look upon it as only adapted for older people."—Hon. David J. Brewer, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
8vo, cloth. 750 pages. 16 color plates. 262 half-tone engravings. Net $1.50
The JOHN C. WINSTON CO.
THE RENOWNED STANDARD JUVENILES
BY EDWARD S. ELLIS
Edward S. Ellis is regarded as the later day Cooper. His books will always be read for the accurate pen pictures of pioneer life they portray.
LIST OF TITLES
DEERFOOT SERIES
Hunters of the Ozark.The Last War Trail.Camp in the Mountains.
LOG CABIN SERIES
Lost Trail.Footprints in the Forest.Camp Fire and Wigwam.
BOY PIONEER SERIES
Ned in the Block-House.Ned on the River.Ned in the Woods.
THE NORTHWEST SERIES
Two Boys in Wyoming.Cowmen and Rustlers.A Strange Craft and Its Wonderful Voyage.
BOONE AND KENTON SERIES
Shod with Silence.In the Days of the Pioneers.Phantom of the River.
WAR CHIEF SERIES
Red Eagle.Blazing Arrow.Iron Heart, War Chief of the Iroquois.
THE NEW DEERFOOT SERIES
Deerfoot in the Forest.Deerfoot on the Prairie.Deerfoot in the Mountains.
TRUE GRIT SERIES
Jim and Joe.Dorsey, the Young Inventor.Secret of Coffin Island.
GREAT AMERICAN SERIES
Teddy and Towser; or, Early Days in California.Up the Forked River.
COLONIAL SERIES
An American King.The Cromwell of Virginia.The Last Emperor of the Old Dominion.
FOREIGN ADVENTURE SERIES
Lost in the Forbidden Land.River and Jungle.The Hunt of the White Elephant.
PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE SERIES
The Forest Messengers.The Mountain Star.Queen of the Clouds.
ARIZONA SERIES
Off the Reservation; or, Caught in an Apache Raid.Trailing Geronimo; or, Campaigning with Crook.The Round-Up; or, Geronimo's Last Raid.
OTHER TITLES IN PREPARATION
PRICE $1.00 PER VOLUME Sold separately and in set
Complete Catalogue of Famous Alger Books, Celebrated Castlemon Books and Renowned Ellis Books mailed on application.
THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Transcriber's Note:A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants. All have been retained. This book also contains dialect and vernacular comversation.Obvious punctuation errors were fixed.Other printing errors, which were not detected during the revision of the printing process of the original book, have been corrected.These corrections are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections.The following provides the detail of those corrections:The expressionby curiositywas changed tomy curiosity.In the expressionsauntered out outoutwas removed once from the text.In his attempt to obtainedwas changed toIn his attempt to obtain.The expressionwas an expectwas changed towas an expert.The expressionfor work as a seamtresswas changed tofor work as a seamstress.I shall insist inwas changed toI shall insist on.The expressionhad preventedwas changed tohad prevented him.The expressionto have strong affectionswas changed toto have as strong affections.The expressionwas dumfounded by receivingwas changed towas dumbfounded by receiving.The expressionbut he dosen'twas changed tobut he doesn't.In behalf of my young wardwas changed toOn behalf of my young ward.
A number of words in this book have both hyphenated and non-hyphenated variants. All have been retained. This book also contains dialect and vernacular comversation.
Obvious punctuation errors were fixed.
Other printing errors, which were not detected during the revision of the printing process of the original book, have been corrected.
These corrections are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections.
The following provides the detail of those corrections:
The expressionby curiositywas changed tomy curiosity.
In the expressionsauntered out outoutwas removed once from the text.
In his attempt to obtainedwas changed toIn his attempt to obtain.
The expressionwas an expectwas changed towas an expert.
The expressionfor work as a seamtresswas changed tofor work as a seamstress.
I shall insist inwas changed toI shall insist on.
The expressionhad preventedwas changed tohad prevented him.
The expressionto have strong affectionswas changed toto have as strong affections.
The expressionwas dumfounded by receivingwas changed towas dumbfounded by receiving.
The expressionbut he dosen'twas changed tobut he doesn't.
In behalf of my young wardwas changed toOn behalf of my young ward.