CHAPTER III
HARRY DISAGREES WITH HIS GUARDIAN
Harry and his guardian met at the dinner table. Mrs. Fox had provideda boiled dinner, to which Harry was ready to do justice.
Mr. Fox seemed unusually pleasant.
"I find, Harry," he said, clearing his throat, "that you have alreadybeen distinguishing yourself."
"Then you heard of the narrow escape of the train?" said Harry.
"Yes, I heard that but for your presence of mind, and Mrs. Brock'stablecloth, there would have been a smash-up."
"What on earth are you talkin' about, John Fox?" demanded his wife,curiously.
"Well, you see, Maria, the rain of last night washed away part of therailroad track, and the train would have been plunged into a gully ifour young boarder here hadn't seen the danger, and, borrowin' atablecloth from Mrs. Brock, signaled the train."
"You don't say?"
"That isn't all," resumed John Fox. "The passengers took up acontribution, and I expect gave quite a handsome sum to our youngfriend."
"How much did the folks give you?" asked Joel eagerly.
"I've got fifteen dollars left," he replied. "I gave some money toMrs. Brock for the use of the tablecloth."
John Fox looked disappointed and disgusted.
"You don't mean to say," he ejaculated, sharply, "that you gave awayalmost half of your money for the use of an old tablecloth that wouldbe dear at a dollar?"
"If I hadn't had the tablecloth, I couldn't have attracted theengineer's attention," said Harry, mildly.
There was a little more conversation on the subject, but Harryremained tranquil, and did not appear disturbed by the criticismselicited by his conduct. He heartily hoped that his guardian's familywould not find out how large a sum he had received.
When dinner was over, Harry was about to leave the house, when JohnFox said, insinuatingly: "Don't you think you'd better give me thatmoney to keep for you? It will be safer in my hands."
"Thank you, Mr. Fox," said Harry, "but I think I can take care of itmyself."
"Fifteen dollars is a good deal of money for a boy like you to carryround with you," said his guardian.
"I don't think I shall lose it, sir," replied the boy.
"Perhaps not, but you will be tempted to spend it wastefully."
John Fox didn't look amiable. He was in doubt whether he might notproperly take from his ward the money by force, but it occurred to himthat it would be better not to assert his authority quite so soon.
"We will speak of this again," he said.
"It is well I didn't bring all the money home. I wonder how soonMr. Fox will make another attempt to secure the sum I have with me,"thought Harry.
The attempt was made that same night.
Harry was afraid he would be expected to occupy the same room withJoel, in which case he could hope for no privacy, and would be unableto conceal his money, which he had little doubt his guardian intendedto secure, either by fair means or foul. It chanced, however, thatJoel slept in a small bedroom opening out of his parents' chamber. SoHarry was assigned an attic room, in the end of the house, the sidessloping down to the eaves. It was inferior to the chambers on thesecond floor, but our hero was not disposed to complain. He valuedsolitude more than superior finish.
Harry's suspicion was roused by the circumstance that his guardian didnot again refer to his money, nor did he manifest any disappointmentat his ward's declining to intrust him with it.
During the evening, Joel brought out a backgammon board, and proposedto Harry to play. If there would have been anything to read Harrywould have preferred entertaining himself in that way, but Mr. Foxdidn't appear to be literary. There were a few books in the house, butthey were not of an attractive character.
Partly in backgammon, partly in conversation with the son and heir ofthe Foxes, the time passed till half-past eight o'clock.
"Joel, you can go to bed," said his mother. "It is half-past eight."
Joel yawned, and interposed no objection.
"You may as well go, too, Harry," said Mrs. Fox.
"I am ready to go to bed," said Harry.
In fact, he felt rather sleepy, and anticipated little pleasure insitting up in the far from exciting company of Mr. and Mrs. Fox.
"Joel!" said his mother, "take this candle and show Harry upstairs inthe attic chamber."
"Yes, mam."
So, preceded by Joel, Harry went up two flights of stairs to the atticroom reserved for him. It was the only room that had been finishedoff, and the garret outside looked dark and forbidding.
"I would be scared to sleep up here," said his companion.
"I shall not be at all frightened, Joel," said Harry.
"Good-night. Just hold the candle while I go downstairs."
When he was fairly all alone, Harry began to look about him, toascertain in what kind of quarters he was to pass the night. To beginwith he examined the door, he ascertained that it was a common latchdoor, and there was no lock. There was nothing to prevent anyoneentering the room during the night. There was a small cot bed in onecorner, a chair, and an old wooden chest. There was no bureau norwashstand. The absence of the latter annoyed Harry.
He learned afterward that he was expected to go downstairs and wash ina large basin in the kitchen sink--wiping his face on a brown, rolltowel which was used by the entire family. This was quiteunsatisfactory to Harry, who was scrupulously neat in his tastes.
"This isn't a palace exactly," Harry said to himself.
Then came the thought, "What was he to do with his money?"
Now, it so happened that Harry was the possessor of twopocketbooks--one--shabby, and well worn, which he had failed to throwaway on buying another just before he left home. In connection withthis, a scheme for outwitting Mr. Fox came into his mind. He folded upa fragment of newspaper, and put it into the old pocketbook, bulgingit out till it looked well filled, and this he left in the pocket ofhis pantaloons.
"Now to hide the other," said he to himself.
He looked about the room seeking for some place of concealment.Finally he noticed in one portion of the floor a square board, whichlooked as if it might be lifted. He stooped over and succeeded inraising it. The space beneath was about a foot in depth--the lowerlevel being the lathing and plastering of the room below.
"That will do," said Harry, in a tone of satisfaction. "I don't thinkMr. Fox will find my money here," and dropping the pocketbook into thecavity he replaced the square board. Then he went to bed and awaitedresults.
When Harry had gone up to his bed, Mr. and Mrs. Fox naturally began tocompare notes respecting him.
"That new boy rides a high horse," said Mrs. Fox, grimly. "Are yougoing to allow it?"
"Certainly not."
"He wouldn't give up his money to you, though you are his guardeen."
"Very true, but I mean to have it all the same. I shall go up to hisbedroom after he is asleep, and then it will be the easiest thing inthe world to take the pocketbook without his knowin' anything aboutit."
"He'll know it in the mornin'."
"Let him! Possession is nine p'ints of the law, Mrs. Fox."
"He might say you stole it."
"He can't do that, for I'm his guardeen, don't you see?"
A little after ten Mr. Fox, considering that Harry must be soundasleep, decided to make him a visit. He removed his shoes, and in hisstocking feet, candle in hand, began to ascend the narrow and steepstaircase which led to the attic.
"Shall I go with you, John?" queried his helpmeet.
"No, I guess I can manage alone."
His wife wanted to share in the excitement of the night visit. Therewas something alluring in the thought of creeping upstairs, andremoving by stealth, the pocketbook of the new inmate of their home.
Left to himself, Mr. Fox pursued his way up the attic stairs. Theycreaked a little under his weight, and, much to his annoyance, when hereached the landing at the top he coughed.
"I hope the boy won't
hear me," he said to himself.
He paused an instant, then softly opened the door of Harry's chamber.
All seemed satisfactory. Our hero was lying quietly in bed, apparentlyin a peaceful sleep. Ordinarily he would have been fast asleep by thistime, but the expectation of a visit from his guardian had kept himawake beyond his usual time. He had heard Mr. Fox cough, and so, evenbefore the door opened, he had warning of the visit.
Harry was not a nervous boy, and had such command of himself, that,even when Mr. Fox bent over, and, by the light of the candle, examinedhis face, he never stirred nor winked, though he very much wanted tolaugh.
"All is safe! The boy is sound asleep," whispered Mr. Fox to himself.
He set the candle on the floor, and then taking up Harry's pantaloons,thrust his hand into the pocket.
The very first pocket contained the pocketbook which our hero had putthere. Mr. Fox would have opened and examined the contents on thespot, but he heard a cough from the bed, and, quickly put thepocketbook into his own pocket, apprehending that his ward might wakeup, and taking up the candle, noiselessly withdrew from the chamber.
After he had fairly gone, Harry had a quiet laugh to himself.
Mr. Fox returned in triumph to his own chamber, where his wife wasanxiously waiting for him.
"Have you got it, Mr. F.," she asked, eagerly.
"Got it? Why shouldn't I get it?"
"Well, open it, and let us see what it contains."
This Mr. Fox proceeded to do. But no sooner did his glance rest on itscontents than his lower jaw fell, and his eyes opened wide inperplexity.
"Well, what are you staring at like a fool?" demanded his wife, whowas not so situated that she could see the contents of the pocketbook.
"Look at this, Mrs. F.," said her husband, in a hollow voice. "There'sno money here--only this piece of newspaper."
"Well, well, of all the fools I ever saw you are about the moststupid!" ejaculated Mrs. Fox. "What you undertake you generally carrythrough, do you? After all the fuss you've brought down a pocketbookstuffed with waste paper."
"I don't understand it," said Fox, his face assuming a look ofperplexity. "Surely the boy told the truth when he said he had fifteendollars."
"Of course! Joel saw the money--a roll of bills, and saw him take themout of his pocketbook. He must have taken them out. Did you search allhis pockets?"
"No; when I found the pocketbook I thought I was all right."
"Just like a man!" retorted Mrs. Fox. "I'll go up myself, and see if Ican't manage better than you."
"Then you'd better take this wallet, and put it back in his pocket."
"Give it to me, then."
With a firm step Mrs. Fox took the candle, and took her turn in goingup the attic stairs.