CHAPTER XXX. THE YOUNG TREASURER
On the morning after receiving the letter from his father, Harry camedown to breakfast, but looked in vain for the professor. Supposing hewould be down directly, he sat down to the breakfast table. When he hadnearly finished eating, a boy employed about the hotel came to his side.
"That gentleman you're with is sick. He wants you to come to his room assoon as you are through breakfast."
Harry did not wait to finish, but got up from the table at once, andwent up to his employer's room.
"Are you sick, sir?" he inquired, anxiously.
The professor's face was flushed, and he was tossing about in bed.
"Yes," he answered. "I am afraid I am threatened with a fever."
"I hope not, sir."
"I am subject to fevers; but I hope I might not have another for sometime to come. I must have caught cold yesterday, and the result is, thatI am sick this morning."
"What can I do for you, sir?"
"I should like to have you go for the doctor. Inquire of the landlordwho is the best in the village."
"I will go at once."
On inquiry, our hero was informed that Dr. Parker was the most trustedphysician in the neighborhood, and he proceeded to his house at once.The doctor was, fortunately, still at home, and answered the summonsimmediately. He felt the sick man's pulse, asked him a variety ofquestions, and finally announced his opinion.
"You are about to have a fever," he said, "if, indeed, the fever has notalready set in."
"A serious fever, doctor?" asked the sick man, anxiously.
"I cannot yet determine."
"Do you think I shall be long sick?"
"That, also, is uncertain. I suppose you will be likely to be detainedhere a fortnight, at least."
"I wish I could go home."
"It would not be safe for you to travel, under present circumstances."
"If I were at home, I could be under my wife's care."
"Can't she come here?"
"She has three young children. It would be difficult for her to leavethem."
"Who is the boy that called at my house?"
"Harry Walton. He is my assistant--takes money at the door, and helps meother ways."
"Is he trustworthy?"
"I have always found him so."
"Why can't he, attend upon you?"
"I mean to retain him with me--that is, if he will stay. It will be dullwork for a boy of his age."
"You can obtain a nurse, besides, if needful."
"You had better engage one for me, as I cannot confine him here all thetime."
"I will do so. I know of one, skillful and experienced, who is just nowat leisure. I will send her round here this morning."
"What is her name?"
"Not a very romantic one--Betsy Chase."
"I suppose that doesn't prevent her being a good nurse," said theprofessor, smiling.
"Not at all."
Here Harry entered the room.
"Harry," said the professor, "the doctor tells me I am going to besick."
"I am very sorry, sir," said our hero, with an air of concern.
"I shall probably be detained here at least a fortnight. Are you willingto remain with me?"
"Certainly, sir. I should not think of leaving you, sick and alone, ifyou desired me to stay. I hope I can make myself useful to you."
"You can. I shall need you to do errands for me, and to sit with me apart of the time."
"I shall be very willing to do so, sir."
"You will probably find it dull."
"Not so dull as you will find it, sir. The time must seem very long toyou, lying on that bed."
"I suppose it will; but that can't be helped."
"A nurse will be here this afternoon," said the doctor.
"Until she comes, you will be in attendance here."
"Yes, sir."
"I will direct you what to do, and how often to administer themedicines. Can remember?"
"Yes, sir, I shall not forget."
Dr. Parker here gave Harry minute instructions, which need not berepeated, since they were altogether of a professional nature.
After the doctor was gone, Professor Henderson said:
"As soon as the nurse comes, I shall want you to ride over to thenext town, Carmansville, and countermand the notices for an exhibitionto-night. I shall not be able to give entertainments for some time tocome. Indeed, I am not sure but I must wait till next season."
"How shall I go over?" asked Harry.
"You may get a horse and buggy at the stable, and drive over there. IfI remember rightly, it is between little seven and eight miles. The roadis a little winding, but I think you won't lose your way."
"Oh, I'll find it," said Harry, confidently.
It was not till three o'clock that the nurse made her appearance, and itwas past three before Harry started on his way.
"You need not hurry home," said the professor. "In fact, you had bettertake supper at the hotel in Carmansville, as you probably could not verywell get back here till eight o'clock."
"Very well, sir," said Harry. "But shan't you need me?"
"No; Miss Chase will attend to me."
"Mrs. Chase, if you please," said the nurse. "I've been a widder fortwenty years."
"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Chase," said the sick man smiling.
"When my husband was alive, I never expected to go out nursin'; but I'vehad come to it."
"The doctor says you are a very skillful and experienced nurse."
"I'd ought to be. I've nussed people in almost all sorts of diseases,from measles to smallpox. You needn't be frightened, sir; I haven't hadany smallpox case lately. Isn't it most time to take your medicine?"
Harry left the room, and was soon on his way to Carmansville. Once hegot off the road, which was rather a perplexing one, but he soon foundit again. However, it was half past five before he reached the village,and nearly an hour later before he had done the errand which broughthim over. Finally, he came back to the tavern, and being by this timehungry, went in at once to the tavern, and being by this time hungry,went in at once to supper. He did full justice to the meal which was setbefore him. The day was cold, and his ride had stimulated his appetite.
When he sat down to the table he was alone; but a minute afterward asmall, dark-complexioned man, with heavy black whiskers, came in, andsat down beside him. He had a heavy look, and a forbidding expression;but our hero was too busy to take particular notice of him till thelatter commenced a conversation.
"It's a pretty cold day," he remarked.
"Very cold," said Harry. "I am dreading my ride back to Pentland."
"Are you going to Pentland to-night?" asked the stranger, with interest.
"Yes, sir."
"Do you live over there?"
"No; I am there for a short time only," Harry replied.
"Business?"
"Yes."
"You seem rather young to be in business," said the stranger.
"Oh," said Harry, smiling, "I am in the employ of Professor Henderson,the ventriloquist. I suppose it is hardly proper to say that I am inbusiness."
"Professor Henderson! Why, he is going to give an entertainment hereto-night, isn't he?"
"He was; but I have come over to countermand the notice."
"What is that for?"
"He is taken sick at Pentland, and won't be able to come."
"Oh, that's it. Well, I'm sorry, for I should like to have gone to hearhim. So you are his assistant, are you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Can you perform tricks, too?"
"I don't assist him in that way. I take money at the door, and help himwith his apparatus."
"Have you been with him long?"
"Only a few weeks."
"So you are his treasurer, are you?" asked the stranger smiling.
"Ye--es," said Harry, slowly, for it brought to his mind that he hadone hundred and fifty dollars of the professor's money in his
pocket,besides the pocketbook containing his own. He intended to have left itwith his employer, but in the hurry of leaving he had forgotten to doso. Now he was about to take a long ride in the evening with this largesum of money about him.
"However," he said, reassuring himself, "there is nothing to be afraidof. Country people are not robbers. Burglars stay in the cities. I havenothing to fear."
Still he prudently resolved, if compelled to be out late again, to leavehis money at home.
He rose from table, followed by the stranger.
"Well," said the latter, "I must be going. How soon do you start?"
"In a few minutes."
"Well, good night."
"Good night."
"He seems inclined to be social," thought Harry, "but I don't fancy himmuch."