Robert Coverdale's Struggle; Or, on the Wave of Success

  CHAPTER VII

  THE NEXT MORNING

  Robert rose at six the next morning and half an hour later took hisbreakfast. It consisted of fish, bread and a cup of tea, and though mostof my young readers might not be satisfied with it--especially as therewas no butter--Robert thought himself lucky to be so well provided for.

  When his breakfast was finished he rose from the table.

  "Now I'm off, Aunt Jane," he said.

  "Where are you going, Robert?"

  "I'll earn some money if I can. We've got a little, but it won't lastlong."

  "It won't be very easy to find work, I am afraid."

  "I shall be ready for anything that turns up, aunt. Something turned upyesterday when I didn't expect it."

  "That's true."

  Just then the fisherman was heard to stir in the adjoining room, andRobert, not wishing to be near when he awakened, hastily left the cabinto avoid a repetition of the scene of the previous night.

  Mrs. Trafton breathed a sigh of relief when her nephew was fairly out ofthe way.

  About an hour later her husband rose and without needing to dress--forhe had thrown himself on the bed in his ordinary clothes--walked intothe room where his wife was at work.

  "Where's Robert?" he asked.

  "He had his breakfast and went out."

  "How long ago?"

  "About an hour ago."

  John Trafton scowled with disappointment.

  "Is he round about home?"

  "I don't think he is."

  "Did he say where he was going?"

  "He said he would try to find a job."

  "Why didn't you keep him? Didn't you know I wanted to see him?"

  "You didn't ask me to keep him," said Mrs. Trafton nervously.

  "I see how it is," said the fisherman; "you're in league with him."

  "What do you mean by that, John?"

  "You know well enough what I mean. You don't want him to give me thatmoney."

  Mrs. Trafton plucked up courage enough to say: "You ought not to ask forit, John."

  "Why shouldn't I ask for it?" he demanded, pounding forcibly on thetable.

  "Because he means to spend it for things we need and you want it tospend at the tavern."

  "There you are again--always twitting me because, after exposing myselfto storm and the dangers of the sea, I take a little something to warmme up and make me comfortable."

  To hear John Trafton's tone one might think him a grievously injuredman.

  "For two years, John Trafton, you have spent three-fourths of yourearnings at the tavern," said his wife quietly. "You have left me tosuffer want and privation that you might indulge your appetite fordrink."

  "You seem to be alive still," he said with an ugly sneer. "You don'tseem to have starved."

  "I might have done so but for Robert. He has brought me fish and boughtgroceries with what little money he could earn in various ways."

  "Oh, it's Robert always!" sneered Trafton. "He is an angel, is he? He'sonly done his duty. Haven't I given him the shelter of my roof?"

  "You haven't given him much else," retorted his wife.

  "I've heard enough of that; now shut up," said the fisherman roughly."What have you got for breakfast?"

  Mrs. Trafton pointed to the table, on which, while her husband had beenspeaking, she had placed his breakfast.

  "Humph!" said he discontentedly, "that's a pretty poor breakfast!"

  "It is the best I can give you," said his wife coldly.

  "I don't care for tea. I'd as soon drink slops."

  "What do you prefer?"

  "I prefer coffee."

  "I have none in the house. If you will bring me home some from thestore, I will make you a cup every morning, but I don't think you wouldlike it without milk."

  "Do you think I am made of money? How do you expect me to buy coffee?"

  "With the money you would otherwise spend for drink."

  "Stop that, will you?" said Trafton angrily. "I'm tired of it."

  A moment later he said in a milder tone:

  "When I get that money of Robert's I will buy a pound of coffee."

  Mrs. Trafton said nothing.

  "Do you know where he has hidden it?" asked her husband after drinking acup of the tea which he had so decried.

  "No."

  "Didn't he tell you where he was going to put it?"

  "No."

  "You are sure he didn't give it to you to keep?"

  "I am very glad he didn't."

  "Why are you glad?"

  "Because you would have teased me till you got it."

  "And I'll have it yet, Mrs. Trafton--do you hear that?" said thefisherman fiercely.

  "Yes, I hear you."

  "You may as well make up your mind that I am in earnest. What! am I tobe defied by a weak woman and a half-grown boy? You don't know me, Mrs.T."

  "I do know you only too well, Mr. Trafton. It was an unlucky day when Imarried you."

  "Humph! There may be two sides to that story. Well, I'm going."

  "Where are you going? Shall you go out in the boat this morning?"

  "Oh, you expect me to spend all my time working for my support, do you?No, I am not going out in the boat. I am going to the village."

  "To the tavern, I suppose?"

  "And suppose I am going to the tavern," repeated the fisherman in adefiant tone, "have you got anything to say against it?"

  "I have a great deal to say, but it won't do any good."

  "That's where you are right."

  John Trafton left the cabin, but he did not immediately take the road tothe village.

  First of all he thought he would look round a little and see if he couldnot discover the hiding place of the little sum which his nephew hadconcealed.

  He walked about the cabin in various directions, examining carefully tosee if anywhere the ground had been disturbed.

  In one or two places he thought he detected signs of disturbance, and,bending over, scooped up the loose dirt, but, fortunately for our hero,he was on a false scent and discovered nothing.

  He was not a very patient man, and the fresh disappointment--for hishopes had been raised in each case--made him still more angry.

  "The young rascal!" he muttered. "He deserves to be flogged for givingme so much trouble."

  From the window of the cabin Mrs. Trafton saw what her husband was aboutand she was very much afraid he would succeed. She could nothelp--painful as it was--regarding with contempt a man who would stoopto such pitiful means to obtain money to gratify his diseased appetite.

  "If I thought my wife knew where this money is I'd have it out of her,"muttered the fisherman with a dark look at the cabin, "but likely theboy didn't tell her. I'll have to have some dealings with him shortly.He shall learn that he cannot defy me."

  John Trafton, giving up the search, took his way to the village, and, asa matter of course, started directly for the tavern.

  He entered the barroom and called for a drink.

  Mr. Jones did not show his usual alacrity in waiting upon him.

  "Trafton," said he, "where is that dollar you promised to pay me thismorning?"

  "Haven't got it," answered the fisherman, rather embarrassed. "I'llbring it to-morrow morning."

  "Then to-morrow morning you may call for a drink."

  "You ain't going back on me, Mr. Jones?" asked John Trafton in alarm.

  "You are going back on me, as I look at it. You promised to bring me adollar and you haven't done it."

  "I'll tell you how it is, Mr. Jones. My nephew, Robert, has the money,but he was gone when I woke up this morning. I shall see him to-nightand give you the money."

  "You needn't wait till then. I saw Robert pass here only half an hourago. He's somewhere in the village. Find him and get the money and thenI'll talk with you."

  There was no appeal from this decision and Trafton, angry and sullen,left the tavern to look for Robert.