Transcriber’s Notes: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. * * * * * Adventures of a Telegraph Boy * * * * * [Illustration: “FORTY DOLLARS!” EXCLAIMED OLD JERRY. “I’M IN LUCK FOR ONCE.”] Adventures of a Telegraph Boy OR “Number 91” By Horatio Alger, Jr. Author of “Tom Tracy,” “Ned Newton,” “Walter Griffith,” etc. [Illustration] New York and Boston H. M. Caldwell Company Publishers * * * * * _Copyright, 1889_ BY FRANK H. LOVELL & CO. _Copyright, 1900_ BY STREET & SMITH Adventures of a Telegraph Boy * * * * * ADVENTURES OF A NEW YORK TELEGRAPH BOY. CHAPTER I. PAUL, THE TELEGRAPH BOY. On Broadway, not far from the St. Nicholas Hotel, is an office of the American District Telegraph. Let us enter. A part of the office is railed off, within which the superintendent has a desk, and receives orders for boys to be sent to different parts of the city. On benches in the back part of the office are sitting perhaps a dozen boys varying in age from fifteen to eighteen, clad in the well known blue uniform prescribed by the company. Each wears a cap on which may be read the initials of the company, with the boy’s number. At the end of the benches sat a stout, well made boy, apparently sixteen years of age. He had a warm, expressive face, and would generally be considered good looking. On his cap we read this inscription: A. D. T. 91. Some of the boys were smaller, two or three larger than Number 91. But among them all, he was the most attractive in appearance. The boys sat on the benches in patience waiting for a call from the superintendent. They were usually selected in turn, but sometimes the fitness of a particular boy for the errand required was taken into consideration. “Number 87!” called the superintendent. A small boy of fifteen, but not looking over thirteen, left his seat and advanced to the desk. “No, I don’t think you’ll do,” said the superintendent “There’s a man at the New England Hotel who wants a boy to go down with him to the Cortlandt Street Ferry, and carry his valise. A larger boy will be required.” He glanced at the boys in waiting and called: “Number 91!” The boy of whom we have spoken rose with alacrity, and stepped up to the desk. He had been sitting on the bench for an hour, and was glad of an opportunity to go out on an errand. The superintendent wrote on a card the name “D. L. Meacham, New England Hotel,” and handed it to the boy. “Go at once to the New England Hotel, and call for that gentleman,” he said. “If he is not in, wait for him.” “Yes, sir.”