THE BEST BOOKS SERIES ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK By HORATIO ALGER, Jr. AUTHOR OF BEN'S NUGGET, CHESTER RAND, CHARLIE CODMAN'S CRUISE, FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, HELPING HIMSELF, THE STORE BOY, THE TIN BOX, ETC. THE NEW WERNER COMPANY BOOK MANUFACTURERS AKRON OHIO BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Horatio Alger, Jr., the author of about seventy books, was born January 13th, 1834, at Revere, Massachusetts, and died July 18th, 1899, at Natick, Massachusetts. He was the son of a clergyman; was graduated at Harvard College, now Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1852, and from its Divinity School in 1860, and was pastor of the Unitarian Church at Brewster, Massachusetts, from 1862 to 1866. He removed to New York City in 1866, where he wrote his first book for boys, _Ragged Dick_, which had a wonderful sale. This was followed by _Fame and Fortune_, and many others, of which the best-known titles are: _Andy Grant's Pluck, Adrift in New York, Ben's Nugget, Charlie Codman's Cruise, Chester Rand, Five Hundred Dollars, Grit, Helping Himself, The Young Adventurer, The Young Explorer, The Young Miner, The Young Musician, The Store Boy, The Tin Box, Walter Sherwood's Probation, and Work and Win_. Mr. Alger's stories are pure in tone, inspiring in influence, and are as popular now as when they were first published, because they were written about real boys who did honest things successfully. Millions of his books have been sold since they were first published. _The World's Work_ of June, 1910, said they were then selling at the rate of over one million copies a year. This estimate is low; it is a fact that they are now selling at the rate of over two million copies a year. ANDY GRANT'S PLUCK. CHAPTER I. THE TELEGRAM. "A telegram for you, Andy!" said Arthur Bacon, as he entered the room of Andy Grant in Penhurst Academy. "A telegram!" repeated Andy, in vague alarm, for the word suggested something urgent--probably bad news of some kind. He tore open the envelope and read the few words of the message: "Come home at once. Something has happened. "MOTHER." "What can it be?" thought Andy, perplexed. "At any rate, mother is well, for she sent the telegram." "What is it?" asked Arthur. "I don't know. You can read the telegram for yourself." "Must you go home?" asked Arthur, in a tone of regret. "Yes. When is there a train?" "At three this afternoon." "I will take it. I must go and see Dr. Crabb." "But won't you come back again?" "I don't know. I am all in the dark. I think something must have happened to my father." Dr. Crabb was at his desk in his library--it was Saturday afternoon, and school was not in session--when Andy knocked at the door. "Come in!" said the doctor, in a deep voice. Andy opened the door and entered. Dr. Crabb smiled, for Andy was his favorite pupil. "Come in, Grant!" he said. "What can I do for you?" "Give me permission to go home. I have just had a telegram. I will show it to you."