Out for Business; or, Robert Frost's Strange CareerAlger, Horatio, Jr.
History
Out for Business; or, Robert Frost's Strange Career
Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Chicago (Ill.) -- History -- 19th century -- Juvenile fiction; Self-reliance -- Juvenile fiction; Stepfathers -- Juvenile fiction
The Germans had gone to bed early, and both were in the land of dreams
and snoring lustily when Jean Le Fevre and Hammerditch stole up to the
door of stateroom 45.
"This is the one," whispered the French Canadian. "I was lucky to get
the pincers, hey?"
"Hush, make no noise, the boy may be awake," said the Englishman,
warningly.
While Hammerditch stood on guard Le Fevre inserted a small pincers in
the key-hole of the door and managed to turn the key, which was stuck
in from the other side.
Then the Frenchman opened the door several inches.
"Ha! he is snoring loudly--he is fast asleep," he thought, not noticing
that two persons were in the stateroom instead of one, for the German
in the upper berth happened just then to be silent.
In the dim light the French Canadian made out a valise standing on the
floor and grabbed it hastily. Then he came away, shutting the door
behind him.
"I haf eet!" he whispered. "Come!" And he almost ran for the stateroom
assigned to him and Hammerditch. Once inside, the pair secured the door
and then turned up the light.
"It's a mighty rusty-looking bag," was the Englishman's comment. "Have
you got the key?"
"It ees in ze lock," answered La Fevre.
Soon the valise was opened, and out tumbled a few articles of dirty
underwear and a pair of embroidered slippers.
"I don't see any map!" exclaimed Hammerditch, in disgust.
"'Tis ze wrong bag!" groaned the French Canadian. "See, ze clothing is
too big for a boy, and so are ze slippers."
"You've made a mess of it," answered his companion. "Better take that
bag back or there'll be a jolly row all for nothing."
Much crestfallen, Le Fevre took the bag back. On his second visit he
saw both Germans, and he retreated even more speedily than he had on
his first trip to the stateroom.
"The cake is dough," announced Hammerditch. "But though we are foiled
this time, we must get that map away from the boy, no matter at what
cost."
CHAPTER XXX.
ANOTHER PLOT AGAINST ROBERT.
Robert enjoyed his sleep, and did not awaken until after the _Arrow_
had tied up at the dock in Muskegon. He was just finishing his toilet
when Mr. Porter opened his eyes.
"Ah, so you are ahead of me!" cried the hardware dealer, springing up.
"Have we arrived?"
"I believe we have," answered Robert.
"May I ask where you are bound?"
"For the depot. I am going to take a train for Timberville."
"I know the place and the route well. You cannot get a train for
Timberville until eleven o'clock. Here is a time-table." And selecting
one of several from his pocket, Mr. Porter passed it over.
A short examination showed Robert that his friend was right.
"It's a long wait," he said.
"It will give you time for breakfast and a chance to look around.
Supposing we dine together?"
"Thank you! that will suit me first-rate."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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