Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 54621-h.htm or 54621-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54621/54621-h/54621-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54621/54621-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/rupertsambition00alge RUPERT'S AMBITION by HORATIO ALGER, JR. Author of "Chester Rand," "Lester's Luck," "Ragged Dick Series," etc., etc. The John C. Winston Co. Philadelphia Chicago Toronto Copyright, 1899, by Henry T. Coates & Co. [Illustration: A DANGEROUS LUNATIC.] CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. RUPERT LOSES HIS PLACE, 1 II. OUT OF WORK, 11 III. IN A TIGHT PLACE, 22 IV. A FALSE REPORT, 32 V. MRS. MARLOW'S SCHEME, 42 VI. RUPERT AS A DETECTIVE, 52 VII. A LUCKY MEETING, 62 VIII. JULIAN LORIMER, 73 IX. RUPERT BECOMES A BELL-BOY, 83 X. A BELL-BOY'S EXPERIENCES, 93 XI. RUPERT RECEIVES A COMMISSION, 103 XII. CLAYTON'S SCHEME, 113 XIII. CLAYTON'S DISAPPOINTMENT, 124 XIV. THE YOUNG NEWSBOY, 134 XV. MR. SYLVESTER'S BIRTHDAY, 144 XVI. JULIAN HAS TWO DISAPPOINTMENTS, 154 XVII. MR. PACKARD OF COLORADO, 164 XVIII. A SCENE AT DELMONICO'S, 174 XIX. WHAT HAPPENED IN NO. 61, 184 XX. MR. PACKARD'S GIFT, 191 XXI. RUPERT BECOMES A CONFIDANT, 198 XXII. TRYING TO BE AN ACTOR, 205 XXIII. A BAFFLED SCHEME, 215 XXIV. LESLIE'S PROGRESS, 225 XXV. LESLIE WATERS AS A DRAMATIC STAR, 234 XXVI. TRIUMPHANT OVER OBSTACLES, 245 XXVII. AN INGENIOUS TRICK, 251 XXVIII. RUPERT RESIGNS HIS SITUATION, 257 XXIX. THE ST. JAMES HOTEL, IN DENVER, 265 XXX. PACKARD'S HOME AT RED GULCH, 275 XXXI. BEN BOONE, 280 XXXII. AN UNPLEASANT BEDFELLOW, 285 XXXIII. BEN BOONE'S TEMPTATION, 295 XXXIV. RUPERT'S PREDICAMENT, 305 XXXV. RUPERT MAKES A DISCOVERY, 310 XXXVI. A LUCKY ENCOUNTER, 315 XXXVII. AN INDIAN GUIDE, 326 XXXVIII. HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE, 336 XXXIX. NEW PLANS, 347 XL. CONCLUSION, 356 RUPERT'S AMBITION. CHAPTER I. RUPERT LOSES HIS PLACE. "Rupert, the superintendent wishes to see you."