Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-MerchantAlger, Horatio, Jr.
General
Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant
Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Boys -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Juvenile fiction
"Yes."
"Well, out with it, then. Don't let me do all the talking."
"He's got an aunt as lives in Brooklyn."
"Whereabouts?"
"No. 116 Third avenue."
"How did you find out?"
"I got 'him to talkin'."
"That's good. And did he suspect you?"
"No," said Julius.
"No. 116 Third avenue," repeated Jack. "I must put that down. Did he
tell you the name?"
"Mrs. Green."
"That's good. We'll trump up a message from her late Monday evening. I
wish I knew how things was arranged in the house."
"Maybe I could go there," said Julius.
"What, to the house?"
"Yes. I could go there in the evenin' and ask him if he'd let me have
some old clothes. Maybe he'd invite me upstairs, and--"
"You could use your eyes. That's a good idea, but I don't believe
you'd get a chance to go up."
"Shall I try?"
"Yes; you may try to-morrow night. If we make a haul, you shall have
your share. Halloo, Marlowe!"
These last words were addressed to Marlowe, who entered
unceremoniously without knocking.
"I'm in luck," said Marlowe. "Here's a fiver," and he displayed a
five-dollar greenback. "Come out and we'll have a jolly supper."
Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, communicating to his
companion as they walked along the information Julius had picked up.
CHAPTER XIII.
PAUL MAKES A PURCHASE.
It is not very pleasant to be informed that your house is to be
entered by burglars. Still, if such an event is in prospect, it is
well to know it beforehand. While Paul felt himself fortunate in
receiving the information which Julius gave him, he also felt anxious.
However well he might be prepared to meet the attack, he did not like
to have his mother and Jimmy in the house when it was made. Burglars
in nearly every case are armed, and if brought to bay would doubtless
use their arms, and the possible result of a chance shot was to be
dreaded. On Monday night, therefore, if that should be the one decided
upon by the burglars, he made up his mind that his mother and Jimmy
should sleep out of the house. He lost no time in proposing this plan
to his mother.
"Mother," said he on reaching home, "I have had some news to-day."
"Not bad, I hope?" said Mrs. Hoffman.
"I leave you to judge," answered Paul, with a smile. "We are to have
visitors next Monday evening."
"Visitors, Paul? Who are they?"
"Mr. Jack Morgan and Mr. Marlowe."
"Are they friends of yours? I never heard you mention them."
"I never saw them that I know of."
"Then why did you invite them here?"
"They invited themselves."
"I don't understand it, Paul. If you don't know them, why should they
invite themselves here?"
"Perhaps you'll understand me better, mother, when I tell you their
business."
"What is it?"
"They are burglars."
"Burglars!" repeated Mrs. Hoffman, turning suddenly pale and sinking
back into a chair, for she had been standing.
"Yes, mother. They have found out, though I can't tell how, that there
are some bonds and plate in the safe upstairs, and that is their
reason for coming."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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