Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to SuccessAlger, Horatio, Jr.
General
Tom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to Success
Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Adventure and adventurers -- Juvenile fiction; Boys -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
He took the cars to a point only two squares distant from Gilbert's
boarding-house, and walked toward it. But, in order to change his
appearance, he applied to his upper lip a false black mustache, which
he had bought for the purpose, and, a little discomposed by his
dishonest intentions, walked up the steps and rang the bell. It was
opened directly by a servant.
"I am a friend of Mr. Grey's," said Maurice, putting on a bold face.
"He told me I might get his opera-glass."
This he said in an easy, confident manner, which imposed upon the girl.
"Do you know his room?" she asked.
"Yes, I know it," said Maurice. "Never mind about going up."
The servant went back to her work, and Maurice, his heart beating fast,
went up stairs on his dishonest errand. He had no difficulty in getting
into the room, for the door was not locked. The trunks were kept in the
bed-chamber, and he therefore went thither at once. One of the trunks
was a handsome one, made of sole-leather. This belonged to Mordaunt.
The other was plainer and smaller, and no doubt belonged to Gilbert.
Maurice got down on his knees and began to try his keys. The first did
not fit, neither did the second, nor the third. Indeed, it was only the
last that proved to be the right one. Maurice had feared the failure of
his plans, when success came.
"So far, so good," he said, and began eagerly to explore the contents.
First in order came a pile of shirts and underclothing. These he
hastily removed, and peered about for papers. In one corner was a book
of deposits on a city savings-bank. Led by curiosity, Maurice opened
it. He saw a long line of deposits, covering several pages, for Gilbert
had been in the habit of making a weekly deposit, even the first year,
for, though his income was small, he had nothing to pay for board, and
this was, of course, a great help.
"How much has the fellow got?" thought Maurice.
He made a hurried calculation, and, to his astonishment and envy,
learned that our hero had seven hundred and sixty dollars deposited to
his credit.
"Almost eight hundred dollars, and I haven't a cent," he muttered,
discontentedly. Then there came the thought that if he found the paper,
he might count upon a hundred dollars, and his good spirits returned.
Underneath the bank-book were two letters, written to him by Mordaunt
while absent on a pleasure-trip not long before, and under these was a
sheet of quarto paper, which appeared to be written upon.
"That may be the paper," thought Maurice, and he took it in his hands
with eager anticipations. Turning to the end he read the signature,
"Jacob Morton." A slight examination of the contents satisfied him that
it was the paper he wanted.
"Success! success!" he ejaculated, exultingly. "My hundred dollars are
safe. Now, Gilbert Grey, your hopes are dashed to the earth, and you
won't know who has done it for you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account