Rupert's Ambition. Alger Horatio Jr.

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СКАЧАТЬ that case, Rupert? You are out of work."

      "Mother, don't worry. I have made more to-day than in any week when I had regular work. First, here is a basketful of provisions," and he removed the cover from the basket, displaying the contents. "Have you had supper yet?"

      "No."

      "Then suppose you make some tea, and we will have a nice supper."

      "You didn't buy those provisions, Rupert?"

      "No, they were given me by a new friend. But that isn't all. What do you say to this?" and he emptied the purse on the table.

      "Truly you have been fortunate," said Mrs. Rollins, with new cheerfulness. "It has come in good time, too, for our rent will fall due on Saturday."

      "Then, mother, you had better take this money, and take care of it till it is wanted."

      Just as Mrs. Rollins was placing the purse in a bureau drawer Mrs. Marlow, who lived on the floor below, opened the door and entered the room without knocking.

      "Excuse my comin' in without knockin'," she said. "I didn't think."

      Mrs. Marlow was in the habit of moving about in a noiseless, stealthy way, and was not a favorite with Rupert or his mother. They felt that there was something suspicious and underhanded about her.

      "What can I do for you, Mrs. Marlow?" asked Mrs. Rollins, civilly.

      "I'm all out of matches. Can you give me a few?"

      "Certainly."

      Mrs. Marlow took the matches, but did not go. She sank into a chair and grew social.

      "And how is the times affectin' you, Mrs. Rollins?" she asked.

      "Rupert is out of employment. All he has to depend upon are odd jobs."

      Mrs. Marlow darted a curious glance at the bureau drawer in which her neighbor had deposited the purse.

      "It don't make so much difference as long as a body has got money to fall back upon," she said.

      "That is not my condition."

      "I'm sorry for it. I surmised you might have money ahead. You're better off than I am, for I have no boy to work for me."

      "If I am better off than anybody," said Mrs. Rollins, with a faint smile, "I suppose I ought not to complain."

      "My! What a nice lot of provisions!" exclaimed Mrs. Marlow, espying for the first time the open basket. "Sure, you buy things by the quantity."

      "That was a present to Rupert from a rich gentleman whose acquaintance he made."

      "It's a nice thing to have rich friends. Rupert, would you mind tellin' the gentleman that you know a poor widder that would be thankful for his kind assistance?"

      "I don't feel well enough acquainted with Mr. Sylvester for that," said Rupert, annoyed.

      "Sure his name is Sylvester, is it? And where does he live?"

      "In Harlem."

      "And what's the street and number?"

      "I should prefer not to tell you."

      "Ah, it's selfish you are. You want to keep him to yourself."

      "I don't expect to see him again."

      "Then why do you mind tellin' me where he lives?"

      "I don't want to annoy him."

      Mrs. Marlow turned her attention to his mother.

      "Would you mind givin' me a small bit of meat for my supper, you've got so much?" she said.

      Her request was complied with, and she at length left the room.

      "What a disagreeable woman!" exclaimed Rupert. "She was prying about all the time she was here."

      "Yes. I don't enjoy her company much, but I can't order her out of the room."

      They had a nice supper, which Mrs. Rollins and Grace enjoyed. Rupert sat down at the table, but confined himself to a cup of tea, having already supped at Mr. Sylvester's.

      The next day he resumed his hunt for a place, knowing well that his good luck of the day previous would not take the place of regular employment. But in dull times searching for a place is discouraging work.

      He was indeed offered a position in a drug store up town at three dollars a week, but there were two objections to accepting it. The small pay would not more than half defray the expenses of their little household, and, besides, the hours would be very long.

      Resolving to leave no means untried, Rupert decided to remain out till five o'clock. Perhaps something might turn up for him at the last moment. He was walking in front of the Metropolitan Hotel when a boy hailed him in evident surprise.

      "Are you all right?" he asked.

      "Why shouldn't I be all right, George?" asked Rupert, in great surprise.

      "I thought you had broken your leg."

      "Who told you such nonsense?"

      "There was a slip of paper brought to your mother early this afternoon, saying that you had been run over by a horse car, and had been carried into a drug store near Thirtieth Street."

      Rupert was amazed.

      "Who brought the paper?"

      "A messenger boy."

      "And I suppose my mother was very much frightened?"

      "She went out directly, and took the car up to Thirtieth Street."

      "What can it mean?"

      "I don't know," said George Parker, shaking his head. "I am glad it isn't true."

      "If anybody played this trick on purpose, I'd like to give him a good shaking."

      "You'd better go home and let your mother know you are all right."

      "I will."

      CHAPTER V.

      MRS. MARLOW'S SCHEME

      Mrs. Marlow was of a covetous disposition, and not overburdened with principle. When she saw Mrs. Rollins drop a purse into her bureau drawer, she immediately began to consider how she could manage to appropriate it. It was necessary to get into the room when the widow was out, but unfortunately for her plans, Mrs. Rollins seldom left her daughter.

      "Why can't she go out and get a bit of amusement like other folks?" she muttered.

      Presently Mrs. Marlow had a bright idea. If the widow could suspect that some accident had happened to Rupert her absence could be secured.

      She made her way to a district messenger office, and wrote a message announcing that Rupert had been run over and had his leg broken.

      Then she went home and waited for the success of her stratagem.

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