Facing the World, Jr. Horatio Alger [free e books to read TXT] 📗
- Author: Jr. Horatio Alger
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“I should like it very much, Mr. ——” and Harry paused in doubt.
“I am called Professor Hemenway—Hiram Hemenway,” said the magician.
“Do you like your business?” asked Harry, curiously.
“Why shouldn’t I? I have a chance to travel. The people appreciate my efforts and reward me generously.”
By a fortunate accident Harry happened to turn in his seat and look through a small window in the back part of the wagon. What he saw startled him. In a buggy, ten rods back, he recognized his late guardian and Joel. They were making good speed, and were doubtless in pursuit of him.
Harry quickly imparted his discovery to his companion.
“Don’t let them capture me!” he said.
“I should like to see him do it,” responded the professor. “Get into the back part of the wagon, and crouch down.”
Harry did as directed.
Then the professor slackened his speed, and allowed the pursuers to overtake him.
“I say, stranger,” said Fox, as he drew up alongside. “A boy ran away from me this morning. Perhaps you have seen him?”
“I saw a boy about a mile back,” said the magician, reflectively, “a stout, good-looking lad, dark-brown hair, and a pleasant expression; didn’t look at all like you. I chatted with him a while. He said he was leaving a man who claimed to be his guardian, but wasn’t.”
“The young liar!” ejaculated Fox, wrathfully. “Where is he now?”
“Is he in your wagon?” put in Joel, sharply.
“If he were you’d see him, wouldn’t you?”
“In behind you?”
“Yes, are you kidnapping him?” demanded Fox, fiercely.
“There is a boy in the back part of my wagon,” said the magician, coolly. “If you ain’t afraid of smallpox, you may see him. Which shall it be, you or the boy?”
A pallid hue overspread the face of John Fox, which was increased by an agonizing moan, which appeared to proceed from behind the magician.
“Turn the horse, Joel,” was all he said.
He whipped up his horse without a word, and did not pull up for half a mile.
“You can come out now, Harry,” said the professor, with a queer smile. “I am a ventriloquist, and that moan did the business.”
CHAPTER VII A NEW ENGAGEMENT
Harry was not a little relieved at his narrow escape. He did not propose to be taken captive without making a strong resistance; but still, in a struggle with Mr. Fox and Joel, he felt that he would be considerably at a disadvantage.
“I am much obliged to you for saving me, Professor Hemenway,” he said.
“You are quite welcome. So you didn’t like old Fox?”
“Not much.”
“He doesn’t appear to like you any better.”
“There isn’t much love lost between us,” returned Harry, laughing.
“How do you like the boy?”
“He served me a good turn—for five dollars—but he would help capture me for the same money, or less.”
“You seem to know him.”
“He is fond of money, and would do almost anything for it.”
“You thank me for saving you from capture, my lad,” continued the magician. “Well, I had an object in it—a selfish object.”
Harry looked puzzled.
“It struck me that I needed a boy about your size, and character, for a general assistant, to sell tickets, take money, and help me on the stage. How do you like the idea?”
“I like it,” answered Harry; “but there is one objection.”
“What is that?”
“I don’t come from Madagascar,” responded Harry, slyly.
Professor Hemenway laughed.
“You’ve been as near there as I have,” he said. “Did you really think I came from Madagascar?”
“You look more as if you came from Maine, sir.”
“You’ve hit it! There’s where I did come from. I was raised twenty-five miles from Portland on a farm. But it would never do to put that on the bills. People are ready to pay more for imported than for native curiosities. However, to come to business. I had a young man traveling with me who wasn’t suited to the business. He was a dry-goods clerk when I took him, and is better adapted to that business than to mine. He left me last week, and I have been in a quandary about his successor. How much do you consider your time worth?”
“Just at present it isn’t worth much. If you will pay my traveling expenses, that will satisfy me.”
“I will do better than that I will give you five dollars a week besides, if business is good.”
“Thank you, sir. I think I shall enjoy traveling.”
There are few boys who do not like change of scene, and the chance of seeing new places is attractive to all. Harry was decidedly of the opinion that he had a streak of luck. It would be much better in all ways than living with his late guardian, and working for partial board.
As they approached the village of Conway, Harry’s attention was drawn to a variety of posters setting forth, in mammoth letters, that the world-renowned Magician of Madagascar would give a magical soiree at the Town Hall in the evening. Tickets, fifteen cents; children under twelve years, ten cents. The posters, furthermore, attracted attention by a large figure of the professor, dressed in bizarre style, performing one of his tricks.
“That draws attention,” observed the professor, “particularly among the boys. I think I shall have a hall full this evening. An audience of three hundred will pay very well. My expenses are light. I do most of my traveling in this wagon, and at hotels I get the usual professional reduction.”
“Did it take you long to learn the business?”
“I have been learning all along. Every now and then I add a new trick. I will teach you some.”
“I might leave you and set up on my own hook when I have learned,” suggested Harry,
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