章节正文
are, of course, others in my employ, older than
yourself, whom I might send, but I have an
idea that you will prove to be a good salesman."
"I will try to be, sir."
On Monday morning Carl left Milford,
reached New York in two hours and a half
and, in accordance with the directions of Mr.
Jennings, engaged passage and a stateroom on
one of the palatial night lines of Hudson
River steamers to Albany. The boat was well
filled with passengers, and a few persons were
unable to procure staterooms.
Carl, however, applied in time, and obtained
an excellent room. He deposited his gripsack
therein, and then took a seat on deck, meaning
to enjoy as long as possible the delightful
scenery for which the Hudson is celebrated.
It was his first long journey, and for this reason
Carl enjoyed it all the more. He could
not but contrast his present position and prospects
with those of a year ago, when, helpless
and penniless, he left an unhappy home to
make his own way.
"What a delightful evening!" said a voice at his side.
Turning, Carl saw sitting by him a young
man of about thirty, dressed in somewhat
pretentious style and wearing eyeglasses.
He was tall and thin, and had sandy side whiskers.
"Yes, it is a beautiful evening," replied Carl, politely.
"And the scenery is quite charming. Have you
ever been all the way up the river?"
"No, but I hope some day to take a day trip."
"Just so. I am not sure but I prefer the
Rhine, with its romantic castles and vineclad hills."
"Have you visited Europe, then?" asked Carl.
"Oh, yes, several times. I have a passion
for traveling. Our family is wealthy, and I
have been able to go where I pleased."
"That must be very pleasant."
"It is. My name is Stuyvesant--one of the
old Dutch families."
Carl was not so much impressed, perhaps, as
he should have been by this announcement,
for he knew very little of fashionable life in
New York.
"You don't look like a Dutchman," he said, smiling.
"I suppose you expected a figure like a beer keg,"
rejoined Stuyvesant, laughing. "Some of my forefathers
may have answered that description, but I am not built that way.
Are you traveling far?"
"I may go as far as Chicago."
"Is anyone with you?"
"No."
"Perhaps you have friends in Chicago?"
"Not that I am aware of. I am traveling on business."
"Indeed; you are rather young for a business man."
"I am sixteen."
"Well, that cannot exactly be called venerable."
"No, I suppose not."
"By the way, did you succeed in getting a stateroom?"
"Yes, I have a very good one."
"You're in luck, on my word. I was just too late.
The man ahead of me took the last room."
"You can get a berth, I suppose."
"But that is so common. Really, I should
not know how to travel without a stateroom.
Have you anyone with you?"
"No."
"If you will take me in I will pay the entire expense."
Carl hesitated. He preferred to be alone,
but he was of an obliging disposition, and he
knew that there were two berths in the stateroom.
"If it will be an accommodation," he said,
"I will let you occupy the room with me, Mr. Stuyvesant."
"Will you, indeed! I shall esteem it a very great favor.
Where is your room?"
"I will show you."
Carl led the way to No. 17, followed by his
new acquaintance. Mr. Stuyvesant seemed
very much pleased, and insisted on paying for
the room at once. Carl accepted half the regular
charges, and so the bargain was made.
At ten o'clock the two travelers retired to bed.
Carl was tired and went to sleep at once.
He slept through the night. When he awoke
in the morning the boat was in dock. He
heard voices in the cabin, and the noise of
the transfer of baggage and freight to the wharf.
"I have overslept myself," he said, and
jumped up, hurriedly. He looked into the upper
berth, but his roommate was gone. Something
else was gone, too--his valise, and a
wallet which he had carried in the pocket of
his trousers.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE LOST BANK BOOK.
Carl was not long in concluding that he had been
robbed by his roommate. It was hard to believe
that a Stuyvesant--a representative of one of the
old Dutch families of New Amsterdam--should have
stooped to such a discreditable act. Carl was sharp enough,
however, to doubt the genuineness of Mr. Stuyvesant's
claims to aristocratic lineage. Meanwhile he blamed
himself for being so easily duped by an artful adventurer.
To be sure, it was not as bad as it might be.
His pocketbook only contained ten dollars in small bills.
The balance of his money he had deposited for safe keeping
in the inside pocket of his vest. This he had placed
under his pillow, and so it had escaped the notice of the thief.
The satchel contained a supply of shirts,
underclothing, etc., and he was sorry to lose it.
The articles were not expensive, but it would cost
him from a dozen to fifteen dollars to replace them.
Carl stepped to the door of his stateroom
and called a servant who was standing near.
"How long have we been at the pier?" he asked.
"About twenty minutes, sir."
"Did you see my roommate go out?"
"A tall young man in a light overcoat?"
"Yes."
"Yes, sir. I saw him."
"Did you notice whether he carried a valise in his hand?"
"A gripsack? Yes, sir."
"A small one?"
"Yes, sir."
"It was mine."
"You don't say so, sir! And such a respectable-
lookin' gemman, sir."
"He may have looked respectable, but he was
a thief all the same."
"You don't say? Did he take anything else, sir?"
"He took my pocketbook."
"Well, well! He was a rascal, sure!
But maybe it dropped on the floor."
Carl turned his attention to the carpet, but
saw nothing of the lost pocketbook. He did
find, however, a small book in a brown cover,
which Stuyvesant had probably dropped. Picking
it up, he discovered that it was a bank
book on the Sixpenny Savings Bank of Albany,
standing in the name of Rachel Norris,
and numbered 17,310.
"This is stolen property, too," thought Carl.
"I wonder if there is much in it."
Opening the book he saw that there were
three entries, as follows:
1883. Jan. 23. Five hundred dollars.
" June 10. Two hundred dollars.
" Oct. 21. One hundred dollars.
There was besides this interest credited to
the amount of seventy-five dollars. The deposits,
therefore, made a grand total of $875.
No doubt Mr. Stuyvesant had stolen this
book, but had not as yet found an opportunity
of utilizing it.
"What's dat?" asked the colored servant.
"A savings bank book. My roommate must
have dropped it. It appears to belong to a
lady named Rachel Norris. I wish I could
get it to her."
"Is she an Albany lady, sir?"
"I don't know."
"You might look in the directory."
"So I will. It is a good idea."
"I hope the gemman didn't take all your money, sir."
"No; he didn't even take half of it. I only
wish I had been awake when the boat got to the dock."
"I would have called you, sir, if you had asked me."
"I am not much used to traveling. I shall
know better next time what to do."
The finding of the bank book partially consoled
Carl for the loss of his pocketbook and
gripsack. He was glad to be able to defeat
Stuyvesant in one of his nefarious schemes,
and to be the instrument of returning Miss
Norris her savings bank book.
When he left the boat he walked along till
he reached a modest-looking hotel, where he
thought the charges would be reasonable. He
entered, and, going to the desk, asked if he
could have a room.
"Large or small?" inquired the clerk.
"Small."
"No. 67. Will you go up now?"
"Yes, sir."
"Any baggage?"
"No; I had it stolen on the boat."
The clerk looked a little suspicious.
"We must require pay in advance, then," he said.
"Certainly," answered Carl, pulling out a roll of bills.
I suppose you make special terms to commercial travelers?"
"Are you a drummer?"
"Yes. I represent Henry Jennings, of Milford, New York."
"All right, sir. Our usual rates are two dollars
a day. To you they will be a dollar and a quarter."
"Very well; I will pay you for two days. Is breakfast ready?"
"It is on the table, sir."
"Then I will go in at once. I will go to my room afterwards."
In spite of his loss, Carl had a hearty
appetite, and did justice to the comfortable
breakfast provided. He bought a morning
yourself, whom I might send, but I have an
idea that you will prove to be a good salesman."
"I will try to be, sir."
On Monday morning Carl left Milford,
reached New York in two hours and a half
and, in accordance with the directions of Mr.
Jennings, engaged passage and a stateroom on
one of the palatial night lines of Hudson
River steamers to Albany. The boat was well
filled with passengers, and a few persons were
unable to procure staterooms.
Carl, however, applied in time, and obtained
an excellent room. He deposited his gripsack
therein, and then took a seat on deck, meaning
to enjoy as long as possible the delightful
scenery for which the Hudson is celebrated.
It was his first long journey, and for this reason
Carl enjoyed it all the more. He could
not but contrast his present position and prospects
with those of a year ago, when, helpless
and penniless, he left an unhappy home to
make his own way.
"What a delightful evening!" said a voice at his side.
Turning, Carl saw sitting by him a young
man of about thirty, dressed in somewhat
pretentious style and wearing eyeglasses.
He was tall and thin, and had sandy side whiskers.
"Yes, it is a beautiful evening," replied Carl, politely.
"And the scenery is quite charming. Have you
ever been all the way up the river?"
"No, but I hope some day to take a day trip."
"Just so. I am not sure but I prefer the
Rhine, with its romantic castles and vineclad hills."
"Have you visited Europe, then?" asked Carl.
"Oh, yes, several times. I have a passion
for traveling. Our family is wealthy, and I
have been able to go where I pleased."
"That must be very pleasant."
"It is. My name is Stuyvesant--one of the
old Dutch families."
Carl was not so much impressed, perhaps, as
he should have been by this announcement,
for he knew very little of fashionable life in
New York.
"You don't look like a Dutchman," he said, smiling.
"I suppose you expected a figure like a beer keg,"
rejoined Stuyvesant, laughing. "Some of my forefathers
may have answered that description, but I am not built that way.
Are you traveling far?"
"I may go as far as Chicago."
"Is anyone with you?"
"No."
"Perhaps you have friends in Chicago?"
"Not that I am aware of. I am traveling on business."
"Indeed; you are rather young for a business man."
"I am sixteen."
"Well, that cannot exactly be called venerable."
"No, I suppose not."
"By the way, did you succeed in getting a stateroom?"
"Yes, I have a very good one."
"You're in luck, on my word. I was just too late.
The man ahead of me took the last room."
"You can get a berth, I suppose."
"But that is so common. Really, I should
not know how to travel without a stateroom.
Have you anyone with you?"
"No."
"If you will take me in I will pay the entire expense."
Carl hesitated. He preferred to be alone,
but he was of an obliging disposition, and he
knew that there were two berths in the stateroom.
"If it will be an accommodation," he said,
"I will let you occupy the room with me, Mr. Stuyvesant."
"Will you, indeed! I shall esteem it a very great favor.
Where is your room?"
"I will show you."
Carl led the way to No. 17, followed by his
new acquaintance. Mr. Stuyvesant seemed
very much pleased, and insisted on paying for
the room at once. Carl accepted half the regular
charges, and so the bargain was made.
At ten o'clock the two travelers retired to bed.
Carl was tired and went to sleep at once.
He slept through the night. When he awoke
in the morning the boat was in dock. He
heard voices in the cabin, and the noise of
the transfer of baggage and freight to the wharf.
"I have overslept myself," he said, and
jumped up, hurriedly. He looked into the upper
berth, but his roommate was gone. Something
else was gone, too--his valise, and a
wallet which he had carried in the pocket of
his trousers.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE LOST BANK BOOK.
Carl was not long in concluding that he had been
robbed by his roommate. It was hard to believe
that a Stuyvesant--a representative of one of the
old Dutch families of New Amsterdam--should have
stooped to such a discreditable act. Carl was sharp enough,
however, to doubt the genuineness of Mr. Stuyvesant's
claims to aristocratic lineage. Meanwhile he blamed
himself for being so easily duped by an artful adventurer.
To be sure, it was not as bad as it might be.
His pocketbook only contained ten dollars in small bills.
The balance of his money he had deposited for safe keeping
in the inside pocket of his vest. This he had placed
under his pillow, and so it had escaped the notice of the thief.
The satchel contained a supply of shirts,
underclothing, etc., and he was sorry to lose it.
The articles were not expensive, but it would cost
him from a dozen to fifteen dollars to replace them.
Carl stepped to the door of his stateroom
and called a servant who was standing near.
"How long have we been at the pier?" he asked.
"About twenty minutes, sir."
"Did you see my roommate go out?"
"A tall young man in a light overcoat?"
"Yes."
"Yes, sir. I saw him."
"Did you notice whether he carried a valise in his hand?"
"A gripsack? Yes, sir."
"A small one?"
"Yes, sir."
"It was mine."
"You don't say so, sir! And such a respectable-
lookin' gemman, sir."
"He may have looked respectable, but he was
a thief all the same."
"You don't say? Did he take anything else, sir?"
"He took my pocketbook."
"Well, well! He was a rascal, sure!
But maybe it dropped on the floor."
Carl turned his attention to the carpet, but
saw nothing of the lost pocketbook. He did
find, however, a small book in a brown cover,
which Stuyvesant had probably dropped. Picking
it up, he discovered that it was a bank
book on the Sixpenny Savings Bank of Albany,
standing in the name of Rachel Norris,
and numbered 17,310.
"This is stolen property, too," thought Carl.
"I wonder if there is much in it."
Opening the book he saw that there were
three entries, as follows:
1883. Jan. 23. Five hundred dollars.
" June 10. Two hundred dollars.
" Oct. 21. One hundred dollars.
There was besides this interest credited to
the amount of seventy-five dollars. The deposits,
therefore, made a grand total of $875.
No doubt Mr. Stuyvesant had stolen this
book, but had not as yet found an opportunity
of utilizing it.
"What's dat?" asked the colored servant.
"A savings bank book. My roommate must
have dropped it. It appears to belong to a
lady named Rachel Norris. I wish I could
get it to her."
"Is she an Albany lady, sir?"
"I don't know."
"You might look in the directory."
"So I will. It is a good idea."
"I hope the gemman didn't take all your money, sir."
"No; he didn't even take half of it. I only
wish I had been awake when the boat got to the dock."
"I would have called you, sir, if you had asked me."
"I am not much used to traveling. I shall
know better next time what to do."
The finding of the bank book partially consoled
Carl for the loss of his pocketbook and
gripsack. He was glad to be able to defeat
Stuyvesant in one of his nefarious schemes,
and to be the instrument of returning Miss
Norris her savings bank book.
When he left the boat he walked along till
he reached a modest-looking hotel, where he
thought the charges would be reasonable. He
entered, and, going to the desk, asked if he
could have a room.
"Large or small?" inquired the clerk.
"Small."
"No. 67. Will you go up now?"
"Yes, sir."
"Any baggage?"
"No; I had it stolen on the boat."
The clerk looked a little suspicious.
"We must require pay in advance, then," he said.
"Certainly," answered Carl, pulling out a roll of bills.
I suppose you make special terms to commercial travelers?"
"Are you a drummer?"
"Yes. I represent Henry Jennings, of Milford, New York."
"All right, sir. Our usual rates are two dollars
a day. To you they will be a dollar and a quarter."
"Very well; I will pay you for two days. Is breakfast ready?"
"It is on the table, sir."
"Then I will go in at once. I will go to my room afterwards."
In spite of his loss, Carl had a hearty
appetite, and did justice to the comfortable
breakfast provided. He bought a morning
- procure [prə´kjuə]
v.获得；完(达)成；实现 (初中英语单词) - hudson [´hʌdsn] n.哈得孙河 (初中英语单词)
- contrast [´kɔntrɑ:st] n.对比 v.使对比(照) (初中英语单词)
- unhappy [ʌn´hæpi] a.不幸的；不快乐的 (初中英语单词)
- delightful [di´laitful] a.讨人喜欢的 (初中英语单词)
- charming [´tʃɑ:miŋ] a.可爱的；极好的 (初中英语单词)
- romantic [rəu´mæntik] a.传奇(式)的；浪漫的 (初中英语单词)
- wealthy [´welθi] a.富有的；丰富的 (初中英语单词)
- description [di´skripʃən] n.描写 (初中英语单词)
- disposition [,dispə´ziʃən] n.安排；性情；倾向 (初中英语单词)
- acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)
- bargain [´bɑ:gin] n.买卖合同 v.议(价) (初中英语单词)
- transfer [træns´fə:] v.&n.迁移；调动；转让 (初中英语单词)
- freight [freit] n.运货 vt.运送；充满 (初中英语单词)
- meanwhile [´mi:n´wail] n.&ad.其间；同时 (初中英语单词)
- expensive [ik´spensiv] a.费钱的，昂贵的 (初中英语单词)
- replace [ri´pleis] vt.放回；复置；取代 (初中英语单词)
- standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)
- carpet [´kɑ:pit] n.地毯 vt.铺地毯 (初中英语单词)
- stolen [´stəulən] steal 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- amount [ə´maunt] n.总数；数量 v.合计 (初中英语单词)
- instrument [´instrumənt] n.仪器；手段；乐器 (初中英语单词)
- reasonable [´rizənəbəl] a.合理的；有理智的 (初中英语单词)
- commercial [kə´mə:ʃəl] a.商业的 n.广告节目 (初中英语单词)
- accordance [ə´kɔ:dəns] n.一致；调和 (高中英语单词)
- albany [´ɔ:lbəni] n.奥尔巴尼 (高中英语单词)
- scenery [´si:nəri] n.舞台布景 (高中英语单词)
- fashionable [´fæʃənəbəl] a.流行的，时髦的 (高中英语单词)
- esteem [i´sti:m] n.尊重 vt.认为；感到 (高中英语单词)
- baggage [´bægidʒ] n.行李 (高中英语单词)
- respectable [ri´spektəbəl] a.可敬的；有身价的 (高中英语单词)
- rascal [´rɑ:skəl] n.流氓 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- hurriedly [´hʌridli] ad.仓促地，忙乱地 (英语四级单词)
- aristocratic [,æristə´krætik] a.贵族政治的；贵族的 (英语四级单词)
- partially [´pɑ:ʃəli] ad.部分地；局部地 (英语四级单词)
- applied [ə´plaid] a.实用的，应用的 (英语六级单词)
- retired [ri´taiəd] a.退休的；通职的 (英语六级单词)
- pocketbook [´pɔkitbuk] n.袖珍本；皮夹子；财力 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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