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Jed, The Poorhouse Boy

Creator: Horatio Alger (author)
Date: 1899
Publisher: The John Winston Company. Philadelphia
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2

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2355  

"Don't you know where you are?" asked Schuyler Roper, smiling. "Don't you remember boarding my yacht with felonious intent last night?"

2356  

"Yes," answered Jed with an answering smile. "I remember that I was taken prisoner."

2357  

"Then you are subject to my orders. When I am on a cruise we have meals aboard the yacht, but I am not keeping house now. If you will assist me, we'll direct our course to land and find breakfast somewhere."

2358  

Jed did not know much about a yacht, but he liked the water and proved very quick in comprehension, so that in a comparatively short time they had reached the Battery. Here Mr. Roper found two men whom he had engaged to help man the yacht, and leaving the Juno in their charge he walked up Broadway with Jed.

2359  

"We will take breakfast at the Astor House," he said.

2360  

"I dined there yesterday," replied Jed.

2361  

"You did!" exclaimed the other in a tone of surprise. "Yet you tell me you are penniless!"

2362  

"Yes, sir, but I fell in with a gentleman whom I knew at Sea Spray, a Mr. Foster."

2363  

"Not Howell Foster?"

2364  

"Yes." "I know him very well. If he is a friend of yours, I shall feel that I am justified in reposing confidence in you."

2365  

Just then Mr. Foster entered the room.

2366  

"Good morning, Jed," he said in a friendly tone. "So you like the Astor well enough to come back?"

2367  

"I am here by invitation of Mr. Roper."

2368  

Mr. Foster, who was shortsighted, now for the first time observed Jed's companion.

2369  

"So you know Roper, too?" he said. "Why, he's one of my closest friends. When did you pick him up, Schuyler?"

2370  

"I caught him boarding my yacht on a marauding expedition last night," said Roper, smiling.

2371  

"Bless my soul! What do you mean?"

2372  

"Sit down and take breakfast with us, and I will explain."

2373  

"And what are you going to do with this desperate young man?" asked the broker at the end of the story.

2374  

"I shall invite him to accompany me to Bar Harbor on my yacht. But first we must call on the harbor police, as our testimony will be needed to convict the rascals who came near robbing me of five thousand dollars worth of valuables."

2375  

CHAPTER XXX.
Jed Entertains an Old Acquaintance

2376  

THOUGH the trial of the harbor thieves was expedited, it was a week before Jed and Mr. Roper were able to leave New York. Jed's testimony settled the matter, and the two thieves were sentenced to terms of five years imprisonment.

2377  

"I'll get even with you yet, young fellow!" muttered the sallow-faced man, eyeing Jed with deep malignity as he left the witness box.

2378  

"Where is your trunk?" asked Mr. Roper after their first visit to the office of the harbor police.

2379  

"I never owned one, Mr. Roper."

2380  

"Your valise, then."

2381  

"It is at a small hotel near the Battery."

2382  

"Get it and bring it on board the yacht."

2383  

Jed did so, and Mr. Roper asked to see it.

2384  

"You are poorly equipped, Jed," he said. "That reminds me that if I am going to monopolize your services I must pay you some salary. How will fifty dollars a month answer?"

2385  

"But, Mr. Roper, I can't earn as much as that."

2386  

"Perhaps not, but if I am willing to pay it you can set your mind at rest I will see that you are better provided with clothing, under- garments, et cetera. Here, give me a piece of paper."

2387  

Mr. Roper drew up a list of articles which he thought Jed might need -- a very liberal list, by the way -- and sent him with a note to his own tradesmen, with directions to supply him with such articles as he might select. He also gave him an order on his own tailor for a suit of clothes.

2388  

"But, Mr. Roper, it will take me a long time to pay for all these out of my wages," protested Jed.

2389  

Schuyler Roper laughed.

2390  

"My dear boy," he said, "I haven't the least idea of making you pay for them. Just look upon me as your older brother, who is able and willing to provide for you."

2391  

"I am deeply grateful to you, Mr. Roper," responded Jed earnestly. "I certainly stumbled into luck when I boarded your yacht."

2392  

"I don't know how it is," said Roper, as he eyed Jed thoughtfully, "you didn't seem a stranger to me even when I first saw you. It seemed natural for me to look after you. I am an only son, and you never knew what it was to have a brother. I begin to think that I have lost a great deal in being so much alone."

2393  

"You may be deceived in me, Mr. Roper. You know very little of me, and that is not at all to my advantage."

2394  

"Well, I admit that, Jed. Considering that I caught you in the act of robbing me, I may be said to have known you at your worst."

2395  

"You know nothing of my past life."

2396  

"You shall tell me all about it after a while, when we are not so busy."

2397  

Meanwhile Jed became familiar with his duties on board the yacht, and during the absence of Mr. Roper was regarded by the men as his representative.

2398  

No one could have treated him with more generous confidence than his new friend. Jed was intrusted at times with considerable sums for disbursements, and was proud of the confidence reposed in him. Of Mr. Roper, except that he appeared to be a rich young man, he knew next to nothing, till one day he fell in with his watering-place friend, Howell Foster.

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