The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tin Box, by Horatio Alger

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: The Tin Box and What it Contained

Author: Horatio Alger

Release Date: November 10, 2008 [EBook #27222]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIN BOX ***

Produced by Gary Sandino, from scans generously provided by the Internet Archive.

THE TIN BOX

and What it Contained

By HORATIO ALGER, JR.

       Author of "The Errand Boy," "Joe's Luck,"
            "Mark Manning's Mission," "Mark
              Mason's Victory," etc., etc.

A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS

NEW YORK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I A COLLISION 1 II SIGNS OF A TEMPEST 8 III MRS. ROSS MAKES TWO UNSATISFACTORY VISITS 15 IV HARRY LOSES HIS PLACE, AFTER ALL 23 V LOOKING FOR WORK 30 VI UNCLE OBED ARRIVES FROM ILLINOIS 38 VII AN UNWELCOME GUEST 46 VIII UNCLE OBED MAKES A PROPOSAL 53 IX NOTICE TO QUIT 57 X PHILIP MEETS HIS MATCH 67 XI THE TWO CONSPIRATORS 73 XII AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION 77 XIII THREE YOUNG SPORTSMEN 81 XIV WHAT HAPPENED TO HARRY IN THE WOOD 87 XV PHILIP'S BAD ADVISOR 93 XVI BOUND HAND AND FOOT 101 XVII WHAT HARRY SAW IN THE WOOD 108 XVIII HARRY'S COMMISSION 115 XIX A SECOND VISIT TO THE WOOD 122 XX ON THE WAY TO NEW YORK 130 XXI A REWARD OFFERED 138 XXII BROUGHT TO BAY 145 XXIII FINDING THE BOX 153 XXIV PHILIP IN A TIGHT PLACE 159 XXV PHILIP BECOMES A PRISONER 166 XXVI PHILIP IS FORCED TO APOLOGIZE 174 XXVII THE ARREST 181 XXVIII MR. CHASE IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE 188 XXIX HARRY BECOMES A "BONDHOLDER" 196 XXX CONGREVE'S SCHEME 203 XXXI THE TEMPTER 210 XXXII PHILIP DOES NOT FEEL HAPPY 214 XXXIII STEALING THE BONDS 217 XXXIV PHILIP GETS RID OF HIS PLUNDER 224 XXXV THROWING SUSPICION ON HARRY 231 XXXVI HARRY IS CHARGED WITH THEFT 237 XXXVII SEARCHING THE COTTAGE 244 XXXVIII PHILIP'S SURPRISE 251 XXXIX HOW CONGREVE SUCCEEDED 257 XL PREPARING TO PROSECUTE 265 XLI HARRY MANAGES HIS OWN CASE 269 XLII CONCLUSION 277

THE TIN BOX

CHAPTER I

A COLLISION

"Have you finished breakfast already, Harry?" asked Mrs. Gilbert, as Harry rose hurriedly from the table and reached for his hat, which hung on a nail especially appropriated to it.

"Yes, mother. I don't want to be late for the store. Saturday is always a busy day."

"It is a long day for you, Harry. You have to stay till nine o'clock in the evening."

"I am always glad to have Saturday come, for then I can get my money," replied Harry, laughing. "Well, good-by, mother—I'm off."

"What should I do without him?" said Mrs. Gilbert to herself, as Harry dashed out of the yard on the way to Mead's grocery store, where he had been employed for six months.

That would have been a difficult question to answer. Mrs. Gilbert was the widow of a sea captain, who had sailed from the port of Boston three years before, and never since been heard of.

It was supposed that the vessel was lost with all hands, but how the disaster occurred, or when, was a mystery that seemed never likely to be solved.

Captain Gilbert had left no property except the small cottage, which was mortgaged for half its value, and a small sum of money in the savings bank, which, by this time, was all expended for the necessaries of life.

Fortunately for the widow, about the time this sum gave out Harry obtained a situation at Mead's grocery store, with a salary of four dollars a week. This he regularly paid to his mother, and, with the little she herself was able to earn, they lived comfortably. It was hard work for Harry, but he enjoyed it, for he was an active boy, and it was a source of great satisfaction to him that he was able to help his mother so materially.

He was now fifteen years old, about the average height for a boy of that age, with a strong frame and a bright, cheerful manner that made him a general favorite.

The part of his duty which he liked best was to drive the store wagon for the delivery of goods to customers. Most boys of his age like to drive a horse, and Harry was no exception to the rule.

When he reached the store Mr. Mead, his employer, said:

"Harness up the horse as soon as you can, Harry. There are some goods to be carried out."

"All right, sir," answered Harry, cheerfully, and made his way to the stable, which stood in the rear of the store. It was but a few minutes before he was loaded up and was on his way.

He had called at several places and left the greater part of the goods, when he found himself in a narrow road, scarcely wider than a lane. Why it had been made so narrow was unaccountable, for there was certainly land enough to be had, and that of little value, which could have been used. It was probably owing to a want of foresight on the part of the road commissioners.

Just at the narrowest part of the road Harry saw approaching him an open buggy of rather a pretentious character, driven by a schoolmate, Philip Ross, the son of Colonel Ross, a wealthy resident of the village.

I have said that Philip was, or rather had been, a schoolmate of Harry. I cannot call him a friend. Philip was of a haughty, arrogant temper. The horse and buggy he drove were his own—that is, they had been given him by his father on his last birthday—and he was proud of them, not without some reason, for the buggy was a handsome one, and the horse was spirited and of fine appearance.

As soon as Harry saw Philip approaching, he proceeded to turn his horse to one side of the road.

Philip, however, made no such move, but kept in the middle.

"Isn't he going to turn out?" thought Harry. "How does he expect to get by?"

"Why don't you turn out, Philip?" he called out.

"Turn out yourself!" retorted Philip, haughtily.