As the clock at the Old South Church struck one, Herbert ascendedthe steps of Parker's Hotel, and walked into the reading room. GeorgeMelville was already there.
"You are on time, Herbert," he said, with a smile, as our hero made hisappearance.
"Yes, sir; but I began to think I should miss my appointment."
"Where have you been?"
"To Bunker Hill."
"Did you ascend the monument?"
"Yes, sir, and had a fight at the summit."
Mr. Melville looked at Herbert in amazement.
"Had a fight at the top of Bunker Hill Monument?" he ejaculated.
"Yes, sir; let me tell you about it."
When the story was told, Mr. Melville said: "That was certainly aremarkable adventure, Herbert. Still, I am not sorry that it occurred."
It was Herbert's turn to look surprised.
"I will tell you why. It proves to me that you are worthy of myconfidence, and can be trusted with the care of money. It has alsotaught you a lesson, to beware of knaves, no matter how plausible theymay be."
"I haven't got over my surprise yet, sir, at discovering the realcharacter of the man who went with me. I am sorry I met him. I don'tlike to distrust people."
"Nor I. But it is not necessary to distrust everybody. In yourjourney through the world you will make many agreeable and trustworthyacquaintances in whom it will be safe to confide. It is only necessaryto be cautious and not give your confidence too soon."
"Oh, I didn't mention that I met somebody from Wayneboro," said Herbert.
"Was it Eben Graham?"
"Yes."
"I met him myself on Washington Street. Did you speak to him?"
"Yes, sir."
"I suppose he goes back to-night?"
"I don't think he will go back at all, Mr. Melville."
His employer looked at him inquiringly.
"I saw him buy a ticket to Chicago, though he does not know it,"continued Herbert. "When he spoke with me he didn't admit it, but spokeof going back by an afternoon train."
"I am afraid he has appropriated some of his father's funds," saidMelville. "I doubt if Ebenezer Graham would voluntarily furnish him themeans of going West."
"That was just what occurred to me," said Herbert; "but I didn't like tothink that Eben would steal."
"Perhaps he has not. We shall be likely to hear when we return. But youmust be hungry. We will go in to dinner."
Herbert followed Mr. Melville into the dining room, where a good dinnerwas ordered, and partaken of. Herbert looked over the bill of fare,but the high prices quite startled him. He was not used to patronizinghotels, and it seemed to him that the price asked for a single dishought to be enough to pay for a whole dinner for two. He knew about whatit cost for a meal at home, and did not dream that it would amount to somuch more at a hotel.
When the check was brought Herbert looked at it.
"Two dollars and a half!" he exclaimed.
"It costs an awful amount to live in Boston."
"Oh a dinner can be got much cheaper at most places in Boston," saidGeorge Melville, smiling, "but I am used to Parker's, and generally comehere."
"I am glad it doesn't cost so much to live in Wayneboro," said Herbert."We couldn't afford even one meal a day."
"You haven't asked me what the doctor said," remarked Melville, as theyleft the dining room.
"Excuse me, Mr. Melville. It wasn't from any lack of interest."
"He advises me to go West by the first of October, either to Colorado orSouthern California."
Herbert's countenance fell. The first of October would soon come, andhis pleasant and profitable engagement with Mr. Melville would close.
"I am sorry," he said, gravely.
"I am not so sorry as I should have been a few weeks ago," saidMelville. "Then I should have looked forward to a journey as lonely andmonotonous. Now, with a companion, I think I may have a pleasant time."
"Who is going with you, Mr. Melville?" asked Herbert, feeling, it mustbe confessed, a slight twinge of jealousy.
"I thought perhaps you would be willing to accompany me," said Melville.
"Would you really take me, Mr. Melville?" cried Herbert, joyfully.
"Yes, if you will go."
"I should like nothing better. I have always wanted to travel. It quitetakes my breath away to think of going so far away."
"I should hardly venture to go alone," continued George Melville. "Ishall need some one to look after the details of the journey, and tolook after me if I fall sick. Do you think you would be willing to dothat?"
"I hope you won't fall sick, Mr. Melville; but if you do, I will takethe best care of you I know how."
"I am sure you will, Herbert, and I would rather have you about me thana man. Indeed, I already begin to think of you as a younger brother."
"Thank you, Mr. Melville," said Herbert, gratefully. "I am glad you do."
"Do you think your mother will object to your leaving home, Herbert?"
"Not with you. She knows I shall be well provided for with you. Can Iarrange to send money regularly to mother?" asked the boy. "I shouldn'tlike to think of her as suffering for want of it."
"Yes, but to guard against emergencies, we can leave her a sum of moneybefore you start."
After dinner Mr. Melville proposed to Herbert to accompany him on awalk up Washington Street, They walked slowly, Herbert using his eyesdiligently, for to him the display in the shop windows was novel andattractive.
At length they paused at the door of a large and handsome jewelrystore--one of the two finest in Boston.
"I want to go in here, Herbert," said his employer.
"Shall I stay outside?"
"No, come in with me. You may like to look about."
Though Herbert had no idea of the cost of the fine stock with which thestore was provided, he saw that it must be valuable, and wondered wherepurchasers enough could be found to justify keeping so large a supplyof watches, chains, rings and the numberless other articles in gold andsilver which he saw around him.
"I would like to look at your watches," said Melville to the salesmanwho came forward to inquire his wishes.
"Gold or silver, sir?"
"Silver."
"This way, if you please."
He led the way to a case where through the glass covering Herbertsaw dozens of silver watches of all sizes and grades lying ready forinspection.
"For what price can I get a fair silver watch?" asked Melville.
"Swiss or Waltham?"
"Waltham. I may as well patronize home manufactures."
"Here is a watch I will sell you for fifteen dollars," said thesalesman, drawing out a neat-looking watch, of medium size. "It willkeep excellent time, and give you good satisfaction."
"Very well; I will buy it on your recommendation. Have you any silverchains?"
One was selected of pretty pattern, and George Melville paid for both.
"How do you like the watch and chain, Herbert?" said his employer, asthey left the store.
"They are very pretty, sir."
"I suppose you wonder what I want of two watches," said Melville.
"Perhaps you don't like to take your gold watch with you when you go outWest, for fear of thieves."
"No, that is not the reason. If I am so unfortunate as to lose my goldwatch, I will buy another. The fact is, I have bought this silver watchand chain for you."
"For me!" exclaimed Herbert, intensely delighted.
"Yes; it will be convenient for you, as well as me, to be provided witha watch. Every traveler needs one. There; put it in your pocket, and seehow it looks."
"You are very kind to me, Mr. Melville," said Herbert, gratefully. "Youcouldn't have bought me anything which I should value more."
When Herbert had arranged the watch and chain to suit him, it must beconfessed that it engrossed a large part of his attention, and it waswonderful how often he had occasion to consult it during the first walkafter it came into his
possession.
CHAPTER XVIII. A THIEF IN TROUBLE.
Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune Page 17