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Read Ebook: The Train Boy by Alger Horatio Jr
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Ebook has 2648 lines and 53190 words, and 53 pages
ng picked, and was rather surprised that the gentlemanly looking person at her side should be the thief.
"What shall I do?" he asked himself.
His first impulse was to go forward, apprise Miss Dearborn of her loss, and denounce her seat companion. But this might enable Luke to drop the purse and assume the airs of an innocent man. Perhaps Denton in his rage might even attack him.
Paul therefore framed a different plan.
He passed through the car into the next, where he met the conductor. To him he briefly communicated what he had seen.
"You have done right, Paul," said the conductor, who personally knew him. "Ten to one the gentleman will be for getting out at Libertyville, unless we are beforehand with him. There is no time to be lost, as we are only about a mile from the station. Come back with me."
The conductor entered the car where Grace was seated, with Paul close at his heels.
Luke Denton was looking out of the window, having folded his newspaper.
"In five minutes I shall be safe," thought he, as not far ahead he caught a distant view of the few houses which constituted Libertyville.
The purse he had slipped into the pocket of his pantaloons.
Meanwhile the conductor and Paul had approached, and stood beside the seat.
"Miss Dearborn," said Paul, as the young lady looked up with a smile of recognition, "will you feel for your purse?"
The young lady looked surprised, and Luke Denton startled. He was not ready to commit himself, however, not yet being sure that his agency was suspected.
Grace felt in her pocket, and said, in surprise:
"It is gone!"
"Is it possible?" ejaculated Denton, affecting surprise. "Perhaps it dropped on the floor."
He was trying slyly to get at his pocket to see that the purse was found on the floor, when Paul said:
"It is in that man's pocket!"
All eyes were turned upon Denton, who, with a fierce oath, exclaimed:
"I am only telling the truth," said Paul, steadily.
With a glance of alarm and distrust Grace ran precipitately from her seat, and Luke Denton was not slow in seizing the opportunity to escape.
The train was not going at full speed. As it approached Libertyville if was moving slowly, and probably the rate of speed did not exceed fifteen miles per hour.
"Good heavens, the man will be killed!" said Grace, alarmed.
The conductor sprang to the platform, and so did Paul.
They saw Denton roll over once or twice, and then pick himself up, apparently not seriously injured.
"The fellow is safe!" he said, turning to Miss Dearborn.
"Thank Heaven!"
"But he has carried off your purse."
"I don't care for that. That is, I don't care for it in comparison with the man's life."
"You are more good-natured than many would be who had suffered such a loss."
"There wasn't a large sum of money in the purse," said Grace.
"Do you remember how much?" asked Paul.
"I had fifty dollars when I left Milwaukee."
"And you gave me two dollars and a half for my little sister."
"Then there should be forty-seven dollars left," continued the train boy.
"I suppose so. I wish now I had given you the whole of it for your little sister."
"You were very generous as it was, Miss Dearborn."
"Still I think it would have done her more good than the gentleman who so unceremoniously borrowed it."
"Miss Dearborn," said Paul, with a sudden reflection, "now that you have lost all your money, let me hand you back this gold piece."
And he offered her the quarter-eagle which she had given him for his little sister.
"Oh, no, there is no need that I should recall my gift," she said, shaking her head. "To be sure I am temporarily penniless, but my aunt will see that I don't want. Aunt Caroline, is my credit good with you?"
"To be sure, Grace," said the matronly lady whom she addressed.
"And you can certify that the loss of my purse won't embarrass me seriously?"
Here she stepped discreetly, just as she was about to reveal an important secret.
"Say six hundred dollars a year," chimed in Grace, laughing. "You see, Paul," she continued, addressing our hero, "you need have no compunctions about keeping my gift to your sister. It won't entail any distressing economy."
They had reached Libertyville, and Paul went out on the platform with his papers.
Of course nothing was to be seen or heard of Denton, who had jumped off the train fully three-quarters of a mile back.
To the station master the conductor hurriedly communicated what had passed, and enjoined him to detain Denton if he should appear at the station, and try to purchase a ticket for the seven o'clock train, which would start a little over an hour later.
Again the train moved on.
"There is no loss without some little gain, Aunt Caroline," said Grace. "As my seat companion has taken French leave, there will be room for you to sit beside me the rest of the journey."
"Rather dearly purchased, Grace," said the elder lady, "since it costs you forty-seven dollars."
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