The Errand Boy by Jr. Horatio Alger
Author:Jr. Horatio Alger [Alger, Jr. Horatio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783958643444
Publisher: Otbebookpublishing
Published: 2019-09-13T00:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER XXIII.
AN EXPLANATION.
It would be hard to tell which of the two was the more surprised at the meeting, Philip or Mr. Carter.
âI donât understand how Mr. Pitkin came to hear of my return. I didnât telegraph,â said the old gentleman.
âI donât think he knows anything about it,â said Phil.
âDidnât he send you to the pier?â
âNo, sir.â
âThen how is it that you are not in the store at this time?â asked Mr. Carter, puzzled.
âBecause I am no longer in Mr. Pitkinâs employ. I was discharged last Saturday.â
âDischarged! What for?â
âMr. Pitkin gave no reason. He said my services were no longer required. He spoke roughly to me, and has since declined to give me a recommendation, though I told him that without it I should be unable to secure employment elsewhere.â
Mr. Carter frowned. He was evidently annoyed and indignant.
âThis must be inquired into,â he said. âPhilip, call a carriage, and I will at once go to the Astor House and take a room. I had intended to go at once to Mr. Pitkinâs, but I shall not do so until I have had an explanation of this outrageous piece of business.â
Phil was rejoiced to hear this, for he was at the end of his resources, and the outlook for him was decidedly gloomy. He had about made up his mind to sink his pride and go into business as a newsboy the next day, but the very unexpected arrival of Mr. Carter put quite a new face on matters.
He called a carriage, and both he and Mr. Carter entered it.
âHow do you happen to be back so soon, sir?â asked Phil, when they were seated. âI thought you were going to Florida for a couple of months.â
âI started with that intention, but on reaching Charleston I changed my mind. I expected to find some friends at St. Augustine, but I learned that they were already returning to the North, and I felt that I should be lonely and decided to return. I am very glad I did, now. Did you receive my letter?â
âYour letter?â queried Philip, looking at Mr. Carter in surprise.
âCertainly. I gave Alonzo a letter for you, which I had directed to your boarding-house, and requested him to mail it. It contained a ten-dollar bill.â
âI never received any such letter, sir. It would have been of great service to meâthe money, I mean; for I have found it hard to live on five dollars a week. Now I have not even that.â
âIs it possible that Alonzo could have suppressed the letter?â said Mr. Carter to himself.
âAt any rate I never received it.â
âHere is something else to inquire into,â said Mr. Carter. âIf Alonzo has tampered with my letter, perhaps appropriated the money, it will be the worse for him.â
âI hardly think he would do that, sir; though I donât like him.â
âYou are generous; but I know the boy better than you do. He is fond of money, not for the sake of spending it, but for the sake of hoarding it.
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