Chapter XXII. The Coming of the Magician

by Horatio Alger

　　The week passed and Luke carefully avoided our hero going so faras to cross the street so as not to meet him. On Saturday evening,according to his arrangement, Luke was to have paid the surplus ofhis wages, after meeting his board bill, to Mr. Merrill, for Harry.But he did not go near him. On Monday, the tailor meeting him,inquired why he had not kept his agreement."The fact is," said Luke," I have been unlucky.""How unlucky?""I had my wages loose in my pocket, and managed to lose themsomehow.""That is very singular," said the tailor, suspiciously."Why is it singular?" asked Luke. "Didn't Harry Walton lose hismoney?""You seem to have lost yours at a very convenient time.""It's hard on me," said Luke. "Owing so much, I want to pay asquick as I can, so as to have my wages to myself. Don't you seethat?""Where do you think you lost the money?""I'm sure I don't know, said Luke."Well," said Merrill, dryly, "I hope you will take better care ofyour wages next Saturday evening.""I mean to. I can't afford to lose anymore.""I don't believe, a word of what he says about losing his money,"said the tailor, privately, to Harry. "I think it's only a trickto get rid of paying you.""Don't you think he'll pay me?" asked Harry."He won't if he can help it," was the answer. "He's a slipperycustomer. I believe his money is in his pocket at this moment."Mr. Merrill was not quite right; but it was only as to thewhereabouts of the money. It was in Luke's trunk. He intended torun away, leaving all his creditors in the lurch. This was the "newway to pay old debts," which occurred to Luke as much the easiest.The next Saturday evening, Mr. Merrill waited in vain for a callfrom his debtor."What excuse will he have now?" he thought.On Monday morning he learned that Luke had left town withoutacquainting anyone with his destination. It transpired, also, thathe was owing at his boarding house for two weeks' board. He wasthus enabled to depart with nearly thirty dollars, for parts unknown."He's a hard case," said Mr. Merrill to Harry. "I am afraid hemeans to owe us for a long time to come.""Where do you think he is gone?" asked Harry."I have no idea. He has evidently been saving up money to help himout of town. Sometime we may get upon his track, and compel him topay up.""That won't do me much good," said Harry, despondently. And thenhe told the tailor why he wanted the money. "Now," he concluded,"I shan't be able to have the money ready in time.""You'll have most of it ready, won't you?""I think I will.""I would lend you the money myself," said the tailor, "but I'vegot a heavy payment to meet and some of my customers are slow pay,though I have not many as bad as Luke Harrison.""Thank you, Mr. Merrill," said Harry. "I am as much obliged to youas if you could lend the money."But it is said that misfortunes never come singly. The very nextday Mr. Leavitt received a message from the wholesale dealer towhom he sold his shoes, that the market was glutted and sales slow."I shall not want any more goods for a month or two," the letterconcluded. "I will let you know, when I more."Mr. Leavitt read this letter aloud in the shop."So it seems we are to have a vacation," he said. "That's the worstof the shoe trade. It isn't steady. When it's good everybody rushesinto it, and the market soon gets overstocked. Then there's no workfor weeks."This was a catastrophe for which Harry was no prepared. He heardthe announcement with a grave face, for to him it was a seriouscalamity. Twenty-three dollars were all that he had saved from themoney lost and this would be increased by a dollar or two only,when he had settled up with Mr. Leavitt. If he stayed here did notobtain work, he must pay his board, and that would soon swallowup his money. Could he get work in any other shop? That was animportant question."Do you think I can get into any other shop in town?" he inquiredanxiously of Mr. Leavitt."You can try, Harry; but I guess you'll find others no better offthan I."This was not very encouraging, but Harry determined not to give upwithout an effort. He devoted the next day to going around amongthe shoe shops; but everywhere he met with unfavorable answers.Some had ready suspended. Others were about to do so."It seems as if all my money must go," thought Harry, lookingdespondently at his little hoard. "First the ten dollars Luke Harrisonstole. Then work stopped. I don't know but it would be better forme to go home."But the more Harry thought of this, the less he liked it. It wouldbe an inglorious ending to his campaign. Probably now he would notbe able to carry out his plan of paying for the cow; but if hisfather should lose it, he might be able, if he found work, to buyhim another Squire Green's cow was not the only cow in the worldand all would not be lost if he could not buy her."I won't give up yet," said Harry, pluckily. "I must expect to meetwith some bad luck. I suppose everybody does. Something'll turn upfor me if I try to make it."This was good philosophy. Waiting passively for something to turnup is bad policy and likely to lead to disappointment; but waitingactively, ready to seize any chance that may offer, is quitedifferent. The world is full of chances, and from such chances soseized has been based many a prosperous career.During his first idle day, Harry's attention was drawn to a handbillwhich had been posted up in the store, the post office, the tavern,and other public places in the village. It was to this effect:"PROFESSOR HENDERSON,"The celebrated Magician,"Will exhibit his wonderful feats of Magic and Sleight of Hand inthe Town Hall this evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. In the courseof the entertainment he will amuse the audience by his wonderfulexhibition of Ventriloquism, in which he is unsurpassed."Tickets 25 cents. Children under twelve, 15 cents."In a country village, where amusements are few, such entertainmentsoccupy a far more important place than in a city, where amusementsabound."Are you going to the exhibition, Walton?" asked Frank Heath."I don't know," said Harry."Better come. It'll be worth seeing."In spite of his economy, our hero wanted to go."The professor's stopping at the tavern. Come over, and we may seehim," said Frank.