Chapter XXXV. What Carl Learned in Chicago.

Driven From Home

by Horatio Alger

As Carl walked back from the falls he met Mr. Atwood, who was
surprised to find h*is young acquaintance on such intimate terms with
Lord Bedford. He was about to pass with a bow, when Carl, who was
good-natured, said: "Won't you join us, Mr. Atwood? If Lord Bedford
will permit, I should like to introduce you."

"Glad to know any friend of yours, Mr. Crawford," said the
Englishman, affably.

"I feel honored by the introduction," said Atwood, bowing
profoundly.

"I hope you are not a friend of Mr.--ah, Mr. Stuyvesant," said
the nobleman, "the person I was talking with this morning. Mr.
Crawford tells me he is a--what do you call it?--a confidence
man."

"I have no acquaintance with him, my lord. I saw him just now
leaving the hotel."

"I am afraid he has gone away with my valise and money," said
Carl.

"If you should be inconvenienced, Mr. Crawford," said the
nobleman, "my purse is at your disposal."

"Thank you very much, Lord Bedford," said Carl, gratefully. "I
am glad to say I am still fairly well provided with money."

"I was about to make you the same offer, Mr. Crawford," said
Atwood.

"Thank you! I appreciate your kindness, even if I'm not obliged
to avail myself of it."

Returning to the hotel, Lord Bedford ordered a carriage, and
invited Atwood and Carl to accompany him on a drive. Mr. Atwood was
in an ecstasy, and anticipated with proud satisfaction telling his
family of his intimate friend, Lord Bedford, of England. The peer,
though rather an ordinary-looking man, seemed to him a model of
aristocratic beauty. It was a weakness on the part of Mr. Atwood, but
an amiable one, and is shared by many who live under republican
institutions.

After dinner Carl felt obliged to resume his journey. He had
found his visit to Niagara very agreeable, but his was a business and
not a pleasure trip, and loyalty to his employer required him to cut
it short. Lord Bedford shook his hand heartily at parting.

"I hope we shall meet again, Mr. Crawford," he said. "I expect,
myself, to reach Chicago on Saturday, and shall be glad to have you
call on me at the Palmer House."

"Thank you, my lord; I will certainly inquire for you there."

"He is a very good fellow, even if he is a lord," thought
Carl.

Our young hero was a thorough American, and was disposed to
think with Robert Burns, that

"The rank is but the guinea, stamp; The man's the gold for a'
that!"

No incident worth recording befell Carl on his trip to Chicago.
As a salesman he met with excellent success, and surprised Mr.
Jennings by the size of his orders. He was led, on reaching Chicago,
to register at the Sherman House, on Clark Street, one of the most
reliable among the many houses for travelers offered by the great
Western metropolis.

On the second day he made it a point to find out the store of
John French, hoping to acquire the information desired by Miss
Norris.

It was a store of good size, and apparently well stocked.
Feeling the need of new footgear, Carl entered and asked to be shown
some shoes. He was waited upon by a young clerk named Gray, with whom
he struck up a pleasant acquaintance.

"Do you live in Chicago?" asked Gray? sociably.

"No; I am from New York State. I am here on business."

"Staying at a hotel?"

"Yes, at the Sherman. If you are at leisure this evening I
shall be glad to have you call on me. I am a stranger here, and
likely to find the time hang heavy on my hands."

"I shall be free at six o'clock."

"Then come to supper with me."

"Thank you, I shall be glad to do so," answered Gray, with
alacrity. Living as he did at a cheap boarding house, the prospect
of a supper at a first-class hotel was very attractive. He was a
pleasant-faced young man of twenty, who had drifted to Chicago from
his country home in Indiana, and found it hard to make both ends meet
on a salary of nine dollars a week. His habits were good, his manner
was attractive and won him popularity with customer's, and with
patience he was likely to succeed in the end.

"I wish I could live like this every day," he said, as he rose
from a luxurious supper. "At present my finances won't allow me to
board at the Sherman."

"Nor would mine," said Carl; "but I am allowed to spend money
more freely when I am traveling."

"Are you acquainted in New York?" asked Gray.

"I have little or no acquaintance in the city," answered
Carl.

"I should be glad to get a position there."

"Are you not satisfied with your present place?"

"I am afraid I shall not long keep it."

"Why not? Do you think you are in any danger of being
discharged?"

"It is not that. I am afraid Mr. French will be obliged to give
up business."

"Why?" asked Carl, with keen interest.

"I have reason to think he is embarrassed. I know that he has a
good many bills out, some of which have been running a long time. If
any pressure is brought to bear upon him, he may have to suspend."

Carl felt that he was obtaining important information. If Mr.
French were in such a condition Miss Norris would be pretty sure to
lose her money if she advanced it.

"To what do you attribute Mr. French's embarrassment?" he
asked.

"He lives expensively in a handsome house near Lincoln Park, and
draws heavily upon the business for his living expenses. I think that
explains it. I only wonder that he has been able to hold out so
long."

"Perhaps if he were assisted he would be able to keep his head
above water."

"He would need a good deal of assistance. You see that my place
isn't very secure, and I shall soon need to be looking up
another."

"I don't think I shall need to inquire any farther," thought
Carl. "It seems to me Miss Norris had better keep her money."

Before he retired he indited the following letter to his Albany
employer:

Miss Rachel Norris.

"Dear Madam:--I have attended to your commission, and have to
report that Mr. French appears to be involved in business
embarrassments, and in great danger to bankruptcy. The loan he asks
of you would no doubt be of service, but probably would not long
delay the crash. If you wish to assist him, it would be better to
allow him to fail, and then advance him the money to put him on his
feet. I am told that his troubles come from living beyond his
means.

"Yours respectfully, "Carl Crawford."

By return mail Carl received the following note:

"My Dear Young Friend:--Your report confirms the confidence I
reposed in you. It is just the information I desired. I shall take
your advice and refuse the loan. What other action I may take
hereafter I cannot tell. When you return, should you stop in Albany,
please call on me. If unable to do this, write me from Milford.

Your friend, "Rachel Norris."

Carl was detained for several days in Chicago. He chanced to
meet his English friend, Lord Bedford, upon his arrival, and the
nobleman, on learning where he was staying, also registered at the
Sherman House. In his company Carl took a drive over the magnificent
boulevard which is the pride of Chicago, and rose several degrees in
the opinion of those guests who noticed his intimacy with the English
guest.

Carl had just completed his Chicago business when, on entering
the hotel, he was surprised to see a neighbor of his father's--Cyrus
Robinson--a prominent business man of Edgewood Center. Carl was
delighted, for he had not been home, or seen any home friends for
over a year.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Robinson," he said, offering his
hand.

"What! Carl Crawford!" exclaimed Robinson, in amazement. "How
came you in Chicago? Your father did not tell me you were here."

"He does not know it. I am only here on a business visit. Tell
me, Mr. Robinson, how is my father?"

"I think, Carl, that he is not at all well. I am quite sure he
misses you, and I don't believe your stepmother's influence over him
is beneficial. Just before I came away I heard a rumor that troubled
me. It is believed in Edgewood that she is trying to induce your
father to make a will leaving all, or nearly all his property to her
and her son."

"I don't care so much for that, Mr. Robinson, as for my father's
health."

"Carl," said Robinson, significantly, "if such a will is made I
don't believe your father will live long after it."

"You don't mean that?" said Carl, horror-struck.

"I think Mrs. Crawford, by artful means will worry your father
to death. He is of a nervous temperament, and an unscrupulous woman
can shorten his life without laying herself open to the law."

Carl's face grew stern.

"I will save my father," he said, "and defeat my stepmother's
wicked schemes."

"I pray Heaven you can. There is no time to be lost."

"I shall lose no time, you may be sure. I shall be at Edgewood
within a week."