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Messenger No. 48 By: James Otis (1848-1912) |
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MESSENGER No. 48
BY JAMES OTIS Author of "Telegraph Tom's Venture," "Messenger No. 48",
"Toby Tyler," "The Boy Captain," "Silent Peter," etc., etc.
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK AKRON, OHIO CHICAGO
Copyright, 1899 By The Saalfield Publishing Company
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I Jet
II Trouble
III The Kidnappers
IV An Engagement
V Baffled
VI The Battle
VII A Bold Attempt
VIII An Arrest
IX The Detective
X One Prisoner
XI Close Quarters
XII The Encounter
XIII The Snare
XIV A Capture
XV Assistance
XVI On the Trail
XVII An Old Friend
XVIII Jail Life
XIX The Dinner
XX A Recognition
XXI The Adirondacks
XXII The Small Guide
XXIII The Visit
XXIV A Stern Chase
XXV Jim
XXVI Success
XXVII Reconnoitering
XXVIII The Struggle
XXIX Bob
XXX A Failure
XXXI An Attack
XXXII Harvey & Co.
MESSENGER No. 48
CHAPTER I JET "What's your name?" "Jethro Lewis." "How old are you?" "I don't know." "Judging from the size I shouldn't say you were over ten." "My size 's against me, that's a fact; but I can run a good deal faster
than some fellers twice as big." The manager of the District Messenger Station did not attempt to
conceal a smile as the boy spoke thus earnestly, and continued the
examination by asking: "Where do you live?" "Down on East Tenth Street." "Mother and father alive?" "Both dead. I'm boardin' with Mammy Showers." "As a rule we do not employ boys who have no parents." "Why not? Can't they shinney 'round, jest as well as other fellers?" "There is no question about that, but we prefer to have some one to
look out for them." "So would I, but there's no use kickin' when a feller can't have all
them luxuries," Jet said gravely. "It ain't so awful nice to hustle
for yourself with a chance of bein' fired outer the house if the board
ain't paid right up to the minute." "How have you been earning a living?" "Most any way that come handy. Sometimes I sell papers, an' then agin
I black boots. I did think one spell of goin' into the theayter biz,
but I couldn't git the right kind of a job. I can dance a good many of
them perfessionals way out of sight, but the managers won't hire a
performer what ain't got good clothes." Jet spoke in a business like tone which evidently pleased the manager,
for the latter said, after a short pause: "I will give you a trial, and " "You couldn't do better," Jet interrupted gravely, "for if I can't hump
myself ahead of that fat chump over there I don't want a cent," and he
pointed to a very fleshy boy who was half asleep on a bench which
extended across the rear of the room. "Here is a cap," the manager continued. "Your number is forty eight.
We'll find a coat which will answer until another is made, and you are
to go to work at once. Can you read?" "Why cert." "Then study this book of distances so you may know how much to charge
for service, and set on that bench until it is your turn to go out." Jet took the articles and was about to turn away from the desk when a
very important question came into his mind. "How much money are you goin' to give me a week?" "Four dollars is the regular price for beginners; but there are good
chances to advance if you attend to business." This was evidently satisfactory to new number forty eight, for he did
as directed, and was soon busily engaged studying the tariff of prices,
seated beside the fat boy who was now slumbering calmly. For a short time Jet thought more about financial matters than of his
lesson. Mammy Showers charged him a dollar and a half per week for a
small room hardly larger than a cupboard, and two meals each day. He
would now, providing he did not indulge in too many luxuries while
traveling around the city, be able to save two dollars and a half every
seven days, and it seemed very much as if he had fairly started on the
highway to fortune... Continue reading book >>
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Fiction |
Teen/Young adult |
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