CHAPTER XXXVI. A GREAT SURPRISE.

 From New York to Tacoma is a long journey. Over three thousand miles must be traversed by rail, but the trip is far from tiresome¹. Chester and his companion thoroughly² enjoyed it. All was new and strange, and the broad spaces through which they passed were full of interest.

 

They stopped at Niagara Falls, but only for a few hours, and spent a day in Chicago. Then they were whirled onward³ to St. Paul and Minneapolis, and later on over the broad plains of North Dakota and through the mountains of Montana.

 

"I never thought the country was so large before," said Chester to Edward. "You have been over the ground once before."

 

"Yes; but part of it was during the night, It is pleasant to see it once more. Many of the places have grown considerably⁴, though it is only two years since I came from Portland."

 

Chester made some agreeable acquaintances. An unsociable traveler misses many of the profitable results of his journey, besides finding time hang heavily on his hands.

 

Just after leaving Bismarck, in North Dakota, Chester's attention was called to an old man, whose white hair and wrinkled face indicated that he had passed the age of seventy years.

 

The conductor came through the car, collecting tickets. The old man searched for his, and an expression of dismay overspread his face.

 

"I can't find my ticket," he said.

 

"That is unfortunate. Where did you come from?"

 

"From Buffalo⁵."

 

"When did you last see your ticket?"

 

"I stopped over one night in Bismarck, and had to share my room with a young man, for the hotel was crowded. I think he must have picked my pocket of the ticket."

 

"Did you know the ticket was missing when you boarded the train?"

 

"No, sir. I did not think to look."

 

"Your case is unfortunate. How far are you going?"

 

"To Tacoma. I have a son there."

 

"I am afraid you will have to pay the fare from here. I have no discretion⁶ in the matter, and cannot allow you to ride without a ticket."

 

"Don't you believe my ticket was stolen?" asked the old man, in a state of nervous agitation⁷.

 

"Yes, I believe it. I don't think a man of your age would deceive me. But I cannot let you travel without paying for another."

 

"I haven't money enough," said the old man, piteously. "If you will wait till I reach Tacoma my son will give me money to pay you."

 

"I am not allowed to do that. I think you will have to get out at the next station."

 

The old man was much agitated⁸.

 

"It is very hard," he sighed. "I—I don't know what to do."

 

Chester had listened to this conversation with great sympathy for the unfortunate traveler, on account of his age and apparent helplessness.

 

"How much is the fare to Tacoma from this point?" he asked.

 

"In the neighborhood of fifty dollars," answered the conductor.

 

"Will your son be able to pay this?" asked Chester.

 

"Oh, yes," answered the old man. "William has been doin' well. He is going to build a large hotel in Tacoma—he and another man."

 

"Then," said Chester, "I will advance you what money you need. You can give me a memorandum⁹, so that I can collect it from your son."

 

"Heaven bless you, young man!" said the old man, fervently¹⁰. "You are indeed a friend to me who am but a stranger. I am sure you will prosper¹¹."

 

"Thank you."

 

"What a fellow you are, Chester!" said Edward. "You will make yourself poor helping¹² others."

 

"I shall sleep better for having aided the old man," answered Chester.

 

The rest of the journey was uneventful. The two boys went at once to Tacoma, as Chester felt that the gentlemen who were negotiating for his lots were probably in a hurry to arrange for the building of the hotel. After establishing themselves at a hotel and eating dinner, they went at once to the office of Dean & Downie, the real estate agents from whom Chester had received a letter.

 

Here a surprise awaited him.

 

Standing¹³ at a desk in the rear of the office was a figure that looked familiar. The man turned as the door opened to admit Chester, and the latter recognized to his great astonishment¹⁴ his old enemy—David Mullins!

1 tiresome   

adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的

参考例句：

• His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
• He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜，令人生厌。

2 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

3 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

4 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

5 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

6 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

7 agitation   

n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动

参考例句：

• Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
• These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。

8 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

9 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

10 fervently   

adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地

参考例句：

• "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦，我真高兴！”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊，我亲爱的，亲爱的，你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

11 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。