CHAPTER XXIV. THE OFFICE OF THE MAGNET MINE.

 Bert took the morning train to New York, and arrived about half-past seven o'clock. He met with no adventures on the way, and as soon as he reached the Grand Central Depot¹ took a Fourth Avenue car down, as instructed by Uncle Jacob. In a large building of many stories on Nassau Street, on the sixth floor, was an office on the door of which Bert read

 

MAGNET MINING CO.

 

This, as he understood, was the office where Jacob Marlowe was employed.

 

Bert was considering whether he ought to knock or not, when a brisk-looking gentleman stepped up, and, opening the door, entered. Bert followed him in.

 

"Whom did you wish to see?" asked the brisk-looking man.

 

"Mr. Jacob Marlowe. Is this the office where he is employed?"

 

"Yes," answered the man, with a smile.

 

Bert hardly needed this assurance, however, as he had already discovered Uncle Jacob sitting in an inner room, at a desk, conversing² on business, apparently³, with an elderly man of dignified⁴ appearance.170

 

"He will soon be at leisure," said the one who had just entered, and seated himself at another desk in the outer room.

 

"That must be Uncle Jacob's employer," thought Bert.

 

"What news do you hear of the mine?" he heard the elderly man ask.

 

"Excellent," answered Uncle Jacob. "It has gone up five points within two weeks. The output is steadily⁵ increasing."

 

"Do you know anything of it from your own knowledge?"

 

"Certainly; I ought to, for I was myself its discoverer."

 

This rather surprised Bert.

 

"It was a rich find," continued Uncle Jacob, "and I have no hesitation⁶ in putting it on the New York market."

 

"There are so many wild-cat mines, you know, that a man needs to be very cautious."

 

"Quite true. In such mines it is only the men who capitalize them who make money. I would not lend myself to any such scheme of deception⁷. I have a reputation to sustain, and I value that more than money. Our mine has found favor with some of the most conservative investors⁸ in the city." Here Uncle Jacob mentioned several names, so prominent that171 they were familiar to Bert, country boy though he was.

 

"You may put me down for five hundred shares," said the elderly man, apparently convinced. "I will send you round a check to-morrow. To whom shall I make it payable⁹?"

 

"To me."

 

"Very well."

 

The old gentleman rose, drew on his gloves, and went out, Uncle Jacob accompanying him to the door. This brought him face to face with Bert.

 

"So you have come, Bert," he said with a pleasant smile. "How did you leave your mother?"

 

"Very well, uncle."

 

"At what time did you breakfast?"

 

"At half-past six."

 

"Then you must be hungry. It is rather early for my lunch, but I will go out with you now. Mr. Bascom, I shall be back within an hour. If any one calls to see me, try to keep him."

 

"Yes, sir," answered Bascom deferentially¹⁰.

 

"He can't be Uncle Jacob's employer," thought Bert. "He is too respectful. I had no idea uncle was such a man of business. He doesn't appear to be afraid of anybody."

 

They descended¹¹ in the elevator, rather to172 Bert's surprise, who had climbed up by the staircase. Crossing the street they entered a dairy restaurant, which in spite of the name supplied the usual variety of dishes. They found a table at which no others were seated, and Uncle Jacob ordered a substantial meal of roast beef and vegetables.

 

"Did you find me easily, Bert?" he inquired.

 

"Oh, yes, uncle. I had to inquire the way once only. Do you like your place?"

 

"Very well, indeed, Bert."

 

"Is it a good man you work for?"

 

Uncle Jacob smiled.

 

"I have no fault to find with him," he answered.

 

"I thought perhaps that man with black hair and whiskers might be the boss."

 

"No, he is a clerk."

 

"Like you?"

 

"Yes," answered Jacob, with another smile.

 

"Does the boss often come in?"

 

"He doesn't interfere¹² much. You see he has a good deal of confidence in Mr. Bascom and myself."

 

"So I thought."

 

"What made you think so?"

 

"You seem to talk and act as if you were independent."173

 

"It's a way I have, Bert. As I understand the business thoroughly¹³, more than anybody else, there is no reason why I shouldn't, is there?"

 

"Oh, no!"

 

"That is why I enjoy my position so well."

 

"Do you get paid your wages every Saturday night?"

 

"Oftener, if I please," answered Jacob Marlowe, seeming amused. "If I happen to get short in the middle of the week, I can draw in advance."

 

"You seem to have a very good position, Uncle Jacob. It is a great deal better than opening a cigar store in Lakeville."

 

"Yes, I think so myself—Albert Marlowe was right in advising me against it. Have you seen him lately?"

 

"I see him about every day, but not to speak to."

 

"It was mean in him to discharge you from the factory."

 

"So I thought, Uncle Jacob."

 

"I wrote asking him to take you back."

 

"What did he say?" asked Bert, with interest.

 

"He in effect told me to mind my own business. I hope you and your mother have not suffered for want of money?"174

 

"No, thanks to you, Uncle Jacob. Mother thought you ought not to have sent so much."

 

"I don't think I shall miss it, Bert," said Uncle Jacob. "I am glad that it helped you."

 

"The twenty-dollar bill got me into trouble."

 

"How was that?"

 

Bert told the story of his arrest on the charge of robbing Mr. Jones, and gave an account of his trial.

 

"And you were tried before Albert Marlowe?"

 

"Yes."

 

"I suppose Percy rejoiced in your humiliation¹⁴?"

 

"No, he didn't. He behaved like a brick. He walked to the court-room with me, and told me he was sure I was not guilty."

 

"I am certainly surprised, but I am pleased also. That is a point in Percy's favor, an unexpected one. He shan't lose by it."

 

"I am afraid I shouldn't have got off if it hadn't been for a young lawyer from New York, named Conway, who volunteered to defend me."

 

"Go on. Give me an account of it. Can you give me the address of Mr. Conway?"

 

"Yes, uncle. I have it here."175

 

"I may be able to throw a little business in his way. One good turn deserves another."

 

"I wish you would, Uncle Jacob. Mr. Conway refused to accept a fee, knowing that I could not afford to pay him."

 

Uncle Jacob asked other questions as the dinner proceeded. Finally Bert brought out his most important piece of news.

 

"I have just found out that my father is still alive," he said.

 

"Yes, I knew that," returned Uncle Jacob calmly.

 

"You knew it?"

 

"Yes, he has been to see me."

 

"He has! When?"

 

"Last week."

 

"You don't think him guilty of the charge which was brought against him?"

 

"No; I think him a badly-used man."

 

"I wish I could be the means of proving his innocence¹⁵."

 

"I mean that you shall be."

 

Bert surveyed his uncle in surprise.

 

"In fact, it is for that reason I have sent for you. Your father has put his case into my hands, and I propose to see him righted. This evening, when I am free from business cares, I will speak further with you on this subject."

 

Uncle Jacob called for his check, paid it, and they returned to the office.

1 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

2 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

7 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

8 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

9 payable   

adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的

参考例句：

• This check is payable on demand.这是一张见票即付的支票。
• No tax is payable on these earnings.这些收入不须交税。

10 deferentially   

adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地

参考例句：

• "Now, let me see,'said Hurstwood, looking over Carrie's shoulder very deferentially. “来，让我瞧瞧你的牌。”赫斯渥说着，彬彬有礼地从嘉莉背后看过去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• He always acts so deferentially around his supervisor. 他总是毕恭毕敬地围着他的上司转。 来自互联网

11 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

12 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

13 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。

14 humiliation   

n.羞辱

参考例句：

• He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
• He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

15 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。