CHAPTER XXV. AN ADVERTISEMENT AND WHAT CAME OF IT.

 Uncle Jacob left the office at five o'clock, and Bert, who had been exploring the lower part of New York, went uptown with him on the Sixth Avenue road. They got out at Twenty-third Street, and Jacob Marlowe led the way to a large, roomy house near Seventh Avenue. He took out a night-key, and opening the outer door proceeded to a large, handsomely furnished apartment on the second floor, with a bedroom attached.

 

"This is where I live, Bert," he remarked, as he took off his hat and hung it up in a closet.

 

Bert looked around him. To him the room looked quite luxurious¹, being furnished in a style which would compare favorably even with Squire² Marlowe's, the best house in Lakeville.

 

Bert knew nothing of room rents in New York; but, inexperienced as he was, he was surprised that his uncle, on a salary of twelve dollars a week, should be able to live so well. He would have been even more amazed had he177 known that the weekly rent of the room he was in was twelve dollars.

 

"You've got a splendid room, Uncle Jacob," he said. "I shouldn't think you could afford to live in such style."

 

"Some of my friends think I am extravagant," observed Jacob Marlowe with a smile. "Perhaps they are right."

 

"I am afraid you can't save anything," went on Bert gravely. "What if you should get sick?"

 

"I see, Bert, you are more prudent³ than I am. However I have invested some of my money in the Magnet Mine, and it is likely to double. So I feel justified⁴ in making myself comfortable."

 

"I am glad to hear that, Uncle Jacob. You deserve to succeed, you are so kind to others."

 

"I am glad you think so, Bert. I want to do some good while I live. It gives a man something to live for."

 

After supper, which was taken at a restaurant near by, Uncle Jacob said: "Now let us come to business. I promised your father that I would do what I could to prove him innocent of the charge made against him ten years since."

 

"Where is my father? Is he in the city?"178

 

"No; it is not safe for him to stay here, as he is subject to arrest, and might be recognized. He has gone back to Canada. Do you know the particulars of his story?"

 

"Yes; mother told me all about it last night."

 

"You know, then, that a young man named Ralph Harding informed against him, and that it was his testimony⁵ that led to your father's arrest."

 

"Yes."

 

"Your father is under the impression that this Harding was in league with Albert Marlowe, and was employed by him to throw suspicion upon your father. The weak point of the prosecution⁶ was that your father could only be connected with the five-hundred dollar bond found in his overcoat pocket, while a large balance was wholly unaccounted for. That made it seem like a cunning conspiracy⁷, as undoubtedly⁸ it was."

 

"Were the other bonds never traced?"

 

"I understand not. No list of the numbers had been kept, and, not being registered, they could easily be sold. Your father thinks that upon these the present prosperity of Albert Marlowe was built up."

 

"How are we to prove that?"

 

"It will be difficult. One thing is abso179lutely essential. We must find this Ralph Harding, and persuade him, if we can, to exonerate⁹ your father and place the guilt¹⁰ where it properly belongs."

 

"Does father know where to find Harding?"

 

"No; if he did, the greatest difficulty in our way would be removed."

 

"Then I don't see that we can do anything," said Bert, disappointed.

 

"The task is difficult, but not impossible. All we know is, that only two months after the robbery Harding disappeared. It was reported that he went to the West, but this was by no means certain. From that day to this, nothing is positively¹¹ known as to his whereabouts."

 

"Then I don't see what can be done," repeated Bert.

 

"There is one thing to guide us," continued Uncle Jacob; "the man's occupation. There is a fair probability that he is working in some shoe town, that is, if he is still alive."

 

"There are a good many shoe towns," objected Bert.

 

"True; the clew is only a faint one, yet sometimes a faint clew leads to important discoveries."180

 

"Have you taken any steps yet, Uncle Jacob?"

 

"Yes; your father remembered that Harding was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and this made it possible, at least, that he had gone back to his native State. Accordingly, last week, I inserted an advertisement in two daily papers printed in Philadelphia, calling for information touching¹² the man of whom we are in search. I will show you a copy of it."

 

Uncle Jacob took from his wallet a newspaper clipping and showed it to Bert.

 

It ran thus:

 

Wanted.—Information as to the present residence of Ralph Harding, who in the year 1873 was employed in the shoe manufactory of Weeks Brothers, in Lynn, Mass. He will hear something to his advantage.

 

"Have you had any answer to this advertisement?" asked Bert.

 

"Not till this morning, when I received a letter from Harrisburg, written in a feminine hand. Here it is."

 

He placed in Bert's hands the following letter:

 

Dear Sir: I have read in the Philadelphia Ledger¹³ your advertisement for a man named Ralph Harding. A man by that name181 boarded with me two months ago. He was working in a shoe shop in this city, so he may be the one you are after. You say you know of something to his advantage. If there is any money coming to him I want you to see that I am paid a just debt. Mr. Harding was owing me eight weeks' board when he left the house, at four dollars a week, and dirt cheap that is; for, if I do say it myself, there are not many boarding-houses in Harrisburg where so good a table is kept for four dollars as I give. I inclose my bill, and will be very glad if you will send me the money by return of mail, taking it out of any money that is to come to Mr. Harding. I work hard for my money, and I can't afford to lose thirty-two dollars, and it isn't right that I should.

 

Hoping to hear from you very soon, I remain,

Yours respectfully,

 

Amelia Stubbs.

 

P. S. You can send me a check, as I can get it cashed by my grocer.

 

 

"Mrs. Stubbs means business," remarked Bert with a smile. "Have you sent her the money?"

 

"Not yet. I don't hold myself liable for Ralph Harding's debts, even if this is the man182 I am after. However, I am willing to pay Mrs. Stubbs for information, if she can furnish any that will help us."

 

"Have you written to her?"

 

"I am going to send a letter to her by you."

 

"Am I to go to Harrisburg?" exclaimed Bert, pleasantly surprised.

 

"Yes; I shall send you there to-morrow."

 

"I should like to go. What am I to do when I get there?"

 

"First of all you must call on Mrs. Stubbs. It may be well for you to engage board at her house for a week, paying in advance, as that will put you in her good graces. You will, of course, learn all you can from her, but it will be necessary also to seek information outside. I shall have to leave a good deal to your discretion¹⁴."

 

"I hope your confidence in me won't prove to be misplaced, Uncle Jacob."

 

"I know you will do your best, Bert, but it is quite possible you may fail. As the poet says: ''Tis not in mortals to command success.' I am sure you will deserve it."

 

"Isn't it going to cost considerable to make this journey, Uncle Jacob?"

 

"I think we can find money enough for it."

 

"I am afraid your money will soon melt away, uncle. Think how much you have spent for us already."

 

"You remember what I told you as to my lucky investment in the Magnet Mine. At any rate it will be worth something to vindicate¹⁵ your father, who, for ten long and tedious years, has been compelled to pass his life in exile under the ban of a crime which he never committed."

 

"Yes, Uncle Jacob, but it ought not to come out of you."

 

"Make yourself easy, Bert. The money we spend for worthy¹⁶ purposes is well invested, and we are often repaid tenfold. And now, as you are unacquainted with New York, I will take you out for a walk and show you how it looks by gaslight."

 

Nothing could have pleased Bert better than this proposal. They returned at nine o'clock, and both he and Uncle Jacob retired¹⁷ at an early hour.

1 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

2 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

3 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

4 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

5 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

6 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

7 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

8 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

9 exonerate   

v.免除责任，确定无罪

参考例句：

• Nothing can exonerate her from that.任何解释都难辞其咎。
• There is no reason to exonerate him from the ordinary duties of a citizen.没有理由免除他做公民应尽的义务。

10 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

11 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

12 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

13 ledger   

n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿

参考例句：

• The young man bowed his head and bent over his ledger again.那个年轻人点头应诺，然后又埋头写起分类帐。
• She is a real accountant who even keeps a detailed household ledger.她不愧是搞财务的，家庭分类账记得清楚详细。

14 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。

15 vindicate   

v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确

参考例句：

• He tried hard to vindicate his honor.他拼命维护自己的名誉。
• How can you vindicate your behavior to the teacher?你怎样才能向老师证明你的行为是对的呢？

16 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

17 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。