CHAPTER XXVI. BERT SECURES BOARD IN HARRISBURG.

 Bert arrived in Harrisburg about four o'clock in the afternoon. He had in his hand a gripsack purchased for him by Uncle Jacob, who also provided him with a fuller supply of184 shirts, socks, and underclothing than he had brought with him.

 

"You may be gone some time," he said.

 

Just as Bert got into the cars, Uncle Jacob handed him a wallet.

 

"This contains a sum of money for your immediate² needs," he explained. "When you are out, send to me."

 

After the cars started, Bert opened the wallet, and to his surprise found that he had fifty dollars in his possession.

 

"Uncle Jacob's money won't last long at this rate," he said to himself. "I must be very careful and economical. I should like to take back to him a part of this sum."

 

Of course Bert enjoyed his trip. The sun shone brightly, the air was cool and invigorating, and the scenes through which he was rapidly speeding were new to him. In spite of the sense of responsibility which rested upon him, he felt cheerful and exhilarated.

 

"If I can only succeed in my mission!" he thought. "If I can only find Ralph Harding, and induce him to vindicate³ my father's reputation, I shall feel happy!"

 

It so happened that he had seated himself in the smoking car, the car behind, which he first entered, being full.185

 

A tall, thin man, wearing a white hat, sat down beside him.

 

"Have a cigar, young man?" he asked, as he produced two of rather poor quality, one of which he lighted and proceeded to smoke.

 

"No, thank you, sir."

 

"Better accept a good offer," urged the stranger.

 

"Thank you, but I don't smoke."

 

"Indeed! How old are you?"

 

"I am sixteen," replied Bert.

 

"Then you are a rara avis—that means a rare bird. Most boys of your age smoke."

 

"They'd be better off without it."

 

"Perhaps so. I see you are a prudent⁴ young man. How far are you going?"

 

"To Harrisburg."

 

"So am I. Queer coincidence, isn't it?"

 

"I don't know," answered Bert, smiling. "I presume there are other passengers on board who are also bound for that city."

 

"Very possibly. Ever been there before?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"I have often, and the long ride is rather tedious. What do you say to a little game of cards to fill up the time?"

 

"Thank you, but I would rather look out of the window."186

 

The stranger seemed disappointed, but a man in the seat just behind, leaning over, said: "If you want a game, I'm your man."

 

"All right!" said Bert's companion, brightening up. "What game do you play?"

 

"Anything."

 

"Poker⁵?"

 

"All right."

 

The two took seats opposite, between which was a small table, and the game began. Bert looked over now and then, and saw that they were playing for money. He was startled, for he had been taught to regard gambling⁶ with horror. It seemed evident after awhile that his late seat-mate was losing. He became more and more excited and nervous, and his face was overspread with gloom. At length he came over to Bert, and said, eagerly: "My young friend, will you do me a favor?"

 

"What is it, sir?"

 

"Lend me five dollars."

 

This seemed to Bert an extraordinary request from a perfect stranger.

 

"You must excuse me, sir," he answered.

 

"Haven't you got as much about you? Say two dollars, then."

 

"The money I have with me is not my own," said Bert. "I cannot lend anything."

 

"But, let me assure you, I will give it back187 to you before the train reaches Harrisburg. I have had a streak⁷ of bad luck, and that man over there has won all my money. But I've got on to his game, and I will soon have it all back, if I get a start. You'll be doing me a great favor, and there will be no risk."

 

"He must take me for a fool," thought Bert.

 

"You had better apply to some one else," he said coldly. "I can't possibly help you."

 

"So young and so hard-hearted!" murmured the other, eying Bert reproachfully. "'Twas ever thus from childhood's hour. I was born under an unlucky star. Sir, I am afraid I must withdraw from our pleasant game unless you will kindly⁸ lend me a dollar to continue."

 

His late antagonist⁹ shrugged¹⁰ his shoulders.

 

"I don't see how that would benefit me," he said. "We'll wait till another time when you are in funds. Then I shall be happy to accommodate you."

 

"Did you lose much?" asked Bert, as his companion resumed a seat at his side.

 

"Fifteen dollars! 'Tis not much, but 'twas my all. If you would oblige me with a dollar, I can win it all back."

 

Bert shook his head.

 

"I have no money of my own," he said.

 

"Never mind! Twenty times I have been188 on the threshold of fortune, and failed to secure it by my funds giving out. Be it so! I will no longer resist, but float downward to oblivion over the rapids of disappointment."

 

"You are an actor, are you not?" said Bert.

 

"Yes; at least, so I sometimes flatter myself, though the critics do not all concede it. If you are going to remain in Harrisburg long enough, come and see me act."

 

He gave Bert his card, and then closing his eyes, passed the remainder of the journey in dozing¹¹.

 

Arrived in Harrisburg, Bert found himself besieged¹² by hackmen, representing different hotels. But he did not think it right to waste Uncle Jacob's money in unnecessary expense. He picked out a bootblack, and showing him the address of Mrs. Stubbs, asked: "Is that near by?"

 

"'Bout¹ quarter of a mile," answered the street boy.

 

"What'll you ask for showing me the way?"

 

"A dime¹³."

 

"Go ahead, then!"

 

In five minutes Bert found himself standing¹⁴ in front of a rather shabby three-story house, in a decent, but not fashionable, street. The name Stubbs was on the door.189

 

Bert rang the bell, and inquired for Mrs. Stubbs.

 

He was ushered¹⁵ into a small reception room on one side of the front door, furnished in cheap, boarding-house style, and took a seat on a stiff-backed cane¹⁶ chair.

 

Presently a thin lady, with cork-screw curls, and a pale, washed-out complexion¹⁷, entered the room.

 

"Did you wish to see me, sir?" she said.

 

"Yes," answered Bert. "You answered an advertisement about Ralph Harding. I come from New York."

 

"Have you brought my money?" asked Mrs. Stubbs, with animation¹⁸.

 

"What money do you refer to?"

 

"Mr. Harding's board bill. I sent it in the letter."

 

"We don't feel called upon to pay Mr. Harding's debts," returned Bert, who had been instructed by Uncle Jacob to say this.

 

"Must I lose thirty-two dollars, then?" said the lady tragically¹⁹. "It's a shame."

 

"No doubt it is, but we don't even know Mr. Harding."

 

"Then why did you advertise for him?"

 

"Because we want his testimony²⁰ in a law case."

 

"The advertisement said that it would be190 for Mr. Harding's advantage to report to you."

 

"So it will, if we can find him. He will receive money enough to settle your bill, and more, too. We will see that he does, if you help us find him."

 

"I am sure I am willing to do all I can," said Mrs. Stubbs, considerably²¹ mollified.

 

"Have you got a small room vacant?" asked Bert. "I may be detained in Harrisburg for a while."

 

"Yes; you can have the one Mr. Harding used to occupy. If you occupy it alone, it will be five dollars a week with board."

 

"I will take it," said Bert promptly²². "Can I have possession at once?"

 

"Yes. Let me show you the way."

 

The room was on the third floor. It was a small one, but would answer the purpose. Bert took out his clothes, and laid them away in the pine bureau near the window.

 

"Well," he said, as he waited for the bell to summon him to supper, "I have taken the first step toward finding Ralph Harding. I am occupying the room which was once his. What shall be the next step?"

 

He little anticipated the singular experience that same evening had in store for him.

1 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 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？

4 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。

5 poker   

n.扑克；vt.烙制

参考例句：

• He was cleared out in the poker game.他打扑克牌，把钱都输光了。
• I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it.我打扑克是老手了，可以玩些花样。

6 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

7 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

8 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

9 antagonist   

n.敌人，对抗者，对手

参考例句：

• His antagonist in the debate was quicker than he.在辩论中他的对手比他反应快。
• The thing is to know the nature of your antagonist.要紧的是要了解你的对手的特性。

10 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 dozing   

v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。

12 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

13 dime   

n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角

参考例句：

• A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
• The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

14 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。

15 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

17 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

18 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

19 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

20 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。

21 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。

22 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。