CHAPTER XXI THE CAPTURE

 At the hour named, Frank repaired to the Astor House, and took a position on the steps.

 

He looked about him for his street acquaintance, but could see no one who bore any resemblance to him.

 

Finally, a man dressed in a gray suit with a pair of green glasses, walked carelessly up to our hero and said, in a low voice:

 

"Have you got the money?"

 

Frank looked at him in surprise.

 

This man had thick, black whiskers, while the man who had employed him had none at all, so far as he could remember. Besides, the green glasses altered him considerably¹.

 

To make sure that he was not deceived he inquired:

 

"What money?"

 

"You know very well," said the man, impatiently. "You are the boy whom I employed to sell some bonds this morning."

 

"You don't look like the same man," said Frank.

 

"Because of my glasses. I have to wear them at times on account of the weakness of my eyes."

 

While he was speaking, a quiet-looking man approached and listened to the conversation.

 

"Then," said Frank, "you can tell me how many bonds you handed me."

 

"They were two five-twenty government bonds of a hundred dollars each."

 

"Correct, sir."

 

"Then hand me the money and be quick about it, for I have no time to waste! You shall have the dollar I promised you."

 

But here the quiet-looking man took a part in the conversation. Passing his arm through that of the man with the green glasses, he said:

 

"I will trouble you to come with me."

 

"How dare you touch me? Do you mean to insult me?" demanded the other, struggling with captor.

 

"I will make all clear in due time. You must come with me and explain how you came in possession of the bonds you gave this boy."

 

"They were put in my hands by an acquaintance. If there is anything wrong, I am not to blame."

 

"In that case no harm will come to you; but now you must come along."

 

After his experience, Frank walked to his boarding place. He was quite ready for six o'clock.

 

When he entered the dining room, his hostess introduced him to all.

 

A young man sat next to him and entered into conversation.

 

"What do you do, Mr. Courtney?"

 

"I have taken an agency to sell tea for the Great Pekin Tea Company. I am to begin to-morrow."

 

"I am afraid you won't like it. A friend of mine tried it once and came near starving."

 

This was not encouraging, but Frank was not going to despair before he had fairly begun his work.

 

"I find that boys receive such small wages," Frank continued, "that I preferred to try an agency."

 

"Quite true," said Mr. Preston, condescendingly. "When I started I was paid a paltry² sum; now I am not paid what I am worth. Still, twenty-five dollars a week is fair."

 

"Quite fair," responded Frank, who could not, of course, know that Mr. Preston did not receive one-half of this sum, though he chose to give that impression.

 

After dinner, Preston was obliged to go back to the store where he was employed. By invitation, Frank walked with him.

 

Turning into Sixth Avenue they passed a saloon.

 

"Won't you have something to drink, Courtney?" said Preston.

 

"No, thank you, I never drink," answered Frank.

 

"It will brace³ you up, and make you feel jolly. Better come in!"

 

"I don't need bracing⁴ up," answered Frank, quietly.

 

"Well, perhaps you are right," said Mr. Peter Preston. "I don't indulge very often, but sometimes I feel like it."

 

Some boys might have yielded to the temptation, but Frank had determined⁵ that he would abstain⁶ from liquor, and kept his resolution. A boy who comes to the city is exposed at every step to this peril⁷, and needs a firm will to withstand it. It is the fruitful source of crime and misery⁸, and does more to fill our prisons than any other cause.

 

"This is my store," said Preston, as he pointed⁹ to a modest-looking shop on the west side of the avenue. "I wish I could keep you company longer, but business before pleasure, you know."

 

Before returning to his boarding house, Frank sat down for a short time in Washington Park, and reviewed his plans and prospects¹⁰. He could not tell how he would succeed in his tea agency; but if that failed, he was resolved to try something else.

 

He didn't feel homesick, for since his mother's death he had no longer any home ties. Young as he was, he felt that one part of his life was at an end, and that a new life and a new career were before him.

1 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。

2 paltry   

adj.无价值的，微不足道的

参考例句：

• The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。
• I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了，如果你不能振作你那点元气。

3 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。

4 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

7 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

8 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

9 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

10 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。