CHAPTER XXXIV. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

 Two or three days later, the circus was billed to show at Glendale, a manufacturing village in Western Pennsylvania. The name attracted the attention of Kit¹, for this was the place where his uncle had lived for many years previous to the death of Kit's father. He naturally desired to learn something of his uncle's reputation among the villagers, who from his long residence among them must remember him well.

 

The circus had arrived during the night. As a general thing Kit was not in a hurry to get up, but as he was to stay but a day in Glendale, he rose early, with the intention of improving his time.

 

Breakfast in the circus tent was not ready till nine o'clock, for circus men of every description get up late, except the razorbacks, who are compelled to be about very early to unload the freight cars, and the canvas men, who put up the tents. So Kit went to the hotel, and registering his name called for breakfast.[Pg 168]

 

After he had eaten it, he strolled into the office, hoping to meet some one of whom he could make inquiries² respecting his uncle. This was made unexpectedly easy. A man of about his uncle's age had been examining the list of arrivals. He looked at Kit inquisitively³.

 

"I beg your pardon, young man," he said, "but are you Christopher Watson?"

 

"Yes, sir," answered Kit, politely.

 

"Did you ever have any relatives living in this place?"

 

"Yes, sir. My uncle, Stephen Watson, used to live here."

 

"I thought so. I once saw your father. He came here to visit your uncle. You look like him."

 

Kit was gratified, for he cherished a warm affection for his dead father, and was glad to have it said that he resembled him.

 

"Are you going to stay here long?" asked the villager.

 

"No, sir; I am here only for the day."

 

"On business, I presume."

 

"Yes, sir," answered Kit, smiling. "I am here with Barlow's circus."

 

The other looked amazed.

 

"You don't mean to say that you are connected with the circus?" he exclaimed.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"In what capacity?"

 

"I am an acrobat⁴."

 

"I don't understand it at all. Why should your father's son need to travel with a circus?"

 

"Because I have my living to earn, and that pays me better than any other employment I can get."

 

"But your father was a rich man, I always heard."[Pg 169]

 

"I supposed so myself, till a short time since my uncle informed me that I was penniless, and must learn a trade."

 

"But where did the money go, then? How does your uncle make a living?"

 

"He has my father's old place, and appears to have enough to support himself and Ralph."

 

"Sit down here, young man! There is something strange about this. I want to ask you a few questions."

 

"You are the man I want to see," said Kit. "I think myself there is some mystery, and I would like to ask some questions about my uncle Stephen from some one who knew him here. I suppose you knew him?"

 

"No one knew him better. Many is the time he has come to me for a loan. He didn't always pay back the money, and I dare say he owes me still in the neighborhood of fifty dollars."

 

"Was he poor then?"

 

"He was in very limited circumstances. He pretended to be in the insurance business, and had a small office in the building near the hotel, but if he made four hundred dollars a year in that way it was more than any one supposed."

 

"Then," said Kit, puzzled, "how could he have lent my father ten thousand dollars?"

 

"He lend you father ten thousand dollars, or anybody else ten thousand dollars! Why, that is perfectly⁵ ridiculous. Who says he did?"

 

"He says so himself."

 

"To whom did he tell that fish story?"

 

"He told me. That is the way he explained his taking possession of the property. That was only one loan. He said he lent father money at various times, and had to take the estate in payment."[Pg 170]

 

Kit's auditor⁶ gave a loud whistle.

 

"The man's a deeper and shrewder rascal⁷ than I had any idea of," he said. "He is swindling you in the most barefaced⁸ manner."

 

"I am not very much surprised to hear it," said Kit. "I was not satisfied that he was telling the truth. If you are correct, then, he has wrongfully appropriated my father's money."

 

"There is not a doubt of it. Did he drive you from home?"

 

"About the same. He attempted to apprentice⁹ me to a blacksmith, while his own son Ralph he means to send to college, and have him study law."

 

"I remember Ralph well, though he was a small boy when he left this village. He was very unpopular among those of his own age. He was always up to some mean act of mischief¹⁰. He got my boy into trouble once in school by charging him with something he had himself done."

 

"He hasn't changed much, then," said Kit. "We both attended the same boarding school, but nobody liked Ralph."

 

"Was he much of a scholar?"

 

"No; he dragged along in the lower half of the class."

 

"Were you two good friends?"

 

"We didn't quarrel, but we kept apart."

 

"So his father wants to make a lawyer of him?"

 

"Yes; I have had a letter from Smyrna in which I hear that my uncle has just bought Ralph a bicycle valued at a hundred and twenty-five dollars."

 

"Money seems to be more plenty with him now than it used to be in his Glendale days. By the way would you like to see the place where your uncle used to live?"[Pg 171]

 

"Yes, sir, if you don't mind showing me."

 

"I will do so with pleasure. Put on your hat, and we will go at once."

 

They walked about a third of a mile, till they reached the outskirts¹¹ of the village.

 

"This is the home of the foreign population," said Kit's guide. "And there is the house which was occupied for at least ten years by your uncle."

 

Kit eyed the building with interest. It was a plain looking cottage, containing but four rooms, which stood badly in need of paint. There was about an acre of land, rocky and sterile¹², attached to it.

 

"This is the residence of the man who lent your father ten thousand dollars," said his guide, in an ironical¹³ tone. "Not much of a palace, is it?"

 

"It can't be worth over a thousand dollars."

 

"Your uncle sold it for seven hundred and eighty dollars, but he didn't get that sum in money, for it was mortgaged for six hundred."

 

"You said my father came here once?"

 

"It was to visit your uncle. While he was here, he stood security at the tailor's for new suits for your uncle and cousin, and must have given your uncle some cash besides, for he appeared to be in funds for some time afterwards. So you see the loan, or rather gift, was on the other side."

 

"I don't see how my uncle dared to misrepresent matters in that way."

 

"Nor I; for he could easily be convicted of fraudulent statements."

 

"I am very much obliged to you, Mr.——"

 

"Pierce."

 

"Mr. Pierce, for your information."

 

"I hope you will make some use of it."

 

"I certainly shall," said Kit, his good humored face showing unwonted resolution.[Pg 172]

 

"Whenever you do, my testimony¹⁴ will be at your service, and there are plenty others who will corroborate¹⁵ my statements of your uncle's financial condition when here. The fact is, my young friend, your uncle has engaged in a most shameless plot against you."

 

Kit was deeply impressed by this conversation. He was resolved, when the time came, to assert his rights, and lay claim to his dead father's property.

1 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

2 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 inquisitively   

过分好奇地； 好问地

参考例句：

• The Mouse looked at her rather inquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little eyes, but It'said nothing. 这老鼠狐疑地看着她，好像还把一只小眼睛向她眨了眨，但没说话。
• The mouse looked at her rather inquisitively. 那只耗子用疑问的眼光看看她。

4 acrobat   

n.特技演员，杂技演员

参考例句：

• The acrobat balanced a long pole on his left shoulder.杂技演员让一根长杆在他的左肩上保持平衡。
• The acrobat could bend himself into a hoop.这个杂技演员可以把身体蜷曲成圆形。

5 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

6 auditor   

n.审计员，旁听着

参考例句：

• The auditor was required to produce his working papers.那个审计员被要求提供其工作底稿。
• The auditor examines the accounts of all county officers and departments.审计员查对所有县官员及各部门的帐目。

7 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

8 barefaced   

adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的

参考例句：

• It's barefaced robbery asking such a high price for that old bicycle!那辆旧自行车要价如此之高真是无耻的敲诈。
• What barefaced cheek!真是厚颜无耻！

9 apprentice   

n.学徒，徒弟

参考例句：

• My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
• The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。

10 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

11 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

12 sterile   

adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的

参考例句：

• This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上，保持奶嘴无菌。
• The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。

13 ironical   

adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironical end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• From his general demeanour I didn't get the impression that he was being ironical.从他整体的行为来看，我不觉得他是在讲反话。

14 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。

15 corroborate   

v.支持，证实，确定

参考例句：

• He looked at me anxiously,as if he hoped I'd corroborate this.他神色不安地看着我，仿佛他希望我证实地的话。
• It appeared that what he said went to corroborate my account.看来他所说的和我叙述的相符。