“Dear Sir:—
“In regards to Joe Rodgers, my wife says if you can do better for him than Mr. Whiffin, and he can get some education, take the kid, and welcome. I guess he don’t owe Whiffin nothing.
“Maybe Joe ought to have a chance, as you say. But circumstances didn’t allow me to keep him, and knocking around the world ain’t good for a boy.
“Hoping that when he learns to write he’ll send me a letter, I am,
“Respectfully yours,
“Ben Hankerson.
“P. S. Of course I’ll expect to hear straight ahead how he’s getting along.”
That same afternoon all parties concerned[302] met in the magistrate3’s private office. Mr. Whiffin’s bellicose4 air had somewhat subsided5, partly due to the fact that he had consulted a lawyer and received no encouragement.
“If I knew that the fat feller had made him run away I’d fight the case to the end,” he confided6 to Mr. Spudger. “But, bein’ as the kid says he didn’t—an’ he’s pretty straight goods regardin’ the truth—I guess I’ll have to pass him up.”
“And, after all, Whiffin,” said Spudger, reflectively, “the boy will get the chance he wants.”
“He sure could never make no animal tamer nor performer, an’ he ain’t got the face for a ringmaster,” said Peter Whiffin. “No; it would be the big wagon7 and long drives for him. Besides, the show business ain’t what it used ter be.”
“There ain’t nothin’ what is,” said Mr. Spudger. “An’ I guess they said the same thing a hundred years ago.”
Judge Hampton had been quietly consulting with the magistrate and Captain Bunderley. Bluff8 and hearty9, Captain Bunderley’s part in the conference had not been quiet.
[303]“It will be the best thing in the world for the boy,” he said. “He has strength and ambition; and those are the only two things an American boy needs to make him a success in life.”
“Mr. Whiffin”—the former judge turned toward the showman—“our proposal is this: work will be found for Joe at Kingswood, Wisconsin, and he will be given an opportunity to attend school. You, as a man of the world, must know that this is the best thing to do.”
“I can’t fight ag’in a dozen,” answered Mr. Whiffin. “An’ I know that the boy’s head will be so turned after all this fuss over him that he’d never do a lick o’ work right ag’in.”
“By gum, I can’t hardly believe that sich good luck has come to me,” said Joe.
“You kin2 begin to believe it right now,” remarked Mr. Spudger. “An’ don’t never forgit that you owe everything to Whiffin an’ me; because if you hadn’t been with the show this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Yes, that’s quite true,” assented10 Captain Bunderley. “You do owe them a great deal. Shake hands with your former employers,[304] Joe. On such an auspicious11 occasion for you there must be no ill-feeling.”
“I ain’t got none—not a bit of it,” said Mr. Peter Whiffin, extending two bony fingers. “What riled me at first was to think that Brandon should have inweigled him inter13 running off.”
“But as it’s all for the boy’s good, I’m game. Good luck, Joe.”
“Whiffin, you’re all right, twic’t!” exclaimed Joe Rodgers. “You’ll find I’m goin’ to amount to somethin’, an’ we’ll always be frens.”
Yes, Joe Rodgers’ chance had come at last. Through his fortunate meeting with Dave Brandon he would be able to gratify his ambition to go to school.
“And I’m going to keep an eye on you,” exclaimed Captain Bunderley, when they had taken leave of Judge Hampton and the circus men. “Before many months are over you’ll find me turning up at the school. And if I[305] don’t hear a good account of you there’ll be trouble.”
“And just to think,” remarked Dave, reflectively, “that to-morrow we’ll be leaving for our home in Kingswood! Seems funny, Bob, but I thought this part of our trip would only add a few pages to my history. But——”
“It means a thousand, at least,” broke in Tom, with a laugh. “When it’s finished it’ll be as long as an encyclopedia15, and lots more exciting.”
The boys felt rather sober when the time came next morning to say good-bye to Captain Bunderley and Victor Collins. Each had taken a great fancy to the bluff old skipper, and, strangely enough, Victor seemed to have become a very different sort of a boy from the one who had begun the trip with them.
“Say, fellows,” he remarked, as he shook hands warmly with Bob Somers, “you can count on seeing me again. I’m kind of curious to take a look at that high school. I’ve found that you’re the kind of chaps who improve on acquaintance. Dave is certainly a winner.”
“We’ll be delighted to see you, Vic,” returned[306] Bob. “And perhaps you’ll find that Kingswood isn’t such a slow place, after all.”
As long as the crowd was within sight of the hotel they saw Victor standing16 on the steps waving his hand.
“The worst of traveling around like this,” said Tom, “is that you meet a lot of fellows, and just as soon as you get to like them to beat the band you have to say good-bye.”
“Yes, I noticed you liked Victor well enough at one time to want to hit him on the eye,” exclaimed Blake. And this remark Tom passed by with haughty17 silence.
Once more they were at the garage; and once more they jumped into the car. The blasts of the horn which had grown so familiar to their ears again warned the passers-by of their approach.
On the outskirts18 of the city, Tom, who was sitting behind Dave, touched the stout19 boy on the shoulder.
“Look at Blake,” he exclaimed, in a low tone. “Honest—being with this crowd has certainly done him a lot of good.”
The usually timid “grind” had exchanged places with Bob Somers and was actually[307] driving the car at a good clip along a street which was by no means deserted20. And, more than that, Blake looked as unconcerned as though handling a big touring car was the easiest thing in the world.
“A few more months,” went on Tom, loftily, “and that yellow streak21 some of the boys talked about couldn’t be found with a microscope.”
“That’s so,” admitted Dave. “All Charlie needs is a bit of encouragement, and he will be a mighty22 useful member of our ball team. What were you saying, Joe?”
“That I jist feel like yelling for all I’m worth.”
“Please don’t do it now,” laughed Dave. “I’m most uncommonly23 sleepy, and this delightful24 motion is calling me to the land of nod.”
“Make the most of it, Dave,” cried Bob, from the front seat, “for the Rambler Club’s motor car is taking us nearer and nearer to the place where mighty little nodding can be done.”
“I know it,” drawled the stout boy, “and I shall assert my rights.”
And it was astonishing how that reckless Charlie Blake increased his speed after they had turned into a long, straight country road. Many a person stopped to look after the flying car, which kept steadily26 on and on until lost to view in the distance.
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收听单词发音
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1
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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bellicose
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| adj.好战的；好争吵的 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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6
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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9
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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10
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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encyclopedia
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| n.百科全书 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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21
streak
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| 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 | |
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22
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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24
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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