title: The adventures of a boy reporter,
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THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER BY HARRY STEELE MORRISON AUTHOR OF “A YANKEE BOY’S SUCCESS” IllustrateU fjg L. J. BRIDGMAN BOSTON L. C. PAGE & COMPANY MDCCCC 326G.3 r.O l^ibrs*! J llWo '-v j- - AUG 9 is^OO 1 Copyr'g^"'^ tc/9<^ SECOHO COPY. OeUivesed to ORDER DIVISION, AUG 10 1900 67477 Copyright, igoo By L. C. Page & Company (incorporated) All rights reserved CONTENTS CHAPTER I. ^ Living in the Country — Life at School — The i Hut Club is Formed — The Coming of the ^ Circus i CHAPTER 11. Archie Longs for a Change in Surroundings — A Trip to New York with Uncle Henry CHAPTER III. Archie Determines to Go to the City to Work — Leaving Home at Night CHAPTER IV. Working on a Farm to Earn Some IVIoney — Cruel Treatment CHAPTER V. The Night among the Ruins — The Camp-fire of THE Tramps CHAPTER VI. Stealing a Ride — Kicked Out by the Brakeman PAGE 13 22 31 38 46 54 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. PAGE Arrival in New York — A Night in a Lodging- house 64 CHAPTER VIII. Looking for Work — Washing Dishes in a Bowery Restaurant 71 CHAPTER IX. In the Street Again — The Police Station — Visits the Newspaper Office, and is Kindly Received by the Editor 78 CHAPTER X. Living in Comfort Again — Featured as “ The Boy Reporter” • . . .89 CHAPTER XL A Day and a Night in Coney Island — Raiding A Gambling Den’ 96 CHAPTER XII. A Successful Reporter — The Editor Decides to Send Him as Correspondent to the Philip- pines Leaving New York — In Chicago . 105 CHAPTER XHI. San Francisco — The Transport Gone — Working His Way to Honolulu by Peeling Vegetables on a Pacific Liner — The Capital of Hawaii 116 CHAPTER XIV. • The Voyage on the Transport — A Storm at Sea — Arrival in Manila 125 CONTENTS, vii CHAPTER XV. Archie Starts Out on an Exploring Tour, PAGE AND Has Some Strange Adventures AMONG THE Natives — Seized by the Rebels .. • 133 CHAPTER XVI. A Pleasant Captor — Brave Bill Hickson Allows Archie to Escape — First Glimpse of Agui- NALDO 142 CHAPTER XVII. Arrival of the American Troops — Archie the Hero of the Regiment 151 CHAPTER XVIII. The March after the Rebels — The First Battle — Archie Wounded 160 CHAPTER XIX. Return to Manila — In the Hospital — Congratu- lated BY All — Writing to the Paper of His Experiences i 73 CHAPTER XX. Around the Island on a War -ship — Bombarding A Filipino Town 184 CHAPTER XXI. Continuing the Cruise — Another Village Cap- tured — The Admiral Archie’s Friend — A Great Battle and an Unexpected Victory — Longing to be Home Again . . . .193 CONTENTS. viii CHAPTER XXII. PAGE Return to Headquarters — A Letter from the Editor, with Permission to Return to New York — Bill Hickson Goes, Too . . . 206 CHAPTER XXIII. Hong Kong — A Happy Time in Tokio — Honolulu Again — Arrival in San Francisco, and a Great Reception by the Press — Archie and Bill Arrive in New York, and are the Heroes OF THE Hour 215 CHAPTER XXIV. Doing “Special” Work upon the Evening Paper — Interviews with Famous Men — Calls upon Old Friends 224 CHAPTER XXV. Private Secretary to a Millionaire — Studying AT Evening School — Living amid Elegant Surroundings 234 CHAPTER XXVI. Decides to Visit Home — A Great Reception in THE Town — A Public Character Now — Din- ner TO THE Hut Club — Demonstration at the Town Hall — A Telegram from His Em- ployer — Leaving for Europe . . .. 244 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE “ ‘ I RECKON I CAN TRUST YOU FREE FOR AWHILE.’ ” Frontispiece “‘You’re one of us, then, laddie.’”  QUITE AS PLEASANT AS HE WAS INTERESTING”. . -113 “It was all over very soon.” . . . .168 “ The admiral was dumfounded”. . . . 203 4 '4 0 % I • ) I THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. CHAPTER I. LIVING IN THE COUNTRY LIFE AT SCHOOL — THE HUT CLUB IS FORMED THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS. ‘‘ Yes,” said Mrs. Dunn to her neighbour, Mrs. Sullivan, *‘we are expecting great things of Archie, and yet we sometimes hardly know what to think of the boy. He has the most remarkable ideas of things, and there seems to be absolutely no limit to his ambition. He has long since determined that he will some day be President, and he expects to enter politics the day he is twenty-one.” *‘Is that so, indeed,” said Mrs. Sullivan. ‘‘Well, we can never tell what is going to come of our boys. As I says to Dannie to-day, says I, ‘ Dannie, you must 13 14 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. do your best to be somebody and make something of yourself, for you and Jack bees all that I has to depend upon now.’ But Dannie pays no attention to my entreaties, and somehow it seems to me that since Mr. Sullivan died the boys are gettin’ worse and worse. It’s beyond me to control them, any- how.” “Oh, take heart, Mrs. Sullivan,” said Mrs. Dunn, “our boys will all turn out well in the end, and all we can do is to bring them up in the best way we know, and trust to them to take care of themselves after they leave home. Now Dannie is certainly an industrious lad. I hear him pounding nails all day long in the back yard, and he made a good job of shingling the woodshed the other day. He seems made to be a carpenter.” “Yes, I think so myself,” said the Widow Sulli- van. “ The whole lot of them is out by the railroad now, building a hut. They’ve organised a ^Hut Club ’ to-day, and never a lick of work have I had out of them boys since mornin’. They’ve always got something going on, and when I want a bit of water from the well, or a little wood from the shed, they’re never around.” “Yes, but boys will be boys, Mrs. Sullivan, and LIVING IN THE COUNTRY. 1 5 we’d better keep them contented at home as long as we can. They’ll be leaving us soon enough. It seems that no boys are content to stay in town any longer ; they’re all anxious to be off to the city.” “That’s true, that’s true, Mrs. Dunn,” said Mrs. Sullivan. “ I must be going now. I’m much obliged for the rain-water, and whenever you want a bit of milk call over the fence, and I’ll bring it to you with pleasure. It’s a good neighbour you are, Mrs. Dunn.” And Mrs. Sullivan went slowly around the house and out at the front gate, while good Mrs. Dunn returned to her ironing, a few clothes having to be ready for Sunday. While these mothers were discussing their boys, the youngsters themselves were busy behind the barn, building a hut down near the railway track. There were six of them altogether, the three extra ones, besides Archie Dunn and the Sullivan boys, having come from across the railway to play for the day. Two hours before they had solemnly organised themselves into the “ Hut Club,” each boy walking three times around the block blindfolded, and swear- ing upon his return to be true to all the rules and regulations of the organisation, which had been 1 6 the adventures of a boy reporter. written with chalk on the side of the barn. The regulations were numerous, but the most important one was that no East Side boys were to be allowed within the club-room when it was built, and that the club’s policy should be one of warfare against the East Siders on every occasion when they met. This fight against the East Side was, indeed, responsible for the organisation of the club. It was felt neces- sary to have some head to their forces, and some means of holding together. So the club was organ- ised, and now the next thing on the programme was the erection of a hut to serve as a club-house. Archie Dunn, who had been elected president, volunteered to get three boards and a hammer if the other boys would each get two boards and some nails. This proposition was agreed to, and when the boys re- turned from their foraging expeditions it was found that there were more than enough boards to build the hut, so the work began at once. Holes were dug in the ground, and some posts planted as sup- ports for the structure, and then the boards were hastily nailed together from post to post. In three hours the hut was practically completed, and it remained only to lay a floor until they could hold their first meeting in the new club-house. The floor THE HUT CLUB IS FORMED. 1 7 itself was down by noon, and the club then served a memorable dinner to mark the completion of the structure. A hole was dug in the ground outside the door, and a furnace made. A skillet was brought from Archie’s house, together with some dishes and a coffee-pot, and Dan Sullivan brought some more dishes, and six eggs from his nests under the barn. The boys were obliged to make several trips to and from the houses, but finally nearly everything was ready, and the eggs were carefully cooked by Archie, who was really a good housekeeper, from long ex- perience in the kitchen with his mother. Some potatoes were fried in the grease remaining in the skillet after the eggs were cooked, and then the feast began. The eggs may have been rather black with grease, and the potatoes were certainly not done, but the boys all pronounced it the finest meal of their lives, notwithstanding the bitter coffee, and the dirty bread, which had been allowed to fall into the gutter beside the railway track. They were eating in their own house, and they had cooked in the open air, ^‘just like tramps,” Harry Rafe said, and it was little wonder that they enjoyed the novel experience. 1 8 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. The only trouble came when the meal was fin- ished. No one wanted to wash the dishes, and, finally, it was decided to return them to their re- spective kitchens just as they were, and to let them be washed with the rest of the dinner dishes at home. And this decision came near putting an end to Hut Club dinners, for both Mrs. Dunn and the Widow Sullivan were determined not to wash any more dirty dishes from the hut. When the meal was over, the boys lounged about the hut, and Dan Sullivan brought a lot of things from his sister’s playhouse with which to furnish it more suitably. Archie Dunn brought a lot of hay from the loft in his mother’s barn, and when a piece of old carpet was spread upon it it made an accept- able couch. A piece of old carpet was laid in front of the hut, too, where the boys could sit and watch the trains switching back and forth on the railway, and the tramps who were heating coffee in cans over by the cattle-pen. Finally, some cattle arrived in the pen to be loaded into cars for the city, and the boys had just decided to go and watch the men loading them, when an engine came up the side-track with the most beauti- ful car they had ever seen, behind it. The car was THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS. 19 painted in all colours of the rainbow, and in giant letters was printed the magic name of The World’s Greatest Show.” The boys lost no time in getting down from the cattle-pen fence, and the car had barely stopped when they were aboard. Hooray,” shouted Charlie Huff- man, we’ll all get jobs of passin’ bills.” And it was with this end in view that they sought the advertising manager in the car, who promised to give them all jobs when the circus came in two weeks. The boys deluged him with questions of every sort. Will there be any elephants ? ” “ Is there goin’ to be a parade ? ” and ‘‘ Will there be any trapeze performances The poor man was finally obliged to lock the door to keep them out, and the boys stood about the car until nearly six o’clock, admiring the paintings, and speculating as to whether they would be able to work their way into the circus or not, when it finally came. Their speculations were interrupted by the appearance on the scene of the Widow Sullivan with a good-sized maple switch, which she used to good effect in getting the two Sullivans and Archie Dunn home for supper. For Mrs. Dunn had given Mrs. Sullivan instructions be- fore she started, so that when Archie complained 20 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. that he had been whipped by ^‘that woman next door,” he received no sympathy whatever. And when he went to bed at nine o’clock, he could hardly sleep for thinking of the wonderful things which had happened this day. The coming circus and the great Hut Club kept him awake until far after ten, so that he got up too late for Sunday school the next morning, and was punished accordingly. The next week was a hard one at school, and the boys had but little time to devote to the club. But after four o’clock in the afternoon they sometimes got together and did various things which improved their club-house. Some very fair chairs were con- structed from empty soap boxes, and various contriv- ances were put together to guard against the intrusion of any East Siders or tramps while they were away at school. There was no padlock used, and any one coming up to the hut would imagine it a simple thing to enter — until he tried. But the boys had fixed a secret cord which, when pulled, shifted the bar inside, and every boy was sworn not to betray the existence of the cord. Some books were collected, too, and there was quite a library. Dan Sullivan and Harry Rafe wanted to bring some dime novels, but Archie, the president, THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS. 21 objected. ‘‘Those books do no boy any good,” he said, “because they teach us things which are not true to life. If any boy had ever done these things, the books would be all right, but as it is, they are simply wild tales, without an essence of truth.” Charlie Huffman, who was as black as coal, but who was popular with every boy in the neighbourhood, applauded these sentiments, but Dan and Harry thought that Archie was preaching, and went home sullen, vowing never to come back again. But they were there all right next day after school, and never again did they say anything about wanting to have dime novels to read. The day set for the circus came nearer and nearer, and the boys began to be anxious for fear the schools would not close, so that they could attend. But the superintendent finally announced that they would ; so early on the eventful day the entire club was on the grounds, waiting to get some work to do. Archie Dunn got the first job, being selected to carry water for the elephant because he was stronger than any of the others. But the rest were given something to do, and when the day was over they had all seen the circus, and went to bed happy, to dream of the great trip to be taken by the Hut Club on the next Saturday. V CHAPTER II. ARCHIE LONGS FOR A CHANGE IN SURROUNDINGS A TRIP TO NEW YORK WITH UNCLE HENRY. The Hut Club went out on a picnic the next Satur- day, and had a jolly time. They camped upon an island in the middle of a shallow stream, and while there made coffee and cooked their dinner, having brought most of the necessary apparatus from the Hut. They fished a little, and hunted for turtles in the water, and altogether had a good time, if nothing exciting did occur. It was after nine o’clock at night when they reached town again, footsore and weary, and Archie Dunn had hardly entered the house before he was on the dining-room lounge, half-asleep. His mother seemed to be out, and as he lay there he wondered how long it would be before she came back. Archie truly loved his mother, but of late he had often thought that he would like to leave home and go to the famous city, where he felt sure he could 22 A TRIP TO NEW YORK. 23 get something to do. But he disliked the idea of leaving his mother. “Fm getting to be a big boy, now,” he often said to himself, ^^and it’s time that I began to look out for myself. Fm nearly seventeen, and I think I ought to be earning some money. This thing of belonging to Hut Clubs and spending my time in going to picnics and to circuses ought to stop. It’s all right for boys, but Fm getting to be a man, now.” All these thoughts were flying through his mind when his mother came in. Oh, Archie,” she ex- claimed, ‘H’ve been so worried about you. I’ve just been over to Mrs. Sullivan’s to see if Dannie had come home, and whether he had seen you. Wherever have you been.?” We didn’t think it would take so long to walk home,” said Archie, jumping up from the sofa, “but we were awfully tired, and we didn’t come very fast. Fm so sorry you were worried. “And Fm as hungry as a bear, mother. Can’t you find me something to eat .? ” “Yes, dear,” said Mrs. Dunn, softly, “and when you’ve finished your supper I have something for you. I won’t give it to you now for fear you won’t 24 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. be able to eat, but as soon as you have finished your meal, you shall have it.” So Archie was obliged to eat his baked beans and brown bread and drink his milk without knowing what was in store for him, and he hurried as fast as he could, so that he could learn. When he had fin- ished he went into the sitting-room, and found his mother sitting with a letter spread open upon her lap. “ Uncle Henry has written me asking if you cannot go with him to New York on Monday, for a couple of days. He is obliged to go down there on business, and says he will be glad to take you along and show you something of the wonderful city, for he knows you won’t be any trouble to him. Now I hardly know what to say, Archie. If I can feel that you are behaving yourself properly, and are doing your best to be as little trouble as possible, I am willing that you shall go.” “Oh, mother,” cried Archie, “I’ll promise any- thing. Only let me go this once, and I’ll promise to stay at home all the rest of the summer.” “All right, then,” said Mrs. Dunn. “You shall go on the first train Monday morning, and Uncle Henry will join you at Heddens Corner. Run along to bed now.^* A TRIP TO NEW YORK. 25 Archie went up-stairs almost dumb with delight. Was it really true that he was to see the great city at last ? He had heard some of the boys at school telling what their fathers saw there, but he had never even hoped that he would see it for himself so soon. Of course he had determined to see it all some day, but that was to be far in the future. The lad could hardly sleep for the joy of it all, and when he did finally lose consciousness, it was only to dream of streets of gold, and great buildings reaching to the skies. Sunday passed slowly by. At Sunday school, Archie told the boys that he was going to New York on the morrow, and from that moment he was the hero of the class. The boys looked at him with wondering admiration, and seemed scarcely able to realise that one of their number was to go so far from home. The city was in reality little more than a hundred miles, but to their boyish minds this distance seemed wonderfully great. Early on Monday morning Archie was at the depot waiting for the train. His mother was there to see him off, and there were tears in her eyes at the thought of parting with her only child, if only for a day or two. And Archie was radiant with 26 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. delight at the glorious prospect ahead of him. He walked nervously up and down the platform, and wished frequently that it were not so early in the morning, so that some of the boys might be there to see him off. Finally, the great hissing locomotive drew up, with its long train of coaches, and Archie was soon aboard, hurrying off to Reddens Corner and the city. In a few minutes Uncle Henry was with him, a tall, fine-looking man, with an air of business. Uncle Henry kept the general store at the Corner, and was an important person in the neigh- bourhood. He was of some importance in the city, too, for his name was known in politics, and his custom was always desired at the wholesale stores. So Archie was going to see the city under good auspices, if his uncle would only have time to take him about with him. After a couple of hours, during which Archie kept his face glued to the window-pane, watching the flying landscape, the great train pulled through a long, dark tunnel, and finally entered an immense shed, covered with glass where it came to a final stop. Crowds left the coaches, and passed out of the station, where they were swallowed up in the great rush of traffic. Some drove away in cabs A TRIP TO NEW YORK. 27 and carriages. Some entered the street-cars, and some went up a stairway and entered what seemed to Archie a railway train in the air. Uncle Henry told Archie to follow him carefully, and they, too, were soon flying away from the neigh- bourhood of the terminal, past hotels, stores, and dwellings, until they finally left the trolley-car, and passed through a cross street into a long, quiet thoroughfare which looked old enough to have been there for a hundred years. The houses were built far back from the street, with pillars in front, and into one of these quaint old dwellings went Archie and his uncle. ‘‘ I always stop down-town,’* explained Uncle Henry, because I am near to the great wholesale establishments. It is central to the retail stores, too, and to many of the places of interest.” When they were settled in their room. Uncle Henry explained that he would have to be away most of this first day, but that to-morrow he would take Archie out and show him the sights. So Archie expected to remain indoors all day ; but when his uncle had left the house he decided that he couldn’t possibly remain in this close room when so many wonderful things were taking place outside. 28 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. So he decided to walk up and down the street, any- how, and when he went out he felt like a prisoner just escaped from a cell. But the noise was terrible, and there were a great many wagons and trucks passing through the street. The greatest crowd seemed to be on that cross street about two blocks away, so Archie decided to go there, and see if there was anything new on that street. He saw many wonderful things. There were cars running along without any apparent motive power, there were thousands and thousands of people in the streets, and the stores looked so handsome and inter- esting that he simply couldn’t resist going into one or two of them, just to see what they were like. And when he had finished with one or two he could think of no reason why he shouldn’t go on up the street, where he was sure he would find a great many more interesting things to see. So on and on he went, until at last he was tired and hungry, and then, for the first time, he was a little frightened, because he thought of all he had read about people losing their way in the city, and not being able to find their relatives again. But he was a brave boy, so he determined to make an effort to find his way back without appealing to a policeman. And after A TRIP TO NEW YORK. 29 a time he was successful, and entered the queer old .house in the ancient street at just three o’clock in the afternoon. His uncle was there waiting for him, and was nearly beside himself with apprehension. “ I was about to send out a general alarm for you, at the police station,” he said. How did you happen to go away ? ” Oh, I was so very tired of staying in the house,” said Archie, “and I felt sure that I could find my way back without getting lost at all. And to-mor- row I am sure I can get along all right. Uncle Henry, so you needn’t bother with me at all, unless you want to.” And it so happened that Mr. Kirk was very busy the next day, and would have found it quite impos- sible to show Archie about. So it was fortunate that he was able to go everywhere alone, or he would have had to return home without seeing anything at all of the city. As it was, he went here, there, and everywhere, and saw a great deal of the city, the people, and the way in which they lived. The entire place had a strange fascination for him, and all the time he was thinking how glad he would be to live where he could see all this rush of business, this varied life. 30 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. every day. And he fully determined to return some day and get something to do, so that he might work himself up, and come to own one of the handsome houses on the avenues, or drive one of the elegant carriages on the boulevard. And he observed every boy who passed him, and talked with several of them, trying to find out whether positions were easy to secure, and whether they paid much when they were secured. So when they took the four o’clock train for home, and arrived at Archie’s house in time for supper, he told more about the city boys and their work than about the tall buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, or the Central Park. He talked so much, in fact, about the delights of the city boy, and the money he earned, that after he had gone to bed Mrs. Dunn took her brother aside and talked with him concern- ing Archie’s future. And between them they definitely decided that Archie must not go to the city to work. CHAPTER HI. ARCHIE DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY TO WORK LEAVING HOME AT NIGHT. Archie Dunn was not more ambitious than many other boys of his age, but he possessed one quality which is not developed in every boy, determination. Once Archie decided upon doing a thing, once he had made up his mind that it was truly a good thing to do, nothing could keep him from putting his plans into action, and making an effort, at least, to accom- plish his ends. Most boys of seventeen have not decided what they want to become when they are men, and, until his visit to the city, Archie was equally at sea concerning his future. He knew, of course, that he wanted to be rich and famous, but when he tried to think up some suitable profession which would bring him these possessions, he was never able to decide. The two days in the city with Uncle Henry had 31 32 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. opened to his boyish mind a new world, and when he returned to the humble home surrounded by gardens, he felt that he would never be satisfied to live and work in this small town. There was now no ques- tion in his mind but what the city was the place for any one who wished to become either rich or famous. It would certainly be impossible for him to make a name for himself in this village, while in the city he would have every opportunity for improving himself, and advancing himself in every way. He wondered, indeed, that he had never thought of going to New York before, and was disgusted with himself when he thought of the time he had wasted here at home. But there was no use in thinking of the past. The thing to do now was to get to the city as quickly as possible, for to Archie every day seemed precious, and each delay kept him further from the consumma- tion of his hopes. It never occurred to the boy that his mother might have objections to his leaving home. She had always been very ambitious for his future, and he supposed that she would be delighted at the idea of having her boy in the great city, where he would have innumerable chances for improving himself. So when they sat on the front porch, one evening, and he told her of his plan, he was surprised DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY. 33 to hear his mother pleading with him to remain at home. Archie,” she said, I am almost sure you will come to some bad end in the city. You really must not go, for my sake, if for no other reason.” “ But, mother, I can’t remain here in town always. I must go out into the world some time to earn a living and make a place for myself, and I think the sooner I go the better, don’t you } ” “Yes, Archie, but you’re so young, and you’ve had no experience. You have no idea of the things there are in great cities to drag young men down. I don’t think I could stand it tp have you so far away from home and in such danger.” “Well, mother,” said Archie, “there isn’t much use in arguing about it. I have reached a point where I don’t think I can be any longer satisfied at home. I have been here seventeen years, and I think I can remain here that much longer without improving myself. In the city I am sure I can make rapid progress, and in a year or two you can come there and live with me.” Archie got up from the porch and went down the street, while poor Mrs. Dunn ran over next door to see her neighbour, Mrs. Sullivan. When she had entered the disorderly kitchen, and seated herself 34 'THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. on one of the home-made chairs, the anxious mother burst into tears. ‘‘I don’t know what to think of Archie, Mrs. Sullivan,” she said. He is determined, now, to go to New York, and I know that if he goes I will never be able to see him again. I am nigh dis- tracted with worrying over it. I have talked with him, but he seems determined, and I know I can never hold out against his entreaties and arguments.” “ Sure, now, Mrs. Dunn,” said the Widow Sullivan, ‘‘don’t yez be a worryin’ about ’im at all. That Archie is a smart boy, he is, and if he goes to New York he’ll come out all right, never fear. I only wish my Dannie had as much get-up about him as your boy.” “Yes, yes, Archie is very ambitious for his age,” said Mrs. Dunn, “ but I sometimes wish he were less so. I know I could keep him at home longer if he wasn’t so anxious to be at work. I don’t believe I can let him go, Mrs. Sullivan, not yet. I want him to stay in school another year, and then I’ll think about it.” “ Well, ye’re wise, Mrs. Dunn, ye’re a wise woman,” said the Widow Sullivan. “Since yer husband died ye’ve been a good mother to the lad, and have brought ’im up well. And now, how DETERMINES TO GO TO THE CITY. 35 is yer chickens, Mrs. Dunn.? Have ye got that cochin hen a ‘ set tin’ ’ yit .? ” And the two women began to discuss their various fowls, and the conversation was so interesting that Mrs. Dunn remained late, and found Archie in bed when she went home. ‘‘Ah, well, poor boy. I’ll have to tell him of my decision in the morning. He’ll be terribly disappointed, and I hate to do it. I’m afraid it’s selfishness that makes me want to keep him with me. I almost wish he would take things into his own hands, and start for the city himself. I would be rid then of the responsibility of sending him, and the question would be settled for me. Boys sometimes know best how to settle their own difficulties, anyhow.” Mrs. Dunn kneaded the bread before retiring, for to-morrow was Saturday, and, therefore, baking- day, and then she went into her little room off the kitchen, and prayed earnestly for her boy before sleeping. She prayed that she might be helped in advising him, and that he might always do what was best for himself and for his mother. The next day was Saturday, and in the morning the Hut Club met, as usual, and prepared to have an open-air dinner for this day. The furnace, which 36 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. had been knocked down during the week by the East Siders, was rebuilt, and the skillet and other utensils were brought from the nearest kitchens. Archie went to the grocery around the corner and bought five cents’ worth of cakes, and then the six boys sat down in a circle and prepared to devour their home-made feast. But before they began Archie stood up. I want to say that this will probably be my farewell dinner with the club,” he said, in a low tone, “and I hope that you will appoint another president in my place.” The boys were horror-struck, but Archie refused to explain where and when he was going. Finally, they refused to appoint another president, all agree- ing that Archie should hold that office for ever, wherever he was. And the meal was eaten in si- lence, for the announcement had thrown a sort of chill over the proceedings. When they had finished, Archie silently shook hands with each of the boys, who were dumb with amazement, gathered up his skillet and coffee-pot, and went home through the gate to the chicken-lot. “ I wonder what he’s goin’ to do,” they all said, as in one breath, and as there was seldom much fun in the club when Archie was absent, they all went home LEAVING HOME AT NIGHT 37 in a few minutes, or down-town to watch the farmeis, who were in town to do their weekly buying. When Archie reached home he went up-stairs to his little room, and began to lay out a few things which he wanted to take with him, for he had deter- mined to start for New York this very night. Then he tied the things up in a small bundle, and sat down to write a note to his mother. When he had finished it, he pinned it up at the head of his cot, and this is what it said : “ My Darling Mother : — Please don’t worry about me. I’m bound to come through all right, and if anything happens to me, I promise that I will write to you immediately and let you know. I have the ten dollars which I have saved, and if I don’t get work at once I will write to you for some more. Now, I am not doing this thing for the sake of adventure, but because I am sure it is the best thing for me, and I don’t want you to worry at all. I shall write to you often and let you know just what I’m doing, so don’t worry, but be a brave mother. I’m not going off this way as a sneak, but because I want to avoid a ‘ scene.’ Your loving “ Archie.” And at three o’clock the next morning Archie Dunn got out of bed, shouldered his bundle, and started off for the great city, which seemed to be drawing him like a magnet. CHAPTER IV. WORKING ON A FARM TO EARN SOME MONEY CRUEL TREATMENT. When daylight came, Archie was far out of the town walking quickly along the southern road. He figured that he had walked nearly six miles in the two hours since he had let himself out of the back door at home, and, as he looked ahead, he planned that he would walk at least thirty miles every day. Of course, he had never done much walking before, or he would have known better than to have ex- pected to accomplish so much in twelve hours, but he felt fresh and full of strength this morning, and nothing seemed too hard to accomplish. As yet he had not regretted his departure from home»- The excitement of it all, and the adventurous side of his exploit, had kept him interested, and made him feel that he was a real hero. But he was not so foolish as to imagine that there would not be times when he 38 WORKING ON A FARM. 39 would regret having set out for New York. He was too old and too sensible for his age to allow his ambition to run away with him entirely, and he fully expected to meet with many great discouragements. But Tm sure of one thing,” he said to himself, as he walked along, never will return home until I have something to show for the trip, I won’t have the club boys and the neighbours saying that Archie Dunn had to come home discouraged. If I return without accomplishing anything, I will be held up to the whole town as a boy who made a fool of himself by not taking his friends’ advice, and I never will be made an example of if I can help it.” And Archie walked faster as he thought of the possibility of failure. When seven o’clock came he was passing through the county-seat, but though there were many inter- esting things to look at in the town, Archie deter- mined not to stop. He was afraid he might meet some one he knew, who would be sure to ask him where he was going with his bundle, and what he was doing out so early. And anyhow he was very hungry, and decided to get out of the town and to the farmhouses as soon as possible. ‘‘I can work for my meal at a farmhouse,” he said to himself. 40 THE ADVENTURES OF A BOY REPORTER. 