Chapter XXX. The Young Treasurer

by Horatio Alger

　　On the morning after receiving the letter from his father, Harrycame down to breakfast, but looked in vain for the professor.Supposing he would be down directly, he sat down to the breakfasttable. When he had nearly finished eating, a boy employed aboutthe hotel came to his side."That gentleman you're with is sick. He wants you to come to hisroom as soon as you are through breakfast."Harry did not wait to finish, but got up from the table at once,and went up to his employer's room."Are you sick, sir?" he inquired, anxiously.The professor's face was flushed, and he was tossing about in bed."Yes," he answered. "I am afraid I am threatened with a fever.""I hope not, sir.""I am subject to fevers; but I hope I might not have another forsome time to come. I must have caught cold yesterday, and the resultis, that I am sick this morning.""What can I do for you, sir?""I should like to have you go for the doctor. Inquire of the landlordwho is the best in the village.""I will go at once."On inquiry, our hero was informed that Dr. Parker was the mosttrusted physician in the neighborhood, and he proceeded to his houseat once. The doctor was, fortunately, still at home, and answeredthe summons immediately. He felt the sick man's pulse, asked hima variety of questions, and finally announced his opinion."You are about to have a fever," he said, "if, indeed, the feverhas not already set in.""A serious fever, doctor?" asked the sick man, anxiously."I cannot yet determine.""Do you think I shall be long sick?""That, also, is uncertain. I suppose you will be likely to bedetained here a fortnight, at least.""I wish I could go home.""It would not be safe for you to travel, under present circumstances.""If I were at home, I could be under my wife's care.""Can't she come here?""She has three young children. It would be difficult for her toleave them.""Who is the boy that called at my house?""Harry Walton. He is my assistant--takes money at the door, andhelps me other ways.""Is he trustworthy?""I have always found him so.""Why can't he, attend upon you?""I mean to retain him with me--that is, if he will stay. It willbe dull work for a boy of his age.""You can obtain a nurse, besides, if needful.""You had better engage one for me, as I cannot confine him hereall the time.""I will do so. I know of one, skillful and experienced, who is justnow at leisure. I will send her round here this morning.""What is her name?""Not a very romantic one--Betsy Chase.""I suppose that doesn't prevent her being a good nurse," said theprofessor, smiling."Not at all."Here Harry entered the room."Harry," said the professor, the doctor tells me I am going to besick.""I am very sorry, sir," said our hero, with an air of concern."I shall probably be detained here at least a fortnight. Are youwilling to remain with me?""Certainly, sir. I should not think of leaving you, sick and alone,if you desired me to stay. I hope I can make myself useful toyou.""You can. I shall need you to do errands for me, and to sit withme a part of the time.""I shall be very willing to do so, sir.""You will probably find it dull.""Not so dull as you will find it, sir. The time must seem very longto you, lying on that bed.""I suppose it will; but that can't be helped.""A nurse will be here this afternoon," said the doctor."Until she comes, you will be in attendance here.""Yes, sir.""I will direct you what to do, and how often to administer themedicines. Can remember?""Yes, sir, I shall not forget."Dr. Parker here gave Harry minute instructions, which need not berepeated, since they were altogether of a professional nature.After the doctor was gone, Professor Henderson said:"As soon as the nurse comes, I shall want you to ride over to thenext town, Carmansville, and countermand the notices for an exhibitionto-night. I shall not be able to give entertainments for some timeto come. Indeed, I am not sure but I must wait till next season.""How shall I go over?" asked Harry."You may get a horse and buggy at the stable, and drive over there.If I remember rightly, it is between little seven and eight miles.The road is a little winding, but I think you won't lose your way.""Oh, I'll find it," said Harry, confidently.It was not till three o'clock that the nurse made her appearance,and it was past three before Harry started on his way."You need not hurry home," said the professor. "In fact, you hadbetter take supper at the hotel in Carmansville, as you probablycould not very well get back here till eight o'clock.""Very well, sir," said Harry. "But shan't you need me?""No; Miss Chase will attend to me.""Mrs. Chase, if you please," said the nurse. "I've been a widderfor twenty years.""I beg your pardon, Mrs. Chase," said the sick man smiling."When my husband was alive, I never expected to go out nursin';but I've had come to it.""The doctor says you are a very skillful and experienced nurse.""I'd ought to be. I've nussed people in almost all sorts of diseases,from measles to smallpox. You needn't be frightened, sir; I haven'thad any smallpox case lately. Isn't it most time to take yourmedicine?"Harry left the room, and was soon on his way to Carmansville. Oncehe got off the road, which was rather a perplexing one, but he soonfound it again. However, it was half past five before he reachedthe village, and nearly an hour later before he had done theerrand which brought him over. Finally, he came back to the tavern,and being by this time hungry, went in at once to the tavern, andbeing by this time hungry, went in at once to supper. He did fulljustice to the meal which was set before him. The day was cold,and his ride had stimulated his appetite.When he sat down to the table he was alone; but a minute afterwarda small, dark-complexioned man, with heavy black whiskers, camein, and sat down beside him. He had a heavy look, and a forbiddingexpression; but our hero was too busy to take particular notice ofhim till the latter commenced a conversation."It's a pretty cold day," he remarked."Very cold," said Harry. "I am dreading my ride back to Pentland.""Are you going to Pentland to-night?" asked the stranger, withinterest."Yes, sir.""Do you live over there?""No; I am there for a short time only," Harry replied."Business?""Yes.""You seem rather young to be in business," said the stranger."Oh," said Harry, smiling, "I am in the employ of Professor Henderson,the ventriloquist. I suppose it is hardly proper to say that I amin business.""Professor Henderson! Why, he is going to give an entertainmenthere to-night, isn't he?""He was; but I have come over to countermand the notice.""What is that for?""He is taken sick at Pentland, and won't be able to come.""Oh, that's it. Well, I'm sorry, for I should like to have gone tohear him. So you are his assistant, are you?""Yes, sir.""Can you perform tricks, too?""I don't assist him in that way. I take money at the door, and helphim with his apparatus.""Have you been with him long?""Only a few weeks.""So you are his treasurer, are you?" asked the stranger smiling."Ye--es," said Harry, slowly, for it brought to his mind that hehad one hundred and fifty dollars of the professor's money in hispocket, besides the pocketbook containing his own. He intended tohave left it with his employer, but in the hurry of leaving he hadforgotten to do so. Now he was about to take a long ride in theevening with this large sum of money about him."However," he said, reassuring himself, "there is nothing to beafraid of. Country people are not robbers. Burglars stay in thecities. I have nothing to fear."Still he prudently resolved, if compelled to be out late again, toleave his money at home.He rose from table, followed by the stranger."Well," said the latter, "I must be going. How soon do you start?""In a few minutes.""Well, good night.""Good night.""He seems inclined to be social," thought Harry, "but I don't fancyhim much."