Part 56 (1/2)
”What is it?”
”It is the deed to the farm on which your folks are living. It is made out in your name. I bought the place from Peter Thompson, your uncle.
Now you have something that you can really call your own,” and Mr.
Shalley laughed pleasantly.
”Mr. Shalley, you are more than kind,” cried Randy, warmly. ”Do my parents know of this?”
”No. You can go home over Sunday and surprise them.”
”I will, and I thank you very much, sir.”
Randy went home, and there was a general rejoicing over the good news.
But more was to follow.
”I met Mr. Bartlett to-day,” said Mr. Thompson. ”He says they want a first-cla.s.s carpenter at the iron works to take charge of the repairs He offered me the place at a dollar a day more than I am getting.”
”Good enough, father!” cried Randy. ”That is just like Mr. Bartlett.”
”He said he wanted to do something for us on your account. And he sent you this,” added Mr. Thompson, and brought out a neat silver watch and chain. It was a nice present and pleased Randy greatly.
Not long after that the season on the river closed and Randy came home for the winter. As his father now had a steady place at good wages, the youth went to school, in company with Jack Bartlett, who had moved back to Riverport with the rest of his family. Randy was a good scholar and made rapid progress.
”I want you to get a good education,” wrote Andrew Shalley to our hero.
”Then, later on, you can enter my office if you wish, or take a better place on the steamboat.”
Six years have pa.s.sed since that time and Randy has finished his education. He is now the general manager for the steamboat company, and rumor has it that he is soon to marry Rose Clare, who still lives with the Shalleys. He is prosperous, but come what may, will never forget the time when he was only a deckhand.
THE END
The Famous Rover Boys Series
By ARTHUR M. WINFIELD
No stories for boys' Reading ever published have attained the immense popularity of this new and extremely favorite series. They are full of fun, fancy, enterprise, and adventure; and each volume is hailed with delight by boys and girls everywhere.
12mo. Cloth. Handsomely printed and ill.u.s.trated.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE FARM Or, The Last Days at Putnam Hall The latest and best of all the Rover Boy Books.
THE ROVER BOYS IN SOUTHERN WATERS Or, The Deserted Steam Yacht A trip to the coast of Florida.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE PLAINS Or, The Mystery of Red Rock Ranch Relates adventures on the mighty Mississippi River.
THE ROVER BOYS ON THE RIVER Or, The Search for the Missing Houseboat The Ohio River is the theme of this spirited story.