Part 29 (1/2)
”You see it's this way, Jerry,” said Mr. Upton, noticing his look. ”When your uncle Charley died he left all his property to me. Some time ago I was cleaning out one of his old trunks and I ran across some deeds to property in California. From what I can make out the land must be nigh to the city of Sacramento.”
”And the property belongs to you?” cried Jerry.
”No, I can't say that exactly. As near as I can figure it, your uncle Charley owned an interest in it. The property was in the hands of a land boomer named Alexander Sloc.u.m, and there was a letter in the trunk from this Alexander Sloc.u.m which was dated from New York. I think this boomer holds other papers relating to the land, and I was thinking of making a trip to New York and hunting him up, if he is still there.”
”Why not let me go to New York in your place,” suggested Jerry, quickly.
It had always been the ambition of his life to pay a visit to the great metropolis.
”Well, I was kind of thinking of that, son,” returned the sick man, slowly. ”I'll see about it in a day or two.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
JERRY STARTS ON A JOURNEY.
Now that the matter had once been talked over, the young oarsman was very anxious to know all about the property in California, and his mother brought forth the deeds and other papers found in the old trunk.
The boy studied the doc.u.ments with care. He knew but little of the law, yet he felt that if the land mentioned in the papers was valuable his father's share, as heir to his uncle, must be considerable.
”I would like to ask Mr. Parker about this,” he said to his folks, but Mr.
Upton shook his head. He was a very retired man and never brought his affairs to the ears of any outsider.
”The whole thing might prove worthless,” he said, ”and then we would be laughed at by our neighbors.”
”I'd risk it,” said Jerry, but his father only shook his head again.
Nevertheless Mr. Upton appeared to be favorably impressed with the idea of Jerry's going to New York to hunt up Alexander Sloc.u.m.
”It won't do any harm,” he said to his wife. ”I have money for the fare in the house, and it will give Jerry a chance to see a bit of the world.”
Mrs. Upton was doubtful, but when Jerry begged to go she finally consented. Long talks about the western land and Alexander Sloc.u.m followed, and the youth prevailed upon his folks to let him take the deeds and papers with him, promising that he would take the best of care of them.
”And while I'm in New York I'm going to look around for a situation, and earn a little money,” said Jerry. ”Who knows but what I may strike even a better opening than that Mr. Parker has promised me at his shoe factory.”
”It's not likely a lad off the farm can strike much,” smiled his mother, yet she was pleased at Jerry's earnestness.
Three days later Jerry was off, valise in hand. He had bid good-bye to Harry and Blumpo, telling them he was going to New York on some private business for his father. His mother saw him to the train and kissed him affectionately.
”Take good care of yourself, Jerry,” she said. ”And remember, New York is an entirely different place from Lakeview or Rockpoint, and you must have your eyes and ears open to avoid trouble.”
”I'll take care of myself, don't worry mother,” and two minutes later the train came along and he was off.
Yet it must be confessed that our hero felt just a bit strange as he settled back in the cus.h.i.+oned seat, with his valise beside him. He was going over two hundred miles from home and among total strangers.
”I suppose it will be different from knocking around Lakeview, Rockpoint or even Long Lake,” he mused. ”I'll have to brace up and watch myself, or they'll take me for a regular greeny.”
As the train moved on, Jerry revolved the situation in his mind. He knew he would arrive in the metropolis late in the afternoon, and determined to seek a boarding-house first of all, knowing it would be useless to hunt for any trace of Alexander Sloc.u.m after office hours.