Search -
The story of Jack Ballister's fortunes (1922)
The story of Jack Ballister's fortunes - 1922 Author:Howard Pyle Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER JACK AND HIS UNCLE JACK, following the attorney's advice, had made up his mind to ask his uncle for the money that very night, but when he came fac... more »e to face with doing it, it was very hard. They were sitting together over their poor frugal supper, and the old miser's utter unconsciousness of what Jack had it on his mind to say made the saying of it very hard. At last he suddenly spoke. " Uncle Hezekiah," said he. The old man looked up sharply, almost as though startled at the sound of Jack's voice. He did not say anything, but he sat looking at Jack as though inviting him to continue. "Uncle Hezekiah," said Jack again. He did not know in just what words to frame what he had to say. Then he continued: "I want to—to talk to you about a matter of business." " Hey!" said the old man, " business! business! What d' ye mean — what d' ye mean by business ? " " Why," said Jack, " I want some money to buy something. I went to see Master Burton to-day, and he told me I had best come to you and ask you for it." Gradually Jack was becoming bolder as he became accustomed to the sound of his own voice. "Dan Williamson hath a boat for sale," he continued. " He wants eighteen pound for it, and if I had twenty pound it would be just enough to fit her up as I wouldlike to have her. I went and talked to Master Burton, and he told me I had best come to you and ask you for the money." The old man stared blankly at Jack, his lean jaw hanging gaping with speechless surprise. "Why! why! what 's all this ?" he said, finding his voice at last. " Twenty pound! Why, I do believe you 're gone clean clear crazy. Twenty pound! What's Roger Burton got to do with my giving you twenty pound, I 'd like to know ? You 'll not get a farden, and that's the long and the short of it. Master Bu...« less