CHAPTER VI.
A MOMENT OF PERIL.
"Hullo, there, young man!"
Franklin looked up from his thoughts and beheld Mr. Belden Brice in a buggy, close at hand.
"How did you make out with Fells?" went on Belden Brice, as Franklin stopped short.
"He discharged me."
"Did eh? Humph! I suppose you don't know me, do you?"
"No, sir."
"My name is Belden Brice. I am from Paterson, and I am Mrs. Mace's brother."
"Mrs. Mace's brother!" ejaculated Franklin. "Why, you took my part!"
Belden Brice laughed.
"So I did. I think my sister was in the wrong, and she treated you outrageously."
"It wasn't fair."
"No, and I told her so. We had a pretty warm time after you left. So Fells discharged you? I thought he would, after what my sister said to him. What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know yet. I would like to find Gresson, and I would like to strike another job."
"Naturally. Have you worked for Fells long?"
"Just went to work this morning, Sir."
"Indeed!" Belden Brice elevated his eyebrows. "Your experience with him was a short one."
"It was, and bitter."
"Never mind; keep a stiff upper lip."
"I shall try to do that, Sir. I have just been to the Edison Works for a job."
"Bound to get something connected with electricity, I see."
"Yes, Sir, if I can. I like that sort of work better than anything else."
"You do?"
"I have several batteries at home, and the folks declare that I do nothing but fuss with them the whole time," added Franklin, with a faint smile. Somehow, it lightened his heart to talk to such a man as Belden Brice.
"Well, it's a great science," said the man. "I have dabbled into it a little myself, and I have purchased two electrical inventions."
"If I ever get the chance, I shall invent something in that line," returned Franklin, growing enthusiastic.
Belden Brice smiled.
"You have no prospects at present?" he ventured slowly.
"No, Sir."
"How would you like to work in Paterson?"
"In Paterson?" repeated the youth.
"Yes. I know several people connected with the electrical business, and if you care to leave home I may be able to do something for you in that city."
Franklin's heart gave a bound. Here seemed a chance out of all his present difficulties.
"I will gladly go if the position will pay well enough to support me," he said.
"Then, supposing you come to Paterson early to-morrow?"
"I will, Sir."
"I am going home in a little while, and I will see what I can do for without delay."
"Thank you. You are kind to take the trouble for a stranger."
"Well, I rather like your looks, and I want to make amends for my sister's rudeness. It wasn't fair, and I can readily see it has left you in a fix which will not be done away with till this Gresson is caught."
"It is more than likely he has left the city," said Franklin soberly.
"I see. Well, I must be going. You will be in Paterson by noon to-morrow?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Here is my business card. You will find me at my office. Let me see, what is your name?"
Franklin told him, and a minute later the two separated.
The youth returned to his uncle's house with a lighter heart. It was true he had lost one position, but was there not the best prospects of speedily obtaining another?
There was great surprise in the Bell household when he had related all that occurred. Mrs. Bell shed tears when she learned that her nephew had been thought guilty of stealing, and intended to go to another city for work, and the girls were indignant at the way their cousin had been treated.
"But Mrs. Mace was always hateful," declared Daisy, with energy. "Didn't she scold little Flossie Graves dreadfully just because the poor lame dear asked the cook for some grapes last Fall? If it wasn't for clearing you I would almost wish she would never hear of Gresson and her rings again!"
"Daisy!" remonstrated Mrs. Bell.
"Well, it's a shame that she should mistrust Frank!" cried the girl.
Mr. Bell was a trifle better, but he had mothing to say. His own troubles seemed to have almost overcome him.
"I suppose if you obtain a position in Paterson you will have to board there," said Mrs. Bell later on.
"Yes, Aunt Martha. It's too bad to leave you, but it can't be helped."
"I suppose not."
"I shall come home every Saturday night and stay over Sunday."
"Yes, you must do that, Franklin."
"And every dollar I can spare shall be sent to you."
"Yes, but, Franklin—"
"No buts, aunt. I have made up my mind to it."
And the youth would not hear of it being otherwise.
The evening was spent at home, and, despite the fact that Mr. Bell lay in the front room upstairs, it was far from a dull one for all. Franklin and the others discussed the youth's prospects, and his cousins thought he had secured a real friend in Belden Brice.
"Who knows but what some day you may invent something and sell it to him for a big price?" said Clara.
"I trust I do," replied Franklin in all seriousness. "Then I could buy every one of you a new silk dress, and Aunt Martha two, and Uncle Will a horse and buggy, and—"
"Yourself a house and a pretty wife," finished Daisy, with a merry burst of laughter. Even the fact of sickness being in the house could not down the girl's naturally jolly spirits.
They all smiled at this, even Mr. Bell when he was told of it later on.
Franklin was the first person up in the morning. His aunt soon followed, and by seven o'clock the youth had had his breakfast, bidden all good-bye, and was on his way to the depot.
Here he found there would be a train for Newark in ten minutes, and from that place he could get a train at the Erie depot for Paterson at ten o'clock.
He purchased a ticket, and it was not long before his train came along and he jumped on board.
The cars were crowded with business men on their way to New York, but Franklin did not mind standing, as he knew the ride to Newark would be a short one.
Just before reaching the next way station to Newark the train came to a sudden halt, and remained at a standstill for a long time.
"I wonder what's up?" thought Franklin after ten minutes had passed.
He knew they were but a few blocks from the station, and after spending another five minutes in the car he left, along with a number of others.
At the front of the train he found that a switch-lock had been broken some blocks beyond, and the train could not go ahead until the break was fixed.
"I guess I'll walk the rest of the way," said Franklin to himself. "It won't take but a few minnutes, and it won't do to run the risk of losing that Paterson train on the Erie road."
So he sprang over the fence which guards the railroad track on either side, and started on at a brisk pace.
He was within two blocks of the station when, happening to glance toward the tracks, he saw a little girl walking upon them in the same direction he was pursuing.
"I suppose she was on that train too," he said to himself, "and wants to get to Newark before they get matters put into shape once more. But it is dangerous for her to walk the tracks. She ought to come out here on the sidewalk."
Franklin hesitated for a moment and then came close to the fence.
"Hullo, there, little girl!" he cried.
The girl stopped short and looked at him.
"What do you want?" she asked in rather a nervous voice.
"It's dangerous to walk on the tracks. Hadn't you better come out here on this sidewalk?"
"I suppose so," was the reply. "But I didn't notice the walk when I started, and a man told me it was only a few steps to the station."
"There is an opening at the street just below here," went on Franklin. "You had better come out—"
The youth did not finish.
There was a shrill whistle close at hand, and, looking down the track, Franklin saw a train approaching.
"You will have to get over on the other track!" he cried in alarm. "This train—"
Then he looked the other way. Oh, horror! the train upon which he had been a passenger was on its way down. The little girl would surely be caught!
"Jump for the fence!" he cried hoarsely. "Quick, quick! or it will be too late!"