Retiring from Business CHAPTER 11.
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GOING ASTRAY.
Three days passed, but the young man did not return. Before, when Edwin thought proper to absent himself, Mr. Franklin, though strongly urged by his wife, never would go after him.
"No," he would reply to all her solicitations. "No. Let him come home of his own accord. Let him humble down. I'm not going to run after him. It is high time he understood where his bread comes from."
But now he was concerned. His eyes had suddenly opened. He saw that his son was making false steps, and that swift destruction was before him if not checked in the career upon which he had entered. All this he ought to have seen before. All this his wife had seen with a troubled heart; and she had in vain striven to awaken him to a sense of the reality.
On the fourth day of his son's absence, Mr. Franklin went into the city. In passing one of the hotels, he saw the stableboy leading to the stable, the horse that Edwin rode when he went away. He immediately entered and made inquiries for his son, but was told that no such person was there. On mentioning the horse he had seen, he was told that it belonged to one of the boarders. With this individual, he requested an interview.
"Pardon the freedom of my question," he said, on taking the stranger aside; "but will you be kind enough to tell me how long you have been the owner of the horse that I just saw at the door?"
"I bought him the day before yesterday."
"From a young man?"
"No. I bought him at a stable in Franklin street."
"At what price?"
The individual thus questioned, rather hesitated to answer. He did not exactly like to be interrogated so freely by a stranger.
"No matter," said Mr. Franklin, seeing the effect produced. "The stable is in Franklin street?"
"Yes Sir." And the precise location was described.
"May I take the liberty of inquiring your name?" asked Mr. Franklin.
"Oh, certainly." And the name was given. Mr. Franklin bowed, and with an apology for the freedom he had taken, was retiring, when the man said:
"Do you know anything that is not right about this horse?"
"I know," replied Mr. Franklin, "that he was mine a few days ago, and that I have not sold him."
"Ah! Was he stolen from you?"
"No. My son rode him into the city last week, since which time not a word has been heard from him. Did the person from whom you purchased the animal say anything about the manner in which he came into his hands?"
"Not a word. I hired the horse, and liked him so well, that I offered to buy him. The price asked was a hundred and fifty dollars, which I paid."
"Just half what he cost me. But I care nothing for the horse now, only so far as he furnishes a clue to the discovery of my son, who, I much fear, has fallen into evil hands."
"If you will accept of any aid in my power to render you," said the stranger, "it will be most freely given. I will go with you, forthwith, to the keeper of the stable, if you think it of any use."
"It may be."
"I am ready to go with you at once," was promptly said.
On calling at the stable, Mr. Franklin learned that the horse had been bought from the son of a wealthy citizen residing in the upper part of Broadway, on the day previous to his being sold to his present owner.
"Will you give me the name of the young man?" asked Mr. Franklin.
There was some hesitation. But the name was at length given.
"The son of Preston?" said Mr. Franklin, evincing surprise.
"Yes Sir. It was Edward Preston."
"Ah! Was it that young man from whom you bought the horse?" remarked the person who had accompanied Mr. Franklin, his manner showing equal surprise with that displayed by the other.
"You know him?" said the stable keeper.
"I know nothing good of him. If ever a young man was on the high road to ruin, he is. I wouldn't be his father for all the wealth he possesses, if I had to be cursed with such a son."
"I have seen him several times," said Mr. Franklin, recollecting that Edward Preston had visited his son in the country frequently during the summer, and that they had often gone into the city together — " but I had no suspicion that his character was so bad."
"He is scarcely twenty," was replied, "but few men a dozen years his senior, have as many vices, or lead so evil a life."
"Is his father not aware of this?" asked Mr. Franklin.
"Heaven only knows! If he is, he must have a heart as insensible as stone, or lay his head each night upon a thorny pillow!"
"It takes money to lead a reckless, dissipated life. Can it be possible that Mr. Preston furnishes it to him at will."
"I would think not. Preston understands as well as anyone, the value of money."
"Then where does he get the means to supply his extravagance?"
"You have become cognizant of one of his money raising transactions."
"What?"
"The sale of your own horse."
"But how came the horse in his possession?"
The man did not reply immediately, although it was plain from his manner, that he had an answer to the question.
"Can you tell?" asked Mr. Franklin, after waiting for some moments.
"I can only conjecture."
"Even conjecture may throw some light on this mysterious affair. Speak freely."
"My conjecture is, that he has by some means, gambling most likely, managed to get your son in debt, and induced him to transfer the horse to his possession in payment of the obligation."
"I would hardly think that?" said the stable keeper, with an uneasy manner.
"It may not be so," returned the man, "but I fear my suggestion is very near the truth. I happen to know a case where this was done."
"By Preston?"
"Yes."
"Humph!"
Mr. Franklin moved away, saying as he left the stable, "I must see Edward Preston, immediately.
"For your kindness, sir," addressing the stranger, "accept my thanks."
"Will you do me the favor," said the latter, "to let me know the result of your investigations in this unhappy affair? And if I can aid you in any way, it will afford me great pleasure to do so."
"I will see you again," said Mr. Franklin, as he bowed, and hurried away.
Mr. Preston, upon whom the father of Edwin called immediately, had not seen his son since the day before. He said that the young man's habits were very irregular, and that his conduct caused the family great uneasiness. Mr. Franklin then stated fully the nature of his errand to the city; and the discovery he had made of his horse in the possession of a stranger, who had purchased the animal from a stable keeper, to whom he had been sold by young Preston.
"How did your horse come into the possession of my son?" asked Mr. Preston.
"I do not know," replied Mr. Franklin. "But the fact that it was in his possession, shows that your son has some knowledge of Edwin, and for this reason I wish to see him."
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Mr. Preston, arising, and walking about uneasily. "This boy will kill me! I have spent thousands of dollars upon his education, and here is the result. I believe, after all, that we cannot lay a heavier curse upon our children, than to give them money. The poor lad, who works as you and I did, twelve hours a day for his plain food and coarse clothing, is really happier and better, and gives more promise of a useful and prosperous life, than the sons of the wealthy. Our children, Mr. Franklin, are the drones of society! Yes, more, in some cases, than drones!"
Mr. Franklin felt that this was true. He had never reflected much upon the subject, and therefore, his thoughts had not previously led him to such a conclusion. Now results, flowing from apparent causes, made the truth plain.
"Money is a curse to young men, rather than a blessing!" he said, half to himself. "That is, if they are not engaged in some useful work."
He might have said, a curse to anyone not so engaged.
"Where do you think I would find your son?" asked Mr. Franklin.
"I cannot tell; I know but little of his incomings and outgoings. That a father should say this! But it is even so. For more than a year, he has acted towards me with a kind ofinsolent independence, which has stung me like the fangs of a serpent!"
Mr. Franklin replied with a groan.
"He is frequently in company with a young man named Welford, whose father's store is in the same block with mine," added Mr. Preston.
"Perhaps from him you could gain the information your desire."
"I will see him immediately. All I hear, but increases my anxiety. What a sad mistake I have committed!"
From the father of Welford, he learned that the three young men had gone on a fishing and pleasure excursion, and would not return until the next day. This information being corroborated in one or two other quarters, Mr. Franklin had to go home that evening, unaccompanied by his son; with what feelings, the reader may imagine.
But little of what he had learned could be disguised from his wife, whose anxiety through the day had been very great.
On the next morning, Mr. Franklin went again to the city. But he returned at night without having seen Edwin. As far as he was able to learn, the party of pleasure was still absent. On the third day, he ascertained that the three young men had come home late on the previous evening. After some inquiry, he was informed that Edwin was at one of the hotels in the lower part of Broadway, where he found him about twelve o'clock. The young man's countenance fell the moment he saw his father, who merely said to him, in a serious, not angry voice —
"Come, my son."
Edwin did not hesitate, and they left the hotel together, proceeding immediately homeward. While on the way, Mr. Franklin said —
"Edwin, I find that the horse you rode to the city has been sold by Edward Preston. How did he come in possession of my property?"
A deep crimson covered the young man's face, and his eyes fell to the ground. After waiting for some time for a reply, Mr. Franklin added,
"As I shall take the proper step to recover the horse, I wish to know, beforehand, the manner in which Edward Preston acquired the right to sell him."
"I owed him money, and he took the horse in payment," said Edwin.
"But he had no rights in my property for your debt. Moreover, both you and he are minors, and cannot, legally, make such transactions. How did you come into his debt?"
Edwin was silent.
"Did you borrow money from him?"
Edwin hesitated for a few moments, and then replied in the affirmative. Mr. Franklin looked at him steadily, until his eyes fell. The father was satisfied that his son did not tell the whole truth.
"How much did you owe him?"
"Seventy dollars."
"Was that the price at which he sold the horse?"
"He received a hundred and twenty for him."
"And paid you fifty?"
"Yes Sir."
"Where is that money?"
Edwin was silent.
"All gone, I presume."
There was no answer.
The father sighed heavily, and for the rest of the way home they rode in silence.
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