登陆注册
4710000000060

第60章

"Well," thought Carl, as he left the house where he had been so hospitably entertained, "I shall not lack for business. Miss Norris seems to have a great deal of confidence in me, considering that I am a stranger. I will take care that she does not repent it."

"Can you give a poor man enough money to buy a cheap meal?" asked a plaintive voice.

Carl scanned the applicant for charity closely. He was a man of medium size, with a pair of small eyes, and a turnup nose. His dress was extremely shabby, and he had the appearance of one who was on bad terms with fortune. There was nothing striking about his appearance, yet Carl regarded him with surprise and wonder. Despite the difference in age, he bore a remarkable resemblance to his stepbrother, Peter Cook.

"I haven't eaten anything for twenty-four hours," continued the tramp, as he may properly be called.

"It's a hard world to such as me, boy."

"I should judge so from your looks," answered Carl.

"Indeed you are right. I was born to ill luck."

Carl had some doubts about this. Those who represent themselves as born to ill luck can usually trace the ill luck to errors or shortcomings of their own. There are doubtless inequalities of fortune, but not as great as many like to represent. Of two boys who start alike one may succeed, and the other fail, but in nine cases out of ten the success or failure may be traced to a difference in the qualities of the boys.

"Here is a quarter if that will do you any good," said Carl.

The man clutched at it with avidity.

"Thank you. This will buy me a cup of coffee and a plate of meat, and will put new life into me."

He was about to hurry away, but Carl felt like questioning him further. The extraordinary resemblance between this man and his stepbrother led him to think it possible that there might be a relationship between them.

Of his stepmother's family he knew little or nothing. His father had married her on short acquaintance, and she was very reticent about her former life. His father was indolent, and had not troubled himself to make inquiries.

He took her on her own representation as the widow of a merchant who had failed in business.

On the impulse of the moment--an impulse which he could not explain--Carl asked abruptly--"Is your name Cook?"

A look of surprise, almost of stupefaction, appeared on the man's face.

"Who told you my name?" he asked.

"Then your name is Cook?"

"What is your object in asking?" said the man, suspiciously.

"I mean you no harm," returned Carl, "but I have reasons for asking."

"Did you ever see me before?" asked the man.

"No."

"Then what makes you think my name is Cook?

It is not written on my face, is it?"

"No."

"Then how----"

Carl interrupted him.

"I know a boy named Peter Cook," he said, "who resembles you very strongly."

"You know Peter Cook--little Peter?" exclaimed the tramp.

"Yes. Is he a relation of yours?"

"I should think so!" responded Cook, emphatically. "He is my own son--that is, if he is a boy of about your age."

"Yes."

"Where is he? Is his mother alive?"

"Your wife!" exclaimed Carl, overwhelmed at the thought.

"She was my wife!" said Cook, "but while I was in California, some years since, she took possession of my small property, procured a divorce through an unprincipled lawyer, and I returned to find myself without wife, child or money. Wasn't that a mean trick?"

"I think it was."

"Can you tell me where she is?" asked Cook, eagerly.

"Yes, I can."

"Where can I find my wife?" asked Cook, with much eagerness.

Carl hesitated. He did not like his stepmother; he felt that she had treated him meanly, but he was not prepared to reveal her present residence till he knew what course Cook intended to pursue.

"She is married again," he said, watching Cook to see what effect this announcement might have upon him.

同类推荐
  • 识鉴

    识鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 易牙遗意

    易牙遗意

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲种玉记

    六十种曲种玉记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禅宗杂毒海

    禅宗杂毒海

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编皇极典君德部

    明伦汇编皇极典君德部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 明伦汇编宫闱典宦寺部

    明伦汇编宫闱典宦寺部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少主的玉面夫君

    少主的玉面夫君

    十七岁还待字闺中的少主在梅兰镇上看上了一个貌若潘安的男人,冒着触犯山规的危险将他绑上了山寨……几年之后,他眼含笑意地说道:“姝姝,这叫礼尚往来。”
  • 斗神尊

    斗神尊

    家族的废柴少爷,境界一直难以提升的原因竟是天生异体缺少海量资源,遇到名师后一路披荆斩棘,与人斗,与魔斗,与神斗,与天斗……当他踏入巅峰,得知一个天道秘密,他面临自我牺牲奉献和同归于尽的选择……
  • 遇见就不再错过

    遇见就不再错过

    【已出版】她在蓊郁韶荫,快意恩仇年华遇见他,他们的感情芳馥茂盛,悱恻绵长。然世事变迁,稚涩的他们带着对彼此最柔软的坚持面对分离。时岁清潺,人影料峭,当时间渐渐冷却情感,曾经的海誓山盟亦支离破碎,待桃花落尽自成春泥,他与她又是否能殊途同归?天上人间,明灭光影,他们的顾盼回眸将各自牵绊。那一场日光倾城的盛夏光年,在兵荒马乱的时间洪流中轻声浅吟,诉说着她与他的情深不寿。
  • 泰山道里记

    泰山道里记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 至尊纨绔

    至尊纨绔

    上古十神器,皆在我手中,我有救命灵珠在手,阎王也要靠边走!异世重生,怅然入梦。褪去平庸,风华无限!她一夜间退去平庸,一袭白衣风华无限,引天下无数男女为之疯狂!她是众人欺凌的千金,苦不堪言无人问津。他是人人可欺的傻帝,众人辱骂无人制止。她隐去一张绝世容颜,,一袭白衣,引天下男女为之疯狂!他一夜间褪去平庸,待得实力见证之时,众人纷纷傻了眼,痛了心……她阴险狡诈嚣张无耻,他冷漠狠辣毒舌腹黑。她无耻无下限,他腹黑无底线。她一舞倾城步步为营,他帅气性感无人能敌。她腹黑无下限整人整到爽,他掌风凌厉杀人杀到爆!——姨娘挑衅?砍掉你的手,挖掉你的心,看你再做坏事!渣姐盗舞?敢盗我版权是吧!那就让你跳断筋!渣男求婚?人在做天在看!要你的头踢,我都嫌它不够圆!——堂弟欺负?欺负大哥,死惨的可不是大哥。宫女欺凌?任你欺凌!我死了还有我奶奶,你呢?要挖墙脚?抢我娘子是吧!诅咒你断子绝孙!——美人很妖娆——某女笑的狡黠,将手中宝贝给了黑衣人。“人家好怕怕哦!你不会杀我吧!”“不会!”“真的不会?”“不……啊!”你的刀很硬吗?看老娘的机关枪!之后“爷……呜呜呜,今天有人骂我!”“谁?”“就皇宫里那一群母猪,她们从家里跑出来找人交配!”“那就把他们五马分尸,分布在皇宫各个角落。”教主很无奈——“爷,人家要你抱抱!”“好!”“爷,人家要你暖暖!”“好!”“爷,人家最喜欢你了!”“好。”“爷,今晚打地铺吧!”“想都别想。”啊……随即房中传来一女声惨叫……追风:我的爷诶,你就毁在小姐身上了!小儿很难养——某女睡如死猪,薄被顿时被掀开,一把白金闪闪的刀子横到了她面前!“妈咪,晓晓饿了!”“然后呢?”某女慵懒的答了一句。“晓晓要妈咪喂奶!”说完这句话,其它六个宝贝远远鄙视之,居然占妈咪的便宜!擦!谁家来的倒霉孩子?老娘不认识!“妈咪再不醒,就杀了妈咪!”某宝贝直跺脚,晃出了那把刀子!“啊……”一身惨叫,“苏墨,你家儿子杀人了!”某男来到面前,将晓晓丢了回去。淡定总结,“没关系,娘子,我们丢了这一群恶魔,以后还可以再要的!”“擦!你给我滚!”★——她冷眉相对,一身圣洁之气。做事大义凛然。然,在他面前却有着娇羞一面。他狠辣腹黑,倾世面容下,卖萌?撒娇?遇鬼?只要她高兴,他可以做任何事情!
  • 洪荒西游传

    洪荒西游传

    我有一个梦想!劈柴,放马,环游世界。我还要一个家!面朝大海,春暖花开。为了实现自己的梦,主角来了一次说走就走的旅行。洪荒这么大,他想去看看!
  • 介庵进禅师语录

    介庵进禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九阳大帝

    九阳大帝

    这是一个强者为尊的世界。他没有妖孽般的天赋,没有强大的背景,有的只是一颗不甘于平庸的心。他走的每一步都是汗与血的铺垫,凭借着过人的毅力和勇气,他惊艳了时光。传说里,他的左手掌控毁灭,右手代表重生。他就是慕炎,一个应运而生,纯阳之体的修士,一个用实力踏上主宰巅峰的男人。
  • 一学就会做早点

    一学就会做早点

    《一学就会做早点》精选了近百种早点的做法,操作方便,内容实用。制作简单,一学就会,是居家过日子的上选读本。蟹黄虾子烧麦;金黄南瓜饼;麦香粗粮饼;白糖焦饼;岭南光酥饼;黄金馒头;葱油花卷;香软芋头糕;皮蛋瘦肉粥;油盐白粥;生滚田鸡粥;田螺芋头粥;生菜鲮鱼球粥;柴鱼花生粥;淡菜皮蛋粥;等等。