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Alger, Horatio, Jr.

"Struggling Upward"

Coleman, to
do him justice, proved an excellent guide, and pointed out whatever
they passed which was likely to interest his young companion.
But at last he seemed to be tired.
"It's only half-past eight," he said, referring to his watch.
"I'll drop into some theater. It is the best way to finish
up the evening."
"Then I'll go back to the hotel," said Luke. "I feel tired,
and mean to go to bed early."
"You'd better spend an hour or two in the theater with me."
"No, I believe not. I prefer a good night's rest."
"Do you mind my leaving you?"
"Not at all."
"Can you find your way back to the hotel alone?"
"If you'll direct me, I think I can find it."
The direction was given, and Coleman was turning off, when,
as if it had just occurred to him, he said: "By the way, can you
lend me a five? I've nothing less than a fifty-dollar bill with me,
and I don't want to break that."
Luke congratulated himself now that he had left the greater
part of his money at the hotel.
"I can let you have a dollar," he said.
Coleman shrugged his shoulders, but answered: "All right;
let me have the one."
Luke did so, and felt now that he had more than repaid the fifty
cents his companion had paid for hack fare.


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