Out For Business or Robert Frost's Strange Career

Inside of quarter of an hour Jim Huskin was transferred to the local jail and his capture was telegraphed to Chicago. He was searched, and on him were found about forty dollars belonging to Robert and a pawn-ticket for the watch, showing that it had been pawned in Muskegon for six dollars. Before he left the town Robert got the watch back.

Later on Jim Huskin was taken back to Chicago, and he and Andy Cross were tried together, and each received a sentence of two years in State's prison for his misdeeds.

On getting back to Mrs. Gibbs' boarding house Robert found a telegram from his mother awaiting him. It read:

"Come home at once. Your step-father is very ill."

Without delay our hero started for Granville, arriving there late in the evening. His mother met him at the front door, and it was plain to see that she had been weeping.

"Oh, Robert!" she cried, and embraced him. It was several minutes before she could say more.

"Mr. Talbot is very sick then?" asked the boy.

"Yes, very sick, and the doctor is afraid he will never get well," answered Mrs. Talbot.

James Talbot was suffering from a sudden stroke of paralysis, which had affected his stomach and his left side. He was almost unconscious, and remained in that state for several days. During that time Mrs. Talbot was at his bedside constantly, and Robert did all he could for both.

At the end of two weeks the physician pronounced James Talbot out of danger. The paralysis was gradually leaving him, and he could now take a little nourishment.

His sickness seemed to have changed him wonderfully, and his harshness appeared to be a thing of the past.

"I have had my eyes opened," he said to his wife and Robert. "I have done wrong in the past, but from now on you will find me a different man."

These words pleased Mrs. Talbot greatly and removed a heavy load from her heart. Robert, however, said but little on the subject.

"I hope he does turn over a new leaf," he thought. "But I want to test him for a while before I trust him."

"Your step-father will be all right now, Robert," said his mother, hopefully.

"I sincerely trust so," he answered gravely. "For your sake even more than for my own."

Here we will bring to a close the story of Robert Frost's adventures while "Out for Business." He had succeeded in taking several forward steps in life, and had brought to grief the enemies who had tried to drag him down and overcome him.

As soon as Mr. Talbot was on the mend our hero returned to Chicago and called upon Mr. Gray. The cut-rate ticket broker had already opened both his Chicago and his New York offices, and he at once agreed to give the boy his position back, with two dollars per week added to his salary. The next day found Robert again working beside Livingston Palmer.

"Right glad to see you!" cried Palmer. And he shook hands cordially. "I reckon we have both had adventures enough for the present."

"I know I have," answered Robert. "I hope in the future I am left alone to buckle down to business."

For the time being all went well. But there were still many adventures in store for Robert, which will be related in a companion volume to this, entitled: "Falling in with Fortune; or, The Experiences of a Young Secretary." In this book we will meet all of our old friends and some new ones, and also learn something more about James Talbot and his schemes for getting possession of the Frost fortune.

And now, kind reader, good-by, in the hope that some day we will meet again.