Frank and Fearless; or The Fortunes of Jasper Kent Read online

  Produced by David Edwards and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book wasproduced from scanned images of public domain materialfrom the Google Print project.)

  FRANK AND FEARLESS

  OR

  THE FORTUNES OF JASPER KENT

  BY

  HORATIO ALGER, JR.

  AUTHOR OF "BRAVE AND BOLD SERIES," ETC.

  THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.PHILADELPHIACHICAGO TORONTO

  Copyright, 1897 byHENRY T. COATES & CO.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I. Jasper's Victory, 1

  II. Strange News, 10

  III. Jasper Recognizes the Visitor, 19

  IV. Thorn's Revenge, 29

  V. Jasper's Return Home, 37

  VI. The Step-Mother, 46

  VII. New Relations, 54

  VIII. Sudden Death, 63

  IX. A Declaration of War, 72

  X. Nicholas Appears upon the Scene, 81

  XI. The Outbreak of Hostilities, 90

  XII. A Scheme of Vengeance, 101

  XIII. Mrs. Kent is Foiled, 108

  XIV. Mediation, 117

  XV. Good-Bye, 126

  XVI. An Unpleasant Adventure, 135

  XVII. The Deserted House, 144

  XVIII. The Kidnapped Child, 153

  XIX. A Brute in Human Shape, 158

  XX. A Strange Commission, 169

  XXI. Jasper is Intrusted with a Delicate Commission, 179

  XXII. A Business Max's Suspicions, 188

  XXIII. Where Jasper Found Dick, 197

  XXIV. The Sleeping Potion, 207

  XXV. Jasper Finds Himself a Prisoner, 213

  XXVI. In Confinement, 217

  XXVII. An Unexpected Friend, 225

  XVIII. Escape, 230

  XXIX. Jasper in a New Character, 236

  XXX. Jasper Gets a Place, 245

  XXXI. The Unwelcome Relative, 255

  XXXII. A Cold Reception, 263

  XXXIII. Dick Punishes Nicholas, 270

  XXXIV. An Important Commission, 279

  XXXV. An Indian Maiden, 283

  XXXVI. In Difficulties, 290

  XXXVII. A Startling Summons, 303

  XXXVIII. Dick Comes Back, 308

  XXXIX. How It All Ended, 318

  FRANK AND FEARLESS;

  OR,

  THE FORTUNES OF JASPER KENT

  CHAPTER I.

  JASPER'S VICTORY.

  A dozen boys were playing ball in a field adjoining the boarding-schoolof Dr. Pericles Benton, in the town of Walltham, a hundred andtwenty-five miles northeast of the city of New York. These boys variedin age from thirteen to seventeen. In another part of the field a fewyounger boys were amusing themselves. All these boys wereboarding-scholars connected with the school.

  The ball had been knocked to a distance by the batter, and it was theduty of Nicholas Thorne, one of the oldest boys, to ran after it. But hethought of an easier way.

  "Cameron, run for that ball!" he cried, addressing one of the smallerboys outside the game.

  "I don't want to," said little Cameron.

  "Did you hear what I said?" demanded Thorne, imperiously.

  "Yes."

  "Then you'd better go if you know what's best for yourself," said thebully, frowning.

  "I ain't in the game," said Cameron. "Why should I get the ball?"

  "Because I say so!" retorted the tyrant.

  "Run after it yourself, Thorne," said a lad named Davies. "It's yourbusiness, not Cameron's."

  "It's his business, because I ordered him to do it," said Thorne,flushed and angry. "Do you think I will allow him to bully me?"

  "The boot's on the other leg," said Davies, dryly. "Run after the ball,and don't keep the game waiting."

  "That's so," said half a dozen voices. "Let Cameron alone."

  "I won't let him alone," said Thorne, who had by this time workedhimself into a towering passion. "I'll give him the worst flogging heever had, if he doesn't obey me!"

  So saying, he advanced toward Cameron in a menacing manner.

  Thorne was the acknowledged bully of the school. He was a big, hulkingfellow, with a heavy figure and a repulsive face, and small ferret eyes,emitting a cold and baleful light. He was more than a match for any ofhis fellow-pupils, and availed himself of his superior physical strengthto abuse and browbeat the smaller boys. Knowing his strength he was notafraid of interference, and usually carried his point. If Cameron hadnot been particularly occupied playing marbles with a boy of his own agehe would not have ventured to object to obey the despot. When he sawThorne advancing toward him with a cruel light in his eyes he becamefrightened, and said, hurriedly:

  "Don't pound me, Thorne, I'll go."

  "Yes," said Thorne, between his teeth, "you'll go; but you ought to havedone so at first. I'll give you something to remind you to be moreprompt next time."

  "Don't hit me, Thorne!" pleaded the little boy, with tears in his eyes."I'm going."

  "Shame, Thorne!" exclaimed Davies.

  Thorne glared at Davies wrathfully.

  "Take care how you talk," he said, "or it'll be your turn next!"

  Davies was two inches shorter than Thorne, and by no means his equal.So, honestly indignant as he was, he didn't venture to say any more.

  Little Cameron turned to run, despairing of help, and Thorne started topursue him. Of course there was no chance of the smaller boy's escape,or would not have been, but for an unexpected incident.

  "Stop!" was heard, in a clear, commanding voice.

  Thorne turned in surprise. What boy (for it was a boy's voice) had daredto command him to atop?

  He wasn't long in doubt.

  Jasper Kent, a new scholar, who had only arrived the day before,advanced intrepidly to the rescue of the little victim. He was an inchshorter than Thorne, of a slight, elegant build, with a clear complexionand a bright, attractive face that would have been pronounced handsomeby anyone. Judging from outward appearances, no one would have thoughthim the equal of Thorne in strength.

  When Nicholas Thorne's eye lighted on his antagonist his lip turned inscorn and he paused.

  "You're the new boy, I believe?" he said.

  "Yes."

  "I thought so. If you had been here longer you would know better than tointerfere with me."

  This was spoken with the utmost arrogance.

  "You appear to consider yourself master here," said Jasper, quietly.

  "I am master here," r
eturned Nicholas, in the same tone.

  "And you claim the right of ordering around smaller boys?"

  "I do."

  "And of beating them if they dare to disobey your majesty's commands, Isuppose?" continued Jasper, with sarcasm.

  "Yes, I do. Have you anything to say about it?" exclaimed the youngdespot, in a swaggering manner.

  "Yes, I have," was the quiet answer.

  "What have you got to say, I should like to know?"

  "That I won't allow it," said Jasper.

  "You won't allow it?" exclaimed Thorne, bursting into a brutal laugh."And who are you, young poppinjay?"

  "My name is Jasper Kent, at your service."

  "Then, Mr. Jasper Kent, I beg leave to suggest that you mind your ownbusiness."

  "I generally do," said Jasper, coolly; "but that advice comes with a badgrace from you."

  "Why does it?"

  "Because you are not attending to your business."

  "What is my business?" demanded Thorne, angrily.

  "To go after that ball."

  "It's Cameron's business. I ordered him to go after it."

  "And I order him not to go for it," said Jasper, resolutely, but withoutexcitement.

  Thorne answered with an oath.

  "I've a great mind to send you for it," he exclaimed, his small eyesglaring at his opponent.

  "It's one thing to order, and another to secure obedience," said Jasper.

  "Your turn will come," growled Thorne, "but just at present I've gotCameron's case to dispose of. Cameron, go for that ball!"

  The little boy started, but his purpose was interrupted. Jasper Kenthurried forward and placed his hand kindly on his shoulder.

  "Don't go, Cameron," he said. "I'll protect you."

  Cameron stopped, but looked apprehensively at Thorne. He evidentlydoubted the power of his young protector.

  Thorne was now thoroughly exasperated. His authority was openly defied.He rushed at Jasper, intending to overwhelm him by the suddenness andmomentum of his attack. But Jasper was prepared for him. He turnedswiftly aside and planted a blow on Thorne's right ear which sent himstaggering to the earth.

  The bully was astonished, but rallied. Almost foaming at the mouth withrage, he sprang to his feet and renewed the attack. He attempted tothrow his arms round the waist of Jasper and throw him. Had his tacticsbeen successful, probably Jasper would have been borne to the earth bythe superior weight of his opponent. But here, again, he was prepared.He stepped back and received Thorne with a blow on his breast, so firmlyplanted that he staggered again.

  By this time he had lost all control of himself and was thoroughly underthe dominion of passion. He "pitched into" Jasper, trying to get in ablow wherever he could, and in so doing exposed himself to the skilfulblows of his slighter foe, who had some knowledge of boxing, whileThorne had none whatever.

  Finally Thorne was stretched on his back, not immediately to rise.

  "Have you had enough?" asked Jasper, bending over him.

  "I'll kill you!" shrieked Thorne.

  "Wail till you are able," said Jasper.

  Thorne struggled to rise. Jasper held him down forcibly.

  "You will stay there till you promise to let Cameron alone," he said.

  "I won't promise!"

  "Then you'll stay where you are."

  But at that moment a small boy came across the field from the school.

  "Thorne is wanted," he said. "There's a lady to see him."

  "You can rise, then," said Jasper.

  Thorne rose sullenly, and without a word strode toward the large, squarebuilding, with an extended wing, which was used for the boarding-school.

  Little Cameron seized Jasper's hand and kissed it.

  "How brave you are!" he said. "How much I thank you!"

  "Oh, it's nothing," said Jasper, modestly. "You just send for me whenyou're in trouble, Cameron. I won't let him hurt you."

  CHAPTER II.

  STRANGE NEWS.

  Entering the house, Thorne reported at the doctor's study. His flushedappearance attracted the teacher's attention.

  "What's the matter, Thorne?" he asked.

  "The new boy pitched into me and I licked him," said Thorne.

  But his sullen manner was so unlike that of a victor that the doctorshrewdly suspected that his statement was not wholly correct.

  "What was the quarrel about?" he asked.

  "We were playing ball," said Thorne, evasively.

  "I will inquire into it. At present you are wanted in the parlor."

  So Thorne left the presence of the principal and entered the oppositeroom. A lady, seated on a sofa, arose quickly, and advanced to meet him.She kissed the boy's cheek, to which he submitted without manifestingany responsive feeling.

  "How long it is since I saw you, Nicholas, my dear boy!" she said.

  "It's only about six months," said Nicholas, stolidly.

  "And are not six months long for a mother to be separated from her onlychild?" said the lady, tenderly.

  "It doesn't seem so long," said Nicholas.

  The lady looked pained, but she proceeded:

  "How you have grown!"

  "Yes, I've grown," said Nicholas, showing a little pleasure now. "Ithink I shall be a large man."

  "Like your father. And how are you improving in your studies, Nicholas?"

  "Oh! I'm doing well enough," said the boy, indifferently, for NicholasThorne's taste for study was very moderate. "Did you bring me any money,mother?"

  "You have your regular allowance, Nicholas."

  "It isn't enough. What's a dollar a week?"

  "It is a good deal for me to pay," said his mother. "Remember, I have topay your school bills, and my means are but small."

  "A dollar a week is very small for a boy of my age," grumbled Thorne."Why, some of the little boys get more; and there's that new boy, JasperKent, gets five dollars, so they say."

  The lady betrayed strong interest at the sound of his name.

  "I forgot," she said. "So Jasper Kent has arrived, has he?"

  "What, mother, do you know him?" demanded Thorne, surprised in turn.

  "Yea, I know him. What do you think of him?"

  "Think of him? I hate him!" said Thorne, fiercely.

  "Why?"

  "He tries to bully me."

  "And you permit it? Why, you are larger than he."

  "Yes, but he knows how to fight."

  "How do you know?"

  "I had a fight with him this morning," said Nicholas.

  "Did he come off best?" asked the lady.

  "No," answered Nicholas, with hesitation. "That is, we were only halfthrough the fight when a boy ran up and said you had come. So we had tostop."

  "Humph! That is strange," said the lady, in a low voice, more to herselfthan to her son, "this sudden antagonism."

  "What do you know about Kent?" demanded Nicholas, his curiosity aroused.

  "Perhaps I may as well tell you," said his mother, thoughtfully, "but Iwish you to keep the matter secret from him."

  "You won't catch me telling him anything, except that he is ascoundrel!" muttered Nicholas.

  "Then sit down by me, and I will tell you much that you do not know, butought now to hear. Is the door shut?"

  "Yes."

  "Go and see. It is important that no one should overhear us."

  Nicholas complied with her request.

  "It's shut fast enough," he said. "Now what have you got to tell me?"

  "To begin with, do you know where I get the money I pay for yourschooling and clothes?"

  "My father left you some money, didn't he?"

  "He left me a small property which rents for two hundred dollars ayear."

  "You pay three hundred a year for me, don't you?"

  "For your school bills, yes. Besides, I give you an allowance and buyyour clothes."

  "How do you do it?" asked Nicholas, in surprise. "Have you sold thehouse?"

  "No. If I should do that, there wou
ld soon be nothing left. That was theproblem I had to solve three years ago, when your father died."

  "What did you do?"

  "I felt that the property must not be touched, save the income. I sawthat it was necessary for me to exert myself, or I should be unable toeducate you as I desired. I had a good education, and I determined toavail myself of it. I therefore went to a teacher's agency in New Yorkand set forth my desire to obtain the position of governess in somefamily in the country."

  "You a governess!"

  "Why not? It was the only way I could think of that would yield me anincome. After waiting a few weeks I succeeded. A wealthy gentleman,living in a country town of moderate size, saw my testimonials, waspleased with them, and engaged me to superintend the education of anorphan niece resident in his family. He offered me a fairsalary--enough, added to the rent which I received from the propertyleft me by your father, to justify me in putting you at thisboarding-school. That was three years ago."

  "Why didn't you tell me all this before, mother?"

  "It would have done no good. I preferred that you should think of me aspossessing an independent property. I felt that it would enable you thebetter to hold up your head among your school-fellows, as they couldknow nothing of your antecedents."

  "Does Dr. Benton know this?" asked Nicholas, quickly.

  "No; he only knows that I am a widow, He supposes that I have sufficientmeans."