CHAPTER VII.
TOM TURNS OVER A NEW LEAF.
The communication which he had just read gave Tom much to think of. Upto this time he knew nothing of his past history. Now a clear light wasthrown upon it, and it remained for him to decide what he would do. Heknew as much as this, that the man who had wronged him was stillliving. Where he lived was unknown. That was the first thing todiscover. The next was, to make him disgorge the property of which hewas in unlawful possession. It seemed wonderful to Tom to reflect that,if he had his rights, he would be heir to a large fortune.
"There's a lot of money lyin' around loose somewheres that belongs tome," said Tom to himself. "Blest if it don't seem like a dream. I'dlike to set eyes on that old feller with a scar again."
Tom leaned his head on his hand, and devoted five minutes toreflection. During that brief interval, he made up his mind what to do.He would leave New York, giving up his business into other hands, andset his face westward, in search of his fraudulent guardian and hisfortune. He might have been embarrassed about this, but for theopportune legacy of old Jacob. It wasn't very large, but it would, atall events, start him on his journey. Then he must trust to luck andhis own exertions for the rest.
He was not in the least afraid but that he could get along. He hadsupported himself for years, and he knew he could again.
I may as well warn my young readers here that there is no occasion forthem to forsake comfortable homes to follow Tom's example.Circumstances alter cases, and, what was right for Tom, would not beright for them. I have in mind the case of two boys who leftcomfortable homes in quest of adventure, without any good reason, andwere very glad to get back again in a few days, without a penny intheir pockets, utterly unsuccessful. If fortune drives you out, do yourbest, but never leave a good home when you are well off, or you willrepent it.
"I'll take some of this money," said Tom to himself, "and buy someclo'es. I ain't goin' to travel in these rags. Considerin' I'm heir toa fortune, I'll dress respectable."
Tom withdrew fifty dollars from the miser's hoard, then went to thehospital and left fifteen dollars to defray the expenses of Jacob'sburial.
"It's the last I can do for him," thought Tom. "I hope, if I live to beas old as he was, somebody'll do as much for me."
The thought of his old companion made him sad for the moment, but hismind was full of his future plans, and he quickly became cheerfulagain.
Before going to buy new clothes, it struck Tom that it would be a goodplan to take a bath. I should not like to say how long it was since hehad washed himself all over, but it is well known that excessiveneatness is not a characteristic of street-boys. It had never troubledTom much to have a spot of blacking on his face, or to see his handsbearing the traces of the business by which he made his living. Now,however, he determined to turn over a new leaf.
"I'm going to set up for a gentleman," he said, "and I must lookrespectable."
There was a hotel near by, where warm and cold baths were provided tothe general public, at twenty-five cents apiece. He made his waythither, and entered the barber shop adjoining. Just before him was agentleman who inquired for a bath, and was led into the adjoiningapartment. When the attendant came back, Tom went up to him.
"Well, boy; what's wanted?" he asked.
"I want a warm bath," answered Tom, boldly.
"You!" exclaimed the attendant, surveying the boy in alarm.
"Yes," said Tom. "Don't you think I need it?"
"I should say you did," returned the other. "How long since you tookone?"
"I can't exactly remember," said Tom.
"Did you ever take a bath in your life?"
"That's a leadin' question," said Tom. "I never took any except at theFifth Avenoo Hotel. They've got bully baths there."
"Have they? Then I think you'd better go there now."
"It's too far off, and I'm in a hurry. I'm invited to dine with themayor, and I wouldn't like to go dirty."
"If you bathe here, we shall charge you double price."
"How much is that?"
"Fifty cents."
"Well, I am rich. I can afford it."
"Money payable in advance."
"All right," said Tom. "Here's fifty cents. I'm a young man of fortun',though I don't look like it. I've been boot-blackin' for a joke. When Icome in to my money, I'll get shaved here regular."
"You're a case," said the attendant, laughing.
"That's so," said Tom. "Now, just show me the bath-tub, and give me abar of soap, and I'll get my money's worth."
The attendant led the way to the bath-room, first collecting the fiftycents which he had decided to charge. The water was turned on, and Tomwent to work energetically to wash off the stains and dirt which, inthe course of his street-life, he had contrived to accumulate. Tomnever did anything by halves, and he set himself to work with a will,sparing neither strength nor soap. The result was that he effected avery great change for the better.
"I wish I'd got some better clo'es to put on," he thought, as withreluctance he drew on the ragged attire which had served him for somemonths, getting more ragged and dirty every day. "I'll buy some as soonas I get out."
He surveyed himself in the mirror and his long, unkempt locks attractedhis attention.
"I must have my hair cut," he decided.
On his way out he saw a vacant chair, and seated himself in it.
"Do you want to be shaved?" asked one of the barbers.
"Not to-day," said Tom. "You may cut off some of my wool. Mind you giveme a fashionable cut."
"Oh, I'll take care of that," said the journeyman.
"If you do what's right," said Tom, "I'll recommend all my friends onFifth avenoo to come here."
"Is that the Fifth avenue style of coat?" asked the barber, pointing toseveral large holes in Tom's most prominent article of dress.
"It's a dress I wore to a masquerade ball last evenin'," said Tom. "Iwent in the character of a bootblack."
"You made a pretty good imitation," said the knight of the scissors,who had already commenced operations on Tom's head.
"That's what all the ladies told me," said Tom. "They said theywouldn't have knowed me from the genooine article."
In about twenty minutes the task was completed.
"How's that?" said the barber.
Tom looked in the mirror, and hardly recognized his image, so much wasit altered by the careful arrangement of his hair.
"If it wasn't for the clo'es," he said, "I would think it was anotherboy."
He paid his bill and left the hotel.
"The next thing must be some new clo'es," he said to himself; "thenI'll begin to feel respectable."