Two Boys of the Battleship Part 4

"Well, there's no use worrying," said Frank. "I'll go to see Mr.

Thursby. He's a lawyer, and Uncle Phil has consulted him on some matters. He can tell us what to do. If worst comes to worst we'll let this house, get rent for it, and s.h.i.+ft for ourselves. You can easily get a place," he said to the housekeeper, "and so can the other servants, probably."

"Oh, yes. It isn't about that I'm worrying," she announced, drying her eyes; "it's you poor boys! What will you do without a home?"

"Without a home?" exclaimed Ned. "Why, won't we have this place?"

"Oh, no, Ned, dear!" cried Mrs. Brun, who was very like a mother to the boys. "Your uncle said this house was attached also, and that you couldn't stay here. I don't know what you are going to do. You can't rent it and use the money, either."

"Well, we'll just have to s.h.i.+ft for ourselves, that's all," said Frank, with a.s.sumed cheerfulness. "It might be worse! We'll make out somehow, eh, Ned?"

"Oh, I guess. But say, this is sudden, all right!"

"Sudden isn't any name for it," commented Frank. "I wonder what we had really better do? I'll have a talk with the lawyer."

"Do you imagine we can stay here to-night?" asked Ned.

"I don't see why not," his brother answered. "At least I don't see any one around to put us out."

"It won't be as sudden as that," Mrs. Brun informed them. "Your uncle said it would be a week before you would have to leave here, and perhaps not then, if he could get matters straightened out."

"Well, then let's have supper," proposed Ned. "The secret service men didn't take away all the victuals, did they?"

"Oh, no; there's plenty to eat," the housekeeper said. "That is, if any one has the heart to eat."

"Well, I feel bad enough about uncle's trouble, as far as that goes,"

observed Frank, "but there's no use in starving. Besides, we must keep up our strength. There'll be plenty to do from now on."

"I'm with you!" agreed his brother. "I don't know just what we can do, but we'll do our best, anyhow."

The household was upset, naturally, but Mrs. Brun managed to put a meal on the table. In the evening the two boys went to see the local lawyer.

He could give them little satisfaction, however, as he knew hardly anything about Mr. Ardens affairs. He said, though, that he would do what he could to aid the boys in case further legal proceedings were taken against them or their uncle.

And there was need of his help, for the next day formal notice was served of the attachment of the Arden property for the benefit of the persons in the South American republic.

"But what does it mean?" asked Frank, when a copy of the papers had been left at the house and a surly man put in charge.

"It means that I'm in possession," was the answer. "The property has been seized, and will be held for the benefit of the damaged parties."

"Can't we stay here?" asked Ned.

"Don't see how you can very well," was the answer. "I don't want to be mean, boys, but orders is orders. If you've got any way of living I don't object to your staying in the house. It won't hurt it any, I guess. But how are you going to live?"

"That's so," conceded Frank. "There'll not be any money coming in with our uncle away. Our money is tied up, as is his. Have you got much, Ned?"

"A few dollars."

"That's the way with me. We'd better go to see that lawyer. Maybe he can fix things up."

But the legal representative was unable to do anything. The attachment was perfectly legal he said, and the boys were practically ousted. The servants took alarm at the first warning, and left to look for other situations. Mr. Arden had antic.i.p.ated something like this though, and had paid them up to the end of the month, as he had the housekeeper.

"I don't like to leave you boys," said Mrs. Brun, tearfully, "but what can I do? There will be nothing for me to do with that sheriff's officer in charge. Soon there will be nothing left to cook, and if you have no money-"

"It is better that you should go," agreed Frank. "And we'll go too, Ned."

"Go! Where can we go?"

"That's what we've got to figure out. I don't see any sense in staying here, though. We can't make a living here."

"What about taking out parties in our motor boat?"

"I don't believe that would work. I think we'd better sell her and use the money."

"What! Sell that dory?"

"Well, if our fortune is gone we can't run her, and if our fortune isn't lost, we can buy another later. I say, let's get together all the cash we can and s.h.i.+ft for ourselves."

"Where shall we go?"

"New York!" exclaimed Frank. "That's the place of opportunities. And say, Ned, I've got a scheme!" and his eyes twinkled.

"What is it?" asked the younger brother.

"Tell you later," was the answer. "If it works we may be able to see Uncle Phil again soon."

"I'm with you on anything like that!" Ned cried.

There being nothing else for them to do under the peculiar and strange circ.u.mstances, the two boys prepared to s.h.i.+ft for themselves.

CHAPTER V-IN NEW YORK

Events now began to move rapidly for our two heroes, thus left to their own resources, and at an age when they were not very well fitted to battle with the world. And they were all the more unfitted on account of the life they had previously led.

They had always been well supplied with money, and they had never had to worry about where the next meal was coming from, nor to consider what they should wear. They gave orders to their tailor for suits, and their uncle, as a generous father might have done, footed the bills. It was the same way with their college expenses.

"But I guess this is the end of college," remarked Frank, as he and his brother were each packing a small valise.

"It looks like it," Ned agreed. "Yet, maybe it will do us good to s.h.i.+ft for ourselves."

"I'm not worrying about it," was the response of the other. "We have the best part of the summer before us and something will surely turn up before then. Besides, we'll get work in New York, I'm sure of that."

"I guess so," a.s.serted Ned, with the easy a.s.surance of happy, healthy youth.

The boys had carried out the plan so hastily decided on. They had consulted with their friend, the lawyer, and he had advised it. They had also written to their uncle and received a reply. He advised them not to lose all hope of some day getting back their fortunes, but he admitted that the outlook was not at all bright.