登陆注册
14731900000006

第6章

Hiram could not stay in his room. It was a narrow, cold place at the end of the back hall at the top of the house. There was a little, painted bureau in it, one leg of which had been replaced by a brick, and the little glass was so blue and blurred that he never could see in it whether his tie was straight or not.

There was a chair, a shelf for books, and a narrow folding bed. When the bed was dropped down for his occupancy at night, he could not get the door open. Had there ever been a fire at Atterson's at night, Hiram's best chance for escape would have been by the window.

So this evening, to kill the miserable stretch of time until sleep should come to him, the boy went out and walked the streets.

Two things had saved Hiram Strong from getting into bad company on these evening rambles. One was the small amount of money he earned, and the other was the naturally clean nature of the boy. The cheap amusements which lured on either hand did not attract him.

But the dangers are there in every city, and they lurk for every boy in a like position.

The main thoroughfare in this part of the town where Hiram boarded was brightly lighted, gaudy electric signs attracting notice to cheap pictureshows, catch-penny arcades, cheap jewelry stores, and the ever present saloons and pool rooms.

It looked bright, and warm, and lively in many of these places; but the country-bred boy was cautious.

Now and then a raucous-voiced automobile shot along the street; the electric cars made their usual clangor, and there was still some ordinary traffic of the day dribbling away into the side streets, for it was early in the evening.

Hiram was about to turn into one of these side streets on his way back to Mrs. Atterson's. Turning the corner was a handsome span of horses attached to a comfortable but mud-bespattered carriage. It was plainly from the country.

The light at the corner of the street shone brightly into the carriage. Hiram saw a well-built man in a gray greatcoat and slouch hat, holding the reins over the backs of the spirited horses.

Beside him sat a girl. She could have been no more than twelve or fourteen--not so old as Sister, by a year or two. But how different she was from the starved-looking, boarding house slavey!

She was framed in furs--rich, gray and black furs that muffled her from top to toe, only leaving her brilliant, dark little face with its perfect features shining like a jewel in its setting.

She was talking laughingly to the big man beside her, and he was looking down at her. Perhaps this was why he did not see what lay just ahead--or perhaps the glare of the street light blinded him, as it must have the horses, as the equipage turned into the darker side street.

But Hiram saw their peril. He sprang into the street with a cry of warning. And he was lucky enough to seize the nigh horse by the bridle and pull both the high-steppers around.

There was an excavation--an opening for a water-main--in this street. The workmen had either neglected to leave a red lantern, or malicious boys had stolen it.

Another moment and the horses would have been in this excavation and even now the carriage swayed. One forward wheel went over the edge of the hole, and for the minute it was doubtful whether Hiram had savedthe occupants of the carriage by his quick action, or had accelerated the catastrophe.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 坐断十方

    坐断十方

    万古之前,一场惊天大战毁灭苍穹,一场惊天阴谋动荡十方;命运之轮悄然转动,万古之后,一切慢慢浮出水面......
  • 狼王传奇

    狼王传奇

    上古时期,被天神选中的狼王,它和它的后代将永生永世受狼群追随。一匹幸运被天神选中的狼王,他和配偶生下个小狼王后,小狼王在一次狼王争夺战而逝。“嗷”狼王发出一声悲惨的嚎叫,在狼王的号召群狼最终杀死了那个企图争夺狼王之位狼。疾此后的路会如何?
  • 青春随影

    青春随影

    苏璨生活在在一个不大不小的家族里,看似平平淡淡的生活,却发生着各种各样的事情,让我们来看看苏璨的生活吧
  • 祭炼天地

    祭炼天地

    天道异变,修行路断,天门不在,何以为仙,吾等该何去何从。断裂的苍穹,破损的大地,染血的仙布,仙域发生了什么,天地又发生了什么,是众生抛弃了天道,还是天道抛弃了众生............。
  • 谪仙相公:娘子来也

    谪仙相公:娘子来也

    一朝穿越,风卷云起。大宋皇朝里,凡尘走一遭。"如若此去,还有回程之路,我便娶你为妻。"盈盈一水,花前月下,宋澜逸蓝衣翩翩,墨发飞扬,亮如繁星的双眸如痴的望着眼前俏丽的女子。犹记得初见时,娇俏的她,视他为‘蝗虫’,相逢时,都是冤家路窄;而如今,他也不记得是从何时起,他们彼此相依,携手走过艰辛之路,只是,这一次,沿途凶险,他只愿她安好。"不,夫妻本是同林鸟,怎能大难临头各自飞呢?我不在乎那些繁琐的礼节,你在我心中,早已是我的夫了。"程依依拥住他,就像一生,穿越几百年,只为遇见你,那我为何不紧紧抓着你的手,走过一世,哪怕是短暂的一世。璀璨星辉为他们照亮前程的黑暗,只要你在,便是一切。
  • 斩破方圆

    斩破方圆

    混沌深处的乾坤世界,缺少管理者的空间,由一个好运得到玉佩的小家伙一步一步带领这乾坤世界走上巅峰,打破封闭的结界,定住黑暗的方圆。
  • 术能师

    术能师

    地球经过无数世纪的能源消耗浪费,环境恶劣,人情冰冷的摧毁。地核中心自行发射辐射毁灭了人类几千年来的文明,而且还自行改造了所有生物。然而发现这并不是地核心发出来的辐射.........
  • 三生执画,咫尺天涯

    三生执画,咫尺天涯

    仙人抚我顶,结发受长生;逍遥何处去,月下可曾聆?天道苍茫,最大的幸福莫过于做个闲人,着一壶酒、看一溪云……qq交流群:551774998
  • 九转碎丹录

    九转碎丹录

    枫寒:“金丹都碎了你还想修行?我感觉你去睡觉比较好!”萧承翘着二郎腿,嘴角微微上扬,带着三分懒散三分惫赖,听了枫寒的话,眉毛一挑。“你丫坐着看就好,看哥哥金丹碎了怎么修行,然后好好的记着!”金丹破碎,如何修炼?萧承从这条不可能的路上一路走了下去,最终给仙界走出了一个传奇!后人称他——承帝!感谢腾讯文学书评团提供书评支持!
  • 萌动季节

    萌动季节

    大学校园,萌动的季节,萌动的男孩,萌动的女孩子,他们激越地生活在校园里,会发生什么呢?爱情,浪漫,创业,赚钱,生活,同居…………构成了现代大学生活的协奏曲。