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MATLAB Machine
Learning Recipes
A Problem-Solution Approach
Second Edition
—
Michael Paluszek
Stephanie Thomas
MATLAB Machine
Learning Recipes
A Problem-Solution Approach
Second Edition
Michael Paluszek
Stephanie Thomas
MATLAB Machine Learning Recipes: A Problem-
Solution Approach
Michael Paluszek
Stephanie Thomas
Plainsboro, NJ
Plainsboro, NJ
USA
USA
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-3916-2
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publis
her, whether the whole or part of the material is
concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of ill
ustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on
microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or informati
on storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation,
computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now know
n or hereafter developed.
Trademarked names, logos, and images may appear in this book. Rat
her than use a trademark symbol with every
occurrence of a trademarked name, logo, or image we use the names
, logos, and images only in an editorial fashion and to
the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement
of the trademark.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true
and accurate at the date of publication, neither the
authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal respon
sibility for any errors or omissions that may be made.
www.apress.com/source-
code/. Readers can also access source code at SpringerLink in the Su
pplementary Material section for each chapter.
Contents
XV
Introduction
XVII
1
1.1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2
1.2.1
Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.2
Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.3
Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.3.1
Supervised Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.3.2
Unsupervised Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
1.2.3.3
Semi-Supervised Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2.3.4
Online Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3
1.4
1.5
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5.1
Kalman Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5.2
Adaptive Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.6
1.6.1
Regression
..............................
10
1.6.2
Decision Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
1.6.3
Neural Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
1.6.4
15
1.7
Artificial Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
1.7.1
16
1.7.2
Intelligent Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
1.7.3
Expert Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
1.8
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
III
CONTENTS
19
2.1
Introduction to MATLAB Data Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
2.1.1
Matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
2.1.2
Cell Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
2.1.3
Data Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
2.1.4
Numerics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
2.1.5
Images
................................
23
2.1.6
Datastore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
2.1.7
Tall Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
2.1.8
Sparse Matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.9
27
2.1.10
Large MAT-Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
2.2
30
2.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.3
33
2.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.4
35
2.4.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
2.4.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.5
.............................
37
2.5.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37
2.5.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38
2.5.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
38
2.6
41
2.6.1
String Concatenation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.1.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.1.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.1.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.2
Arrays of Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.2.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.6.3
Substrings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
2.6.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
2.6.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
2.6.3.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
2.7
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
IV
CONTENTS
MATLAB Graphics
45
3.1
2D Line Plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
3.1.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
3.1.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
45
3.1.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
3.2
General 2D Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.2.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.3
50
3.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
3.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
3.3.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
3.4
Three-Dimensional Box
............................
51
3.4.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
3.4.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
3.4.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
3.5
Draw a 3D Object with a Texture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54
3.5.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54
3.5.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
54
3.5.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
3.6
General 3D Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
3.6.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
3.6.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
3.6.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
3.7
Building a GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
3.7.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
3.7.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
3.7.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
3.8
63
3.8.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
3.8.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
3.8.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
3.9
Drawing a Robot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
3.9.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
3.9.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
3.9.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
3.10
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
71
CONTENTS
Kalman Filters
73
4.1
74
4.1.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.1.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
4.1.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
4.2
92
4.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
4.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
93
4.2.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
93
4.3
...........
97
4.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97
4.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
97
4.3.3
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.4.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.4.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.4.3
4.5
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Adaptive Control
109
5.1
5.2
5.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
5.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
5.2.3
5.3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
5.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
5.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
5.3.3
5.4
Generating a Square Wave Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1
5.4.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
5.4.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
5.4.3
5.5
5.5.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
5.5.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
5.5.3
5.6
of a Ship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
5.6.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
5.6.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
5.6.3
VI
CONTENTS
5.7
5.7.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
5.7.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
5.7.3
5.8
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Fuzzy Logic
135
6.1
6.1.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
6.1.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
6.1.3
6.2
6.2.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
6.2.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
6.2.3
6.3
6.3.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
6.3.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
6.3.3
6.4
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
147
7.1
7.1.1
Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
7.1.2
Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
7.1.3
7.2
Thinking he might not have looked in the right pocket, Tom made a
hasty search through all the others.
“No use,” he said dolefully, “it’s gone! I must have dropped it after I
left the house. What’s to be done?”
The situation was serious for the lad. He wished he had been more
careful, but he had been so engaged in thinking of the queer actions
of Mr. and Mrs. Sandow, and in talking to Charley Grove, that he had
given little thought to the money.
“Mr. Townsend will think I have stolen it, when I go to him in the
morning, and say I’ve lost it,” murmured Tom. “I wish I had been
more particular. Maybe there was a hole in my pocket.”
He looked, but there was none, for Mrs. Baldwin attended carefully
to her son’s clothes.
“This is certainly a pickle!” exclaimed the boy to himself softly. “I
wonder what I’d better do? Maybe if I go back the way I came I’ll find
the envelope lying in the street. It was a good-sized, white one, and I
can easily see it.”
“But maybe I dropped it in the car,” he added. “No, I don’t believe I
could have done that, or some of the passengers or the conductor
would have seen it on the floor, and told me about it. I must have lost
it either before I got on the car, or afterward. I’ll walk back to where I
met Charley, and see if it’s there.”
It was nearly eleven o’clock now, and as Tom looked up at the silent
little house, where his mother and aunt were doubtless sleeping, he
wondered if he had better go in and tell his parent about the loss,
and inform her that he was going to look for the money.
“No, I’ll not do that,” he decided. “She’ll only worry about it, and she
has troubles enough. I’ll hurry as much as I can, and get back as
soon as possible. Still, if I’m not in by midnight she may worry too.
But then I told her I was likely to be late any night now, for I might
have to deliver books in the suburbs. I guess she won’t worry if I
don’t go in right away.”
Deciding that this was the best plan, Tom descended the steps of his
home, and hurried back over the route he had taken from the car.
How eagerly he scanned the pavement, looking for that white,
square envelope! Every scrap of paper he saw made his heart flutter,
until he came close to it, and saw that it was not what he sought.
“Well, here’s where I took the car,” he said, as he reached the corner
where he had alighted. “Either I didn’t drop it along this way, or if I
did, some one has picked it up. Now for the second part of my
search.”
He waited for a car to come along, to take him back to Dr.
Spidderkins’ house, and it was a cold, lonesome wait for Tom, who
felt quite miserable over what had happened. To his delight he saw
on the car the same conductor with whom he had ridden about an
hour before. The man was on the return trip.
“Did you find an envelope in the car, after I left?” asked Tom eagerly,
as he got aboard, and told the circumstances.
“Didn’t find anything but an old lunch box, and there was nothing in
it,” said the conductor.
“Then I must have dropped it before I got on the car,” decided Tom.
Arriving at the place where he had first boarded the electric vehicle,
he alighted and hurried over the ground toward the house of the
eccentric doctor. No sign of a white envelope greeted his anxious
eyes.
“I’m going to ask if it’s in the house,” the boy said to himself, as he
stood in front of the big, dark mansion. “I might have let it slip when I
thought I put it in my pocket, and perhaps they picked it up on the
floor. Though if Mr. and Mrs. Sandow did, they’re likely to keep it, if
what Charley Grove says is true.”
Tom rang the bell. It seemed like a quarter of an hour before some
one opened a window over his head and called:
“Well, what’s the matter? Is it a telegram?”
“I’m from Townsend’s book store,” replied Tom. “I came——”
“What! More books!” exclaimed a voice Tom recognized as Mrs.
Sandow’s. “You can’t leave ’em here to-night. Everybody’s to bed
long ago. You’ll have to come back in the morning.”
“I haven’t got any books,” said Tom. “I dropped the envelope with the
ten-dollar bill the doctor gave me, and I thought maybe it might be in
the house. Would you mind looking?”
“That’s a likely story!” sneered Mr. Sandow, joining his wife at the
window. “You probably stole that money, and now you want us to
help you lie about it. Clear out of here!”
“I didn’t steal the money!” exclaimed Tom. “I lost it! Will you please
look down in the sitting-room, or have Dr. Spidderkins do so?”
“The doctor’s asleep, and I’m not going to disturb him,” declared Mrs.
Sandow.
“I guess not!” added her husband. “Now clear out of here, and don’t
disturb us any more. You’re a nuisance, with your books and things!
I’ll put a stop to this buying of trash!”
“What’s the matter? What is it? Is it a burglar after my rare books?”
inquired Dr. Spidderkins, coming suddenly to the window, behind Mr.
and Mrs. Sandow. He leaned out, and Tom could see, in the light of
an electric arc lamp in front of the house, that the doctor was
dressed, and had on his spectacles, as if he had been sitting up
reading.
“Go back to bed!” called the woman.
“I haven’t been to bed. I must have forgotten to go,” answered the
doctor. “I was reading an account of how the Romans invaded
England. It’s in a very rare first edition of——”
The rest of the sentence was cut off, as Mr. Sandow slammed the
window down.
“They don’t want him to speak to me,” thought Tom. “I wonder what’s
the matter with that couple? They seem to want the doctor to do just
as they say.”
An instant later the window was raised again, and the aged
physician looked out.
“Did you say some one was stealing my books?” he asked. “Are you
a policeman? I’m much obliged to you. I hope the fellow didn’t get
my first folio Shakespeare.”
“No, I’m not a policeman! No books have been stolen!” cried Tom.
“I’m from Townsend’s book store.”
“Oh, yes. You’re Theopholus—no—I remember now; you’re Tom
Baldwin. Wait; I’ll be right down. Have you some more books for
me?”
Before the boy could answer, the window was shut again, but in less
than a minute the front door opened, and Dr. Spidderkins, holding a
candle in his hand, for he liked that old-fashioned method of going
about the house after dark, was inviting Tom to enter. The story of
the mishap was soon told.
“I thought maybe I might have dropped the envelope here,” the boy
finished.
“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Dr. Spidderkins, as he reached for his
pocketbook. He searched hurriedly through it. Then he uttered an
exclamation. “There! It’s all my fault. I knew I’d forget about it!”
“What?” asked Tom hopefully.
“Why, I gave you the wrong thing! There wasn’t any ten-dollar bill in
that envelope!”
“There wasn’t?” and Tom’s heart grew light again.
“Why, I gave you the wrong thing!” said Dr. Spidderkins.
Page 50.
“No. That envelope contained a list of books I wanted Mr. Townsend
to get for me. I meant to send it back to him by whoever called for
the ten dollars. I put the envelope in the compartment with the bill, so
I would remember about it. Then my memory played me a trick, and I
gave you the envelope with the list, and not the bill. So you haven’t
lost much of anything, after all. I can easily make out another list,
and here is the ten-dollar bill. Queer how that happened.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t give me the money,” said Tom
with a smile, “for I would have lost it. But I’ll be careful this time.”
He placed the bill in an inner pocket, and then, bidding the doctor
good-night, Tom once more started for home. This time he reached it
in safety, and he put the bill under his pillow when he went to bed.
He said nothing about the little adventure to his mother or aunt,
merely stating that he had been out late because of some business
for his employer. Nor did he mention the happening to Mr. Townsend.
The work at the book store became more exacting as Christmas
approached, and as customers increased, Tom was kept busy from
morning to night. He had to run on many errands, and he learned
more of Boston than he had ever known before.
He made many sales in the store, and several times he waited on Dr.
Spidderkins, but the physician made no reference to Tom’s midnight
visit. Probably he forgot all about it ten minutes after it occurred.
Christmas eve Tom was up until after midnight, delivering books to
late customers, and when he got back to the store about one o’clock
in the morning, he found Mr. Townsend about to close up.
“Tom,” said his employer, “you’ve done very good work for me, and I
assure you I appreciate it. We don’t open to-morrow, and here’s a
little remembrance for the Christmas season.”
He handed our hero a book of adventures that Tom had long desired
to possess.
“I am sorry,” went on Mr. Townsend, “that I won’t be able to keep you
after this week. You know I engaged you for the holiday rush, and
that’s over now, so I won’t need so many clerks. I am sorry to have
to let you go, as you suited me very well.”
“I’m sorry, too,” said Tom frankly, “but, of course, I understood when
you hired me that it was for the holiday season. I only hoped you
could keep me.”
“So did I, but I find I can not. Your week will not be up until Saturday,
but as there will be little to do, you need not come in that day, nor
Friday, though I will pay you for a full week. Here is the money. Now
if you want a reference, to get another position, call on me. I will be
glad to speak a good word for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Townsend.”
“I think you can get work, somewhere,” went on the bookseller. “I
wish I could keep you, but I can’t. Times are too dull. Good-night,
Tom.”
Tom went home with a heavy heart, in spite of the fact that it was
Christmas morning, and that a book had been presented to him. He
was out of work, and he did not know where to look for a situation.
CHAPTER VII
LOOKING FOR A SITUATION
Tom tried to keep up a cheerful spirit when he went home that night,
tired and discouraged with his fruitless search for work.
“No luck, Tom?” asked his mother, who, in spite of his efforts at
concealment, could almost read his thoughts.
“No, but I’ll find a place to-morrow, mother. Is there any work I can
take home for you?”
“Yes; here is a skirt I have just finished for Mrs. Wellderly, the
minister’s wife. She is usually good pay, and I have written her a little
note, asking to please send the money by you.”
“I wish I was earning money for you, mother.”
“Never mind, Tom. I have had an unusual lot of sewing to do lately,
and we are making out fairly well. Now here is the skirt. Carry it
carefully.”
She handed the bundle to Tom, who grasped it as if it was a package
of books, placing it under one arm.
“Mercy! Goodness sakes alike! Don’t do that!” cried his aunt.
“What’s the matter?” asked Tom innocently. “Am I spilling any of the
fol-de-rols?”
“No; but you’ll crush the ruffle all out of shape!” explained his mother.
“Hold it this way, Tom,” and she showed him how he ought to carry
the parcel.
Tom safely delivered his mother’s work, and received the money
from the minister’s wife.
“Tell your mother to call and see me,” the lady said to the boy. “A
friend of mine wants some fine sewing done, and I think she would
like Mrs. Baldwin’s work.”
“I will,” promised Tom.
Refreshed by a good night’s sleep, though he was awake a little
longer than usual, wondering what the day would bring forth, Tom
arose early the next morning, determined to leave no chance untried
to get a place to work. He looked over the advertisements in the
paper, and picked out several.
He found, to his regret, however, that in most of the places where
boys or young men were wanted, that experience in some line of
industry was necessary. This was particularly true of the shops and
stores. In the offices this was not quite so requisite, but office
positions were very scarce.
“I think I’ll try some of the book stores,” thought Tom, when noon
came, and he had had no success. “I had a little experience there,
and it ought to be worth something. Any way,” he added, as he
smiled at the recollection, “I know there are two Brownings, a poet
and a baseball player.”
He turned into Milk Street, where was located Townsend’s
Emporium, but he knew it was no use to apply there. He recalled that
there was a second-hand book store, further down the street, and he
decided to try his luck there.
It was quite a different place from the neatly-kept shop where he had
formerly worked, and there was a curious, musty smell about it,
many old volumes being ranged about on the shelves.
“Do you want a boy?” asked Tom, of the proprietor.
“Why? Did you see a sign out in front?” inquired the man.
“A sign? No. Why?”
“Well, sometimes the boys of the neighborhood hang a sign out in
front to annoy me. They know I never hire a boy. They do it for a
joke, and several lads, in need of work, have been fooled by it.”
“I don’t think that’s a very good joke,” remarked Tom.
“Neither do I,” agreed the proprietor. “No, I don’t want a boy, but I’m
glad there’s no foolish sign out in front. How did you come to ask in
here?”
“Well, I used to be in Townsend’s store, and as I need work, and
every place seems to be one where experience is needed, I thought
I’d try a book store.”
“I’m sorry,” went on the man more kindly. “I can’t afford to keep a
helper. There’s very little profit in second-hand books, and to hire a
boy would eat it all up. I need a boy quite often to deliver books, but I
can’t afford to hire one regularly.”
“How often do you need one?”
“Well, about once a day. In fact I wish I had one now to take some
books to a man who lives three miles from here. I’ll give you fifty
cents and your car fare if you’ll deliver them.”
“I’ll do it,” said Tom, glad of the chance to earn a half dollar.
“Wait a minute, and I’ll wrap them up.”
Tom was soon ready to start, carrying quite a heavy bundle of books.
As he passed out of the store, in front of which were two big tables,
with bargains in second-hand books on them, he saw a familiar
figure reading a tattered volume.
“How do you do, Dr. Spidderkins!” greeted Tom, as he recognized
the aged physician.
“Eh? What’s that? Oh, it’s—I’ve forgotten—no—I remember now,
you’re William Henderson, aren’t you?”
“No, sir; I’m Thomas Baldwin.”
“Oh, yes. You’re in the Emporium. I remember now. My memory
must be coming back.”
“I used to be there,” replied Tom, “but there was no work for me after
the holidays. I’m doing odd jobs. Just now I’m carrying books for the
man who owns this place.”
“Ah, that’s a fine job, carrying books,” commented the old gentleman.
“You are diffusing knowledge, my young friend. A very noble calling.
Now I can only read books, I can’t carry them about any more. I am
reading a very fine book now. It seems to be quite rare. It tells how
the ancient Greeks had the primitive idea of raising chickens by
means of hot water pipes—something on the order of our modern
incubators. It’s a very valuable book. I don’t recollect when I have
found one more valuable, of its kind. Yes, once; the same day I
discovered a copy of Milton’s Paradise Lost, in an old book store, I
came across one worth almost as much as this. That was—um—er
—dear me—I’m afraid I can’t recall what it was. But I’ll recollect it
shortly. I must purchase this book before I forget it.”
Tom watched the old gentleman start into the store, reading on the
way the book in which he was so interested. Then Tom saw
something else. Dr. Spidderkins’ pocketbook—an old-fashioned
wallet—was half-way out of his pocket, and likely to drop to the
sidewalk.
Our hero sprang forward to reach the wallet before it should fall. He
grasped it, and was pulling it from the doctor’s pocket, intending to
restore it to him, when he was startled to hear a voice exclaim:
“Ah! You young rascal, I caught you in the very act!”
Tom turned, with the pocketbook in his hand, to behold Barton
Sandow confronting him.
“What do you mean?” asked the boy.
“What do I mean? You’ll soon see what I mean? Trying to steal the
doctor’s wallet, eh? I’ll have you arrested!”
“I wasn’t trying to steal it!” declared Tom, indignantly. “It was falling
out of his pocket, and I caught it to give it back to him.”
“That’s a likely story! You’re a thief; that’s what you are!”
“What’s that? What’s the matter?” asked the aged physician,
suddenly turning, as he became aware that something unusual had
happened.
“This boy from the book store has just stolen your pocketbook!” said
Mr. Sandow. “He’s got it in his hand now.”
“My pocketbook! Bless my soul! So it is; and I have a hundred
dollars in it!”
“I didn’t steal it!” cried Tom again. “It was dropping out, and I caught
it!”
“Hold him, doctor, until I get an officer!” called Mr. Sandow, as he
looked down the street, and saw a policeman approaching. “We’ll
soon have him behind the bars!”
CHAPTER IX
TOM LEARNS SOMETHING
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