Dean Dunham; Or, the Waterford Mystery

"Dean Dunham; Or, the Waterford Mystery" by Horatio Alger, Jr. is a story from the 1800's. Adin Dunham, a carpenter, becomes hopeful when he gets a thousand dollars for some land, but that hope is stolen when he is robbed. His nephew, Dean, steps in to solve the mystery, looking closely at Squire Bates, a suspicious lawyer, as a possible culprit. The story begins by showing Adin eagerly awaiting his money, which he sees as a chance for a better life. We learn about Adin and his wife, Sarah, through their talks with each other, which shows us their personalities and how they interact. As Adin gets ready to travel, we get hints of trouble to come when his wife and lawyer warn him about robbers. After Adin is robbed, Dean, who cares a lot about his uncle, starts investigating and finds clues that point to Squire Bates, a lawyer with a bad reputation. These first chapters mix everyday life with a growing mystery, with clues revealing that Dean is about to go on an adventure to find justice for his uncle.