Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 209 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- -—— . — — ‘* Is der boss apoud?’ asked Fritz, as he en- tered and gazed about, ‘* Yes; I’m tke boss, at present, until my uncle comes back,” the girl replied in perfect English. “ What do you want?’ ‘“* Vel, dot is der trouble, many t’ings, but I haff but leedle moneys,” Fritz replied, good-naturedly, “ Off you dink you oan rig me oud so I look like a reg’ler masher, vor half of a dollar, | guess you can take my measure for a suit of clothes.” “Tam afraid not, for that sum, but I can suit you, [know, We have quite an assort- ment of clothing, both new and second hand;— which would you prefer” ‘** Der second hand vil do purdy goot, uff it is clean und sheep, You see, I half’ yoost got ready to start into business, und I haff got to start at der foot off der ladcer mit sheap clothing, und pyme-py, ven I gits rich, 1 vill pe able to wear a dry goods store.” ‘Oh! so you are just beginning life in the city, eh?’ ‘Yes; I haff come to der city to make my fortune. You seem like a purdy nice gal; vot is your name?’ ** Me? oh, I am Rebecca Hyman, and I live with my uncle Alonzo—Alouzo Schwitzer. And, what is your name?’ ‘I vas Fritz Schootzenhifer Snyder, 8S. O., —somebody’s orphan,” was the reply. ‘‘ Den you vas a Jewess?”’ ac Yes. bb ‘“Und your name vas Hyman, you dells me?” ‘Yes; Rebecca Hyman. I work at the wholesale and :etail establishment of Schloss and Harrington, dry goods merchants, but uncle he took sick, yesterday, and soI got ex- «used to-day.” “ Your father—vot apoud him?’ “Oh, be has been ded these five years.” “Is dot so? Vel, [ll pet you a half a dollar fT used to know him. He vas an old son-of-a- gun vot used der peddle pins und needles oud in der country, mit a pack on bis back.” Oh! no! no! that was not my father— that wis my bad, bad uncle, Mosses Hyman. Ob! Fritz, he is a bad, wicked man and folks are afraid of him. My father wouldn’t have anything to do with him. He is a night- hawk!” “A night—vot?” “A night-hawk—a thief—a smbgg!er.”’ “Is dot so? Vel, I yoost vant to hawk onto him, vone off dose days, on bizness—dots all. { makes fun mit him!’ ; CHAPTER IV. FRITZ TRIES FOR A JOB, THEN Fritz made an explanation of how he ‘had formerly been in the care of a pack ped- dler by the name of Hyman, who had bound him over to Mrs. Shrimp, to work on the farm; and, altogether, the two had quite a lit- tle chat. ‘“‘And so you have come into the city to make your fortune, eh?’ Rebecca asked. ‘** What business do you propose to start into?” “Vel, dot depends considerable on circum- stances. Uff I could, Id like to get a job where you are,” “Ha! ba! ha! Well, let me see, I wish you could, but am afraid you can’t. I don’t believe Schloss and Harrington are in need of any help; still, 1 could get you in with them, if any one could, and I’d like to, too, because you seem to be a pretty nice fellow, Fritz, _ and could come home with me nights, as far as the corner, and I wouldn’t be afraid—see?” “Oh! yes; I coome home vid you four or five times effery night, if you like, ven you get me the job.” “On! no—not so many times as that, Fritz; once will be quite sufficient. Now, let us look you up some clothing, and [’ll send you around to Schloss and Harringtons. What kind of a suit do you want, Fritz?” Fritz proceeded to inspect the stock, and se- fected a very loud suit of cheap @agonals, to- gether with a Derby hat, a pair of shoes, a tie, some handkerchiefs and a spring overcoat, “There! dot’s about what I want; now how much for the lot?” he asked, I want a good | ‘** Twenty dollars, to you.” “Got oud! You dink 1 vas a foolishness, Rebecca? I giff you yoost ten and halt of a dollar for der lot, or you can put dem hack mit der shelf.” ‘Very well, Fritz. They cost ten dollars at the ‘crash,’ and you can have them, at cost, Go in the back room and try them on, and when you co:ue out I will have a letter of in- troduction fur you, to Schloss and Harrington.” * All right, Rebecca; you pe der boss girl. T’ll bet half a dollar I look yoost like a reg’lar masher, mit dese clothes,” And his appearance was greatly changed for the better, when he re-entered the store, “Vel, how do I look, Rebecca?’ he de- manded, surveying himself in a glass, ‘ Don’d I vas look like a ready-made Congressman?” “Oh! yes; your appearance is greatly improved. I kaven’t a doubt but what the firm will take you in, and you will do well.” ‘Vel, Idink so. It von’t pe my fault off I don’t own half of der business, pefore 'm with them ein year, What is this, Rebecca/’’—as she hanZed him a letter. “That is an introductory note for you, to the firm. You give that to Mr. Harrington, the senior member, and you will find bim a courteous gentleman,” “But, vere vill I fiad der old snoozer, Rebecca?” ‘Sh, Fritz! You must be very respectful in addressing business people, in order to be suc- cessful—do you sce? Politeness and refinement are a stranger's best recommend, Now, you go on down Eighth to Chestnut, and anybody can direct you to Schloss and Harrington's, and when shown into his presence, tip your hat, and present this letter. He will read it, and tell you what chance there is for you.” ‘All right, Rebecca, and I pe der happiest son-off-a-gun living, ven he dells me he vil take me in as a partuer.” . ** Well, you might be; but, remember, Fritz, you will have to begin at the foot of the lad- der, and work upward. Now, good-by, Go try what you can do, and let me know what success you have,” Vritz accordingly sallied forth in quest of Schloss and Harrington’s, He soon found their wholesale and retail importing establishment and entered and inquired for the senior partner. “What do you want of him? He is busy,” the clerk answered, to whom he had applied—a somewhat portly individual, with a full face, dark mustache, shrewd black eyes, and a slight bald spot on his head, “‘I vant to see him; id don’d vas matter to you vot for,” Fritz replied, independently. “Off you vill haff the kindness to show me the office, I vill not trouble you.” The clerk—or foreman—frowned. “Jack,” he said, addressing an errand boy, “‘sbow this gent to Mr. Harrington’s office,” The boy obeyed, and Fritz soon stood in a small but tasty business office, in the presence of the senior partner of the firm. ‘* A gentleman to see you, sir,” the boy said, and then bowed himself out. ‘You wish to see me,” Mr, Harrington said, surveying his visitor, rather critically and yet courteously. ‘‘Be seated, sir, Mr, Fisk—” turning to another individual who also sat in the office—‘' we will speak further on the sub- ject, as soon as I attend to this young man’s wants,” Mr. Harrington was a man of some five-and- forty years of age, well preserved, and a hearty, noble looking specimen of manhood. He was one of those business men whose kindly face and courteous address always favorably im- pressed the masses with whom he had dealings; a noble, honest nature, free of conceit or de- ception, was delineated in feature, expression, and habitual bearing. And yet, evidently, a man who could be stern and unyielding, when emergency demanded, Fritz the Bound-Boy Detective. o _ — oe or ee ere There were threads of silver in his barr ond mustache; bis attire was pluinly elegant, as be- fitted the station in Jife he beld, The other occupant of the office, aside from Mr. Harrinvgton and Fritz, was a smooth-faced man of thirty or thereabouts, with a sharp, pe- culiar cast of ; bysicgnomy, keen, restless eyes, straight blacik bair, and the general appearance of a person whose business it was to study those with whom he came in contact, His suit of blue broadcloth, bis faded tie and old-style “plug hat’’ were of seedy appearance from constant use, Fritz made this inventory of the two. men before he answered Mr, Harrington, ** Yes, I haff a letter for you, from Mies Re- becca Hyman— you kuow Rebecca, eh?’ he said, handing the letter to the merchant, ‘*Ah! yes. Rebecca is one of cur cleverest clerks,” and he tore open the envelope, ‘‘ Yes, yes—I see. Rebecca states that you are an honest young man in search of a_ position where you can make yourself useful for a small compensation to begin with. Well, that is a good point; never ask for a large salary until you can prove that you are worthy of it, my boy. Idon't know that we bave need uf any more help at present; still, I will see about it, as Rebecca bas been of remarkable value to us, and I would like to accommodate her.” “Yes, Rebecca is a reg’lar slasher, und I bet half a dollar I und Rebecca gots married some of dose deys pyme py, ven ve got rich,” ‘‘ Ha! ha! so you aspire to riches, eb? Well, there’s no barm in that, as long as you make it your aim to attain all honestly, my boy, and I dare say Rebecca would make any young man a good helpmate, What can you do, sir?” ** Vel, I don’d know so much about dot til) T try. Idinks I can do a good many things as a helper.” “Ob, very likely. At what were you last employed?” * Vel, I milked der cows, und fed der pigs, und hunted der goose eggs for Mrs. Shrimp, for severa) years past, und when I baff no chores to do, I practice s«me tricks in magic und vendiilogism—see? Pefore dot, I used to travel mit der coundry vid old Hyman und sell pins, needles, shoe-sdrings, susbenders, und dose t’ings,” ‘* Ah! Isee; you have been in the mercan- tile business, then,” Mr, Harrington said, a faint smile playing about his mouth, ‘‘ Now, one important thing, Fritz—are you strictly honest?” ‘‘Mr, Harrington, I was one off der hon- estest poys in der vorld. I vouldn’t steal even a hair vot somebody had dropped mit der but- ter. So sincere did the young Teuton seem in his declaration that both the merchant and his friend laughed heartily. . ‘* Well, I must say that is a novel assurance,” the former said, good-humoredly. ‘“‘Assurance/ Vot is dot?” Fritz asked, not understanding the word. ‘*T should have said that wasa novel ex- pression to illustrate one’s honesty,” Mr, Har- rington replied. ‘I will see, my boy, what show there is for you,” and he toucbed a bellknob which communicated with the store. A small boy immediately answ>r_u tho sum- mons. Tell Mr. Daniels to step here a moment,” the merchant ordered. The foreman whom Fritz had first encoun- tered soon made his appearance, and stood re- spectfully in waiting. ‘“Mr. Daniels,” the merchant said, ‘ this young man comes to me in search of a job. He is well recommended, and if there is a vacancy in any of our business departments that he can fill, I would like to give him a trial,” ‘*There is no vacancy that I know of at present, sir,’”” Daniels replied, ‘* Very well; you may go,” and the foreman accordingly took his departure, The merchant then turned to Fritz. ‘* Well, my boy, you heard what my fore om J,OOKS CoM