Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 655 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

~- _ business without capital, a Caen ee 7 Y oe ; { . F ne ‘ w§ 4 4 ‘ 1 Ly m1 aus ¥2 ¥ r Pet : ‘ 4& we pr I must gouow. I think I had bet- ter go. I will see you to-morrow in your new home.” He pressed her hand firmly, and walked away. She made no effort to detain him. if she spoke again she would utterly give way. CHAPTER III. A LAD OF METTLE. THINGS looked comfortable in the new home of the Wiltons, The furniture had been care- fully arranged, the rooms were clean and neat, and the poor lady had partly got rid of her sad and care-worn look. The children were playing about the floor, happy in their ignorance of trouble and misery. At one side of the room Roger sat conversing with Mr. Burnaud, who had just called. The boy looked particularly sharp and bright. It would have been clear to any one that he was a boy with all his wits about him. **So you want to get to work, Roger? You are in sound earnest?’ ‘*T want to get rich, sir. honest.” ‘Mr. Burnaud laughed. **1’m afraid you have an up-hill road before you, my boy. I’ve been hard at it for twenty years, and 1’m not rich yet.” Suppose you enter my store. I cannot pay you very well till you learn the business, but it will be a start.” ‘*Oh, Mr, Burnaud!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilton, in gratitude, ‘‘ How can we ever thank you enough?’ . Roger shrugged his shoulders, ‘I’m much obligéd,” he said, ‘‘ but it’s too slow a way. I’m going to get even with that Simon Slink, and | don’t want to be all my life about it.” The boy’s eyes flashed. He wasin solid earnest now. ‘* But what do you want to do?” ‘**] don’t know. Something. I’m going in for chances,”’ ‘* That is a very poor opening.” Mr. Burnaud shook his head. ‘* That depends,” answered Roger, resolutely. *‘Folks go out West, or down South, and get rich. I don’t see why they can’t get rich stay- ing at home. Here’s New York with more than a million of people, and oceans of money. I’ve been thinking, sir, and I’ve took the notion that be better chances here than out In any way that’s there ought in the wilds.” Mr. Burnaud looked at the hopeful lad as if he was taking his measure. **There’s one thing you ony 48 Roger,” he said. ‘‘There is more money here, it is true, but there are more bands grasping for it. Out in the wilds you’ve only got nature, and cattle, and dumb-heads to deal with. Here you’ve got a city of sharpers. It don’t take much brains to make money out of sheep_and cattle, but-a chap has got to be all brains if-he wants to gét rich fast here.” ‘*T know that,” answered Roger, confidently. **That’s the reason I want to tryit here.” **Oho! So you are all brains, then?” **1’m not a fool, anyhow. T calculate I'm wide awake. I don’t know what’s in me, for I’ve never been tried. But.I’m worth trying, Mr. Burnaud. If I find I haven’t got the stuff in me to sail up, why then I can come into your store and begin to crawl up.” The experienced man of business looked at the enthusiastic boy with an odd expression. It seemed as if he did not know just what to make of him. Heran his fingers doubtfully through his hair. ' : ‘* You have an idea, it seems?” ** Not much ofa one. But I’ve been around a bit, and I’ve had my eyes open. I ain’t alto- gether green, Mr. Burnaud. I’ve seen some chances already, sir, that I couldn’t take be- cause I had no money.” **So you’ve found that out,eh? You can’t do I see you’re not quite a fool, Now how much would you like for a nest egg?” **T don’t know. I might do something with .five dollars,” ‘‘Whew! You’re mild in your ideas. See here, Roger. Vll give youachance. I want to see what those boasted brains of yours are worth. Here’s a ten-dollar bill. It’s a loan, mind. You're to pay it back. I am not going to makea beggar of you. And if you lose it you've got to work itout. I am going to put you on your mettle, my boy.” a took the mohey with a countenance that shone with joy.” . ; yy : OAS. ie hewitt. sh Ae a} so ‘» ; - . ‘ . ri with des Brae not suffer if I can hinderit. There. Don’t say She felt that Plucky Paul, a the Boy Speculator. — —— — - ‘*T ain’t going to lose it, sir. You see if I don’t pay it back.” He began to button his coat and look round for his hat. ‘‘Hey! Where away now in such a hurry?” ‘*I might lose a chance while I’m talking here,” answered Roger, quietly. ‘Oh, Roger!” exclaimed the anxious mother, who had been listening intently to this dia- logue. ‘‘l am afraid to let you risk Mr, Bur- naud’s money. If you should lose it we could never pay it back." Whatin the world are you thinking of doing?” ‘ “Of potting even with Simon Slink,” an- swered Roger, with set lips, as he continued to button his coat. Mr. Burnaud made a sign to*the mother be- hind Roger’s back. ‘*Come, come, we'll have to give the boy his swing,” hesaid. ‘‘I expect to have him in my store in a day or two, but we must first let him gi Sheree famous ideas.” Loger turned quickly toward him, as if about to give some sharp answer. But he saw a pecu- liar smile on Mr. Burnaud’s lips that checked him. He seized his hatandran to the door with a very red face. aa going to hammer the iron while it’s hot, anyhow,” he cried, as he ran hastily out. rs. Wilton turned anxiously to her visitor, who was still smiling. ‘*What did you give him that money for?” she asked abruptly. ‘‘ He will be sure to lose it, and we owe you too much now.” ‘* Don’t fear, Mrs, Wilton. The money will not be lost.” ‘*I am sure it will. Why, Roger is only a school-boy. He knows nothing about busi- ness.” ‘*T am not so sure of that. surprised if the lad I wouldn’t be agg our eyes yet. He’s got pluck and grit, Mrs, Wilton, and they tell in the battle of life. I can see he is as sharp as a Steel-trap and is business to the backbone. There is no dawdling about him. No chances will slide by that boy. Did you see the prompt way in which he struck out for business, and the look he wore? I begin to have faith in Roger. He will be a rich man yet.” ‘* But you doubted him yourself.” **Oh, that was to put him on his mettle. He is vexed at me now,and is bent to show me what hecando. [ll have to keep up that tone. It will spur our young knight on.” ‘* But what in the world is he going to do?” **I don’t know. I don’t believe he does him- self. Butif he sees a chance to turna penny, he'll turn it. Take my word for that.” As they talked Roger was making his way through the New York streets at a rapid pace. Just where he was going or what he was goin to do he had a very faint idea, But he kept his eyes wide open, Not an object or a faceescaped him. He had started out to make his fortune, and was on the lookout for chances. And he was bound to show Mr. Burnaud that he was not a conceited braggart, As he went he kept a hand on the pocket that held the precious ten dollars. It was far more money than he had ever possessed before, and it felt to him as if he was carrying a ton weight, He was rich already in his young fancy. Ere long he found himself on the North River wharves. Here he walked slowly along looking and listening. What specially took his atten- tion were certain market-boats which had come down the Hudson laden with trucks. He hada dim notion that there might be money here. On the deck of one sma]! boat stood two men, who were busily conversing. Near them on the deck lay a heap of empty baskets and several barrels. Roger leaned against a post and looked around him. He had no special object in view, yet he felt that there was no harm in hearing what they had to say, One of the men was speaking in an angry ne. ** Just like you, Jake,” he said. . ‘‘ You are always forgetting wey | Your head never saves your heels. Clark Sons would have given you six dollars a barrel for those apples without a word. They are the first pippins in the market, and allsound. Now, through your dumbness, we’ve got to hurry them off to the truckers, and they won’t give us four.” ‘* T had too many things to think of,” rejoined Jake,in apology. ‘‘Let me go back. It is only up to Broadway and Grand. I can be there and back in less than an hour.” ** It will be three or four hours before they send for them, examine, and pay for them, Everything else is out, and we must be off up the river. Go look up some trucker. We must LL LLLLLLLLL LL LLL LL LL nn rush them off for what they will bring. I can’t: be kept here all day, just for two barat of apples.” ake turned growling away. He was evi- dently out of temper at the scolding he had re- ceived. All this had not taken two minutes, but in | that two minutes Roger had made up his mind. Here was the very chance he had come out to seek. He left the shelter of his post, walked to the wharf side, and jumped briskly to the deck of the vessel. ‘* Heard you say something about apples, cap- tain,” he briskly remarked. ‘‘ I’m in on apples, How many have you got, and what brand?’ ‘*Two barrels. Newtown pippins. Prime. The first in market.—Hold up there, Jake, a. . minute,” . sane who had stepped to the wharf, turned ack, ** What are they worth?’ ‘** Six dollars,” ‘* For the two?” ‘* Well, not much,” laughed the captain. ‘* What do you take me for, young man?” ‘*Tll give you six dollars for the two, without opening,” said Roger, quietly. ‘*No you won’t, my sharp youth. Go ahead, Jake,” ‘* What is your lowest figure?” ‘*Take them forfiveeach. That’s dog cheap.” “Tll give three and a half, spot cash. There’s not a man on the street will give a cent: more,” ‘Why, you young sharp, I could get six dol- lars a piece for fifty barrels, if I had them and had time to wait.” _ ‘But you haven’t them and haven't time to wait. Roll them ashore and here’s seven dollars planked down.” ‘’ Four and a half,” said the captain, firmly. ** Three and a half,” offered Roger. , "’ Go ahead, Jake. I can’t chaffer here all ay. ‘* There’s not a trucker on the street will. give ou four dollars. I’m up on apples, I tell you. ere’s a ten-dollar bill. Give me three dollars chang, and roll them ashore.” | give you two dollars change, and then they’re given ca **Not much. ake it twoand ahalf. That splits the difference, and it’s the last word. ome, Cap. Is it nail the bargain, or is it slide?” Roger put one foot on the wharf log. The captain took off his hat and scratched his head doubtfully. ‘*T hate to eve thi away. But I'll be shot if [ can bang here all day for the sake of a half dollar. Hand overthecash. Roll them ashore, Jake,” In five minutes Roger was the owner of two dollars and a half in cash, and two barrels of apples, which stood on the wharf, while the cap- tain and his assistant were throwing off the lines that held their vessel to the wharf. It was Roger’s first venture in business. He stood looking at his goods with a queer expres- sion. the contents of the barrels. The private con- versation he had heard made him sure it was all right. After a minute’s hesitancy he sought the wharf-keeper. ‘* Will you keep an eye on those two barrels?” he asked, ‘¢T will send for them. in an hour or two. ‘* How do I know they are yours? Where's your bill of sale?” _ Here was something Roger had not thought of. Thésmall craft had already left the wharf, atid was gliding out into the stréam. Roger hailed it. , ; ‘‘ Hey, captain,” he cried, ‘‘ Tell this gentle- man that these goods are mine.” ‘¢That’s O. K.,” answered the “They're yourn, sure pop.” - This answer satisfied the guardian, and Roger left the wharf at a quick step. He had his marketin his eye. Clark & Sons of Broadway and Grand streets, would give six dollars a barre] for them. So he had heard. Within a half-hour he was at that locality. It took him some little time to find the place, Then he discovered the name on the sign-board of a first-class fruitstore. With alittle sinkin of the heart Roger entered, Suppose he ha been cheated? He knew nothing about prices, But he was fairly in for it now. He walked boldly forward. ‘¢ Mr, Clark?” responded a sharp-looking busi- ness man in answer to his question. ‘‘l am Mr, Clark. Whatcan I do for you?’ captain. But there was no doubt in his mind as to. ee ee ee ee <a << tlt