Golden Argosy, Vol. VI No. 19

About this issue

"Jack Ray's Luck," by Percy Earle (serial fiction) The Golden Argosy, Vol. VI, No. 19 (April 7, 1888) A youth-oriented adventure narrative following fifteen-year-old Jack Ray's arrival in New York City. Orphaned and newly bereaved by his aunt's death, Jack arrives with minimal funds to both inform his wealthy uncle of the inheritance and seek employment. After an awkward encounter with his superficial cousin at the uncle's plate-glass warehouse on Franklin Street, Jack pursues job advertisements across the city, facing repeated rejections due to his lack of established residence. While walking through Central Park, he witnesses a young woman losing control of her horse and impulsively seizes her mount to pursue the runaway animal. The narrative emphasizes Jack's resourcefulness and his affinity for horsemanship from his farm background, contrasting rural competence with urban indifference.