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+***The Project Gutenberg Etext of Paul the Peddler, by Alger***
+#7 in our series by Horatio Alger, Jr.
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+Paul the Peddler or the Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant
+
+by Horatio Alger, Jr.
+
+September, 1996  [Etext #659]
+
+
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+
+PAUL THE PEDDLER OR THE FORTUNES OF A YOUNG STREET MERCHANT
+
+BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.
+
+
+
+
+BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
+
+Horatio Alger, Jr., an author who lived among and for boys and
+himself remained a boy in heart and association till death, was
+born at Revere, Mass., January 13, 1834. He was the son of a
+clergyman, was graduated at Harvard College in 1852, and at its
+Divinity School in 1860 and was pastor of the Unitarian Church at
+Brewster, Mass., in 1862-66.
+
+In the latter year he settled in New York and began drawing
+public attention to the condition and needs of street boys. He
+mingled with them, gained their confidence showed a personal
+concern in their affairs, and stimulated them to honest and
+useful living. With his first story he won the hearts of all
+red-blooded boys everywhere, and of the seventy or more that
+followed over a million copies were sold during the author's
+lifetime.
+
+In his later life he was in appearance a short, stout,
+bald-headed man, with cordial manners and whimsical views of
+things that amused all who met him. He died at Natick, Mass.,
+July 18, 1899.
+
+Mr. Alger's stories are as popular now as when first published,
+because they treat of real live boys who were always up and
+about-just like the boys found everywhere to-day. They are pure
+in tone and inspiring in influence, and many reforms in the
+juvenile life of New York may be traced to them. Among the best
+known are:
+
+Strong and Steady; Strive and Succeed; Try and Trust; Bound to
+Rise; Risen from the Ranks; Herbert Carter's Legacy; Brave and
+Bold; Jack's Ward; Shifting for Himself; Wait and Hope; Paul the
+Peddler; Phil the Fiddler; Slow and Sure; Julius the Street Boy;
+Tom the Bootblack; Struggling Upward, Facing the World; The Cash
+Boy; Making His Way; Tony the Tramp; Joe's Luck; Do and Dare;
+Only an Irish Boy; Sink or Swim; A Cousin's Conspiracy; Andy
+Gordon; Bob Burton; Harry Vane; Hector's Inheritance; Mark
+Mason's Triumph; Sam's Chance; The Telegraph Boy; The Young
+Adventurer; The Young Outlaw; The Young Salesman, and Luke Walton.
+
+
+
+
+
+PAUL THE PEDDLER
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+PAUL THE PEDDLER
+
+"Here's your prize packages!  Only five cents!  Money prize in
+every package!  Walk up, gentlemen, and try your luck!"
+
+The speaker, a boy of fourteen, stood in front of the shabby
+brick building, on Nassau street, which has served for many years
+as the New York post office.  In front of him, as he stood with
+his back to the building, was a small basket, filled with
+ordinary letter envelopes, each labeled "Prize Package."
+
+His attractive announcement, which, at that time, had also the
+merit of novelty--for Paul had himself hit upon the idea, and
+manufactured the packages, as we shall hereafter explain--drew
+around him a miscellaneous crowd, composed chiefly of boys.
+
+"What's in the packages, Johnny?" asked a bootblack, with his
+box strapped to his back.
+
+"Candy," answered Paul.  "Buy one.  Only five cents."
+
+"There ain't much candy," answered the bootblack, with a
+disparaging glance.
+
+"What if there isn't?  There's a prize."
+
+"How big a prize?"
+
+"There's a ten-cent stamp in some of 'em.  All have got something
+in 'em."
+
+Influenced by this representation, the bootblack drew out a
+five-cent piece, and said:
+
+"Pitch one over then.  I guess I can stand it."  An envelope was
+at once handed him.
+
+"Open it, Johnny," said a newsboy at his side.  Twenty curious
+eyes were fixed upon him as he opened the package.  He drew out
+rather a scanty supply of candy, and then turning to Paul, with a
+look of indignation, said:
+
+"Where's the prize?  I don't see no prize.  Give me back my five
+cents."
+
+"Give it to me.  I'll show you," said the young merchant.
+
+He thrust in his finger, and drew out a square bit of paper, on
+which was written- One Cent.
+
+"There's your prize," he added, drawing a penny from his pocket.
+
+"It ain't much of a prize," said the buyer.  "Where's your ten
+cents?"
+
+"I didn't say I put ten cents into every package," answered Paul.
+
+"I'd burst up pretty quick if I did that.  Who'll have another
+package?  Only five cents!"
+
+Curiosity and taste for speculation are as prevalent among
+children as with men, so this appeal produced its effect.
+
+"Give me a package," said Teddy O'Brien, a newsboy, stretching
+out a dirty hand, containing the stipulated sum.  He also was
+watched curiously as he opened the package.  He drew out a paper
+bearing the words- Two Cents.
+
+"Bully for you, Teddy!  You've had better luck than I," said the
+bootblack.
+
+The check was duly honored, and Teddy seemed satisfied, though
+the amount of candy he received probably could not have cost over
+half-a-cent.  Still, he had drawn twice as large a prize as the
+first buyer, and that was satisfactory.
+
+"Who'll take the next?" asked Paul, in a businesslike manner. 
+"Maybe there's ten cents in this package.  That's where you
+double your money.  Walk up, gentlemen.  Only five cents!"
+
+Three more responded to this invitation, one drawing a prize of
+two cents, the other two of one cent each.  Just then, as it
+seemed doubtful whether any more would be purchased by those
+present, a young man, employed in a Wall street house, came out
+of the post office.
+
+"What have you got here?"  he asked, pausing.
+
+"Prize packages of candy!  Money prize in every package!  Only
+five cents!"
+
+"Give me one, then.  I never drew a prize in my life."
+
+The exchange was speedily made.
+
+"I don't see any prize," he said, opening it.
+
+"It's on a bit of paper, mister," said Teddy, nearly as much
+interested as if it had been his own purchase.
+
+"Oh, yes, I see.  Well, I'm in luck.  Ten cents!"
+
+"Ten cents!"  exclaimed several of the less fortunate buyers,
+with a shade of envy.
+
+"Here's your prize, mister," said Paul, drawing out a ten-cent
+stamp from his vest pocket.
+
+"Well, Johnny, you do things on the square, that's a fact.  Just
+keep the ten cents, and give me two more packages."
+
+This Paul did with alacrity; but the Wall street clerk's luck was
+at an end.  He got two prizes of a penny each.
+
+"Well," he said, "I'm not much out of pocket.  I've bought three
+packages, and it's only cost me three cents."
+
+The ten-cent prize produced a favorable effect on the business of
+the young peddler.  Five more packages were bought, and the
+contents eagerly inspected; but no other large prize appeared. 
+Two cents was the maximum prize drawn.  Their curiosity being
+satisfied, the crowd dispersed; but it was not long before
+another gathered.  In fact, Paul had shown excellent judgment in
+selecting the front of the post office as his place of business. 
+Hundreds passed in and out every hour, besides those who passed
+by on a different destination.  Thus many ears caught the young
+peddler's cry--"Prize packages!  Only five cents apiece!"--and
+made a purchase; most from curiosity, but some few attracted by
+the businesslike bearing of the young merchant, and willing to
+encourage him in his efforts to make a living.  These last, as
+well as some of the former class, declined to accept the prizes,
+so that these were so much gain to Paul.
+
+At length but one package remained, and this Paul was some time
+getting rid of.  At last a gentleman came up, holding a little
+boy of seven by the hand.
+
+"Oh, buy me the package, papa?" he said, drawing his father's
+attention.
+
+"What is there in it, boy?" asked the gentleman.
+
+"Candy," was the answer.
+
+Alfred, for this was the little boy's name, renewed his
+entreaties, having, like most boys, a taste for candy.
+
+"There it is, Alfred," said his father, handing the package to
+his little son.
+
+"There's a prize inside," said Paul, seeing that they were about
+to pass.
+
+"We must look for the prize by all means," said the gentleman. 
+"What is this?  One cent?"
+
+"Yes sir"; and Paul held out a cent to his customer.
+
+"Never mind about that!  You may keep the prize."
+
+"I want it, pa," interposed Alfred, with his mouth full of candy.
+
+"I'll give you another," said his father, still declining to
+accept the proffered prize.
+
+Paul now found himself in the enviable position of one who, at
+eleven o'clock, had succeeded in disposing of his entire stock in
+trade, and that at an excellent profit, as we soon shall see. 
+Business had been more brisk with him than with many merchants on
+a larger scale, who sometimes keep open their shops all day
+without taking in enough to pay expenses.  But, then, it is to be
+considered that in Paul's case expenses were not a formidable
+item.  He had no rent to pay, for one thing, nor clerk hire,
+being competent to attend to his entire business single-handed. 
+All his expense, in fact, was the first cost of his stock in
+trade, and he had so fixed his prices as to insure a good profit
+on that.  So, on the whole, Paul felt very well satisfied at the
+result of his experiment, for this was his first day in the
+prize-package business.
+
+"I guess I'll go home," he said to himself.  "Mother'll want to
+know how I made out."  He turned up Nassau street, and had
+reached the corner of Maiden lane, when Teddy O'Brien met him.
+
+"Did you sell out, Johnny?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," answered Paul.
+
+"How many packages did you have?"
+
+"Fifty."
+
+"That's bully.  How much you made?"
+
+"I can't tell yet.  I haven't counted up," said Paul.
+
+"It's better'n sellin' papers, I'll bet.  I've only made thirty
+cents the day.  Don't you want to take a partner, Johnny?"
+
+"No, I don't think I do," said Paul, who had good reason to doubt
+whether such a step would be to his advantage.
+
+"Then I'll go in for myself," said Teddy, somewhat displeased at
+the refusal.
+
+"Go ahead!  There's nobody to stop you," said Paul.
+
+"I'd rather go in with you," said Teddy, feeling that there would
+be some trouble in making the prize packages, but influenced
+still more by the knowledge that he had not capital enough to
+start in the business alone.
+
+"No," said Paul, positively; "I don't want any partner.  I can do
+well enough alone."
+
+He was not surprised at Teddy's application.  Street boys are as
+enterprising, and have as sharp eyes for business as their
+elders, and no one among them can monopolize a profitable
+business long.  This is especially the case with the young street
+merchant.  When one has had the good luck to find some attractive
+article which promises to sell briskly, he takes every care to
+hide the source of his supply from his rivals in trade.  But this
+is almost impossible.  Cases are frequent where such boys are
+subjected to the closest espionage, their steps being dogged for
+hours by boys who think they have found a good thing and are
+determined to share it.  In the present case Paul had hit upon an
+idea which seemed to promise well, and he was determined to keep
+it to himself as long as possible.  As soon as he was subjected
+to competition and rivalry his gains would probably diminish.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+PAUL AT HOME
+
+Paul went up Centre street and turned into Pearl.  Stopping
+before a tenement-house, he entered, and, going up two flights of
+stairs, opened a door and entered.
+
+"You are home early, Paul," said a woman of middle age, looking
+up at his entrance.
+
+"Yes, mother; I've sold out."
+
+"You've not sold out the whole fifty packages?" she asked, in
+surprise.
+
+"Yes, I have.  I had capital luck."
+
+"Why, you must have made as much as a dollar, and it's not twelve
+yet."
+
+"I've made more than that, mother.  Just wait a minute, till I've
+reckoned up a little.  Where's Jimmy?"
+
+"Miss Beckwith offered to take him out to walk with her, so I let
+him go.  He'll be back at twelve."
+
+While Paul is making a calculation, a few words of explanation
+and description may be given, so that the reader may understand
+better how he is situated.
+
+The rooms occupied by Paul and his mother were three in number. 
+The largest one was about fourteen feet square, and was lighted
+by two windows.  It was covered with a neat, though well-worn,
+carpet; a few cane-bottomed chairs were ranged at the windows,
+and on each side of the table.  There was a French clock on the
+mantel, a rocking chair for his mother, and a few inexpensive
+engravings hung upon the walls.  There was a hanging bookcase
+containing two shelves, filled with books, partly school books,
+supplemented by a few miscellaneous books, such as "Robinson
+Crusoe," "Pilgrim's Progress," a volume of "Poetical Selections,"
+an odd volume of Scott, and several others.  Out of the main room
+opened two narrow chambers, both together of about the same area
+as the main room.  One of these was occupied by Paul and Jimmy,
+the other by his mother.
+
+Those who are familiar with the construction of a New York
+tenement-house will readily understand the appearance of the
+rooms into which we have introduced them.  It must, however, be
+explained that few similar apartments are found so well
+furnished.  Carpets are not very common in tenement-houses, and
+if there are any pictures, they are usually the cheapest prints. 
+Wooden chairs, and generally every object of the cheapest, are to
+be met with in the dwellings of the New York poor.  If we find
+something better in the present instance, it is not because Paul
+and his mother are any better off than their neighbors.  On the
+contrary, there are few whose income is so small.  But they have
+seen better days, and the furniture we see has been saved from
+the time of their comparative prosperity.
+
+As Paul is still at his estimate, let us improve the opportunity
+by giving a little of their early history.
+
+Mr. Hoffman, the father of Paul, was born in Germany, but came to
+New York when a boy of twelve, and there he grew up and married,
+his wife being an American.  He was a cabinetmaker, and, being a
+skillful workman, earned very good wages, so that he was able to
+maintain his family in comfort.  They occupied a neat little
+cottage in Harlem, and lived very happily, for Mr. Hoffman was
+temperate and kind, when an unfortunate accident clouded their
+happiness, and brought an end to their prosperity.  In crossing
+Broadway at its most crowded part, the husband and father was run
+over by a loaded dray, and so seriously injured that he lived but
+a few hours.  Then the precarious nature of their prosperity was
+found out.  Mr. Hoffman had not saved anything, having always
+lived up to the extent of his income.  It was obviously
+impossible for them to continue to live in their old home, paying
+a rent of twenty dollars per month.  Besides, Paul did not see
+any good opportunity to earn his living in Harlem.  So, at his
+instigation, his mother moved downtown, and took rooms in a
+tenement-house in Pearl street, agreeing to pay six dollars a
+month for apartments which would now command double the price. 
+They brought with them furniture enough to furnish the three
+rooms, selling the rest for what it would bring, and thus
+obtaining a small reserve fund, which by this time was nearly
+exhausted.
+
+Once fairly established in their new home, Paul went out into the
+streets to earn his living.  The two most obvious, and, on the
+whole, most profitable trades, were blacking boots and selling
+newspapers.  To the first Paul, who was a neat boy, objected on
+the score that it would keep his hands and clothing dirty, and,
+street boy though he had become, he had a pride in his personal
+appearance.  To selling papers he had not the same objection, but
+he had a natural taste for trade, and this led him to join the
+ranks of the street peddlers.  He began with vending matches, but
+found so much competition in the business, and received so rough
+a reception oftentimes from those who had repeated calls from
+others in the same business, that he gave it up, and tried
+something else.  But the same competition which crowds the
+professions and the higher employments followed by men, prevails
+among the street trades which are pursued by boys.  If Paul had
+only had himself to support, he could have made a fair living at
+match selling, or any other of the employments he took up; but
+his mother could not earn much at making vests, and Jimmy was
+lame, and could do nothing to fill the common purse, so that Paul
+felt that his earnings must be the main support of the family,
+and naturally sought out what would bring him in most money.
+
+At length he had hit upon selling prize packages, and his first
+experience in that line are recorded in the previous chapter. 
+Adding only that it was now a year since his father's death, we
+resume our narrative.
+
+"Do you want to know how much I've made, mother?" asked Paul,
+looking up at length from his calculation.
+
+"Yes, Paul."
+
+"A dollar and thirty cents."
+
+"I did not think it would amount to so much.  The prizes came to
+considerable, didn't they?"
+
+"Listen, and I will tell you how I stand:
+
+ One pound of candy  . . . . . . . .   .20      
+ Two packs of envelopes . . . . . . .  .10      
+ Prize. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .90                       
+
+                                       ----
+ That makes . . . . . . . . . . . .  $1.20
+
+I sold the fifty packages at five cents each, and that brought me
+in two dollars and a half.  Taking out the expenses, it leaves me
+a dollar and thirty cents.  Isn't that doing well for one
+morning's work?"
+
+"It's excellent; but I thought your prizes amounted to more than
+ninety cents."
+
+"So they did, but several persons who bought wouldn't take their
+prizes, and that was so much gain."
+
+"You have done very well, Paul.  I wish you might earn as much
+every day."
+
+"I'm going to earn some more this afternoon.  I bought a pound of
+candy on the way home, and some cheap envelopes, and I'll be
+making up a new stock while I am waiting for dinner."
+
+Paul took out his candy and envelopes, and set about making up
+the packages.
+
+"Did any complain of the small amount of candy you put in?"
+
+"A few; but most bought for the sake of the prizes."
+
+"Perhaps you had better be a little more liberal with your candy,
+and then there may not be so much dissatisfaction where the prize
+is only a penny."
+
+"I don't know but your are right, mother.  I believe I'll only
+make thirty packages with this pound, instead of fifty. 
+Thirty'll be all I can sell this afternoon."
+
+Just then the door opened, and Paul's brother entered.
+
+Jimmy Hoffman, or lame Jimmy, as he was often called, was a
+delicate-looking boy of ten, with a fair complexion and sweet
+face, but incurably lame, a defect which, added to his delicate
+constitution, was likely to interfere seriously with his success
+in life.  But, as frequently happens, Jimmy was all the more
+endeared to his mother and brother by his misfortune and bodily
+weakness, and if either were obliged to suffer from poverty,
+Jimmy would be spared the suffering.
+
+"Well, Jimmy, have you had a pleasant walk?" asked his mother.
+
+"Yes, mother; I went down to Fulton Market.  There's a good deal
+to see there."
+
+"A good deal more than in this dull room, Jimmy."
+
+"It doesn't seem dull to me, mother, while you are here.  How did
+you make out selling your prize packages?"
+
+"They are all sold, Jimmy, every one.  I am making some more."
+
+"Shan't I help you?"
+
+"Yes, I would like to have you.  Just take those envelopes, and
+write prize packages on every one of them."
+
+"All right, Paul," and Jimmy, glad to be of use, got the pen and
+ink, and, gathering up the envelopes, began to inscribe them as
+he had been instructed.
+
+By the time the packages were made up, dinner was ready.  It was
+not a very luxurious repast.  There was a small piece of rump
+steak--not more than three-quarters of a pound--a few potatoes, a
+loaf of bread, and a small plate of butter.  That was all; but
+then the cloth that covered the table was neat and clean, and the
+knives and forks were as bright as new, and what there was tasted
+good.
+
+"What have you been doing this morning, Jimmy?" asked Paul.
+
+"I have been drawing, Paul.  Here's a picture of Friday.  I
+copied it from 'Robinson Crusoe.' "
+
+He showed the picture, which was wonderfully like that in the
+book, for this--the gift of drawing--was Jimmy's one talent, and
+he possessed it in no common degree.
+
+"Excellent, Jimmy!"  said Paul.  "You're a real genius.  I
+shouldn't be surprised if you'd make an artist some day."
+
+"I wish I might," said Jimmy, earnestly.  "There's nothing I'd
+like better."
+
+"I'll tell you what, Jimmy.  If I do well this afternoon, I'll
+buy you a drawing-book and some paper, to work on while mother
+and I are busy."
+
+"If you can afford it, Paul, I should like it so much.  Some time
+I might earn something that way."
+
+"Of course you may," said Paul, cheerfully.  "I won't forget
+you."
+
+Dinner over, Paul went out to business, and was again successful,
+getting rid of his thirty packages, and clearing another dollar. 
+Half of this he invested in a drawing- book, a pencil and some
+drawing-paper for Jimmy.  Even then he had left of his earnings
+for the day one dollar and eighty cents.  But this success in the
+new business had already excited envy and competition, as he was
+destined to find out on the morrow.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+PAUL HAS COMPETITORS
+
+The next morning Paul took his old place in front of the post
+office.  He set down his basket in front, and, taking one of the
+packages in his hand, called out in a businesslike manner, as on
+the day before, "Here's your prize packages!  Only five cents! 
+Money prize in every package!  Walk up, gentlemen, and try your
+luck!"
+
+He met with a fair degree of success at first, managing in the
+course of an hour to sell ten packages.  All the prizes drawn
+were small, with the exception of one ten-cent prize, which was
+drawn by a little bootblack, who exclaimed:
+
+"That's the way to do business, Johnny.  If you've got any more
+of them ten-cent prizes, I'll give you ten cents a piece for the
+lot."
+
+"Better buy some more and see," said Paul.
+
+"That don't go down," said the other.  "Maybe there'd be only a
+penny."
+
+Nevertheless, the effect of this large prize was to influence the
+sale of three other packages; but as neither of these contained
+more than two-cent prizes, trade began to grow dull, and for ten
+minutes all Paul's eloquent appeals to gentlemen to walk up and
+try their luck produced no effect.
+
+At this point Paul found that there was a rival in the field.
+
+Teddy O'Brien, who had applied for a partnership the day before,
+came up with a basket similar to his own, apparently filled with
+similar packages.  He took a position about six feet distant from
+Paul, and began to cry out, in a shrill voice:
+
+"Here's your bully prize packages!  Best in the market!  Here's
+where you get your big prizes, fifty cents in some of 'em.  Walk
+up boys, tumble up, and take your pick afore they're gone.  Fifty
+cents for five!"
+
+"That's a lie, Teddy," said Paul, who saw that his rival's
+attractive announcement was likely to spoil his trade.
+
+"No, 'tisn't," said Teddy.  "If you don't believe it, just buy
+one and see."
+
+"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Paul, "I'll exchange."
+
+"No," said Teddy; "I ain't a-goin' to risk givin' fifty cents for
+one."
+
+"More likely you'd get ten for one.  You're a humbug."
+
+"Have you really got any fifty-cent prizes?" asked a newsboy,
+who had sold out his morning stock of papers, and was lounging
+about the post office steps.
+
+"Best way is to buy, Johnny," said Teddy.
+
+The boy did buy, but his prize amounted to only one cent.
+
+"Didn't I tell you so?" said Paul.
+
+"Just wait a while and see," said Teddy.  "The lucky feller
+hasn't come along.  Here, Mike, jest buy a package!"
+
+Mike, a boy of fifteen, produced five cents, and said, "I don't
+mind if I do."
+
+He selected a package, and, without opening it, slipped it into
+his pocket.
+
+"Why don't you open it?" said Teddy.
+
+"What's the use?" said Mike.  "There ain't no fifty cents
+inside."
+
+However, he drew it out of his pocket, and opened it.
+
+"What's this?" he exclaimed, pulling out a piece of scrip. 
+"Howly St. Patrick!  it's I that's in luck, anyhow I've got the
+fifty cents!"
+
+And he held up to view a fifty-cent scrip.
+
+"Let me look at it," said Paul, incredulously.
+
+But there was no room for doubt.  It was a genuine fifty cents,
+as Paul was compelled to admit.
+
+"Didn't I tell you so?" said Teddy, triumphantly.  "Here's where
+you get fifty-cent prizes."
+
+The appeal was successful.  The sight of the fifty-cent prize led
+to a large call for packages, of which Teddy immediately sold
+ten, while Paul found himself completely deserted.  None of the
+ten, however, contained over two cents.  Still the possibility of
+drawing fifty cents kept up the courage of buyers, while Paul's
+inducements were so far inferior that he found himself wholly
+distanced.
+
+"Don't you wish you'd gone pardners with me?" asked Teddy, with
+a triumphant grin, noticing Paul's look of discomfiture.  "You
+can't do business alongside of me."
+
+"You can't make any money giving such big prizes," said Paul. 
+"You haven't taken in as much as you've given yet."
+
+"All right," said Teddy.  "I'm satisfied if you are.  Have a
+package, Jim?"
+
+"Yes," said Jim.  "Mind you give me a good prize."
+
+The package was bought, and, on being opened, proved to contain
+fifty cents also, to Paul's great amazement.  How Teddy's
+business could pay, as it was managed, he could not comprehend. 
+One thing was certain, however, his new competitor monopolized
+the trade, and for two hours Paul did not get a solitary
+customer.
+
+"There's something about this I don't understand," he pondered,
+thoughtfully.  "He must lose money; but he's spoiled my trade."
+
+Paul did not like to give up his beat, but he found himself
+compelled to.  Accordingly he took his basket, and moved off
+toward Wall street.  Here he was able to start in business
+without competitors, and succeeded in selling quite a number of
+packages, until a boy came up, and said:
+
+"There's a feller up at the post office that's givin' fifty-cent
+prizes.  I got one of 'em."
+
+There was a group of half-a-dozen boys around Paul, two of whom
+were about to invest; but on hearing thus they changed their
+intention, and walked of in the direction of the post office.
+
+Looking up, Paul saw that the boy who had injured his trade was
+Mike, who had drawn the first fifty-cent prize from his
+competitor.
+
+"Can't you stop interfering?" he said, angrily.  "I've lost two
+customers by you."
+
+"If you don't like it, you can lump it," said Mike, insolently. 
+"This is a free country, ain't it?"
+
+"It's a mean trick," said Paul, indignantly.
+
+"Say that ag'in, and I'll upset your basket," returned Mike.
+
+"I'll say it as often as I like," said Paul, who wasn't troubled
+by cowardice.  "Come on, if you want to."
+
+Mike advanced a step, doubling his fists; but, finding that Paul
+showed no particular sign of fear, he stopped short, saying:
+"I'll lick you some other time."
+
+"You'd better put it off," said Paul.  "Have a prize package,
+sir?  Only five cents!"
+
+This was addressed to a young man who came out of an insurance
+office.
+
+"I don't mind if I do," said the young man.  "Five cents, is it? 
+What prize may I expect?"
+
+"The highest is ten cents."
+
+"There's a boy around the post office that gives fifty-cent
+prizes, mister," said Mike.  "You'd better buy of him."
+
+"I'll wait till another time," said the young man.  "Here's the
+money, Johnny.  Now for the package."
+
+"Look here," said Paul, indignantly, when his customer had gone
+away; "haven't you anything to do except to drive off my
+customers?"
+
+"Give me two cents on every package," said Mike, "and I'll tell
+'em you give dollar prizes."
+
+"That would be a lie, and I don't want to do business that way."
+
+Mike continued his persecutions a while longer, and then turned
+the corner into Nassau street.
+
+"I'm glad he's gone," thought Paul.  "Now there's a chance for
+me."
+
+He managed after a while to sell twenty of his packages.  By this
+time it was twelve o'clock, and he began to feel hungry.  He
+resolved, therefore, to go home to dinner and come out again in
+the afternoon.  He didn't know how much he had made, but probably
+about fifty cents.  He had made more than double as much the day
+before in less time; but then he did not suffer from competition.
+
+He began to doubt whether he could long pursue this business,
+since other competitors were likely to spring up.
+
+As he walked by the post office he had the curiosity to look and
+see how his competitor was getting along.
+
+Teddy had started, originally, with seventy-five packages; but of
+those scarcely a dozen were left.  A group of boys were around
+him.  Among them was Mike, who was just on the point of buying
+another package.  As before, he put it in his pocket, and it was
+not till Teddy asked, "What luck, Mike?" that he drew it out,
+and opening it again, produced fifty cents.
+
+"It's the big prize!"  he said.  "Sure I'm in luck, anyhow."
+
+"You're the boy that's lucky," said Teddy, with a grin.
+
+As Paul witnessed the scene a light broke upon him.  Now he
+understood how Teddy could afford to give such large prizes. 
+Mike and the other boy, Jim, were only confederates of his--decoy
+ducks--who kept drawing over again the same prize, which was
+eventually given back to Teddy.  It was plain now why Mike put
+the package into his pocket before opening it.  It was to
+exchange it for another packet into which the money had
+previously been placed, but which was supposed by the lookers-on
+to be the same that had just been purchased.  The prize could
+afterward be placed in a new packet and used over again.
+
+"That ain't the same package," said Paul, announcing his
+discovery.  "He had it all the while in his pocket."
+
+"Look here," blustered Mike, "you jest mind your own business! 
+That's the best thing for you."
+
+"Suppose I don't?"
+
+"If you don't there may be a funeral to-morrow of a boy about
+your size."
+
+There was a laugh at Paul's expense, but he took it coolly.
+
+"I'll send you a particular invitation to attend, if I can get
+anybody to go over to the island."
+
+As Mike had been a resident at Blackwell's Island on two
+different occasions, this produced a laugh at his expense, in the
+midst of which Paul walked off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+TEDDY GIVES UP BUSINESS
+
+"Have you sold all your packages, Paul?" asked Jimmy, as our
+hero entered the humble room, where the table was already spread
+with a simple dinner.
+
+"No," said Paul, "I only sold twenty.  I begin to think that the
+prize-package business will soon be played out."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"There's too many that'll go into it."
+
+Here Paul related his experience of the morning, explaining how
+it was that Teddy had managed to distance him in the competition.
+
+"Can't you do the same, Paul?" asked Jimmy.  "Mother's got a
+gold dollar she could lend you."
+
+"That might do," said Paul; "but I don't know any boy I could
+trust to draw it except you, and some of them would know we were
+brothers."
+
+"I think, Paul, that would be dishonest," said Mrs. Hoffman.  "I
+would rather make less, if I were you, and do it honestly."
+
+"Maybe you're right, mother.  I'll try it again this afternoon,
+keeping as far away from Teddy as I can.  If I find I can't make
+it go, I'll try some other business."
+
+"Jimmy, have you shown Paul your drawing?" said his mother.
+
+"Here it is, Paul," said Jimmy, producing his drawing- book, from
+which he had copied a simple design of a rustic cottage.
+
+"Why, that's capital, Jimmy," said Paul, in real surprise.  "I
+had no idea you would succeed so well."
+
+"Do you really think so, Paul?" asked the little boy, much
+pleased.
+
+"I really do.  How long did it take you?"
+
+"Only a short time--not more than half an hour, I should think,"
+said Mrs. Hoffman.  "I think Jimmy succeeded very well."
+
+"You'll make a great artist some time, Jimmy," said Paul.
+
+"I wish I could," said the little boy.  "I should like to earn
+some money, so that you and mother need not work so hard."
+
+"Hard work agrees with me.  I'm tough," said Paul.  "But when we
+get to be men, Jimmy, we'll make so much money that mother
+needn't work at all.  She shall sit in the parlor all day,
+dressed in silk, with nothing to do."
+
+"I don't think I would enjoy that," said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.
+
+"Will you be in the candy business, then, Paul?" said Jimmy.
+
+"No, Jimmy.  It would never do for the brother of a great artist
+to be selling candy round the streets.  I hope I shall have
+something better to do than that."
+
+"Sit down to dinner, Paul," said his mother.  "It's all ready."
+
+The dinner was not a luxurious one.  There was a small plate of
+cold meat, some potatoes, and bread and butter; but Mrs. Hoffman
+felt glad to be able to provide even that, and Paul, who had the
+hearty appetite of a growing boy, did full justice to the fare. 
+They had scarcely finished, when a knock was heard at the door. 
+Paul, answering the summons, admitted a stout, pleasant-looking
+Irishwoman.
+
+"The top of the mornin' to ye, Mrs. Donovan," said Paul, bowing
+ceremoniously.
+
+"Ah, ye'll be afther havin' your joke, Paul," said Mrs. Donovan,
+good-naturedly.  "And how is your health, mum, the day?"
+
+"I am well, thank you, Mrs. Donovan," said Mrs. Hoffman.  "Sit
+down to the table, won't you?  We're just through dinner, but
+there's something left."
+
+"Thank you, mum, I've jist taken dinner.  I was goin' to wash
+this afternoon, and I thought maybe you'd have some little pieces
+I could wash jist as well as not."
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan, you are very kind; but you must have
+enough work of your own to do."
+
+"I'm stout and strong, mum, and hard work agrees with me; but
+you're a rale lady, and ain't used to it.  It's only a thrifle,
+but if you want to pay me, you could do a bit of sewin' for me. 
+I ain't very good with the needle.  My fingers is too coarse,
+belike."
+
+"Thank you, Mrs. Donovan; on those terms I will agree to your
+kind offer.  Washing is a little hard for me."
+
+Mrs. Hoffman collected a few pieces, and, wrapping them up in a
+handkerchief, handed them to her guest.
+
+"And now what have you been doin', Jimmy darlint?" said Mrs.
+Donovan, turning her broad, good-humored face toward the younger
+boy.
+
+"I've been drawing a picture," said Jimmy.  "Would you like to
+see it?"
+
+"Now, isn't that illigant?" exclaimed Mrs. Donovan, admiringly,
+taking the picture and gazing at it with rapt admiration.  "Who
+showed you how to do it?"
+
+"Paul bought me a book, and I copied it out of that."
+
+"You're a rale genius.  Maybe you'll make pictures some time like
+them we have in the church, of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints.
+
+Do you think you could draw me, now?" she asked, with curiosity.
+
+"I haven't got a piece of paper big enough," said Jimmy, slyly.
+
+"Ah, it's pokin' fun at me, ye are," said Mrs. Donovan,
+good-humoredly.  "Just like my Pat; he run into the room
+yesterday sayin', 'Mother, there's great news.  Barnum's fat
+woman is dead, and he's comin' afther you this afternoon.  He'll
+pay you ten dollars a week and board.' 'Whist, ye spalpeen!' said
+I; 'is it makin' fun of your poor mother, ye are?' but I couldn't
+help laughing at the impertinence of the boy.  But I must be
+goin'."
+
+"Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Donovan.  Jimmy shall go to
+your room for the sewing."
+
+"There's no hurry about that," said Mrs. Donovan.  "I'll jist
+bring it in meself when it's ready."
+
+"She is very kind," said Mrs. Hoffman, when Bridget Donovan had
+gone.  "I shall be glad to have her wash.  I am apt to feel weak
+after it.  What are you going to do this afternoon, Paul?"
+
+"I'll try to sell out the rest of my stock of packages.  Perhaps
+I shan't succeed, but I'll do my best.  Shall you have another
+picture to show me when I come back tonight, Jimmy?"
+
+"Yes, Paul; I love to draw.  I'm going to try this castle."
+
+"It's rather hard, isn't it?"
+
+"I can do it," said Jimmy, confidently.
+
+Paul left the room with his basket on his arm.
+
+He was drawn by curiosity to the spot where he had met with his
+first success, as well as his first failure--the front of the
+post office.  Here he became witness to an unexpectedly lively
+scene; in other words, a fight, in which Teddy O'Brien and his
+confederate, Mike, were the contestants.  To explain the cause of
+the quarrel, it must be stated that it related to a division of
+the spoils.
+
+Teddy had sold out his last package, seventy-five in number.  For
+these he had received five cents apiece, making in all three
+dollars and seventy-five cents, of which all but a dollar and
+seventy-five cents, representing the value of the prizes and the
+original cost of the packages and their contents, was profit. 
+Now, according to the arrangement entered into between him and
+Mike, the latter, for his services, was to receive one cent on
+every package sold.  This, however, seemed to Teddy too much to
+pay, so, when the time of reckoning came, he stoutly asseverated
+that there were but sixty packages.
+
+"That don't go down," said Mike, indignantly; "it's nearer a
+hundred."
+
+"No, it isn't.  It's only sixty.  You've got the fifty cents, and
+I'll give you ten more."
+
+"You must give me the whole sixty, then," said Mike, changing his
+ground.  "I drawed the fifty as a prize."
+
+Teddy was struck with astonishment at the impudence of this
+assumption.
+
+"It wasn't no prize," he said.
+
+"Yes, it was," said Mike.  "You said so yourself.  Didn't he,
+Jim?"
+
+Jim, who was also a confederate, but had agreed to accept
+twenty-five cents in full for services rendered, promptly
+answered:
+
+"Shure, Mike's right.  It was a prize he drew."
+
+"You want to chate me!"  said Teddy, angrily.
+
+"What have you been doin' all the mornin'?" demanded Mike. 
+"You're the chap to talk about chatin', ain't you?"
+
+"I'll give you twenty-five cents," said Teddy, "and that's all I
+will give you."
+
+"Then you've got to fight," said Mike, squaring off.
+
+"Yes, you've got to fight!"  chimed in Jim, who thought he saw a
+chance for more money.
+
+Teddy looked at his two enemies, each of whom was probably more
+than a match for himself, and was not long in deciding that his
+best course was to avoid a fight by running.  Accordingly, he
+tucked all the money into his pocket, and, turning incontinently,
+fled down Liberty street, closely pursued by his late
+confederates.  Paul came up just in time to hear the termination
+of the dispute and watch the flight of his late business rival. 
+
+"I guess Teddy won't go into the business again," he reflected. 
+"I may as well take my old stand."
+
+Accordingly he once more installed himself on the post office
+steps, and began to cry, "Prize packages.  Only five cents!"
+
+Having no competitor now to interfere with his trade, he met with
+fair success, and by four o'clock was able to start for home with
+his empty basket, having disposed of all his stock in trade.
+
+His profits, though not so great as the day before, amounted to a
+dollar.
+
+"If I could only make a dollar every day," thought Paul, "I would
+be satisfied."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+PAUL LOSES HIS BASKET 
+
+Paul continued in the prize-package business for three weeks. 
+His success varied, but he never made less than seventy-five
+cents a day, and sometimes as much as a dollar and a quarter.  He
+was not without competitors.  More than once, on reaching his
+accustomed stand, he found a rival occupying it before him.  In
+such cases he quietly passed on, and set up his business
+elsewhere, preferring to monopolize the trade, though the
+location might not be so good.
+
+Teddy O'Brien did not again enter the field.  We left him, at the
+end of the last chapter, trying to escape from Mike and Jim, who
+demanded a larger sum than he was willing to pay for their
+services.  He succeeded in escaping with his money, but the next
+day the two confederates caught him, and Teddy received a black
+eye as a receipt in full of all demands.  So, on the whole, he
+decided that some other business would suit him better, and
+resumed the blacking-box, which he had abandoned on embarking in
+commercial pursuits.
+
+Mike Donovan and Jim Parker were two notoriously bad boys,
+preferring to make a living in any other way than by honest
+industry.  As some of these ways were not regarded as honest in
+the sight of the law, each had more than once been sentenced to a
+term at Blackwell's Island.  They made a proposition to Paul to
+act as decoy ducks for him in the same way as for Teddy.  He
+liked neither of the boys, and did not care to be associated with
+them.  This refusal Mike and Jim resented, and determined to "pay
+of" Paul if they ever got a chance.  Our hero from time to time
+saw them hovering about him, but took very little notice of them.
+
+He knew that he was a match for either, though Mike exceeded him
+in size, and he felt quite capable of taking care of himself.
+
+One day Mike and Jim, whose kindred tastes led them to keep
+company, met at the corner of Liberty and William streets.  Mike
+looked unusually dilapidated.  He had had a scuffle the day
+before with another boy, and his clothes, always well ventilated,
+got torn in several extra places.  As it was very uncertain when
+he would be in a financial condition to provide himself with
+another suit, the prospect was rather alarming.  Jim Parker
+looked a shade more respectable in attire, but his face and hands
+were streaked with blacking.  To this, however, Jim had become so
+accustomed that he would probably have felt uncomfortable with a
+clean face
+
+"How are you off for stamps, Jim?" asked Mike.
+
+"Dead broke," was the reply.
+
+"So am I.  I ain't had no breakfast."
+
+"Nor I 'cept an apple.  Couldn't I eat, though?"
+
+"Suppose we borrow a quarter of Paul Hoffman."
+
+"He wouldn't lend a feller."
+
+"Not if he knowed it," said Mike, significantly.
+
+"What do you mean, Mike?" asked Jim, with some curiosity.
+
+"We'll borrow without leave."
+
+"How'll we do it?"
+
+"I'll tell you," said Mike.
+
+He proceeded to unfold his plan, which was briefly this.  The two
+were to saunter up to where Paul was standing; and remain until
+the group, if there were any around him should be dispersed. 
+Then one was to pull his hat over his eyes, while the other would
+snatch the basket containing his prize packages, and run down
+Liberty street, never stopping until he landed in a certain alley
+known to both boys.  The other would run in a different
+direction, and both would meet as soon as practicable for the
+division of the spoils.  It was yet so early that Paul could not
+have sold many from his stock.  As each contained a prize,
+varying from one penny to ten, they would probably realize enough
+to buy a good breakfast, besides the candy contained in the
+packages.  More money might be obtained by selling packages, but
+there was risk in this.  Besides, it would take time, and they
+decided that a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.
+
+"That's a good idea," said Jim, approvingly.  "Who'll knock his
+hat over his head?"
+
+"You can," said Mike, "and I'll grab the basket."  But to this
+Jim demurred, for two reasons: first, he was rather afraid of
+Paul, whose strength of arm he had tested on a previous occasion;
+and, again, he was afraid that if Mike got off with the basket he
+would appropriate the lion's share.
+
+"I'll grab the basket," he said.
+
+"What for?" said Mike, suspiciously, for he, too, felt some
+distrust of his confederate.
+
+"You're stronger'n I am, Mike," said Jim.  "Maybe he'd turn on
+me, and I can't fight him as well as you."
+
+"That's so," said Mike, who had rather a high idea of his own
+prowess, and felt pleased with the compliment.  "I'm a match for
+him."
+
+"Of course you be," said Jim, artfully, "and he knows it."
+
+"Of course he does," said Mike, boastfully.  "I can lick him with
+one hand."
+
+Jim had serious doubts of this, but he had his reasons for
+concurring in Mike's estimate of his own powers.
+
+"We'd better start now," said Jim.  "I'm awful hungry."
+
+"Come along, then."
+
+They walked up Liberty street, as far as Nassau.  On reaching the
+corner they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place.  It
+was rather a public place for an assault, and both boys would
+have hesitated had they not been incited by a double motive--the
+desire of gain and a feeling of hostility.
+
+They sauntered along, and Mike pressed in close by Paul.
+
+"What do you want?" asked Paul, not liking the vicinity.
+
+"What's that to you?" demanded Mike.
+
+"Quit crowdin' me."
+
+"I ain't crowdin'.  I've got as much right to be here as you."
+
+"Here's your prize packages!"  exclaimed Paul, in a businesslike
+tone.
+
+"Maybe I'll buy one if you'll give me credit till to-morrow,"
+said Mike.
+
+"Your credit isn't good with me," said Paul.  "You must pay cash
+down."
+
+"Then you won't trust me?" said Mike, pressing a little closer.
+
+"No, I won't," said Paul, decidedly.
+
+"Then, take that, you spalpeen!" said Mike, suddenly pulling
+Paul's hat over his eyes.
+
+At the same time Jim, to whom he had tipped a wink, snatched the
+basket, which Paul held loosely in his hand, and disappeared
+round the corner.
+
+The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Paul was at first
+bewildered.  But he quickly recovered his presence of mind, and
+saw into the trick.  He raised his hat, and darted in pursuit of
+Mike, not knowing in what direction his basket had gone.
+
+"That's a mean trick!"  he exclaimed, indignantly.  "Give me back
+my basket, you thief!"
+
+"I ain't got no basket," said Mike, facing round.
+
+"Then you know where it is."
+
+"I don't know nothin' of your basket."
+
+"You pulled my hat over my eyes on purpose to steal my basket."
+
+"No, I didn't.  You insulted me, that's why I did it."
+
+"Tell me where my basket is, or I'll lick you," said Paul,
+incensed.
+
+"I ain't nothin' to do with your basket."
+
+"Take that, then, for pulling my hat over my eyes," and Paul,
+suiting the action to the word, dealt Mike a staggering blow in
+the face.
+
+"I'll murder you!"  shouted Mike, furiously, dashing at Paul with
+a blow which might have leveled him, if he had not fended it off.
+
+Paul was not quarrelsome, but he knew how to fight, and he was
+prepared now to fight in earnest, indignant as he was at the
+robbery which entailed upon him a loss he could ill sustain.
+
+"I'll give you all you want," he said, resolutely, eyeing Mike
+warily, and watching a chance to give him another blow.
+
+The contest was brief, being terminated by the sudden and
+unwelcome arrival of a policeman.
+
+"What's this?" he asked authoritatively, surveying the
+combatants; Paul, with his flushed face, and Mike, whose nose was
+bleeding freely from a successful blow of his adversary.
+
+"He pitched into me for nothin'," said Mike, glaring at Paul, and
+rubbing his bloody nose on the sleeve of his ragged coat.
+
+"That isn't true," said Paul, excitedly.  "He came up while I was
+selling prize packages of candy in front of the post office, and
+pulled my hat over my eyes, while another boy grabbed my basket."
+
+"You lie!"  said Mike.  "I don't know nothin' of your basket."
+
+"Why did you pull his hat over his eyes?" asked the policeman.
+
+"Because he insulted me."
+
+"How did he insult you?"
+
+"He wouldn't trust me till to-morrow."
+
+"I don't blame him much for that," said the policeman, who was
+aware of Mike's shady reputation, having on a former occasion
+been under the necessity of arresting him.  Even without such
+acquaintance, Mike's general appearance would hardly have
+recommended him to Officer Jones.
+
+"I'll let you go this time," he said, "but if I catch you
+fighting again on my beat I'll march you off to the
+station-house."
+
+Mike was glad to escape, though he would almost have been willing
+to be arrested if Paul could have been arrested also.
+
+The officer walked away, and Mike started down the street.
+
+Paul followed him.
+
+That didn't suit Mike's ideas, as he was anxious to meet Jim and
+divide the spoils with him.
+
+"What are you follerin' me for?" he demanded, angrily.
+
+"I have my reasons," said Paul.
+
+"Then you'd better stay where you are.  Your company ain't
+wanted."
+
+"I know that," said Paul, "but I'm going to follow you till I
+find my basket."
+
+"What do I know of your basket?"
+
+"That's what I want to find out."
+
+Mike saw, by Paul's resolute tone, that he meant what he said. 
+Desirous of shaking him of, he started on a run.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+PAUL AS AN ARTIST
+
+Paul was not slow in following Mike.  He was a good runner, and
+would have had no difficulty in keeping up with his enemy if the
+streets had been empty.  But to thread his way in and out among
+the numerous foot passengers that thronged the sidewalks was not
+so easy.  He kept up pretty well, however, until, in turning a
+street corner, he ran at full speed into a very stout gentleman,
+whose scanty wind was quite knocked out of him by the collision. 
+He glared in anger at Paul, but could not at first obtain breath
+enough to speak.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir," said Paul, who, in spite of his desire
+to overtake Mike, felt it incumbent upon him to stop and offer an
+apology.
+
+"What do you mean, sir," exploded the fat man, at last, "by
+tearing through the streets like a locomotive?  You've nearly
+killed me."
+
+"I am very sorry, sir."
+
+"You ought to be.  Don't you know better than to run at such
+speed?  You ought to be indicted as a public nuisance.
+
+"I was trying to catch a thief," said Paul.
+
+"Trying to catch a thief?  How's that?" asked the stout
+gentleman, his indignation giving way to curiosity.
+
+"I was selling packages in front of the post office when he and
+another boy came up and stole my basket."
+
+"Indeed!  What were you selling?"
+
+"Prize packages, sir."
+
+"What was in them?"
+
+"Candy."
+
+"Could you make much that way?"
+
+"About a dollar a day."
+
+"I'd rather have given you a dollar than had you run against me
+with such violence.  I feel it yet."
+
+"Indeed, sir, I'm very sorry."
+
+"Well, I'll forgive you, under the circumstances.  What's your
+name?"
+
+"Paul Hoffman."
+
+"Well, I hope you'll get back your basket.  Some time, if you see
+me in the street, come up and let me know.  Would you know me
+again?"
+
+"I think I should, sir."
+
+"Well, good-morning.  I hope you'll catch the thief."
+
+"I thank you, sir."
+
+They parted company, but Paul did not continue the pursuit.  The
+conversation in which he had taken part had lasted so long that
+Mike had had plenty of time to find a refuge, and there would be
+no use in following him.
+
+So Paul went home.
+
+"You are home early, Paul," said his mother.  "Surely you haven't
+sold out by this time."
+
+"No, but all my packages are gone."
+
+"How is that?"
+
+"They were stolen."
+
+"Tell me about it."
+
+So Paul told the story.
+
+"That Mike was awful mean," said Jimmy, indignantly.  "I'd like
+to hit him."
+
+"I don't think you would hurt him much, Jimmy," said Paul, amused
+at his little brother's vehemence.
+
+"Then I wish I was a big, strong boy," said Jimmy.
+
+"I hope you will be, some time."
+
+"How much was your loss, Paul?" asked his mother.
+
+"There were nearly forty packages.  They cost me about a dollar,
+but if I had sold them all they would have brought me in twice as
+much.  I had only sold ten packages."
+
+"Shall you make some more?"
+
+"No, I think not," said Paul.  "I've got tired of the business. 
+It's getting poorer every day.  I'll go out after dinner, and see
+if I can't find something else to do."
+
+"You ain't going out now, Paul?" said Jimmy.
+
+"No, I'll stop and see you draw a little while."
+
+"That's bully.  I'm going to try these oxen."
+
+"That's a hard picture.  I don't think you can draw it, Jimmy."
+
+"Yes, I can," said the little boy, confidently.  "Just see if I
+don't."
+
+"Jimmy has improved a good deal," said his mother.
+
+"You'll be a great artist one of these days, Jimmy," said Paul.
+
+"I'm going to try, Paul," said the little boy.  "I like it so
+much."
+
+Little Jimmy had indeed made surprising progress in drawing. 
+With no instruction whatever, he had succeeded in a very close
+and accurate imitation of the sketches in the drawing books Paul
+had purchased for him.  It was a great delight to the little boy
+to draw, and hour after hour, as his mother sat at her work, he
+sat up to the table, and worked at his drawing, scarcely speaking
+a word unless spoken to, so absorbed was he in his fascinating
+employment.
+
+Paul watched him attentively.
+
+"You'll make a bully artist, Jimmy," he said, at length, really
+surprised at his little brother's proficiency.  "If you keep on a
+little longer, you'll beat me."
+
+"I wish you'd draw something, Paul," said Jimmy.  "I never saw
+any of your drawings."
+
+"I am afraid, if you saw mine, it would discourage you," said
+Paul.  "You know, I'm older and ought to draw better."
+
+His face was serious, but there was a merry twinkle of fun in his
+eyes.
+
+"Of course, I know you draw better," said Jimmy, seriously.
+
+"What shall I draw?" asked Paul.
+
+"Try this horse, Paul."
+
+"All right!"  said Paul.  "But you must go away; I don't want you
+to see it till it is done."
+
+Jimmy left the table, and Paul commenced his attempt.  Now,
+though Paul is the hero of my story, I am bound to confess that
+he had not the slightest talent for drawing, though Jimmy did not
+know it.  It was only to afford his little brother amusement that
+he now undertook the task.
+
+Paul worked away for about five minutes.
+
+"It's done," he said.
+
+"So quick?" exclaimed Jimmy, in surprise.  "How fast you work!"
+
+He drew near and inspected Paul's drawing.  He had no sooner
+inspected it than he burst into a fit of laughter.  Paul's
+drawing was a very rough one, and such a horse as he had drawn
+will never probably be seen until the race has greatly
+degenerated.
+
+"What's the matter, Jimmy?" asked Paul.  "Don't you like it?"
+
+"It's awful, Paul," said the little boy, almost choking with
+mirth.
+
+"I see how it is," said Paul, with feigned resentment.  You're
+jealous of me because you can't draw as well."
+
+"Oh, Paul, you'll kill me!"  and Jimmy again burst into a fit of
+merriment.  "Can't you really draw any better?"
+
+"No, Jimmy," said Paul, joining in the laugh.  "I can't draw any
+better than an old cow.  You've got all the talent in the family
+in that line."
+
+"But you're smart in other ways, Paul," said Jimmy, who had a
+great admiration of Paul, notwithstanding the discovery of his
+artistic inferiority.
+
+"I'm glad there's one that thinks so, Jimmy," said Paul.  "I'll
+refer to you when I want a recommendation."
+
+Jimmy resumed his drawing, and was proud of the praises which
+Paul freely bestowed upon him.
+
+"I'll get you a harder drawing book when you've got through with
+these," said Paul; "that is, if I don't get reduced to poverty by
+having my stock in trade stolen again."
+
+After a while came dinner.  This meal in Mrs. Hoffman's household
+usually came at twelve o'clock.  It was a plain, frugal meal
+always, but on Sunday they usually managed to have something a
+little better, as they had been accustomed to do when Mr. Hoffman
+was alive.
+
+Paul was soon through.
+
+He took his hat from the bureau, and prepared to go out.
+
+"I'm going out to try my luck, mother," he said.  "I'll see if I
+can't get into something I like a little better than the
+prize-package business."
+
+"I hope you'll succeed, Paul."
+
+"Better than I did in drawing horses, eh, Jimmy?"
+
+"Yes, I hope so, Paul," said the little boy.
+
+"Don't you show that horse to visitors and pretend it's yours,
+Jimmy."
+
+"No danger, Paul."
+
+Paul went downstairs and into the street.  He had no definite
+plan in his head, but was ready for anything that might turn up. 
+He did not feel anxious, for he knew there were plenty of ways in
+which he could earn something.  He had never tried blacking
+boots, but still he could do it in case of emergency.  He had
+sold papers, and succeeded fairly in that line, and knew he could
+again.  He had pitted himself against other boys, and the result
+had been to give him a certain confidence in his own powers and
+business abilities.  When he had first gone into the street to
+try his chances there, it had been with a degree of diffidence. 
+But knocking about the streets soon gives a boy confidence,
+sometimes too much of it; and Paul had learned to rely upon
+himself; but the influence of a good, though humble home, and a
+judicious mother, had kept him aloof from the bad habits into
+which many street boys are led.
+
+So Paul, though his stock in trade had been stolen, and he was
+obliged to seek a new kind of business, was by no means
+disheartened.  He walked a little way downtown, and then,
+crossing the City Hall Park, found himself on Broadway.
+
+A little below the Astor House he came to the stand of a
+sidewalk-merchant, who dealt in neckties.  Upon an upright
+framework hung a great variety of ties of different colors, most
+of which were sold at the uniform price of twenty-five cents
+each.
+
+Paul was acquainted with the proprietor of the stand, and, having
+nothing else to do, determined to stop and speak to him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A NEW BUSINESS
+
+The proprietor of the necktie stand was a slender,
+dark-complexioned young man of about twenty-five, or thereabouts.
+
+His name was George Barry.  Paul had known him for over a year,
+and whenever he passed his stand was accustomed to stop and speak
+with him.
+
+"Well, George, how's business?" asked Paul.
+
+"Fair," said Barry.  "That isn't what's the matter."
+
+"What is it, then?"
+
+"I'm sick.  I ought not to be out here to-day."
+
+"What's the matter with you?"
+
+"I've caught a bad cold, and feel hot and feverish.  I ought to
+be at home and abed."
+
+"Why don't you go?"
+
+"I can't leave my business."
+
+"It's better to do that than to get a bad sickness."
+
+"I suppose it is.  I am afraid I am going to have a fever.  One
+minute I'm hot, another I'm cold.  But I can't afford to close up
+my business."
+
+"Why don't you get somebody to take your place?"
+
+"I don't know anybody I could get that I could trust.  They'd
+sell my goods, and make off with the money."
+
+"Can you trust me?" asked Paul, who saw a chance to benefit
+himself as well as his friend.
+
+"Yes, Paul, I could trust you, but I'm afraid I couldn't pay you
+enough to make it worth while for you to stand here."
+
+"I haven't got anything to do just now," said Paul.  "I was in
+the prize-package business, but two fellows stole my stock in
+trade, and I'm not going into it again.  It's about played out. 
+I'm your man.  Just make me an offer."
+
+"I should like to have you take my place for a day or two, for I
+know you wouldn't cheat me."
+
+"You may be sure of that."
+
+"I am sure.  I know you are an honest boy, Paul.  But I don't
+know what to offer you."
+
+"How many neckties do you sell a day?" asked Paul, in a
+businesslike tone.
+
+"About a dozen on an average."
+
+"And how much profit do you make?"
+
+"It's half profit."
+
+Paul made a short calculation.  Twelve neckties at twenty-five
+cents each would bring three dollars.  Half of this was a dollar
+and a half.
+
+"I'll take your place for half profits," he said.
+
+"That's fair," said George Barry.  "I'll accept your offer.  Can
+you begin now?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then I'll go home and go to bed.  It's the best place for me."
+
+"You'd better.  I'll come round after closing up, and hand over
+the money."
+
+"All right!  You know where I live?"
+
+"I'm not sure."
+
+"No. -- Bleecker street."
+
+"I'll come up this evening."
+
+George Barry walked away, leaving Paul in charge of his business.
+
+He did so with perfect confidence.  Not every boy in Paul's
+circumstances can be trusted, but he felt sure that Paul would do
+the right thing by him.
+
+I may as well say, in this connection, that George Barry had a
+mother living.  They occupied two rooms in a lodging-house in
+Bleecker street, and lived very comfortably.  Mrs. Barry had an
+allowance of two hundred dollars a year from a relation.  This,
+with what she earned by sewing, and her son by his stand,
+supported them very comfortably, especially as they provided and
+cooked their own food, which was, of course, much cheaper than
+boarding.  Still, the loss of the young man's earnings, even for
+a short time, would have been felt, though they had a reserve of
+a hundred dollars in a savings bank, from which they might draw
+if necessary.  But George did not like to do this.  The
+arrangement which he made with Paul was a satisfactory one, for
+with half his usual earnings they would still be able to keep out
+of debt, and not be compelled to draw upon the fund in the bank. 
+Of course, something depended on Paul's success as a salesman,
+but he would not be likely to fall much below the average amount
+of sales.  So, on the whole, George Barry went home considerably
+relieved in mind, though his head was throbbing, and he felt
+decidedly sick.
+
+Arrived at home, his mother, who understood sickness, at once
+took measures to relieve him.
+
+"Don't mind the loss of a few days, George," she said,
+cheerfully; "we shall be able to get along very well."
+
+"It'll only be part loss, mother," he said.  "I've got Paul
+Hoffman to take my place for half the profits."
+
+"Paul Hoffman!  Do I know him?"
+
+"I don't think he has ever been here but I have known him for a
+year."
+
+"Can you trust him?"
+
+"Yes, I'm not at all afraid.  He is a smart boy, and as honest as
+he is smart.  I think he will sell nearly as much as I would."
+
+"That is an excellent arrangement.  You needn't feel uneasy,
+then."
+
+"No, the business will go on right."
+
+"I should like to see your salesman."
+
+"You'll see him to-night, mother.  He's coming round this evening
+to let me know how he's got along, and hand over the money he's
+taken."
+
+"You'd better be quiet now, George, and go to sleep, if you can. 
+I'll make you some warm tea.  I think it'll do you good."
+
+Meanwhile Paul assumed charge of George Barry's business.  He was
+sorry his friend was sick, but he congratulated himself on
+getting into business so soon.
+
+"It's more respectable than selling prize packages," thought
+Paul.  "I wish I had a stand of my own."
+
+He was still a street merchant, but among street merchants there
+are grades as well as among merchants whose claim to higher
+respectability rests upon having rent to pay.  Paul felt that it
+was almost like having a shop of his own.  He had always looked
+up to George Barry as standing higher than himself in a business
+way, and he felt that even if his earnings should not be as
+great, that it was a step upward to have sole charge of his
+stand, if only for a day or two.
+
+Paul's ambition was aroused.  It was for his interest to make as
+large sales as possible.  Besides, he thought he would like to
+prove to George Barry that he had made a good selection in
+appointing him his substitute.
+
+Now, if the truth must be told, George Barry himself was not
+possessed of superior business ability.  He was lacking in energy
+and push.  He could sell neckties to those who asked for them,
+but had no particular talent for attracting trade.  He would have
+been a fair clerk, but was never likely to rise above a very
+moderate success.  Paul was quite different.  He was quick,
+enterprising, and smart.  He was a boy likely to push his way to
+success unless circumstances were very much against him.
+
+"I'd like to sell more than George Barry," he said to himself. 
+"I don't know if I can, but I'm going to try."
+
+The day was half over, and probably the most profitable, so far
+as business was concerned.  Paul had only four or five hours
+left.
+
+"Let me see," he said to himself.  "I ought to sell six neckties
+to come up to the average of half a day's sale.  I wonder whether
+I can do it."
+
+As his soliloquy ended, his quick eye detected a young man
+glancing at his stock, and he observed that he paused
+irresolutely, as if half inclined to purchase."
+
+"Can't I sell you a necktie to-day?" asked Paul, promptly.
+
+"I don't know," said the other.  "What do you charge?"
+
+"You can have your choice for twenty-five cents.  That is cheap,
+isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, that's cheap.  Let me look at them."
+
+"Here's one that will suit your complexion," said Paul.
+
+"Yes, that's a pretty one.  I think I'll take it."
+
+"You have to pay twice as much in the shops," continued Paul, as
+he rolled it up.  "You see, we have no rent to pay, and so we can
+sell cheap.  You'll save money by always buying your neckties
+here."
+
+"The only objection to that is that I don't live in the city.  I
+am here only for a day.  I live about fifty miles in the
+country."
+
+"Then I'll tell you what you'd better do," said Paul.  "Lay in
+half a dozen, while you are about it.  It'll only be a dollar and
+a half, and you'll save as much as that by doing it."
+
+"I don't know but you are right," said his customer, whom the
+suggestion impressed favorably.  "As you say, it's only a dollar
+and a half, and it'll give me a good stock."
+
+"Let me pick them out for you," said Paul, briskly, "unless
+there's something you see yourself."
+
+"I like that one."
+
+"All right.  What shall be the next?"
+
+Finally, the young man selected the entire half-dozen, and
+deposited a dollar and a half in Paul's hands.
+
+"Come and see me again," said Paul, "and if you have any friends
+coming to the city, send them to me."
+
+"I will," said the other.
+
+"Tell them it's the first stand south of the Astor House.  Then
+they won't miss it."
+
+"That's a good beginning," said Paul to himself, with
+satisfaction.  "Half a day's average sales already, and I've only
+been here fifteen minutes.  Let me see, what will my profits be
+on that?  Three shillings, I declare.  That isn't bad, now!"
+
+Paul had reason to be satisfied with himself.  If he had not
+spoken, the young man would very probably have gone on without
+purchasing at all, or, at any rate, remained content with a
+single necktie.  Paul's manner and timely word had increased his
+purchase sixfold.  That is generally the difference between a
+poor salesman and one of the first class.  Anybody can sell to
+those who are anxious to buy; but it takes a smart man to
+persuade a customer that he wants what otherwise he would go
+without.  The difference in success is generally appreciated by
+dealers, and a superior salesman is generally paid a handsome
+salary.
+
+"I don't believe George Barry would have sold that man so many
+ties," thought Paul.  "I hope I shall have as good luck next
+time."
+
+But this, of course, was not to be expected.  It is not every
+customer who can be persuaded to buy half-a-dozen ties, even by
+the most eloquent salesman.  However, in the course of an hour
+more, Paul had sold three more to single customers.  Then came a
+man who bought two.  Then there was a lull, and for an hour Paul
+sold none at all.  But business improved a little toward the
+close of the afternoon, and when it was time to close up, our
+young merchant found that he had disposed of fifteen.
+
+"My share of the profits will be ninety-three cents," thought
+Paul, with satisfaction.  "That isn't bad for an afternoon's
+work."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A STROKE OF ILL LUCK
+
+Paul transferred his frame of goods to a neighboring office at
+the end of the afternoon, the arrangement having been made by
+George Barry, on first entering into business as a street
+merchant.  This saved a good deal of trouble, as otherwise he
+would have been compelled to carry them home every night and
+bring them back in the morning.
+
+"Well, Paul," asked his mother, when he returned to supper, "have
+you found anything to do yet?"
+
+"I have got employment for a few days," said Paul.  "to tend a
+necktie stand.  The man that keeps it is sick."
+
+"How much does he pay you, Paul?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"Half the profits.  How much do you think I have made this
+afternoon?"
+
+"Forty cents."
+
+"What do you say to ninety-three cents?  Just look at this," and
+Paul displayed his earnings.
+
+"That is excellent."
+
+"I had good luck.  Generally, I shan't make more in a whole day
+than this."
+
+"That will be doing very well."
+
+"But I shall make more, if I can.  One fellow bought six neckties
+of me this afternoon.  I wish everybody would do that.  Now,
+mother, I hope supper is most ready, for selling neckties has
+made me hungry."
+
+"Almost ready, Paul."
+
+It was a humble meal, but a good one.  There were fresh rolls and
+butter, tea and some cold meat.  That was all; but the cloth was
+clean, and everything looked neat.  All did justice to the plain
+meal, and never thought of envying the thousands who, in their
+rich uptown mansions, were sitting down at the same hour to
+elaborate dinners costing more than their entire week's board.
+
+"Are you going out, Paul?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, noticing that he
+took his hat.
+
+"Yes, I must go and see George Barry, and carry the money I have
+received for sales."
+
+"Where does he live?"
+
+"In Bleecker street.  I shan't be gone long."
+
+Paul reached the number which had been given him.  It was a
+large, four-story house, with the appearance of a barracks.
+
+"Mr. Barry," said the servant, in answer to his question-- "he
+lives upstairs on the fourth floor.  Room on the right."
+
+Paul plodded his way upstairs, and found the room without
+difficulty.
+
+On knocking, the door was opened by Mrs. Barry, who looked at him
+inquiringly.
+
+"Does George Barry live here?" asked Paul.
+
+"Yes.  Are you the one he left in charge of his business?"
+
+Paul answered in the affirmative, adding, "How is he?"
+
+"He seems quite feverish.  I am afraid he is going to have a
+fever.  It's fortunate he came home.  He was not able to attend
+to his business."
+
+"Can I see him?"
+
+"Come in," said Mrs. Barry.
+
+The room was covered with a worn carpet, but looked neat and
+comfortable.  There was a cheap sewing-machine in one corner, and
+some plain furniture.  There was a bedroom opening out of this
+room, and here it was that George Barry lay upon the bed.
+
+"Is that Paul Hoffman, mother?" was heard from the bedroom.
+
+"Yes," said Paul, answering for himself.
+
+"Go in, if you like," said Mrs. Barry.  "My son wishes to see
+you.
+
+"How do you feel now, George?" asked Paul.
+
+"Not very well, Paul.  I didn't give up a minute too soon.  I
+think I am going to have a fever."
+
+"That is not comfortable," said Paul.  "Still, you have your
+mother to take care of you."
+
+"I don't know how I should get along without her.  Can you look
+after my business as long as I am sick?"
+
+"Yes; I have nothing else to do."
+
+"Then that is off my mind.  By the way, how many ties did you
+sell this afternoon?"
+
+"Fifteen."
+
+"What!" demanded Barry, in surprise.  "You sold fifteen?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why, I never sold so many as that in an afternoon."
+
+"Didn't you?" said Paul, gratified.  "Then you think I did
+well?"
+
+"Splendidly.  How did you do it?"
+
+"You see, there was a young man from the country that I persuaded
+to buy six, as he could not get them so cheap at home.  That was
+my first sale, and it encouraged me."
+
+"I didn't think you'd sell more than six in the whole afternoon."
+
+"Nor did I, when I started; but I determined to do my best.  I
+don't expect to do as well every day."
+
+"No, of course not.  I've been in the business more than a year;
+and I know what it is.  Some days are very dull."
+
+"I've got the money for you.  The fifteen ties came to three
+dollars and seventy-five cents.  I keep one-fourth of this as my
+commission.  That leaves two dollars and eighty-two cents."
+
+"Quite correct.  However, you needn't give me the money.  You may
+need to change a bill, or else lose a sale.  It will do if you
+settle with me at the end of the week."
+
+"I see you have confidence in me, George.  Suppose I should take
+a fancy to run away with the money?"
+
+"I am not afraid."
+
+"If I do, I will give you warning a week beforehand."
+
+After a little more conversation, Paul withdrew, thinking he
+might worry the sick man.  He offered to come up the next
+evening, but George Barry said, "It would be too much to expect
+you to come up every evening.  I shall be satisfied if you come
+up every other evening."
+
+"Very well," said Paul.  "Then you may expect me Saturday.  I
+hope I shall have some good sales to report, and that I shall
+find you better."
+
+Paul descended to the street, and walked slowly homeward.  He
+couldn't help wishing that the stand was his own, and the entire
+profits his.  This would double his income, and enable him to
+save up money.  At present this was hardly possible.  His own
+earnings had been, and were likely to continue, very fluctuating.
+
+Still, they constituted the main support of the family.  His
+mother made shirts for an establishment on Broadway at
+twenty-five cents each, which was more than some establishments
+paid.  She could hardly average more than one shirt a day, in
+addition to her household work, and in order to accomplish this,
+even, she was obliged to work very steadily all day.  Jimmy, of
+course, earned nothing.  Not that he was too young.  There were
+plenty of little newsboys who were as small as he--perhaps
+smaller.  I have seen boys, who did not appear to be more than
+four years old, standing at the corners, crying the news in their
+childish treble.  But Paul was not willing to have Jimmy sent out
+into the streets to undergo the rough discipline of street life. 
+He was himself of a strong, robust nature, and did not shrink
+from the rough and tumble of life.  He felt sure he could make
+his way, and give as well as receive blows.  But Jimmy was shy
+and retiring, of a timid, shrinking nature, who would suffer from
+what would only exhilarate Paul, and brace him for the contest. 
+So it was understood that Jimmy was to get an education, studying
+at present at home with his mother, who had received a good
+education, and that Mrs. Hoffman and Paul were to be the
+breadwinners.  "I wish mother didn't have to sit so steadily at
+her work," thought Paul, many a time.  He resolved some time to
+relieve her from the necessity; but at present it was impossible.
+
+To maintain their small family in comfort required all that both
+could earn.
+
+The next morning Paul started out after breakfast for the street
+stand, wondering what success he was destined to meet with.
+
+About the middle of the forenoon Mrs. Hoffman prepared to go out.
+
+"Do you think you can stay alone for an hour or two, Jimmy?" she
+asked.
+
+"Yes, mother," answered Jimmy, who was deep in a picture which he
+was copying from one of the drawing-books Paul had bought him. 
+"Where are you going mother?"
+
+"To carry back some work, Jimmy.  I have got half-a-dozen shirts
+done, and must return them, and ask for more."
+
+"They ought to pay you more than twenty-five cents apiece,
+mother.  How long has it taken you to make them?"
+
+"Nearly a week."
+
+"That is only a dollar and a half for a week's work."
+
+"I know it, Jimmy; but they can get plenty to work at that price,
+so it won't do for me to complain.  I shall be very glad if I can
+get steady work, even at that price."
+
+Jimmy said no more, and Mrs. Hoffman, gathering up her bundle,
+went out.
+
+She had a little more than half a mile to go.  This did not
+require long.  She entered the large door, and advanced to the
+counter behind which stood a clerk with a pen behind his ear.
+
+"How many?" he said, as she laid the bundle upon the counter.
+
+"Six."
+
+"Name?"
+
+"Hoffman."
+
+"Correct.  I will look at them."
+
+He opened the bundle hastily, and surveyed the work critically. 
+Luckily there was no fault to find, for Mrs. Hoffman was a
+skillful seamstress.
+
+"They will do," he said, and, taking from a drawer the stipulated
+sum, paid for them.
+
+"Can I have some more?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, anxiously.
+
+"Not to-day.  We're overstocked with goods made up.  We must
+contract our manufacture."
+
+This was unexpected, and carried dismay to the heart of the poor
+woman.  What she could earn was very little but it was important
+to her.
+
+"When do you think you can give me some more work?" she asked.
+
+"It may be a month or six weeks," he answered, carelessly.
+
+A month or six weeks!  To have her supply of work cut off for so
+long a time would, indeed, be a dire misfortune.  But there was
+nothing to say.  Mrs. Hoffman knew very well that no one in the
+establishment cared for her necessities.  So, with a heavy heart,
+she started for home, making up her mind to look elsewhere for
+work in the afternoon.  She could not help recalling, with
+sorrow, the time when her husband was living, and they lived in a
+pleasant little home, before the shadow of bereavement and
+pecuniary anxiety had come to cloud their happiness.  Still, she
+was not utterly cast down.  Paul had proved himself a manly and a
+helpful boy, self-reliant and courageous, and, though they might
+be pinched, she knew that as long as he was able to work they
+would not actually suffer.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A NEW PATRON
+
+Mrs. Hoffman went out in the afternoon, and visited several large
+establishments in the hope of obtaining work.  But everywhere she
+was met with the stereotyped reply, "Business is so dull that we
+are obliged to turn off some who are accustomed to work for us. 
+We have no room for new hands."
+
+Finally she decided that it would be of no use to make any
+further applications, and went home, feeling considerably
+disheartened.
+
+"I must find something to do," she said to herself.  "I cannot
+throw upon Paul the entire burden of supporting the family."
+
+But it was not easy to decide what to do.  There are so few paths
+open to a woman like Mrs. Hoffman.  She was not strong enough to
+take in washing, nor, if she had been, would Paul, who was proud
+for his mother, though not for himself, have consented to her
+doing it.  She determined to think it over during the evening,
+and make another attempt to get work of some kind the next day.
+
+"I won't tell Paul till to-morrow night," she decided.  "Perhaps
+by that time I shall have found something to do.
+
+All that day, the first full day in his new business, Paul sold
+eighteen ties.  He was not as successful proportionately as the
+previous afternoon.  Still his share of the profits amounted to a
+dollar and twelve cents, and he felt quite satisfied.  His sales
+had been fifty per cent. more than George Barry's average sales,
+and that was doing remarkably well, considering that the business
+was a new one to him.
+
+The next morning about ten o'clock, as he stood behind his stand,
+he saw a stout gentleman approaching from the direction of the
+Astor House.  He remembered him as the one with whom he had
+accidentally come in collision when he was in pursuit of Mike
+Donovan.  Having been invited to speak to him, he determined to
+do so.
+
+"Good-morning, sir," said Paul, politely.
+
+"Eh?  Did you speak to me?" inquired the stout gentleman.
+
+"Yes, sir; I bade you good-morning."
+
+"Good-morning.  I don't remember you, though.  What's your name?"
+
+"Paul Hoffman.  Don't you remember my running against you a day
+or two since?"
+
+"Oho! you're the boy, then.  You nearly knocked the breath out
+of me."
+
+"I am very sorry, sir."
+
+"Of course you didn't mean to.  Is this your stand?"
+
+"No, sir; I am tending for the owner, who is sick."
+
+"Does he pay you well?"
+
+"He gives me half the profits."
+
+"And does that pay you for your labor?"
+
+"I can earn about a dollar a day."
+
+"That is good.  It is more than I earned when I was of your age."
+
+"Indeed, sir!"
+
+"Yes; I was a poor boy, but I kept steadily at work, and now I am
+rich."
+
+"I hope I shall be rich some time," said Paul.
+
+"You have the same chance that I had."
+
+"I don't care so much for myself as for my mother and my little
+brother.  I should like to become rich for their sake." 
+
+"So you have a mother and a brother.  Where do they live?"
+
+Paul told him.
+
+"And you help support them?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"That's a good boy," said the gentleman, approvingly.  "Is your
+mother able to earn anything?"
+
+"Not much, sir.  She makes shirts for a Broadway store, but they
+only pay her twenty-five cents apiece."
+
+"That's very small.  She can sew well, I suppose?"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir; no fault is ever found with her work."
+
+"Do you think she would make me a dozen shirts?"
+
+"She would be glad to do so," said Paul, quickly, for he knew
+that his new acquaintance would pay far more liberally than the
+Broadway firm.
+
+"I will give the price I usually pay--ten shillings apiece."
+
+Ten shillings in New York currency amount to a dollar and a
+quarter, which would be five times the price Mrs Hoffman had been
+accustomed to receive.  A dozen shirts would come to fifteen
+dollars, which to a family in their circumstances would be a
+great help.
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Paul.  "My mother will accept the work
+thankfully, and will try to suit you.  When shall I come for the
+cloth?"
+
+"You may come to my house this evening, and I will give you a
+pattern, and an order for the materials on a dry goods dealer in
+Broadway."
+
+"Where do you live, sir?"
+
+"No. ---- Madison avenue, between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth
+streets.  My name is Preston.  Can you remember it?"
+
+"Yes, sir; but I will put it down to make sure."
+
+"Well, good-morning."
+
+"Good-morning, sir.  I suppose you don't want a tie this
+morning?" 
+
+"I don't think you keep the kind I am accustomed to wear," said
+Mr. Preston, smiling.  "I stick to the old fashions, and wear a
+stock."
+
+The old gentleman had scarcely gone, when two boys of twelve or
+thirteen paused before the stand.
+
+"That's a bully tie, Jeff!" said George, the elder of the two. 
+"I have a good mind to buy it."
+
+"It won't cost much," said Jeff.  "Only twenty-five cents.  But I
+like that one better."
+
+"If you buy one, I will."
+
+"All right," said Jeff, whose full name was Jefferson.  "We can
+wear them to dancing-school this afternoon."
+
+So the two boys bought a necktie, and this, in addition to
+previous sales, made six sold during the morning.
+
+"I hope I shall do as well as I did yesterday," thought Paul. 
+"If I can make nine shillings every day I won't complain.  It is
+better than selling prize-packages."
+
+Paul seemed likely to obtain his wish, since at twelve o'clock,
+when he returned home to dinner, he had sold ten ties, making
+rather more than half of the previous day's sales.
+
+Mrs. Hoffman had been out once more, but met with no better
+success than before.  There seemed to be no room anywhere for a
+new hand.  At several places she had seen others, out of
+employment like herself, who were also in quest of work.  The
+only encouragement she received was that probably in a month or
+six weeks business might so far improve that she could obtain
+work.  But to Mrs. Hoffman it was a serious matter to remain idle
+even four weeks.  She reflected that Paul's present employment
+was only temporary, and that he would be forced to give up his
+post as soon as George Barry should recover his health, which
+probably would be within a week or two.  She tried in vain to
+think of some temporary employment, and determined, in case she
+should be unsuccessful in the afternoon, which she hardly
+anticipated, to consult Paul what she had better do.
+
+Paul noticed when he came in that his mother looked more sober
+and thoughtful than usual.
+
+"Have you a headache, mother?" he inquired.
+
+"No, Paul," she said, smiling faintly.
+
+"Something troubles you, I am sure," continued Paul.
+
+"You are right, Paul," said Mrs. Hoffman, "though I didn't mean
+to tell you till evening."
+
+"What is it?" asked Paul, anxiously.
+
+"When I carried back the last shirts I made for Duncan & Co.,
+they told me I couldn't have any more for a month or six weeks."
+
+"That will give you some time to rest, mother," said Paul, who
+wanted to keep back his good news for a while.
+
+"But I can't afford to rest, Paul."
+
+"You forget that I am earning money, mother.  I am sure I can
+earn a dollar a day."
+
+"I know you are a good, industrious boy, Paul, and I don't know
+how we should get along without you.  But it is necessary for me
+to do my part, though it is small."
+
+"Don't be anxious, mother; I am sure we can get along."
+
+"But I am not willing that the whole burden of supporting the
+family should come upon you.  Besides, you are not sure how long
+you can retain your present employment."
+
+"I know that, mother; but something else will be sure to turn up.
+
+If I can't do anything else, I can turn bootblack, though I would
+prefer something else.  There is no chance of my being out of
+work long."
+
+"There are fewer things for me to do," said his mother, "but
+perhaps you can think of something.  I shall go out this
+afternoon, and try my luck once more.  If I do not succeed, I
+will consult with you this evening."
+
+"Suppose I tell you that I have work for you, enough to last for
+two or three weeks, that will pay five times as well as the work
+you have been doing; what would you say to that?" asked Paul,
+smiling.
+
+"Are you in earnest, Paul?" asked his mother, very much
+surprised.
+
+"Quite in earnest, mother.  There's a gentleman up-town that
+wants a dozen shirts made, and is willing to pay ten shillings
+apiece."
+
+"Ten shillings!  Why, that's a dollar and a quarter."
+
+"Of course it is.  I told him I thought you would accommodate
+him."
+
+"You are sure I can get the work to do?"
+
+"Certainly.  I am to go up to his house this evening and get the
+pattern and an order for the materials."
+
+"It seems too good to be true," said his mother.  "Why, I can
+earn at least a dollar a day."
+
+"Then you will be doing as well as I am."
+
+"Tell me how you heard of it, Paul," said Mrs. Hoffman.
+
+Paul told the story of the manner in which he formed Mr.
+Preston's acquaintance.
+
+"It's lucky you ran into him, Paul," said Jimmy.
+
+"He didn't think so at the time," said Paul, laughing.  "He said
+I nearly knocked the breath out of him."
+
+"You won't go out this afternoon, mother, will you?" asked
+Jimmy.
+
+"No, it will not be necessary now; I didn't think this morning
+that such a piece of good luck was in store for, me."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+ANOTHER LOSS
+
+After supper Paul brushed his clothes carefully and prepared to
+go to the address given him by Mr. Preston.  He decided to walk
+one way, not wishing to incur the expenses of two railroad fares.
+
+The distance was considerable, and it was nearly eight o'clock
+when he arrived at his destination.
+
+Paul found himself standing before a handsome house of brown
+stone.  He ascended the steps, and inquired, on the door being
+opened, if Mr. Preston was at home.
+
+"I'll see," said the servant.
+
+She returned in a short time, and said: "He says you may come
+upstairs."
+
+Paul followed the servant, who pointed out a door at the head of
+the first staircase.
+
+Paul knocked, and, hearing "Come in" from within, he opened the
+door and entered.
+
+He found himself in a spacious chamber, handsomely furnished. 
+Mr. Preston, in dressing-gown and slippers, sat before a
+cheerful, open fire.
+
+"Come and sit down by the fire," he said, sociably.
+
+"Thank you, sir, I am warm with walking," and Paul took a seat
+near the door.
+
+"I am one of the cold kind," said Mr. Preston, "and have a fire
+earlier than most people.  You come about the shirts, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will your mother undertake them?"
+
+"With pleasure, sir.  She can no longer get work from the shop."
+
+"Business dull, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then I am glad I thought of giving her the commission.  How's
+business with you to-day, eh?"
+
+"Pretty good, sir."
+
+"How many neckties did you sell?"
+
+"Nineteen, sir."
+
+"And how much do you get for that?"
+
+"Nine shillings and a half--a dollar and eighteen cents."
+
+"That's pretty good for a boy like you.  When I was of your age I
+was working on a farm for my board and clothes."
+
+"Were you, sir?" asked Paul, interested.
+
+"Yes, I was bound out till I was twenty-one.  At the end of that
+time I was to receive a hundred dollars and a freedom suit to
+begin the world with.  That wasn't a very large capital, eh?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"But the death of my employer put an end to my apprenticeship at
+the age of eighteen.  I hadn't a penny of money and was thrown
+upon my own resources.  However, I had a pair of good strong
+arms, and a good stock of courage.  I knew considerable about
+farming, but I didn't like it.  I thought I should like trade
+better.  So I went to the village merchant, who kept a small
+dry-goods store, and arranged with him to supply me with a small
+stock of goods, which I undertook to sell on commission for him. 
+His business was limited, and having confidence in my honesty, he
+was quite willing to intrust me with what I wanted.  So I set out
+with my pack on my back and made a tour of the neighboring
+villages."
+
+Paul listened with eager interest.  He had his own way to make,
+and it was very encouraging to find that Mr. Preston, who was
+evidently rich and prosperous, was no better off at eighteen than
+he was now. 
+
+"You will want to know how I succeeded.  Well, at first only
+moderately; but I think I had some tact in adapting myself to the
+different classes of persons with whom I came in contact; at any
+rate, I was always polite, and that helped me.  So my sales
+increased, and I did a good thing for my employer as well as
+myself.  He would have been glad to employ me for a series of
+years, but I happened to meet a traveling salesman of a New York
+wholesale house, who offered to obtain me a position similar to
+his own.  As this would give me a larger field and larger
+profits, I accepted gladly, and so changed the nature of my
+employment.  I became very successful.  My salary was raised from
+time to time, till it reached five thousand dollars.  I lived
+frugally and saved money, and at length bought an interest in the
+house by which I had been so long employed.  I am now senior
+partner, and, as you may suppose, very comfortably provided for.
+
+"Do you know why I have told you this?" asked Mr. Preston,
+noticing the eagerness with which Paul had listened.
+
+"I don't know, sir; but I have been very much interested."
+
+"It is because I like to give encouragement to boys and young men
+who are now situated as I used to be.  I think you are a smart
+boy."
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+"And, though you are poor, you can lift yourself to prosperity,
+if you are willing to work hard enough and long enough."
+
+"I am not afraid of work," said Paul, promptly.
+
+"No, I do not believe you are.  I can tell by a boy's face, and
+you have the appearance of one who is willing to work hard.  How
+long have you been a street peddler?"
+
+"About a year, sir.  Before that time my father was living, and I
+was kept at school."
+
+"You will find the street a school, though of a different kind,
+in which you can learn valuable lessons.  If you can get time in
+the evening, however, it will be best to keep up your school
+studies."
+
+"I am doing that now, sir."
+
+"That is well.  And now, about the shirts.  Did your mother say
+how long it would take her to make them?"
+
+"About three weeks, I think, sir.  Will that be soon enough?"
+
+"That will do.  Perhaps it will be well, however, to bring half
+the number whenever they are finished."
+
+"All right, sir."
+
+"I suppose your mother can cut them out if I send a shirt as a
+pattern?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+Mr. Preston rose, and, going to a bureau, took therefrom a shirt
+which he handed to Paul.  He then wrote a few lines on a slip of
+paper, which he also handed our hero.
+
+"That is an order on Barclay & Co.," he explained, "for the
+requisite materials.  If either you or your mother presents it,
+they will be given you."
+
+"Very good, sir," said Paul.
+
+He took his cap, and prepared to go.
+
+"Good-evening, Mr. Preston," he said.
+
+"Good-evening.  I shall expect you with the shirts when they are
+ready."
+
+Paul went downstairs and into the street, thinking that Mr.
+Preston was very sociable and agreeable.  He had fancied that
+rich men were generally "stuck up," but about Mr. Preston there
+seemed an absence of all pretense.  Paul's ambition was aroused
+when he thought of the story he had heard, and he wondered
+whether it would be possible for him to raise himself to wealth
+and live in as handsome a house as Mr. Preston.  He thought what
+a satisfaction it would be if the time should ever come when he
+could free his mother from the necessity of work, and give little
+Jimmy a chance to develop his talent for drawing.  However, such
+success must be a long way off, if it ever came.
+
+He had intended to ride home, but his mind was so preoccupied
+that he forgot all about it, and had got some distance on his way
+before it occurred to him.  Then, not feeling particularly tired,
+he concluded to keep on walking, as he had commenced.
+
+"It will save me six cents," he reflected, "and that is
+something.  If I am ever going to be a prosperous merchant, I
+must begin to save now."
+
+So he kept on walking.  Passing the Cooper Institute, he came
+into the Bowery, a broad and busy street, the humble neighbor of
+Broadway, to which it is nearly parallel.
+
+He was still engaged in earnest thought, when he felt a rude slap
+on the back.  Looking round, he met the malicious glance of Mike
+Donovan, who probably would not have ventured on such a liberty
+if he had not been accompanied by a boy a head taller than
+himself, and, to judge from appearances, of about the same
+character.
+
+"What did you do that for, Mike?" demanded Paul.
+
+"None of your business.  I didn't hurt you, did I?" returned
+Mike, roughly.
+
+"No, but I don't care to be hit that way by you."
+
+"So you're putting on airs, are you?"
+
+"No, I don't do that," returned Paul; "but I don't care about
+having anything to do with you."
+
+"That's because you've got a new shirt, is it?" sneered Mike.
+
+"It isn't mine."
+
+"That's what I thought.  Who did you steal it from?"
+
+"Do you mean to insult me, Mike Donovan?" demanded Paul,
+angrily.
+
+"Just as you like," said Mike, independently.
+
+"If you want to know why I don't want to have anything to do with
+you, I will tell you."
+
+"Tell ahead."
+
+"Because you're a thief."
+
+"If you say that again, I'll lick you," said Mike, reddening with
+anger.
+
+"It's true.  You stole my basket of candy the other day, and that
+isn't the only time you've been caught stealing."
+
+"I'll give you the worst licking you ever had.  Do you want to
+fight?" said Mike, flourishing his fist.
+
+"No, I don't," said Paul.  "Some time when I haven't a bundle,
+I'll accommodate you."
+
+"You're a coward!"  sneered Mike, gaining courage as he saw Paul
+was not disposed for an encounter.
+
+"I don't think I am," said Paul, coolly.
+
+"I'll hold your shirt," said Mike's companion, with a grin, "if
+you want to fight."
+
+Paul, however, did not care to intrust the shirt to a stranger of
+so unprepossessing an appearance.
+
+He, therefore, attempted to pass on.  But Mike, encouraged by his
+reluctance, stepped up and shook his fist within an inch of
+Paul's nose, calling him at the same time a coward.  This was too
+much for Paul's self-restraint.  He dropped the shirt and pitched
+into Mike in so scientific a manner that the latter was compelled
+to retreat, and finally to flee at the top of his speed, not
+without having first received several pretty hard blows.
+
+"I don't think he will meddle with me again," said Paul to
+himself, as he pulled down the sleeves of his jacket.
+
+He walked back, and looked for the shirt which he had laid down
+before commencing the combat.  But he looked in vain.  Nothing
+was to be seen of the shirt or of Mike's companion.  Probably
+both had disappeared together.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+BARCLAY & CO.
+
+The loss of the shirt was very vexatious.  It was not so much the
+value of it that Paul cared for, although this was a
+consideration by no means to be despised by one in his
+circumstances; but it had been lent as a pattern, and without it
+his mother would be unable to make Mr. Preston's shirts.  As to
+recovering it, he felt that there was little chance of this. 
+Besides, it would involve delay, and his mother could not afford
+to remain idle.  Paul felt decidedly uncomfortable.  Again Mike
+Donovan had done him an injury, and this time of a more serious
+nature than before.
+
+What should he do?
+
+There seemed but one answer to this question.  He must go back to
+Mr. Preston, explain the manner in which he had lost his shirt,
+and ask him for another, promising, of course, to supply the
+place of the one lost.  He was not sure whether Mr. Preston would
+accept this explanation.  He might think it was only an attempt
+to defraud him.  But, at any rate, it seemed the only thing to
+do, and it must be done at once.  He entered a passing car, for
+it was too late to walk.
+
+"I wish I had taken the car down," thought Paul.  "Then I
+shouldn't have lost the shirt."
+
+But it was too late for regrets now.  He must do the best that
+remained to him.
+
+It was nearly ten o'clock when Paul once more stood before the
+door of Mr. Preston's boarding-place.  He rang the bell and asked
+to see him.
+
+"You have been here before this evening?" said the servant.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you know the room.  You can walk right up."
+
+Paul went upstairs and knocked at Mr. Preston's room.  He was
+bidden to come in, and did so.
+
+Mr. Preston looked up with surprise.
+
+"I suppose you are surprised to see me," said Paul, rather
+awkwardly.
+
+"Why, yes.  I did not anticipate that pleasure quite so soon,"
+said Mr. Preston, smiling.
+
+"I am afraid it won't be a pleasure, for I bring bad news."
+
+"Bad news?" repeated the gentleman, rather startled.
+
+"Yes; I have lost the shirt you gave me."
+
+"Oh, is that all?" said Mr. Preston, looking relieved.  "But how
+did you lose it?"
+
+"I was walking home down the Bowery, when two fellows met me. 
+One of them, Mike Donovan, forced me into a fight.  I gave him a
+licking," added Paul, with satisfaction; "but when it was all
+over, I found the other fellow had run off with the shirt."
+
+"I don't believe it will fit him," said Mr. Preston, laughing.
+
+As the speaker probably weighed two hundred and fifty pounds, it
+was, indeed, rather doubtful.  Paul couldn't help laughing
+himself at the thought.
+
+"You were certainly unlucky," said Mr. Preston.  "Did you know
+the boy you fought with?"
+
+"Yes, sir; he once before stole my stock of candy, when I was in
+the prize-package business."
+
+"That was the day we got acquainted," remarked Mr. Preston.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"He doesn't seem to be a very particular friend of yours."
+
+"No; he hates me, Mike does, though I don't know why.  But I hope
+you won't be angry with me for losing the shirt?"
+
+"No; it doesn't seem to be your fault, only your misfortune."
+
+"I was afraid you might think I had made up the story, and only
+wanted to get an extra shirt from you."
+
+"No, my young friend; I have some faith in physiognomy, and you
+have an honest face.  I don't believe you would deceive me."
+
+"No, I wouldn't," said Paul, promptly.  "If you will trust me
+with another shirt, mother will make you an extra one to make up
+for the one I have lost."
+
+"Certainly you shall have the extra shirt, but you needn't supply
+the place of the one lost."
+
+"It is only fair that I should."
+
+"That may be, and I am glad you made the offer, but the loss is
+of little importance to me.  It was no fault of yours that you
+lost it, and you shall not suffer for it."
+
+"You are very kind, sir," said Paul, gratefully.
+
+"Only just, Paul."
+
+Mr. Preston went to the bureau, and drew out another shirt, which
+he handed to Paul.
+
+"Let me suggest, my young friend," he said, "that you ride home
+this time.  It is late, and you might have another encounter with
+your friend.  I should like to see him with the shirt on," and
+Mr. Preston laughed heartily at the thought.
+
+Paul decided to follow his patron's advice.  He had no idea of
+running any more risk in the matter.  He accordingly walked to
+Fourth avenue and got on board the car.
+
+It was nearly eleven o'clock when he reached home.  As it was
+never his habit to stay out late, his mother had become alarmed
+at his long absence.
+
+"What kept you so late, Paul?" she asked.
+
+"I'll tell you, pretty soon, mother.  Here's the shirt that is to
+serve as a pattern.  Can you cut out the new shirts by it?"
+
+Mrs. Hoffman examined it attentively.
+
+"Yes," she said; "there will be no difficulty about that.  Mr.
+Preston must be a pretty large man."
+
+"Yes, he is big enough for an alderman; but he is very kind and
+considerate, and I like him.  You shall judge for yourself when I
+tell you what happened this evening."
+
+It will not be necessary to tell Paul's adventure over again. 
+His mother listened with pardonable indignation against Mike
+Donovan and his companion.
+
+"I hope you won't have anything to do with that bad boy, Paul,"
+she said.
+
+"I shan't, if I can help it," said Paul.  "I didn't want to speak
+to him to-night, but I couldn't help myself.  Oh, I forgot to
+say, when half the shirts are ready, I am to take them to Mr.
+Preston."
+
+"I think I can make one a day."
+
+"There is no need of working so steadily, mother.  You will be
+well paid, you know."
+
+"That is true; and for that reason I shall work more cheerfully. 
+I wish I could get paid as well for all my work."
+
+"Perhaps Mr. Preston will recommend you to his friends, and you
+can get more work that way."
+
+"I wish I could."
+
+"I will mention it to him, when I carry back the last half
+dozen."
+
+"Is he going to send the cloth?"
+
+"I nearly forgot that, too.  I have an order on Barclay & Co. 
+for the necessary amount of cloth.  I can go up there to-morrow
+morning and get it."
+
+"That will take you from your work, Paul."
+
+"Well, I can close up for a couple of hours."
+
+"I don't think that will be necessary.  I will go up myself and
+present the order, and get them to send it home for me."
+
+"Will they do that?"
+
+"It is their custom.  Or, if the bundle isn't too large.  I can
+bring it home myself in the car."
+
+"That's all right, then.  And now, mother, as it's past eleven
+o'clock, I think we may as well both go to bed."
+
+The next day Paul went as usual to his business, and Mrs.
+Hoffman, after clearing away the breakfast, put on her bonnet and
+shawl, and prepared to go for the materials for the shirts.
+
+The retail store of Barclay & Co. is of great size, and ranks
+among the most important in New York.  It was not so well filled
+when Mrs. Hoffman entered as it would be later.  She was directed
+to the proper counter, where she presented the order, signed by
+Mr. Preston.  As he was a customer of long standing, there was no
+difficulty about filling the order.  A bundle was made up, which,
+as it contained the materials for twelve shirts, necessarily was
+of considerable size.
+
+"Here is your bundle, ma'am," said the clerk.
+
+Mrs. Hoffman's strength was slender, and she did not feel able to
+carry the heavy bundle offered her.  Even if she took the car,
+she would be obliged to carry it a portion of the way, and she
+felt that it would overtask her strength.
+
+"Don't you send bundles?" she asked.
+
+"Sometimes," said the clerk, looking superciliously at the modest
+attire of the poor widow, and mentally deciding that she was not
+entitled to much consideration.  Had she been richly dressed, he
+would have been very obsequious, and insisted on sending home the
+smallest parcel.  But there are many who have two rules of
+conduct, one for the rich, and quite a different one for the
+poor, and among these was the clerk who was attending upon Mrs.
+Hoffman.
+
+"Then," said Mrs. Hoffman, "I should like to have you send this."
+
+"It's a great deal of trouble to send everything," said the
+clerk, impertinently.
+
+"This bundle is too heavy for me to carry," said the widow,
+deprecatingly.
+
+"I suppose we can send it," said the clerk, ill-naturedly, "if
+you insist upon it."
+
+Meanwhile, though he had not observed it, his employer had
+approached, and heard the last part of the colloquy.  He was
+considered by some as a hard man, but there was one thing he
+always required of those in his employ; that was to treat all
+purchasers with uniform courtesy, whatever their circumstances.
+
+"Are you objecting to sending this lady's bundle?" said Mr.
+Barclay, sternly.
+
+The clerk looked up in confusion.
+
+"I told her we would send it," he stammered.
+
+"I have heard what passed.  You have been deficient in
+politeness.  If this happens again, you leave my employ."
+
+"I will take your address," said the clerk, in a subdued tone.
+
+Mrs. Hoffman gave it, and left the store, thankful for the
+interference of the great merchant who had given his clerk a
+lesson which the latter, as he valued his situation, found it
+advisable to bear in mind.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE BARREL THIEF
+
+While Mike Donovan was engaged in his contest with Paul, his
+companion had quietly walked off with the shirt.  It mattered
+very little to him which party conquered, as long as he carried
+off the spoils.  His conduct in the premises was quite as
+unsatisfactory to Mike as it was to Paul.  When Mike found
+himself in danger of being overpowered, he appealed to his
+companion for assistance, and was incensed to see him coolly
+disregarding the appeal, and selfishly appropriating the booty.
+
+"The mane thafe!"  he exclaimed after the fight was over, and he
+was compelled to retreat.  "He let me be bate, and wouldn't lift
+his finger to help me.  I'd like to put a head on him, I would."
+
+Just at that moment Mike felt quite as angry with his friend,
+Jerry McGaverty, as with his late opponent.
+
+"The shirt's mine, fair," he said to himself, "and I'll make
+Jerry give it to me."
+
+But Jerry had disappeared, and Mike didn't know where to look for
+him.  In fact, he had entered a dark alleyway, and, taking the
+shirt from the paper in which it was wrapped, proceeded to
+examine his prize.
+
+The unusual size struck him.
+
+"By the powers," he muttered, "it's big enough for me
+great-grandfather and all his children.  I wouldn't like to pay
+for the cloth it tuck to make it.  But I'll wear it, anyway."
+
+Jerry was not particular as to an exact fit.  His nether garments
+were several sizes too large for him, and the shirt would
+complete his costume appropriately.  He certainly did need a new
+shirt, for the one he had on was the only article of the kind he
+possessed, and was so far gone that its best days, if it ever had
+any, appeared to date back to a remote antiquity.  It had been
+bought cheap in Baxter street, its previous history being
+unknown.
+
+Jerry decided to make the change at once.  The alley afforded a
+convenient place for making the transfer.  He accordingly pulled
+off the ragged shirt he wore and put on the article he had
+purloined from Paul.  The sleeves were too long, but he turned up
+the cuffs, and the ample body he tucked inside his pants.
+
+"It fits me too much," soliloquized Jerry, as he surveyed himself
+after the exchange.  "I could let out the half of it, and have
+enough left for meself.  Anyhow, it's clane, and it came chape
+enough."
+
+He came out of the alley, leaving his old shirt behind him.  Even
+if it had been worth carrying away, Jerry saw no use in
+possessing more than one shirt.  It was his habit to wear one
+until it was ready to drop off from him, and then get another if
+he could.  There is a practical convenience in this arrangement,
+though there are also objections which will readily occur to the
+reader.
+
+On the whole, though the shirt fitted him too much, as he
+expressed it, he regarded himself complacently.
+
+The superabundant material gave the impression of liberal
+expenditure and easy circumstances, since a large shirt naturally
+costs more than a small one.  So Jerry, as he walked along the
+Bowery, assumed a jaunty air, precisely such as some of my
+readers may when they have a new suit to display.  His new shirt
+was quite conspicuous, since he was encumbered neither with vest
+nor coat.
+
+Mike, feeling sore over his defeat, met Jerry the next morning on
+Chatham street.  His quick eye detected the improved state of his
+friend's apparel, and his indignation rose, as he reflected that
+Jerry had pocketed the profits while the hard knocks had been
+his.
+
+"Jerry!"  he called out.
+
+Jerry did not see fit to heed the call.  He was sensible that
+Mike had something to complain of, and he was in no hurry to meet
+his reproaches.
+
+"Jerry McGaverty!"  called Mike, coming near.
+
+"Oh, it's you, Mike, is it?" answered Jerry, unable longer to
+keep up the pretense of not hearing.
+
+"Yes, it's me," said Mike.  "What made you leave me for last
+night?"
+
+"I didn't want to interfere betwane two gintlemen," said Jerry,
+with a grin.  "Did you mash him, Mike?"
+
+"No," said Mike, sullenly, "he mashed me.  Why didn't you help
+me?"
+
+"I thought you was bating him, so, as I had some business to
+attind to, I went away."
+
+"You went away wid the shirt."
+
+"Yes, I took it by mistake.  Ain't it an illigant fit?"
+
+"It's big enough for two of you."
+
+"Maybe I'll grow to it in time," said Jerry.
+
+"And how much are you goin' to give me for my share?" demanded
+Mike.
+
+"Say that ag'in," said Jerry.
+
+Mike repeated it.
+
+"I thought maybe I didn't hear straight.  It ain't yours at all. 
+Didn't I take it?"
+
+"You wouldn't have got it if I hadn't fit with Paul."
+
+"That ain't nothin' to me," said Jerry.  "The shirt's mine, and
+I'll kape it."
+
+Mike felt strongly tempted to "put a head on" Jerry, whatever
+that may mean; but, as Jerry was a head taller already, the
+attempt did not seem quite prudent.  He indulged in some forcible
+remarks, which, however, did not disturb Jerry's equanimity.
+
+"I'll give you my old shirt, Mike," he said, "if you can find it.
+
+I left it in an alley near the Old Bowery."
+
+"I don't want the dirty rag," said Mike, contemptuously.
+
+Finally a compromise was effected, Jerry offering to help Mike on
+the next occasion, and leave the spoils in his hands.
+
+I have to chronicle another adventure of Jerry's, in which he was
+less fortunate than he had been in the present case.  He was a
+genuine vagabond, and lived by his wits, being too lazy to devote
+himself to any regular street employment, as boot blacking or
+selling newspapers.  Occasionally he did a little work at each of
+these, but regular, persistent industry was out of his line.  He
+was a drone by inclination, and a decided enemy to work.  On the
+subject of honesty his principles were far from strict.  If he
+could appropriate what did not belong to him he was ready to do
+so without scruple.  This propensity had several times brought
+him into trouble, and he had more than once been sent to reside
+temporarily on Blackwell's Island, from which he had returned by
+no means improved.
+
+Mike was not quite so much of a vagabond as his companion.  He
+could work at times, though he did not like it, and once pursued
+the vocation of a bootblack for several months with fair success.
+
+But Jerry's companionship was doing him no good, and it seemed
+likely that eventually he would become quite as shiftless as
+Jerry himself.
+
+Jerry, having no breakfast, strolled down to one of the city
+markets.  He frequently found an opportunity of stealing here,
+and was now in search of such a chance.  He was a dexterous and
+experienced barrel thief, a term which it may be necessary to
+explain.  Barrels, then, have a commercial value, and coopers
+will generally pay twenty-five cents for one in good condition. 
+This is enough, in the eyes of many a young vagabond, to pay for
+the risk incurred in stealing one.
+
+Jerry prowled round the market for some time, seeking a good
+opportunity to walk off with an apple or banana, or something
+eatable.  But the guardians of the stands seemed unusually
+vigilant, and he was compelled to give up the attempt, as
+involving too great risk.  Jerry was hungry, and hunger is an
+uncomfortable feeling.  He began to wish he had remained
+satisfied with his old shirt, dirty as it was, and carried the
+new one to some of the Baxter street dealers, from whom he could
+perhaps have got fifty cents for it.  Now, fifty cents would have
+paid for a breakfast and a couple of cigars, and those just now
+would have made Jerry happy.
+
+"What a fool I was not to think of it!" he said.  "The old shirt
+would do me, and I could buy a bully breakfast wid the money I'd
+get for this."
+
+Just at this moment he espied an empty barrel--a barrel
+apparently quite new and in an unguarded position.  He resolved
+to take it, but the affair must be managed slyly.
+
+He lounged up to the barrel, and leaned upon it indolently. 
+Then, in apparent unconsciousness, he began to turn it, gradually
+changing its position.  If observed, he could easily deny all
+felonious intentions.  This he kept up till he got round the
+corner, when, glancing around to see if he was observed, he
+quickly lifted it on his shoulder and marched off.
+
+All this happened without his being observed by the owner of the
+barrel.  But a policeman, who chanced to be going his rounds, had
+been a witness of Jerry's little game.  He remained quiet till
+Jerry's intentions became evident, then walked quietly up and put
+his hand on his shoulder.
+
+"Put down that barrel!"  he said, authoritatively.
+
+Jerry had been indulging in visions of the breakfast he would get
+with the twenty-five cents he expected to obtain for the barrel,
+and the interruption was not an agreeable one.  But he determined
+to brazen it out if possible.
+
+"What for will I put it down?" he said.
+
+"Because you have stolen it, that's why."
+
+"No," said Jerry, "I'm carrying it round to my boss.  It's his."
+
+"Where do you work?"
+
+"In Fourth street," said Jerry, at random.
+
+"What number?"
+
+"No. 136."
+
+"Then your boss will have to get some one in your place, for you
+will have to come with me."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I saw you steal the barrel.  You're a barrel thief, and this
+isn't the first time you've been caught at it.  Carry back the
+barrel to the place you took it from and then come with me."
+
+Jerry tried to beg off, but without avail.
+
+At that moment Mike Donovan lounged up.  When he saw his friend
+in custody, he felt a degree of satisfaction, remembering the
+trick Jerry had played on him.
+
+"Where are you goin', Jerry?" he asked, with a grin, as he
+passed him.  "Did ye buy that barrel to kape your shirt in?"
+
+Jerry scowled but thought it best not to answer, lest his
+unlawful possession of the shirt might also be discovered, and
+lead to a longer sentence.
+
+"He's goin' down to the island to show his new shirt," thought
+Mike, with a grin.  "Maybe he'll set the fashion there."
+
+Mike was right.  Jerry was sent to the island for two months,
+there introducing Mr. Preston's shirt to company little dreamed
+of by its original proprietor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+OUT OF BUSINESS
+
+The next day Mrs. Hoffman commenced work upon Mr. Preston's
+shirts.  She worked with much more cheerfulness now that she was
+sure of obtaining a liberal price for her labor.  As the shirts
+were of extra size, she found herself unable to finish one in a
+day, as she had formerly done, but had no difficulty in making
+four in a week.  This, however, gave her five dollars weekly,
+instead of a dollar and a half as formerly.  Now, five dollars
+may not seem a very large sum to some of my young readers, but to
+Mrs. Hoffman it seemed excellent compensation for a week's work.
+
+"If I could only earn as much every week," she said to Paul on
+Saturday evening, "I should feel quite rich."
+
+"Your work will last three weeks, mother, and perhaps at the end
+of that time some of Mr. Preston's friends may wish to employ
+you."
+
+"I hope they will."
+
+"How much do you think I have made?" continued Paul.
+
+"Six dollars."
+
+"Seven dollars and a half."
+
+"So between us we have earned over twelve dollars."
+
+"I wish I could earn something," said little Jimmy, looking up
+from his drawing.
+
+"There's time enough for that, Jimmy.  You are going to be a
+great artist one of these days."
+
+"Do you really think I shall?" asked the little boy, wistfully.
+
+"I think there is a good chance of it.  Let me see what you are
+drawing."
+
+The picture upon which Jimmy was at work represented a farmer
+standing upright in a cart, drawn by a sturdy, large-framed
+horse.  The copy bore a close resemblance to the original, even
+in the most difficult portions--the face and expression, both in
+the man and the horse, being carefully reproduced.
+
+"This is wonderful, Jimmy," exclaimed Paul, in real surprise. 
+"Didn't you find it hard to get the man's face just right?"
+
+"Rather hard," said Jimmy; "I had to be careful, but I like best
+the parts where I have to take the most pains."
+
+"I wish I could afford to hire a teacher for you," said Paul. 
+"Perhaps, if mother and I keep on earning so much money, we shall
+be able to some time."
+
+By the middle of the next week six of the shirts were finished,
+and Paul, as had been agreed upon, carried them up to Mr.
+Preston.  He was fortunate enough to find him at home.
+
+"I hope they will suit you," said Paul.
+
+"I can see that the sewing is excellent," said Mr. Preston,
+examining them.  "As to the fit, I can tell better after I have
+tried one on."
+
+"Mother made them just like the one you sent; but if there is
+anything wrong, she will, of course, be ready to alter them."
+
+"If they are just like the pattern, they will be sure to suit
+me."
+
+"And now, my young friend," he added, "let me know how you are
+getting on in your own business."
+
+"I am making a dollar a day, sometimes a little more."
+
+"That is very good."
+
+"Yes, sir; but it won't last long."
+
+"I believe you told me that the stand belonged to some one else."
+
+"Yes, sir; I am only tending it in his sickness; but he is
+getting better, and when he gets about again, I shall be thrown
+out of business."
+
+"But you don't look like one who would remain idle long."
+
+"No, sir; I shall be certain to find something to do, if it is
+only blacking boots."
+
+"Have you ever been in that business?"
+
+"I've tried about everything," said Paul, laughing.
+
+"I suppose you wouldn't enjoy boot-blacking much?"
+
+"No, sir; but I would rather do that than be earning nothing."
+
+"You are quite right there, and I am glad you have no false shame
+in the matter.  There are plenty who have.  For instance, a
+stout, broad-shouldered young fellow applied to me thus morning
+for a clerkship.  He said he had come to the city in search of
+employment, and had nearly expended all his money without finding
+anything to do.  I told him I couldn't give him a clerkship, but
+was in want of a porter.  I offered him the place at two dollars
+per day.  He drew back, and said he should not be willing to
+accept a porter's place."
+
+"He was very foolish," said Paul.
+
+"So I thought.  I told him that if such were his feelings, I
+could not help him.  Perhaps he may regret his refusal, when he
+is reduced to his last penny.  By the way, whenever you have to
+give up your stand, you may come to me, and I will see what I can
+do for you."
+
+"Thank you, sir."
+
+"And now, about these shirts; I believe I agreed to pay a dollar
+and a quarter each."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"As they are of extra size, I think I ought to pay twelve
+shillings, instead of ten."
+
+"My mother thinks herself well paid at ten shillings."
+
+"There must be a great deal of work about one.  Twelve shillings
+are none too much," and Mr. Preston placed nine dollars in Paul's
+hand.
+
+"Thank you," said Paul, gratefully.  "My mother will consider
+herself very lucky."
+
+When Mrs. Hoffman received from Paul a dollar and a half more
+than she anticipated, she felt in unusually good spirits.  She
+had regretted the loss of her former poorly paid work, but it
+appeared that her seeming misfortune had only prepared the way
+for greater prosperity.  The trouble was that it would not last. 
+Still, it would tide over the dull time, and when this job was
+over, she might be able to resume her old employment.  At any
+rate, while the future seemed uncertain, she did not feel like
+increasing her expenditures on account of her increased earnings,
+but laid carefully away three-quarters of her receipts to use
+hereafter in case of need.
+
+Meanwhile, Paul continued to take care of George Barry's
+business.  He had been obliged to renew the stock, his large
+sales having materially reduced it.  Twice a week he went up to
+see his principal to report sales.  George Barry could not
+conceal the surprise he felt at Paul's success.
+
+"I never thought you would do so well," he said.  "You beat me."
+
+"I suppose it's because I like it," said Paul.  "Then, as I get
+only half the profits, I have to work the harder to make fair
+wages."
+
+"It is fortunate for my son that he found you to take his place,"
+said Mrs. Barry.  "He could not afford to lose all the income
+from his business."
+
+"It is a good thing for both of us," said Paul.  "I was looking
+for a job just when he fell sick."
+
+"What had you been doing before?"
+
+"I was in the prize-package business, but that got played out,
+and I was a gentleman at large, seeking for a light, genteel
+business that wouldn't require much capital."
+
+"I shall be able to take my place pretty soon now," said the
+young man.  "I might go to-morrow, but mother thinks it
+imprudent."
+
+"Better get back your strength first, George," said his mother,
+"or you may fall sick again."
+
+But her son was impatient of confinement and anxious to get to
+work again.  So, two days afterward, about the middle of the
+forenoon, Paul was surprised by seeing George Barry get out of a
+Broadway omnibus, just in front of the stand.
+
+"Can I sell you a necktie, Mr. Barry?" he asked, in a joke.
+
+"I almost feel like a stranger," said Barry, "it's so long since
+I have been here."
+
+"Do you feel strong enough to take charge now?" asked Paul.
+
+"I am not so strong as I was, and the walk from our rooms would
+tire me; but I think if I rode both ways for the present I shall
+be able to get along."
+
+"Then you won't need me any longer?"
+
+"I would like to have you stay with me to-day.  I don't know how
+I shall hold out."
+
+"All right!  I'll stop."
+
+George Barry remained in attendance the rest of the day.  He
+found that his strength had so far returned that he should be
+able to manage alone hereafter, and he told Paul so.
+
+"I am glad you are well again, George," said Paul.  "It must have
+been dull work staying at home sick."
+
+"Yes, it was dull; but I felt more comfortable from knowing that
+you were taking my place.  If I get sick again I will send for
+you."
+
+"I hope you won't get sick; but if you do, I will do what I can
+to help you."
+
+So the two parted on the best of terms.  Each had been of service
+to the other, and neither had cause to complain.
+
+"Well," said Paul to himself, "I am out of work again.  What
+shall I go at next?"
+
+It was six o'clock, and there was nothing to be done till the
+morrow.  He went slowly homeward, revolving this subject in his
+mind.  He knew that he need not remain idle.  He could black
+boots, or sell newspapers, if nothing better offered, and he
+thought it quite possible that he might adopt the latter
+business, for a few days at least.  He had not forgotten Mr.
+Preston's injunction to let him know when he got out of business;
+but, as the second half dozen shirts would be ready in three or
+four days, he preferred to wait till then, and not make a special
+call on Mr Preston.  He had considerable independence of feeling,
+and didn't like to put himself in the position of one asking a
+favor, though he had no objection to accept one voluntarily
+offered.
+
+"Well, mother," he said, entering his humble home, "I am out of
+business."
+
+"Has George recovered, then?"
+
+"Yes, he was at the stand to-day, but wanted me to stay with him
+till this evening."
+
+"Oh, I'm so sorry!"  said Jimmy.
+
+"Sorry that George has got well?  For shame, Jimmy!"
+
+"No, I don't mean that, Paul.  I am sorry you are out of work."
+
+"I shall find plenty to do, Jimmy.  Perhaps Mr. Stewart will take
+me in as senior partner, if I ask him."
+
+"I don't think he will," said Jimmy, laughing.
+
+"Then perhaps I can get a few scholars in drawing.  Can't you
+recommend me?"
+
+"I am afraid not, Paul, unless you have improved a good deal."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE DIAMOND RING
+
+Paul was up betimes the next morning.  He had made up his mind
+for a few days, at least, to sell newspapers, and it was
+necessary in this business to begin the day early.  He tool a
+dollar with him and invested a part of it in a stock of dailies. 
+He posted himself in Printing House square, and began to look out
+for customers.  Being an enterprising boy, he was sure to meet
+with fair success in any business which he undertook.  So it
+happened that at ten o'clock he had sold out his stock of papers,
+and realized a profit of fifty cents.
+
+It was getting late for morning papers, and there was nothing
+left to do till the issue of the first edition of the afternoon
+papers.
+
+"I'll go down and see how George Barry is getting along," thought
+Paul.
+
+He crossed Broadway and soon reached the familiar stand.
+
+"How's business, George?" he inquired.
+
+"Fair," said Barry.  "I've sold four ties."
+
+"How do you feel?"
+
+"I'm not so strong as I was, yet.  I get tired more easily.  I
+don't think I shall stay in this business long."
+
+"You don't?  What will you do then?"
+
+"I've got a chance in Philadelphia, or I shall have by the first
+of the month."
+
+"What sort of a chance?"
+
+"Mother got a letter yesterday from a cousin of hers who has a
+store on Chestnut street.  He offers to take me as a clerk, and
+give me ten dollars a week at first, and more after a while."
+
+"That's a good offer.  I should like to get one like it."
+
+"I'll tell you what, Paul, you'd better buy out my stand.  You
+know how to sell ties, and can make money."
+
+"There's only one objection, George."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"I haven't got any capital."
+
+"It don't need much."
+
+"How much?"
+
+"I'll sell out all my stock at cost price."
+
+"How much do you think there is?"
+
+"About twenty-five dollars' worth.  Then there is the frame,
+which is worth, say ten dollars, making thirty-five in all.  That
+isn't much."
+
+"It's more than I've got.  I'll tell you what I'll do.  I'll take
+it, and pay you five dollars down and the rest in one month."
+
+"I would take your offer, Paul, but I need all the money how.  It
+will be expensive moving to Philadelphia and I shall want all I
+can get."
+
+"I wish I could buy you out," said Paul, thoughtfully.
+
+"Can't you borrow the money?"
+
+"How soon do you want to give up?"
+
+"It's the seventeenth now.  I should like to get rid of it by the
+twenty-second."
+
+"I'll see what I can do.  Just keep it for me till to-morrow."
+
+"All right."
+
+Paul walked home revolving in his mind this unexpected
+opportunity.  He had made, as George Barry's agent, a dollar a
+day, though he received only half the profits.  If he were
+himself the proprietor, and did equally well, he could make
+twelve dollars a week.  The calculation almost took away his
+breath.  Twelve dollars a week would make about fifty dollars a
+month.  It would enable him to contribute more to the support of
+the family, and save up money besides.  But the great problem
+was, how to raise the necessary money.  If Paul had been a
+railroad corporation, he might have issued first mortgage bonds
+at a high rate of interest, payable in gold, and negotiated them
+through some leading banker.  But he was not much versed in
+financial schemes, and therefore was at a loss.  The only wealthy
+friend he had was Mr. Preston, and he did not like to apply to
+him till he had exhausted other ways and means.
+
+"What makes you so sober, Paul?" asked his mother, as he entered
+the room.  "You are home early."
+
+"Yes, I sold all my papers, and thought I would take an early
+dinner, so as to be on hand in time for the first afternoon
+papers."
+
+"Don't you feel well?"
+
+"Tiptop; but I've had a good offer, and I'm thinking whether I
+can accept it."
+
+"What sort of an offer?"
+
+"George Barry wants to sell out his stand."
+
+"How much does he ask?"
+
+"Thirty-five dollars."
+
+"Is it worth that?"
+
+"Yes, it's worth all that, and more, too.  If I had it I could
+make two dollars a day.  But I haven't got thirty-five dollars."
+
+"I can let you have nine, Paul.  I had a little saved up, and I
+haven't touched the money Mr. Preston paid me for the shirts."
+
+"I've got five myself, but that will only make fourteen."
+
+"Won't he wait for the rest?"
+
+"No, he's going to Philadelphia early next week, and wants the
+whole in cash."
+
+"It would be a pity to lose such a good chance," said Mrs.
+Hoffman.
+
+"That's what I think."
+
+"You could soon save up the money on two dollars a day."
+
+"I could pay for it in a month--I mean, all above the fourteen
+dollars we have."
+
+"In a day or two I shall have finished the second half-dozen
+shirts, and then I suppose Mr. Preston will pay me nine dollars
+more.  I could let you have six dollars of that."
+
+"That would make twenty.  Perhaps George Barry will take that. 
+If he won't I don't know but I will venture to apply to Mr.
+Preston."
+
+"He seems to take an interest in you.  Perhaps he would trust you
+with the money."
+
+"I could offer him a mortgage on the stock," said Paul.
+
+"If he has occasion to foreclose, he will be well provided with
+neckties," said Mrs. Hoffman, smiling.
+
+"None of which he could wear.  I'll tell you what, mother, I
+should like to pick up a pocketbook in the street, containing,
+say, twenty or twenty-five dollars."
+
+"That would be very convenient," said his mother; "but I think it
+will hardly do to depend on such good luck happening to you.  By
+the way," she said, suddenly, "perhaps I can help you, after all.
+
+Don't you remember that gold ring I picked up in Central Park two
+years ago?"
+
+"The one you advertised?"
+
+"Yes.  I advertised, or, rather, your father did; but we never
+found an owner for it."
+
+"I remember it now, mother.  Have you got the ring still?"
+
+"I will get it."
+
+Mrs. Hoffman went to her trunk, and, opening it, produced the
+ring referred to.  It was a gold ring with a single stone of
+considerable size.
+
+"I don't know how much it is worth," said Mrs. Hoffman; "but if
+the ring is a diamond, as I think it is, it must be worth as much
+as twenty dollars."
+
+"Did you ever price it?"
+
+"No, Paul; I have kept it, thinking that it would be something to
+fall back upon if we should ever be hard pressed.  As long as we
+were able to get along without suffering, I thought I would keep
+it.  Besides, I had another feeling.  It might belong to some
+person who prized it very much, and the time might come when we
+could find the owner.  However, that is not likely after so long
+a time.  So, if you cannot raise the money in any other way, you
+may sell the ring."
+
+"I might pawn it for thirty days, mother.  By that time I should
+be able to redeem it with the profits of my business."
+
+"I don't think you could get enough from a pawn-broker."
+
+"I can try, at any rate; but first I will see George Barry, and
+find out whether he will take twenty dollars down, and the rest
+at the end of a month."
+
+Paul wrapped up the ring in a piece of paper, and deposited it in
+his vest pocket.  He waited till after dinner, and then went at
+once to the necktie stand, where he made the proposal to George
+Barry.
+
+The young man shook his head.
+
+"I'd like to oblige you, Paul," he said, "but I must have the
+money.  I have an offer of thirty-two dollars, cash, from another
+party, and I must take up with it if I can't do any better.  I'd
+rather sell out to you, but you know I have to consult my own
+interest."
+
+"Of course, George, I can't complain of that."
+
+"I think you will be able to borrow the money somewhere."
+
+"Most of my friends are as poor as myself," said Paul.  "Still, I
+think I shall be able to raise the money.  Only wait for me two
+days."
+
+"Yes, Paul, I'll wait that long.  I'd like to sell out to you, if
+only because you have helped me when I was sick.  But for you all
+that would have been lost time."
+
+"Where there's a will there's a way, George," said Paul.  "I'm
+bound to buy your stand and I will raise the money somehow."
+
+Paul bought a few papers, for he did not like to lose the
+afternoon trade, and in an hour had sold them all off, realizing
+a profit of twenty cents.  This made his profits for the day
+seventy cents.
+
+"That isn't as well as I used to do," said Paul to himself, "but
+perhaps I can make something more by and by.  I will go now and
+see what I can get for the ring."
+
+As he had determined, he proceeded to a pawnbroker's shop which
+he had often passed.  It was on Chatham street, and was kept by
+an old man, an Englishman by birth, who, though he lived meanly
+in a room behind his shop, was popularly supposed to have
+accumulated a considerable fortune.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE PAWNBROKER'S SHOP
+
+Stuffed behind the counter, and on the shelves of the
+pawnbroker's shop, were articles in almost endless variety.  All
+was fish that came to his net.  He was willing to advance on
+anything that had a marketable value, and which promised to yield
+him, I was about to say, a fair profit.  But a fair profit was
+far from satisfying the old man.  He demanded an extortionate
+profit from those whom ill-fortune drove to his door for relief.
+
+Eliakim Henderson, for that was his name, was a small man, with a
+bald head, scattering yellow whiskers, and foxlike eyes. 
+Spiderlike he waited for the flies who flew of their own accord
+into his clutches, and took care not to let them go until he had
+levied a large tribute.  When Paul entered the shop, there were
+three customers ahead of him.  One was a young woman, whose pale
+face and sunken cheeks showed that she was waging an unequal
+conflict with disease.  She was a seamstress by occupation, and
+had to work fifteen hours a day to earn the little that was
+barely sufficient to keep body and soul together.  Confined in
+her close little room on the fourth floor, she scarcely dared to
+snatch time to look out of the window into the street beneath,
+lest she should not be able to complete her allotted task.  A two
+days' sickness had compelled her to have recourse to Eliakim
+Henderson.  She had under her arm a small bundle covered with an
+old copy of the Sun.
+
+"What have you got there?" asked the old man, roughly.  "Show it
+quick, for there's others waiting."
+
+Meekly she unfolded a small shawl, somewhat faded from long use.
+
+"What will you give me on that?" she asked, timidly.
+
+"It isn't worth much."
+
+"It cost five dollars."
+
+"Then you got cheated.  It never was worth half the money.  What
+do you want on it?"
+
+The seamstress intended to ask a dollar and a half, but after
+this depreciation she did not venture to name so high a figure.
+
+"A dollar and a quarter," she said.
+
+"A dollar and a quarter!"  repeated the old man, shrilly.  "Take
+it home with you.  I don't want it."
+
+"What will you give?" asked the poor girl, faintly.
+
+"Fifty cents.  Not a penny more."
+
+"Fifty cents!"  she repeated, in dismay, and was about to refold
+it.  But the thought of her rent in arrears changed her
+half-formed intention.
+
+"I'll take it, sir."
+
+The money and ticket were handed her, and she went back to her
+miserable attic-room, coughing as she went.
+
+"Now, ma'am," said Eliakim.
+
+His new customer was an Irish woman, by no means consumptive in
+appearance, red of face and portly of figure.
+
+"And what'll ye be givin' me for this?" she asked, displaying a
+pair of pantaloons.
+
+"Are they yours, ma'am?" asked Eliakim, with a chuckle.
+
+"It's not Bridget McCarty that wears the breeches," said that
+lady.  "It's me husband's, and a dacent, respectable man he is,
+barrin' the drink, which turns his head.  What'll ye give for
+'em?"
+
+"Name your price," said Eliakim, whose principle it was to insist
+upon his customers making the first offer.
+
+"Twelve shillin's," said Bridget.
+
+"Twelve shillings!"  exclaimed Eliakim, holding up both hands. 
+"That's all they cost when they were new."
+
+"They cost every cint of five dollars," said Bridget.  "They was
+made at one of the most fashionable shops in the city.  Oh, they
+was an illigant pair when they was new."
+
+"How many years ago was that?" asked the pawnbroker.
+
+"Only six months, and they ain't been worn more'n a month."
+
+"I'll give you fifty cents."
+
+"Fifty cints!"  repeated Mrs. McCarty, turning to the other
+customers, as if to call their attention to an offer so out of
+proportion to the valuable article she held in her hand.  "Only
+fifty cints for these illigant breeches!  Oh, it's you that's a
+hard man, that lives on the poor and the nady."
+
+"You needn't take it.  I should lose money on it, if you didn't
+redeem it."
+
+"He says he'd lose money on it," said Mrs. McCarty.  "And suppose
+he did, isn't he a-rollin' in gold?"
+
+"I'm poor," said Eliakim; "almost as poor as you, because I'm too
+liberal to my customers."
+
+"Hear till him!"  said Mrs. McCarty.  "He says he's liberal and
+only offers fifty cints for these illigant breeches."
+
+"Will you take them or leave them?" demanded the pawnbroker,
+impatiently.
+
+"You may give me the money," said Bridget; "and it's I that
+wonder how you can slape in your bed, when you are so hard on
+poor folks."
+
+Mrs. McCarty departed with her money, and Eliakim fixed his sharp
+eyes on the next customer.  It was a tall man, shabbily dressed,
+with a thin, melancholy-looking face, and the expression of one
+who had struggled with the world, and failed in the struggle.
+
+"How much for this?" he asked, pointing to the violin, and
+speaking in a slow, deliberate tone, as if he did not feel at
+home in the language.
+
+"What do you want for it?"
+
+"Ten dollar," he answered.
+
+"Ten dollars!  You're crazy!"  was the contemptuous comment of
+the pawnbroker.
+
+"He is a very good violin," said the man.  "If you would like to
+hear him," and he made a movement as if to play upon it.
+
+"Never mind!" said Eliakim.  "I haven't any time to hear it.  If
+it were new it would be worth something; but it's old, and----"
+
+"But you do not understand," interrupted the customer, eagerly. 
+"It is worth much more than new.  Do you see, it is by a famous
+maker?  I would not sell him, but I am poor, and my Bettina needs
+bread.  It hurts me very much to let him go.  I will buy him back
+as soon as I can."
+
+"I will give you two dollars, but I shall lose on it, unless you
+redeem it."
+
+"Two dollar!"  repeated the Italian.  "Ocielo! it is nothing. 
+But Bettina is at home without bread, poor little one!  Will you
+not give three dollar?"
+
+"Not a cent more."
+
+"I will take it."
+
+"There's your money and ticket."
+
+And with these the poor Italian departed, giving one last
+lingering glance at his precious violin, as Eliakim took it
+roughly and deposited it upon a shelf behind him.  But he thought
+of his little daughter at home, and the means of relief which he
+held in his hand, and a smile of joy lightened his melancholy
+features.  The future might be dark and unpromising, but for
+three days, at any rate, she should not want bread.
+
+Paul's turn came next.
+
+"What have you got?" asked the pawnbroker.
+
+Paul showed the ring.
+
+Eliakim took it, and his small, beadlike eyes sparkled
+avariciously as he recognized the diamond, for his experience was
+such that he could form a tolerably correct estimate of its
+value.  But he quickly suppressed all outward manifestations of
+interest, and said, indifferently, "What do you want for it?"
+
+"I want twenty dollars," said Paul, boldly.
+
+"Twenty dollars!"  returned the pawnbroker.  "That's a joke."
+
+"No, it isn't," said Paul.  "I want twenty dollars, and you can't
+have the ring for less."
+
+"If you said twenty shillings, I might give it to you," said
+Eliakim; "but you must think I am a fool to give twenty dollars."
+
+"That's cheap for a diamond ring," said Paul.  "It's worth a good
+deal more."
+
+The pawnbroker eyed Paul sharply.  Did the boy know that it was a
+diamond ring?  What chance was there of deceiving him as to its
+value?  The old man, whose business made him a good judge,
+decided that the ring was not worth less than two hundred and
+fifty dollars, and if he could get it into his possession for a
+trifle, it would be a paying operation.
+
+"You're mistaken, boy," he said.  "It's not a diamond."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"A very good imitation."
+
+"How much is it worth?"
+
+"I'll give you three dollars."
+
+"That won't do.  I want to raise twenty dollars, and if I can't
+get that, I'll keep the ring."
+
+The pawnbroker saw that he had made a mistake.  Paul was not as
+much in need of money as the majority of his customers.  He would
+rather pay twenty dollars than lose the bargain, though it went
+against the grain to pay so much money.  But after pronouncing
+the stone an imitation, how could he rise much above the offer he
+had already made?  He resolved to approach it gradually. 
+Surveying it more closely, he said:
+
+"It is an excellent imitation.  I will give you five dollars."
+
+Paul was not without natural shrewdness, and this sudden advance
+convinced him that it was, after all, a real stone.  He
+determined to get twenty dollars or carry the ring home.
+
+"Five dollars won't do me any good," he said.  "Give me back the
+ring."
+
+"Five dollars is a good deal of money," said Eliakim.
+
+"I'd rather have the ring."
+
+"What is your lowest price?"
+
+"Twenty dollars."
+
+"I'll give you eight."
+
+"Just now you said it was worth only three," said Paul, sharply.
+
+"It is very fine gold.  It is better than I thought.  Here is the
+money."
+
+"You're a little too fast," said Paul, coolly.  "I haven't agreed
+to part with the ring for eight dollars, and I don't mean to. 
+Twenty dollars is my lowest price."
+
+"I'll give you ten," said the old man, whose eagerness increased
+with Paul's indifference.
+
+"No, you won't.  Give me back the ring."
+
+"I might give eleven, but I should lose money."
+
+"I don't want you to lose money, and I've concluded to keep the
+ring," said Paul, rightly inferring from the old man's eagerness
+that the ring was much more valuable than he had at first
+supposed.
+
+But the old pawnbroker was fascinated by the sparkling bauble. 
+He could not make up his mind to give it up.  By fair means or
+foul he must possess it.  He advanced his bid to twelve,
+fourteen, fifteen dollars, but Paul shook his head resolutely. 
+He had made up his mind to carry it to Ball & Black's, or some
+other first-class jewelers, and ascertain whether it was a real
+diamond or not, and if so to obtain an estimate of its value.
+
+"I've changed my mind," he said.  "I'll keep the ring.  Just give
+it back to me."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE JEWELER'S PRICE
+
+But to give it back was not Eliakim's intention.  Should he buy
+it at twenty dollars, he would make at least two hundred, and
+such bargains were not to be had every day.  He decided to give
+Paul his price.
+
+"I will give you twenty dollars," he said; "but it is more than
+the ring is worth."
+
+"I have concluded not to take twenty dollars," said Paul.  "You
+may give it back."
+
+"You agreed to take twenty dollars," said Eliakim, angrily.
+
+"That was when I first came in.  You said you wouldn't give it."
+
+"I have changed my mind."
+
+"So have I," said Paul.  "You had a chance to get it, but now
+it's too late."
+
+Eliakim was deeply disappointed.  Generally he had his own way
+with his customers, who, being in urgent need of money, were
+obliged to accept such terms as he chose to offer.  But now the
+tables were turned, and Paul proved more than a match for him. 
+He resolved to attempt intimidation.
+
+"Boy, where did you get this ring?" he asked, in a significant
+tone.
+
+"Honestly," said Paul.  "That's all you need to know."
+
+"I don't believe it," said the old man, harshly.  "I believe you
+stole it."
+
+"You may believe what you like, but you must give it back to me,"
+said Paul, coolly.
+
+"I've a great mind to call a policeman," said Eliakim.
+
+"If you did," said Paul, "I'd tell him that you were anxious to
+get the ring, though you believed it to be stolen.  Perhaps he
+might have something to say to you."
+
+Eliakim perceived the force of Paul's argument, for in law the
+receiver of stolen goods is as bad as the thief, and there had
+been occasions when the pawnbroker had narrowly escaped
+punishment for thus indirectly conniving at theft.
+
+"If you say you got it honestly, I'll buy it of you," he said,
+changing his tune.  "What will you take?"
+
+"I don't care about selling to-day," answered Paul.
+
+"I'll give you twenty-five dollars."
+
+"I can't sell without consulting my mother.  It belongs to her."
+
+Reluctantly Eliakim gave back the ring, finding his wiles of no
+effect.
+
+"Bring your mother round to-morrow," he said.  "I'll give you a
+better price than you will get anywhere else."
+
+"All right," said Paul.  "I'll tell her what you say."
+
+The old pawnbroker followed Paul with wistful glances, vainly
+wishing that he had not at first depreciated the ring to such an
+extent, that his subsequent advances had evidently excited his
+customer's suspicion that it was more valuable than be supposed. 
+He felt that he had lost it through not understanding the
+character of the boy with whom he had to deal.
+
+"Well, Paul, what news of the ring?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, as he
+re-entered the room.
+
+"I was offered twenty-five dollars for it," said Paul.
+
+"Did you sell it?"
+
+"No, mother."
+
+"Why not?" asked Jimmy.  "Twenty-five dollars is a lot of
+money."
+
+"I know it," said Paul; "but the ring is worth a great deal
+more."
+
+"What makes you think so, Paul?"
+
+"Because the offer was made by a pawnbroker, who never pays
+quarter what an article is worth.  I am sure the ring is worth a
+hundred dollars."
+
+"Yes, I am sure it is worth all that."
+
+"A hundred dollars!"  repeated Jimmy, awestruck at the magnitude
+of the sum.
+
+"What shall we do about it, Paul?" asked his mother.  "A hundred
+dollars will do us more good than the ring."
+
+"I know that, mother.  What I propose is, to carry it to Ball &
+Black's, or Tiffany's, and sell it for whatever they say it is
+worth.  They are first-class houses, and we can depend upon fair
+treatment."
+
+"Your advice is good, Paul.  I think we will follow it.  When
+will you go?"
+
+"I will go at once.  I have nothing else to do, and I would like
+to find out as soon as I can how much it will bring.  Old
+Henderson wanted me to think, at first, that it was only
+imitation, and offered me twenty shillings on it.  He's an old
+cheat.  When he found that I wasn't to be humbugged, he raised
+his offer by degrees to twenty-five dollars.  That was what made
+me suspect its value."
+
+"If you get a hundred dollars, Paul," said Jimmy, "you can buy
+out the stand."
+
+"That depends on whether mother will lend me the money," said
+Paul.  "You know it's hers.  She may not be willing to lend
+without security."
+
+"I am so unaccustomed to being a capitalist," said Mrs. Hoffman,
+smiling, "that I shan't know how to sustain the character.  I
+don't think I shall be afraid to trust you, Paul."
+
+Once more, with the ring carefully wrapped in a paper and
+deposited in his pocketbook, Paul started uptown.  Tiffany, whose
+fame as a jeweler is world-wide, was located on Broadway.  He had
+not yet removed to his present magnificent store on Union Square.
+
+Paul knew the store, but had never entered it.  Now, as he
+entered, he was struck with astonishment at the sight of the
+immense and costly stock, unrivaled by any similar establishment,
+not only in the United States, but in Europe.  Our hero walked up
+to the counter, and stood beside a richly-dressed lady who was
+bargaining for a costly bracelet.  He had to wait ten minutes
+while the lady was making her choice from a number submitted to
+her for inspection.  Finally she selected one, and paid for it. 
+The clerk, now being at leisure, turned to our hero and asked:--
+
+"Well, young man, what can I do for you?"
+
+"I have a ring which I should like to show you.  I want to know
+how much it is worth."
+
+"Very well.  Let me see it."
+
+When Paul produced the diamond ring, the clerk, who had long been
+in the business, and perceived its value at once, started in
+surprise.
+
+"This is a very valuable ring," he said.
+
+"So I thought," said Paul.  "How much is it worth?"
+
+"Do you mean how much should we ask for it?"
+
+"No; how much would you give for it?"
+
+"Probably two hundred and fifty dollars."  Paul was quite
+startled on finding the ring so much more valuable than he had
+supposed.  He had thought it might possibly be worth a hundred
+dollars; but he had not imagined any rings were worth as much as
+the sum named.
+
+"Will you buy it of me?" he asked.
+
+The clerk regarded Paul attentively, and, as he thought, a little
+suspiciously.
+
+"Does the ring belong to you?" he asked.
+
+"No, to my mother."
+
+"Where did she buy it?"
+
+"She didn't buy it at all.  She found it one day at Central Park.
+
+It belongs to her now.  She advertised for an owner, and examined
+the papers to see if it was advertised as lost, but could hear
+nothing of the one to whom it belonged."
+
+"How long ago was this?"
+
+"Two years ago."
+
+"I will show this ring to Mr. Tiffany," said the clerk.
+
+"Very well."
+
+Paul took a seat and waited.
+
+Soon Mr. Tiffany came up.
+
+"Are you the boy who brought in the ring?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"You say your mother found it two years ago in Central Park?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"It is a valuable ring.  I should be willing to buy it for two
+hundred and fifty dollars, if I were quite certain that you had a
+right to dispose of it."
+
+"I have told you the truth, Mr. Tiffany," said Paul, a little
+nettled at having his word doubted.
+
+"That may be, but there is still a possibility that the original
+owner may turn up."
+
+"Won't you buy it, then?" asked Paul, disappointed, for, if he
+were unable to dispose of the ring, he would have to look
+elsewhere for the means of buying out Barry's street stand.
+
+"I don't say that; but I should want a guaranty of indemnity
+against loss, in case the person who lost it should present a
+claim."
+
+"In that case," said Paul, "I would give you back the money you
+paid me."
+
+Mr. Tiffany smiled.
+
+"But suppose the money were all spent," he suggested.  "I suppose
+you are intending to use the money?"
+
+"I am going to start in business with it," said Paul, "and I hope
+to add to it."
+
+"Every one thinks so who goes into business; but some get
+disappointed.  You see, my young friend, that I should incur a
+risk.  Remember, I don't know you.  I judge from your appearance
+that you are honest; but appearances are sometimes deceitful."
+
+"Then I suppose you won't buy it?" said Paul, who saw the force
+of this remark.
+
+"If you can bring here any responsible gentleman who knows you,
+and is willing to guarantee me against loss in the event of the
+owner's being found I will buy the ring for two hundred and fifty
+dollars."
+
+Paul brightened up.  He thought at once of Mr. Preston, and, from
+the friendly interest which that gentleman appeared to take in
+him, he judged that he would not refuse him this service.
+
+"I think I can do that," he said.  "Do you know Mr. Andrew
+Preston?  He is a wealthy gentleman, who lives on Madison avenue,
+between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-fifth streets."
+
+"Not personally.  I know him by reputation."
+
+"Will he be satisfactory?"
+
+"Entirely so."
+
+"He knows me well," said Paul.  "I think he will be willing to
+stand security for me.  I will come back in a day or two."
+
+Paul took the ring, and left the store.  He determined to call
+that evening on Mr. Preston, and ask the favor indicated.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+MR. FELIX MONTGOMERY
+
+Paul had an errand farther uptown, and, on leaving Tiffany's
+walked up as far as Twenty-third street.  Feeling rather tired,
+he got on board a University place car to return.  They had
+accomplished, perhaps, half the distance, when, to his surprise,
+George Barry entered the car.
+
+"How do you happen to be here, at this time, Barry?" he asked. 
+"I thought you were attending to business."
+
+"I closed up for a couple of hours, having an errand at home. 
+Where have you been?"
+
+"To Tiffany's."
+
+"What, the jewelers?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"To buy a diamond ring, I suppose," said Barry, jocosely.
+
+"No--not to buy, but to sell one."
+
+"You are joking," said his companion, incredulously.
+
+"No, I am not.  The ring belongs to my mother.  I am trying to
+raise money enough on it to buy you out."
+
+"I didn't know your mother was rich enough to indulge in such
+expensive jewelry."
+
+"She isn't, and that's the reason I am trying to sell it."
+
+"I mean, I didn't think she was ever rich enough."
+
+"I'll explain it," said Paul.  "The ring was found some time
+since in Central Park.  As no owner has ever appeared, though we
+advertised it, we consider that it belongs to us."
+
+"How much is it worth?"
+
+"Mr. Tiffany offered two hundred and fifty dollars for it."
+
+Barry uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+"Well, that is what I call luck.  Of course, you accepted it."
+
+"I intend to do so; but I must bring some gentleman who will
+guarantee that I am all right and have the right to sell it."
+
+"Can you do that?"
+
+"I think so!  I am going to ask Mr. Preston.  I think he will do
+me that favor."
+
+"Then there's a fair chance of your buying me out."
+
+"Yes.  I guess I can settle the whole thing up to-morrow."
+
+"Have you got the ring with you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I should like to see it, if you have no objection."
+
+Paul drew it from his pocket, and passed it over to Barry.
+
+"It's a handsome one, but who would think such a little thing
+could be worth two hundred and fifty dollars?"
+
+"I'd rather have the money than the ring."
+
+"So would I."
+
+On the right of Paul sat a man of about forty, well-dressed and
+respectable in appearance, with a heavy gold chain ostentatiously
+depending from his watch pocket, and with the air of a
+substantial citizen.  He listened to the conversation between
+Barry and Paul with evident interest, and when Barry had returned
+the ring, he said:
+
+"Young gentleman, would you be kind enough to let me look at your
+ring?  I am myself in business as a jeweler in Syracuse, and so
+feel an interest in examining it."
+
+"Certainly, sir," said Paul, the stranger's explanation of his
+motives inspiring him with perfect confidence.
+
+The jeweler from Syracuse took the ring in his hands and appeared
+to examine it carefully.
+
+"This is a handsome ring," he said, "and one of great value.  How
+much were you offered for it at Tiffany's?"
+
+"Two hundred and fifty dollars."
+
+"It is worth more."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," said Paul; "but he has to sell it, and make
+a profit."
+
+"He could do that, and yet make a profit.  I will pay you two
+hundred and seventy-five dollars, myself--that is, on one
+condition."
+
+"I don't object to getting twenty-five dollars more," said Paul. 
+"What is the condition?"
+
+"I have an order from a gentleman for a diamond ring for a young
+lady--an engagement ring, in short.  If this suits him, as I
+think it will, I will pay you what I said.  I can easily get
+three hundred and twenty-five from him."
+
+"How are you going to find out whether it will suit him?"
+
+"Easily.  He is stopping at the same hotel with me."
+
+"What hotel is that?"
+
+"Lovejoy's.  If you can spare the time and will come with me now,
+we can arrange matters at once.  By the way, you can refer me to
+some responsible citizen, who will guarantee you.  Not, of
+course, that I have any doubts, but we business men are forced to
+be cautious."
+
+Paul mentioned Mr. Preston's name.
+
+"Quite satisfactory," answered the jeweler.  "I know Mr. Preston
+personally, and as I am pressed for time, I will accept his name
+without calling upon him.  What is your name?"
+
+"Paul Hoffman."
+
+"I will note it down."
+
+The gentleman from Syracuse drew out a memorandum book, in which
+he entered Paul's name.
+
+"When you see Mr. Preston, just mention my name; Felix
+Montgomery."
+
+"I will do so."
+
+"Say, if you please, that I would have called upon him, but,
+coming to the city strictly on business, was too hurried to do
+so."
+
+This also Paul promised, and counted himself fortunate in falling
+in with a friend, or, at all events, acquaintance of Mr. Preston,
+since he was likely to make twenty-five dollars more than he
+would otherwise have done.
+
+When he got out of the car at the Astor House, the stranger said:
+
+"It will be half an hour before I can reach Lovejoy's, as I have
+a business call to make first.  Can you call there, say, in
+three-quarters of an hour?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Very well, then, I will expect you.  Inquire for me at the desk,
+and ask the servant to conduct you to my room-- you remember my
+name?"
+
+"Yes, sir--Mr. Felix Montgomery."
+
+"Quite right.  Good-by, then, till we meet."
+
+Mr. Felix Montgomery went into the Astor House, and remained
+about five minutes.  He then came out on the steps, and, looking
+about him to see if Paul was anywhere near, descended the steps,
+and walked across to Lovejoy's Hotel.  Going up to the desk, he
+inquired:
+
+"Can you accommodate me with a room?"
+
+"Yes, sir; please enter your name."
+
+The stranger entered his name with a flourish, as Felix
+Montgomery, Syracuse.
+
+"Room No. 237," said the clerk; "will you go up now?"
+
+"Yes, I think so."
+
+"Any luggage?"
+
+"My trunk will be brought from the St. Nicholas in the course of
+the afternoon."
+
+"We require payment in advance where there is no luggage."
+
+"Very well.  I will pay for one day.  I am not sure but I shall
+get through my business in time to go away to-morrow."
+
+Here the servant appeared to conduct Mr. Montgomery to his room.
+
+"By the way," he said, turning back, as if it were an
+afterthought, "I directed a boy to call here for me in about half
+an hour.  When he comes you may send him up to my room."
+
+"Very well, sir."
+
+Mr. Montgomery followed the servant upstairs to room No. 237. 
+It was rather high up, but he seemed well pleased that this was
+the case.
+
+"Hope you won't get tired of climbing, sir," said the servant.
+
+"No--I've got pretty good wind."
+
+"Most gentlemen complain of going up so far."
+
+"It makes little difference to me."
+
+At length they reached the room, and Mr. Montgomery entered.
+
+"This will answer very well," he said, with a hasty glance about
+him.  "When my trunk comes, I want it sent up."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I believe that is all; you can go."
+
+The servant retired and Mr. Felix Montgomery sat down upon the
+bed.
+
+"My little plot seems likely to succeed," he said to himself. 
+"I've been out of luck lately, but this boy's ring will give me a
+lift.  He can't suspect anything.  He'll be sure to come."
+
+Probably the reader has already suspected that Mr. Felix
+Montgomery was not a jeweler from Syracuse, nor had he any claim
+to the name under which he at present figured.  He was a noted
+confidence man, who lived by preying upon the community.  His
+appearance was in his favor, and it was his practice to assume
+the dress and air of a respectable middle-aged citizen, as in the
+present instance.  The sight of the diamond ring had excited his
+cupidity, and he had instantly formed the design of getting
+possession of it, if possible.  Thus far, his plan promised
+success.
+
+Meanwhile, Paul loitered away the time in the City Hall Park for
+half an hour or more.  He did not care to go home until his
+negotiation was complete, and he could report the ring sold, and
+carry home the money.
+
+"Won't mother be astonished," he thought, "at the price I got for
+the ring?  I'm in luck this morning."
+
+When the stipulated time had passed, Paul rose from the bench on
+which he was seated, and walked to Lovejoy's Hotel, not far
+distant.
+
+"Has Mr. Felix Montgomery a room here?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," answered the clerk.  "Did you wish to see him?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"He mentioned that a boy would call by appointment.  Here, James,
+show this boy up to No. 237--Mr. Montgomery's room."
+
+A hotel servant appeared, and Paul followed him up several
+flights of stairs till they stood before No. 237.
+
+"This is the room, sir," said James.  "Wait a minute, and I'll
+knock."
+
+In answer to the knock, Mr. Montgomery himself opened the door.
+
+"Come in," he said to Paul; "I was expecting you."
+
+So Paul, not suspecting treachery, entered No. 237.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A CLEVER THIEF
+
+"Take a seat," said Mr. Montgomery.  "My friend will be in
+directly.  Meanwhile will you let me look at the ring once more?"
+
+Paul took it from his pocket, and handed it to the jeweler from
+Syracuse, as he supposed him to be.
+
+Mr. Montgomery took it to the window, and appeared to be
+examining it carefully.
+
+He stood with his back to Paul, but this did not excite suspicion
+on the part of our hero.
+
+"I am quite sure," he said, still standing with his back to Paul,
+"that this will please my friend.  From the instructions he gave
+me, it is precisely what he wanted."
+
+While uttering these words, he had drawn a sponge and a vial of
+chloroform from his side pocket.  He saturated the former from
+the vial, and then, turning quickly, seized Paul, too much taken
+by surprise to make immediate resistance, and applied the sponge
+to his nose.  When he realized that foul play was meditated, he
+began to struggle, but he was in a firm grasp, and the chloroform
+was already beginning to do its work.  His head began to swim,
+and he was speedily in a state of insensibility.  When this was
+accomplished, Mr. Felix Montgomery, eyeing the insensible boy
+with satisfaction, put on his hat, walked quickly to the door,
+which he locked on the outside, and made his way rapidly
+downstairs.  Leaving the key at the desk, he left the hotel and
+disappeared.
+
+Meanwhile Paul slowly recovered consciousness.  As he came to
+himself, he looked about him bewildered, not at first
+comprehending where he was.  All at once it flashed upon him, and
+he jumped up eagerly and rushed to the door.  He tried in vain to
+open it.
+
+"I am regularly trapped!"  he thought, with a feeling of mingled
+anger and vexation.  "What a fool I was to let myself be swindled
+so easily!  I wonder how long I have been lying here insensible?"
+
+Paul was not a boy to give up easily.  He meant to get back the
+ring if it was a possible thing.  The first thing was, of course,
+to get out of his present confinement.  He was not used to hotel
+arrangements and never thought of the bell, but, as the only
+thing he could think of, began to pound upon the door.  But it so
+happened that at this time there were no servants on that floor,
+and his appeals for help were not heard.  Every moment that he
+had to wait seemed at least five, for no doubt the man who had
+swindled him was improving the time to escape to a place of
+safety.  Finding that his blows upon the door produced no effect,
+he began to jump up and down upon the floor, making, in his heavy
+boots, a considerable noise.
+
+The room directly under No. 237 was occupied by an old gentleman
+of a very nervous and irascible temper, Mr. Samuel Piper, a
+country merchant, who, having occasion to be in the city on
+business for a few days, had put up at Lovejoy's Hotel.  He had
+fatigued himself by some business calls, and was now taking a
+little rest upon the bed, when he was aroused from half-sleep by
+the pounding overhead.
+
+"I wish people would have the decency to keep quiet," he said to
+himself, peevishly.  "How can I rest with such a confounded
+racket going on above!"
+
+He lay back, thinking the noise would cease, but Paul, finding
+the knocking on the door ineffectual, began to jump up and down,
+as I have already said.  Of course this noise was heard
+distinctly in the room below.
+
+"This is getting intolerable!"  exclaimed Mr. Piper, becoming
+more and more excited.  "The man ought to be indicted as a common
+nuisance.  How they can allow such goings-on in a respectable
+hotel, I can't understand.  I should think the fellow was
+splitting wood upstairs."
+
+He took his cane, and, standing on the bed, struck it furiously
+against the ceiling, intending it as signal to the man above to
+desist.  But Paul, catching the response, began to jump more
+furiously than ever, finding that he had attracted attention.
+
+Mr. Piper became enraged.
+
+"The man must be a lunatic or overcome by drink," he exclaimed. 
+"I can't and I won't stand it."
+
+But the noise kept on.
+
+Mr. Piper put on his shoes and his coat, and, seizing his cane,
+emerged upon the landing.  He espied a female servant just coming
+upstairs.
+
+"Here, you Bridget, or Nancy, or whatever your name is," he
+roared, "there's a lunatic upstairs, making a tremendous row in
+the room over mine.  If you don't stop him I'll leave the hotel. 
+Hear him now!"
+
+Bridget let fall her duster in fright.
+
+"Is it a crazy man?" she asked.
+
+"Of course he must be.  I want you to go up and stop him."
+
+"Is it me that would go near a crazy man?" exclaimed Bridget,
+horror-struck; "I wouldn't do it for a million dollars; no, I
+wouldn't."
+
+"I insist upon your going up," said Mr. Piper, irritably.  "He
+must be stopped.  Do you think I am going to stand such an
+infernal thumping over my head?"
+
+"I wouldn't do it if you'd go down on your knees to me," said
+Bridget, fervently.
+
+"Come along, I'll go with you."
+
+But the terrified girl would not budge.
+
+"Then you go down and tell your master there's a madman up here. 
+If you don't, I will."
+
+This Bridget consented to do; and, going downstairs, gave a not
+very coherent account of the disturbance.  Three male servants
+came back with her.
+
+"Is that the man?" asked the first, pointing to Mr. Piper, who
+certainly looked half wild with irritation.
+
+"Yes," said Bridget, stupidly.
+
+Immediately Mr. Piper found himself pinioned on either side by a
+stout servant.
+
+"What have you been kickin' up a row for?" demanded the first.
+
+"Let me alone, or I'll have the law take care of you," screamed
+the outraged man.  "Can't you hear the fellow that's making the
+racket?"
+
+Paul, tired with thumping, had desisted for a moment, but now had
+recommenced with increased energy.  The sounds could be
+distinctly heard on the floor below.
+
+"Excuse me, sir.  I made a mistake," said the first speaker,
+releasing his hold.  "We'll go up and see what's the matter."
+
+So the party went upstairs, followed at a distance by Bridget,
+who, influenced alike by fear and curiosity, did not know whether
+to go up or retreat.
+
+The sounds were easily traced to room No. 237.  In front of
+this, therefore, the party congregated.
+
+"What's the matter in there?" asked James, the first servant,
+putting his lips to the keyhole.
+
+"Yes," chimed in Mr. Piper, irritably; "what do you mean by such
+an infernal hubbub?"
+
+"Open the door, and let me out," returned Paul, eagerly.
+
+The party looked at each other in surprise.  They did not expect
+to find the desperate maniac a boy.
+
+"Perhaps there's more than one of them," suggested the second
+servant, prudently.
+
+"Why don't you come out yourself?" asked James.  "I am locked
+in."
+
+The door was opened with a passkey and Paul confronted the party.
+
+"Now, young man, what do you mean by making such a disturbance?" 
+demanded Mr. Piper, excitably.  "My room is just below, and I
+expected every minute you would come through."
+
+"I am sorry if I disturbed you, sir," said Paul, politely; "but
+it was the only way I could attract attention."
+
+"How came you locked up here?"
+
+"Yes," chimed in James, suspiciously, "how came you locked up
+here?"
+
+"I was drugged with chloroform, and locked in," said Paul.
+
+"Who did it?"
+
+"Mr. Felix Montgomery; or that's what he called himself.  I came
+here by appointment to meet him."
+
+"What did he do that for?"
+
+"He has carried off a diamond ring which I came up here to sell
+him."
+
+"A very improbable story," said Mr. Piper, suspiciously.  "What
+should such a boy have to do with a diamond ring?"
+
+Nothing is easier than to impart suspicion.  Men are prone to
+believe evil of each other; and Paul was destined to realize
+this.  The hotel servants, ignorant and suspicious, caught the
+suggestion.
+
+"It's likely he's a' thafe," said Bridget, from a safe distance.
+
+"If I were," said Paul, coolly, "I shouldn't be apt to call your
+attention by such a noise.  I can prove to you that I am telling
+the truth.  I stopped at the office, and the bookkeeper sent a
+servant to show me up here."
+
+"If this is true," said Mr. Piper, "why, when you found yourself
+locked in, didn't you ring the bell, instead of making such a
+confounded racket?  My nerves won't get over it for a week."
+
+"I didn't think of the bell," said Paul; "I am not much used to
+hotels."
+
+"What will we do with him?" asked James, looking to Mr. Piper
+for counsel.
+
+"You'd better take him downstairs, and see if his story is
+correct," said the nervous gentleman, with returning good sense.
+
+"I'll do it," said James, to whom the very obvious suggestion
+seemed marked by extraordinary wisdom, and he grasped Paul
+roughly by the arm.
+
+"You needn't hold me," said our hero, shaking off the grasp.  "I
+haven't any intention of running away.  I want to find out, if I
+can, what has become of the man that swindled me."
+
+James looked doubtfully at Mr. Piper.
+
+"I don't think he means to run away," said that gentleman.  "I
+begin to think his story is correct.  And hark you, my young
+friend, if you ever get locked up in a hotel room again, just see
+if there is a bell before you make such a confounded racket."
+
+"Yes, sir, I will," said Paul, half-smiling; "but I'll take care
+not to get locked up again.  It won't be easy for anybody to play
+that trick on me again."
+
+The party filed downstairs to the office and Paul told his story
+to the bookkeeper.
+
+"Have you seen Mr. Montgomery go out?" asked our hero.
+
+"Yes, he went out half an hour ago, or perhaps more.  He left his
+key at the desk, but said nothing.  He seemed to be in a hurry."
+
+"You didn't notice in what direction he went?"
+
+"No."
+
+Of course no attempt was made to detain Paul.  There could be no
+case against him.  He went out of the hotel, and looked up and
+down Broadway in a state of indecision.  He did not mean to sit
+down passively and submit to the swindle.  But he had no idea in
+what direction to search for Mr. Felix Montgomery.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+PAUL DELIBERATES
+
+Paul stood in the street irresolute.  He looked hopelessly up and
+down Broadway, but of course the jeweler from Syracuse was not to
+be seen.  Seeking for him in a city containing hundreds of
+streets and millions of inhabitants was about as discouraging as
+hunting for a needle in a haystack.  But difficult as it was,
+Paul was by no means ready to give up the search.  Indeed,
+besides the regret he felt at the loss, he was mortified at
+having been so easily outwitted.
+
+"He's taken me in just as if I was a country boy," thought Paul. 
+"I dare say he's laughing at me now.  I'd like to get even with
+him."
+
+Finally he decided to go to Tiffany's, and ask them to detain any
+one who might bring in the ring and offer it for sale.  He at
+once acted upon this thought, and, hailing a Broadway stage, for
+no time was to be lost, soon reached his destination.  Entering
+the store, he walked up to the counter and addressed the clerk to
+whom he had before shown the ring.
+
+"Do you remember my offering you a diamond ring for sale this
+morning?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, I remember it very well.  Have you got it with you?"
+
+"No, it has been stolen from me."
+
+"Indeed!  How was that?" asked the clerk, with interest.
+
+"I met in the cars a well-dressed man, who called himself a
+jeweler from Syracuse.  He examined the ring, and offered me more
+than Mr. Tiffany, but asked me to bring it to him at Lovejoy's
+Hotel.  When I got there, he drugged me with chloroform, and when
+I recovered he was gone."
+
+"You have been unlucky.  There are plenty of such swindlers
+about.  You should have been careful about displaying the ring
+before strangers."
+
+"I was showing it to a friend."
+
+"Have you notified the police?"
+
+"Not yet.  I came here to let you know, because I thought the
+thief might bring it in here to sell."
+
+"Very likely.  Give me a description of him."
+
+Paul described Mr. Felix Montgomery to the best of his ability.
+
+"I think I should know him from your description.  I will speak
+to Mr. Tiffany, and he will no doubt give orders to detain any
+person who may offer the ring for sale."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+"If you will give me your address, we will notify you in case the
+ring is brought in."
+
+Paul left his address, and went out of the store, feeling that he
+had taken one step toward the recovery of his treasure.  He next
+visited the police headquarters, and left a detailed description
+of the man who had relieved him of the ring and of the
+circumstances attending the robbery.  Then he went home.
+
+His mother looked up as he entered.
+
+"Well, Paul?" she said, inquiringly.
+
+"I've got bad news, mother," he said.
+
+"What is it?  Tell me quick!"  she said, nervously.
+
+"The ring has been stolen from me."
+
+"How did it happen, Paul?"
+
+"First, I must tell you how much the ring is worth.  I went up to
+Tiffany's, and showed the ring to Mr. Tiffany himself.  He told
+me that he would give me two hundred and fifty dollars for it, if
+I would satisfy him that I had a right to sell it."
+
+"Two hundred and fifty dollars!"  repeated Mrs. Hoffman, in
+amazement.
+
+"Yes, the diamond is very large and pure."
+
+"Two hundred and fifty dollars would be a great help to us."
+
+"Yes, mother, that is what makes me feel so bad about being
+swindled out of it."
+
+"Tell me how it happened.  Is there no chance of recovering it?"
+
+"A little.  I shall do what I can.  I have already notified the
+police, and Mr. Tiffany."
+
+"You have not told me yet how you lost it."
+
+When Paul had told the story, his mother asked, "Did you mention
+it in the cars that you had offered it at Tiffany's?"
+
+"Yes, and I mentioned his offer."
+
+"Perhaps the thief would be cautious about going there, for that
+very reason.  He might think the ring would be recognized."
+
+"He would go to a large place, thinking that so valuable a ring
+would be more readily purchased there."
+
+"He might go to Ball & Black's."
+
+"That is true."
+
+"It would be well to give notice there also."
+
+"I will go up there at once.  I only wish I could meet Mr. Felix
+Montgomery; I don't think he would find it so easy to outreach me
+a second time."
+
+"Take some dinner first, Paul."
+
+"Then I must hurry it down, mother; I don't want to run the risk
+of getting too late to Ball & Black's.  I can't help thinking
+what a splendid thing it would be if we had the two hundred and
+fifty dollars.  I would buy out Barry's stand, and I would get a
+sewing-machine for you, and we could live much more comfortably. 
+It makes me mad to think I let that villain take me in so!  He
+must think me jolly green."
+
+"Anybody might have been deceived, Paul.  You mustn't blame
+yourself too much for that."
+
+Leaving Paul on his way to Ball & Black's, we return to Mr. Felix
+Montgomery, as we shall continue to call him, though he had no
+right to the name.  After stupefying Paul, as already described,
+he made his way downstairs, and, leaving his key at the desk,
+went out.
+
+"I hope my young friend will enjoy himself upstairs," he chuckled
+to himself.  "He's quite welcome to the use of the room till
+to-morrow morning.  It's paid for in advance, and I don't think I
+shall find it convenient to stop there."
+
+He took the ring from his vest pocket and glanced at it
+furtively.
+
+"It's a beauty," he murmured, complacently.  "I never saw a
+handsomer ring of the size.  What was it the boy said he was
+offered for it?  Two hundred and fifty dollars!  That'll give me
+a lift, and it doesn't come any too soon.  My money is pretty
+low."
+
+He walked across the City Hall Park, and at Barclay street
+entered a University place car.
+
+"Evenin' paper, mister?" said a ragged newsboy, whose garments
+were constructed on the most approved system of ventilation.
+
+"What have you got?"
+
+"Evenin' Post, Mail, Express!"
+
+"Give me an Express.  Here's ten cents."
+
+"I haven't got but three cents change, mister."
+
+"Never mind the change," said Mr. Montgomery, in a fit of
+temporary generosity, occasioned by his good luck.
+
+"Thank you, sir," said the newsboy, regarding Mr. Montgomery as a
+philanthropist worthy of his veneration.
+
+Felix Montgomery leaned back in his seat, and, with a benevolent
+smile, ran his eyes over the columns of the Express.  Among the
+paragraphs which attracted his attention was one relating to a
+comrade, of similar profession, who had just been arrested in
+Albany while in the act of relieving a gentleman of his
+pocketbook.
+
+"Jerry always was a bungler," said Mr. Montgomery, complacently,
+to himself.  "He can't hold a candle to me.  I flatter myself
+that I know how to manage a little affair, like this, for
+instance, as well as the next man.  It'll take a sharp detective
+to lay hold of me."
+
+It might have been thought that the manner in which he had gained
+possession of the ring would have troubled Mr. Montgomery, but it
+was many years since he had led an honest life.  He had made a
+living by overreaching others, and his conscience had become so
+blunted as to occasion him little trouble.  He appeared to think
+that the world owed him a living, and that he was quite justified
+in collecting the debt in any way he could.
+
+About twenty minutes brought the car to Amity street and Mr.
+Montgomery signaled the conductor, and, the car being stopped, he
+got out.
+
+He walked a few rods in a westerly direction, and paused before a
+three-story brick house, which appeared to have seen better days.
+
+It was now used as a boarding, or rather lodging-house.  The
+guests were not of a very high character, the landlady not being
+particular as long as her rent was paid regularly.  Mr.
+Montgomery ascended the steps in a jaunty way, and, opening the
+door with a passkey, ascended the front staircase.  He paused
+before a room on the third floor, and knocked in a peculiar
+manner.
+
+The door was opened by a tall woman, in rather neglected attire.
+
+"So you're back," she said.
+
+"Yes, my dear, home again.  As the poet says, 'There is no place
+like home.' "
+
+"I should hope there wasn't," said Mrs. Montgomery, looking about
+her disdainfully.  "A very delightful home it makes with such a
+charming prospect of the back yard.  I've been moping here all
+day."
+
+"You've found something to console you, I see," said her husband,
+glancing at the table, on which might be seen a bottle of brandy,
+half-emptied, and a glass.
+
+"Yes," said Mrs. Montgomery; "I felt so bad I had to send out for
+something.  It took every cent I had.  And, by the way, Mrs.
+Flagg sent in her bill, this morning, for the last two weeks'
+board; she said she must have it."
+
+"My dear," said Mr. Montgomery, "she shall have it."
+
+"You don't mean to say you've got the money, Tony!"  exclaimed
+his wife, in surprise.
+
+"No, I haven't got the money; but I've got what's just as good."
+
+"What have you got?"
+
+"What do you say to this?" and Mr. Montgomery drew from his
+pocket the diamond ring, whose loss was so deeply felt by our
+hero.
+
+"Is that genuine?" asked the lady.
+
+"It's the real thing."
+
+"What a beauty!  Where did you get it?"
+
+"It was kindly presented me by a young man of the tender age of
+fifteen or thereabouts, who had no further use for it."
+
+"You did him out of it, that is.  Tell me how you did it."
+
+Mr. Montgomery told the story.  His wife listened with interest
+and appreciation.
+
+"That was a smart operation, Tony," she said.
+
+"I should say it was, Maria."
+
+"How much is the ring worth?"
+
+"Two hundred and fifty dollars."
+
+"Can you get that for it?"
+
+"I can get that for it."
+
+"Tony, you are a treasure."
+
+"Have you just found that out, my dear?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE THIEF IN DISGUISE
+
+It will be inferred, from the preceding conversation, that Mrs.
+Montgomery was not likely to be shocked by the lack of honesty in
+her husband.  Her conscience was as elastic as his; and she was
+perfectly willing to help him spend his unlawful gains.
+
+"How soon are you going to sell the ring?" she asked.  
+
+"I should like to dispose of it at once, Maria."
+
+"You will need to.  Mrs. Flagg wants her bill paid at once."
+
+"I quite understand the necessity of promptness, my dear.  Only,
+you know, one has to be cautious about disposing of articles
+obtained in this way."
+
+"You say you left the boy locked up.  It seems to me, you'd
+better sell the ring before he has a chance to get out and
+interfere."
+
+"I don't know but you're right, my dear.  Well, we'll get ready."
+
+"Do you want me to go with you?"
+
+"Yes; it will disarm suspicion if you are with me.  I think I'll
+go as a country parson."
+
+"Country parsons are not apt to have diamond rings to dispose
+of."
+
+"Very true, my dear.  The remark does credit to your good
+judgment and penetration.  But I know how to get over that."
+
+"As how?"
+
+"Be a little more particular about your speech, my dear. 
+Remember, you are a minister's wife, and must use refined
+expressions.  What is easier than to say that the ring was given
+me by a benevolent lady of my congregation, to dispose of for the
+benefit of the poor?"
+
+"Well thought of, Tony.  You've got a good head-piece."
+
+"You're right, my dear.  I don't like to indulge in self-praise,
+but I believe I know a thing or two.  And now for the masquerade.
+
+Where are the duds?"
+
+"In the black trunk."
+
+"Then we'd better lose no time in putting them on."
+
+Without describing the process of transformation in detail, it
+will be sufficient to say that the next twenty minutes wrought a
+decided change in the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Felix
+Montgomery.  The former was arrayed in a suit of canonical black,
+not of the latest cut.  A white neckcloth was substituted for the
+more gaudy article worn by the jeweler from Syracuse, and a pair
+of silver-bowed spectacles, composed of plain glass, lent a
+scholarly air to his face.  His hair was combed behind his ears,
+and, so far as appearance went, he quite looked the character of
+a clergyman from the rural districts.
+
+"How will I do, my dear?" he asked, complacently.
+
+"Tiptop," answered the lady.  "How do I look?"
+
+Mrs. Montgomery had put on a dress of sober tint, and scant
+circumference, contrasting in a marked manner with the mode then
+prevailing.  A very plain collar encircled her neck.  Her hands
+were incased in brown silk gloves, while her husband wore black
+kids.  Her bonnet was exceedingly plain, and her whole costume
+was almost Quaker-like in its simplicity.
+
+Her husband surveyed her with satisfaction.
+
+"My dear," he said, "you are a fitting helpmeet for the Rev. Mr.
+Barnes, of Hayfield Centre.  By Jove, you do me credit!"
+
+" 'By Jove' is not a proper expression for a man of your
+profession, Mr. Barnes," said the new minister's wife, with a
+smile.
+
+"You are right, my dear.  I must eschew profanity, and cultivate
+a decorous style of speech.  Well, are we ready?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"Then let us set forth on our pilgrimage.  We will imagine, Mrs.
+Barnes, that we are about to make some pastoral calls."
+
+They emerged into the street.  On the way downstairs they met
+Mrs. Flagg, the landlady, who bowed respectfully.  She was
+somewhat puzzled, however, not knowing when they were let in.
+
+"Good-morning, madam," said Mr. Barnes.  "Are you the landlady of
+this establishment?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I have been calling on one of your lodgers--Mr. Anthony Blodgett
+(this was the name by which Mr. Felix Montgomery was known in the
+house).  He is a very worthy man."
+
+Now, to tell the truth, Mrs. Flagg had not been particularly
+struck by the moral worth of her lodger, and this testimony led
+her to entertain doubts as to the discernment of her clerical
+visitor.
+
+"You know him, then?"
+
+"I know him as myself, madam.  Have you never heard him mention
+the name of Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield Centre, Connecticut?"
+
+"I can't say I have," answered the landlady.
+
+"That is singular.  We were always very intimate.  We attended
+the same school as boys, and, in fact, were like Damon and
+Pythias."
+
+Mrs. Flagg had never heard of Damon and Pythias, still she
+understood the comparison.
+
+"You're in rather a different line now," she remarked, dryly.
+
+"Yes, our positions are different.  My friend dwells in the busy
+metropolis, while I pass a quiet, peaceful existence in a
+secluded country village, doing what good I can.  But, my dear,
+we are perhaps detaining this worthy lady from her domestic
+avocations.  I think we must be going."
+
+"Very well, I am ready."
+
+The first sound of her voice drew the attention of the landlady. 
+Mrs. Felix Montgomery possessed a thin somewhat shrill, voice,
+which she was unable to conceal, and, looking attentively at her,
+Mrs. Flagg penetrated her disguise.  Then, turning quickly to the
+gentleman, aided by her new discovery, she also recognized him.
+
+"Well, I declare," said she, "if you didn't take me in
+beautifully."
+
+Mr. Montgomery laughed heartily.
+
+"You wouldn't know me, then?" he said.
+
+"You're got up excellent," said Mrs. Flagg, with a slight
+disregard for grammar.  "Is it a joke?"
+
+"Yes, a little practical joke.  We're going to call on some
+friends and see if they know us."
+
+"You'd do for the theatre," said the landlady, admiringly.
+
+"I flatter myself I might have done something on the stage, if my
+attention had been turned that way.  But, my dear, we must be
+moving, or we shan't get through our calls."
+
+"I wonder what mischief they are up to now," thought Mrs. Flagg,
+as she followed them to the door.  "I know better than to think
+they'd take the trouble to dress up that way just to take in
+their friends.  No, they're up to some game.  Not that I care, as
+long as they get money enough to pay my bill."
+
+So the worldly-wise landlady dismissed them from her thoughts,
+and went about her work.
+
+Mr. Barnes and his wife walked up toward Broadway at a slow,
+decorous pace, suited to the character they had assumed.  More
+than one who met them turned back to look at what they considered
+a perfect type of the country minister and his wife.  They would
+have been not a little surprised to learn that under this quiet
+garb walked two of the most accomplished swindlers in a city
+abounding in adventurers of all kinds.
+
+Mr. Barnes paused a moment to reprove a couple of urchins who
+were pitching pennies on the sidewalk.
+
+"Don't you know that it's wrong to pitch pennies?" he said
+gravely.
+
+"None of your chaff, mister," retorted one of the street boys,
+irreverently.  "When did you come from the country, old Goggles?"
+
+"My son, you should address me with more respect."
+
+"Just get out of the way, mister!  I don't want to hear no
+preachin'."
+
+"I am afraid you have been badly brought up, my son."
+
+"I ain't your son, and I wouldn't be for a shillin'.  Just you go
+along, and let me alone!"
+
+"A sad case of depravity, my dear," remarked Mr. Barnes to his
+wife.  "I fear we must leave these boys to their evil ways."
+
+"You'd better," said one of the boys.
+
+"They're smart little rascals!"  said Mr. Montgomery, when they
+were out of hearing of the boys.  "I took them in, though.  They
+thought I was the genuine article."
+
+"We'd better not waste any more time," said his wife.  "That boy
+might get out, you know, and give us trouble."
+
+"I don't believe he will get out in a hurry.  I locked the door
+and he'd have to pound some time before he could make any one
+hear, I declare, I should like to see how he looked when he
+recovered from his stupor, and realized that his ring was gone."
+
+"What sort of boy was he, Tony?"
+
+"Better not call me by that name, my dear.  It might be heard,
+you know, and might not be considered in character.  As to your
+question, he was by no means a stupid boy.  Rather sharpish, I
+should say."
+
+"Then how came he to let you take him in?"
+
+"As to that, I claim to be rather sharp myself, and quite a match
+even for a smart boy.  I haven't knocked about the world
+forty-four years for nothing."
+
+They were now in Broadway.  Turning the corner of Amity street,
+they walked a short distance downtown, and paused before the
+handsome jewelry store of Ball & Black.
+
+"I think we had better go in here," said Felix Montgomery--(I
+hesitate a little by which of his numerous names to call him).
+
+"Why not go to Tiffany's?"
+
+"I gather from what the boy told me that the ring has already
+been offered there.  It would be very likely to be recognized and
+that would be awkward, you know."
+
+"Are you sure the ring has not been offered here?  asked his
+wife.
+
+"Quite sure.  The boy would have mentioned it, had such been the
+case."
+
+"Very well.  Let us go in then."
+
+The Rev. Mr. Barnes and his wife, of Hayfield Centre; entered
+the elegant store, and ten minutes later Paul Hoffman entered
+also, and took his station at the counters wholly unconscious of
+the near proximity of the man who had so artfully swindled him.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+PAUL IS CHECKMATED
+
+On entering the large jewelry store Mr. Montgomery and his wife
+walked to the rear of the store, and advanced to the counter,
+behind which stood a clerk unengaged.
+
+"What shall I show you?" he inquired
+
+"I didn't come to purchase," said Mr. Montgomery, with suavity,
+"but to sell.  I suppose you purchase jewelry at times?"
+
+"Sometimes," said the clerk.  "Let me see what you have."
+
+"First," said the adventurer, "let me introduce myself.  I am the
+Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield Centre, Connecticut.  You perhaps
+know the place?"
+
+"I don't think I remember it," said the clerk, respectfully.
+
+"It is a small place," said Mr. Montgomery, modestly, "but my
+tastes are plain and unobtrusive, and I do not aspire to a more
+conspicuous post.  However, that is not to the purpose.  A lady
+parishioner, desiring to donate a portion of her wealth to the
+poor, has placed in my hand a diamond ring, the proceeds to be
+devoted to charitable objects.  I desire to sell it, and, knowing
+the high reputation of your firm feel safe in offering it to you.
+
+I know very little of the value of such things, since they are
+not in my line, but I am sure of fair treatment at your hands."
+
+"You may depend upon that," said the clerk, favorably impressed
+with the appearance and manners of his customer.  "Allow me to
+see the ring."
+
+The brilliant was handed over the counter.
+
+"It is quite valuable," said he, scrutinizing it closely.
+
+"So I supposed, as the lady is possessed of wealth.  You may rely
+upon its being genuine."
+
+"I am not authorized to purchase, said the clerk, "but I will
+show it to one of the firm."
+
+Just at that moment, Mr. Montgomery, chancing to look toward the
+door, was startled by seeing the entrance of Paul Hoffman.  He
+saw that it would be dangerous to carry the negotiation any
+farther and he quickly gave a secret signal to his wife.
+
+The hint was instantly understood and acted upon.
+
+Mrs. Montgomery uttered a slight cry, and clung to her husband's
+arm.
+
+"My dear," she said, "I feel one of my attacks coming on.  Take
+me out quickly.
+
+"My wife is suddenly taken sick," said Mr. Montgomery, hurriedly.
+
+"She is subject to fits.  If you will give me the ring, I will
+return to-morrow and negotiate for its sale."
+
+"I am very sorry," said the clerk, with sympathy, handing back
+the ring.  "Can I get anything for the lady?"
+
+"No, thank you.  The best thing to do is to get her into the open
+air.  Thank you for your kindness."
+
+"Let me help you," said the clerk, and coming from behind the
+counter he took one arm of Mrs. Montgomery, who, leaning heavily
+on her husband and the clerk, walked, or rather was carried, to
+the street door.
+
+Of course, the attention of all within the store was drawn to the
+party.
+
+"What was the matter?" inquired a fellow-clerk, as the salesman
+returned.
+
+"It was a clergyman from Connecticut, who wished to sell a
+diamond ring, given to him for charitable purposes.  His wife was
+taken suddenly sick.  He will bring it back to-morrow."
+
+"Was the ring a valuable one?"
+
+"It must be worth in the neighborhood of three hundred dollars."
+
+Paul listened to this explanation, and a sudden light flashed
+upon him, as he heard the estimated value of the ring.  There had
+been something familiar in the appearance of the adventurer,
+though, on account of his successful disguise and his being
+accompanied by a lady, he had not before felt any suspicion as to
+his identity with the man who had swindled him.  Now he felt
+convinced that it was Mr. Felix Montgomery, and that it was his
+own appearance which had led to the sudden sickness and the
+precipitate departure.
+
+"That trick won't work, Mr. Montgomery," he said to himself. 
+"I've got on your track sooner than I anticipated, and I mean to
+follow you up."
+
+Reaching the sidewalk, he caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery
+just turning the corner of a side street.  The pair supposed they
+were safe, not thinking that our hero had recognized them, and
+the lady no longer exhibited illness, and was walking briskly at
+her husband's side.  Paul hurried up and tapped the adventurer on
+the shoulder.  Mr. Montgomery, turning, was annoyed on finding
+that he had not yet escaped.  He determined, however, to stick to
+his false character, and deny all knowledge of the morning's
+transaction.
+
+"Well, my young friend," he said, "do you want me?  I believe I
+have not the pleasure of your acquaintance."
+
+"You are mistaken there, Mr. Felix Montgomery," said Paul,
+significantly.
+
+"By what name did you address me?" said the swindler, assuming a
+tone of surprise.
+
+"I addressed you as Mr. Felix Montgomery."
+
+"You have made a mistake, my good friend.  I am an humble
+clergyman from Connecticut.  I am called the Rev. Mr. Barnes. 
+Should you ever visit Hayfield Centre, I shall be glad to receive
+a call from you."
+
+"When I last met you, you were a jeweler from Syracuse," said
+Paul, bluntly.
+
+Mr. Montgomery laughed heartily.
+
+"My dear," he said, turning to his wife, "is not this an
+excellent joke?  My young friend here thinks he recognizes in me
+a jeweler from Syracuse."
+
+"Indeed, you are quite mistaken," said the lady.  "My husband is
+a country minister.  We came up to the city this morning on a
+little business."
+
+"I understand on what business," said Paul.  "You wanted to
+dispose of a diamond ring."
+
+Mr. Montgomery was disposed to deny the charge, but a moment's
+reflection convinced him that it would be useless, as Paul had
+doubtless been informed in Ball & Black's of his business there. 
+He decided to put on a bold front and admit it.
+
+"I suppose you were in Ball & Black's just now," he said.
+
+"I was."
+
+"And so learned my business there?  But I am at a loss to
+understand why you should be interested in the matter."
+
+"That ring is mine," said Paul.  "You swindled me out of it this
+morning."
+
+"My young friend, you must certainly be insane," said Mr.
+Montgomery, shrugging his shoulders.  "My dear, did you hear
+that?"
+
+"He is an impudent boy," said the lady.  "I am surprised that you
+should be willing to talk to him."
+
+"If you leave here I will put a policeman on your track," said
+Paul.
+
+He looked so determined that Mr. Montgomery found that he must
+parley.
+
+"You are under a strange hallucination, my young friend," he
+said.  "If you will walk along with me, I think I can convince
+you of your mistake."
+
+"There is no mistake about the matter," said Paul, walking on
+with them.  "The ring is mine, and I must have it."
+
+"My dear, will you explain about the ring?  He may credit your
+testimony."
+
+"I don't see that any explanation is necessary," said the lady. 
+"However, since you wish it, I will say that the ring was handed
+you by Mrs. Benton, a wealthy lady of your parish, with
+instructions to sell it, and devote the proceeds to charitable
+purposes."
+
+"Is that explanation satisfactory?" asked Mr. Montgomery.
+
+"No, it is not," said Paul, resolutely.  "I don't believe one
+word of it.  I recognize you in spite of your dress.  You gave me
+chloroform this morning in a room in Lovejoy's Hotel, and when I
+was unconscious you made off with the ring which I expected to
+sell you.  You had better return it, or I will call a policeman."
+
+"I am not the person you take me for," said Felix Montgomery.
+
+"You are the jeweler from Syracuse who swindled me out of my
+ring."
+
+"I never was a jeweler, and never lived in Syracuse," said the
+adventurer, with entire truth.
+
+"You may be right, but that is what you told me this morning."
+
+"I wish you would go away, and cease to annoy us," said the lady,
+impatiently.
+
+"I want my ring."
+
+"We have no ring of yours."
+
+"Show me the ring, and if it is not mine I will go away."
+
+"You are a very impudent fellow, upon my word," said Mrs.
+Montgomery, sharply, "to accuse a gentleman like my husband of
+taking your ring.  I don't believe you ever had one."
+
+"My dear," interposed her husband, mildly, "I dare say my young
+friend here really thinks we have his ring.  Of course it is a
+great mistake.  Imagine what our friends in Hayfield Centre would
+think of such a charge!  But you must remember that he is
+unacquainted with my standing in the community.  In order to
+satisfy his mind, I am willing to let him see the ring."
+
+"To let him see the ring?" repeated the lady, in surprise.
+
+"Yes.  Here, my lad," taking the ring from his pocket, "this is
+the ring.  You will see at once that it is not yours."
+
+"I see that it is mine," said Paul, taking the proffered ring,
+and preparing to go, astonished at his own good fortune in so
+easily recovering it.
+
+"Not so fast!"  exclaimed Mr. Montgomery, seizing him by the
+shoulder.  "Help!  Police!"
+
+An officer had turned the corner just before, and it was this
+that had suggested the trap.  He came up quickly, and, looking
+keenly from one to the other, inquired what was the matter.
+
+"This boy has just purloined a ring from my wife," said Mr.
+Montgomery.  "Fortunately I caught him in the act."
+
+"Give up the ring, you young scoundrel!"  said the officer,
+imposed upon by the clerical appearance of the adventurer.
+
+"It is mine," said Paul.
+
+"None of your gammon!  Give up the ring, and come with me."
+
+The ring was restored to Mr. Montgomery, who overwhelmed the
+officer with a profusion of thanks.
+
+"It is not a diamond, only an imitation," he said, "but my wife
+values it as the gift of a friend.  Don't be too hard on the boy.
+
+He may not be so bad as he seems."
+
+"I'll attend to him," said the policeman, emphatically.  "I'll
+learn him to rob ladies of rings in the street.  Come along,
+sir!"
+
+Paul tried to explain matters, but no attention was paid to his
+protestations.  To his anger and mortification he saw the
+swindler make off triumphantly with the ring, while he, the
+wronged owner, was arrested as a thief.
+
+But at the station-house he had his revenge.  He was able to
+prove to his captor that he had lodged information against Mr.
+Montgomery, and the policeman in turn was mortified to think how
+readily he had been imposed upon.  Of course Paul was set free,
+but the officer's blundering interference seemed to render the
+recovery of the ring more doubtful than ever.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+A MAN OF RESOURCES
+
+"Well, that was a narrow escape," said Mr. Montgomery, with a
+sigh of relief.  "I think I managed rather cleverly, eh?"
+
+"I wanted to box the boys ears," said Mrs. Montgomery, sharply.
+
+"It wouldn't have been in character, my dear.  Ha, ha!"  he
+laughed, softly, "we imposed upon the officer neatly.  Our young
+friend got rather the worst of it."
+
+"Why don't you call things by their right names?  He isn't much
+of a friend."
+
+"Names are of no consequence, my dear."
+
+"Well, what are you going to do next?" asked the lady, abruptly.
+
+"About the ring?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"I hardly know," said Mr. Montgomery, reflectively.  "If it were
+not for appearing too anxious, I would go back to Ball & Black's
+now that our young friend is otherwise engaged, and can't
+interrupt us."
+
+"Suppose we go?"
+
+"Well, you see, it might be considered rather soon for you to
+recover from your fit.  Besides, I don't know what stories this
+boy may have thought fit to tell about us."
+
+"He didn't have time to say anything."
+
+"Perhaps you are right."
+
+"We want to dispose of the ring as soon as possible, and leave
+the city."
+
+"That is true.  Well, if you say so, we will go back."
+
+"It seems to me now is the best time.  The boy will tell his
+story to the officer and we may be inquired for."
+
+"Then, my dear, I will follow your advice."
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery turned, and directed their steps again
+toward Broadway.  The distance was short, and fifteen minutes had
+scarcely elapsed since they left the store before they again
+entered it.  They made their way to the lower end of the store
+and accosted the same clerk with whom they had before spoken.
+
+"Is your wife better?" he asked.
+
+"Much better, thank you.  A turn in the air always relieves her,
+and she is quite herself again.  I have returned because it is
+necessary for me to leave the city by the evening train, and my
+time is, therefore, short.  Will you be kind enough to show the
+ring to your employer, and ask him if he will purchase?"
+
+The clerk returned, and said that the firm would pay two hundred
+and fifty dollars, but must be assured of his right to dispose of
+it.
+
+"Did you mention my name?" asked the adventurer.
+
+"I mentioned that you were a clergyman.  I could not remember the
+name."
+
+"The Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield Centre, Connecticut.  I have
+been preaching there for--is it six or seven years, my dear?"
+
+"Seven," said his wife.
+
+"I should think that would be sufficient.  You may mention that
+to Mr. Ball or Mr. Black, if you please.  I presume after that he
+will not be afraid to purchase."
+
+Mr. Montgomery said this with an air of conscious respectability
+and high standing, which might readily impose upon strangers. 
+But, by bad luck, what he had said was heard by a person able to
+confute him.
+
+"Did you say you were from Hayfield Centre?" asked a gentleman,
+standing a few feet distant.
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Montgomery.
+
+"I think you said your name was Barnes?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And that you have been preaching there for the last seven
+years?"
+
+"Yes, sir," answered Mr. Montgomery, but there was rather less
+confidence in his tone.  In fact he was beginning to feel uneasy.
+
+"It is very strange," said the other.  "I have a sister living in
+Hayfield Centre, and frequently visit the place myself, and so of
+course know something of it.  Yet I have never heard of any
+clergyman named Barnes preaching there."
+
+Mr. Montgomery saw that things looked critical.
+
+"You are strangely mistaken, sir," he said.  "However, I will not
+press the sale.  If you will return the ring (to the clerk) I
+will dispose of it elsewhere."
+
+But the clerk's suspicions had been aroused by what had been
+said.
+
+"I will first speak to Mr. Ball," he said.
+
+"There is no occasion to speak to him.  I shall not sell the ring
+to-day.  To-morrow, I will come with witnesses whose testimony
+will outweigh that of this gentleman, who I suspect never was in
+Hayfield Centre in his life.  I will trouble you for the ring."
+
+"I hope you don't intend to give it to him," said the gentleman. 
+"The presumption is that, as he is masquerading, he has not come
+by it honestly."
+
+"I shall not deign to notice your insinuations," said Mr.
+Montgomery, who concealed beneath a consequential tone his real
+uneasiness.  "The ring, if you please."
+
+"Don't give it to him."
+
+As the clerk seemed disinclined to surrender the ring, Mr.
+Montgomery said:  "Young man, you will find it to be a serious
+matter to withhold my property."
+
+"Perhaps I had better give it to him," said the clerk, imposed
+upon by the adventurer's manner.
+
+"Require him to prove property.  If it is really his, he can
+readily do this."
+
+"My dear," said the Rev.  Mr. Barnes, "we will leave the store."
+
+"What, and leave the ring?"
+
+"For the present.  I will invoke the aid of the police to save me
+from being robbed in this extraordinary manner."
+
+He walked to the street door, accompanied by his wife.  He was
+deeply disappointed at the failure of the sale, and would gladly
+have wreaked vengeance upon the stranger who had prevented it. 
+But he saw that his safety required an immediate retreat.  In
+addition to his own disappointment, he had to bear his wife's
+censure.
+
+"If you had the spirit of a man, Mr. Montgomery," she commenced,
+"you wouldn't have given up that ring so easily.  He had no
+business to keep it."
+
+"I would have called in a policeman if I dared, but you know I am
+not on the best of terms with these gentlemen."
+
+"Are we to lose the ring, then?"
+
+"I am afraid so, unless I can make them believe in the store that
+I am really what I pretend to be."
+
+"Can't you do it?"
+
+"Not very easily, unless stay, I have an idea.  Do you see that
+young man?"
+
+He directed his wife's attention to a young man, evidently fresh
+from the country, who was approaching, staring open-eyed at the
+unwonted sights of the city.  He was dressed in a blue coat with
+brass buttons, while his pantaloons, of a check pattern,
+terminated rather higher up than was in accordance with the
+fashion.
+
+"Yes, I see him," said Mrs. Montgomery.  "What of him?"
+
+"I am going to recover the ring through his help."
+
+"I don't see how."
+
+"You will see."
+
+"How do you do?" said the adventurer, cordially, advancing to
+the young man, and seizing his hand.
+
+"Pretty smart," said the countryman, looking surprised.
+
+"Are your parents quite well?"
+
+"They're so's to be around."
+
+"When did you come to the city?"
+
+"This mornin'."
+
+"Do you stay any length of time?"
+
+"I'm goin' back this afternoon."
+
+"You didn't expect to meet me now, did you?" asked Mr.
+Montgomery.
+
+"I s'pose I'd orter know you," said the perplexed youth, "but I
+can't think what your name is."
+
+"What!  Not know Mr. Barnes, the minister of Hayfield Centre? 
+Don't you remember hearing me preach for your minister?"
+
+"Seems to me I do," answered the young man, persuading himself
+that he ought to remember.
+
+"Of course you do.  Now, my young friend, I am very glad to have
+met you."
+
+"So am I," said the other, awkwardly.
+
+"You can do me a favor, if you will."
+
+"Of course, I will," said Jonathan, "if it's anything I can do."
+
+"Yes, you will have no trouble about it.  You see, I went into a
+jeweler's near by to sell a valuable ring, and they wanted to
+make sure I was really a minister, and not intending to cheat
+them.  If you will go in with me, and say that you have often
+heard me preach, and that I am the Rev. Mr. Barnes, of Hayfield
+Centre, I won't mind paying you five dollars for your trouble."
+
+"All right; I'll do it," said the rustic, considering that it
+would be an unusually easy way of earning few dollars.
+
+"You'll remember the name, won't you?"
+
+"Yes--Parson Barnes, of Hayfield Centre."
+
+"That is right.  The store is near by.  Walk along with us, and
+we will be there in five minutes."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+A NEW EXPEDIENT
+
+"I believe your name is Peck?" said Mr. Montgomery, hazarding a
+guess.
+
+"No, it's Young, Ephraim Young."
+
+"Of course it is.  I remember now, but I am apt to forget names. 
+You said your parents were quite well?"
+
+"Yes, they're pretty smart."
+
+"I am glad to hear it; I have the pleasantest recollections of
+your excellent father.  Let me see, didn't you call there with me
+once, Mrs. Barnes?"
+
+"Not that I remember."
+
+"You must go with me the next time.  I want you to know the
+parents of our young friend.  They are excellent people.  Do you
+go back this afternoon, Mr. Young?"
+
+"Yes, I guess so.  You don't know of any sitooation I could get
+in a store round here, do you?"
+
+"Not at present, but I have some influential friends to whom I
+will mention your name.  Suppose, now, I could obtain a situation
+for you, how shall I direct the letter letting you know?"
+
+"Just put on the letter 'Ephraim Young.' Everybody in Plainfield
+knows me."
+
+"So he lives in Plainfield," said Mr. Montgomery to himself. 
+"It's as well to know that."  Then aloud: "I won't forget, Mr.
+Young.  What sort of business would you prefer?"
+
+"Any kind that'll pay," said the gratified youth, firmly
+convinced of his companion's ability to fulfill his promise. 
+"I've got tired of stayin' round home, and I'd like to try York a
+little while.  Folks say it's easy to make money here."
+
+"You are right.  If I were a business man, I would come to New
+York at once.  For a smart young man like you it offers a much
+better opening than a country village."
+
+"That's what I've told dad often," said the rustic, "but he's
+afraid I wouldn't get nothing to do and he says it's dreadful
+expensive livin' here."
+
+"So it is expensive, but then you will be better paid than in the
+country.  However, here we are.  You won't forget what I told
+you?"
+
+"No--I'll remember," said the young man.
+
+The reappearance of Mr. Barnes and wife so soon excited some
+surprise in the store, for it had got around, as such things
+will, that he was an impostor, and it was supposed that he would
+not venture to show his face there again.  The appearance of his
+rustic companion likewise attracted attention.  Certainly, Mr.
+Montgomery (it makes little difference what we call him) did not
+exhibit the slightest appearance of apprehension, but his manner
+was quite cool and self-possessed.  He made his way to that part
+of the counter attended by the clerk with whom he had before
+spoken.  He observed with pleasure and relief that the man who
+had questioned his identity with any of the ministers of Hayfield
+Centre was no longer in the store.  This would make the recovery
+of the ring considerably easier.
+
+"Well, sir," he said, addressing the clerk, "I suppose you did
+not expect to see me again so soon?"
+
+"No, sir."
+
+"Nor did I expect to be able to return for the ring before
+to-morrow, not supposing that I could bring witnesses to prove
+that I was what I represented.  But fortunately I met just now a
+young friend, who can testify to my identity, as he has heard me
+preach frequently in Plainfield, where he resides.  Mr. Young,
+will you be kind enough to tell this gentleman who I am?"
+
+"Parson Barnes, of Hayfield Centre," said the youth, confidently.
+
+"You have heard me preach, have you not, in Plainfield?"
+
+"Yes," said the young man, fully believing that he was telling
+the truth.
+
+"And I have called on your parents?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I think," said the adventurer, "that will be sufficient to
+convince you that I am what I appear."
+
+It was hard to doubt, in the face of such evidence.  Ephraim
+Young was so unmistakably from the rural districts that it would
+have been absurd to suspect him of being an artful city rogue. 
+Besides, Mr. Barnes himself was got up so naturally that all the
+clerk's doubts vanished at once.  He concluded that the customer
+who had questioned his genuineness must be very much mistaken.
+
+"I ought to apologize to you, sir," he said, "for doubting your
+word.  But in a city like this you know one has to be very
+careful."
+
+"Of course," said the adventurer, blandly, "I do not blame you in
+the least.  You only did your duty, though it might have cost me
+some trouble and inconvenience."
+
+"I am sorry, sir."
+
+"No apologies, I beg.  It has all turned out right, and your
+mistake was a natural one.  If you will kindly return me the
+ring, I will defer selling it, I think, till another day."
+
+The clerk brought the ring, which he handed back to Mr.
+Montgomery.  The latter received it with so much the more
+satisfaction, as he had made up his mind at one time that it was
+gone irrevocably, and put it away in his waistcoat pocket.
+
+"I had intended to buy some silver spoons," he said, "but it will
+be necessary to wait until I have disposed of the ring.  However,
+I may as well look at some, eh, Mrs. Barnes?"
+
+"If you like," assented the lady.
+
+So the pair examined some spoons, and fixed upon a dozen, which
+they said they would return and buy on the next day, and then,
+with a polite good-by, went out of the store, leaving behind, on
+the whole, a favorable impression.
+
+Ephraim Young accompanied them out, and walked along beside them
+in the street.  He, too, was in good spirits, for had not his
+companion promised him five dollars for his services, which he
+had faithfully rendered?  Five dollars to the young man from the
+rural districts was a very considerable sum of money--quite a
+nugget, in fact--and he already enjoyed in advance the pleasure
+which he anticipated of telling his friends at home how easily he
+had earned such a sum in "York."  He walked along beside the
+adventurer, expecting that he would say something about paying
+him, but no allusion was made by the adventurer to his promise. 
+Indeed, five dollars was considerably more than he had in his
+possession.  When they reached Amity street, for they were now
+proceeding up Broadway, he sought to shake off the young man,
+whose company he no longer desired.
+
+"This is our way," he said.  "I suppose you are going further.  I
+am very glad to have met you, Mr. Young.  I hope you will give
+our regards to your excellent parents;" and he held out his hand
+in token of farewell.
+
+"Ain't you goin' to pay me that money?" said Ephraim, bluntly,
+becoming alarmed at the prospect of losing the nugget he had
+counted on with so much confidence.
+
+"Bless me, I came near forgetting it!  I hope you will excuse
+me," and to Ephraim's delight he drew out his pocketbook.  But
+the prospect of payment was not so bright as the young man
+supposed.
+
+"I don't think I have a five-dollar bill," said Mr. Montgomery,
+after an examination of the pocketbook.  "Mrs. Montgomery, do you
+happen to have a five with you?"
+
+"No, I haven't," said the lady, promptly.  "I spent all my money
+shopping this morning."
+
+"That is unfortunate.  Our young friend has rendered us such a
+service I don't like to make him wait for his money."
+
+Ephraim Young looked rather blank at this suggestion.
+
+"Let me see, I have a hundred-dollar bill here," said Mr.
+Montgomery.  "I will go into the next store, and see if I can't
+get it changed.  Mr. Young, will you be kind enough to remain
+with my wife?"
+
+"Certain," said Ephraim, brightening up.
+
+Mr. Montgomery went into a shop near by, but made no request to
+have a hundred-dollar bill changed.  He was rather afraid that
+they might comply with his request, which would have subjected
+him to some embarrassment.  He merely inquired if he could use a
+pen for a moment; request which was readily granted.  In less
+than five minutes he emerged into the street again.  Ephraim
+Young looked toward him eagerly.
+
+"I am sorry to say, my young friend," he remarked, "that I was
+unable to get my bill changed.  I might get it changed at a bank,
+but the banks are all closed at this hour."
+
+The countryman looked disturbed.
+
+"I am afraid," continued Mr. Montgomery, "I must wait and send
+you the money in a letter from Hayfield Centre."
+
+"I'd rather have it now," said Ephraim.
+
+"I am sorry to disappoint you," said the adventurer smoothly;
+"but after all you will only have a day or two to wait.  To make
+up to you for the delay I have decided to send you ten dollars
+instead of five.  Finding I could not change my bill, I wrote a
+note for the amount, which I will hand you."
+
+Ephraim received the paper, which the other handed him, and read
+as follows:
+
+                                  NEW YORK, Sept 15, 18--.
+
+Three days from date I promise to pay Mr. Ephraim Young ten
+dollars.                   
+                        JOTHAM BARNES, of Hayfield Centre.
+
+"How will that do?" asked the adventurer.  "By waiting three
+days you double your money."
+
+"You'll be sure to send it," said Ephraim, doubtfully.
+
+"My young friend, I hope you do not doubt me," said the Rev. Mr.
+Barnes, impressively.
+
+"I guess it's all right," said Ephraim, "only I thought I might
+like to spend the money in the city."
+
+"Much better save it up," said the other.  "By and by it may come
+in useful."
+
+Ephraim carefully folded up the note, and deposited it in an
+immense wallet, the gift of his father.  He would have preferred
+the money which it represented: but three days would soon pass,
+and the ten dollars would be forwarded to him.  He took leave of
+his new acquaintances, Mr. Montgomery shaking his hand with
+affectionate warmth, and requesting him to give his best respects
+to his parents.  When Ephraim was out of sight he returned to his
+wife, with a humorous twinkle in his eye, and said:
+
+"Wasn't that cleverly done, old lady?"
+
+"Good enough!"  remarked the lady.  "Now you've got the ring back
+again, what are you going to do with it?"
+
+"That, my dear, is a subject which requires the maturest
+consideration.  I shall endeavor to convert it as soon as
+possible into the largest possible sum in greenbacks.  Otherwise
+I am afraid our board bill, and the note I have just given to my
+rural friend, will remain unpaid."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+MR. MONTGOMERY'S ARREST
+
+Having shaken off his country acquaintance, of whom he had no
+further need, Mr. Montgomery started to return to his lodgings. 
+On the whole, he was in good spirits, though he had not effected
+the sale of the ring.  But it was still in his possession, and it
+had a tangible value.
+
+"I am sorry you did not sell the ring," said Mrs. Montgomery.
+
+"So am I," said her husband.  "We may have to sell it in some
+other city."
+
+"We can't leave the city without money."
+
+"That's true," returned her husband, rather taken aback by what
+was undeniably true.
+
+"We must sell the ring, or raise money on it, in New York."
+
+"I don't know but you are right.  The trouble is, there are not
+many places where they will buy so expensive an article. 
+Besides, they will be apt to ask impertinent questions."
+
+"You might go to a pawnbroker's."
+
+"And get fleeced.  If I got a quarter of the value from a
+pawnbroker, I should be lucky."
+
+"We must do something with it," said Mrs. Montgomery, decidedly.
+
+"Right, my dear.  We must get the sinews of war somewhere. 
+Richard will never be himself again till his pocketbook is lined
+with greenbacks.  At present, who steals my purse steals trash."
+
+"Suppose you try Tiffany's?"
+
+"The ring has already been offered there.  They might remember
+it."
+
+"If they do, say that he is your son."
+
+"A good thought," answered the husband.  "I will act upon it. 
+But, on the whole, I'll doff this disguise, and assume my
+ordinary garments.  This time, my dear, I shall not need your
+assistance."
+
+"Well, the sooner it's done the better.  That's all I have to
+say."
+
+"As soon as possible."
+
+Mr. Montgomery returned to his lodgings in Amity street, and,
+taking off his clerical garb, appeared in the garb in which we
+first made his acquaintance.  The change was very speedily
+effected.
+
+"Wish me good luck, Mrs. M.," he said, as he opened the door.  "I
+am going to make another attempt."
+
+"Good luck to you, Tony!  Come back soon."
+
+"As soon as my business is completed.  If I get the money, we
+will leave for Philadelphia this evening.  You may as well be
+packing up."
+
+"I am afraid the landlady won't let us carry away our baggage
+unless we pay our bill."
+
+"Never mind!  Pack it up, and we'll run our chance."
+
+Felix Montgomery left the house with the ring carefully deposited
+in his vest pocket.  To judge from his air of easy indifference,
+he might readily have been taken for a substantial citizen in
+excellent circumstances; but then appearances are oftentimes
+deceitful, and they were especially so in the present instance.
+
+He made his way quickly to Broadway, and thence to Tiffany's, at
+that time not so far uptown as at present.  He entered the store
+with a nonchalant air, and, advancing to the counter, accosted
+the same clerk to whom Paul had shown the ring earlier in the
+day.
+
+"I have a valuable ring which I would like to sell," he said. 
+"Will you tell me its value?"
+
+The clerk no sooner took it in his hand than he recognized it.
+
+"I have seen that ring before," he said, looking at Mr.
+Montgomery keenly.
+
+"Yes," said the latter, composedly; "this morning, wasn't it?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"My boy brought it in here.  I ought not to have sent him, for he
+came very near losing it on the way home.  I thought it best to
+come with it myself."
+
+This was said so quietly that it was hard to doubt the statement,
+or would have been if information had not been brought to the
+store that the ring had been stolen.
+
+"Yes, boys are careless," assented the clerk, not caring to
+arouse Mr. Montgomery's suspicions.  "You wish to sell the ring,
+I suppose."
+
+"Yes," answered the other; "I don't like to carry a ring of so
+great value.  Several times I have come near having it stolen. 
+Will you buy it?"
+
+"I am not authorized to make the purchase," said the clerk.  "I
+will refer the matter to Mr. Tiffany."
+
+"Very well," said Mr. Montgomery.  "I am willing to accept
+whatever he may pronounce a fair price."
+
+"No doubt," thought the clerk.
+
+He carried the ring to his employer, and quickly explained the
+circumstances.
+
+"The man is doubtless a thief.  He must be arrested," said the
+jeweler.
+
+"If I go for an officer, he will take alarm."
+
+"Invite him to come into the back part of the shop, and I will
+protract the negotiation while you summon a policeman."
+
+The clerk returned, and at his invitation Mr. Montgomery walked
+to the lower end of the store, where he was introduced to the
+head of the establishment.  Sharp though he was, he suspected no
+plot.
+
+"You are the owner of this ring?" asked Mr. Tiffany.
+
+"Yes, sir," said the adventurer.  "It has been in our family for
+a long time."
+
+"But you wish to sell it now?"
+
+"Yes; I have come near losing it several times, and prefer to
+dispose of it.  What is its value?"
+
+"That requires some consideration.  I will examine it closely."
+
+Mr. Montgomery stood with his back to the entrance, waiting
+patiently, while the jeweler appeared to be engaged in a close
+examination of the ring.  He congratulated himself that no
+questions had been asked which it might have been difficult for
+him to answer.  He made up his mind that after due examination
+Mr. Tiffany would make an offer, which he determined in advance
+to accept, whatever it might be, since he would consider himself
+fortunate to dispose of it at even two-thirds of its value.
+
+Meanwhile the clerk quietly slipped out of the store, and at a
+short distance encountered a policeman, upon whom he called for
+assistance.  At the same moment Paul and Mr. Preston came up. 
+Our hero, on being released from arrest, had sought Mr. Preston,
+and the latter obligingly agreed to go with him to Tiffany's, and
+certify to his honesty, that, if the ring should be brought
+there, it might be retained for him.  Paul did not recognize the
+clerk, but the latter at once remembered him.
+
+"Are you not the boy that brought a diamond ring into our store
+this morning?" he asked.
+
+"Into Tiffany's?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Have you seen anything of it?" asked our hero, eagerly.  "I am
+the one who brought it in."
+
+"A man just brought it into the store," said the clerk.
+
+"Is he there now?"
+
+"He is talking with Mr. Tiffany.  I came out for a policeman.  He
+will be arrested at once."
+
+"Good!"  ejaculated Paul; "I am in luck.  I thought I should
+never see the ring again.  What sort of a man is he?"
+
+From the description, Paul judged that it was Felix Montgomery
+himself, and, remembering what a trick the adventurer had played
+upon him at Lovejoy's Hotel, he felt no little satisfaction in
+the thought that the trapper was himself trapped at last.
+
+"I'll go along with you," he said.  "I want to see that man
+arrested."
+
+"You had better stay outside just at first, until we have secured
+him."
+
+Meanwhile Mr. Tiffany, after a prolonged examination, said:  "The
+ring is worth two hundred and fifty dollars."
+
+"That will be satisfactory," said Mr. Montgomery, promptly.
+
+"Shall I give you a check for the amount?" asked the jeweler.
+
+"I should prefer the money, as I am a stranger in the city, and
+not known at the banks."
+
+"I can make the check payable to bearer, and then you will have
+no difficulty in getting it cashed."
+
+While this conversation was going on, the clerk entered the store
+with the policeman, but Mr. Montgomery's back was turned, and he
+was not aware of the fact till the officer tapped him on the
+shoulder, saying: "You are my prisoner."
+
+"What does this mean?  There is some mistake," said the
+adventurer, wheeling round with a start.
+
+"No mistake at all.  You must come with me."
+
+"What have I done?  You take me for some one else."
+
+"You have stolen a diamond ring."
+
+"Who says so?" demanded the adventurer, boldly.  "It is true I
+brought one here to sell, but it has belonged to me for years."
+
+"You are mistaken, Mr. Montgomery," said Paul, who had come up
+unperceived.  "You stole that ring from me this morning, after
+dosing me with chloroform at Lovejoy's Hotel."
+
+"It is a lie," said the adventurer, boldly.  "That boy is my son.
+
+He is in league with his mother to rob me.  She sent him here
+this morning unknown to me.  Finding it out, I took the ring from
+him, and brought it here myself."
+
+Paul was certainly surprised at being claimed as a son by the man
+who had swindled him, and answered: "I never saw you before this
+morning.  I have no father living."
+
+"I will guarantee this boy's truth and honesty," said Mr.
+Preston, speaking for the first time.  "I believe you know me,
+Mr. Tiffany."
+
+"I need no other assurance," said the jeweler, bowing.  "Officer,
+you may remove your prisoner."
+
+"The game is up," said the adventurer, finding no further chance
+for deception.  "I played for high stakes, and I have lost the
+game.  I have one favor to ask.  Will some one let my wife know
+where I am?"
+
+"Give me her address," said Paul, "and I will let her know."
+
+"No. ---- Amity street.  Ask her to come to the station-house to
+see me."
+
+"I will go at once."
+
+"Thank you," said Mr. Montgomery; "as I am not to have the ring,
+I don't know that I am sorry it has fallen into your hands.  One
+piece of advice I will venture to offer you, my lad," he added,
+smiling.  "Beware of any jewelers hailing from Syracuse.  They
+will cheat you, if you give them a chance."
+
+"I will be on my guard," said Paul.  "Can I do anything more for
+you?"
+
+"Nothing, thank you.  I have a fast friend at my side, who will
+look after me."
+
+The officer smiled grimly at the jest, and the two left the store
+arm in arm.
+
+"Do you still wish to sell this ring?" asked Mr. Tiffany,
+addressing Paul.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"I renew my offer of this morning.  I will give you two hundred
+and fifty dollars."
+
+"I shall be glad to accept it."
+
+The sale was quickly effected, and Paul left the store with what
+seemed to him a fortune in his pocket
+
+"Be careful not to lose your money," said Mr Preston.
+
+"I should like to place a hundred and fifty dollars in your
+hands," said Paul, turning to Mr. Preston.
+
+"I will willingly take care of it for you, and allow you interest
+upon it."
+
+The transfer was made, and, carefully depositing the balance of
+the money in his pocketbook, our hero took leave of his friend
+and sought the house in Amity street.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+PAUL'S FINAL SUCCESS
+
+Mrs. Montgomery impatiently awaited the return of her husband. 
+Meanwhile she commenced packing the single trunk which answered
+both for her husband and herself.  She was getting tired of New
+York, and anxious to leave for Philadelphia, being fearful lest
+certain little transactions in which she and her husband had
+taken part should become known to the police.
+
+She had nearly completed her packing when Paul rang the doorbell.
+
+The summons was answered by the landlady in person.
+
+"Is Mrs. Montgomery at home?" asked Paul.
+
+"No such lady lives here," was the answer.
+
+It occurred to Paul as very possible that Mr. Montgomery might
+pass under a variety of names.  He accordingly said, "Perhaps I
+have got the name wrong.  The lady I mean is tall.  I come with a
+message from her husband, who is a stout man with black hair and
+whiskers.  He gave me this number."
+
+"Perhaps you mean Mr. Grimsby.  He and his wife live here."
+
+"Probably that is the name," said Paul.
+
+"I will give Mrs. Grimsby your message," returned the landlady,
+whose curiosity was excited to learn something further about her
+boarders.
+
+"Thank you," said Paul; "but it is necessary for me to see the
+lady myself."
+
+"Well, you can follow me, then," said the landlady, rather
+ungraciously.
+
+She led the way upstairs, and knocked at the door of Mrs.
+Grimsby, or as we will still call her, Mrs. Montgomery, since
+that name is more familiar to the reader, and she was as much
+entitled to the one as the other.
+
+Mrs. Montgomery opened the door, and regarded our hero
+suspiciously, for her mode of life had taught her suspicion of
+strangers.
+
+"Here's a boy that wants to see you," said the landlady.
+
+"I come with a message from your husband," said Paul.
+
+Mrs. Montgomery remembered Paul as the boy who was the real owner
+of the diamond ring, and she eyed him with increased suspicion.
+
+"Did my husband send you?  When did you see him."
+
+"Just now, at Tiffany's," answered Paul, significantly.
+
+"What is his message?" asked Mrs. Montgomery, beginning to feel
+uneasy.
+
+Paul glanced at the landlady, who, in the hope of gratifying her
+curiosity, maintained her stand by his side.
+
+"The message is private," he said.
+
+"I suppose that means that I am in the way," remarked the
+landlady, sharply.  "I don't want to pry into anybody's secrets. 
+Thank Heaven, I haven't got any secrets of my own."
+
+"Walk in, young man," said Mrs. Montgomery.
+
+Paul entered the room, and she closed the door behind him. 
+Meanwhile the landlady, who had gone part way downstairs,
+retraced her steps, softly, and put her ear to the keyhole.  Her
+curiosity, naturally strong, had been stimulated by Paul's
+intimation that there was a secret.
+
+"Now," said Mrs. Montgomery, impatiently, "out with it!  Why does
+my husband send a message by you, instead of coming himself?"
+
+"He can't come himself."
+
+"Why can't he?"
+
+"I am sorry to say that I am the bearer of bad news," said Paul,
+gravely.  "Your husband has been arrested for robbing me of a
+diamond ring."
+
+"Where is he?" demanded Mrs. Montgomery, not so much excited or
+overcome as she would have been had this been the first time her
+husband had fallen into the clutches of the law.
+
+"At the street station-house.  He wants you to come and see him."
+
+"Have you got the ring back?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Mrs. Montgomery was sorry to hear it.  She hoped her husband
+might be able to secrete it, in which case he would pass it over
+to her to dispose of.  Now she was rather awkwardly situated,
+being without money, or the means of making any.
+
+"I will go," she said.
+
+Paul, who was sitting next to the door, opened it suddenly, with
+unexpected effort, for the landlady, whose ear was fast to the
+keyhole, staggered into the room involuntarily.
+
+"So you were listening, ma'am, were you?" demanded Mrs.
+Montgomery, scornfully.
+
+"Yes, I was," said the landlady, rather red in the face.
+
+"You were in good business."
+
+"It's a better business than stealing diamond rings," retorted
+the landlady, recovering herself.  "I've long suspected there was
+something wrong about you and your husband, ma'am, and now I know
+it.  I don't want no thieves nor jail birds in my house, and the
+sooner you pay your bill and leave, the better I'll like it."
+
+"I'll leave as soon as you like, but I can't pay your bill."
+
+"I dare say," retorted the landlady.  "You're a nice character to
+cheat an honest woman out of four weeks' board."
+
+
+
+"Well, Paul, what news?" asked Barry.
+
+"I am ready to buy your stand," said Paul.
+
+"Can you pay me all the money down?"
+
+"On the spot."
+
+"Then it is all settled," said Barry, with satisfaction.  "I am
+glad of it, for now I shall be able to go on to Philadelphia
+to-morrow."
+
+Paul drew a roll of bills from his pocket, and proceeded to count
+out thirty-five dollars.  Barry noticed with surprise that he had
+a considerable amount left.
+
+"You are getting rich, Paul," he said.
+
+"I am not rich yet," answered Paul, "but I mean to be some time
+if I can accomplish it by industry and attention to business."
+
+"You'll be sure to succeed," said George Barry.  "You're just the
+right sort.  Good-by, old fellow.  When you come on to
+Philadelphia come and see me."
+
+"I may establish a branch stand in Philadelphia before long,"
+said Paul, jocosely.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+When Paul was left in charge of the stand, and realized that it
+was his own, he felt a degree of satisfaction which can be
+imagined.  He had been a newsboy, a baggage-smasher, and in fact
+had pretty much gone the round of the street trades, but now he
+felt that he had advanced one step higher.  Some of my readers
+may not appreciate the difference, but to Paul it was a great
+one.  He was not a merchant prince, to be sure, but he had a
+fixed place of business, and with his experience he felt
+confident he could make it pay.
+
+"I am sure I can make from ten to fifteen dollars a week," he
+said to himself.  "I averaged over a dollar a day when I worked
+for George Barry, and then I only got half-profits.  Now I shall
+have the whole."
+
+This consideration was a very agreeable one.  He would be able to
+maintain his mother and little Jimmy in greater comfort than
+before, and this he cared more for than for any extra indulgences
+for himself.  In fact, he could relieve his mother entirely from
+the necessity of working, and yet live better than at present. 
+When Paul thought of this, it gave him a thrill of satisfaction,
+and made him feel almost like a man.
+
+He set to work soliciting custom, and soon had sold three
+neckties at twenty-five cents each.
+
+"All that money is mine," he thought, proudly.  "I haven't got to
+hand any of it over to George Barry.  That's a comfort."
+
+As this thought occurred to him he recognized an old acquaintance
+strolling along the sidewalk in his direction.  It was no other
+than Jim Parker, the friend and crony of Mike Donovan, who will
+be remembered as figuring in not a very creditable way in the
+earlier chapters of this story.  It so happened that he and Paul
+had not met for some time, and Jim was quite ignorant of Paul's
+rise in life.
+
+As for Jim himself, no great change had taken place in his
+appearance or prospects.  His suit was rather more ragged and
+dirty than when we first made his acquaintance, having been worn
+night and day in the streets, by night stretched out in some
+dirty alley or out-of-the-way corner, where Jim found cheap
+lodgings.  He strolled along with his hands in his pockets, not
+much concerned at the deficiencies in his costume.
+
+"Hallo!"  said he, stopping opposite Paul's stand.  "What are you
+up to?"
+
+"You can see for yourself," answered Paul.  "I am selling
+neckties."
+
+"How long you've been at it?"
+
+"Just begun."
+
+"Who's your boss?"
+
+"I haven't any."
+
+"You ain't runnin' the stand yourself, be you?" asked Jim, in
+surprise.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Where'd you borrow the stamps?"
+
+"Of my mother," said Paul.  "Can't I sell you a necktie this
+morning?"
+
+"Not much," said Jim, laughing at the joke.  "I've got my trunks
+stuffed full of 'em at home, but I don't wear 'em only Sundays. 
+Do you make much money?"
+
+"I expect to do pretty well."
+
+"What made you give up sellin' prize packages?" asked Jim slyly.
+
+
+"Customers like you," answered Paul.
+
+Jim laughed.
+
+"You didn't catch me that time you lost your basket," he said.
+
+"That was a mean trick," said Paul, indignantly.
+
+"You don't want to hire me to sell for you, do you?"
+
+"That's where you're right.  I don't."
+
+"I'd like to go into the business."
+
+"You'd better open a second-hand clothing store," suggested Paul,
+glancing at his companion's ragged attire.
+
+"Maybe I will," said Jim with a grin, "if you'll buy of me."
+
+"I don't like the style," said Paul.  "Who's your tailor?"
+
+"He lives round in Chatham street.  Say, can't you lend a fellow
+a couple of shillin' to buy some breakfast?"
+
+"Have you done any work to-day?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then you can't expect to eat if you don't work."
+
+"I didn't have no money to start with."
+
+"Suppose you had a quarter, what would you do?"
+
+"I'd buy a ten-cent plate of meat, and buy some evenin' papers
+with the rest."
+
+"If you'll do that, I'll give you what you ask for."
+
+"You'll give me two shillin'?" repeated Jim, incredulously, for
+he remembered how he had wronged Paul.
+
+"Yes," said Paul.  "Here's the money;" and he drew a
+twenty-five-cent piece from his vest pocket, and handed it to
+Jim.
+
+"You give me that after the mean trick I played you?" said Jim.
+
+"Yes; I am sorry for you and want to help you along."
+
+"You're a brick!"  exclaimed Jim, emphatically.  "If any feller
+tries to play a trick on you, you just tell me, and I'll lam
+him."
+
+"All right, Jim!"  said Paul, kindly; "I'll remember it."
+
+"There ain't anybody you want licked, is there?" asked Jim,
+earnestly.
+
+"Not at present, thank you," said Paul, smiling.
+
+"When you do, I'm on hand," said Jim.  "Now I'll go and get some
+grub."
+
+He shuffled along toward Ann street, where there was a cheap
+eating-house, in which ten cents would pay for a plate of meat. 
+He was decidedly hungry, and did justice to the restaurant, whose
+style of cookery, though not very choice, suited him so well that
+he could readily have eaten three plates of meat instead of one,
+but for the prudent thought that compelled him to reserve enough
+to embark in business afterwards.  Jim was certainly a hard
+ticket; but Paul's unexpected kindness had won him, and produced
+a more profound impression than a dozen floggings could have
+done.  I may add that Jim proved luck in his business investment,
+and by the close of the afternoon had enough money to provide
+himself with supper and lodging, besides a small fund to start
+with the next day.
+
+Paul sold three more neckties, and then, though it yet lacked an
+hour of the time when he generally proposed to close, he prepared
+to go home.  He wanted to communicate the good news to his mother
+and little Jimmy.
+
+Mrs. Hoffman raised her eyes from her sewing as he entered.
+
+"Well, Paul," she said, "have you heard anything of the ring?"
+
+"Yes, mother, it's sold."
+
+"Is it?  Well, we must do without it, then," said his mother in a
+tone of disappointment.
+
+"There won't be any trouble about that, mother, as long as we
+have got the money for it.  I would rather have that than the
+ring."  
+
+"Did you recover it, then?" asked his mother, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, mother--listen and I will tell you all about it."
+
+He sat down and told the story to two very attentive listeners.
+
+"What did you do with the money, Paul?" asked Jimmy.
+
+"Mr. Preston is keeping a hundred and fifty dollars for me.  He
+will allow seven per cent. interest.  But I must not forget that
+the money belongs to you, mother, and not to me.  Perhaps you
+would prefer to deposit it in a savings bank."
+
+"I am quite satisfied with your disposal of it, Paul," said Mrs.
+Hoffman.  "I little thought, when I found the ring, that it would
+be of such service to us."
+
+"It has set me up in business," said Paul, "and I am sure to make
+money.  But I am getting out of stock.  I must go round and buy
+some more neckties to-morrow."
+
+"How much do you pay for your ties, Paul?" asked his mother.
+
+"One shilling; I sell them for two.  That gives me a good
+profit."
+
+"I wonder whether I couldn't make them?" said Mrs. Hoffman.  "I
+find there is no sewing at present to be got, and, besides," she
+added, "I think I would rather work for you than for a stranger."
+
+"There is no need of your working, mother.  I can earn enough to
+support the family."
+
+"While I have health I would prefer to work, Paul."
+
+"Then I will bring round some of the ties to-morrow.  I have two
+or three kinds.  There is nothing very hard about any of them.  I
+think they would be easy to make."
+
+"That will suit me much better than making shirts."
+
+"Suppose I admit you to the firm, mother?  I can get a large
+signboard, and have painted on it:
+    PAUL HOFFMAN AND MOTHER, DEALERS IN NECKTIES.
+How would that sound?"
+
+"I think I would leave the business part in your hands, Paul."
+
+"I begin to feel like a wholesale merchant already," said Paul. 
+"Who knows but I may be one some day?"
+
+"Many successful men have begun as low down," said his mother;
+"with energy and industry much may be accomplished."
+
+"Do you think I'll ever be a wholesale painter?" asked Jimmy,
+whose small ears had drank in the conversation.
+
+"Better try for it, Jimmy," said Paul.  "I don't know exactly
+what a wholesale painter is, unless it's one who paints houses."
+
+"I shouldn't like that," said the little boy.
+
+"Then, Jimmy, you'd better be a retail painter."
+
+"I guess I will," said Jimmy, seriously.
+
+Thus far we have accompanied Paul Hoffman in his career.  He is
+considerably better off than when we met him peddling prize
+packages in front of the post office.  But we have reason to
+believe that greater success awaits him.  He will figure in the
+next two volumes of this series, more particularly in the second,
+to be called "Slow and Sure; or, From the Sidewalk to the Shop." 
+Before this appears, however, I propose to describe the
+adventures of a friend and protegee of Paul's--under the title of
+PHIL THE FIDDLER; OR, THE YOUNG STREET MUSICIAN.
+[Which will be our next Etext, after the Unabridged Dictionary]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Paul the Peddler
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