paul the peddler-第31章
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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?〃 aske