Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER VI.

  MR. GILBERT IS ASTONISHED.

  When Dick woke up in the morning the first thing he thought of was hiswatch, the next the check which he had received from Mr. Rockwell.

  "I'll go to the bank this morning, and get my money," said he.

  "How are you going to invest it, Dick?" asked Fosdick.

  "I don't know," said Dick. "I'll put it in the savings bank till Idecide. That'll make more'n eleven hundred dollars. I didn't use tothink I ever'd be worth that, when I slept in boxes and old wagons."

  "Eleven hundred dollars at six per cent. interest will yield yousixty-six dollars a year."

  "So it will," said Dick, "and all without working. I tell you what,Fosdick, at this rate I'll soon be a man of fortune."

  "Yes, if you can make a thousand dollars a day."

  "I wonder what old Gilbert'll say when he sees it," said Dick.

  "Who's he?"

  "He's the book-keeper. He aint very fond of me."

  "What has he against you?"

  "He thinks I don't treat him with proper respect," said Dick. "Besideshe tried to get his cousin Roswell Crawford in, but he couldn't."

  "Then it seems both of us have interfered with Roswell."

  "He's got a place now. I guess he's the senior partner by the way hetalks."

  The breakfast-bell rang, and the boys went down to breakfast. Cliftonwas down already, and was standing in front of stove. Being an observingyoung man he at once noticed Dick's watch-chain.

  "Halloa, Hunter!" said he; "I didn't know you had a watch."

  "I didn't know it myself till last night," said Dick.

  "Where did you get it?"

  "It came from Ball & Black's," said our hero, willing to mystify him.

  "That's a nice chain,--solid gold, eh?"

  "Do you think I'd wear anything else?" asked Dick, loftily.

  "Will you allow me to look at the watch?"

  "Certainly," said Dick, drawing it from his pocket, and submitting it toClifton's inspection.

  "It's a regular beauty," said the young man, enthusiastically. "Do youmind telling how much you paid for it?"

  "How much do you think?"

  "A hundred dollars?"

  "It cost all of that," said Dick, confidently. "If you see one for saleat that price, just let me know, and I'll buy it for a speculation."

  "You must be getting a pretty good salary to buy such a watch as that."

  "Pretty good," said Dick, carelessly.

  Mr. Clifton was rather a shallow young man, who was fond of show, andhad a great respect for those who were able to make it. When Dick firstcame to the boarding-house he looked down upon him as a boy; but nowthat he proved to be the possessor of an elegant gold watch and chain,and might, therefore, be regarded as in prosperous circumstances, heconceived a high respect for him. The truth was that Clifton himselfonly got two dollars a week more than Dick, yet he paid eight dollars aweek for board, and spent the rest in dress. His reputation amongtailors was not the best, being always more ready to order new clothesthan to pay for them.

  While they were talking the rest of the boarders entered, and breakfastcommenced. Miss Peyton was there, of course.

  "How did you find your friends in Madison Avenue last evening, Mr.Hunter?" she inquired.

  "They were all up and dressed," said Dick. "They sent their partic'larregards to you."

  "Oh, you wicked story-teller!" simpered Miss Peyton; "just as if I'dbelieve such nonsense. Have they got a nice house?"

  "Beautiful," said Dick. "I haven't seen any like it since I called onQueen Victoria last year."

  "How is the house furnished?"

  "Well," said Dick, "as near as I can remember, there's diamonds workedin the carpet, and all the tables and chairs is of gold. They'd berather hard to set on if it twan't for the velvet cushions."

  "Aint you afraid to tell such stories, Mr. Hunter? Mr. Fosdick, you willhave to talk to your friend."

  "I am afraid it wouldn't do much good, Miss Peyton, if you fail to curehim."

  "Mr. Hunter has just been investing in a handsome watch," remarkedClifton, passing his cup for a second cup of coffee.

  "Oh, do let me look at it! I dote on watches," said Miss Peyton.

  "Certainly," said Dick; and he detached the chain from his button-hole,and passed the watch across the table.

  "It's a perfect little love," said Miss Peyton, enthusiastically. "Isn'tit, Mrs. Browning?"

  "It is very beautiful, certainly," said the landlady. She could not helpfeeling surprised that Dick, who, it will be remembered, had representedhimself at his first visit to be in limited circumstances, and nowoccupied one of her cheapest rooms, could afford to purchase an articlewhich was evidently so costly.

  "Where did you buy it, Mr. Hunter?" asked another boarder.

  "I did not buy it at all," said Dick, deciding to let it be known how itcame into his possession. "It was given to me."

  "Perhaps you'll mention my name to the person that gave it to you," saidMr. Clifton. "If he's got any more to dispose of in that way, I shouldlike to come in for one."

  "How do you know but it may have come from a _lady_ friend, Mr.Clifton?" said Miss Peyton, slyly.

  "How is that, Hunter?"

  "I haven't had any presents from any of my lady friends yet," said Dick."Perhaps I may some time."

  "You don't mean anybody in particular, of course, Mr. Hunter?" said MissPeyton.

  "Oh, no, of course not."

  This conversation may seem scarcely worth recording, but it will serveto illustrate the character of Dick's fellow-boarders. Miss Peyton wasrather silly and affected, but she was good-natured, and Dick felt moreat home with her than he would have done had she been a lady like Mrs.Rockwell, for instance. It got to be the custom with Dick and Fosdick toremain in the parlor a short time after supper, or rather dinner, forthis was the third meal, and Fosdick joined the young lady in singing.Dick unfortunately had not been gifted by nature with a voice attuned tomelody, and he participated only as a listener, in which capacity heenjoyed the entertainment.

  After breakfast Dick set out for the store as usual. He felt unusuallyhappy and independent as he walked along. The check in his pocket madehim feel rich. He wondered how it would be best to invest his money soas to yield him the largest return. He wisely decided to take Mr.Murdock, the head clerk, into his confidence, and ask his advice uponthis point.

  When Dick arrived at the store neither Mr. Gilbert nor Mr. Murdock hadyet arrived. Half an hour later the latter came, and five minutes afterhim the book-keeper.

  The latter noticed that the morning paper appeared to have beendisturbed, and, glad of any opportunity to find fault with Dick, said,angrily, "So you've been reading the paper instead of minding your work,have you? I'll report you to Mr. Rockwell."

  "Thank you," said Dick, "you're very kind. Are you sure I read thepaper? Is there any news missin' out of it?"

  "You're an impudent boy," said the book-keeper, provoked. He wanted tooverawe Dick; but somehow Dick wouldn't be overawed. Evidently he didnot entertain as much respect for the book-keeper as that gentleman feltto be his due. That a mere errand-boy should bandy words with agentleman in his position seemed to Mr. Gilbert highly reprehensible.

  "You're an impudent boy!" repeated Gilbert, sharply, finding Dick didnot reply to his first charge.

  "I heard you make that remark before," said Dick, quietly.

  Now there was nothing out of the way in Dick's tone, which was perfectlyrespectful, and he only stated a fact; but the book-keeper became stillmore angry.

  "Who rumpled that paper?" he asked.

  "Suppose you ask Mr. Murdock?" said Dick.

  "Did he come in here?" asked Gilbert, cooling down, for it was againstDick that his charge was made, and not against the head clerk. As to thepaper, he really cared nothing.

  "Yes," said Dick.

  "Then it's all right. I supposed you had been idling your time over thepaper. Go and ask Mr. Murdoc
k what time it is. I left my watch at home."

  "It's half past eight," said Dick, drawing out his watch.

  Up to this time the book-keeper had not noticed Dick's watch-chain. Nowthat his attention was drawn not only to that, but to the beautiful goldwatch which Dick carried, he was not a little surprised.

  "Whose watch is that?" he asked, abruptly.

  "Mine," said Dick, briefly, rather enjoying the book-keeper's surprise.

  "How did you come by it?"

  "Honestly," said Dick.

  "Is it gold, or only plated?"

  "It's gold."

  "Humph! Did you buy it, or was it given you?"

  "Well," said Dick, "I didn't buy it."

  "Did you say it was yours?"

  "Yes."

  Gilbert looked at Dick in surprise. Our hero was becoming more and morean enigma to him. That a boy in Dick's position should have a gold watchgiven him, especially now that he had learned from his cousin Roswellthe nature of Dick's former employment, seemed indeed wonderful.

  "Let me look at your watch a minute," he said.

  Dick handed it to him.

  "It seems to be a very good one," he said.

  "Yes," said Dick; "I aint proud. It's as good as I want to wear."

  "It looks entirely out of place on such a boy as you," said thebook-keeper, sharply.

  "Perhaps it would look better on you," suggested our hero, innocently.

  "Yes, it would be more appropriate for me to wear than you. You're notold enough to be trusted with a watch; least of all with such a good oneas that."

  "Perhaps you'd be kind enough to mention it to the one that gave it tome."

  "Whoever gave it to you didn't show much judgment," said Gilbert, in thesame pleasant way. "Who was it?"

  "It was Mrs. Rockwell."

  If a bombshell had exploded in the office, it could hardly have takenGilbert more by surprise.

  "Who did you say?" he repeated, thinking his ears might have deceivedhim.

  "Mrs. Rockwell," said Dick, once more.

  The book-keeper could hardly suppress a low whistle.

  "When did she give it to you?"

  "Last evening."

  "Were you up there?"

  "Yes."

  "Did Mr. Rockwell invite you?"

  "Yes."

  Just then Dick was called away by Mr. Murdock, who had some work for himto do.

  "There's something mighty queer in all this," thought the book-keeper."What Mr. Rockwell can see in that boy, I don't understand. He's animpudent young rascal, and I'll get him turned off if it's a possiblething."