Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER VII.

  A FINANCIAL DISCUSSION.

  In the course of the morning Dick called at the Park Bank, and presentedthe check which was made payable to himself. His employer hadaccompanied him to the bank on a previous day, and introduced him to thecashier as one who was authorized to receive and pay over money for thefirm. Dick therefore found no difficulty in obtaining his money, thoughthe fact that the check was made payable to him created some surprise.

  "Your salary seems to be a large one," said the teller, as he handed ourhero ten bills of a hundred dollars each.

  "Yes," said Dick, "my services are very valooable."

  On leaving the bank, Dick went to the savings bank, and presented hisbook.

  "How much do you wish to deposit?"

  "A thousand dollars," said Dick, briefly.

  The bank officer looked at him in surprise.

  "How much did you say?" he repeated.

  "A thousand dollars."

  "No nonsense, young man! My time is too valuable," said the other,impatiently.

  He was justified in his incredulity, since Dick's deposits hitherto hadbeen in sums of from one to five dollars.

  "If you don't want to take the money, I can go somewhere else," said ourhero, who was now on his dignity. "I have a thousand dollars to deposit.Here it is."

  The bank officer took the money, and counted it over in considerablesurprise.

  "Business is improving,--isn't it?" he said.

  "Yes," said Dick. "I made all that money in one day."

  "If you should want a partner, call round and see me."

  "All right. I won't forget."

  Dick took the bank-book, and, putting it in his inside coat-pocket,buttoned up his coat, and hurried back to the store. His reflectionswere of a very agreeable nature, as he thought of his large deposit inthe savings bank, and he could not help feeling that he had been bornunder a lucky star.

  Nothing of consequence transpired in the store that day. Dick wasattentive to his duties. He was determined to learn the business asrapidly as possible, not only because he felt grateful to Mr. Rockwellfor his kindness, but also because he knew that this was the best thingfor his future prospects. Mr. Murdock, who has already been mentioned,was of service to him in this respect. He was himself an excellentbusiness man, and very conscientious in the discharge of his duties. Herequired the same fidelity of others. He had observed Dick closely, andwas attracted towards him by his evident desire to give satisfaction, aswell as by his frank, open face. He resolved to help him along, moreespecially when he saw the manner in which he was treated by thebook-keeper. To tell the truth, Mr. Gilbert was not a favorite with Mr.Murdock. He understood his business, to be sure, and, so far as Mr.Murdock knew, kept the books correctly. But personally he was notagreeable, and the head salesman doubted whether his integrity was whatit should have been. So, altogether, he made up his mind to help Dick onas well as he could, and take pains to instruct him in the business.

  Dick, on his side, was pleased with Mr. Murdock, and determined to makehim a confidant in the matter of his sudden accession of fortune.

  He took an opportunity, therefore, during the day, to say to him, "Mr.Murdock, I want to ask your advice about something."

  "Well, my lad, what is it?" said his friend, kindly. "If it's aboutchoosing a wife, I don't know whether my advice will be good for much."

  "It isn't that," said Dick. "Next year'll be soon enough for that."

  "So I should think. Well, if it's nothing of that sort, what is it?"

  "It's about investing some money. I thought you might be able to adviseme."

  "How much is it?" asked Mr. Murdock, supposing the sum could not be morethan fifty or sixty dollars.

  "Eleven hundred dollars," said Dick.

  "How much?" demanded the salesman, in surprise.

  "Eleven hundred dollars."

  "Is it your own?"

  "Yes."

  "Of course you couldn't have earned so much. Was it left to you?"

  "I'll tell you all about it," said Dick. "I wouldn't tell Mr. Gilbert,and I don't mean he shall know it, but I'd just as lieves tell you. Doyou know why Mr. Rockwell gave me this place?"

  "No; I've wondered a little, not at that, but at his giving you so muchhigher pay than boys usually receive."

  "Then I'll tell you."

  Dick proceeded to give an account of the manner in which he had rescuedlittle Johnny from drowning, as related in the adventures of "RaggedDick."

  "It was a brave act," said Mr. Murdock.

  "It was nothing at all," said Dick, modestly. "I could swim like a duck,and I didn't mind the wetting."

  "But you ran the risk of drowning."

  "I didn't think of that."

  "If you had been a coward or a selfish boy, it would have been the firstthing you would have thought of. So Mr. Rockwell gave you this place inacknowledgment of your service. I am glad he did. You deserve it."

  "He has done more," said Dick. Then he related the events of the eveningprevious, and told Mr. Murdock of the two gifts he had received. "So,with the money I had before, I have now eleven hundred dollars," Dickconcluded. "Shall I leave it in the savings bank, or can I do betterwith it?"

  "I'll tell you what I think will be a good investment," said Mr.Murdock. "I know a party who owns four adjoining lots on Forty-FifthStreet. He is pressed for money, and wishes to dispose of them. Heoffered them to me at twenty-two hundred dollars, half cash. I offeredhim a thousand dollars cash for two of them, but he wishes to sell thewhole together. I think it will be an excellent speculation, for thelaying out of Central Park is carrying up the price of lots in theneighborhood rapidly."

  "Why didn't you buy them, then?"

  "Because I didn't want to buy anything that I couldn't pay for at once.I've got a wife and three children to look out for, and so I can savemoney but slowly. If I only had myself to take care of, I wouldn'thesitate."

  "Can't we club together, and buy it?" suggested Dick, eagerly.

  "That is just what I was going to propose. I think the owner will taketwo thousand dollars down for the lots. That will be a thousand dollarsapiece. I've got that money, and so have you. What do you think of it?"

  "Tip-top," said Dick, enthusiastically. "It's just what I'd like to do."

  "Of course it wouldn't bring us in anything, but would, instead, be anexpense for the present, as we should have to pay taxes on it. On theother hand, you could invest the money in bank-stock, so as to receiveseventy or eighty dollars annually at interest. You must decide whichinvestment you prefer. The land we may have to keep on hand four or fiveyears, paying taxes yearly."

  "But the price'll go up."

  "There is no doubt of that. The city is extending northwards rapidly. Ishouldn't be surprised if the lots would bring a thousand dollars apiecein less than five years. This would be equal to a very handsomeinterest."

  "I'm in for buying 'em," said Dick. "So, if you'll see the owner, I'llhave the money all ready whenever you want it."

  "Very well, but perhaps you would like to see them first. We'll manageto get off an hour earlier than usual this afternoon, and go up and takea look at them."

  "It seems to me Mr. Murdock and that boy are pretty thick together,"said the book-keeper, glancing through the glass partition. He could seethat they were conversing earnestly, but of course couldn't hear a wordthat was said. "What he or Mr. Rockwell can see in the young rascalpasses my comprehension."

  He called sharply to Dick, and ordered him to go to the post-office forletters.

  "All right," said Dick.

  "And mind you don't loiter by the way," said the book-keeper, sharply."You were gone long enough at the bank this morning. Did you come rightback?"

  "No," said Dick.

  "Why didn't you?"

  "There was somewhere else I wanted to go."

  "On your own business, or Mr. Rockwell's?"

  "On my own business."

  "So I thought. I shall report you to M
r. Rockwell," said Gilbert,triumphantly.

  "I wouldn't, if I were you," said Dick, coolly.

  "And why not, you young rascal?"

  "Because he knows it already."

  "Knows it already," repeated the book-keeper, discomfited. "Well, I hopehe gave you a good scolding."

  "I am sorry to disappoint you," said Dick; "but he knows it, because hegave me leave to go."

  "I don't believe it," said Gilbert, mortified to find that Dick was inthe right after all.

  "Then perhaps you'd better ask Mr. Rockwell."

  "I will," said Gilbert, who really had no intention of doing so. "Youmust have had some very urgent private business," he added, with asneer.

  "You're right, there," said Dick.

  "Playing marbles with some of your ragamuffin friends, I suppose."

  "Playin' marbles is a very refined and intellectual amusement," saidDick; "but I don't play marbles in business hours."

  "Where did you go?" said the book-keeper, impatiently. "I don't want anyof your impertinence."

  "I went to the savings bank," said Dick.

  "I suppose you have a very large account there," sneered Gilbert.

  "Yes," said Dick, quietly; "pretty large."

  "It's to be hoped you won't withdraw your patronage, or the bank mightfail."

  "Then I won't," said Dick. "Shall I go to the post-office now?"

  "Yes, and be quick about it."

  The book-keeper had some curiosity as to the amount of Dick's account atthe savings bank, but there was no good chance for him to inquire, andhe accordingly returned to his writing, more prejudiced against Dickthan ever.

  On the whole, I have some doubts whether Dick's manner was quite asrespectful as it ought to have been to one who was older and higher inoffice than himself. I should not recommend my young readers to imitatehim in this respect. But it is my business to describe Dick just as hewas, and I have already said that he was not a model boy. Still in mostrespects he tried to do what was right, and it must be admitted that thebook-keeper's treatment of him was not likely to inspire much attachmentor respect. Dick had no difficulty in perceiving the dislike entertainedby Gilbert for him, and he was beginning to cherish a similar feelingtowards the book-keeper. He determined, however, to give him no cause ofcomplaint, so far as he was entitled to command his services; but itmust be confessed he found much more satisfaction in obeying Mr.Rockwell and Mr. Murdock.