CHAPTER V.
CHESTER'S FIRST SUCCESS.
Chester and his mother and a few friends attended the funeral of WalterBruce. Silas Tripp was too busy at the store to pay this partingcompliment to his nephew. He expressed himself plainly about the follyof the Rands in "runnin' into debt for a shif'less fellow" who had noclaim upon them. "If they expect me to pay the funeral expenses they'remistaken," he added, positively. "I ain't no call to do it, and I won'tdo it."
But he was not asked to defray the expenses of the simple funeral. Itwas paid for out of the minister's charitable fund.
"Some time I will pay you back the money, Mr. Morris," said Chester. "Iam Mr. Bruce's heir, and it is right that I should pay."
"Very well, Chester. If your bequest amounts to anything I will notobject. I hope for your sake that the lots may become valuable."
"I don't expect it, Mr. Morris. Will you be kind enough to take care ofthe papers for me?"
"Certainly, Chester. I will keep them with my own papers."
At this time Tacoma contained only four hundred inhabitants. TheNorthern Pacific Railroad had not been completed, and there was nocertainty when it would be. So Chester did not pay much attention orgive much thought to his Western property, but began to look roundanxiously for something to do.
During the sickness of Walter Bruce he had given up his time to helpinghis mother and the care of the sick man. The money received from theminister enabled him to do this. Now the weekly income had ceased, andit became a serious question what he should do to bring in an income.
He had almost forgotten his meeting with Herbert Conrad, the youngartist, when the day after the funeral he received a letter in anunknown hand, addressed to "Master Chester Rand, Wyncombe, New York."
As he opened it, his eyes opened wide with surprise and joy, when twofive-dollar bills fluttered to the ground, for he had broken the sealin front of the post office.
He read the letter eagerly. It ran thus:
"DEAR CHESTER:--I am glad to say that I have sold your sketch for ten dollars to one of the papers I showed you at Wyncombe. If you have any others ready, send them along. Try to think up some bright, original idea, and illustrate it in your best style. Then send to me.
"Your sincere friend, HERBERT."
Chester hardly knew whether he was standing on his head or his heels.It seems almost incredible that a sketch which he had dashed off intwenty minutes should bring in such a magnificent sum.
And for the first time it dawned upon him he was an artist. Fiftydollars gained in any other way would not have given him so muchsatisfaction. Why, it was only three weeks that he had been out of aplace, and he had received more than he would have been paid in thattime by Mr. Tripp.
He decided to tell no one of his good luck but his mother and theminister. If he were fortunate enough to earn more, the neighbors mightwonder as they pleased about the source of his supplies. The money cameat the right time, for his mother needed some articles at the store. Heconcluded to get them on the way home.
Silas Tripp was weighing out some sugar for a customer when Chesterentered. Silas eyed him sharply, and was rather surprised to find himcheerful and in good spirits.
"How's your mother this mornin', Chester?" asked the grocer.
"Pretty well, thank you, Mr. Tripp."
"Are you doin' anything yet?"
"There doesn't seem to be much work to do in Wyncombe," answeredChester, noncommittally.
"You was foolish to leave a stiddy job at the store."
"I couldn't afford to work for the money you offered me."
"Two dollars and a quarter is better than nothin'. I would have paidyou two and a half. I like you better than that Wood boy. Is yourmother workin'?"
"She is doing a little sewing, but she had no time for that with a sickman in the house."
"I don't see what made you keep a man that was no kith or kin to you."
"Would you have had us put him into the street, Mr. Tripp?"
"I'd have laid the matter before the selec'-men, and got him into thepoorhouse."
"Well, it is all over now, and I'm not sorry that we cared for the poorfellow. I would like six pounds of sugar and two of butter."
"You ain't goin' to run a bill, be you?" asked Silas, cautiously. "Ican't afford to trust out any more."
"We don't owe you anything, do we, Mr. Tripp?"
"No; but I thought mebbe----"
"I will pay for the articles," said Chester, briefly.
When he tendered the five-dollar bill Silas Tripp looked amazed.
"Where did you get so much money?" he gasped.
"Isn't it a good bill?" asked Chester.
"Why, yes, but----"
"I think that is all you have a right to ask," said Chester, firmly."It can't make any difference to you where it came from."
"I thought you were poor," said Mr. Tripp.
"So we are."
"But it seems strange that you should have so much money."
"Five dollars isn't much money, Mr. Tripp."
Then a sudden idea came to Silas Tripp, and he paused in weighing outthe butter.
"Did my nephew leave any money?" he asked, sharply.
"Yes, sir."
"Then I lay claim to it. I'm his only relation, and it is right that Ishould have it."
"You shall have it if you will pay the expense of his illness."
"Humph! how much did he leave?"
"Thirty-seven cents."
Mr. Tripp looked discomfited.
"You can keep it," he said, magnanimously. "I don't lay no claim toit."
"Thank you," returned Chester, gravely.
"Then this five-dollar bill didn't come from him?"
"How could it? he hadn't as much money in the world."
"He was a shif'less man. 'A rolling stone gathers no moss,'" observedMr. Tripp, in a moralizing tone.
"You haven't been a rolling stone, Mr. Tripp."
"No; I've stuck to the store year in and year out for thirty-fiveyears. I ain't had more'n three days off in that time."
"If I had your money, Mr. Tripp, I'd go off and enjoy myself."
"What, and leave the store?" said Silas, aghast at the thought.
"You could hire some one to run it."
"I wouldn't find much left when I came back; No, I must stay at homeand attend to business. Do your folks go to bed early, Chester?"
"Not before ten," answered Chester, in some surprise.
"Then I'll call this evenin' after the store is closed."
"Very well, sir. You'll find us up."
The idea had occurred to Mr. Tripp that Mrs. Rand must be very short ofmoney, and might be induced to dispose of her place at a largelyreduced figure. It would be a good-paying investment for him, and hewas not above taking advantage of a poor widow's necessities. Of courseneither Mrs. Rand nor Chester had any idea of his motives orintentions, and they awaited his visit with considerable curiosity.
About fifteen minutes after nine a shuffling was heard at the door,there was a knock, and a minute later Chester admitted the thin andshriveled figure of Silas Tripp.
"Good-evening, Mr. Tripp," said Mrs. Rand, politely.
"Good-evenin', ma'am, I thought I'd call in and inquire how you weregettin' along."
"Thank you, Mr. Tripp, for the interest you show in our affairs. We arenot doing very well, as you may imagine."
"So I surmised, ma'am. So I surmised."
"It can't be possible he is going to offer us a loan," thought Chester.
"You've got a tidy little place here, ma'am. It isn't mortgaged, Irec'on."
"No, Sir."
"Why don't you sell it? You need the money, and you might hire anotherhouse, or pay rent for this."
"Do you know of anyone that wants to buy it, Mr. Tripp?"
"Mebbe I'd buy it myself, jest to help you along," answered Silas,cautiously.
"How much would you be willing to give?" put in Chester.
&nbs
p; "Well, I calculate--real estate's very low at present--three hundredand fifty dollars would be a fair price."
Mrs. Rand looked amazed.
"Three hundred and fifty dollars!" she ejaculated. "Why, it is worth atleast seven hundred."
"You couldn't get it, ma'am. That's a fancy price."
"What rent would you charge in case we sold it to you, Mr. Tripp,"asked Chester.
"Well, say five dollars a month."
"About sixteen or seventeen per cent. on the purchase money."
"Well, I'd have to pay taxes and repairs," explained Tripp.
"I don't care to sell, Mr. Tripp," said Mrs. Rand, decisively.
"You may have to, ma'am."
"If we do we shall try to get somewhere near its real value."
"Just as you like, ma'am," said Silas, disappointed. "I'd pay you cashdown."
"If I decide to sell on your terms I'll let you know," said Mrs. Rand.
"Oh, well, I ain't set upon it. I only wanted to do you a favor."
"We appreciate your kindness," said Mrs. Rand, dryly.
"Women don't know much about business," muttered Silas, as he ploddedhome, disappointed.