As to what he should take up next, Frank was quite in the dark. As a boyin a counting room he would be paid not more than four dollars a week,if he could gain such a situation, which was by no means certain.
The more he thought about the matter the more perplexed he felt, and itwas in an uncomfortable frame of mind that he came down to breakfast thenext morning.
CHAPTER XXV
PERPLEXITY
He went out as usual after breakfast, and then walked leisurelydowntown. He proposed to go to the shop of the Great Pekin Tea Companyand resign his agency. He was on the watch during his walk for anyopportunities to repair his unlucky loss:
At one place he saw a notice:
"BOY WANTED."
Though he felt sure the compensation would not be sufficient to allow ofhis accepting it, he thought it would do no harm to make inquiry, andaccordingly entered.
It was an extensive retail store, where a large number of clerks wereemployed.
"Is a boy wanted here?" asked Frank of the nearest salesman.
"Yes. You may inquire at the desk."
He pointed to a desk some distance back, and Frank went up to it.
"You advertise for a boy," he said to a tall, stout man, who chanced tobe the proprietor. "Is the place filled."
"No," was the answer; "but I don't think it would suit you."
"Do you think I would not be competent, sir?"
"No, that is not the difficulty. It would not be worth your acceptance."
"May I inquire what are the duties, sir?"
"We want a boy to open the door to customers, and this would not beworth your accepting."
"No, sir. Thank you for explaining it to me."
The gentleman was favorably impressed by Frank's polite and gentlemanlymanners.
"I wish I had a place for you," he said. "Have you ever had anyexperience in our line of business?"
"No, sir; I have very little experience of any kind. I have acted for ashort time as agent for a tea company."
"You may leave your name if you like, and I will communicate with you ifI have a vacancy which you can fill."
Frank thanked the polite proprietor and walked out of the store.
Though this is a story written for boys, it may be read by some businessmen, who will allow me to suggest that a refusal kindly andconsiderately expressed loses half its bitterness, and often inspireshope, instead of discouragement.
Frank proceeded to the office of the tea company and formally resignedhis agency. He was told that he could resume it whenever he pleased.
Leaving the store, he walked down Broadway in the direction of WallStreet.
He passed an elderly man, with stooping shoulders and a gait whichshowed that he was accustomed to live in the country.
He was looking about him in rather an undecided way. His glance happenedto rest on Frank, and, after a little hesitation, he addressed him.
"Boy," he said, "do you live around here?"
"I live in the city; sir."
"Then I guess you can tell me what I want to know."
"I will if I can, sir," said Frank, politely.
"Whereabouts is Wall Street?"
"Close by, sir. I am going that way, and will be happy to show you."
Frank had no idea his compliance with the stranger's request was likelyto have an important effect up his fortunes.
CHAPTER XXVI
FRANK HEARS SOMETHING TO HIS ADVANTAGE
"My name," said the stranger, "is Peters--Jonathan Peters, ofCraneville, Onondaga County. I am a farmer, and don't know much aboutNew York. I've got a few hundred dollars that I want to put intogovernment bonds."
"All right," said Frank, "there won't be any difficulty about it."
"I've heerd there are a good many swindlers in New York," continued Mr.Peters. "The squire--Squire Jackson, of our village--perhaps you mayhave heard of him?"
"I don't think I have, Mr. Peters."
"Well, the squire told me I'd better take good keer of my money, asthere were plenty of rascals here who would try to cheat me out of it."
"That is true, Mr. Peters. Only yesterday I was robbed of thirty-fivedollars by a man who boarded in the same house."
"You don't say so?"
"He opened my trunk and took out my pocketbook while I was absent onbusiness."
"I wouldn't dare to live in York!" said the farmer, whose apprehensionswere increased by Frank's story.
By this time they had reached the office of Jones & Robinson, with whom,it will be remembered, Frank had once before had dealings.
"If you will come in here, Mr. Peters," said our hero, "you will be sureof honorable treatment. I will introduce you if you like."
"I should be obleeged if you would," said the farmer. "Out in CranevilleI am to home, but I ain't used to York business men, and don't know howto talk to them."
It pleased Frank to find that, in spite of his inexperience, he was ableto be of service to one more unaccustomed than himself to city scenesand city ways.
He walked up to the counter, followed by the farmer, and said:
"This gentleman wishes to buy some government bonds. I told him that hecould transact his business here."
"Thank you! Mr. Benton, you may attend to this gentleman."
Frank was about to leave the office, when Mr. Robinson called him back.
"You have been in the office before, have you not?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Are you not the boy who assisted in the capture of the man who robbedMr. Henry Percival, of Madison Avenue?"
"Yes, sir."
"I thought so. I have been trying to find you for the last week."
Naturally Frank looked surprised.
"Mr. Henry Percival was at that time in Europe," said Mr. Robinson. "Onhis return, a week since, he called on us, and expressed a desire tohave you call upon him. We had mislaid or lost your address, and wereunable to give him the information he desired."
Frank's heart beat high with hope as the broker spoke.
"Perhaps," he thought, "Mr. Percival may offer me a situation of somekind, and I certainly am greatly in need of one."
"Did Mr. Percival recover all his bonds?" he asked.
"Nearly all," answered Mr. Robinson. "He considered himself exceedinglyfortunate, and he certainly was so."
"Do you know how much he was robbed of?" asked Frank.
"Rather over five thousand dollars. Of this sum all has been recoveredexcept three bonds of a hundred dollars each. Mr. Percival is a richman, and he won't miss that small amount."
"I wish I were rich enough not to miss three hundred dollars," thoughtour hero. "If I had my rights, I could say the same."
Just now, in his extremity, Frank thought regretfully of the fortune hehad lost. Had he been so situated as to be earning enough to defray allhis expenses, he would scarcely have given a thought of it.
"You had better go up to see Mr. Percival this evening," said thebanker, "if you have no other engagement."
"Even if I had an engagement, I would put it off," said Frank. "Will yougive me Mr. Percival's number?"
"No. 265," said Mr. Robinson.
Frank noted it down and left the office. By this time Mr. Peters hadcompleted his business, and was ready to go out, also.
"I'm much obliged to you," he said to Frank. "I was afraid I'd get intoa place where they'd cheat me. I guess Mr. Jones and Robinson are prettygood folks."
"I think you can depend upon them," said Frank.
"If ever you come to Craneville, I should like to have you stay a fewdays with me on my farm," said Mr. Peters, hospitably. "We are plainfolks, but will treat you about right."
"Thank you, Mr. Peters. If I ever come to Craneville, I shall certainlycall upon you."
Frank had something to look forward to in his approaching interview withMr. Percival. He had been able to do this gentleman a service, and itwas not unlikely that the capitalist would wish to make him someacknowledgment. Frank did not exaggera
te his own merits in the matter.He felt that it was largely owing to a lucky chance that he had been themeans of capturing the bond robber. However, it is to precisely suchlucky chances that men are often indebted for the advancement of theirfortunes.
While he was in a state of suspense, and uncertain what Mr. Percivalmight be disposed to do for him, he decided not to exert himself toobtain any employment. If he should be disappointed in his hopes, itwould be time enough to look about him the following day.
What should he do in the meantime?
He determined to treat himself to an excursion. From the end of theBattery he had often looked across to Staten Island, lying six milesaway, and thought it would prove a pleasant excursion. Now, havingplenty of time on his hands, he decided to go on board one of the boatsthat start hourly from the piers adjoining the Battery. The expense wasbut trifling and, low as Frank's purse was, he ventured to spend theamount for pleasure. He felt that he needed a little recreation afterthe weeks of patient labor he had spent in the service of the GreatPekin Tea Company.
CHAPTER XXVII
AN INCIDENT IN A STREET CAR
When Frank returned to the city, he walked slowly up through the Batteryto the foot of Broadway. He passed the famous house, No. 1, which, ahundred years ago, was successively the headquarters of Washington andthe British generals, who occupied New York with their forces, and soonreached the Astor House, then the most notable structure in the lowerpart of the city.
With his small means, Frank felt that it was extravagant to ride uptown,when he might have walked, but he felt some confidence in the success ofhis visit to Mr. Percival, and entered a Fourth Avenue horse car. It sochanced that he seated himself beside a pleasant-looking young marriedlady, who had with her a young boy about seven years old.
Soon after the car started the conductor came around to collect thefares.
Frank paid his, and the conductor held out his hand to the lady.
She put her hand into her pocket to draw out her purse, but hercountenance changed as her hand failed to find it.
Probably no situation is more trying than to discover that you have lostor mislaid your purse, when you have an urgent use for it. The lady wasevidently in that predicament. Once more she searched for her purse, buther search was unavailing.
"I am afraid I have lost my purse," she said, apologetically, to theconductor.
This official was an ill-mannered person, and answered, rudely:
"In that case, ma'am, you will have to get off."
"I will give you my card," said the lady, "and will send double the fareto the office."
"That won't do," said the man, rudely. "I am responsible for your fare,if you stay on the car, and I can't afford to lose the money."
"You shall not lose it, sir; but I cannot walk home."
"I think you will have to, madam."
Here Frank interposed. He had been trained to be polite and considerateto ladies, and he could not endure to see a lady treated with rudeness.
"Take the lady's fare out of this," he said.
"And the boy's, too?"
"Of course."
The lady smiled gratefully.
"I accept your kindness, my young friend," she said. "You have saved memuch annoyance."
"I am very glad to have had the opportunity," said Frank, politely.
"Of course, I shall insist upon reimbursing you. Will you oblige me withyour address, that I may send you the amount when I return home?"
A boy of less tact than Frank would have expostulated against repayment,but he knew that this would only embarrass the lady, and that he had noright, being a stranger, to force such a favor upon her. He answered,therefore:
"Certainly, I will do so, but it will be perfectly convenient for me tocall upon you."
"If it will give you no trouble, I shall be glad to have you call anyevening. I live at No. ---- Madison Avenue."
Now it was Frank's turn to be surprised. The number mentioned by thelady was that of the house in which Mr. Henry Percival lived.
"I thought Mr. Percival lived at that number?" said Frank.
"So he does. He is my father. Do you know him?"
"No; but I was about to call on him. This morning Mr. Robinson, a brokerin Wall Street, told me that he wished to see me."
"You are not the boy who caused the capture of the bondholder?" askedthe lady, quickly.
"Yes, I am the boy, but I am afraid I had less to do with it than hasbeen represented."
"What is your name?"
"Frank Courtney."
"My father is very desirous of meeting you, and thanking you for whatyou have done. Why have you not called before?"
"I did not know till to-day that your father had returned. Besides, Idid not like to go without an invitation."
"I will invite you," said the lady, with a pleasant smile, "and I, aswell as my father, will be glad to see you. And now let me introduce youto my little son. Freddie, would you like to see the boy that caught therobber?"
"Yes, mamma."
"Here he is. His name is Frank."
The little boy immediately began to ask questions of Frank, and by thetime they reached the Cooper Institute Frank and he were wellacquainted.
"Don't get out, Frank," said Freddie.
"I am going home, Freddie."
"You must come and see me soon," said the little boy.
"Now you have three invitations," said the lady.
"I will accept them all," said Frank.
And, with a bow, he left the car.
CHAPTER XXVIII
FRANK MAKES AN EVENING CALL
After supper Frank walked slowly up to Mr. Percival's residence. Nowthat he knew two members of the family, he looked forward with pleasureto the call he was about to make. His prospects seemed much brighterthan when he woke up in the morning.
On reaching the house of Mr. Percival, he saw at a glance that it wasthe residence of a wealthy man, and the hall, into which he was firstadmitted, was luxurious in its appearance. But Frank had been brought upto the enjoyment of wealth, and he felt more at home here than in therather shabby boarding house in Clinton Place.
A colored servant opened the door.
"Is Mr. Percival at home?" he asked.
"Yas, sah."
"I should like to see him."
"What name, sah?"
"Frank Courtney."
"Step in, sah, and I will 'form Mr. Percival," said the colored servant,in a consequential tone that amused Frank.
Frank stepped into the hall, but he was not left long without attention.Little Freddie ran downstairs, eagerly calling out:
"Did you come to see me, Frank?"
"Yes," answered Frank, smiling; "but I came to see your grandfather,too."
"Come, and I will show you where he is," said the little boy, takingFrank's hand.
The two went up the staircase and into a handsomely furnished room, madeattractive by pictures and books.
In a large armchair sat a pleasant-looking elderly man, of about sixty.
"Grandpa," said the little boy, "this is Frank. He wants to see you."
Mr. Percival smiled.
"I am glad to see you, Frank," he said. "It seems, my boy, that you arealready acquainted with my daughter and grandson."
"Yes, sir. I was fortunate enough to meet them to-day."
"You relieved my daughter from some embarrassment."
"I am glad to have had the opportunity, sir."
Frank's manner was easy and self-possessed, and it was evident that Mr.Percival was favorably impressed by him.
"Take a seat," he said, "while I ask you a few questions."
Frank bowed and obeyed.
"Let me sit in your lap, Frank," said Freddie.
Our hero took the little boy in his lap.
With Freddie, it was certainly a case of friendship at first sight.
"Won't he trouble you?" asked his grandfather.
"No, sir. I like young children."
Mr.
Percival now proceeded to interrogate Frank.
"Your name is Frank Courtney. Have you been long in the city?"
"No, sir; only a few weeks."
"What led you to come here?"
"I wished to earn my living."
"What that necessary? You do not look like a poor boy."
"I was brought up to consider myself rich," said Frank.
"Indeed! Did you lose your property?"
"Perhaps I had better tell you how it happened, sir."
"If you don't object, I should be glad to hear."
Frank gave a brief statement of his position, and the circumstances thatled him to leave his home and go out into the world.
Mr. Percival listened thoughtfully.
"It is a singular story," he said, after a pause. "Your stepfather's inEurope, then?"
"Yes, sir; at least he sailed for Europe."
"Have you heard from him?"
"No, sir."
"Do you expect to hear?"
"I think not."
"He can't feel much interest in you."
"I don't think he does," answered Frank. "Still, I can't say that he hastreated me unkindly."
"Do you suspect that your stepfather has wronged you in the matter ofthe property?"