CHAPTER VII.
A NEW ENTERPRISE.
Rufus felt some doubts as to whether he had done wisely in agreeing toboard at Mrs. Clayton's. His own board, together with what he paid forhis sister's board and clothes, would just take up the whole of hissalary. However, he would have the interest on his five hundred dollars,now deposited in a savings-bank, and yielding six per cent. interestannually. Still this would amount only to thirty dollars, and this wouldnot be sufficient to pay for his clothes alone, not to mentionmiscellaneous expenses, such as car-fares and other incidental expenses.He felt that he should like now and then to go on an excursion with hissister and Miss Manning, or perhaps to a place of amusement. For allthis, one hundred dollars a year would be needed, at a moderatecalculation. How should he make up this amount?
Two ways suggested themselves to Rufus. One was, draw upon hisprincipal. Probably he would not be obliged to do this very long, as, atthe end of six months, it was probable that his salary would be raisedif he gave satisfaction, and this he meant to do. Still, Rufus did notlike this plan, for five hundred dollars seemed a good round sum, and hewanted to keep it all. The other way was to make up the necessary sum byextra work outside of the office. This idea he liked best. But itsuggested another question, which was not altogether easy to answer."What should he do, or what kind of work should he choose?"
He might go back to his old employment. As he was not required to be atthe office before nine o'clock, why should he not spend an hour or twoin the early morning in selling newspapers? He felt confident that hecould in this way clear two dollars a week. But there were twoobjections which occurred to him. The first was, that as Mrs. Clayton'sbreakfast was at half-past seven in the winter, and not earlier thanseven in the summer, he would be obliged to give it up, and takebreakfast at some restaurant down town. His breakfasts, probably, wouldcome to very nearly the sum he would make by selling papers, and as Mrs.Clayton took him under her usual price, it was hardly to be expectedthat she would make any allowance for his absence from the morning meal.Besides, Rufus had left his old life behind him, and he did not want togo back to it. He doubted, also, whether his employer would like to havehim spend his time before office hours in selling papers. Then, again,he was about to board at a house of very good rank, and he felt that hedid not wish to pass among his new acquaintances as a newsboy, if hecould get something better to do. Of course it was respectable, as allhonest labor is; but our hero felt that by this time he was suited tosomething better.
The more Rufus balanced these considerations in his mind, the moreperplexed he became. Meanwhile he was walking down Broadway on his wayto the office.
Just as he was crossing Canal Street, some one tapped him on theshoulder. Turning round, he recognized a young man whom he remembered asclerk in a stationery store in Nassau Street. His name was GeorgeBlack.
"Rough and Ready!" he exclaimed, in surprise. "Is this you? Why are younot selling papers? You got up late this morning, didn't you?"
"I've given up selling papers," said Rufus.
"How long since?"
"Only a few days."
"What are you up to now?"
"I'm in an office in Wall Street."
"What sort of an office?"
"A banker's,--Mr. Turner's."
"Yes, I know the firm. What do you get?"
"Eight dollars a week."
"That's pretty good,--better than selling papers."
"Yes, I like it better, though I don't make any more money than I didbefore. But it seems more like business."
"Well, you've found a place, and I've lost one."
"How is that?"
"My employer failed, and the business has gone up," said Black.
"I suppose you are looking for a new place."
"Yes; but I wouldn't if I only had a little capital."
"What would you do then?"
"I was walking up Sixth Avenue yesterday, when I saw a neat littleperiodical and fancy goods store for sale, on account of the owner'sillness. It's a very good location, and being small does not requiremuch capital to carry it on. The rent is cheap,--only twenty dollars amonth. By adding a few articles, I could make a thousand dollars a yearout of it."
"Why don't you take it?"
"Because I haven't got but a hundred dollars in the world, and I expectthat will be gone before I get a new place."
"What does the owner want for his stock?"
"He says it cost him seven hundred dollars; but he's sick, and wants todispose of it as soon as possible. He'll sell out for five hundreddollars cash."
"Are you sure the stock is worth that much?" asked Rufus.
"Yes, I am sure it is worth more. I've been in the business, and I canjudge."
"Why don't you borrow the money?"
"It is easy enough to say that, but where shall I find anybody to lendit?"
"You might take a partner with money."
"So I might, if I could find one."
"Look here, Mr. Black," said Rufus, in a businesslike tone, "what offerwill you make to any one who will furnish you the money to buy out thisshop?"
"Do you know of anybody who has got the money?" asked the young man.
"Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't; but maybe I might find somebody."
"I'll tell you what I'll do. If any one will set me up there, I willgive him a third of the profits after paying expenses."
"And you think that you can make a thousand dollars a year?"
"Yes, I feel sure of it."
"That's a good offer," said Rufus, meditatively.
"I'm willing to make it. At that rate I shall make fourteen dollars aweek, and I have never been paid but twelve for clerking it. Besides, Ishould be my own master."
"You might not make so much."
"If I make less I can live on less. There's a small room in back, whereI can put in a bed, that will save me room-rent. My meals I can buy atthe restaurants. I don't believe it will cost me over three hundred andfifty dollars to live."
"So that you could save up money."
"Yes, I should be sure to. After a while I could buy out the wholebusiness."
Rufus was silent for a moment. He had five hundred dollars. Why shouldhe not set up George Black in business on the terms proposed? Then,instead of getting a paltry thirty dollars' interest for his money, hewould get two or three hundred dollars, and this would abundantly makeup what he needed to live in good style at Mrs. Clayton's, and affordRose and himself occasional recreation. Of course a good deal dependedon the honesty of George Black. But of this young man Rufus had a verygood opinion, having known him for two or three years. Besides, aspartner he would be entitled to inquire into the state of the businessat any time, and if anything was wrong he would take care that it wasrighted.
"What are you thinking about?" inquired the young man, observing hissilence.
"How would you like me for a partner?" asked Rufus, looking up suddenly.
"I'd just as lief have you as anybody, if you had the money," saidGeorge Black.
"I have got the money," said our hero.
"You don't mean to say you've got five hundred dollars?" asked Black, insurprise.
"Yes, I do."
"How did you get it? You didn't make it selling papers in the street."
"You may bet on that. No; I found part of it and the rest I had givenme."
"Tell me about it."
Rufus did so.
"Where is the money?"
"I keep it in a savings-bank."
"I'll tell you what, Rufus," said George, "if you'll buy out the shopfor me, and come in as my partner, I'll do what I said, and that'll bea good deal better than the savings-bank can do for you."
"That's true; but there'll be more risk."
"I don't think there will. I shall manage the business economically, andyou can come in any time and see how it's going on. But I never thoughtyou had so much money."
"If you had, maybe you'd have thought more of me," said Rufus.
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p; "Maybe I should. 'Money makes the mare go' in this world. But when willyou let me know about it? I've only got two days to decide in."
"I should like to see the shop myself," said Rufus, with commendableprudence.
"Of course; that's what I'd like to have you do. When will you comeround with me and see it?"
"I can't come now," said our hero, "for it would make me late at theoffice. Is it open in the evening?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll tell you what. I'll meet you there this evening at eighto'clock. Just give me the number, and I'll be sure to be there."
"All right. Have you got a pencil?"
"Yes; and here's one of our cards. You can put it down here."
The address was put down, and the two parted.
George Black went round to the shop at once to say that he wouldprobably be able to make an arrangement. In the evening, at theappointed hour, the two met at the periodical store.
Rufus was favorably impressed on first entering. The room was small, butit was very neat. It had a good window opening to the street, and itappeared well filled with stock. A hasty survey satisfied our hero thatthe stock was really worth more than the amount asked for it.
The proprietor seemed a sickly-looking man, and the plea of ill-health,judging from his appearance, might readily be credited.
"This is the capitalist I spoke of this morning," said George Black,introducing Rufus.
"He seems young,", said the proprietor, a little surprised.
"I'm not very aged yet," said Rufus, smiling.
"The main thing is, that he's got the money," said Black. "He's inbusiness in Wall Street, and is looking about for an investment of hisspare funds."
Rufus was rather pleased with this way of stating his position. He sawthat it heightened his importance considerably in the mind of the ownerof the shop.
"He'll do well to invest here," said the latter. "It's a good stand. Iwouldn't sell out if my health would let me hold on. But confinementdoesn't suit me. The doctor says I shan't live a year, if I stay here,and life is better than money."
"That's so."
"How long has this shop been established?" asked Rufus.
"Five years."
"It ought to be pretty well known."
"Yes; it's got a good run of custom. If the right man takes hold of it,he'll make money. He can't help it."
"What do you think of it, Rufus?" asked George Black, turning to ourhero. "Isn't it as I represented?"
"Yes," said Rufus. "I should think a good business might be done here."
"If I get hold of it, a good business shall be done here," said Black,emphatically. "But it all depends on you. Say the word, and we'll closethe bargain now."
"All right!" said Rufus, promptly. "I'll say the word. We'll take theshop."