CHAPTER VI.
PAUL TAKES A HOUSE ON MADISON AVENUE.
Paul kept on his way to the office of Mr. Preston. Those who have readthe previous volume will remember him as a gentleman whoseacquaintance Paul had made accidentally. Attracted by our hero'sfrank, straightforward manner and manly bearing, he had given him somework for his mother, and on other occasions had manifested an interestin his welfare. He now held one hundred and fifty dollars belonging toPaul, or rather to Mrs. Hoffman, for which he allowed legal interest.
On entering the mercantile establishment, of which Mr. Preston was atthe head, Paul inquired for him of one of the salesmen.
"He is in his office," said the latter.
"Can I see him?"
"I don't know. Do you want to see him personally?"
"Yes, if he has time to see me."
"From whom do you come?"
"I come on my own business."
"Then I don't think you can see him," said the clerk, judging that aboy's business couldn't be very important.
"If you will be kind enough to carry in my name," said Paul, "Mr.Preston will decide that."
Paul happened to have in his pocket a business card of the firm fromwhich he bought the silk used in making up his neckties. He wrote onthe back his name, PAUL HOFFMAN, and presented it to the clerk.
The latter smiled a little superciliously, evidently thinking itrather a joke that a boy of Paul's age should think himself entitledto an interview with Mr. Preston during business hours, and onbusiness of his own. However, he took the card and approached theoffice.
"There's a boy outside wishes to see you, Mr. Preston," he said.
"From whom does he come?" asked his employer, a portly,pleasant-looking gentleman.
"On business of his own, he says. Here is his card."
"Oh, to be sure. Paul Hoffman!" repeated Mr. Preston, glancing at thecard. "Tell him to come in."
"I wonder what business he can have with Mr. Preston," thought theclerk, considerably surprised.
"You can go in," he said on his return.
Paul smiled slightly, for he observed and enjoyed the other'ssurprise.
"Well, my young friend," said Mr. Preston cordially, "how are yougetting on?"
"Pretty well in business, sir," answered Paul. "But we got burned outyesterday."
"How burned out?"
"I mean the tenement house in which we lodged was burned down."
"No one injured, I hope."
"No, sir; but we lost what little we had there."
"Were you at home at the time?"
"No, sir; my mother and little brother and myself were at Barnum'sMuseum. But for that we might have saved some of our clothing."
"Well, have you got a new place?" "No, sir; we are stopping at therooms of some friends. I am looking out for some furnished rooms, as Idon't want to buy any new furniture. As all our clothes are burned, Imay have to draw fifty dollars of the money in your hands."
"How much rent do you expect to pay?"
"I suppose we must pay as much as twenty dollars a month forcomfortable furnished rooms."
"Can you afford that?"
"My business brings me in as much as fifty dollars a month."
"You haven't engaged rooms yet?"
"No, sir; my mother and I went out to look at some this morning. Weonly saw one place that suited us. That we could have got fortwenty-two dollars and a half rent, but when they heard of my littlebrother they wouldn't take us."
"I see. Some persons object to young children. I am glad you have notengaged a place yet."
Paul looked at Mr. Preston inquiringly.
"A gentleman of my acquaintance," proceeded the merchant, "is aboutsailing to Europe with his family. He is unwilling to let his house,fearing that his furniture would be injured. Besides, the length ofhis stay is uncertain, and he would want to go into it at once if heshould return suddenly. What I am coming to is this. He wants somesmall family to go in and take care of the house while he is away.They would be allowed to live in the basement and use the chambers onthe upper floor. In return they would receive the rent free. How wouldyour mother like to make such an arrangement?"
"Very much," answered Paul promptly. He saw at a glance that it wouldbe a great thing to save their rent, amounting, at the sum theyexpected to pay, to more than two hundred and fifty dollars a year."Where is the house?"
"It is in Madison avenue, between Thirty-third and Thirty-fourthstreets."
This was a considerable distance uptown, about three miles away fromhis place of business; but then Paul reflected that even if he rode upand down daily in the cars the expense would be trifling, comparedwith what they would save in house-rent. Besides, it would be ratheragreeable to live in so fashionable a street.
"Do you think my mother can get the chance?" he asked.
"I think so. The gentleman of whom I spoke, Mr. Talbot, expects tosail for Europe next Wednesday, by the Cunard Line. So the matter mustbe decided soon."
"Shall I call upon Mr. Talbot," asked Paul, "or shall you see him?"
"Here he is, by good luck," said Mr. Preston, as the door opened andan elderly gentleman entered. "Talbot, you are just the man I want tosee."
"Indeed! I am glad to hear that. What is it?"
"Have you arranged about your house yet?"
"No; I came in partly to ask if you knew of any trustworthy family toput in while I am away."
"I can recommend some one who will suit you, I think," returned Mr.Preston. "The young man at your side."
"He hasn't got a family already?" inquired Mr. Talbot, with a humorousglance at our hero. "It seems to me he is rather forward."
"I believe not," said Mr. Preston, smiling; "but he has a mother, avery worthy woman, and a little brother. As for my young friendhimself, I can recommend him from my own knowledge of his character.In fact, he has done me the honor of making me his banker to theextent of a hundred and fifty dollars."
"So that you will go bail for him. Well, that seems satisfactory. Whatis his name?"
"Paul Hoffman."
"Are you in a counting-room?" asked Mr. Talbot, turning to Paul.
"No, sir; I keep a necktie stand below the Astor House."
"I must have seen you in passing. I thought your face looked familiar.How much can you make now at that?"
"From twelve to fifteen dollars a week, sir."
"Very good. That is a good deal more than I made at your age."
"Or I," added Mr. Preston. "Paul was burned out yesterday," he added,"and is obliged to seek a new home. When he mentioned this to me, Ithought at once that you could make an arrangement for your mutualadvantage." "I shall be glad to do so," said Mr. Talbot. "Yourrecommendation is sufficient, Mr. Preston. Do you understand the termsproposed?" he continued, addressing Paul.
"Yes, sir, I think so. We are to have our rent free, and in return areto look after the house."
"That is right. I don't wish the house to remain vacant, as itcontains furniture and articles of value, and an empty house alwayspresents temptations to rogues. You will be free to use the basementand the upper floor. When the rest of the house needs cleaning, oranything of that kind, as for instance when I am about to return, itwill be done under your or your mother's oversight, but I will pay thebills. Directions will be sent you through my friend Mr. Preston."
"All right, sir," said Paul. "How soon would you wish us to come?"
"I would like you and your mother to call up this evening and see Mrs.Talbot. You can move in next Tuesday, as we sail for Europe on thefollowing day."
"Yes, sir," said Paul in a tone of satisfaction.
"I will expect you and your mother this evening. My number is ----."
"We will be sure to call, sir."
Mr. Talbot now spoke to Mr. Preston on another topic.
"Oh, by the way, Paul," said Mr. Preston in an interval of theconversation, "you said you wanted fifty dollars."
"I don't think I shall need it now, Mr. Preston,"
answered Paul. "Ihave some other money, but I supposed I might have to pay a month'srent in advance. Now that will not be necessary. I will bid yougood-morning, sir."
"Good-morning, Paul. Call on me whenever you need advice orassistance."
"Thank you, sir; I will."
"That's what I call a good day's work," said Paul to himself in a toneof satisfaction. "Twenty dollars a month is a good deal to save. Weshall grow rich soon at that rate."
He determined to go home at once and announce the good news. As heentered the room his mother looked up and inquired:
"Well, Paul, what news?"
"I've engaged a house, mother."
"A house? Where?"
"On Madison avenue."
"You are joking, Paul."
"No, I am not, or if I am, it's a good joke, for we are really to livein a nice house on Madison avenue and pay no rent at all."
"I can't understand it, Paul," said his mother, bewildered.
Paul explained the arrangement which he had entered into. It isneedless to say that his mother rejoiced in the remarkable good luckwhich came to them just after the misfortune of the fire, and lookedforward with no little pleasure to moving into their new quarters.