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for a job just when he fell sick。〃



〃What had you been doing before?〃



〃I was in the prize…package business; but that got played out;

and I was a gentleman at large; seeking for a light; genteel

business that wouldn't require much capital。〃



〃I shall be able to take my place pretty soon now;〃 said the

young man。  〃I might go to…morrow; but mother thinks it

imprudent。〃



〃Better get back your strength first; George;〃 said his mother;

〃or you may fall sick again。〃



But her son was impatient of confinement and anxious to get to

work again。  So; two days afterward; about the middle of the

forenoon; Paul was surprised by seeing George Barry get out of a

Broadway omnibus; just in front of the stand。



〃Can I sell you a necktie; Mr。 Barry?〃 he asked; in a joke。



〃I almost feel like a stranger;〃 said Barry; 〃it's so long since

I have been here。〃



〃Do you feel strong enough to take charge now?〃 asked Paul。



〃I am not so strong as I was; and the walk from our rooms would

tire me; but I think if I rode both ways for the present I shall

be able to get along。〃



〃Then you won't need me any longer?〃



〃I would like to have you stay with me to…day。  I don't know how

I shall hold out。〃



〃All right!  I'll stop。〃



George Barry remained in attendance the rest of the day。  He

found that his strength had so far returned that he should be

able to manage alone hereafter; and he told Paul so。



〃I am glad you are well again; George;〃 said Paul。  〃It must have

been dull work staying at home sick。〃



〃Yes; it was dull; but I felt more comfortable from knowing that

you were taking my place。  If I get sick again I will send for

you。〃



〃I hope you won't get sick; but if you do; I will do what I can

to help you。〃



So the two parted on the best of terms。  Each had been of service

to the other; and neither had cause to complain。



〃Well;〃 said Paul to himself; 〃I am out of work again。  What

shall I go at next?〃



It was six o'clock; and there was nothing to be done till the

morrow。  He went slowly homeward; revolving this subject in his

mind。  He knew that he need not remain idle。  He could black

boots; or sell newspapers; if nothing better offered; and he

thought it quite possible that he might adopt the latter

business; for a few days at least。  He had not forgotten Mr。

Preston's injunction to let him know when he got out of business;

but; as the second half dozen shirts would be ready in three or

four days; he preferred to wait till then; and not make a special

call on Mr Preston。  He had considerable independence of feeling;

and didn't like to put himself in the position of one asking a

favor; though he had no objection to accept one voluntarily

offered。



〃Well; mother;〃 he said; entering his humble home; 〃I am out of

business。〃



〃Has George recovered; then?〃



〃Yes; he was at the stand to…day; but wanted me to stay with him

till this evening。〃



〃Oh; I'm so sorry!〃  said Jimmy。



〃Sorry that George has got well?  For shame; Jimmy!〃



〃No; I don't mean that; Paul。  I am sorry you are out of work。〃



〃I shall find plenty to do; Jimmy。  Perhaps Mr。 Stewart will take

me in as senior partner; if I ask him。〃



〃I don't think he will;〃 said Jimmy; laughing。



〃Then perhaps I can get a few scholars in drawing。  Can't you

recommend me?〃



〃I am afraid not; Paul; unless you have improved a good deal。〃







CHAPTER XIV



THE DIAMOND RING



Paul was up betimes the next morning。  He had made up his mind

for a few days; at least; to sell newspapers; and it was

necessary in this business to begin the day early。  He tool a

dollar with him and invested a part of it in a stock of dailies。 

He posted himself in Printing House square; and began to look out

for customers。  Being an enterprising boy; he was sure to meet

with fair success in any business which he undertook。  So it

happened that at ten o'clock he had sold out his stock of papers;

and realized a profit of fifty cents。



It was getting late for morning papers; and there was nothing

left to do till the issue of the first edition of the afternoon

papers。



〃I'll go down and see how George Barry is getting along;〃 thought

Paul。



He crossed Broadway and soon reached the familiar stand。



〃How's business; George?〃 he inquired。



〃Fair;〃 said Barry。  〃I've sold four ties。〃



〃How do you feel?〃



〃I'm not so strong as I was; yet。  I get tired more easily。  I

don't think I shall stay in this business long。〃



〃You don't?  What will you do then?〃



〃I've got a chance in Philadelphia; or I shall have by the first

of the month。〃



〃What sort of a chance?〃



〃Mother got a letter yesterday from a cousin of hers who has a

store on Chestnut street。  He offers to take me as a clerk; and

give me ten dollars a week at first; and more after a while。〃



〃That's a good offer。  I should like to get one like it。〃



〃I'll tell you what; Paul; you'd better buy out my stand。  You

know how to sell ties; and can make money。〃



〃There's only one objection; George。〃



〃What's that?〃



〃I haven't got any capital。〃



〃It don't need much。〃



〃How much?〃



〃I'll sell out all my stock at cost price。〃



〃How much do you think there is?〃



〃About twenty…five dollars' worth。  Then there is the frame;

which is worth; say ten dollars; making thirty…five in all。  That

isn't much。〃



〃It's more than I've got。  I'll tell you what I'll do。  I'll take

it; and pay you five dollars down and the rest in one month。〃



〃I would take your offer; Paul; but I need all the money how。  It

will be expensive moving to Philadelphia and I shall want all I

can get。〃



〃I wish I could buy you out;〃 said Paul; thoughtfully。



〃Can't you borrow the money?〃



〃How soon do you want to give up?〃



〃It's the seventeenth now。  I should like to get rid of it by the

twenty…second。〃



〃I'll see what I can do。  Just keep it for me till to…morrow。〃



〃All right。〃



Paul walked home revolving in his mind this unexpected

opportunity。  He had made; as George Barry's agent; a dollar a

day; though he received only half the profits。  If he were

himself the proprietor; and did equally well; he could make

twelve dollars a week。  The calculation almost took away his

breath。  Twelve dollars a week would make about fifty dollars a

month。  It would enable him to contribute more to the support of

the family; and save up money besides。  But the great problem

was; how to raise the necessary money。  If Paul had been a

railroad corporation; he might have issued first mortgage bonds

at a high rate of interest; payable in gold; and negotiated them

through some leading banker。  But he was not much versed in

financial schemes; and therefore was at a loss。  The only wealthy

friend he had was Mr。 Preston; and he did not like to apply to

him till he had exhausted other ways and means。



〃What makes you so sober; Paul?〃 asked his mother; as he entered

the room。  〃You are home early。〃



〃Yes; I sold all my papers; and thought I would take an early

dinner; so as to be on hand in time for the first afternoon

papers。〃



〃Don't you feel well?〃



〃Tiptop; but I've had a good offer; and I'm thinking whether I

can accept it。〃



〃What sort of an offer?〃



〃George Barry wants to sell out his stand。〃



〃How much does he ask?〃



〃Thirty…five dollars。〃



〃Is it worth that?〃



〃Yes; it's worth all that; and more; too。  If I had it I could

make two dollars a day。  But I haven't got thirty…five dollars。〃



〃I can let you have nine; Paul。  I had a little saved up; and I

haven't touched the money Mr。 Preston paid me for the shirts。〃



〃I've got five myself; but that will only make fourteen。〃



〃Won't he wait for the rest?〃



〃No; he's going to Philadelphia early next week; and wants the

whole in cash。〃



〃It would be a pity to lose such a good chance;〃 said Mrs。

Hoffman。



〃That's what I think。〃



〃You could soon save up the money on two dollars a day。〃



〃I could pay for it in a monthI mean; all above the fourteen

dollars we have。〃



〃In a day or two I shall have finished the second half…dozen

shirts; and then I suppose Mr。 Preston will pay me nine dollars

more。  I could let you have six dollars of that。〃



〃That would make twenty。  Perhaps George Barry will take that。 

If he won't I don't know but I will venture to apply to Mr。

Preston。〃



〃He seems to take an interest in you。  Perhaps he would trust you

with the money。〃



〃I could offer him a mortgage on the stock;〃 said Paul。



〃If he has occasion to foreclose; he will be well provided with

neckties;〃 said Mrs。 Hoffman; smiling。



〃None of which he could wear。  I'll tell you what; mother; I

should like to pick up a pocketbook in the street; containing;

say; twenty or twenty…five 

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