United States or Bahamas ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Seven o'clock was the hour for opening at Williams & Mann's, and five minutes before that time Richard presented himself, and was let in by the sleepy porter. The elevator was not running at this time in the day, so Richard took the narrow iron stairs, and was soon in the stock-room, where he went to work at what he had been doing the previous day until Frank Massanet arrived.
Frank Massanet was surprised and delighted to have Richard come to work again. "You have indeed a good friend in Mr. Joyce," he remarked when the boy had told him what the leather merchant had done. "One such is worth a thousand of the common sort." During the afternoon Earle Norris had occasion to come up to the stock- room. He started back upon seeing Richard at work.
He felt, however, that he must obtain employment of some kind, and that quickly. The small amount of money he had in hand would not last him long, and though kind-hearted Mrs. Massanet might be willing to let him remain awhile without paying board, he knew that now, with her son idle, the good woman could not afford so generous a course. Richard had not gone to see Mr. Joyce as yet.
"That's what I call luck!" thought Richard, as he hurried back to the Massanets' home. "I'm mighty glad I called on Mr. Martin. He seems to be a gentleman and will no doubt do what is right. I hope Frank has been equally fortunate." Mrs. Massanet was surprised to see him returning so soon. "What ees eet?" she asked, anxiously. "I hope you no deesheartened a'ready?"
Richard breathed a sigh of relief when he was gone. "I am sorry he placed you two up here in such a false position," said Mr. Williams to Richard. "Please tell Massanet of it, too. Neither of you shall lose anything by it."
Styles had predicted, at the end of three months Mr. Dare's pension money was in the widow's possession. Long before this, however, Mrs. Dare sold her land in Mossvale, and removed with her family to New York, having apartments adjacent to Mrs. Massanet, with whom she was soon on intimate terms. She advanced the necessary money to Richard, and he and Frank Massanet immediately bought out Mr.
Massanet, when Richard had finished, "and I shall be pleased to have you as a boarder eef you like ze diner." "Thank you, Mrs. Massanet. I shall be thankful to have you take me. I know it will feel quite like a home." "Ve make zat so. Ve keep no hotel garni even only for one." "Thank you," returned Richard. He did not understand the French, which means a lodging-house. "Can I come to-night?"
"I'll speak to my mother to-night," said he, "and I'll let you know to-morrow morning." At six o'clock Frank Massanet announced the day's work ended, and, bidding his friend goodnight, Richard hurried off to West Street. His heart was light over his own good fortune, but heavy when he thought of the losses he had sustained earlier in the day.
"No, indeed!" returned the boy; and he told her of his good fortune. "Zat ees nice!" exclaimed the Frenchwoman. "I hope you gits zee place widout trouble." And then she gave a little sigh as she thought of her son's uncertain search. "Maybe Frank will be as lucky," said Richard, who fancied he could read her thoughts. "I sincerely hope so," returned Mrs. Massanet.
When Richard reached Williams & Mann's he found Frank Massanet already hard at work. He had told the stock-clerk of the robbery in Park Row, and now he related its sequel in the shape of the incident of the morning. "Well, maybe you did right," said Frank; "although the majority of the street boys are not to be trusted beyond sight.
Word Of The Day