Alger Horatio Jr.
Jed, the Poorhouse Boy
CHAPTER XXVI.
IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT
Jed followed his hotel friend up stairs into an upper dining-room, and they took seats at a corner table.
"I never like to dine alone," said Howell Foster. "I am glad I fell in with you, Jed."
"So am I," answered Jed. "I am more glad than you have any idea of," he said to himself.
"What will you order?" asked Mr. Foster, pushing over the bill of fare to his companion.
"I have a healthy appetite and shall enjoy anything," said Jed with a smile. "Please order the same for me as for yourself."
Howell Foster was rather proud of his gastronomic knowledge, and took this as a compliment.
"You can trust me to do that," he replied. "I am used to the place and know what they succeed best in."
Thereupon he ordered a dinner which Jed found delicious. No expense was spared, and Jed, glancing at the bill when it was brought, found that the charge was three dollars and a half.
During the repast the host kept up a bright and chatty conversation.
"I hope you enjoyed your dinner," he said, when it was over.
"Actions speak louder than words," answered Jed with a smile.
"This is a good, reliable place. I advise you to come here often."
"What would he say if he could see the inside of my pocket-book?" thought Jed. "I am afraid," he said aloud, "it is too expensive for my means."
"Yes, probably; I didn't think of that. By the way, what have you in view?"
"I hardly know yet."
"Come round and see me some day," and Foster handed Jed his card.
"Thank you, sir."
"Will you have a cigar?"
"No, thank you, sir. I don't smoke."
"It would be money in my pocket if I didn't. My cigars cost me last year five hundred dollars."
"I wish I was sure of that for my entire income," thought Jed.
They parted at the entrance to the hotel. It was clear from his manner and speech that Howell Foster thought Jed in easy circumstances.
It made the boy feel almost like an impostor, but he reflected that he had done nothing to give Mr. Foster a false impression.
It was about half-past one when he left the hotel. The dinner had occupied an hour. The world was still before him, but he had eaten a hearty meal and felt that he could get along, if necessary, till the next morning, so far as eating was concerned.
Where to sleep presented a perplexing problem, but it would be some time before it required to be solved. How to spend the afternoon puzzled Jed. He went back to City Hall Park, and on the seat he had formerly occupied he found a copy of the New York Herald which somebody had left there. He took it up and looked over the advertisements for Help Wanted.
He found the following:
Wanted.—Smart, enterprising agents to sell packages of stationery. Fifteen dollars a week can easily be made. Call at No. 182 Nassau Street, Room 22.
This struck Jed as just the thing. It could not be very hard to sell stationery, and fifteen dollars a week would support him comfortably.
"Where is Nassau Street?" he inquired of a bootblack who took a temporary seat beside him.
"There 'tis," said the street boy, pointing in the direction of the Tribune building. "You just go down in front of the Tribune."
"Is No. 182 far off?"
"No, it's close by. You can get there in less than no time."
"Thank you!" and with hope in his heart Jed rose and walked in the direction indicated.
He found the building. At the entrance was a list of occupants of rooms. He went up two flights of stairs, and halted in front of No. 22. He knocked at the door and was bidden in a deep, hoarse voice to "Come in!"
Opening the door, he found himself in the presence of a short, humpbacked man, whose voice was quite out of proportion to his size.
"I suppose you come to see me about the advertisement in the Herald," said the dwarf.
"Yes, sir," answered Jed, gazing as if fascinated at the stunted figure, huge head and long arms of the person before him.
"I have engaged several agents already this morning," went on the dwarf, turning over a large book on the desk before him.
"Then perhaps you don't need any more?" said Jed despondently.
"Oh, yes, I do if I can get the right ones," was the answer.
"It is to sell packages of stationery, I believe. Can you show me some?"
The dwarf handed Jed a flat package, on the outside of which was printed a list of the contents. They included a pen holder, pens, a quire of paper, a supply of envelopes, and several other articles.
"This is the best package in the market for the money," said the dwarf. "Observe how varied are the contents, and only a paltry twenty-five cents for the whole."
"Yes, it seems a good bargain," said Jed.
"You are right there," said the dwarf confidently. "Why, you can make money hand over hand. Our agents are actually coining it. We allow them to retain ten cents on each package. Two or three, and sometimes five, are sold to the same person. Would you like to have me read one or two agents' letters?"
"Yes, if you please."
"Here is one from Theodore Jenkins, who is operating in Pennsylvania:
"'Hugo Higgins, Esq.
"'Dear Sir:
"'Please send me at once two hundred packages of stationery. They sell like hot cakes. I got rid of forty yesterday, and it rained half the day, too. I have held several agencies for different articles, but none that paid as well as this. I shall be disappointed if I don't make forty dollars per week. It looks as if it might exceed that sum.
"'Yours respectfully,"'Theodore Jenkins.'
"That letter speaks for itself," remarked the dwarf as he folded it up and replaced it in an envelope.
"Yes," said Jed, "it is certainly very encouraging."
"I will read you another from a party who has been in our employ for fourteen months. He is operating in Ohio.
"'Dear Sir:
"'You may send me three hundred packages by Adams Express, and please don't delay, for I need them at once. I have been working for you for fourteen months. During that time I have supported my family and bought a house, on which I have paid cash down a thousand dollars. In the course of the next year and a half I expect to complete the payment and own the house clean. It was certainly a lucky thing for me when I saw your advertisement for agents and engaged in your service.
"'Yours gratefully,"'Arthur Waters.
"That is another letter that speaks for itself," observed Mr. Higgins. "I have plenty more, but I don't think I need to read any others to convince you that the business will pay any one that takes hold of it."
"Perhaps," added Jed, "these gentlemen had experience as agents."
"One of them had, but the other was quite green in the business."
"You think then that I could succeed?"
"Undoubtedly. You look smart and have a taking way with you. You can't fail to succeed."
This was pleasant to hear, and Jed felt strongly impelled to engage in the service of the plausible Higgins.
"If you will trust me with twenty packages," he said, "I will see what I can do."
"Certainly. That will be three dollars. You see we charge you fifteen cents each, and you sell them for twenty-five. That gives you two dollars. You had better take fifty packages, and then you won't have to come back to-morrow."
"Very well, I will take fifty."
"All right. You may pay me seven dollars and a half, and I will get the packages ready."
"Do you require payment in advance?" asked Jed quickly.
"Certainly. You are a stranger to me, and even if you were not, I should not feel like risking so much money or money's worth. What is there to hinder your making off with it and never coming back?"
"I wouldn't be dishonest for a great deal more money than that."
"I dare say you are right, but we must adhere to our business methods. You will get your money back in two days probably."
"But I haven't the money to pay in advance."
"Oh, that alters the matter," said Higgins, become less gracious. "How much have you?"
"I am unable to pay anything," said Jed desperately.
Mr. Hugo Higgins turned away, no longer interested in Jed. Poor Jed felt sadly disappointed at losing so good a chance, but something happened to mitigate his regret.
A stout man with red hair opened the door of the office and dashed in, carrying in his hands a large package.
"I want my money back!" he said. "You are a big schwindler!"
CHAPTER XXVII.
AN INTRACTABLE AGENT
The new visitor was a large man, evidently a German, weighing not less than two hundred pounds. He approached Hugo Higgins, towering above the dwarf by at least fourteen inches, and shook his fist in his face. Mr. Higgins shrank back as if fearful of a personal assault, and inquired in uneasy tones:
"Who are you, my friend?"
"Who am I?" retorted the other, laughing gutturally. "You know me well enough, you villain!"
"I think I have seen you somewhere," said Hugo, not daring to show the anger he felt at the hard name by which the other addressed him.
"You have seen me somewhere? Come, that's good. My name is Otto Schmidt, and I am one of your victims. You understand that, hey?"
"No. I can't say I do."
"Then I'll tell you. I came in here last week and bought some of your confounded packages. I was to make big wages by selling them, hey?"
"Certainly, I hope you did."
"You hope I did?" repeated Mr. Otto Schmidt fiercely. "Well, I tell you. I went round two days in Montclair, and how many packages you think I sell, hey?"
"About fifty," answered Hugo with a sickly smile.
"About fifty? Ha, ha!" returned the German, laughing wildly. "I sell just one to a young boy named Chester Noyes. That's all I sell."
"My dear Mr. Schmidt, I am afraid you got discouraged too soon," said Hugo suavely.
"So I am your dear Mr. Schmidt, hey? You cost me dear enough with your lies about the business, you scoundrel!"
"I cannot allow you to talk to me in this way," said Hugo in a dignified tone.
"Oh, you won't, hey?" retorted the German, beginning to dance about the floor.
"Well, I won't. Maybe you prefer to have me step on your necktie, hey?"
Hugo Higgins looked alarmed, and Jed could hardly help laughing.
"Well, what do you want?" asked Hugo, afraid some applicant for an agency might enter and be frightened away.
"What do I want? I want my money back."
"That is against our rules," said Hugo. "My good Mr. Schmidt, take the packages and go to some other place. Other agents have told me that Montclair is not a good town for business. Go to—to Rahway! I am sure you will sell all your packages there."
"No; I don't go to Rahway. I sell all my packages here."
"But, my good friend–"
"I am not your good friend. I am no friend to a rascal."
"Really, this language–"
"Never mind about the language! I ain't going to be schwindled by no fakir. I've got forty-nine packages here, and I want you to pay me back my money, seven dollars and thirty-five cents."
"I can't think of such a thing."
"Then I give you in charge for schwindling," said Otto Schmidt, thrusting a fat fist directly under Hugo's nose. "I may be one Dutchman, but I ain't so dumb as you think I am."
"I don't think you dumb at all," said Hugo soothingly. "I think you are a smart man of business."
"You find me too schmart to be schwindled, I tell you that."
"Still, if you don't want to go on with the business, I'll take back the packages and give you five dollars for them."
"And I to lose two dollars and thirty-five cents, besides all my time. Not much, Mr. Hugo Higgins."
"You can't expect me to give you back all the money."
"Well, I do," said Mr. Schmidt stoutly. "I give you just two minutes to make up your mind."
Just then the door opened, and a young man who was evidently from the country entered.
"I seed your advertisement," he said. "I want to be an agent, if you can give me a chance."
Otto Schmidt smiled sardonically, and was about to speak, when Hugo said hurriedly, "Come out into the hall, Mr. Schmidt, and I think we can arrange your business satisfactorily."
"All right! I come," and he followed Hugo out into the entry.
"I will pay you your money," said the agent. "It is quite against my rules, but I will make an exception in your case."
"I want a dollar more to pay me for my time," said the German, appreciating his advantage.
"But, my dear sir, this is very unreasonable," said Mr. Higgins uneasily.
"Then I go back into the room and show you up."
"Very well, here is your money!" and Hugo with great reluctance drew out eight dollars and thirty-five cents and handed it to Mr. Schmidt.
Otto Schmidt chuckled and nodded significantly at the discomfited Hugo.
"I may be a Dutchman," he said, "but I ain't no chump."
Hugo re-entered the office and smiled affably at the young man from the country.
"One of our successful agents," he said, nodding towards the door. "I won't tell you how much that German gentleman has made by selling our famous packages, for you might not believe me."
"Can you give me a chance?" asked the young hayseed anxiously.
"Well, I think I can," said Hugo with assumed hesitation, and then he explained on what terms he sold, as he had done to Jed.
"How many packages will you take?" he asked pleasantly.
"I guess I'll take a dozen to begin with," said the young man from the country.
"A dozen!" replied Hugo, much disappointed. "My, that's no order at all. You would have to come back for more before the day was out."
"Well, I'll take fifteen," said the young man after reflection.
"You'd better take fifty. Very few of our agents take less than fifty."
"No, I ain't got much money. I'll only take fifteen to begin with."
And to this determination he adhered, in spite of the persuasions of Mr. Higgins.
As Hugo wrapped up the packages and received back two dollars and twenty-five cents, he regretted that he had so hastily agreed to buy back Mr. Schmidt's boxes at an advance on the original cost.
"Where would you advise me to sell?" asked the young man.
"Country towns are best," said Hugo. "Some distance from the city, I advise, as those who live near New York can come here and buy, and are less ready to patronize agents."
Jed smiled to himself. He understood that Mr. Higgins wished to guard against a visit from the young man in case his business failed to meet his anticipations. He lingered behind after the rural visitor had gone.
"I hope," said Hugo, "you took no stock in what that stupid Dutchman said."
"Well," replied Jed, "it shows that some of your agents are not successful."
"A man like that could not succeed in selling anything," said Hugo scornfully. "Now it is different with you. You look smart."
Jed smiled. He began to understand Mr. Higgins and his methods.
"Then you remember the letters from the agents which I read you."
"Yes," answered Jed, but he felt convinced now that the letters were bogus, and manufactured by Mr. Higgins himself.
"When you can command the necessary funds I shall be glad to have you call and buy a bundle of samples."
"I don't think I shall care to enter into the business, Mr. Higgins," said Jed. "It would be an experiment, and I am not in a position to try experiments."
Higgins looked at Jed, and saw that he was understood.
"Very well!" he said coldly. "You must do as you like, but you are making a mistake."
Jed left the office and went down stairs. What had happened did not encourage him. It seemed a good deal harder to make a living in a large city than he supposed.
He saw now that there were sharpers ready to fleece the young and inexperienced. If he had not been robbed of his money, in all probability he would have fallen a victim to the persuasive but deceptive representations of Mr. Higgins, and have come back disappointed like Mr. Otto Schmidt.
He continued his walk down Nassau Street, and presently turned into Broadway. His attention was attracted to a church with a very high spire facing Wall Street. He inquired the name and found it was Trinity Church. The Scranton meeting-house could easily have been tucked away in one corner of the large edifice, and as far as height was concerned, it was but an infant compared with a six-footer.
He walked still further down Broadway, till he reached a green park, which he found was called the Battery. Feeling somewhat fatigued, he sat down on a bench near the sea-wall and looked over toward Governor's Island. Craft of different sizes were passing, and Jed was interested and exhilarated by the spectacle.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A STRANGE COMMISSION
Jed's companion on the seat was a sallow-faced, black-bearded man. Jed merely glanced at him, but presently became aware that he had become the object of the sallow man's scrutiny.
Finally the latter moved rather nearer Jed, and showed a disposition to be sociable.
"A fine day, young man," he began.
"Yes, sir."
"And a fine view we have before us," went on the stranger, pointing to the harbor and the numerous craft that were passing in both directions. "However, I suppose it is quite familiar to you?"
"No, sir; I am a stranger in the city."
"Indeed!" and here the stranger allowed his gaze to rest on the small gripsack that Jed had placed on the seat beside him. "Perhaps you have come in quest of work?"
"Yes, sir," answered Jed.
"Have you found anything yet?"
"No, sir, but I have only been here since yesterday morning. Do you know of any situation that I could fill?"
"Well, no, no permanent position," answered the other deliberately. "I might give you a chance to earn," here he hesitated, "two dollars this evening. But perhaps that would not be worth your while."
"Yes, sir, I should be glad to earn even that," said Jed eagerly.
"Then perhaps I may employ you. Can you row a boat?"
"Yes, sir. I think so. I have rowed on a pond up in Scranton."
"Then you can probably row here. I would row part of the way myself."
"When do you want me?" asked Jed.
"Not till late this evening. I will explain when the time comes."
Jed was disappointed. He had hoped to do the work at once, and receive the money. Then he could buy himself some supper, for he was already hungry. He found that his appetite was just as regular as if he were earning a living income, instead of being impecunious and without work.
"At what time shall I meet you, sir?"
"At eleven o'clock, here."
"Yes, sir," answered Jed, wondering what he was to do during the intervening time.
As he had no money, he must defer eating till then, and it occurred to him that he would hardly feel able to row any considerable distance unless refreshed by food. Could he venture to ask a part of the sum he was to earn in advance? He decided to do so.
"I am going to ask a favor," he said hurriedly. "I have been robbed of all my money, and I have not enough to buy my supper. If you let me have half a dollar on account–"
He feared that this proposal would be distasteful to his companion, but the sallow-faced man did not seem offended.
"Perhaps," he said thoughtfully, "I had better keep you with me, and let you eat supper with me."
"Very well, sir," said Jed, feeling relieved.
The other looked relieved.
"It is half-past five," he said. "We may as well start now."
He rose leisurely from his seat, and Jed followed him. He walked to the head of the Battery, and keeping near the piers, led the way to a humble tavern called "The Sailor's Rest."
"This will do," he said. "It is not very fashionable, but they can give us a comfortable meal."
Certainly the interior presented a great contrast to the Astor House, where Jed had lunched, or rather dined. The floor was sanded, the tables were unprovided with tablecloths. There was a bar on one side of the room, over which presided a stout bartender with mottled cheeks and a dirty white apron.
"Where is the restaurant?" asked Jed's companion.
"In there," answered the bartender with a jerk of his finger in the direction of a back room.
With a nod the sallow-faced man beckoned Jed to follow him. Opening a door, he led the way into a room provided with four tables only. On each table was a small bell.
Jed and his guide sat down, and the latter rang the bell.
A dirty-faced man, with a beard of several days' growth, made his appearance.
"We want some supper."
"What'll you have?"
"What can we have?"
"Beefsteak, ham and eggs."
"What else?"
"Eggs without."
"Without what?"
"Ham."
The sallow man shrugged his shoulders.
"It seems we must choose between beefsteak and ham and eggs," he said. "What will you have?"
"Ham and eggs," answered Jed.
"All right. Ham and eggs for two."
"Anything else?"
"Two bottles of lager. You drink beer, don't you?"
"No," answered Jed.
"Then bring the boy some tea or coffee—whichever he prefers."
"Tea," suggested Jed.
"Bread and butter, of course, and fried potatoes, if you can get them ready."
While they were waiting the man leaned back in his chair and stared out of the window at a dirty back yard, but his thoughts seemed to be otherwise occupied. Jed's eyes wandered about the room, but found little to attract him in the two or three prints—one of a yacht, another of a merchant vessel—that adorned the walls.
On the mantel was a soiled piece of coral and a large seashell. All seemed to harmonize with the name of the inn. Jed, however, felt but a fleeting interest in the furnishings of the place. His mind dwelt rather on the promised supper.
He could not understand how in this crisis of his fortunes, when there was so much to discourage him, he should have such an appetite. Savory odors from the neighboring kitchen found their way into the room when the waiter opened the door and entered to set the table.
Jed was glad to overlook the cheap and dark-hued crockery, the rusty knives and forks and the chipped glasses, as the odor of the ham and eggs was wafted to his nostrils. Finally the beer and tea were brought in, and his companion signaled to him to fall to.
"Where did you dine?" he asked abruptly.
"At the Astor House."
The sallow-faced man paused with his glass, which he had just filled, half-way to his lips.
"Was that before you were robbed of your money?" he asked.
"No, sir, but I met a gentleman whom I knew at the seaside, and he invited me to dine with him."
"Oh, that explains it. This is a very different place from the Astor House."
"I should think so," said Jed smiling.
"Still we can probably satisfy our hunger."
"Oh, yes," responded Jed, and he made a vigorous onslaught on the contents of his plate.
In a few minutes supper was over, and Jed felt better. It is wonderful how much more cheerful views we take of life and the world on a full than on an empty stomach.
Jed experienced this. He couldn't, to be sure, look very far ahead, but he had had three meals that day in spite of an empty purse, and the money he was to earn would insure him a bed and three meals for the coming day, in all probability.
"It is half-past six" said his companion, referring to his watch—"a good while before I shall need your services. Do you feel tired?"
"Yes, sir; I have been on my feet all day."
"Wait a minute."
He went out and returned in a moment.
"I have engaged a room for you," he said. "You can occupy it now if you like it, and after our expedition return to pass the balance of the night. You can leave your valise there, as it will only be in your way on the boat."
"Thank you, sir."
This solved one of Jed's problems in a pleasant manner. The waiter led the way up stairs to a small room just large enough to hold a bed and washstand, and said, "That'll do you, I guess."
"Oh yes," responded Jed cheerfully.
"The gentleman says you can lie down, and he'll call you when you're wanted."
Jed was glad of this permission, for he felt very much in need of rest. He took off his coat and laid down on the bed. The couch he found not a very luxurious one. It consisted of a thin—a very thin—mattress laid upon wooden slats, and the pillow was meagre.
But he soon fell asleep, and slept so soundly that it seemed as if only five minutes had elapsed when some one shook him, and opening his eyes, they rested on his sallow-faced employer.
"Time to get up," said the latter abruptly.
Jed sprang from the bed, and, his eyes only half open, said, "I am ready."
"Follow me, then."
He followed his guide, who walked rapidly through the dark streets till he reached a pier not far from the Battery. There was a boat moored alongside, rising and falling with the tide. There was one man already in it.
"Come along!" said his guide briefly.
Jed descended a ladder, and took his place in the boat. His companion seized the oars, signing to Jed to take his seat in the bow. Then he began to row, much better then Jed could have done.
They struck out towards Governor's Island, passed it, and proceeded a considerable distance beyond. Here lay a yacht. There was no light on board, so far as Jed could see, and it looked to be quite deserted.
The rower slackened his speed (he had not yet called upon Jed to row) and said quickly: "I want you to board that yacht. Go down into the cabin. There you will see a box, perhaps a foot square and ten inches deep. Bring it to me."
"But," said Jed, in bewilderment, "is—is it yours?"
"No," answered the sallow-faced man composedly. "It belongs to a friend of mine, the owner of the yacht. I promised to come out and get it for him."
