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Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 12. A Good Action Meets Its Reward |
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_ CHAPTER XII. A GOOD ACTION MEETS ITS REWARD Paul Hoffman was standing beside his stock in trade, when all at once he heard the question, so common in that neighborhood, "Shine yer boots?" "I guess not," said Paul, who felt that his income did not yet warrant a daily outlay of ten cents for what he could easily do himself. "I'll shine 'em for nothin'," said the boy. Such a novel proposition induced Paul to notice more particularly the boy who made it. "Why for nothing?" he asked, in surprise, not recognizing Julius. "You gave me a dinner yesterday," said Julius. "Are you the boy?" asked Paul, with interest. "I'm the one," answered Julius. "Will you have a shine?" "I don't want any pay for the dinner," said Paul. "You're welcome to it." "I'd rather give you a shine," persisted Julius. "All right," said Paul, pleased by his grateful spirit, and he put out his foot. "Won't you let me pay for it?" asked Paul, when the job was finished and his boots were resplendent with a first-class polish. "No," said Julius, hastily drawing back. "Thank you, then. Have you had good luck this morning?" "I got four shines," said Julius. "I once blacked boots myself, for a little while," said Paul. "You're doin' better now." "Yes, I'm doing better now. So will you some day, I hope." "Do you live in a house on Madison avenue?" asked Julius, abruptly. "Yes," said Paul, surprised. "Who told you?" "You take care of the house for a gentleman as has gone to Europe, don't you?" "How do you know it?" demanded Paul. "I want to tell you something" said Julius, "only don't you never let on as I told you." "All right. Go ahead!" said Paul, more and more mystified. "Ain't there some gold and bonds kept in the house?" "Why do you ask?" demanded Paul, eying the boy with suspicion. "There's a couple of chaps that's plannin' to rob the house," said Julius, sinking his voice almost to a whisper, and looking cautiously about him to guard against being overheard. "Who are they? How do you know it?" asked Paul, startled. "One is Jack Morgan, the man I live with; the other is a friend of his, Tom Marlowe." "Did you hear them talking about it?" "Yes; last night." "Did they tell you about it?" "They wanted me to find out all about you--if you'd got any friends in Brooklyn, or anywheres round. They want to get you off the night they're goin' to break in." "When is that?" "Next Monday." "What made you tell me all this?" "'Cause you was good to me and give me a dinner when I was hungry." "Give me your hand," said Paul, his heart warming toward the boy who exhibited so uncommon a feeling as gratitude. "It's dirty," said Julius, showing his hand stained with blacking. "Never mind," said Paul, grasping it warmly. "You're a good fellow, and I'd rather take your hand than a good many that's cleaner." Julius, rough Arab as he was, looked gratified, and his face brightened. He felt that he was appreciated, and was glad he had revealed the plot. "Now," said Paul, "you have told me about this man's plans; are you willing to help me further? Are you willing to let me know anything more that you find out about the robbery?" "Yes, I will," said Julius, unhesitatingly. "Then I'll depend upon you. What sort of a man is this that you live with? What's his name?" "His name is Jack Morgan. He's a bad sort, he is. He's shut up most of the time." "What makes you stay with him?" "I'm used to him. There ain't nobody else I belong to." "Is he your father?" "No, he ain't." "Any relation?" "Sometimes he says he's my uncle, but maybe it ain't so--I dunno." "Is he a strong man?" "Yes; he's a hard customer in a fight." "How about the other man?" "That's Marlowe. He's the same sort. I like Jack best." "Do you think they will try to break in next Monday night?" "If they think you are away." "What will you tell them?" "What do you want me to tell them?" asked Julius, looking at him earnestly. "I don't know," said Paul, thoughtfully. "If you should say I was going to be away, they'd want to know where, and how you found out. They might suspect something." "That's so," said Julius. "Suppose they heard that I would remain in the house, what would they do to prevent it?" "They might get you took up on a false charge and put in the station-house over night, or maybe they'd seize you if they got a chance and lock you up somewhere." "How could they have heard that Mr. Talbot left any valuables in the house?" Julius shook his head. On that point he could give no information. "You may tell them," said Paul, after a moment's thought, "that I have an aunt, Mrs. Green, living in Brooklyn." "Whereabouts in Brooklyn?" "No. 116 Third avenue," said Paul, at a venture. "Can you remember?" "Yes." "They will probably send a message from her late Monday evening for me to go over there." "Will you go?" "I will leave the house, for they will probably be watching; but I shall not go far, and I shall leave the house well guarded." Julius nodded. "I'll tell 'em," he said. He was about to go, when Paul called him back. "Won't you get yourself into trouble?" he said. "I should not want to have any harm come to you." "They won't know I'm in the game," answered Julius. "Will you come to-morrow and let me know what they say?" "Yes." Julius crossed Broadway and turned into Fulton street, leaving Paul full of thought. He felt what a great advantage it was to be forewarned of the impending danger, since being forewarned was forearmed, as with the help of the police he could prepare for his burglarious visitors. He saw that the money he had paid for a dinner for a hungry boy was likely to prove an excellent investment, and he determined that this should not be the last favor Julius received from him. Meanwhile Julius returned to business. With the help of his blacking materials he succeeded in earning a dollar before the close of the day. Unluckily, half of this was to be given to the young capitalist who had supplied him with a box and brush; but still fifty cents was more than he would probably have earned if he had been compelled to depend upon chance jobs. At six o'clock he met his young employer and handed over fifty cents, which the other pocketed with much satisfaction. "Do you want to take the box ag'in to-morrow?" he asked. "Yes," said Julius. "All right. You can keep it then. You can take it home with you and bring me the stamps to-morrow night at this same hour." So the contract was continued, and Julius, having treated himself to some supper, went home. Jack Morgan was already there. He looked up as Julius entered. "Where'd you get that box?" he asked. "I borrored it." "Of a boy?" "Yes; I give him half I makes." "How much did you make to-day?" "Ten shines. That was a dollar." "And half of it went to you?" "Yes, Jack." "Where is it?" "I had to get my dinner and supper. There's all that's left." He handed Jack ten cents. "Why didn't you keep the whole of the money?" grumbled Jack. "You needn't have paid the boy." "He'd have licked me." "Then I'd lick him." Julius shook his head. "That would be cheatin'," he said. "I wouldn't want to cheat him when he give me the box." "Oh, you're gettin' mighty particular," sneered Jack, not very well satisfied at having so large a portion of the boy's earnings diverted from himself. "If I had a box and brush of my own I could keep all the stamps I made," said Julius. "I'm dead broke. I can't give you no money to buy one. Did you go to see that boy I told you of?" "Paul Hoffman?" "Yes, if that's his name." "Yes, I went to see him." "And did you find out anything?" asked Jack, with eagerness. "Yes." "Well, out with it, then. Don't let me do all the talking." "He's got an aunt as lives in Brooklyn." "Whereabouts?" "No. 116 Third avenue." "How did you find out?" "I got 'him to talkin'." "That's good. And did he suspect you?" "No," said Julius. "No. 116 Third avenue," repeated Jack. "I must put that down. Did he tell you the name?" "Mrs. Green." "That's good. We'll trump up a message from her late Monday evening. I wish I knew how things was arranged in the house." "Maybe I could go there," said Julius. "What, to the house?" "Yes. I could go there in the evenin' and ask him if he'd let me have some old clothes. Maybe he'd invite me upstairs, and--" "You could use your eyes. That's a good idea, but I don't believe you'd get a chance to go up." "Shall I try?" "Yes; you may try to-morrow night. If we make a haul, you shall have your share. Halloo, Marlowe!" These last words were addressed to Marlowe, who entered unceremoniously without knocking. "I'm in luck," said Marlowe. "Here's a fiver," and he displayed a five-dollar greenback. "Come out and we'll have a jolly supper." Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, communicating to his companion as they walked along the information Julius had picked up. _ |
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