Edward Stratemeyer

“ Joyce's face betrayed resentment, anger, pity and curiosity, all in one.
"But believe me, sir, I am not to blame," went on Richard hastily. "I have done my work, and more, faithfully, and Mr. Mann would give no reason for discharging me."
"But there must have been some reason," exclaimed the leather merchant flatly. "No one sends away an efficient clerk without cause." ”

“ A heavy freight train had backed down from a side track, smashing the locomotive attached to the passenger cars, and throwing three of the latter off the track.
One of the cars—the first—had been turned completely over, and to this every one was hurrying.
"It's the smoking car," replied a man, to Richard's eager question.
"It's full of men, too."
Setting down the two valises within easy reach, the boy hurried forward.
"Mr. Joyce is in there," was his thought. "Oh, I hope he isn't hurt!" ”

“ Joyce, as he arose. When alone, Richard became absorbed in the map at once.
On and on sped the train, now running faster than ever. But Richard took no notice. He was deep in the little volume, trying his best to memorize the names of the streets and their locations.
"It's not a very regular city," he sighed. "Streets run in all directions, and some of them are as crooked as a ram's horn. If I ever—"
A sudden jar at this instant caused Richard to pitch forward from his seat. Then, before he realized what had happened, the car tilted, and then turned completely over on its side. ”

“ He did not mention Norris; and finally the talk drifted around to Pep, the street urchin.
"I feel sorry for him," said Mattie Massanet. "We must find out where he lives, and see if we can't do something for him and his sick father."
"I've been thinking of it," returned Richard. "He is very shy, and wouldn't even tell me his last name. But perhaps when he sees that I mean him no harm he'll grow more communicative."
"We might go down and see his father on a Sunday," went on Mattie. "I suppose the neighborhood in which he lives isn't a very nice one to visit at night." ”

“ Williams had helped.
"I declare, between you, you'll soon be cutting me out of a job," he laughed.
"Oh, I hope not," returned Richard. "If I'd thought that, I surely would not have worked so hard."
"Oh, it's all right," replied Frank.
"If I ever go into business for myself," he thought, "Richard Dare is just the clerk I want to help me. He is bright, and not afraid of work, and those are the fellows who get along."
Frank Massanet's one idea was to some day own a bookstore of his own. ”

“ Richard feels that there is nothing for him to do in the sleepy village in which he resides, and that he must "strike out for himself," and he does so, with no cash capital to speak of, but with plenty of true American backbone, and with the firm conviction that if he does his duty as he finds it, and watches his chances, he will be sure to make a place for himself.
Richard finds life in the metropolis no bed of roses, and when he at length gains a footing he is confronted by many a snare and pitfall. ”

“ Melvin thinks.
Listen then to what I have to say."
"I am listening."
"When I'm gone, Richard, you will have to take my place. Your mother is strong, and can do much; but she is a woman, and she, as well as your sisters, will need your help."
"They shall have all that I can possibly give them. I will work, and do all I can."
"I know you will, Richard. You have always been a good boy. I am sorry that I cannot leave you all better off than I'm doing."
"Never mind, father; we will get along."
"I suppose I might have done so if I'd had the courage to strike out," continued Mr. Dare, with a sigh. ”

“ Didn't he ever apply, Dick? I read in a Philadelphia paper the other day about a man getting sixteen dollars a month allowed, and a whole lot of back pay—more than two or three thousand dollars!"
"Two or three thousand dollars!" cried Grace. "Oh, Nancy, it's a fortune!"
"But it's true, every word."
"I believe father has tried," replied Richard. "But it seems that he must have witnesses to prove his identity, and all that—"
"And can't he get them?" asked Grace, eagerly.
"I believe not. All his old comrades are either dead or scattered, and he hasn't a single address." ”

“ Richard was on his feet in a second, but it was too late. In that second, the street Arab had sprung to the top of a pile of cases that stood directly under an opening in the floor above.
The next instant he had disappeared through the hole, and was gone.
But in mounting the stack of cases he had dislodged several and these now tumbled down, making a lively racket. The noise was followed by several exclamations, and the sound of hasty feet upon a stairway.
"Hey, you, vat you do here?" cried a voice; and Richard felt his arm grasped by a tall and savage looking German workman. ”

“ When Richard returned to the office he found that Mr. Joyce had just cleared his desk, and was leaning back in his chair.
The leather merchant motioned him to a seat.
"Well, what do you think of it?" he asked abruptly.
"You seem to be doing a big business," returned Richard. "I think you must have enough leather to supply all New York."
"So I have—for a short time. But only a small part stays in the city.
It comes and goes all the while. Have you found a place yet?" ”

“ Joyce. "He's as jolly green as we were when we came here," he added in a whisper. "But he's bright, honest and level-headed, and I've taken a fancy to him and want you to give him a chance."
"Do you like to handle books?" asked Mr. Mann.
"Yes, sir; very much."
"Yes, it's just what he does like," put in the leather merchant. "Place him among the books if you can."
"Perhaps I can do that; but I won't be able to pay you much until you are experienced."
"I must earn my living, sir," said Richard respectfully, but in a firm manner.
"Of course he must," added Mr. Joyce. ”

“ In the morning Richard sent the pension papers to Frank by the first mail. Then he helped get what was left of their furniture into shape, and took a walk over to what had been the old homestead.
Nothing remained but a heap of charred timbers and fallen stones.
"It's the ending of our life here in the country," he whispered to himself. "God grant it may be the beginning of a more prosperous one in the city."
At the close of the week came visitors—Frank, Doc Linyard, and a strange gentleman, who was introduced as Mr. Styles, the old sailor's lawyer friend. ”

“ Mrs. Dare shook her head. But it was all to no purpose. Richard was firm, and doubly so when Grace gave him a pert look of approval.
The news of the departure had spread, and at the depot the boy met several who had come to see him off—Mr. Cook and two or three boy friends, including Charley Wood, the son of a neighbor, who was not slow in giving the lion's share of his attention to Grace.
"Here comes the train!" exclaimed Nancy, after a rather long wait, and a moment later, with ringing bell, the locomotive rounded the curve below, and the cars rolled into the depot. ”

“ Picking up the two valises, Richard made his way through the crowd, looking for Mr. Joyce. It seemed rather queer that the gentleman who had left his baggage in the boy's care was nowhere to be found.
Richard made quite a number of inquiries, especially among the men who had occupied the smoking-car, but to no avail.
The smash-up was no small affair, and it took fully an hour before the railroad officials that were present could get assistance to the spot. In the meantime, the injured were laid out on the grass and made as comfortable as circumstances would permit. ”

“ Dare is a new-comer to New York, and I'm only showing him around a bit."
"We don't want any one here who is going to give us away," put in another player. "Harrison, your cut."
"I'm quite sure Mr. Dare won't be so mean," said Norris. "Come, make yourself at home."
But during the last few minutes Richard had been doing some heavy thinking, and the conclusion of it all was that he had better get out as soon as possible. He had nothing in common with such a crowd, and to remain might place him in an awkward if not dangerous position. ”

“ I would rather have you home, even if we had a good deal less to live upon."
"To-morrow I will go out and see what Mossvale has to offer," returned Richard. "In our circumstances it would not be right for me to waste any time."
"Do as you think best," was Mrs. Dare's reply. "You are old enough to think and act for yourself."
But Richard did not wait for the next day before he began his hunt. That evening he called upon Dr. Melvin to obtain some medicine for his mother, and after this portion of his errand was over he broached the subject of securing a position. ”

“ Dare had once resided; but, though the two spent nearly three hours in the search, no trace of any former acquaintance was found.
"You see it's different here from what it is in the country," said Frank, when they were returning. "Here you often find that people don't know who lives next door, or even in the same house with them. It sounds queer, but it's true. No one is introduced, no one is sociable, and the majority are continually moving, in the hope of finding a better dwelling or cheaper rent."
"Yes, I noticed that," replied Richard, with something like a sigh. ”

“ Barrows briefly. "What was it you wanted?"
"Work. I want to earn something to support my mother and sisters on.
We can't live on nothing, and what we have saved up won't last long."
"It's hard luck, Dick, so it is!" exclaimed the old painter. "Tell you what I'll do, though. I'll teach you the trade—teach you it just as good as your father knew it, and pay you a little in the bargain."
"How much I don't care about the money for myself, but—"
"Yes, I understand," broke in Mr. Barrows. "Well, I'll tell you. I'll take you to learn the trade for three years, and start you at two dollars a week. ”

“ CHAPTER XXXII. THE FIRM OF MASSANET AND DARE. Tom Clover's unexpected statement was a revelation to Richard, and subsequent questioning convinced the boy that all that Doc Linyard's brother-in-law had said concerning the acquaintance with his father was perfectly true.
It was a fact that Clover had been drafted in Boston, but during the second year of his service his time had expired, and then he had enlisted in a Brooklyn regiment, and become a member of the same company to which Mr. Dare belonged.
"It seems too good to be true," cried Richard finally. ”

“ Mr. Joyce eyed the boy thoughtfully.
"Reckon I was right. Thought you'd take to books. Persons with your kind of a forehead always do. Well, come along. I'll see what I can do toward getting you a place with a friend of mine."
Locking up his desk, Mr. Joyce put on his hat and led the way out on the street.
"We'll have to hurry," he said, "or we'll find my friend has gone home."
Richard needed no urging. With a strangely light heart he kept close behind the leather merchant. ”

“ Richard was not overpleased at the proposition; yet he could not very well object except by seeming rude, and from this he shrank; so he gave a mild assent.
"You see I like to get on good terms with all the boys," explained Norris, as they walked leisurely along. "I'm on the best of terms with every one in the establishment but Massanet, and I'd like to be with him, only he's so awfully slow."
"Frank Massanet is a very nice fellow," said Richard stoutly.
"Oh, yes—too nice for me, though. But let that pass. Everybody has his peculiarities. Have a smoke?" ”

“ The boy told him.
"Mossvale is so small, there is hardly any chance," he added.
"Your mother tells me that you have an idea you could do better in New York," went on the minister. "It is a big place, and nearly every one is almost too busy to notice a new-comer."
"I know that. But I should watch my chances."
"And there are many temptations there that never arise in such a place as this," continued Mr. Cook earnestly; "and it very often takes all the will power a person possesses to keep in the straight and narrow path."
"I wouldn't do what wasn't right!" burst out Richard. "I'd starve first!" ”

“ There was a well-bound history of the United States for forty-five cents, and a beautiful edition of Shakspere, with steel engravings, for the small price of one dollar.
"Selling 'em off cheap," cried the vender, putting several volumes in Richard's hands. "Take 'em right along. You'll miss the opportunity of a lifetime if you don't." ”

“ I never knew them until I got acquainted with Frank here."
"Rather slow at their house, I imagine."
"Oh, I like it very well."
"My folks live in Yonkers," said Norris, "but I couldn't stand it there, though I had a good position. I like New York life. You ought to be over at our boarding-house. There are six of us young fellows, and we're out every night and have lots of sport."
"Thank you; I am very well content where I am," said Richard coldly.
He did not like the manner in which the shipping-clerk had spoken of
Frank and his family. ”

“ How much I don't know, but quite some."
"Money coming to him?" Pep's eyes opened widely. Then suddenly his face fell. "Yer foolin' me."
"No, I'm not. It's money from an uncle in England, left to your father and your Aunt Betty."
Pep gave a whoop. "Hooray!" he cried, with a wild fling of his arms.
"How much is it? As much as twenty—as fifty dollars?"
"Yes, a good many fifty dollars," replied Richard with a smile.
"And kin dad have a nuss and medicine? Maybe they'll let him in the hospital if he pays, hey? And I'll get some new clo'es, and then they'll let me come and see him." ”

“ When a young man he had served three years in the army, during the great rebellion, from which he had come away with a bullet in his shoulder, and a strong tendency towards chronic rheumatism. Shortly after he had married, and now, twenty years later, his family included four children, of which Richard, age sixteen, was next to the oldest.
Mr. Dare was a steady, sober man, who disliked excitement, and the quiet plodding along in Mossvale just suited him. He was only a journeyman, and it is doubtful if his ambition had ever risen beyond his present station. ”