Horatio Alger

“ I wanted money the worst way, and I--well, I set to work to raise it. Maybe you'd like to hear my story."
"I would."
"Mind you, I don't pose as a model of goodness and I shouldn't advise you to follow in my footsteps. But I wanted money and wanted in badly. So I put on my thinking cap, and I soon learned of a very zealous antiquary living about five miles from where I was stopping. He was wealthy and a bachelor, and spent no inconsiderable portion of his income on curiosities."
"And you went to him?" said Joe, becoming interested. ”

“ The firm I worked for wouldn't take them back so I had to keep them."
"And now you are selling curiosities."
At this Ulmer Montgomery smiled blandly.
"Not exactly, Joe--I only sell curiosities, or antiquities, when I am hard up. On other occasions I do like other folks, work for a living." ”

“ Montgomery."
"Well, a man can do lots of things when he is driven to do them. I admit the deals were rather barefaced, but, as I said before, I had to do something. Some day, when I am rich, I'll return the money to the old fellow," added the impostor.
He left the hotel that morning, and it may be said here that Joe did not meet him again for several years.
Christmas came and went at the hotel, and our hero received several presents from his friends, including a pair of gloves from Ned Talmadge and a five-dollar gold piece from Felix Gussing. ”