Chester Rand

“ Two days later Chester was walking through Union Square when he came face to face with Felix Gordon.
Felix espied him first.
"Hello! Chester," said his successor.
"Hello! I didn't see you."
"I envy you."
"Why?"
"You have nothing to do but to enjoy yourself," answered Felix, significantly.
"Oh, that's it!" said Chester, smiling. He saw that Felix thought him to be out of employment.
"That was the case with you before you succeeded me in the real estate office. How do you like it?"
"Pretty well, but I think I ought to get more salary. You got five dollars, didn't you?" ”

“ Taylor," said the broker, "this young gentleman is Chester Rand, owner of the lots which you wish to buy."
"Is it possible?" ejaculated William Taylor. "I didn't know that the owner of the lots was a boy."
"The lots were a bequest to me from the original owner," said Chester.
"And you have never been out this way before?"
"This is my first visit to Tacoma."
"You are hardly old enough to be in business."
"I am an artist; that is, I furnish illustrations to a comic weekly paper in New York."
"You have begun life early. I suspect you are better fitted for business than most young men of your age. ”

“ Chester made his way homeward, as he did not care to carry the pie about with him. His mother looked at him in surprise as he entered the house.
"What have you there, Chester?" she asked.
"A pie from Miss Cleveland."
"But how came she to give you a pie?"
"I shoveled a path for her, and she gave me a pie and ten cents—no, nine. So you see, mother, I've earned something this week."
"I take it as a good omen. A willing hand will generally find work to do."
"How are you off for wood, mother?"
"There is some left, Chester." ”

“ What can he be doing in New York?"
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A FRIEND FROM OREGON.
"Go over and speak to him," suggested Chester.
"Come with me, then."
The two boys crossed the street and intercepted the man from Portland. He was of medium height, with dark hair, and had a brisk, Western way with him.
"Don't you remember me, Mr. Wilson?" said Edward.
"What! Edward Granger?" ejaculated the Oregonian. "Well, I am glad to see you. Didn't know what had become of you. Are you living here?"
"Yes, sir. Let me introduce my friend, Chester Rand."
"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rand," said Wilson, heartily. ”

“ Chester smiled.
"I have been discharged from my position in the real estate office," he said.
"Then," said the landlady, in some dismay, "isn't it imprudent to take a more expensive room?"
"I have secured a much better place."
"Oh! that alters the case. Is it likely to be permanent?"
"If I lose it I will go back to my old room."
"I am sure I am glad to hear of your good luck, Mr. Rand. It is very seldom that a young man of your age——"
"Call me a boy. I am not a young man yet."
"You seem to be getting on as well as a young man. I think you are real smart." ”

“ He went the next day to the office of The Phœnix, and after delivering his sketches, said: "I should like leave of absence for two months. Can you spare me?"
"Does your health require it, Mr. Rand?" asked the editor.
"No," answered Chester, "but I own a little property in Tacoma, and there are parties out there who wish to buy. It is important that I should go out there to attend to the matter."
The editor arched his brows in astonishment.
"What!" he said. "An artist, and own real estate? This is truly surprising."
"I didn't earn it by my art," replied Chester, smiling. "It was a bequest." ”

“ Silas Tripp returned home full of the news he had heard in New York.
“Just as I thought,” he said to himself, “Chester Rand ought never to have left Wyncombe. He ain’t calc’lated to succeed in the city. He’d orter have stayed in my store. In two or three years he might have been earnin’ four or five dollars a week, and he could have boarded at home. It costs a sight to live in the city. I ain’t sure that I could afford it myself.”
Mr. Tripp decided to offer Chester his old place at two dollars and a half a week. Abel Wood was again in his employ, but he didn’t like him as well as Chester. ”

“ Chester did so.
“I will send for you if I need you. I think you can help me materially. You seem to have a clear head, and are observing.”
It was the evening for Chester to call at Prof. Hazlitt’s.
“I passed your office this morning, Chester,” said Arthur Burks, “and thought of calling in, but I was in haste.”
“You wouldn’t have found me, Arthur. I am discharged.”
“What!” exclaimed Arthur, in surprise. “What complaint does Mr. Fairchild make of you?”
“None at all. He is out of the city. The bookkeeper, who dislikes me, discharged me, and gave the place to his cousin.” ”

“ Then, if my cousin comes, your mother will not be so lonesome."
"It is the very thing," said Chester, enthusiastically.
"What is your cousin's name, Mr. Gardener?" asked the widow.
"Miss Jane Dolby. She is a spinster, and at her age there is not much chance of her changing her condition. Shall I write her that you will receive her?"
"Yes; I shall be glad to do so."
"And, as Miss Dolby is a business woman, she will expect me to tell her your terms."
"Will four dollars a week be too much?" asked Mrs. Rand, in a tone of hesitation. ”

“ Rand, dryly.
“Women don’t know much about business,” muttered Silas, as he plodded home, disappointed.
CHAPTER VI.
ROBERT RAMSAY.
Mrs. Rand was as much amazed as Chester himself at his success as an artist.
“How long were you in making the drawing?” she asked.
“Twenty minutes.”
“And you received ten dollars. It doesn’t seem possible.”
“I wish I could work twenty minutes every week at that rate,” laughed Chester. “It would pay me better than working for Silas Tripp.”
“Perhaps you can get some more work of the same kind?”
“I shall send two more sketches to Mr. Conrad in a day or two. ”

“ When David Mullins saw Chester enter the office he turned pale, and looked panic-stricken.
"You here!" he exclaimed, in a hollow voice.
"Yes, Mr. Mullins. I am surprised to meet you."
"Then you didn't know I was here?"
"I heard from Felix that you were in this part of the country."
"I am trying to earn an honest living," said Mullins, in agitation. "My employers know nothing to my prejudice. Do you come as a friend or an enemy?"
"Mr. Mullins, I haven't the least intention of harming you. I will not even appear to know you. I came here to see Dean & Downie, with whom I have business." ”

“ If you were only an ordinary man, now, it would be different, but your striking appearance naturally makes people curious about you."
Dick Ralston was not insensible to flattery, and this compliment propitiated him. He was about to go out when Chester entered, returning from his errand.
"How are you, kid?" inquired Ralston.
"Very well, Mr. Ralston," answered Chester, coldly, for he could not forget how the gambler had treated his old father.
"Well, did you pass the evening with that cowboy from Minneapolis?" ”

“ Tripp," said Chester, with a deep feeling of disgust and dismay.
"Do just as you like," said his employer. "You're onreasonable to expect to get high pay when business is dull."
"High pay!" repeated Chester, bitterly. "Three dollars a week!"
"It's what I call high pay. When I was a boy, I only earned two dollars a week."
"Money would go further when you were a boy."
"Yes, it did. Boys wasn't so extravagant in them days."
"I don't believe you were ever extravagant, Mr. Tripp," said Chester, with a tinge of sarcasm which his employer didn't detect. ”

“ He did not anticipate Abel’s staying to breakfast, and his suspicions were excited.
“I’ll bet Chester Rand has left town with the money,” he groaned. “Oh, it’s awful to have your hard earnin’s carried off so sudden. I’ll send Chester to jail unless he returns it—every cent of it.”
Here Abel entered the store, followed by Chester.
CHAPTER VIII.
A SCENE IN THE GROCERY STORE.
“So you’ve come, have you, you young thief?” said Silas, sternly, as Chester entered the store. “Ain’t you ashamed of yourself?”
“No, I’m not,” Chester answered, boldly. “I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.” ”

“ Mullins," said Chester, "if, through the meanness of others you get into trouble you can any time send to me for a loan of fifty dollars."
"Thank you," ejaculated Mullins, gratefully, wringing Chester's hand. "You are heaping coals of fire on my head."
"You will always have my best wishes for your prosperity. If ever you are able, repay the money you took from Mr. Fairchild, and I will venture to promise that he will forgive you." ”

“ To-morrow afternoon come in and I may have some advice to give you."
"I know that you will advise me for the best, Chester."
"There is a good deal in age and experience," said Chester, smiling.
When Edward left the room Chester took from his pocket a letter received the day previous, and postmarked Tacoma. It was to this effect:
"Mr. Chester Rand.
"Dear Sir: We learn that you own five lots on Main Street, numbered from 201 to 205. We have inquiries as to three of those lots as a location for a new hotel, which it is proposed to erect at an early date. ”

“ What are you going for?"
"On business," answered Chester, not caring to make a confidant of Felix."
"Won't it cost a good deal of money?"
"Yes; but I expect to get paid for going."
"What a lucky fellow you are!" said Felix, not without a trace of envy. "I wish I could go. I like to travel, but I have never had a chance."
Mr. Fairchild was equally surprised when told of Chester's plans.
"Are you going as an artist?" he asked.
"No; as a real estate man," answered Chester. "I own a few lots in Tacoma, and have a chance of selling a part of them." ”

“ Tripp, as Chester left the store. “Seems to want me to pay all Walter Bruce’s expenses. What made him come to Wyncombe to get sick? He’d better have stayed where he lived, and then he’d have had a claim to go to the poorhouse. He can’t live on me, I tell him that. Them Rands are foolish to take him in. They’re as poor as poverty themselves, and now they’ve taken in a man who ain’t no claim on them. I expect they thought they’d get a good sum out of me for boardin’ him. There’s a great many onrasonable people in the world.” ”

“ As they passed Lord & Taylor's, a lady came out of the store.
"Why, mother," said Rob, "is that you?"
"Yes, Rob. I came in on a shopping excursion, and I want you to go with me and take care of me."
Rob grumbled a little, but, of course, acceded to his mother's request. So Chester was left alone with Mr. Conrad.
"How do you feel about coming to New York, Chester?" asked his friend. "You are not afraid of failure, are you?"
"No, Mr. Conrad, I feel very hopeful. Something has happened to me to-day that encourages me very much." ”

“ Chester passed Sunday pleasantly, going to church in the forenoon, and taking a walk with Mr. Conrad in the afternoon. He wrote a short letter to his mother, informing her of his safe arrival in the city, but not mentioning his engagement by Prof. Hazlitt. He preferred to wait till he had an interview with the professor, and decided whether he could do the work satisfactorily.
“Your future employer is Clement Fairchild,” said the artist. “His office is on West Fourteenth Street, between Seventh and Eight Avenues.”
“What sort of a man is he?” asked Chester. ”

“ Felix has hardly been my friend, but now that his cousin is away he may improve. I certainly hope so."
"What shall you do about Ralston?" asked Chester, presently.
"I shall proceed against him. Such a man is a curse to the community. It was through him that my bookkeeper lost his integrity and ruined his prospects. If he is locked up he will be prevented from doing any more harm." ”

“ About nine o'clock that evening, as Chester was returning from a lecture in the church, he was accosted by a rough-looking fellow having very much the appearance of a tramp, who seemed somewhat under the influence of liquor.
"I say, boss," said the tramp, "can't you give a poor man a quarter to help him along?"
"Are you out of work?" asked Chester, staying his step.
"Yes; times is hard and work is scarce. I haven't earned anything for a month." ”

“ Chester retains the friendship and good opinion of his first friend, Carl Conrad, and is a favorite visitor at the house of Prof. Hazlitt, whose great work has just appeared from the press of a subscription publisher. His nephew, Arthur Burks, is now in college, and he and Chester remain intimate friends.
Silas Tripp has ceased to expect to secure the services of Chester in his store. He had never been able to understand the secret of Chester's success, but has been heard to remark: "It does beat all how that boy gets along!"
Fortunately, prosperity has not spoiled Chester. ”

“ As they went downstairs, Chester observed, "I will ask you as a favor, Mr. Perkins, not to refer to my work in Puck, as it is not known at the office that I do any work outside."
"All right, my boy. By the way, how much do they pay you at the office?"
"Five dollars a week."
"Evidently it isn't as good a business as drawing."
"No, sir; but it is more reliable. I can't always satisfy the comic papers, and I am likely to have sketches left on my hands."
"Yes; that is a practical way of looking at it, and shows that you are a boy of sense. What sort of a man is Mr. Fairchild?" ”

“ He's dreadful awkward, that boy!"
"Poor Abel!" thought Chester. "I am afraid he won't have much salary coming to him at the end of the week."
"You never broke no eggs while you was here, Chester."
"No; I don't think I did."
"You'd ought to have stayed."
"I couldn't stay on the salary you offered. But, Mr. Tripp, I've come here on business."
"Hey? What about?"
"Your nephew, Walter Bruce, is staying at our house."
"Is he?" returned Silas Tripp, indifferently.
"And he is sick."
"I don't feel no interest in him," said Silas, doggedly.
"Are you willing to pay his expenses? He has no money." ”