按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
be remembered as figuring in not a very creditable way in the
earlier chapters of this story。 It so happened that he and Paul
had not met for some time； and Jim was quite ignorant of Paul's
rise in life。
As for Jim himself； no great change had taken place in his
appearance or prospects。 His suit was rather more ragged and
dirty than when we first made his acquaintance； having been worn
night and day in the streets； by night stretched out in some
dirty alley or out…of…the…way corner； where Jim found cheap
lodgings。 He strolled along with his hands in his pockets； not
much concerned at the deficiencies in his costume。
〃Hallo！〃 said he； stopping opposite Paul's stand。 〃What are you
up to？〃
〃You can see for yourself；〃 answered Paul。 〃I am selling
neckties。〃
〃How long you've been at it？〃
〃Just begun。〃
〃Who's your boss？〃
〃I haven't any。〃
〃You ain't runnin' the stand yourself； be you？〃 asked Jim； in
surprise。
〃Yes。〃
〃Where'd you borrow the stamps？〃
〃Of my mother；〃 said Paul。 〃Can't I sell you a necktie this
morning？〃
〃Not much；〃 said Jim； laughing at the joke。 〃I've got my trunks
stuffed full of 'em at home； but I don't wear 'em only Sundays。
Do you make much money？〃
〃I expect to do pretty well。〃
〃What made you give up sellin' prize packages？〃 asked Jim slyly。
〃Customers like you；〃 answered Paul。
Jim laughed。
〃You didn't catch me that time you lost your basket；〃 he said。
〃That was a mean trick；〃 said Paul； indignantly。
〃You don't want to hire me to sell for you； do you？〃
〃That's where you're right。 I don't。〃
〃I'd like to go into the business。〃
〃You'd better open a second…hand clothing store；〃 suggested Paul；
glancing at his companion's ragged attire。
〃Maybe I will；〃 said Jim with a grin； 〃if you'll buy of me。〃
〃I don't like the style；〃 said Paul。 〃Who's your tailor？〃
〃He lives round in Chatham street。 Say； can't you lend a fellow
a couple of shillin' to buy some breakfast？〃
〃Have you done any work to…day？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then you can't expect to eat if you don't work。〃
〃I didn't have no money to start with。〃
〃Suppose you had a quarter； what would you do？〃
〃I'd buy a ten…cent plate of meat； and buy some evenin' papers
with the rest。〃
〃If you'll do that； I'll give you what you ask for。〃
〃You'll give me two shillin'？〃 repeated Jim； incredulously； for
he remembered how he had wronged Paul。
〃Yes；〃 said Paul。 〃Here's the money；〃 and he drew a
twenty…five…cent piece from his vest pocket； and handed it to
Jim。
〃You give me that after the mean trick I played you？〃 said Jim。
〃Yes； I am sorry for you and want to help you along。〃
〃You're a brick！〃 exclaimed Jim； emphatically。 〃If any feller
tries to play a trick on you； you just tell me； and I'll lam
him。〃
〃All right； Jim！〃 said Paul； kindly； 〃I'll remember it。〃
〃There ain't anybody you want licked； is there？〃 asked Jim；
earnestly。
〃Not at present； thank you；〃 said Paul； smiling。
〃When you do； I'm on hand；〃 said Jim。 〃Now I'll go and get some
grub。〃
He shuffled along toward Ann street； where there was a cheap
eating…house； in which ten cents would pay for a plate of meat。
He was decidedly hungry； and did justice to the restaurant； whose
style of cookery； though not very choice； suited him so well that
he could readily have eaten three plates of meat instead of one；
but for the prudent thought that compelled him to reserve enough
to embark in business afterwards。 Jim was certainly a hard
ticket； but Paul's unexpected kindness had won him； and produced
a more profound impression than a dozen floggings could have
done。 I may add that Jim proved luck in his business investment；
and by the close of the afternoon had enough money to provide
himself with supper and lodging； besides a small fund to start
with the next day。
Paul sold three more neckties； and then； though it yet lacked an
hour of the time when he generally proposed to close； he prepared
to go home。 He wanted to communicate the good news to his mother
and little Jimmy。
Mrs。 Hoffman raised her eyes from her sewing as he entered。
〃Well； Paul；〃 she said； 〃have you heard anything of the ring？〃
〃Yes； mother； it's sold。〃
〃Is it？ Well； we must do without it； then；〃 said his mother in a
tone of disappointment。
〃There won't be any trouble about that； mother； as long as we
have got the money for it。 I would rather have that than the
ring。〃
〃Did you recover it； then？〃 asked his mother； eagerly。
〃Yes； motherlisten and I will tell you all about it。〃
He sat down and told the story to two very attentive listeners。
〃What did you do with the money； Paul？〃 asked Jimmy。
〃Mr。 Preston is keeping a hundred and fifty dollars for me。 He
will allow seven per cent。 interest。 But I must not forget that
the money belongs to you； mother； and not to me。 Perhaps you
would prefer to deposit it in a savings bank。〃
〃I am quite satisfied with your disposal of it； Paul；〃 said Mrs。
Hoffman。 〃I little thought； when I found the ring； that it would
be of such service to us。〃
〃It has set me up in business；〃 said Paul； 〃and I am sure to make
money。 But I am getting out of stock。 I must go round and buy
some more neckties to…morrow。〃
〃How much do you pay for your ties； Paul？〃 asked his mother。
〃One shilling； I sell them for two。 That gives me a good
profit。〃
〃I wonder whether I couldn't make them？〃 said Mrs。 Hoffman。 〃I
find there is no sewing at present to be got； and； besides；〃 she
added； 〃I think I would rather work for you than for a stranger。〃
〃There is no need of your working； mother。 I can earn enough to
support the family。〃
〃While I have health I would prefer to work； Paul。〃
〃Then I will bring round some of the ties to…morrow。 I have two
or three kinds。 There is nothing very hard about any of them。 I
think they would be easy to make。〃
〃That will suit me much better than making shirts。〃
〃Suppose I admit you to the firm； mother？ I can get a large
signboard； and have painted on it：
PAUL HOFFMAN AND MOTHER； DEALERS IN NECKTIES。
How would that sound？〃
〃I think I would leave the business part in your hands； Paul。〃
〃I begin to feel like a wholesale merchant already；〃 said Paul。
〃Who knows but I may be one some day？〃
〃Many successful men have begun as low down；〃 said his mother；
〃with energy and industry much may be accomplished。〃
〃Do you think I'll ever be a wholesale painter？〃 asked Jimmy；
whose small ears had drank in the conversation。
〃Better try for it； Jimmy；〃 said Paul。 〃I don't know exactly
what a wholesale painter is； unless it's one who paints houses。〃
〃I shouldn't like that；〃 said the little boy。
〃Then； Jimmy； you'd better be a retail painter。〃
〃I guess I will；