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！
shouldn't be surprised if you'd make an artist some day。〃
〃I wish I might；〃 said Jimmy； earnestly。 〃There's nothing I'd
like better。〃
〃I'll tell you what； Jimmy。 If I do well this afternoon； I'll
buy you a drawing…book and some paper； to work on while mother
and I are busy。〃
〃If you can afford it； Paul； I should like it so much。 Some time
I might earn something that way。〃
〃Of course you may；〃 said Paul； cheerfully。 〃I won't forget
you。〃
Dinner over； Paul went out to business； and was again successful；
getting rid of his thirty packages； and clearing another dollar。
Half of this he invested in a drawing… book； a pencil and some
drawing…paper for Jimmy。 Even then he had left of his earnings
for the day one dollar and eighty cents。 But this success in the
new business had already excited envy and competition； as he was
destined to find out on the morrow。
CHAPTER III
PAUL HAS COMPETITORS
The next morning Paul took his old place in front of the post
office。 He set down his basket in front； and； taking one of the
packages in his hand； called out in a businesslike manner； as on
the day before； 〃Here's your prize packages！ Only five cents！
Money prize in every package！ Walk up； gentlemen； and try your
luck！〃
He met with a fair degree of success at first； managing in the
course of an hour to sell ten packages。 All the prizes drawn
were small； with the exception of one ten…cent prize； which was
drawn by a little bootblack； who exclaimed：
〃That's the way to do business； Johnny。 If you've got any more
of them ten…cent prizes； I'll give you ten cents a piece for the
lot。〃
〃Better buy some more and see；〃 said Paul。
〃That don't go down；〃 said the other。 〃Maybe there'd be only a
penny。〃
Nevertheless； the effect of this large prize was to influence the
sale of three other packages； but as neither of these contained
more than two…cent prizes； trade began to grow dull； and for ten
minutes all Paul's eloquent appeals to gentlemen to walk up and
try their luck produced no effect。
At this point Paul found that there was a rival in the field。
Teddy O'Brien； who had applied for a partnership the day before；
came up with a basket similar to his own； apparently filled with
similar packages。 He took a position about six feet distant from
Paul； and began to cry out； in a shrill voice：
〃Here's your bully prize packages！ Best in the market！ Here's
where you get your big prizes； fifty cents in some of 'em。 Walk
up boys； tumble up； and take your pick afore they're gone。 Fifty
cents for five！〃
〃That's a lie； Teddy；〃 said Paul； who saw that his rival's
attractive announcement was likely to spoil his trade。
〃No； 'tisn't；〃 said Teddy。 〃If you don't believe it； just buy
one and see。〃
〃I'll tell you what I'll do；〃 said Paul； 〃I'll exchange。〃
〃No；〃 said Teddy； 〃I ain't a…goin' to risk givin' fifty cents for
one。〃
〃More likely you'd get ten for one。 You're a humbug。〃
〃Have you really got any fifty…cent prizes？〃 asked a newsboy；
who had sold out his morning stock of papers； and was lounging
about the post office steps。
〃Best way is to buy； Johnny；〃 said Teddy。
The boy did buy； but his prize amounted to only one cent。
〃Didn't I tell you so？〃 said Paul。
〃Just wait a while and see；〃 said Teddy。 〃The lucky feller
hasn't come along。 Here； Mike； jest buy a package！〃
Mike； a boy of fifteen； produced five cents； and said； 〃I don't
mind if I do。〃
He selected a package； and； without opening it； slipped it into
his pocket。
〃Why don't you open it？〃 said Teddy。
〃What's the use？〃 said Mike。 〃There ain't no fifty cents
inside。〃
However； he drew it out of his pocket； and opened it。
〃What's this？〃 he exclaimed； pulling out a piece of scrip。
〃Howly St。 Patrick！ it's I that's in luck； anyhow I've got the
fifty cents！〃
And he held up to view a fifty…cent scrip。
〃Let me look at it；〃 said Paul； incredulously。
But there was no room for doubt。 It was a genuine fifty cents；
as Paul was compelled to admit。
〃Didn't I tell you so？〃 said Teddy； triumphantly。 〃Here's where
you get fifty…cent prizes。〃
The appeal was successful。 The sight of the fifty…cent prize led
to a large call for packages； of which Teddy immediately sold
ten； while Paul found himself completely deserted。 None of the
ten； however； contained over two cents。 Still the possibility of
drawing fifty cents kept up the courage of buyers； while Paul's
inducements were so far inferior that he found himself wholly
distanced。
〃Don't you wish you'd gone pardners with me？〃 asked Teddy； with
a triumphant grin； noticing Paul's look of discomfiture。 〃You
can't do business alongside of me。〃
〃You can't make any money giving such big prizes；〃 said Paul。
〃You haven't taken in as much as you've given yet。〃
〃All right；〃 said Teddy。 〃I'm satisfied if you are。 Have a
package； Jim？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jim。 〃Mind you give me a good prize。〃
The package was bought； and； on being opened； proved to contain
fifty cents also； to Paul's great amazement。 How Teddy's
business could pay； as it was managed； he could not comprehend。
One thing was certain； however； his new competitor monopolized
the trade； and for two hours Paul did not get a solitary
customer。
〃There's something about this I don't understand；〃 he pondered；
thoughtfully。 〃He must lose money； but he's spoiled my trade。〃
Paul did not like to give up his beat； but he found himself
compelled to。 Accordingly he took his basket； and moved off
toward Wall street。 Here he was able to start in business
without competitors； and succeeded in selling quite a number of
packages； until a boy came up； and said：
〃There's a feller up at the post office that's givin' fifty…cent
prizes。 I got one of 'em。〃
There was a group of half…a…dozen boys around Paul； two of whom
were about to invest； but on hearing thus they changed their
intention； and walked of in the direction of the post office。
Looking up； Paul saw that the boy who had injured his trade was
Mike； who had drawn the first fifty…cent prize from his
competitor。
〃Can't you stop interfering？〃 he said； angrily。 〃I've lost two
customers by you。〃
〃If you don't like it； you can lump it；〃 said Mike； insolently。
〃This is a free country； ain't it？〃
〃It's a mean trick；〃 said Paul； indignantly。
〃Say that ag'in； and I'll upset your basket；〃 returned Mike。
〃I'll say it as often as I like；〃 said Paul； who wasn't troubled
by cowardice。 〃Come on； if you want to。〃
Mike advanced a step； doubling his fists； but； finding that Paul
showed no particular sign of fear； he stopped short； saying：
〃I'll lick you some other time。〃
〃You'd better put it off；〃 said Paul。 〃Have a prize package；
sir？ Only five cents！〃
This was addressed to a young