Chapter XXVII.Dodger Strikes Luck.
When Dodger landed in San Francisco, in spite of the fact that he hadmade the journey against his will, he felt a natural exhilaration andpleasure in the new and striking circumstances and scenes in which hefound himself placed.
It was in the year 1877, and the city was by no means what it is now.Yet it probably contained not far from two hundred thousand people,lively, earnest, enterprising. All seemed busy and hopeful, and Dodgercaught the contagion.
As he walked with the reporter to a modest hotel, where the rates werea dollar and a half a day, not far from Montgomery Street, RandolphLeslie asked:
"How do you like San Francisco thus far, Arthur?"
It will be remembered that Dodger, feeling that the name by which hehad hitherto been known was hardly likely to recommend him, adoptedthe one given him by Curtis Waring.
"I think I shall like it ever so much," answered Dodger. "Everybodyseems to be wideawake."
"Do you think you will like it better than New York?"
"I think a poor boy will have more of a chance of making a livinghere. In New York I was too well known. If I got a place anywhere someone would recognize me as Tim Bolton's boy--accustomed to tend bar--orsome gentleman would remember that he had bought papers of me. Herenobody knows me, and I can start fair."
"There is a great deal in what you say," returned Leslie. "What do youthink of trying to do?"
"First of all I will write a letter to Florence, and tell her I am allright. How long does it take a letter to go from here to New York?"
"About seven days."
"And it took us over four months! That seems wonderful."
"Yes; there is a great difference between coming by sea around CapeHorn and speeding across the country on an express train."
"If I could only know how Florence is getting along," Dodger said,anxiously. "I suppose she thinks I am dead."
"You forget the letter you gave to the vessel we spoke off the coastof Brazil."
"Yes; but do you think it went straight?"
"The chances are in favor of it. However, your idea is a good one.Write, by all means, and then we will discuss future plans."
"What are your plans, Mr. Leslie?"
"I shall try to secure a reporter's berth on one of the daily papers--the _Call_ or _Chronicle_. I will wait a few days, however, as I havea few hundred dollars by me, and can afford to take a little time tolook around."
"I wish I were as well provided; but I have less than twenty-fivedollars."
"Don't worry about that, Arthur," said Randolph, laying his handaffectionately on the boy's shoulder. "I shall not allow you to want."
"Thank you, Mr. Leslie," said Dodger, gratefully. "It's something newto me to have a friend like you. But I don't want to be any expense toyou. I am large enough and strong enough to earn my own living."
"True; and I feel sure you will have a chance in this enterprisingcity."
They bought copies of the day's papers, and Dodger looked eagerly overthe advertising columns.
At length he saw an advertisement that read as follows:
WANTED--A young man of 18 or 20 to assist in the office of a local express. Inquire at No. -- ---- St."
"Do you think I would answer for such a place?" he asked.
"I don't see why not. At any rate, 'nothing venture, nothing gain.'You may as well go around and inquire. And, by the way, as your suitis rather shabby, let me lend you one of mine. We are of nearly thesame size."
"Thank you, Mr. Leslie."
"Fine feathers make fine birds, you know, and a neat dress alwaysincreases the chances of an applicant for employment, though, when itis carried too far, it is apt to excite suspicion. I remember a friendof mine advertised for a bookkeeper. Among the applicants was a youngman wearing a sixty-dollar suit, a ruffled shirt, a handsome goldwatch and a diamond pin. He was a man of taste, and he was stronglyimpressed with the young man's elegant appearance. So, largely uponthe strength of these, he engaged him, and in less than six monthsdiscovered that he had been swindled to the extent of eight hundreddollars by his aesthetic bookkeeper."
"Then I will leave my diamond pin at home," said Dodger, smiling."Suppose they ask me for recommendations?"
"I will go with you and indorse you. I happen to know one or twoprominent gentlemen in San Francisco--among them the president of abank--and I presume my indorsement will be sufficient."
Dodger went back to the hotel, put on a suit of Mr. Leslie's, got hisboots blacked, and then, in company with the young reporter, went tothe express office.
"I am afraid some one will have been engaged already," said thereporter; "but if not, your chances will be good."
They entered a good-sized office on a prominent street, and Dodgerinquired for Mr. Tucker.
A small man of about forty, keen-eyed and alert, eyed him attentively.
"I am Mr. Tucker," he said.
"I saw your advertisement for an assistant, Mr. Tucker," said Dodger,modestly; "have you filled the place?"
"Let me see," said Tucker, reflectively, "you are the ninth young manwho has applied--but the place is still open."
"Then I am afraid you won't want me, as you have rejected so many."
"I don't know. How long have you been in the city?"
"I only just arrived."
"Where from?"
"From New York."
"Have you any idea of going to the mines when you get money enough?"
"I think I would prefer to remain in the city."
"Good! How is your education?"
"I have never been to college," answered Dodger, with a smile.
"Good! I don't care for your college men. I am a practical manmyself."
"I am a poor scholar, but Mr. Leslie tells me I write a fair hand."
"Let me see a specimen of your writing."
Now Dodger had taken special pains on the voyage to improve hispenmanship, with excellent results.
So it happened that the specimen which he furnished had the goodfortune to please Mr. Tucker.
"Good!" he said. "You will, a part of the time, be taking orders. Yourhandwriting is plain and will do. Never mind about Latin and Greek.You won't need it. Chinese would be more serviceable to you here. Whencan you go to work?"
"To-morrow morning. To-day, if necessary," answered Dodger, promptly.
Mr. Tucker seemed pleased with his answer.
"To-morrow morning let it be, then! Hours are from eight in themorning till six at night."
"Very well, sir."
"Your wages will be fifteen dollars a week. How will that suit you?"
Dodger wanted to indulge in a loud whoop of exultation, for fifteendollars was beyond his wildest hopes; but he was too politic toexpress his delight. So he contented himself with saying:
"I shall be quite satisfied with that."
"Oh, by the way, I suppose I ought to have some reference," said Mr.Tucker, "though as a general thing I judge a good deal by outwardappearance."
"I can refer you to my friend, Mr. Leslie, here."
"And who will indorse him?" asked the expressman, shrewdly.
Leslie smiled.
"I see, Mr. Tucker, you are a thorough man of business. I can referyou to Mr. ----, president of the ---- Bank in this city."
"That is sufficient, sir. I am sure you would not refer me to himunless you felt satisfied that he would speak favorably of you. Iwon't, therefore, take the trouble to inquire. Where are you staying?"
"At the Pacific Hotel; but we shall take a private apartment within aday or two."
As they passed out of the office, Randolph Leslie said:
"You've done splendidly, Arthur."
"Haven't I? I feel like a millionaire."
"As you are to go to work to-morrow, we may as well take up a room atonce. It will be cheaper."
In a short time they had engaged a neat suite of rooms, two in number,not far from the Palace Hotel, at twenty dollars per month.
The next day Leslie procured a position on the San Francisco_Chronicle_, at twenty-five dollars per week.
Adrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the World Page 27