CHAPTER XXXIII.
A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE.
It has not seemed to me desirable to dwell upon Mr. Goldwin's businessaffairs--to show the legal squabbles that followed his failure, or topicture in detail the trickery of Breakwell & Co. My aim has been tointroduce only what bore directly upon the career of Herbert Randolph.I will say, however, that the banker's failure did not leave himpenniless, as young Randolph feared it might. He was badly crippled atfirst, but certain securities turned over to him by Breakwell & Co.,which at the time of the failure possessed but little market value,began at the end of a few months to advance rapidly. When they hadreached a point at which it seemed to him advisable to sell he closedthem out at a price that enabled him to pay off all his obligationswithout drawing upon his personal property for a penny. He was,therefore, still a wealthy man, and was not forced to reduce his styleof living in the slightest degree.
With this simple statement I leave the past to record a conversation inwhich the reader will catch a glimpse of the future, in so far as itrelates to some of those who have been most conspicuous in this story.
Young Randolph had now become a frequent visitor at Mr. Goldwin'shome, where, notwithstanding the many attractions of a great city,he spent the happiest hours of his life. Bob Hunter, moreover, was notan entire stranger at this handsome residence. His visits, though, werefew in comparison to those of his partner, and this was due to twocauses--first, a decided reluctance to leave his books, for he hadbecome a most industrious student, and second, the lack of so delightfulan attraction as that which turned the steps of the young Vermonter sooften towards the Goldwin home.
It was now midwinter. Herbert and Bob had been in business togethernearly nine months, in which time they had by hard work and splendidability lifted themselves from poverty and drudgery to a position ofprosperity. In an up town savings bank a snug sum of money was depositedto their credit, and this was in excess of the amount used in theirbusiness, which had become so large that a good working capital wasnecessary.
One day they received a letter from Mr. Goldwin inviting them to dinewith him and his family on the following evening. The letter stated,moreover, that he wished to talk with them about a matter in which hethought they would feel an interest.
"What can he wish to talk over with us?" said Bob.
"I have been speculating on that same point," replied Herbert.
"And you came to no conclusion?"
"No, I really cannot imagine his purpose."
"It may be about business," suggested the junior partner.
"You may be right, Bob, but it hardly seems probable that he would wantto talk with us about business."
"But you say he has often talked with you about it when you have been athis house."
"So he has, in a general way," replied Herbert, "but I supposed that wasjust to fill in conversation."
"A mere matter of curiosity to know how we were doing?"
"Yes."
"It's possible, though, that he had other objects in view."
"Possible, well, yes; but not probable."
Thus the boys speculated upon Mr. Goldwin's purpose, as they went abouttheir work--speculated and wondered till they found themselves at histable, where all thought of this character was driven from their mindsby the pleasant conversation that followed.
It was only fifteen months before this that two boys met as if by chancein City Hall Park one brisk October morning--one a country lad freshfrom the rocky hills of old Vermont, the other a keen eyed, bright facednewsboy of New York. Look at the group around this table, and tell meif you can see these chance acquaintances--the boy whose every actproclaimed him a farmer's son, or the other--the shabbily dressedproduct of a metropolitan street. And if perchance by voice or featureyou recognize the boy of education and ambition, look again, I urge you,that you may find his friend. "There is but one boy present beside himof the farm," I hear you say, "and surely it cannot be he, so welldressed and grown so tall, whose language bespeaks a well bred lad." Butlook yet once more, I pray you, and behold the sparkle of his eyes, theold time humor playing over his features, and--ah! now he laughs andshows his dimples once again--the same on either cheek reflecting themerriment he feels. You yield at last, puzzled though I know you are,and the question you would put to me--"How came it so, this marvelouschange in these two boys?" I will answer--THEY WORKED AND STUDIED.
BOB HUNTER, THE STUDENT AND YOUNG BUSINESS MAN.]
When dinner was over Mr. Goldwin and the two boys repaired to thelibrary. After a little preliminary talk the former said,
"I am contemplating going into business again."
"Your old business?" asked Herbert.
"Yes," replied Mr. Goldwin, rather deliberately, resting comfortably inhis easy chair and toying with his eye glasses. "I am better fitted forthat than any other. But my object is not wholly to make money, thoughof course there is always pleasure in doing so. My purpose is rather toprovide myself with some light employment that would interest me, butwhich would not be too severe a tax upon my strength. I have also asecondary object in this connection," he continued, addressing Herbert,"and that is a desire to put you and Bob in the way of entering a firstclass brokerage business much sooner than you could hope to if left toyour own efforts. I have watched both of you carefully and with thekeenest interest. The ability you have each shown in conducting yourstamp brokerage convinces me that you are capable of moving up higher,and therefore it gives me pleasure to offer you an interest in thebusiness that I am about to start."
"But the money!" exclaimed both boys, speaking at once and almostdoubting their own senses, yet expressing in their looks thanks moreeloquent than words could have conveyed.
"The money question can be arranged all right," replied Mr. Goldwin. "Ican supply the necessary sum in excess of your capital."
"I can hardly realize such an opportunity as open to us," said Herbert,adding words of warmest thanks.
"Neither can I," remarked Bob, no less expressive in his gratitude toMr. Goldwin.
"Doubtless it is a surprise to you," replied the latter; "but the ideahas been growing with me for several months, and now I am ready to makeyou this proposition. You of course know that you are not old enough tobecome legal partners. It will therefore be necessary to conduct thebusiness under my own name, and as this was my old business name it willbe better than a new one."
"We certainly shall not object to that," said Herbert; "but how can webecome members of the firm if not legal partners?"
"You can become practically members, though not real members," returnedMr. Goldwin. "That is to say you can draw a certain percentage of theprofits in return for your capital and services. My proposition thenis this: I will open an office and take both of you boys in with me,allowing you one half of the profits until you become of age; then wewill organize a partnership, and each own a third of the business. Bythat time your profits, if you do not spend too much money, will enableyou to own your interests clear of all incumbrance. Your presentbrokerage business can be done from our office, and that I shall wantBob to attend to at first, while you, Herbert, I shall expect to bearthe brunt of the burden in our regular business. Your experience with mebefore my failure taught you what is to be done. We will commence in asmall way at first, and I shall not do very much work myself. I will ofcourse keep an eye on everything, and may bring many of my old customersback to us. Now you have heard my proposition," continued Mr. Goldwin,"how do you like it?"
"I could not possibly like anything better," replied Herbert, "but itseems too good to be true--more like an air castle than a fact."
"So it seems to me," added Bob.
"But it is a fact," laughed Mr. Goldwin, enjoying the surprise of thetwo young partners, "and I am ready to start the ball rolling at once."
"We will certainly accept the proposition, then," said Herbert, speakingfor himself and Bob; "which is, as I understand, that you are to drawone half of the profits, and that Bob and I will each get one
quarter?"
"Yes, that is correct, up to the time you both become of age," repliedMr. Goldwin.
"After that we are to become equal partners?" said Bob.
"Yes, and of course each draw one third of the profits," returned Mr.Goldwin. "Whenever our new business," he continued, "becomes largeenough to demand Bob's full time, I should advise selling the stampdepartment. Until then, however, we will hold it, as it pays a handsomelittle income which will swell our first year's profits considerably."
"Are you not ready for our game of chess, Mr. Randolph?" said RayGoldwin, appearing in the library door.
"That depends upon your father's wishes," answered Herbert, all tooanxious to join her.
"What say you, papa?" appealed Ray.
"Your wishes are law with me, my dear," said the father, with a happysmile. "Go, Herbert, and win if you can."
"But the business," suggested young Randolph, as he quickly joined Rayin the doorway.
"Ah, never mind that now; the game will suit you better, and besides Boband I can arrange the few details yet to be talked over."
THE END.
_Those who have enjoyed reading_ THE BOY BROKER _would probably find_MR. MUNSEY'S "AFLOAT IN A GREAT CITY" _equally interesting. It covers388 pages--large, clear type, and is handsomely printed and bound. Itcan be had from your book store or from the publishers, by mail. Price$1.25._
FRANK A. MUNSEY & CO., PUBLISHERS, _81 Warren Street, New York._
* * *
_From the New York Daily Sun._ "Afloat in a Great City" recounts the strange adventures on land and sea of a kidnaped boy. The moral of the story is sound.
_From the Boston Daily Advertiser._ "Afloat in a Great City" is an excellent book for boys. * * * It is well and simply told, and cannot fail to interest those for whom it was written.
_From the Brooklyn Standard-Union._ "Afloat in a Great City" is a stirring story of the life of a boy cast upon his own resources in New York. His adventures are told with much spirit, and are worth the telling.
_From the Boston Beacon._ "Afloat in a Great City" seems healthy and pleasant reading for a boy who does not care particularly about being a pirate or a cowboy, but likes to have his blood gently stirred.
_From the Chicago Times._ The material is cleverly worked up, and, although the general drift of the tale is obvious to the experienced novel reader before he has gone very far, the author still has in store for him some interesting surprises of detail.
_From the New York Daily Graphic._ "Afloat in a Great City" recites the history and thrilling adventures of a brave lad whose earliest recollections of life find him an orphaned waif in the streets of New York. He has the right sort of blood and grit in him. * * * * It is a strong, wholesome and dramatic bit of fiction. There are no wearisome homilies in it, yet everywhere it incites to truthfulness and manliness. It is well and copiously illustrated.
_From the Evening Telegram, New York._ It is not specifically stated upon the title page that this is a book for boys, but it is evident from subject and treatment that it is intended to be so. There has been a great variety in the stories published for a _clientele_ of this nature, and the space left for evolution between "Sandford and Merton" and "Tom Brown's School Days" is very wide indeed. It has been well traversed and greatly improved upon. Mr. Munsey, author of "Afloat in a Great City," understands that boys like to read of adventure, whether it takes place upon the high seas or in the heart of Africa, or whether it is limited by the boundaries of the American metropolis. He has chosen to condense a good many strange and unusual incidents as happening to a good and stout hearted though poor boy within the circumference of New York City. Mr. Munsey is a healthy expert at this sort of business. He does not work upon morbid sympathies, or seek to become interesting by appealing to emotions which had better be left in the background so far as the class for whom he writes is concerned.
Boy Broker; Or, Among the Kings of Wall Street Page 36