CHAPTER XXVI
FRED GIVES UP CITY LIFE
"Now then, Fred, tell me how it is that you are in New York," said Nat,when the newsboy had departed.
"I--I ran away from home."
"Did you have the carfare to this city?"
"No, I stole a ride to Cleveland on a freight train, and then I stoleanother ride on two trains to New York. I was kicked off of one train."
"And what have you been doing since you landed here?"
"Selling papers, and doing odd jobs. I couldn't get anything steady."
"Did you try to find me?"
"No," and the gawk of a boy hung his head.
"Why not?"
"Because I--I wanted to make my own way, same as you are doing. But, oh,Nat, it's awfully hard."
"Where have you been staying nights?"
"One night I slept in a doorway, and last night I slept in a park untila policeman came and chased me away."
Fred looked so forlorn and hungry that Nat could not help but pity him.Coming to the city to earn his living had evidently hit Fred hard.
"Had any supper?" he asked, kindly.
"I had a--a bun."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"How much money have you?"
"Fifteen cents, and I wanted to make that last just as long as I could."
"Come with me, and I'll get you something to eat," said our hero.
Fred was willing enough, and seated at a table in a restaurant he fairlydevoured the beef and beans, bread and coffee set before him.
"Have a piece of lemon pie?" asked Nat.
"Can you afford it, Nat?"
"I guess so," and our hero ordered the pie, and also ate a piece, anddrank a glass of milk, to keep Fred company.
"It costs a terrible pile to live in the city," sighed Fred. "You've gotto pay for everything. When I landed, a man made me pay ten cents forcrossing a torn-up street."
"He swindled you, Fred."
"Maybe he did. I know he ran off as soon as he got the money."
"Where were you going to stop to-night?"
"I--I don't know."
"You had better come with me."
"I--I can't pay for regular lodging," and again the boy from the farmhung his head.
"Well, I'll do the paying."
"Will you?" Fred's face brightened. "Say, Nat, you're real good! I'msorry I treated you so meanly when you paid us a visit."
"We'll let that pass. Now, you are here, the question is, what are yougoing to do?"
"Can't I find a job? I'm willing to do anything."
"We'll see about that."
They walked to Mrs. Talcott's place, and here Nat explained thesituation, and Fred was placed in a room that chanced to be vacant. Hewas exceedingly tired and dropped to sleep almost instantly.
"I'm going to telegraph to Brookville that you are here and safe," saidNat, the next morning. "I don't want your mother to worry about you."And the telegram was sent off before our hero went to the office. Natgave Fred a dollar, and told him to try his best that day to findsomething to do.
"I'll get something," said Fred, but that night he came back greatlydisheartened.
"I couldn't get a thing," he declared. "I tried about fifty places. Inone place a man kicked me out, and in another place a lot of boys calledme 'Hayseed,' and threw lumps of dirt at me. I--I guess I'll go back tothe farm."
"Don't you want to try it for another day?" asked Nat. "I'll pay yourway." He knew the experience would do Fred good. The boy from thecountry consented; but at night he returned more discouraged than ever.
"I was a big fool to leave the farm," he sighed. "The city is no placefor me. The noise makes my head ache, and I get lost every time I turn acorner. I wish I was back to Brookville."
"Very well, you shall start back to-morrow," answered Nat.
"But I ain't got the carfare, and I hate to try riding on the freightcars again."
"I'll get you a railroad ticket," answered Nat, and he did so, and alsogave Fred some change for his meals. Fred was more than thankful, andactually cried on parting.
"You're the best boy in the world, Nat," he sobbed. "The very best! Justwait till you come back to the farm! I'll show you how I can treatyou!" And then he was off for home, a sadder but a wiser youth.
"To go back to the farm was the best thing that fellow could do," wasDick's comment. "Why, he wouldn't amount to shucks here, even if hestayed a year."
"We can't all be city folks," said Mrs. Talcott. "Some men must remainfarmers."
"The trouble with Fred is, he doesn't like to work," said Nat. "But thismay teach him a lesson."
On the day that Fred left, Nat was called to the office by John Garwell.
"Nat, I want you to go to Springfield, Massachusetts, immediately," saidthe real estate broker. "See when you can catch a train."
"A train leaves the Grand Central Depot at eleven-thirty," was ourhero's answer, after consulting a time-table.
"Then you have plenty of time. Take this document and turn it over toMr. Perry Robertson."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't give it to anybody else."
"Shall I wait for Mr. Robertson, if he isn't in when I call?"
"Yes."
"All right, sir."
No more was said, and Nat prepared for the trip without further delay.He wished to ask his employer about the documents found in the trunk,but saw that Mr. Garwell was too busy to be interrupted.
Nat was getting used to taking short trips to various cities, so theride to Springfield was no great novelty. He put in part of his time atreading a newspaper, and the balance at studying shorthand from a bookwhich he carried with him.
Arriving at Springfield, Nat found he would have to wait until eveningbefore he could see Mr. Perry Robertson. This made him stay in the cityovernight, and he did not arrange to go back to New York until teno'clock the next morning.
He had just paid his bill at the hotel, and was passing the smokingroom, when he saw a man who looked familiar, get up from reading anewspaper, and walk toward him.
"Hamilton Dart!" gasped our hero, and rushing forward he caught theswindler by the arm.
From Farm to Fortune; or, Nat Nason's Strange Experience Page 27