登陆注册
14823000000017

第17章

Three days later found Carl still on his travels.

It was his custom to obtain his meals at a cheap hotel, or, if none were met with, at a farmhouse, and to secure lodgings where he could, and on as favorable terms as possible.

He realized the need of economy, and felt that he was practicing it. He had changed his ten-dollar bill the first day, for a five and several ones. These last were now spent, and the five-dollar bill alone remained to him. He had earned nothing, though everywhere he had been on the lookout for a job.

Toward the close of the last day he overtook a young man of twenty-five, who was traveling in the same direction.

"Good-afternoon," said the young man, sociably.

"Good-afternoon, sir."

"Where are you bound, may I ask?"

"To the next town."

"Fillmore?"

"Yes, if that is the name."

"So am I. Why shouldn't we travel together?"

"I have no objection," said Carl, who was glad of company.

"Are you in any business?"

"No, but I hope to find a place."

"Oh, a smart boy like you will soon find employment."

"I hope so, I am sure. I haven't much money left, and it is necessary I should do something."

"Just so. I am a New York salesman, but just now I am on my vacation--taking a pedestrian tour with knapsack and staff, as you see.

The beauty of it is that my salary runs on just as if I were at my post, and will nearly pay all my traveling expenses."

"You are in luck. Besides you have a good place to go back to. There isn't any vacancy, is there?

You couldn't take on a boy?" asked Carl, eagerly.

"Well, there might be a chance," said the young man, slowly. "You haven't any recommendations with you, have you?"

"No; I have never been employed."

"It doesn't matter. I will recommend you myself."

"You might be deceived in me," said Carl, smiling.

"I'll take the risk of that. I know a reliable boy when I see him."

"Thank you. What is the name of your firm?"

"F. Brandes & Co., commission merchants, Pearl Street. My own name is Chauncy Hubbard, at your service."

"I am Carl Crawford."

"That's a good name. I predict that we shall be great chums, if I manage to get you a place in our establishment."

"Is Mr. Brandes a good man to work for?"

"Yes, he is easy and good-natured. He is liberal to his clerks. What salary do you think I get?"

"I couldn't guess."

"Forty dollars a week, and I am only twenty-five.

Went into the house at sixteen, and worked my way up."

"You have certainly done well," said Carl, respectfully.

"Well, I'm no slouch, if I do say it myself."

"I don't wonder your income pays the expenses of your vacation trip."

"It ought to, that's a fact, though I'm rather free handed and like to spend money. My prospects are pretty good in another direction. Old Fred Brandes has a handsome daughter, who thinks considerable of your humble servant."

"Do you think there is any chance of marrying her?" asked Carl, with interest.

"I think my chance is pretty good, as the girl won't look at anybody else."

"Is Mr. Brandes wealthy?"

"Yes, the old man's pretty well fixed, worth nearly half a million, I guess."

"Perhaps he will take you into the firm," suggested Carl.

"Very likely. That's what I'm working for."

"At any rate, you ought to save something out of your salary."

"I ought, but I haven't. The fact is, Carl," said Chauncy Hubbard, in a burst of confidence, I have a great mind to make a confession to you."

"I shall feel flattered, I am sure," said Carl, politely.

"I have one great fault--I gamble."

"Do you?" said Carl, rather startled, for he had been brought up very properly to have a horror of gambling.

"Yes, I suppose it's in my blood. My father was a very rich man at one time, but he lost nearly all his fortune at the gaming table."

"That ought to have been a warning to you, I should think."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 疾风之灵

    疾风之灵

    公元3333年,星球一片混乱,距离2333年元气大爆发之后已经过去了一千年。星球被强者划分为数个地域……而他,便崛起于这个年代!
  • 乱世民国:冥婚待嫁女

    乱世民国:冥婚待嫁女

    冥婚!多么不可想象的事情,却真实的发生在了兰樱的身上,她不想却不能拒绝;那个救了她的人为何总是会出现在她的梦中,原来不是梦,他真的就在他身边,可是他为何要娶别人,冥婚一事以为风平浪静却又重新被提起,那果然是她躲不过的命数吗?
  • 娱乐圈之全能老爸

    娱乐圈之全能老爸

    小说里都是骗人的,说什么穿越将会金手指在手牛逼的人生开启,为毛我穿越这么苦逼?一个能看不能摸的女友,一个嗷嗷待哺的女儿,一切从挣钱开始。什么?女儿,你想听童话故事?《舒克和贝塔》怎么样?什么?想和爸爸一起唱歌?大王叫我来寻山哟,我把人间看一看……简介不代表正文,一切,从那一场跳楼开始!
  • 沧浪画月图

    沧浪画月图

    '沧浪画月图'的灵感来源于梅花,所以才有了这么一个与梅有关的女主,关于梅的气节,梅的品格,梅的孤傲,梅的惊艳在女主的身上会得到淋漓尽致的体现。本剧的故事起源于一则陈年冤案,后人为其翻案由此牵连出一系列不为人知的背后阴谋,而一系列的尔虞我诈,皆起源于一幅三百年的图,围绕着这幅神秘的,不知其真容的图,江湖波云诡谲,风云再起。
  • 古剑奇谭:情愿今生

    古剑奇谭:情愿今生

    前世,因为一句“太子长琴,获罪于天,无所谛也”,改变了多少人的命运。
  • 恋爱协奏曲:我宠你

    恋爱协奏曲:我宠你

    “好你个明伊耀,本小姐从法国飞回来,竟然不来接机,不接机就算了,还不接电话,居然在这种地方鬼混,信不信本小姐扒了你的皮,要不是我打电话问哥哥,还找得到你!”一位美少女指着一个大帅哥说。周围的人有的惊呆,有的正看好戏。“小曦曦,息怒息怒,我错了。”那个美男子低头认错,像一个小孩子一样,旁边的人冷汗都出了,怎么一个不近女色的男神会如此听话。
  • 极品魔帝

    极品魔帝

    十万年前,诸天神魔大战,引发天地浩劫,浩劫无情,诸天神魔均落了个陨落的下场......十万年后,魔帝之子战天转生成一个被人欺凌的世家少年身上,从此带着前世的记忆与经验踏上了绝杀各种天骄的逆天之路。在战天面前,任谁都毫无资格自认天骄,因为他曾同战十方神帝,神帝均亡,而他独活。绝世天骄?顺我者,同上无上大道!逆我者,同下无间地狱!
  • 她在野旅

    她在野旅

    一次意外,年幼的川子失去了她的父亲周文山。几年后川子从母亲那得知父亲曾经的理想是周游世界,于是她带着父亲的理想踏上了野旅。途中的她在故乡遇见了余泰。而余泰被所有人欺骗来到了这样一个山村生活了十几年。也许是对于川子起初莫名的感情,余泰跟随川子走上了野旅这条不归路,虽然旅途很美好,却也心酸万千。然而在余泰心中总是有个东西牵绊着他,也许是对自己的身世和对亲情的渴望,他独自回到了陌生的故乡。当他得知自己的身世后,决心报复对他不公的一切。而此刻的川子却在千里之外。两个人的故事在现实的险恶和残忍中徘徊着,一个是余泰,一个是周川子。
  • 勇者猎杀手册

    勇者猎杀手册

    勇者们只是想随便刷个悬赏任务而已,却发现这里的小怪好像有点不对劲……它们会挖坑,它们会蹲点,它们会埋伏,它们甚至还会躲弹道,最重要的,勇者们要来刷小怪的经验和装备,而小怪也拿好了刀叉系好餐巾来等着勇者!“妈妈!我再也不要当勇者了,怪物什么的,好可怕啊!”……天才游戏从业者焦作人穿越到异界,变成了一只小怪,而不甘心于变成勇者的经验和装备的他,又将领导起异界的怪物们带来怎样的风暴,敬请期待吧
  • 雪与月时空追溯

    雪与月时空追溯

    曾经,你默默守护,时空的相距也打不破。今夕,我凌于九玄,属于我们的专属时空。【时空不是问题,等待不是问题,情敌才是问题。赫连清钰】【一生一世一双人,我定不负你。雪慕峰】,