AN ADVENTURE IN WALL STREET
When the two men at his table left the restaurant, Frank followed them.
At the door the two parted, the clerk going toward Broadway, while the
agent walked in the direction of Nassau Street.
"I beg your pardon," said Frank, overtaking him; "but may I ask you a
question?"
"Half a dozen, if you like," said the other, good-naturedly.
"I overheard what you said about the Great Pekin Tea Company. Do you
think I could get a chance to sell for them?"
"Oh, yes; there'll be no trouble about that!"
"I am looking for something to do," continued Frank, "and I think I
should like to try that."
"You'll find it uphill work," said the agent; "hard work and poor pay. I
shall leave it as soon as I can get a regular position. Can't you get a
place?"
"Perhaps I can. I haven't tried very hard yet," answered Frank; "but I
find boys are paid so little that I can't make enough to live on. If I
were a man it would be different."
"I don't believe you can make more than a boy's wages at selling tea,"
said Frank's new acquaintance, "but you might try it."
"Would you mind giving me a note to the company?" asked Frank.
"I will write a line on one of my business cards," said the agent. "That
will be all you will need."
He drew out a card and wrote a line commending Frank to the attention of
the company.
Frank thanked him, and sought the direction given.
Entering a large shop, not far from the Astor House, he looked about his
inquiringly. Around him were chests of tea, inscribed with Chinese
characters. A portly man addressed him.
"Well, my boy, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Mr. Mason, one of your agents, has given me this card," said Frank. "He
thinks you might be willing to employ me."
"We are ready to employ any competent person," said the gentleman; "but
you seem very young."
"I am sixteen, sir."
"That is young. Have you had any experience as an agent?"
"No, sir?"
The man questioned him further and finally accepted him.
Frank was told that it would be well to take samples of different kinds
of teas with their respective prices attached, and seek orders for them
at private houses and groceries, noting down in a little book orders
obtained. Small quantities he could himself deliver, and large
quantities, should he be fortunate enough to obtain any, could be sent
out from the store by their general delivery.
"What commission am I to get, sir?" inquired Frank.
"Twenty per cent on parcels sold to private houses and ten per cent when
you sell to retail dealers. To the first you can charge a full price,
but it is necessary to sell at lower rates to dealers."
"I understand, sir," said Frank.
"When do you want to begin?"
"To-morrow morning, sir. Where do you advise me to go?"
"New York has been pretty well canvassed, except perhaps the upper part,
Harlem. It might be well to make a start in Brooklyn."
"Very well, sir. I will call to-morrow and get samples."
As Frank left the store, he reflected, with satisfaction:
"I have only been a few hours in New York, and I have gotten employment
already."
This reflection raised his spirits, and disposed him to regard the
future with a degree of confidence. He resolved to spend the rest of the
afternoon in walking about in the lower part of the city, and acquiring
a little familiarity with the streets, as this was a kind of knowledge
he was likely to need.
He strolled down Broadway, admiring the massive and stately structures
that lined the streets on either side. Very soon he came to Trinity
Church, and, standing in front it, looked down Wall Street. He had heard
so much of this street that he felt inclined to turn from Broadway and
walk down its entire length.
As he sauntered along a man whom he met scrutinized him sharply, as if
considering some plan. Apparently making up his mind, he stepped up to
Frank, and, touching him on the shoulder, said:
"Boy, would you like a job?"
Now Frank, though he had engaged to work for the Great Pekin Tea Company
was ready to accept any other proposal, and answered promptly:
"Yes, sir."
"That is right," said the man. "It is a mere trifle, but I am willing to
pay you a dollar."
"What is it, sir?"
"Do you see that window?"
He pointed to a basement window, in which were exposed rolls of gold,
currency and greenbacks of different denominations, and English
sovereigns and French gold coins.
"I want you to do me a little errand in there," he said.
Frank was rather surprised that the man did not do his own errand, when
the broker's office was so near, but he had no objection to earning a
dollar and signified his willingness.
"What I want you to do," said his new acquaintance, "is to sell some
government bonds for me."
"Very well, sir."
The man produced a large yellow envelope, already open.
"In this envelope," he said, "are two five-twenty governments for a
hundred dollars each. Take them in and sell them, and bring the proceeds
to me."
"All right, sir."
Frank took the envelope, and entered the office of Jones & Robinson,
that being the style of the firm.
He advanced to the counter, and singling out a clerk, said:
"I want to sell these bonds."
The clerk took them and drew them out of the envelope. Then he figured a
little on a slip of paper, and said:
"They are worth two hundred and twenty-five dollars and twenty-five
cents."
"All right, sir."
"Will you take a check or currency?"
Frank hesitated.
"Perhaps I'd better ask the man I am getting them for."
"Very well. You can bring them here to-morrow."
"Oh, I will let you know in a minute! The man is just outside."
This answer immediately excited suspicion. Frank was too little versed
in business ways to understand how singular it was for his principal not
to transact his own business under the circumstances, but the brokers
were necessarily keen, shrewd men.
"Wait a minute," said the clerk; "I will speak to Mr. Jones."
Mr. Jones came forward and addressed Frank.
"Are you acquainted with the man who gave you these bonds to sell?" he
asked.
"No, sir. I met him in the street."
"Did he offer you any pay for selling them?"
"Yes, sir. He is going to give me a dollar."
"Will you go out and ask him to come in here a moment?"
Frank obeyed.
When his employer saw him coming, he asked, eagerly:
"Have you got the money?"
"No," answered Frank. "They asked me if I wanted a check or currency."
"Either currency or gold," answered the man, hastily. "Go back at once,
and don't keep me waiting."
"They want to see you, sir."
"What for?" inquired the man, looking disturbed.
"I don't know."
"There is no need of my going in," said the man, angrily. "I paid you to
sell the bonds. Now go back."
"He won't come," reported Frank. "He says I can attend to the business.
He will take either gold or currency."
"No doubt," said Mr. Jones, significantly. "Thomas, go out with this
boy, and tell the man that employed him that we do not purchase bonds
unless we have a reasonable assurance that they belong to the person
offering them. We will take the liberty of retaining them, giving him a
receipt for them, and if we are satisfied, he can have his money
to-morrow."
Robinson, who had been examining some newspaper slips, here came
forward, and said:
"That is unnecessary. I find that these bonds are among those stolen
from the house of Henry Percival, Madison Avenue, a week since. We must
manage to delay the man while we notify the police."
Frank was very much surprised to learn that he was acting as agent for a
bond robber, and was fearful that he might himself be regarded with
suspicion; but he need not have troubled himself on this score. Wall
Street men are good judges of human nature, and it was at once concluded
in the office that Frank was the dupe of a designing knave.
A boy was dispatched to the nearest police office, and Frank was
directed to tell his principal that he would not long be delayed.
Naturally, however, the man outside had become suspicious.
"I can't wait," he said. "Meet me on the steps of the Astor House at
five o'clock with the money. I am obliged to hurry away now to a
business appointment."
Frank could think of no other pretext for delaying him, and was forced
to see him hurry away.
He hastened back to the office and gave the alarm.
"He has taken fright," said Robinson. "I fear we have lost him. Where
did he go?"
Frank, however, was too ignorant of city streets to give any accurate
information.
The consequence was that when the policeman appeared on the scene, there
was no occasion for his services.
"At any rate," said the broker, "we have secured a little of the
plunder. What is your name and address my boy? We may wish to
communicate with you."
Frank gave his name, and added the directions of his boarding house.
"Shall I meet the man at the Astor House?" he inquired, as he was
leaving the office.
"To be sure!" said Mr. Jones. "I came near forgetting that. Officer,
will you be on hand at the time?"
"Better employ a detective, sir, as my uniform would keep the thief at a
distance. I don't think he'll appear, at any rate."
"I do," said the broker. "He won't give up the money while he thinks
there is a chance of securing it."