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Transcriber's Notes:
1) Table of Contents added.
2) A 'TN' is noted within the text where Mortimer was
incorrectly referred to as Randolph.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
THE BOY BROKER
or
Among the Kings of
Wall Street
By FRANK A MUNSEY
Illustrated
[Illustration: HERBERT RANDOLPH EMERGES FROM THE CELLAR IN WHICH HE HAS
BEEN KEPT A PRISONER.]
THE BOY BROKER;
OR,
AMONG THE KINGS OF WALL STREET.
BY
FRANK A. MUNSEY.
NEW YORK:
FRANK A. MUNSEY & CO., PUBLISHERS, 81 WARREN STREET.
1888.
COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY
FRANK A. MUNSEY.
[_All rights reserved._]
PRESS OF FERRIS BROTHERS.
420 Pearl Street, N. Y.
TO MY DEAR FATHER,
WHOSE RIGID NEW ENGLAND DISCIPLINE SEEMED TO ME AS A BOY SEVERE AND
UNNECESSARY, THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED WITH THE
GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE WAS RIGHT AND THAT
I WAS WRONG. FOR THIS TRAINING AND FOR ALL ELSE
I OWE HIM I CAN PAY THE DEBT BEST BY
LIVING THE LIFE THAT WILL
PLEASE HIM MOST.
PREFACE.
The best story for boys is the one that will help them most and give
them the greatest pleasure--the story that will make them more manly,
more self reliant, more generous, more noble and sweeter in disposition.
Such a story I have aimed to make THE BOY BROKER. The moral or lesson it
contains could be put into a very short lecture, but as a lecture I am
confident that it would prove valueless. Boys are benefited little by
advice. They seldom listen to it and less frequently make any practical
application of it. Imitative by nature, they are easily influenced by
those with whom they associate, and no associate, in my opinion, has
so strong a grasp upon them as the hero of some much prized book. He
becomes a real being to their young, healthy imagination--their ideal
of manliness, bravery, generosity, and nobility. He enters into their
lives, their sports, their adventures, their kind acts, a companion, a
model so much idealized and admired that unconsciously they grow to be
like him in so far as their surroundings will permit. In a good story
plot and action are but the setting to the gem--the means of conveying a
lesson in disguise in such a way that the reader will not suspect he is
being taught. Let it once occur to him that he is reading a lecture and
the book will at once be quietly but most effectually packed away. Many
authors, it seems to me, fail in their purpose by devoting too much
time to the gem and too little to the setting. Others go too far the
other way and write stories that give young readers a wrong idea of
life--stories whose heroes do improbable and unnatural acts. While my
purpose has been to make THE BOY BROKER interesting I have aimed to give
a true idea of life in a great city. So much nonsense of a misleading
character has been written about benevolent old gentlemen who help poor
boys from the country that I have sought to turn the light of fact on
the subject and picture a little real life--about such life as a boy may
expect to find if he comes to New York friendless and alone. He might
find it much worse; he could not wisely hope to find it better.
FRANK A. MUNSEY.
NEW YORK, _September, 1888_.
CONTENTS
PAGE
I An Introduction to the Great City 11
II An Effort to Obtain Employment 20
III An Evening with Bob Hunter 26
IV At Mr. Goldwin's Office 34
V The Contest Between Herbert and Felix 41
VI A Ray of Sunshine 50
VII Bob Hunter Thoroughly Aroused 57
VIII Felix Mortimer at the Bank 65
IX Bob Assumes a Disguise 75
X Something About Herbert Randolph 83
XI Imprisoned at the Fence 87
XII Bob's Brilliant Move 94
XIII A Terrible Fear 102
XIV Bob Outwits the Old Fence 108
XV Bob and Herbert Meet 113
XVI The Old Fence in a Trap 120
XVII Bob Goes for an Officer 126
XVIII Tom Flannery is Hungry 133
XIX The Rivals at the Bank 138
XX Felix Mortimer Discomfited 142
XXI Two Young Capitalists 154
XXII The Great Banquet 161
XXIII Bob Hunter's Ambition 178
XXIV A Visit to the Banker's House 182
XXV Tom Flannery's Sickness 191
XXVI A Crash in Wall Street 196
XXVII Dark Days 201
XXVIII In Business for Himself 210
XXIX Tom Flannery's Funeral 218
XXX In a New Home 224
XXXI The Boy Broker 228
XXXII The Conspirators' Fate 233
XXXIII A Glimpse at the Future 236
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
_Herbert Randolph emerges from the cellar in which he
has been kept a prisoner_, _Frontispiece_.
_The Great City_, _Page_ 10
_"You evidently know all about propriety, so here is
my hand," said Herbert_, " 13
_Herbert Randolph in the Post Office_, " 17
_Memories of country life--The greeting by the way_, " 23
_The benevolent old gentleman presses money on the
country boy_, " 27
_The country boy finds a well filled pocket book_, " 29
_The country boy to the rescue_, " 31
_At the Boss Tweed Restaurant_, " 33
_A Glimpse of Wall Street_, " 35
_Herbert Randolph finds himself among a mob of rival
applicants_, " 37
_Gunwagner and Felix agree upon a plan_, " 48
_Young Randolph handed Ray into the carriage with
just enough embarrassment in his manner to interest
her_, " 51
_Bob Hunter, alone in his room, wonders what has
become of his new friend_, " 59
_Tom Flannery_, " 64
_Bob Hunter speaks up for Herbert_, " 71
_Bob Hunter plays the detective_, " 77
_A surprise for Felix Mortimer_, " 85
_Young Randolph at last falls asleep exhausted_, " 92
_Suddenly realizing his horrible situation, Herbert
sprang upon the bench with a pitiful cry of
terror_, " 105
_Gunwagner pursuing the boys_, " 111
_Gunwagner bursts into the room in a furious mood_, " 121
_Gunwagner in the hands of the police_, " 130
_Young Randolph and Bob Hunter confront Felix
Mortimer and charge him with his villainy_, " 147
_"Tom," said Bob, "here's a five for you."_ " 155
_The great banquet_, " 163
_Bob and Tom coming out of the bank_, " 179
_Herbert's first visit to the banker's house_, " 185
_"You embarrass me," said Herbert, blushing_, " 187
_Tom Flannery in delirium_, " 194
_Young Randolph again in the ranks of the unemployed_, " 200
_Herbert Randolph shoveling snow_, " 203
_Herbert Randolph working on the hoist_, " 206
_Tom Flannery's deathbed_, " 216
_Tom Flannery's funeral_, " 221
_Ray reading to Mrs. Flannery_, " 222
_Mrs. Flannery and the two boys in their new home_, " 225
_Gunwagner in prison_, " 234
_Bob Hunter, the student and young business man_, " 239
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE GREAT CITY.]
THE BOY BROKER.
CHAPTER I.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GREAT CITY.
"Give me the best morning paper you have, please."
"The _Tribune_ costs the most, if that is the one you want."
"The price will be no objection providing the paper contains what I
wish to find."
"You want work, I s'pose."
"Yes, I am looking for employment."
"I knew it--just in from the country too," said the newsboy, comically.
"Well, what you want is the _Herald_ or _World_. They are just loaded
with wants."
"Thank you, you may give me both."
"Both! Whew, you must be well fixed!" replied the young metropolitan,
handing over the papers, as he regarded his new customer curiously.
"What does that mean?" asked the latter, seriously.
"You don't know what well fixed means? You must have come from way back!
Why it means--it means that you're solid, that you've got the stuff,
don't you see?"
"I'm solid enough for a boy of my age, if that is the idea," replied
the lad from the country, rather sharply, as a tinge of color rose to
his cheeks.
"Shucks! That ain't the idea at all," said the street boy, in a tone
that seemed apologetic. "What I mean is that you're a kind of boodle
alderman--you're rich. Do you see now?"
"Oh! That's it. Well, you see, I didn't know what you meant. I never
heard those terms up in Vermont. No; I'm not rich, but on the contrary
have so little money that I must commence work at once."
"And that is why you bought two papers, so you can take in the whole
business. You've got a big head, Vermont, any way, and would do stunnin'
on mornin' papers."
"Thank you. Do you mean at selling them?"
"Yes, of course. You wouldn't give 'em away, would you?"
"Well, no, I should not be inclined to do so."
"That sounds more like it. Perhaps I'll give you a job, if you can't
find anything else."
"Thank you, I may be very glad to get a chance to sell papers even."
"'Tain't a bad business anyhow. Me and lots of fellers makes plenty of
money at it. But I s'pose you're hungry, hain't you? If you be I'll take
you round to a boss place and it won't cost nothin' hardly."
"I am very much obliged to you, but I had my breakfast soon after
leaving the boat."
"And I bet they done you up on the price. I tell you what it is, it
takes a fellow a good while to learn to live in this city. You don't
know nothin' about what it costs. Why I know a plenty of boys that spend
more--yes, I'd say so, twice as much as what I do, and they don't throw
no style into their livin' either. You see they don't know how and
hain't got no taste, any way. But I like your looks, Vermont, and ef you
want any points--and you're liable to want 'em in this city, I'll bet
you--why you just call on me and I'll fix you out in big shape."
[Illustration: "YOU EVIDENTLY KNOW ALL ABOUT PROPRIETY, SO HERE IS MY
HAND," SAID HERBERT.]
"Thank you, sincerely," said the Green Mountain lad, a broad smile
playing over his fine face, as he regarded the drollery of his new
acquaintance. "I shall need many suggestions, no doubt, for I feel
almost lost in this great city. I had no idea it was so large. I was
never here before, and do not know where to go for a room or meals."
"So I thought, and that's why I offered to put you into the right track.
My name is Bob Hunter--I hain't got no business cards yet, but all the
boys knows me, and my place of business is right round here in City Hall
Park. You'll find me here 'most any time durin' business hours."
"Bob Hunter! Well, you may be sure I shall remember your name and place
of business, for I want to see you again. But what are your business
hours?"
"Oh, yes; I forgot that. Everybody must have business hours, of course.
Well, say from five to ten in the mornin', and three to eight in the
afternoon, you can find me in."
"In! You mean _out_, don't you--out here?"
"Shucks! don't be so schoolmastery. Everybody in business says _in_. I
guess I know what's proper!"
"All right, Bob Hunter, I'll give it up. You know all about propriety in
New York, and I know nothing of it, so here is my hand. I'll say good by
till tonight, when I will call upon you again. I must look over these
papers now, and hunt for a situation."
"I hope you'll have luck, and get a bang up place. I'll be _in_ when you
call tonight; and if you hain't no objections, I'd like to know your
name. It would be more handy to do business, you see. How could my
clerks announce you so I'd know you, if I don't know your name? You see,
I might think it was some one that wanted to collect a bill," continued
Bob, dryly, "and I'd be _out_. Don't you see how it's done? I'd just
tell my clerks to say 'Mr. Hunter is not in;' so, you see, you would get
left. Why, business men do it every day!"
"My name is Herbert Randolph," replied the other, laughing heartily at
his comical friend--I say friend, for he already felt convinced that he
had found one in Bob Hunter.
"Herbert Randolph! that's a tony name--some old fellow I read about in
school was called Randolph; most likely he was some of your relations."
The day was too cold for him to remain out in the park and read; so
Herbert, acting on the advice of Bob Hunter, hurried to the great
granite post office, and there, in the rotunda, ran his eye over the
"wants" in his two papers.
Many columns of closely printed matter in each paper offering every
conceivable position were spread out before him--a bewildering display
of flattering prospects.
Young Randolph soon learned that if he stopped to read every
advertisement in both journals it would be very late in the day before
he could apply for any position. But should he only read a few of the
wants he might fail to notice the best openings. This was a misfortune,
for he was ambitious to get the right position--the position that would
enable him to advance the fastest; and like all inexperienced boys, he
hoped and even expected he might get it the very first time trying.
He had already marked a dozen or two advertised situations which, it
seemed to him, would do very well, in fact were quite desirable, but of
course they were the high priced positions which would naturally be most
sought after by thousands of other applicants--rivals whom the young
Vermonter did not take into consideration. He saw before him a demand
for four or five thousand people to help move the wheels of commerce.
He knew of course that he could only _accept_ one position, so he was
desirous that that one should be the best.
Any smart boy would feel as he did in this respect.
Some boys would even be so thoughtful of the interest of others as to
feel sad that the four thousand nine hundred and ninety nine employers
should be deprived of their services.
But young Randolph was more selfish. He had come here from the country
with buoyant hopes and splendid courage. He proposed to make his way in
New York--to become what is known as a successful man, to make a name
for himself--a name that would extend to his native State and make his
parents proud of their brilliant son.
Feeling thus, how natural it was that he should linger over the
attractive columns much longer than was wise. Yet he did not think
of this, or at least he did not give it any serious consideration, for
were there not a vast number of positions to be filled? The question
then was not whether he could get anything to do, but rather which one
he should accept. When talking with young Bob Hunter, the newsboy, he
had intimated that he might be glad even to get a chance to sell papers;
but it must be remembered that he had not at that time seen a New York
paper, and knew nothing of the tremendous demand for help.
Such a proposition from Bob now, however, would doubtless have been
scorned, notwithstanding Herbert's usual good sense. And such scorn
would have been very natural under the circumstances. Selling papers is
an employment vastly inferior to clerking, to book keeping, to banking,
to writing insurance policies, all of which positions were now open to
him, as he supposed, else why should they be advertised? And why could
not he fill them--any one of them? He was honest, ambitious, willing to
work hard, wrote a splendid hand, had had some experience in clerking in
a country store, and, best of all, he knew he would be faithful to his
employer--all excellent qualifications in a general way--qualifications
that probably seemed to him irresistible. Then, too, might he not lend
a degree of intelligence, of thought to the business that would be
helpful? This was a point that did not occur to him at first--not till
his mind became inspired with the subject; but now the idea seemed to
him a good one, and he wondered that he had not thought of it before. At
any rate, he decided not to lose sight of it again, for he knew--his
common sense told him, and he had read also, that the men who move
things in this world are men of brains--men who _think_, who lend ideas
to business, to inventions, to anything and everything with which they
have to deal.
[Illustration: HERBERT RANDOLPH IN THE POST OFFICE.]
Thus another complication was added, for now he must consider in
determining if the position he accepted would give him the widest scope
for thought, and the broadest play for genius, ideas, originality and
enterprise. His imagination ran fast. He was dead to the busy scenes
about him. Great questions pressed home upon him for decision, and he
did not decide quickly and without thought, as a light headed boy would
have done. No, he pondered long and hard over the subject which meant
so much to him, and perhaps to the entire commerce of the city and even
the finances of the nation. What might not grow out of his start in
life--the start of a thoughtful, industrious, original man? How
important, then, that it should be a right start! What might not come of
a false venture? How the possibilities of the future might be dwarfed by
such a move!
These were momentous questions for this young ambitious boy to solve. He
grappled with them bravely, and with flushed cheeks and dilated eyes
knitted his brows and thought. He thought hard, thought as one with the
responsibilities of a nation resting upon him--this young untried,
untrained boy from old Vermont.
"No, I will not take it," he broke out suddenly and with striking
determination in his face. "Simply because I write a good hand they
would keep me writing policies all the time, and then I believe the
insurance business is run like a big machine. No, I do not want it and
will not take it, for I am not going to make a mistake this time. I want
to show the folks down home who said I would make a failure here that
they didn't _know me_--they counted on the wrong man. No, insurance is
good enough for any one without ambition or ideas, who always wants to
be a clerk, but I'm not that kind of a man."
He was actually calling himself a man now.
"But I think mercantile business or manufacturing or banking would do
for me and would be suited to me. I wonder which is the best! Mercantile
business gives one a good chance to show what he is made of. A man with
ideas ought to succeed in it; that is, if he is pushing and has plenty
of originality. A. T. Stewart, what a fortune he made! He was original,
he did things in a new way, advertised differently, got up new ideas,
and pushed his business with close attention. He started without any
money. I have no money. He was a hard worker, a thinker, an originator,
a pusher. Why shouldn't I be a hard worker, a thinker, an originator and
a pusher? I think I will. But these qualifications will win just as well
in the manufacturing and banking business as in mercantile pursuits, and
if I have them I shall succeed anywhere. I wonder why those people in
Vermont thought I would not succeed here. I wish they could see the
chances I have.
"Well, I do not think I'll take to manufacturing, though here are a
dozen or so first class situations in that line. I might like it well
enough, but I believe banking would suit me better--that is, banking or
the mercantile business, and I don't care much which. Of course banking
will be easier at first than clerking, so I should have more time
for thought and study--time to get right down to the science of the
business. Yes, I believe I'll try banking. Here are four banks that want
a young man. I'll take a look at each, for I want the best one."
Thus young Randolph reasoned, feeling no uneasiness about procuring
a situation, though he had wasted in building foolish air castles so
much valuable time that he had really almost no chance of obtaining a
situation of any kind that day. This he learned to his sorrow a little
later, when he commenced in earnest the very difficult undertaking of
getting employment in a great city.