A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE.
It has not seemed to me desirable to dwell upon Mr. Goldwin's business
affairs--to show the legal squabbles that followed his failure, or to
picture in detail the trickery of Breakwell & Co. My aim has been to
introduce only what bore directly upon the career of Herbert Randolph.
I will say, however, that the banker's failure did not leave him
penniless, as young Randolph feared it might. He was badly crippled at
first, 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 had
reached a point at which it seemed to him advisable to sell he closed
them out at a price that enabled him to pay off all his obligations
without drawing upon his personal property for a penny. He was,
therefore, still a wealthy man, and was not forced to reduce his style
of living in the slightest degree.
With this simple statement I leave the past to record a conversation in
which the reader will catch a glimpse of the future, in so far as it
relates to some of those who have been most conspicuous in this story.
Young Randolph had now become a frequent visitor at Mr. Goldwin's
home, where, notwithstanding the many attractions of a great city,
he spent the happiest hours of his life. Bob Hunter, moreover, was not
an entire stranger at this handsome residence. His visits, though, were
few in comparison to those of his partner, and this was due to two
causes--first, a decided reluctance to leave his books, for he had
become a most industrious student, and second, the lack of so delightful
an attraction as that which turned the steps of the young Vermonter so
often towards the Goldwin home.
It was now midwinter. Herbert and Bob had been in business together
nearly nine months, in which time they had by hard work and splendid
ability lifted themselves from poverty and drudgery to a position of
prosperity. In an up town savings bank a snug sum of money was deposited
to their credit, and this was in excess of the amount used in their
business, which had become so large that a good working capital was
necessary.
One day they received a letter from Mr. Goldwin inviting them to dine
with him and his family on the following evening. The letter stated,
moreover, that he wished to talk with them about a matter in which he
thought 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 want
to talk with us about business."
"But you say he has often talked with you about it when you have been at
his house."
"So he has, in a general way," replied Herbert, "but I supposed that was
just 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 about
their work--speculated and wondered till they found themselves at his
table, where all thought of this character was driven from their minds
by the pleasant conversation that followed.
It was only fifteen months before this that two boys met as if by chance
in City Hall Park one brisk October morning--one a country lad fresh
from the rocky hills of old Vermont, the other a keen eyed, bright faced
newsboy of New York. Look at the group around this table, and tell me
if you can see these chance acquaintances--the boy whose every act
proclaimed him a farmer's son, or the other--the shabbily dressed
product of a metropolitan street. And if perchance by voice or feature
you 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 him
of the farm," I hear you say, "and surely it cannot be he, so well
dressed and grown so tall, whose language bespeaks a well bred lad." But
look yet once more, I pray you, and behold the sparkle of his eyes, the
old time humor playing over his features, and--ah! now he laughs and
shows his dimples once again--the same on either cheek reflecting the
merriment 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 marvelous
change in these two boys?" I will answer--THEY WORKED AND STUDIED.
[Illustration: BOB HUNTER, THE STUDENT AND YOUNG BUSINESS MAN.]
When dinner was over Mr. Goldwin and the two boys repaired to the
library. 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 in
his easy chair and toying with his eye glasses. "I am better fitted for
that than any other. But my object is not wholly to make money, though
of course there is always pleasure in doing so. My purpose is rather to
provide myself with some light employment that would interest me, but
which would not be too severe a tax upon my strength. I have also a
secondary object in this connection," he continued, addressing Herbert,
"and that is a desire to put you and Bob in the way of entering a first
class brokerage business much sooner than you could hope to if left to
your own efforts. I have watched both of you carefully and with the
keenest interest. The ability you have each shown in conducting your
stamp brokerage convinces me that you are capable of moving up higher,
and therefore it gives me pleasure to offer you an interest in the
business that I am about to start."
"But the money!" exclaimed both boys, speaking at once and almost
doubting their own senses, yet expressing in their looks thanks more
eloquent than words could have conveyed.
"The money question can be arranged all right," replied Mr. Goldwin. "I
can 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 to
Mr. Goldwin.
"Doubtless it is a surprise to you," replied the latter; "but the idea
has been growing with me for several months, and now I am ready to make
you this proposition. You of course know that you are not old enough to
become legal partners. It will therefore be necessary to conduct the
business under my own name, and as this was my old business name it will
be better than a new one."
"We certainly shall not object to that," said Herbert; "but how can we
become members of the firm if not legal partners?"
"You can become practically members, though not real members," returned
Mr. Goldwin. "That is to say you can draw a certain percentage of the
profits in return for your capital and services. My proposition then
is 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 we
will organize a partnership, and each own a third of the business. By
that time your profits, if you do not spend too much money, will enable
you to own your interests clear of all incumbrance. Your present
brokerage business can be done from our office, and that I shall want
Bob to attend to at first, while you, Herbert, I shall expect to bear
the brunt of the burden in our regular business. Your experience with me
before my failure taught you what is to be done. We will commence in a
small way at first, and I shall not do very much work myself. I will of
course keep an eye on everything, and may bring many of my old customers
back 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 it
seems 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 the
two young partners, "and I am ready to start the ball rolling at once."
"We will certainly accept the proposition, then," said Herbert, speaking
for himself and Bob; "which is, as I understand, that you are to draw
one 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," replied
Mr. 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 large
enough to demand Bob's full time, I should advise selling the stamp
department. Until then, however, we will hold it, as it pays a handsome
little income which will swell our first year's profits considerably."
"Are you not ready for our game of chess, Mr. Randolph?" said Ray
Goldwin, appearing in the library door.
"That depends upon your father's wishes," answered Herbert, all too
anxious to join her.
"What say you, papa?" appealed Ray.
"Your wishes are law with me, my dear," said the father, with a happy
smile. "Go, Herbert, and win if you can."
"But the business," suggested young Randolph, as he quickly joined Ray
in the doorway.
"Ah, never mind that now; the game will suit you better, and besides Bob
and 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 covers
388 pages--large, clear type, and is handsomely printed and bound. It
can 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.