Ragged Dick Part 32

"Why?" asked d.i.c.k, in some surprise. "Have you been offered a more loocrative position?"

"No," said Fosd.i.c.k, "but I find I have taught you all I know myself.

You are now as good a scholar as I am."

"Is that true?" said d.i.c.k, eagerly, a flush of gratification coloring his brown cheek.

"Yes," said Fosd.i.c.k. "You've made wonderful progress. I propose, now that evening schools have begun, that we join one, and study together through the winter."

"All right," said d.i.c.k. "I'd be willin' to go now; but when I first began to study I was ashamed to have anybody know that I was so ignorant. Do you really mean, Fosd.i.c.k, that I know as much as you?"

"Yes, d.i.c.k, it's true."

"Then I've got you to thank for it," said d.i.c.k, earnestly. "You've made me what I am."

"And haven't you paid me, d.i.c.k?"

"By payin' the room-rent," said d.i.c.k, impulsively. "What's that? It isn't half enough. I wish you'd take half my money; you deserve it."

"Thank you, d.i.c.k, but you're too generous. You've more than paid me.

Who was it took my part when all the other boys imposed upon me? And who gave me money to buy clothes, and so got me my situation?"

"Oh, that's nothing!" said d.i.c.k.

"It's a great deal, d.i.c.k. I shall never forget it. But now it seems to me you might try to get a situation yourself."

"Do I know enough?"

"You know as much as I do."

"Then I'll try," said d.i.c.k, decidedly.

"I wish there was a place in our store," said Fosd.i.c.k. "It would be pleasant for us to be together."

"Never mind," said d.i.c.k; "there'll be plenty of other chances.

P'r'aps A. T. Stewart might like a partner. I wouldn't ask more'n a quarter of the profits."

"Which would be a very liberal proposal on your part," said Fosd.i.c.k, smiling. "But perhaps Mr. Stewart might object to a partner living on Mott Street."

"I'd just as lieves move to Fifth Avenoo," said d.i.c.k. "I aint got no prejudices in favor of Mott Street."

"Nor I," said Fosd.i.c.k, "and in fact I have been thinking it might be a good plan for us to move as soon as we could afford. Mrs. Mooney doesn't keep the room quite so neat as she might."

"No," said d.i.c.k. "She aint got no prejudices against dirt. Look at that towel."

d.i.c.k held up the article indicated, which had now seen service nearly a week, and hard service at that,--d.i.c.k's avocation causing him to be rather hard on towels.

"Yes," said Fosd.i.c.k, "I've got about tired of it. I guess we can find some better place without having to pay much more. When we move, you must let me pay my share of the rent."

"We'll see about that," said d.i.c.k. "Do you propose to move to Fifth Avenoo?"

"Not just at present, but to some more agreeable neighborhood than this. We'll wait till you get a situation, and then we can decide."

A few days later, as d.i.c.k was looking about for customers in the neighborhood of the Park, his attention was drawn to a fellow boot-black, a boy about a year younger than himself, who appeared to have been crying.

"What's the matter, Tom?" asked d.i.c.k. "Haven't you had luck to-day?"

"Pretty good," said the boy; "but we're havin' hard times at home.

Mother fell last week and broke her arm, and to-morrow we've got to pay the rent, and if we don't the landlord says he'll turn us out."

"Haven't you got anything except what you earn?" asked d.i.c.k.

"No," said Tom, "not now. Mother used to earn three or four dollars a week; but she can't do nothin' now, and my little sister and brother are too young."

d.i.c.k had quick sympathies. He had been so poor himself, and obliged to submit to so many privations that he knew from personal experience how hard it was. Tom Wilkins he knew as an excellent boy who never squandered his money, but faithfully carried it home to his mother. In the days of his own extravagance and shiftlessness he had once or twice asked Tom to accompany him to the Old Bowery or Tony Pastor's, but Tom had always steadily refused.

"I'm sorry for you, Tom," he said. "How much do you owe for rent?"

"Two weeks now," said Tom.

"How much is it a week?"

"Two dollars a week--that makes four."

"Have you got anything towards it?"

"No; I've had to spend all my money for food for mother and the rest of us. I've had pretty hard work to do that. I don't know what we'll do. I haven't any place to go to, and I'm afraid mother'll get cold in her arm."

"Can't you borrow the money somewhere?" asked d.i.c.k.

Tom shook his head despondingly.

"All the people I know are as poor as I am," said he. "They'd help me if they could, but it's hard work for them to get along themselves."

"I'll tell you what, Tom," said d.i.c.k, impulsively, "I'll stand your friend."

"Have you got any money?" asked Tom, doubtfully.

"Got any money!" repeated d.i.c.k. "Don't you know that I run a bank on my own account? How much is it you need?"

"Four dollars," said Tom. "If we don't pay that before to-morrow night, out we go. You haven't got as much as that, have you?"

"Here are three dollars," said d.i.c.k, drawing out his pocket-book.

"I'll let you have the rest to-morrow, and maybe a little more."

"You're a right down good fellow, d.i.c.k," said Tom; "but won't you want it yourself?"

"Oh, I've got some more," said d.i.c.k.