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第13章

paul the peddler-第13章

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whether it would be possible for him to raise himself to wealth

and live in as handsome a house as Mr。 Preston。  He thought what

a satisfaction it would be if the time should ever come when he

could free his mother from the necessity of work; and give little

Jimmy a chance to develop his talent for drawing。  However; such

success must be a long way off; if it ever came。



He had intended to ride home; but his mind was so preoccupied

that he forgot all about it; and had got some distance on his way

before it occurred to him。  Then; not feeling particularly tired;

he concluded to keep on walking; as he had commenced。



〃It will save me six cents;〃 he reflected; 〃and that is

something。  If I am ever going to be a prosperous merchant; I

must begin to save now。〃



So he kept on walking。  Passing the Cooper Institute; he came

into the Bowery; a broad and busy street; the humble neighbor of

Broadway; to which it is nearly parallel。



He was still engaged in earnest thought; when he felt a rude slap

on the back。  Looking round; he met the malicious glance of Mike

Donovan; who probably would not have ventured on such a liberty

if he had not been accompanied by a boy a head taller than

himself; and; to judge from appearances; of about the same

character。



〃What did you do that for; Mike?〃 demanded Paul。



〃None of your business。  I didn't hurt you; did I?〃 returned

Mike; roughly。



〃No; but I don't care to be hit that way by you。〃



〃So you're putting on airs; are you?〃



〃No; I don't do that;〃 returned Paul; 〃but I don't care about

having anything to do with you。〃



〃That's because you've got a new shirt; is it?〃 sneered Mike。



〃It isn't mine。〃



〃That's what I thought。  Who did you steal it from?〃



〃Do you mean to insult me; Mike Donovan?〃 demanded Paul;

angrily。



〃Just as you like;〃 said Mike; independently。



〃If you want to know why I don't want to have anything to do with

you; I will tell you。〃



〃Tell ahead。〃



〃Because you're a thief。〃



〃If you say that again; I'll lick you;〃 said Mike; reddening with

anger。



〃It's true。  You stole my basket of candy the other day; and that

isn't the only time you've been caught stealing。〃



〃I'll give you the worst licking you ever had。  Do you want to

fight?〃 said Mike; flourishing his fist。



〃No; I don't;〃 said Paul。  〃Some time when I haven't a bundle;

I'll accommodate you。〃



〃You're a coward!〃  sneered Mike; gaining courage as he saw Paul

was not disposed for an encounter。



〃I don't think I am;〃 said Paul; coolly。



〃I'll hold your shirt;〃 said Mike's companion; with a grin; 〃if

you want to fight。〃



Paul; however; did not care to intrust the shirt to a stranger of

so unprepossessing an appearance。



He; therefore; attempted to pass on。  But Mike; encouraged by his

reluctance; stepped up and shook his fist within an inch of

Paul's nose; calling him at the same time a coward。  This was too

much for Paul's self…restraint。  He dropped the shirt and pitched

into Mike in so scientific a manner that the latter was compelled

to retreat; and finally to flee at the top of his speed; not

without having first received several pretty hard blows。



〃I don't think he will meddle with me again;〃 said Paul to

himself; as he pulled down the sleeves of his jacket。



He walked back; and looked for the shirt which he had laid down

before commencing the combat。  But he looked in vain。  Nothing

was to be seen of the shirt or of Mike's companion。  Probably

both had disappeared together。







CHAPTER XI



BARCLAY & CO。



The loss of the shirt was very vexatious。  It was not so much the

value of it that Paul cared for; although this was a

consideration by no means to be despised by one in his

circumstances; but it had been lent as a pattern; and without it

his mother would be unable to make Mr。 Preston's shirts。  As to

recovering it; he felt that there was little chance of this。 

Besides; it would involve delay; and his mother could not afford

to remain idle。  Paul felt decidedly uncomfortable。  Again Mike

Donovan had done him an injury; and this time of a more serious

nature than before。



What should he do?



There seemed but one answer to this question。  He must go back to

Mr。 Preston; explain the manner in which he had lost his shirt;

and ask him for another; promising; of course; to supply the

place of the one lost。  He was not sure whether Mr。 Preston would

accept this explanation。  He might think it was only an attempt

to defraud him。  But; at any rate; it seemed the only thing to

do; and it must be done at once。  He entered a passing car; for

it was too late to walk。



〃I wish I had taken the car down;〃 thought Paul。  〃Then I

shouldn't have lost the shirt。〃



But it was too late for regrets now。  He must do the best that

remained to him。



It was nearly ten o'clock when Paul once more stood before the

door of Mr。 Preston's boarding…place。  He rang the bell and asked

to see him。



〃You have been here before this evening?〃 said the servant。



〃Yes。〃



〃Then you know the room。  You can walk right up。〃



Paul went upstairs and knocked at Mr。 Preston's room。  He was

bidden to come in; and did so。



Mr。 Preston looked up with surprise。



〃I suppose you are surprised to see me;〃 said Paul; rather

awkwardly。



〃Why; yes。  I did not anticipate that pleasure quite so soon;〃

said Mr。 Preston; smiling。



〃I am afraid it won't be a pleasure; for I bring bad news。〃



〃Bad news?〃 repeated the gentleman; rather startled。



〃Yes; I have lost the shirt you gave me。〃



〃Oh; is that all?〃 said Mr。 Preston; looking relieved。  〃But how

did you lose it?〃



〃I was walking home down the Bowery; when two fellows met me。 

One of them; Mike Donovan; forced me into a fight。  I gave him a

licking;〃 added Paul; with satisfaction; 〃but when it was all

over; I found the other fellow had run off with the shirt。〃



〃I don't believe it will fit him;〃 said Mr。 Preston; laughing。



As the speaker probably weighed two hundred and fifty pounds; it

was; indeed; rather doubtful。  Paul couldn't help laughing

himself at the thought。



〃You were certainly unlucky;〃 said Mr。 Preston。  〃Did you know

the boy you fought with?〃



〃Yes; sir; he once before stole my stock of candy; when I was in

the prize…package business。〃



〃That was the day we got acquainted;〃 remarked Mr。 Preston。



〃Yes; sir。〃



〃He doesn't seem to be a very particular friend of yours。〃



〃No; he hates me; Mike does; though I don't know why。  But I hope

you won't be angry with me for losing the shirt?〃



〃No; it doesn't seem to be your fault; only your misfortune。〃



〃I was afraid you might think I had made up the story; and only

wanted to get an extra shirt from you。〃



〃No; my young friend; I have some faith in physiognomy; and you

have an honest face。  I don't believe you would deceive me。〃



〃No; I wouldn't;〃 said Paul; promptly。  〃If you will trust me

with another shirt; mother will make you an extra one to make up

for the one I have lost。〃



〃Certainly you shall have the extra shirt; but you needn't supply

the place of the one lost。〃



〃It is only fair that I should。〃



〃That may be; and I am glad you made the offer; but the loss is

of little importance to me。  It was no fault of yours that you

lost it; and you shall not suffer for it。〃



〃You are very kind; sir;〃 said Paul; gratefully。



〃Only just; Paul。〃



Mr。 Preston went to the bureau; and drew out another shirt; which

he handed to Paul。



〃Let me suggest; my young friend;〃 he said; 〃that you ride home

this time。  It is late; and you might have another encounter with

your friend。  I should like to see him with the shirt on;〃 and

Mr。 Preston laughed heartily at the thought。



Paul decided to follow his patron's advice。  He had no idea of

runnin

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