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