paul the peddler-第28章
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them。 If you will go in with me; and say that you have often
heard me preach; and that I am the Rev。 Mr。 Barnes; of Hayfield
Centre; I won't mind paying you five dollars for your trouble。〃
〃All right; I'll do it;〃 said the rustic; considering that it
would be an unusually easy way of earning few dollars。
〃You'll remember the name; won't you?〃
〃YesParson Barnes; of Hayfield Centre。〃
〃That is right。 The store is near by。 Walk along with us; and
we will be there in five minutes。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
A NEW EXPEDIENT
〃I believe your name is Peck?〃 said Mr。 Montgomery; hazarding a
guess。
〃No; it's Young; Ephraim Young。〃
〃Of course it is。 I remember now; but I am apt to forget names。
You said your parents were quite well?〃
〃Yes; they're pretty smart。〃
〃I am glad to hear it; I have the pleasantest recollections of
your excellent father。 Let me see; didn't you call there with me
once; Mrs。 Barnes?〃
〃Not that I remember。〃
〃You must go with me the next time。 I want you to know the
parents of our young friend。 They are excellent people。 Do you
go back this afternoon; Mr。 Young?〃
〃Yes; I guess so。 You don't know of any sitooation I could get
in a store round here; do you?〃
〃Not at present; but I have some influential friends to whom I
will mention your name。 Suppose; now; I could obtain a situation
for you; how shall I direct the letter letting you know?〃
〃Just put on the letter 'Ephraim Young。' Everybody in Plainfield
knows me。〃
〃So he lives in Plainfield;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery to himself。
〃It's as well to know that。〃 Then aloud: 〃I won't forget; Mr。
Young。 What sort of business would you prefer?〃
〃Any kind that'll pay;〃 said the gratified youth; firmly
convinced of his companion's ability to fulfill his promise。
〃I've got tired of stayin' round home; and I'd like to try York a
little while。 Folks say it's easy to make money here。〃
〃You are right。 If I were a business man; I would come to New
York at once。 For a smart young man like you it offers a much
better opening than a country village。〃
〃That's what I've told dad often;〃 said the rustic; 〃but he's
afraid I wouldn't get nothing to do and he says it's dreadful
expensive livin' here。〃
〃So it is expensive; but then you will be better paid than in the
country。 However; here we are。 You won't forget what I told
you?〃
〃NoI'll remember;〃 said the young man。
The reappearance of Mr。 Barnes and wife so soon excited some
surprise in the store; for it had got around; as such things
will; that he was an impostor; and it was supposed that he would
not venture to show his face there again。 The appearance of his
rustic companion likewise attracted attention。 Certainly; Mr。
Montgomery (it makes little difference what we call him) did not
exhibit the slightest appearance of apprehension; but his manner
was quite cool and self…possessed。 He made his way to that part
of the counter attended by the clerk with whom he had before
spoken。 He observed with pleasure and relief that the man who
had questioned his identity with any of the ministers of Hayfield
Centre was no longer in the store。 This would make the recovery
of the ring considerably easier。
〃Well; sir;〃 he said; addressing the clerk; 〃I suppose you did
not expect to see me again so soon?〃
〃No; sir。〃
〃Nor did I expect to be able to return for the ring before
to…morrow; not supposing that I could bring witnesses to prove
that I was what I represented。 But fortunately I met just now a
young friend; who can testify to my identity; as he has heard me
preach frequently in Plainfield; where he resides。 Mr。 Young;
will you be kind enough to tell this gentleman who I am?〃
〃Parson Barnes; of Hayfield Centre;〃 said the youth; confidently。
〃You have heard me preach; have you not; in Plainfield?〃
〃Yes;〃 said the young man; fully believing that he was telling
the truth。
〃And I have called on your parents?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I think;〃 said the adventurer; 〃that will be sufficient to
convince you that I am what I appear。〃
It was hard to doubt; in the face of such evidence。 Ephraim
Young was so unmistakably from the rural districts that it would
have been absurd to suspect him of being an artful city rogue。
Besides; Mr。 Barnes himself was got up so naturally that all the
clerk's doubts vanished at once。 He concluded that the customer
who had questioned his genuineness must be very much mistaken。
〃I ought to apologize to you; sir;〃 he said; 〃for doubting your
word。 But in a city like this you know one has to be very
careful。〃
〃Of course;〃 said the adventurer; blandly; 〃I do not blame you in
the least。 You only did your duty; though it might have cost me
some trouble and inconvenience。〃
〃I am sorry; sir。〃
〃No apologies; I beg。 It has all turned out right; and your
mistake was a natural one。 If you will kindly return me the
ring; I will defer selling it; I think; till another day。〃
The clerk brought the ring; which he handed back to Mr。
Montgomery。 The latter received it with so much the more
satisfaction; as he had made up his mind at one time that it was
gone irrevocably; and put it away in his waistcoat pocket。
〃I had intended to buy some silver spoons;〃 he said; 〃but it will
be necessary to wait until I have disposed of the ring。 However;
I may as well look at some; eh; Mrs。 Barnes?〃
〃If you like;〃 assented the lady。
So the pair examined some spoons; and fixed upon a dozen; which
they said they would return and buy on the next day; and then;
with a polite good…by; went out of the store; leaving behind; on
the whole; a favorable impression。
Ephraim Young accompanied them out; and walked along beside them
in the street。 He; too; was in good spirits; for had not his
companion promised him five dollars for his services; which he
had faithfully rendered? Five dollars to the young man from the
rural districts was a very considerable sum of moneyquite a
nugget; in factand he already enjoyed in advance the pleasure
which he anticipated of telling his friends at home how easily he
had earned such a sum in 〃York。〃 He walked along beside the
adventurer; expecting that he would say something about paying
him; but no allusion was made by the adventurer to his promise。
Indeed; five dollars was considerably more than he had in his
possession。 When they reached Amity street; for they were now
proceeding up Broadway; he sought to shake off the young man;
whose company he no longer desired。
〃This is our way;〃 he said。 〃I suppose you are going further。 I
am very glad to have met you; Mr。 Young。 I hope you will give
our regards to your excellent parents;〃 and he held out his hand
in token of farewell。
〃Ain't you goin' to pay me that money?〃 said Ephraim; bluntly;
becoming alarmed at the prospect of losing the nugget he had
counted on with so much confidence。
〃Bless me; I came near forgetting it! I hope you will excuse
me;〃 and to Ephraim's delight he drew out his pocketbook。 But
the prospect of payment was not so bright as the young man
supposed。
〃I don't think I have a five…dollar bill;〃 said Mr。 Montgomery;
after an examination of the pocketbook。 〃Mrs。 Montgomery; do you
happen to have a five with you?〃
〃No; I haven't;〃 said the lady; promptly。 〃I spent all my money
shopping this morning。〃
〃That is unfortunate。 Our young friend has rendered us such a
service I don't like to make him wait for his money。〃
Ephraim Young looked rather blank at this suggestion。
〃Let me see; I have a hundred…dollar bill here;〃 said Mr。
Montgomery。 〃I will go into the next store; and see if I can't
get it changed。 Mr。 Young; will you be kind enough to remain
with my wife?〃
〃Certain;〃 said Ephraim; brightening up。
Mr。 Montgomery went into a