CHAPTER VI.
MR. GILBERT IS ASTONISHED.
When d.i.c.k woke up in the morning the first thing he thought of was his watch, the next the check which he had received from Mr. Rockwell.
"I"ll go to the bank this morning, and get my money," said he.
"How are you going to invest it, d.i.c.k?" asked Fosd.i.c.k.
"I don"t know," said d.i.c.k. "I"ll put it in the savings bank till I decide. That"ll make more"n eleven hundred dollars. I didn"t use to think I ever"d be worth that, when I slept in boxes and old wagons."
"Eleven hundred dollars at six per cent. interest will yield you sixty-six dollars a year."
"So it will," said d.i.c.k, "and all without working. I tell you what, Fosd.i.c.k, at this rate I"ll soon be a man of fortune."
"Yes, if you can make a thousand dollars a day."
"I wonder what old Gilbert"ll say when he sees it," said d.i.c.k.
"Who"s he?"
"He"s the book-keeper. He aint very fond of me."
"What has he against you?"
"He thinks I don"t treat him with proper respect," said d.i.c.k. "Besides he tried to get his cousin Roswell Crawford in, but he couldn"t."
"Then it seems both of us have interfered with Roswell."
"He"s got a place now. I guess he"s the senior partner by the way he talks."
The breakfast-bell rang, and the boys went down to breakfast. Clifton was down already, and was standing in front of stove. Being an observing young man he at once noticed d.i.c.k"s watch-chain.
"Halloa, Hunter!" said he; "I didn"t know you had a watch."
"I didn"t know it myself till last night," said d.i.c.k.
"Where did you get it?"
"It came from Ball & Black"s," said our hero, willing to mystify him.
"That"s a nice chain,--solid gold, eh?"
"Do you think I"d wear anything else?" asked d.i.c.k, loftily.
"Will you allow me to look at the watch?"
"Certainly," said d.i.c.k, drawing it from his pocket, and submitting it to Clifton"s inspection.
"It"s a regular beauty," said the young man, enthusiastically. "Do you mind telling how much you paid for it?"
"How much do you think?"
"A hundred dollars?"
"It cost all of that," said d.i.c.k, confidently. "If you see one for sale at that price, just let me know, and I"ll buy it for a speculation."
"You must be getting a pretty good salary to buy such a watch as that."
"Pretty good," said d.i.c.k, carelessly.
Mr. Clifton was rather a shallow young man, who was fond of show, and had a great respect for those who were able to make it. When d.i.c.k first came to the boarding-house he looked down upon him as a boy; but now that he proved to be the possessor of an elegant gold watch and chain, and might, therefore, be regarded as in prosperous circ.u.mstances, he conceived a high respect for him. The truth was that Clifton himself only got two dollars a week more than d.i.c.k, yet he paid eight dollars a week for board, and spent the rest in dress. His reputation among tailors was not the best, being always more ready to order new clothes than to pay for them.
While they were talking the rest of the boarders entered, and breakfast commenced. Miss Peyton was there, of course.
"How did you find your friends in Madison Avenue last evening, Mr.
Hunter?" she inquired.
"They were all up and dressed," said d.i.c.k. "They sent their partic"lar regards to you."
"Oh, you wicked story-teller!" simpered Miss Peyton; "just as if I"d believe such nonsense. Have they got a nice house?"
"Beautiful," said d.i.c.k. "I haven"t seen any like it since I called on Queen Victoria last year."
"How is the house furnished?"
"Well," said d.i.c.k, "as near as I can remember, there"s diamonds worked in the carpet, and all the tables and chairs is of gold. They"d be rather hard to set on if it twan"t for the velvet cushions."
"Aint you afraid to tell such stories, Mr. Hunter? Mr. Fosd.i.c.k, you will have to talk to your friend."
"I am afraid it wouldn"t do much good, Miss Peyton, if you fail to cure him."
"Mr. Hunter has just been investing in a handsome watch," remarked Clifton, pa.s.sing his cup for a second cup of coffee.
"Oh, do let me look at it! I dote on watches," said Miss Peyton.
"Certainly," said d.i.c.k; and he detached the chain from his b.u.t.ton-hole, and pa.s.sed the watch across the table.
"It"s a perfect little love," said Miss Peyton, enthusiastically. "Isn"t it, Mrs. Browning?"
"It is very beautiful, certainly," said the landlady. She could not help feeling surprised that d.i.c.k, who, it will be remembered, had represented himself at his first visit to be in limited circ.u.mstances, and now occupied one of her cheapest rooms, could afford to purchase an article which was evidently so costly.
"Where did you buy it, Mr. Hunter?" asked another boarder.
"I did not buy it at all," said d.i.c.k, deciding to let it be known how it came into his possession. "It was given to me."
"Perhaps you"ll mention my name to the person that gave it to you," said Mr. Clifton. "If he"s got any more to dispose of in that way, I should like to come in for one."