The Storyteller A STREET BOY'S STRATEGY

New Zealand Tablet, 2 September 1909, Page 1

The Storyteller A STREET BOY'S STRATEGY

The boy had' made a strong effort to smarten up b^s appearance. His well worn shoes were highly polished " -.his dingy clothes thoroughly brushed, -his hair closely smoothed down. He was a boy of eighteen, black-eyed ami -slender. He- had his cap in his hand — it was a well washed hanu — and he smiled and nodded to the old man at tlie desk. ' Want a boy? '• he asked. The old man stared at him. 'No,' he answered," 'I don't want~~a boy.'- ' Your card in the * outside window says, " Boy Wanted," ' the lad pleasantly remarked. ' I know nothing about it,' said the old man sharply. 'See Mr. Summers.' ' And he turned back to his papers. ' I saw Mr. Summers, sir,' .said the boy, ' and he told me to go to the ' I won't repeat what Mr. Summers said, sir.' The old man looked up.. ' That would seem to settle it,' he' said. - The boy shook his head. 'No, sir, that doesn't settle.it. Mr. Summers "gets hot too easy. He thinks I'm a -street- boy, and no good fonsteady, jobs. Well, I have been a street boy. -I've knocked around in all sorts o' things. But I want to be something better now. I want to learn th' things you can't learn in th' street. I looked around for a while and then I picked-out your business, Mr. Spelman. ' That's the business I'm going to learn.' He said all this in an earnest fashion and with a smile lighting -his keen_ face. 'That's yery~ complimentary to the business,' said the old man in his curt way. ' He couldn't resist a dry chuckle. 'Possibly the simplest way for you to. get familiar with Jt will be to sfciart a plant of your own.' _ ' No,' said the boy, and his eyes twinkled, ' I wouldn't *» care to do that. Th' fact is, Mr. " Spelman, I want to get in with you. You're sharp an' you're solid. When you • put your name to a thing it goes. You help th' old town aioTxg~"just by living in it.' The old man stared again at the boy. ' Do you think that soft of talk will help you any ? ' he remarked. ' Well, it's all straight, just the same,' replied the boy, with a quick flash of- his white teeth. ' You can see that I'm very busy,' said the old man, still frowning. The boy passed out, softly closing the door behind him. When he reached the sidewalk he crossed directly to the - young woman in the dainty electric stanhope. His cap was in his hand as he spoke. ' Mr. Spelman will be out soon, Miss,'- he said. The girl looked down -at the keen young face. ■ Thank you,' she said,' with a pretty nod. ' Are' you employed by my father ? ' ' Not yet,' he answered. , ' I'm just a caller. I hope to be something better after a while,' She softly laughed. ' Did you tell my father, this? '- '_ ' N ' Yes, miss.' ■;' - -- ' And what did he say ? ' The boy shook his head. ~ — 'He was very busy, miss.' The girl laughed and looked at the boy more intently. 'Haven't I seen you at your home?' she asked. ' Yes, miss. , I brought you" a boxiquet one evening. You remember, perhaps?' She did remember. A sudden flash crossed her face. ' You gave me a quarter and two big oranges.' He leaned a little forward. 'How is Mr. Bradford? He went somewhere out west, didn't he? I know him pretty well, you see. Is he all right, miss ? ' He saw that she was a little startled, and this added to his glibness. ' I haven't seen Mr. Bradford sinee — since last summer,' she said in a low voice. ' What is your name ? ' ' Stokes, miss, John Paul "Stokes — most times called Stocky. It's something like Stokes, you see, miss, .and then before I began to grow I was built kind o' broad an' thick — stocky, you know.' ' And what have you been doing ? ' ' I'm a street boy, miss. -" I've sold papers and run errands and knocked around and done anything I could find to do.' — _ ' Haven't you a home ?' - *■ ' No.' He suddenly laughed. " c That's goiri' to come later.' He looked around. '.Guess Mr. Spelman's coming out. He won't want to -sec me again, so soon. v You haven't Mr. Bradford's address, have you, miss?' 'No,' she replied, with a .little tremor in her, voice. ' Maybe I can get it,' said <sthe boy. 'If I do, I'll let you know what it is.' ' Thank you,' said the girl^ and her cheek flushed again. Good-bye, John Paul. 5 x He laughed.

' That don't sound half bad,' he said. ' Good-bye, Miss Spelman.' And he moved away just as the eminent capitalist came through his office door. - ' Was that cub talking to you ?' he demanded of the girl. ' Yes, father. He seems like a bright, shrewd boy.' ' He's a; street boy. .His shrewdness is just another name for barefaced assurance.' ' I like his brightness,' said the girl. 'He told me he was going to work for you.' ' That's some more of his assurance,' said her father. ■ ' I gave him no encouragement whatever.' £ I don't think he's the sort of a boy who needs encouragement. He seems- very self-reliant.'- ' And he told you he was going to work for me, did he?' ' Yes, father.' ' ' His impudence is extraordinary. He told me the same thing.' ' Get in, father. I'm going to give you a little ride in the park.' When the capitalist came down to his plant the next morning he noticed a boy pacing with measured tread in front of the building. v He looked at the boy more closely. Then he recognised his caller of, yesterday. 'What are you doing there?' he sharply demanded. ' I'm pacing off the front of the building,' the boy replied. ' Jim Stacy an' me had a dispute over whicK I was the biggest plant, yours or Templeton's. I measured Templeton's, an' now I'm measuring this — an' we've got 'em beat, sir, by fully eight feet.' The capitalist opened, the door. I 'Nothing doing in my, line?' said the boy quickly. I ' Nothing doing,' replied the capitalist. I 'All right,' said the boy. ' I .won't give you my I address. I'll drop around every morning.' I And he turned and walked away, leaving the capitalist I staring after him. I The next morning he was on hand again. I At sight of the capitalist he hurried forward. I 'Morning, Mr. Spelman. Will you kindly hand Miss I Spelman this letter ? It's something I told her I'd get for I The capitalist stared at the letter. I ' Very well,' he said, and hurried through the open I hallway. I ' I wonder,' commented the boy, as he turned away, it IPapa Spelman is pretty ' friendly with Arnold Bradford? ■ Something looks wrong.' . I With which philosophical comment he ended his soliloBquy and went his way. , ■ The next morning, as Luella Spelman was bringing Bher father down town in the trim electric, they passed Ithe boy. He saw them, and whipped' off > his cap directly. I ' There's that confounded boy again,' said the old man, land then he suddenly chuckled. ' I'll have to fine him for Hbeing late.' H ' Don't forget that you are a half hour earlier than Hnsual,' said the girl. She quickened the speed of the fctanhope. 'He's a very bright boy.' ■ The old man frowned. . ' ■ ' With his bringing up he may be a scallawag with all ftorts of failings. You can't trust a boy like that.' ■ ' I think I could trust him,' said the girU . " . - H ' Luckily,' said the old man, ' there's no occasion for of us to put his fidelity to the test.' ■ The girl laughed. H ' There may be an occasion,' she said. H ' What do you mean ?' ' I mean that he seems to be just the sort of boy who Hrould make an occasion.' .=»,,, ' He's an impudent cub, said the old man. - After the girl had left her father at the office she the stanhope about and hurriedly retraced her As she hoped and expected, she met the boy. ' Good morning, John Paul,' she cheerily called, and the stanhope close to the curb. ' Good morning, Miss.' ' Will you come with me for a little ride, John Paul ? „ He looked at his dingy clothes ruefully. 'If you- think — yes, Miss, thank you.'" He took the place beside her. ' You were on your way .to the office, I suppose ?' said Hie girl. ' Yes, Miss. Work is slack there at present, and I havegetting down a little later than usual.' He spoke so gravely that the girl turned and looked him. Then they both laughed. , ' I suppose,' said John Paul, ' that when your father there I can be spared for an hour or two?' 'No doubt,' said the girl. ' And you haven't given the hope of going into my father's office?' 'Given it up? No, indeed, Miss.' 'My father doesn't seem to be impressed by your . ' You have spoken to him, Miss ?' ' He has spoken to me.' , ' I am not at all discouraged, Miss.' The girl looked at him for an instant. • I think you are a boy who can be trusta-J, John

' Try me, Miss.' ' „ > ' , 'My. father is afraid that your life unfits you fi.r — for any position of trust. ' I know he does, Miss.' , . ' • The girl was looking at the road very inteutly. ' I thank you for sending me that address, • .John Paul.' 'You are quite welcome, Miss. ' I was very glad to get it. I wanted to write to Mr. Bradford. 1 wrote to him yesterday.' -' Will you tell me what he says in his answer, JohnPaul?' He nodded. . ' Yes, Miss.' ' Mr. Bradford and I were friends for a long time, John -Paul. And then we had a — a misunderstanding. But I wish Mr. Bradford well, arid— l ani interested in his success. You' understand, John Paul?' He nodded again. ' I .understand, Miss.' ' Thank you, John Paul.' They rodo a little way in silence. ' I found out something about Mr. Bradford, Miss. He has been doing well out there in Arizona, and would havre done better, but he was taken ill. Oh, he's better now, Miss. He,,was caught on the desert in a storm, and a fever put him out of business. But he's getting well, Miss. There's no danger now. That's what the man who knows him told me.' The girl looked around presently. ' I hope you will convince my father that he .needs you, John Paul.' ' - The boy laughed. -- ' That will be all right, Miss.' The girl hesitated. ' Are — are you in need of — of any money?' she asked. -~ He shook his head. - ' No, Miss. I've never yet seen the day when I was quite without it.' He laughed. ' An' I've never seen much of it, either.' Before the girl could reply an ominous report — a sharp bang! — told of a wrecked tire. - . V - '<) :*: * ' We will have to walk across -the park:, to the car,' said' the girl. 'I can telephone to the garage at the c parkentrance.' John drew the stanhope close f to the curb. Then he beckoned to a park"policeman. ' Hennessy.,' he called, ' just keep an ey.e on 'the " ma- ' chine " till th' wreckers get here,' Each morning • John Paul reported at the big" plane. At least- he managed to appear near the office when the capitalist entered. But the old maiL-did not relent. Possibly his eyes twinkled at the lad's .cheerful persistence, but his forehead wore its usual frown. - And then one morning he appeared, , but riot alone. A man in fashionable garb — a somewhat striking looking man with a dark moustache — accompanied him. John Paul was carrying the stranger's heavy travelling bag. The old -capitalist and -his -daughter had "just reached the office. , As the old man crossed the sidewalk, the stranger met him, and they shook harid3, and the., stranger took the bag' from John Paul and* they went in 'together. '• ~" ' : '~ " ' Wait here,' the stranger called back to John Paul; So John Paul quickly turned and crossed to the stanat the curb, and took off his cap to the girl. ".'l'm filling iri' a little' time toting bags,', "he said. ' I've got to keep the kettle boiling while I'm waiting for the new-job, i you know.' He~ pavised - and thrust his hand into his pocket. 'I've got a, letter,' he said. He noted her quick start. ' It's from Mr. Bradford. -He's coming home.' The color surged across her .-.f ace. 'He started as soon as he got my letter. "He didn't write 'much. I guess he was in too much of a hurry. As I .figure it out, he ought to be her to-night or to-morrow. He put the letter back in his pocket. I ' I'm going to meet him at the train,', he said. Then he softly chuckled. 'He may want me to tote his dress -suit case. 5 He looked up suddenly. The girl was smiling. ' I've got to write a note to your father, Miss.' ' About the place ?' 'Well, it may help.' She gave him a blank card and an envelope from the handy box under the seat cushion, and he produced a stubby pencil and laboriously prepared the message. 'How's that?' he asked as he handed her the card. She took it and read it aloud. ' Mr. Spelman — look out for. the party that's with you. He was followin' the horses when I saw him first. In Chicago he was workin' ~ a swindlin' skeem through the mails. I know a man who knows all about him. . He's as smooth an' slick as they make 'em. Yours warningly, John Paul Stokes.' The girl nodded. ' Better take it to him at once, John Paul. It seems important.' • John took the envelope and entered the hallway. He rapped on the inner door. ' Come jin,' said the old man's voice. The boy entered the room. The stranger was sitting at the old man's desk. There were numerous samples of what seemed to be ore lying on°the desk, and there was a map and a bundle of papers. 'Well!' s&id the old m R n sharply,

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The boy 'advanced and handed him the envelope.. .=. ' I was asked to hand you this, sir,' he said. 'An'; the person said it was important.' He turned and left' the room. Then he waited in. the hallway. He had been there perhaps five minutes when the door opened and the stranger came out. His face was flushed, and he closed the door behind him with an. angry slam. > • * ' ' Here, boy,' he sharply called, and John Paul picked up the heavy bag axid meekly followed him out.. But as the lad passed the girl In the stanhope he drew down his face with a comical grimace,' and trudged along. ~ . The old man looked for the boy as he entered the office next morning, but he was not in sight. A little later a knock was heard at the door, and the lad came in. ' I'm. a little late, sir, but I had to meet a friend from out of town.' The old man's mouth twitched. ' So your name is John Paul Stokes ?' ' Yes, sir.' ' Are you aware that you have some pretty bad acquaintances?' - • 'Yes, sir.' ' Perhaps you think you did me a favor when you warned me against that smooth promoter?' ' I hope so, sir.' The old' man's mouth twitched. ' And you want a place here ?' 'Yes, sir.' • • ' Probably you are not aware that I never engage _a man — or a boy, either — without a reference?' ' I have my reference here, sir.' He turned and called to somebody in the hallway.' A tall young man answered the summons. ' The old man stared at him for a moment. Then he X)ut out his hand. ' , 'Glad to see you, Bradford; sit down.' The tall young man came forward quickly and -grasped the proffered hand. . -.- ' Thank you, Mr. Spelman,' he" said, with a catch m his voice. The old man looked at him with half -closed eyes. ,- - ' There has been a mistake, Bradford. I was wrojag. I was hasty. I know it now. You haven't seen Luella?' ' No, sir; I came -to you first.' ' That was right. You mustn't blame Luella. She did what- 1 told her to do. But it will be all right now. I'm glad to see you, boy.' And he put out his hand again. ' But what fortunate happening brought you back?'The tall young man looked around, 1 It was a letter from my friend here, John Paul.' The old man scowled at the lad. ■ _ 1 Confound your interfering- persistence,' he cried. 'So you're in this, too, are you?' He suddenly laughed.-; I throw up my hands. 1 see that the only way to get rid of you is to take you in.' * . ' Thank you, sir,' said John Paul.— Cleveland _ Plain Dealer.