Sam's Chance, and How He Improved It

  CHAPTER VII.

  TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS REWARD.

  Henry Martin was rather surprised at not receiving from Sam anotherapplication for a loan that evening. He had watched Sam's rate ofexpenditure, and decided that he must be at the bottom of his purse.He was surprised, therefore, to find that his roommate ordered anunusually expensive supper, and paid for the same out of a two-dollarbill.

  "I didn't think you were so rich, Sam," he remarked.

  "I can manage better than you think I can," said Sam, with animportant air.

  "I am glad to hear it. I want you to get along."

  "I guess I'll get along. Here's the fifty cents I was to pay you thisweek."

  "You were not to pay it till Saturday."

  "Never mind. I'll pay it now."

  Henry Martin was surprised, but his surprise was of an agreeablecharacter. He was convinced that Sam must have obtained money fromsome other quarter, but decided not to inquire about it. He would waittill Sam chose to tell him.

  "Are you going back to the room, Sam?" he inquired.

  "No; I'm going to the theater. Won't you go, too?"

  "No; I don't want to give up my studies."

  "One evening won't matter."

  "Perhaps not, but I will wait till some other time."

  "You must have a sweet time working all day, and studying all night,"said Sam, rather contemptuously.

  "Not quite all night," answered Henry, smiling.

  "You don't take any time for amusement."

  "I am looking forward to the future. I want to rise in the world."

  "So do I; but I ain't going to kill myself with work."

  "I don't think you ever will, Sam. I'll be willing to insure you fromdying in that way."

  Sam laughed. "I guess you're right there," he said. "Well, if youwon't go, I'll leave you. I s'pose you'll be asleep when I get home,so good-night."

  "Good-night, Sam," said Henry, good-humoredly.

  "I wonder how soon he'll be wanting to borrow money again?" hethought.

  The next morning, when Sam reached the office, he found William Buddglancing at the _Herald._

  "You are late," said the young clerk.

  "I was out late last evening," said Sam, apologetically.

  "At a fashionable party, I suppose?"

  "Not exactly. I was at the theater."

  "I thought you were out of money yesterday."

  "Oh, I raised a little."

  "It seems to me you are rather extravagant for your means."

  "I guess I'll come out right," said Sam, carelessly.

  "By the way, you haven't found a diamond ring, have you?" asked Budd,his eyes fixed upon the paper.

  Sam was startled, but his fellow clerk was scanning the paper, and didnot observe his embarrassment.

  "What makes you ask that?" Sam inquired.

  "Nothing; only you'd be in luck if you did."

  "Why would I?"

  "Here's an advertisement from a man who has lost such a ring, offeringtwenty-five dollars reward to the finder."

  "Twenty-five dollars!" ejaculated Sam, in excitement. "Does he saywhere he lost it?"

  "Supposed to have been lost in Wall Street."

  "Wall Street!" repeated Sam. "It must be the one I found," hethought.

  "Yes; I don't suppose there's much chance of his getting it backagain."

  "Let me see the advertisement," said Sam.

  "There it is," said Budd, handing him the paper.

  Sam read it carefully, and impressed the address upon his memory--No.49 Wall Street. The advertiser was John Chester.

  "Are you going out to look for it?" asked William, in joke.

  "I guess there wouldn't be much show for me. Probably somebody haspicked it up already."

  "No doubt."

  "Shall I go to the post office?"

  "Of course not till after you have swept the office. Did you expect meto do that?"

  Sam probably never swept so quickly before. He was anxious to get out,and see what chance he had of earning the twenty-five dollars, for hewas convinced that the ring advertised for was the one he had found.He was provoked to think he had been so quick in pawning it. If heonly had it in his possession now he would have nothing to do but tocall on Mr. Chester and receive twenty-five dollars. With that amounthe would feel as rich as a millionaire. Now the problem was to gethold of the ring, and this, in Sam's circumstances, was not an easyproblem to solve. Of the five dollars he had received from thepawnbroker he had but three left, and it was idle to expect to recoverit unless he should pay the full price and the commission besides.

  "What shall I do?" thought Sam, perplexed. "Here is a chance to maketwenty dollars extra if I only had three dollars more."

  A bright idea dawned upon him. If he would only get his week's wagesin advance he would be able to manage. He would broach the subject.

  "Do you think, Mr. Budd, Mr. Dalton would be willing to pay me myweek's wages to-day instead of Saturday?" he inquired.

  "I know he wouldn't. It's contrary to his rule."

  "But it is important for me to have the money to-day," pleaded Sam."Don't you think he would do it if I told him that?"

  Budd shook his head.

  "It wouldn't be a good plan to ask him," he said. "He would concludethat you were living beyond your means, and that he doesn't like."

  "Couldn't you lend me the money?" asked Sam.

  "I told you yesterday I couldn't, that is, I am not willing to. Idon't approve of the way you spend your money."

  "It's only for this time," said Sam. "I'll never ask you again."

  "I may as well be frank with you," said the young man. "If you wereeconomical, and were short o money from sickness, or any other causewhich you could not control, I would say 'Yes'; but while you complainof your salary as insufficient, you play billiards, and spend theevening at the theater; and these things I don't approve. I didn't dothat when I was in your position. How do I know but you want yourmoney in advance to spend in the same way?"

  "I don't," said Sam.

  "What do you want of it, then?"

  "The fact is," said Sam, "it's to get something out of thepawnbroker's."

  "What is it?"

  "It's--a coat," said Sam, forced to tell a lie.

  "When did you pledge it?"

  "Yesterday."

  "And you spent the money going to the theater," said Budd,sarcastically.

  "Yes," said Sam, confused.

  "Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

  "I won't do it again, if you will lend me money to get it out."

  "You can wait till Saturday, when you receive your wages. You have acoat on, and certainly cannot need the other. I didn't know that youhad another, by the way."

  Sam was beginning to see that he had only got himself into a scrape byhis false statement, and he did not know how to extricate himself.

  "I need it before Saturday," he said.

  "Why do you? Won't this do?"

  "The fact is," said Sam, "there's a fellow wants to buy it from me,and he wants it to-day, or he won't take it."

  "Why do you want to sell your clothes, Sam?"

  "Because I need the money."

  "It seems to me you are managing very poorly. Rather than economize,you pawn your coat, and then try to sell it. So you are continuallygetting yourself into trouble."

  "I know it," said Sam, "but I don't mean to do it again."

  "If you'll take my advice you will leave your coat where it is tillyou are able to redeem it. Don't think of selling it, for a new onewould cost you more than you will get for it."

  This advice was good, but it did not apply to Sam's case, since he hadno coat to pawn. It will easily be understood, therefore, that itproved unsatisfactory to him. He didn't reply, but finished hissweeping, and then, putting on his hat, he went to the post office forletters.