"Do you think the man who employs him knows how he is conducting hisagency?" Frank inquired.
"No; there is no one to tell him. I suppose Mr. Fairfield tells him asmooth story, and he believes it. I am afraid we can hope for norelief."
"What would he say," thought Frank, "if he knew I were a messenger fromMr. Percival?"
"What sort of a man is this Mr. Fairfield in private life?" he asked.
"He drinks like a fish," was the unexpected reply. "Frequently heappears on the street under the influence of liquor. He spends a gooddeal of money, lives in a large house, and his wife dresses expensively.He must get a much larger salary than Mr. Sampson did, or he could notspend money as he does."
Though Frank had not much worldly experience, he could not help comingto the conclusion that Mr. Fairfield was acting dishonestly. He puttogether the two circumstances that this new agent had increased therents, and yet that he had returned to Mr. Percival only about half asmuch as his predecessor had done. Clearly, he must retain in his ownhands much more than he had a right to do.
"I shall have to report unfavorably on this man," he thought.
One point must be considered--where he was to find a boarding place onhis arrival in Jackson.
"Is there a hotel in Jackson?" he asked.
"There is a tavern, but it's a low place," answered the farmer. "A gooddeal of liquor is sold there, and Mr. Fairfield, our agent, is one ofthe most constant patrons of the bar."
"I don't think I should like to stop there," said Frank. "Isn't thereany private family where I can get board for a week or two?"
"If you don't object to plain fare," said the farmer, "I might agree toboard you myself."
This was precisely what Frank wanted, and he replied that nothing wouldsuit him better.
"We live humbly," continued Mr. Hamlin--for this, Frank learned, was hisdriver's name--"but we will try to make you comfortable."
"I feel sure of that, sir, and I am much obliged to you for receivingme."
"As to terms, you can pay whatever you can afford. My wife and childrenwill be glad to see you. It's pretty quiet out here, and it breaks themonotony to meet any person from the East."
"How long have you lived in Jackson, Mr. Hamlin?"
"About eight years. I was not brought up as a farmer, but became onefrom necessity. I was a bookkeeper in Chicago for a good many years,until I found the confinement and close work were injuring my health.Then I came here and set up as a farmer. I got along pretty well, atfirst; at any rate, I made a living for my family; but when Mr.Fairfield became agent, he raised my rent, and, in other ways, made ithard for me. Now I have a hard struggle."
"I thought you were not always a farmer," said Frank.
"What made you think so?"
"You don't talk like a farmer. You have the appearance of a man who haslived in cities."
"Seems to me you are a close observer, for a boy of your years," saidMr. Hamlin, shrewdly.
Frank smiled.
"I should be glad if your compliment were deserved," he answered. "It'sa pity you were not agent, instead of Mr. Fairfield," suggested Frank,pointedly.
"I wish I were," answered Hamlin. "I believe I should make a good one,though I might not turn over as much money to my employer. I should,first of all, lower the rents and make it as easy for the tenants as Icould in justice to my New York principal."
"Do you know how much Mr. Fairfield receives--how large a salary, Imean?"
"I know what Mr. Sampson got--twelve hundred dollars a year; but Mr.Fairfield lives at the rate of more than twice that sum, if I can judgefrom appearances."
"I suppose you would be contented with the salary which Mr. Sampsonreceived?"
"Contented! I should feel like a rich man. It would not interfere withmy carrying on my farm, and I should be able to make something fromthat. Why, it is as much as I received as a bookkeeper, and here theexpenses of living are small, compared with what they were in Chicago. Icould save money and educate my children, as I cannot do now. I have aboy who wants a classical education, but of course there are no schoolshere which can afford it, and I am too poor to send him away from home.I suppose I shall have to bring him up as a farmer, though it is a greatpity, for he is not fitted for it."
Mr. Hamlin sighed, but Frank felt in unusually good spirits. He saw hisway clear already, not only to recommend Mr. Fairfield's displacement,but to urge Mr. Hamlin's appointment in his stead; that is, if hisfavorable impressions were confirmed on further acquaintance.
"It seems to me," said the driver, changing the subject, "you might findsomething better to do than to peddle stationery."
"I don't mean to follow the business long," answered Frank.
"It can't pay much."
"I am not wholly dependent upon it," said our hero. "There is oneadvantage about it. It enables me to travel about and pay my expenses,and you know traveling is agreeable to a boy of my age."
"That is true. Well, your expenses won't amount to much while you are inJackson. I shall only charge you just enough to cover expenses--saythree dollars a week."
Frank was about to insist on paying a larger sum, but it occurred to himthat he must keep up appearances, and he therefore only thanked his kindacquaintance.
By this time they had entered the village of Jackson.
"There's Mr. Fairfield now!" said Mr. Hamlin, suddenly, pointing withhis whip to a rather tall, stout man, with a red nose and inflamedcountenance, who was walking unsteadily along the sidewalk.
Frank carefully scrutinized the agent, and mentally decided that such aman was unfit for the responsible position he held.
CHAPTER XXXV
DICK HAMLIN
Mr. Hamlin stopped his horse a quarter of a mile from the village infront of a plain farmhouse.
An intelligent-looking boy, of perhaps fifteen, coarsely but neatlydressed, approached and greeted his father, not without a glance ofsurprise and curiosity at Frank.
"You may unharness the horses, Dick," said Mr. Hamlin. "When you comeback, I will introduce you to a boy friend who will stay with us awhile."
Dick obeyed, and Frank followed his host into the house.
Here he was introduced to Mrs. Hamlin, a motherly-looking woman, andAnnie and Grace, younger sisters of Dick.
"I am glad to see you," said Mrs. Hamlin, to our hero, after a briefexplanation from her husband. "We will try to make you comfortable."
"Thank you!" said Frank. "I am sure I shall feel at home."
The house was better furnished than might have been anticipated. WhenMr. Hamlin left Chicago, he had some money saved up, and he furnishedhis house in a comfortable manner.
It was not, however, the furniture that attracted Frank's attention somuch as the books, papers and pictures that gave the rooms a homelikeappearance.
"I shall be much better off here than I would have been at the tavern,"he thought. "This seems like home."
"I see," said Mr. Hamlin, "that you are surprised to see so many booksand pictures. I admit that my house does not look like the house of apoor man, who has to struggle for the mere necessaries of life. Butbooks and periodicals we have always classed among the necessities, andI am sure we would all rather limit ourselves to dry bread for two outof the three meals than to give up this food for the mind."
"I think you are a very sensible man, Mr. Hamlin," said Frank. "Icouldn't get along without something to read."
"Not in this out-of-the-way place, at any rate," said Mr. Hamlin."Nothing can be more dismal than the homes of some of my neighbors, whospend as much, or more, than I do every year. Yet, they consider meextravagant because I buy books and subscribe for periodicals."
By this time, Dick came in from the barn.
"Dick," said his father, "this is Frank Courtney, who comes from Chicagoon a business errand. He is a traveling merchant--"
"In other words, a peddler," said Frank, with a smile, "ready to givethe good people in Jackson a chance to buy stationery at reasonableprices."
/>
"He will board with us while he is canvassing the neighborhood, and Iexpect you and he will become great friends."
"I think we shall," said Frank.
Dick was a little shy, but a few minutes set him quite at ease with hisnew acquaintance.
After supper, Frank said:
"Dick, if you are at leisure, I wish you would take a walk about thevillage with me. I want to see how it looks."
"All right," said Dick.
When the two left the house, the country boy began to ask questions.
"How do you like your business?" he asked.
"Not very well," answered Frank. "I do not think I shall stay in it verylong."
"Do you sell enough to make your expenses?" asked Dick.
"No; but I am not wholly dependent on my sales. I have a littleincome--a hundred dollars a year--paid me by my stepfather."
"I wish I had as much. It seems a good deal to me."
"It doesn't go very far. What are you intending to be, Dick?"
"I suppose I shall have to be a farmer, though I don't like it."
"What would you like to be?"
"I should like to get an education," said Dick, his eyes lighting up. "Ishould like to study Latin and Greek, and go to college. Then I could bea teacher or a lawyer. But there is no chance of that," he added, hisvoice falling.
"Don't be too sure of that, Dick," said Frank Frank, hopefully."Something may turn up in your favor."
"Nothing ever does turn up in Jackson," said the boy, in a tone ofdiscouragement. "Father is a poor man, and has hard work to get along.He can give me no help."
"Isn't the farm productive?"
"There is no trouble about that, but he has to pay too high a rent. It'sall the fault of Fairfield."
"The agent?"
"Yes."
"Your father was telling me about him. Now, if your father were in hisplace, I suppose he could give you the advantages you wish."
"Oh, yes! There would be no trouble then. I am sure he would make abetter and more popular agent than Mr. Fairfield; but there is no usethinking about that."
"I expected myself to go to college," said Frank. "In fact, I havestudied Latin and Greek, and in less than a year I could be ready toenter."
"Why don't you?" asked Dick.
"You forget that I am a poor peddler."
"Then how were you able to get so good an education?" asked Dick, insurprise.
"Because I was once better off than I am now. The fact is, Dick," headded, "I have seen better days. But when I was reduced to poverty, Igave up hopes of college education and became what I am."
"Wasn't it hard?"
"Not so much as you might suppose. My home was not happy. I have astepfather and stepbrother, neither of whom I like. In fact, there is nolove lost between us. I was not obliged to leave home, but under thecircumstances I preferred to."
"Where are your stepfather and your stepbrother now?"
"They are traveling in Europe."
"While you are working hard for a living! That does not seem to bejust."
"We must make the best of circumstances, Dick. Whose is that large houseon the left?"
"That belongs to Mr. Fairfield.
"He seems to live nicely."
"Yes, he has improved and enlarged the house a good deal since he movedinto it--at Mrs. Percival's expense, I suppose."
"He seems to have pretty much his own way here," said Frank.
"Yes. Mr. Percival never comes to Jackson, and I suppose he believes allthat the agent tells him."
"He may get found out some time."
"I wish he might. It would be a great blessing to Jackson if he wereremoved and a good man were put in his place."
"That may happen some day."
"Not very likely, I am afraid."
At this moment Mr. Fairfield himself came out of his front gate.
"Hello, Hamlin!" he said, roughly, to Dick. "Is your father at home?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have something to say to him. I think I will call round."
"You will find him at home, sir."
"Dick," said Frank, when the agent had passed on, "do you mind goingback? What you tell me makes me rather curious about Mr. Fairfield. Atyour house I may get a chance to see something of him."
"Let us go back, then," said Dick; "but I don't think, Frank, that youwill care much about keeping up the acquaintance."
"Perhaps not; but I shall gratify my curiosity."
The two boys turned and followed the agent closely. They reached thehouse about five minutes after Mr. Fairfield.
CHAPTER XXXVI
MR. FAIRFIELD, THE AGENT
The two boys found Mr. Fairfield already seated in the most comfortablechair in the sitting room.
He looked inquiringly at Frank when he entered with Dick.
"Who is that boy, Hamlin?" inquired the agent. "Nephew of yours?"
"No, sir. It is a young man who has come to Jackson on business."
"What kind of business?'
"I sell stationery," Frank answered for himself.
"Oh, a peddler!" said the agent, contemptuously.
"Many of our most successful men began in that way," said Mr. Hamlin,fearing lest Frank's feelings might be hurt.
"I never encourage peddlers myself," said Mr. Fairfield, pompously.
"Then I suppose it will be of no use for me to call at your door," saidFrank, who, in place of being mortified, was amused by the agent'sarrogance.
"I should say not, unless your back is proof against a broomstick,"answered Fairfield, coarsely. "I tell my servant to treat all who callin that way."
"I won't put her to the trouble of using it," said Frank, disgusted atthe man's ill manners.
"That's where you are wise--yes, wise and prudent--young man."
"And now, Hamlin," said the agent, "I may as well come to business."
"To business!" repeated the farmer, rather surprised, for there was norent due for a month.
"Yes, to business," said Fairfield. "I came to give you notice thatafter the next payment I shall feel obliged to raise your rent."
"Raise my rent!" exclaimed the farmer, in genuine dismay. "I am alreadypaying a considerably higher rent than I paid to your predecessor."
"Can't help it. Old Sampson was a slow-going old fogy. He didn't do hisduty by his employer. When I came in, I turned over a new leaf."
"I certainly got along better in his time."
"No doubt. He was a great deal too easy with you. Didn't do his duty,sir. Wasn't sharp enough. That's all."
"You certainly cannot be in earnest in raising my rent, Mr. Fairfield,"said the farmer, uneasily.
"I certainly am."
"I can't live at all if you increase my rent, which is already largerthan I can afford to pay, Mr. Fairfield."
"Then I must find a tenant who can and will," said the agent,emphatically.
"I am sure Mr. Percival can't understand the true state of the case, orthe circumstances of his tenants. Will you give me his address, and Iwill take the liberty of writing to him and respectfully remonstrateagainst any increase?"
Mr. Fairfield looked uneasy.
This appeal would not at all suit him. Yet how could he object withoutleading to the suspicion that he was acting in this matter wholly on hisown responsibility, and not by the express orders of his principal? Howcould he refuse to furnish Mr. Percival's address?
A middle course occurred to him.
"You may write your appeal, if you like, Hamlin," he said, "and hand itto me. I will forward it; though I don't believe it will do any good.The fact is that Mr. Percival has made up his mind to have more incomefrom his property in Jackson."
CHAPTER XXXVII
FRANK RECEIVES A LETTER FROM MR. PERCIVAL
While Frank was waiting for an answer to a letter to Mr. Percival hedevoted part of his time to the business which was supposed to be hisonly reason for remaining in Jackson.
I am bound to say that as regard
s this business his trip might bepronounced a failure. There was little ready money in Jackson. Many ofthe people were tenants of Mr. Percival, and found it difficult to paythe excessive rents demanded by his agent. Of course, they had no moneyto spare for extras. Even if they had been better off, there was littledemand for stationery in the village. The people were chiefly farmers,and did not indulge in much correspondence.
When Frank returned to his boarding place on the afternoon of the firstday, Mr. Hamlin asked him, not without solicitude, with what luck he hadmet.
"I have sold twenty-five cents' worth of note paper," answered Frank,with a smile.
Mr. Hamlin looked troubled.
"How many places did you call at?" he inquired.
"About a dozen."
"I am afraid you will get discouraged."
"If you don't do better, you won't begin to pay expenses."
"That is true."
"But perhaps you may do better to-morrow."
"I hope so."
"I wish you could find something in Jackson that would induce you toremain here permanently, and make your home with us. I would charge youonly the bare cost of board."