Boy Broker; Or, Among the Kings of Wall Street

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  A VISIT TO THE BANKER'S HOUSE.

  The disturbing elements that had produced the somewhat dramatic andextraordinary scenes of the last week were now apparently quiet. Butwere they actually so? This is the question that Herbert Randolph andBob Hunter asked themselves--a question that caused them much anxiety.

  Felix Mortimer, to be sure, was in the Tombs awaiting his trial. But thegranite wall and the great iron doors were alike powerless to imprisonhis mind. He was as free as ever to think and to plot. What schemes ofrevenge might not then be planned by this boy whose hatred for HerbertRandolph now undoubtedly burned more fiercely than ever? And Gunwagner,his companion in crime, was free to carry out any plan that might beagreed upon between them. He had given bonds to appear when wanted bythe court, something that Felix Mortimer was unable to do. This is whythe latter was still locked up, while the old fence was allowed histemporary freedom.

  Except for the constant anxiety that Herbert and Bob felt over thismatter, everything went smoothly with them. Papers sold briskly, workat the bank was congenial, and they had already become much interestedin each other. The days flew by quickly, and they looked forward tothe evenings, which they spent together as a time for enjoyment andimprovement. As often as Tom Flannery could leave his evening school hejoined them, and he was always welcome. No one could help liking him, hewas so simple and honest. How keenly he enjoyed an evening with Herbertand Bob in their room, or strolling about the great city, as theynot infrequently did! Their slender means would not warrant them inattending the theater often. Occasionally, however, they managed to getinexpensive admission tickets to a really good play. Bob Hunter usuallyprocured them as a reward for some service he had given during the day,when his paper trade did not demand his attention. Many very good freelectures, too, were open to them, and they seldom failed to improve thisopportunity. The Young Men's Christian Association building, with itsfine library and gymnasium, proved a very attractive resort to thesethree boys, whose happiness, though they lived in the most humble way,was doubtless equalled by few boys in the great metropolis, howeverluxurious their home and surroundings.

  One evening in particular young Randolph found especially enjoyable. Itcame about in this way. Mr. Goldwin had a slight attack of rheumatismthat caused him to remain at home. He sent a note to his office sayinghe should not be at the bank on that day, and requesting Herbert to cometo his house late in the afternoon, and to bring with him a report ofthe day's business, and whatever mail it would be desirable for thebanker to see.

  The young Vermonter read the note eagerly, and then immediately didthe same thing over again. A peculiar pleasure shone in his eyes as helooked doubtingly at the little piece of paper. And now he saw a veryattractive picture--a rich family carriage into which a charminglypretty girl was being helped by a blushing boy. He wondered why she hadnever been at the bank since that time, and speculated dreamily upon hischance of seeing her at her father's house.

  Thus the day wore away, and at the close of business hours youngRandolph hurried from the bank, taking with him what he had beenrequested to bring.

  At City Hall Park he stopped and informed Bob Hunter of his mission, andthen went quickly to his room to put himself into the most presentableappearance possible with the somewhat scanty resources of his wardrobe.

  His heart beat fast with expectations and fears as he ascended the brownstone steps of Mr. Goldwin's house.

  "Good evening, Mr. Randolph," said the banker, greeting Herbert verycordially. "I hope you have a good report of today's transactions forme."

  "Yes, I think this statement of the transactions will please you,"replied young Randolph politely.

  "Excellent," exclaimed the banker with a smile of satisfaction, ashe read the report. "You have done a splendid day's work. The marketmust have been unusually active. Why, here is a transaction of twentythousand shares by one house alone--great customers, Breakwell & Co.,great customers, bold men--not afraid of anything."

  "They certainly seem to be very enterprising," remarked Herbert, feelingthe necessity of saying something, and that that something should concurwith his employer's views.

  "Most assuredly they are," answered the banker, warming to the subject."Why, if we had more houses like Breakwell & Co., Wall Street would seeno dull days--no, sir, none at all. On the contrary, it would just humwith activity."

  "I suppose they are perfectly good, Mr. Goldwin," remarked Herbert, notknowing what better reply to make.

  "Good? Why, they are rated A1, and are reported to be very rich,"replied the banker.

  "Did they make their money by speculating?"

  "Yes, I understand so."

  "Are they sure of keeping it if they continue to speculate?"

  "Well, now, you are asking me a difficult question. Nothing, you know,is certain in Wall Street."

  HERBERT'S FIRST VISIT TO THE BANKER'S HOUSE.]

  Before Herbert had time to reply, dinner was announced. The questiontouching the reliability of Breakwell & Co. was immediately dropped,and in its place arose the unexpected problem whether or not he shouldaccept the banker's invitation to dine with him and his family. He wouldhave quite as soon thought of receiving an invitation to dinner from themayor himself. It was quite natural, therefore, that he should offersome ridiculous reason why he should be excused, when, as a matter offact, he would have much rather served another term of imprisonment atold Gunwagner's than lose this opportunity.

  "Come right along" commanded Mr. Goldwin, himself leading the way.

  Herbert followed the banker into the parlor, where he was introduced tohis employer's wife and daughter.

  He found himself blushing even more profusely than when he had handedRay Goldwin into her carriage, at the close of his first day's servicefor her father. This heightened color, too, seemed to be reflected uponher cheeks, and her manner indicated a slight but not unnaturalembarrassment.

  Herbert had thought that the dinner given by Bob Hunter was about asgood as could well be served, but this one proved in every respect muchthe better; and notwithstanding his nervousness and lack of ease, undercircumstances so unfamiliar, he enjoyed the meal greatly.

  While Herbert Randolph could laugh at the drollery and peculiar streetlanguage of Bob Hunter and Tom Flannery, he nevertheless found a higherdegree of pleasure in the conversation of this intelligent and refinedfamily.

  "Papa told us about your imprisonment, Mr. Randolph," said Ray, lookingwonderfully pretty, as Herbert thought. "It must have been dreadful."

  "It was an unpleasant experience," replied young Randolph, lightly; "butI came out all right."

  "Ah, that reminds me," said Mr. Goldwin, "that one of the letters youbrought me was from my attorney. In it he expressed the opinion that youcan recover damages from the old fence for false imprisonment. I wouldtherefore advise you to place the matter in his hands at once, and havehim push it."

  "You mean put it into the hands of your lawyer?"

  "YOU EMBARRASS ME," SAID HERBERT, BLUSHING.]

  "Yes."

  "I appreciate very highly your interest in my behalf, Mr. Goldwin, and Iwill do as you say," replied Herbert.

  "Wouldn't it be splendid if you could get damages from that dreadful oldman?" said Ray, with enthusiasm.

  Thus the conversation ran on, and before the dinner had been finished,Herbert felt himself quite well acquainted with both Mrs. Goldwin andRay. He had tried to convince himself that he did not care for girls,and he thought he had succeeded well in doing so. But for someinexplicable reason, his imaginary objections to the sex in generaldid not stand long against Ray Goldwin in particular.

  Her bright blue eyes, brimful of spirit and laughter, seemed to detecthis aversion, and she aimed, he thought, to show him that he haddeceived himself.

  After the meal had been finished all repaired to the library, where,after a half hour of social converse, Herbert wrote several letters forMr. Goldwin at his dictation. Ray sat opposite him with the purpose
ofreading, but as a matter of fact she did not progress very fast with thestory.

  "Would you be willing to write in my autograph album, Mr. Randolph?"said she, somewhat timidly, when he had finished her father's letters.

  "Yes, I will do so with pleasure," he answered.

  "I shall be proud of such pretty writing," returned Ray, handing him thebook.

  "You embarrass me," said he, blushing.

  "I don't see why," laughed Ray, enjoying young Randolph's modesty.

  "Well, I am not accustomed to compliments, especially from--er----"

  "From young girls," suggested Mrs. Goldwin, smiling.

  "Thank you," returned Herbert; "I was hesitating whether to say 'girls'or 'young ladies.'"

  "Oh, say girls, by all means," replied Mrs. Goldwin. "We don't want Rayto become a young lady too soon."

  "I don't blame you," responded our hero, half seriously.

  "Why, Mr. Randolph," said Ray, shaking her dainty finger at him, "Ibelieve I would not have asked you to write in my album if I hadsupposed you would say that."

  "Well, it is not too late yet, for you see I have not touched the bookwith the pen," laughed Herbert.

  "Oh, but I would not want to disappoint you. You know you said it wouldgive you pleasure to do so."

  "So it would, but I would rather sacrifice this pleasure than feel thatyou would be sorry you had given me the invitation."

  Without further parley Herbert wrote in the album--wrote so prettilythat he was roundly complimented by all.

  Mrs. Goldwin and Ray were now summoned into the drawing room to receivea caller, and presently young Randolph took his leave, and started forhis room with a very light and happy heart.