Ragged Dick Part 3

likely to stay there."

"That's so, d.i.c.k. But I must be goin', or Mr. Taylor'll get somebody else to s.h.i.+ne his boots."

Johnny walked back to Na.s.sau Street, while d.i.c.k kept on his way to Broadway.

"That boy," soliloquized d.i.c.k, as Johnny took his departure, "aint got no ambition. I'll bet he won't get five s.h.i.+nes to-day. I'm glad I aint like him. I couldn't go to the theatre, nor buy no cigars, nor get half as much as I wanted to eat.--s.h.i.+ne yer boots, sir?"

d.i.c.k always had an eye to business, and this remark was addressed to a young man, dressed in a stylish manner, who was swinging a jaunty cane.

"I've had my boots blacked once already this morning, but this confounded mud has spoiled the s.h.i.+ne."

"I'll make 'em all right, sir, in a minute."

"Go ahead, then."

The boots were soon polished in d.i.c.k's best style, which proved very satisfactory, our hero being a proficient in the art.

"I haven't got any change," said the young man, fumbling in his pocket, "but here's a bill you may run somewhere and get changed.

I'll pay you five cents extra for your trouble."

He handed d.i.c.k a two-dollar bill, which our hero took into a store close by.

"Will you please change that, sir?" said d.i.c.k, walking up to the counter.

The salesman to whom he proffered it took the bill, and, slightly glancing at it, exclaimed angrily, "Be off, you young vagabond, or I'll have you arrested."

"What's the row?"

"You've offered me a counterfeit bill."

"I didn't know it," said d.i.c.k.

"Don't tell me. Be off, or I'll have you arrested."

CHAPTER III

d.i.c.k MAKES A PROPOSITION

Though d.i.c.k was somewhat startled at discovering that the bill he had offered was counterfeit, he stood his ground bravely.

"Clear out of this shop, you young vagabond," repeated the clerk.

"Then give me back my bill."

"That you may pa.s.s it again? No, sir, I shall do no such thing."

"It doesn't belong to me," said d.i.c.k. "A gentleman that owes me for a s.h.i.+ne gave it to me to change."

"A likely story," said the clerk; but he seemed a little uneasy.

"I'll go and call him," said d.i.c.k.

He went out, and found his late customer standing on the Astor House steps.

"Well, youngster, have you brought back my change? You were a precious long time about it. I began to think you had cleared out with the money."

"That aint my style," said d.i.c.k, proudly.

"Then where's the change?"

"I haven't got it."

"Where's the bill then?"

"I haven't got that either."

"You young rascal!"

"Hold on a minute, mister," said d.i.c.k, "and I'll tell you all about it. The man what took the bill said it wasn't good, and kept it."

"The bill was perfectly good. So he kept it, did he? I'll go with you to the store, and see whether he won't give it back to me."

d.i.c.k led the way, and the gentleman followed him into the store.

At the reappearance of d.i.c.k in such company, the clerk flushed a little, and looked nervous. He fancied that he could browbeat a ragged boot-black, but with a gentleman he saw that it would be a different matter. He did not seem to notice the newcomers, but began to replace some goods on the shelves.

"Now," said the young man, "point out the clerk that has my money."

"That's him," said d.i.c.k, pointing out the clerk.

The gentleman walked up to the counter.

"I will trouble you," he said a little haughtily, "for a bill which that boy offered you, and which you still hold in your possession."

"It was a bad bill," said the clerk, his cheek flus.h.i.+ng, and his manner nervous.

"It was no such thing. I require you to produce it, and let the matter be decided."

The clerk fumbled in his vest-pocket, and drew out a bad-looking bill.

"This is a bad bill, but it is not the one I gave the boy."

"It is the one he gave me."

The young man looked doubtful.

"Boy," he said to d.i.c.k, "is this the bill you gave to be changed?"