Part 8 (1/2)
The latter smiled a little superciliously, evidently thinking it rather a joke that a boy of Paul's age should think himself ent.i.tled to an interview with Mr. Preston during business hours, and on business of his own. However, he took the card and approached the office.
”There's a boy outside wishes to see you, Mr. Preston,” he said.
”From whom does he come?” asked his employer, a portly, pleasant-looking gentleman.
”On business of his own, he says. Here is his card.”
”Oh, to be sure. Paul Hoffman!” repeated Mr. Preston, glancing at the card. ”Tell him to come in.”
”I wonder what business he can have with Mr. Preston,” thought the clerk, considerably surprised.
”You can go in,” he said on his return.
Paul smiled slightly, for he observed and enjoyed the other's surprise.
”Well, my young friend,” said Mr. Preston cordially, ”how are you getting on?”
”Pretty well in business, sir,” answered Paul. ”But we got burned out yesterday.”
”How burned out?”
”I mean the tenement house in which we lodged was burned down.”
”No one injured, I hope.”
”No, sir; but we lost what little we had there.”
”Were you at home at the time?”
”No, sir; my mother and little brother and myself were at Barnum's Museum. But for that we might have saved some of our clothing.”
”Well, have you got a new place?” ”No, sir; we are stopping at the rooms of some friends. I am looking out for some furnished rooms, as I don't want to buy any new furniture. As all our clothes are burned, I may have to draw fifty dollars of the money in your hands.”
”How much rent do you expect to pay?”
”I suppose we must pay as much as twenty dollars a month for comfortable furnished rooms.”
”Can you afford that?”
”My business brings me in as much as fifty dollars a month.”
”You haven't engaged rooms yet?”
”No, sir; my mother and I went out to look at some this morning. We only saw one place that suited us. That we could have got for twenty-two dollars and a half rent, but when they heard of my little brother they wouldn't take us.”
”I see. Some persons object to young children. I am glad you have not engaged a place yet.”
Paul looked at Mr. Preston inquiringly.
”A gentleman of my acquaintance,” proceeded the merchant, ”is about sailing to Europe with his family. He is unwilling to let his house, fearing that his furniture would be injured. Besides, the length of his stay is uncertain, and he would want to go into it at once if he should return suddenly. What I am coming to is this. He wants some small family to go in and take care of the house while he is away.
They would be allowed to live in the bas.e.m.e.nt and use the chambers on the upper floor. In return they would receive the rent free. How would your mother like to make such an arrangement?”