Part 11 (1/2)
CHAPTER VI.
MR. GILBERT IS ASTONISHED.
When d.i.c.k woke up in the morning the first thing he thought of was his watch, the next the check which he had received from Mr. Rockwell.
”I'll go to the bank this morning, and get my money,” said he.
”How are you going to invest it, d.i.c.k?” asked Fosd.i.c.k.
”I don't know,” said d.i.c.k. ”I'll put it in the savings bank till I decide. That'll make more'n eleven hundred dollars. I didn't use to think I ever'd be worth that, when I slept in boxes and old wagons.”
”Eleven hundred dollars at six per cent. interest will yield you sixty-six dollars a year.”
”So it will,” said d.i.c.k, ”and all without working. I tell you what, Fosd.i.c.k, at this rate I'll soon be a man of fortune.”
”Yes, if you can make a thousand dollars a day.”
”I wonder what old Gilbert'll say when he sees it,” said d.i.c.k.
”Who's he?”
”He's the book-keeper. He aint very fond of me.”
”What has he against you?”
”He thinks I don't treat him with proper respect,” said d.i.c.k. ”Besides he tried to get his cousin Roswell Crawford in, but he couldn't.”
”Then it seems both of us have interfered with Roswell.”
”He's got a place now. I guess he's the senior partner by the way he talks.”
The breakfast-bell rang, and the boys went down to breakfast. Clifton was down already, and was standing in front of stove. Being an observing young man he at once noticed d.i.c.k's watch-chain.
”Halloa, Hunter!” said he; ”I didn't know you had a watch.”
”I didn't know it myself till last night,” said d.i.c.k.
”Where did you get it?”
”It came from Ball & Black's,” said our hero, willing to mystify him.
”That's a nice chain,--solid gold, eh?”
”Do you think I'd wear anything else?” asked d.i.c.k, loftily.
”Will you allow me to look at the watch?”
”Certainly,” said d.i.c.k, drawing it from his pocket, and submitting it to Clifton's inspection.
”It's a regular beauty,” said the young man, enthusiastically. ”Do you mind telling how much you paid for it?”