Part 32 (1/2)
”You have a week's board coming to you,” she said, with a faint smile.
”Yes, but I haven't even the price of a car fare in my pocket.”
”Well, Mr. Upton, I like your looks, and if you'll accept it I'll loan you a couple of dollars. I suppose it was partly my fault that Smith robbed you. But don't blame me, I've suffered, too.”
”I will accept the loan gladly, Mrs. Price. I don't like to go around without a cent. I will pay you back as soon as I can.”
”I know you will. I may have been deceived in that Smith, but I am certain I am not in you,” added the landlady.
With the two dollars tucked away in a safe place, Jerry left the house. He knew it would be useless to go to Alexander Sloc.u.m's office at such an early hour, and determined to look around in the hope of striking something whereby he might earn at least enough money to last him while stopping in New York.
”I won't write home unless I have to,” he muttered to himself. ”My time is my own and I'll make the most of it while I'm here.”
Getting one of the dollar bills changed, Jerry bought a morning paper and looked over the Help Wanted--Males--column, and noted several addresses.
”I'll try them and lose no time,” he thought, and hurried to the nearest store where a boy was wanted.
He was surprised to find a dozen applicants ahead of him. Worse than that, a boy had already been hired; so all of the others were forced to leave.
Jerry next tried a florist's establishment. But here a boy was wanted who understood the city thoroughly, and he was quickly told he would not do.
Jerry walked from one place to another for three hours without success.
Somewhat disheartened, he strolled into a park close to Broadway and sat down.
The situation was certainly a serious one, and the young oarsman was decidedly sober in mind as he sat there, staring vacantly at the hurrying throng.
”Well, young man, how did you make out last night?”
The question came from a bench just behind Jerry. Looking around, he saw sitting there the gentleman he had run into while trying to find Wakefield Smith.
”I didn't make out at all, sir.”
”Couldn't find him, eh?”
”No, sir.”
”Those pickpockets are slick chaps, and no mistake,” went on the gentleman.
”Did you lose much?”
”All I had--nearly thirty dollars.”
”Phew! that is too bad. Well, I wouldn't sit down to mope about it. You might as well get to work and earn the amount over again.”
”The trouble is, I can't find any work,” answered the boy, earnestly. ”I would work fast enough if I could only find it to do.”
”You are out of a situation?”
”Yes, sir.”