Part 39 (1/2)

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

THE BOY BROKER.

While young Randolph was away from his business during the few days of the death and burial of his friend, the proprietor of a house from whom Herbert bought a great many stamps complained to his bookkeeper about the large supply on hand.

”But we cannot get rid of them if no one calls for them,” replied the latter.

”Hasn't Littlewood been in for any?”

”No, he has not been here for ten days.”

”Ten days,” repeated the merchant thoughtfully. ”What has become of the boy broker? I have not seen him here lately.”

”The boy broker,” said the bookkeeper, taking Herbert's card from a drawer to find his address. ”He is at 111 Na.s.sau Street. Shall I send for him?”

”Yes, do so,” said the proprietor as he walked away.

”The boy broker,” repeated the bookkeeper to himself, catching at his employer's words. ”That has a good ring to it and would sound well on young Randolph's cards.”

Having a pen in his hand he dipped it in red ink and printed diagonally across Herbert's card the words THE BOY BROKER. ”That looks well,” said he to himself, holding it off and eying it critically. ”It is catchy. I will suggest to young Randolph that he adds it to his cards and prints it in red ink as I have done. There's nothing like advertising,” he went on, talking to himself. ”It pays, and this will pay Randolph--I know it will.”

The suggestion was accordingly made to Herbert and he adopted it, having his cards printed precisely as the one the bookkeeper had shown him.

And this is the way he became known as THE BOY BROKER. The name proved ”catchy,” as the bookkeeper had predicted, and after adopting it Herbert found his business growing more rapidly than ever. But just now a most unexpected bit of good luck came to the young Vermonter and at a time too when he felt sorely the need of money. The cause brought by Mr.

Goldwin's lawyer against Christopher Gunwagner for false imprisonment of Herbert Randolph had come up for trial. Herbert and Bob were summoned to court to testify against the old fence.

The trial was ably conducted on both sides, but the fact that young Randolph had been restrained from his liberty by one Christopher Gunwagner, a notorious fence, was quickly established. It only remained then for the jury to find the damages.

Herbert had sued for one thousand dollars, and his lawyer made an able argument to recover the full amount.

He dwelt at length upon our hero's sufferings in that damp, musty cellar, infested as it was by rats to such a degree as to threaten his reason; all of which was only too true. Graphically did the lawyer picture this scene, so graphically that the hearts of the jurymen were noticeably touched.

Then the lawyer argued that outside and beyond the actual injury suffered, there should be an exemplary damage awarded. The worst traits of the old fence were shown up, and contrasted with the spotless character of Herbert Randolph.

The judge in his charge sustained the idea of exemplary damage, and then the case went to the jury.

They had remained out about three quarters of an hour, when they came in and announced a verdict in favor of Herbert Randolph of _five hundred and seventy five dollars_!

Young Randolph was never more surprised in his life, or only once; and that was when he found Bob Hunter at old Gunwagner's on the night of his escape.

”Five hundred and seventy five dollars!” said he to himself, unable to realize that he had been awarded such a sum of money.

Bob Hunter congratulated him, his lawyer congratulated him, and the court even did likewise.

But none were more hearty and genuine in their congratulations than Mr.

Goldwin and his pretty daughter Ray.

”I owe it all to you, Mr. Goldwin,” said Herbert, gratefully. ”I should never have thought to commence action against old Gunwagner but for your advice.”