CHAPTER XIX. MR. FAIRCHILD LEAVES THE CITY.

 About ten days later, Chester found himself alone in the office with his employer, the bookkeeper having gone out to call upon a man who had commissioned the broker¹ to buy him a house.

 

"Chester," said Mr. Fairchild, "has Mr. Mullins mentioned to you that I start next Monday on a Western trip?"

 

"I heard him say so to a gentleman in here on business."

 

"I shall have to leave Mr. Mullins to take charge of the office and run the business. The time was when I would have done so with confidence, but the affair of James Long has made me distrustful. He thoroughly² understands my business, and it would be difficult for me to supply his place. For the present, therefore, I feel obliged to retain him. During my absence, however, I wish, if you see anything wrong, that you would apprise³ me of it by letter. You may direct letters to Palmer's Hotel, Chicago, and they will be forwarded to me from there. What is your address?"

 

Chester gave it, and Mr. Fairchild wrote it down.

 

"It is rather unusual," continued Mr. Fairchild, "for a man in my position to make a confidant of his office boy, but I have observed you carefully, and I believe that you are not only intelligent, but are faithful to my interests."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Chester, with genuine gratification. "I think I can promise you that you will not be disappointed in me."

 

"Of course Mr. Mullins must not know of the understanding between us. Don't breathe a hint of what I have said."

 

"No, sir, I will not."

 

"In case you think it necessary you may telegraph to me. I hope, however, that no such emergency will arise."

 

Chester asked himself whether it was his duty to apprise Mr. Fairchild of his seeing Mullins in intimate companionship with a gambler, but, on the whole, decided⁴ not to do so. He did not wish needlessly to prejudice his employer against the bookkeeper.

 

On Monday morning Mr. Fairchild left the office and took the Sixth Avenue Elevated train to Cortlandt Street station, from which it is only five minutes' walk to the ferry connecting with the train on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

 

"How long shall you be away, Mr. Fairchild?" asked the bookkeeper.

 

"I cannot yet tell. It will depend on the success I meet with in my business. I am afraid I may be absent four weeks."

 

"Don't hurry back," said Mullins. "I will keep things running."

 

"I rely upon your fidelity," said the broker, not without significance.

 

"You may be assured of that. I have been in your employ for over five years."

 

"And of course understand all the details of my business. That is true. Continue faithful to me and you will have no cause to repent⁵ it."

 

"Thank you, sir. You need have no anxiety."

 

"Chester," said Mr. Fairchild, "you may go with me as far as the station and carry my grip."

 

When they were outside, the broker said:

 

"I could have carried the grip myself, but I wished to have a parting word with you. Mr. Mullins is thoroughly acquainted with my business, but within the last six months I found myself distrusting him. In four weeks, for I shall be likely to be away that length of time, something may occur detrimental⁶ to my interests, and I heartily⁷ wish I had some one else in charge. I may rely upon you bearing in mind what I told you the other day?"

 

"Yes, sir; I won't forget."

 

"I know that you are faithful, and I only wish you understood the business well enough to be placed in charge."

 

"I wish so, too," said Chester, frankly⁸.

 

"I think, however," Mr. Fairchild added, with a smile, "that it would be hardly prudent⁹ to trust my business to an office boy."

 

"You are already trusting me very much, Mr. Fairchild."

 

"Yes; I feel safe in doing so."

 

Chester took the grip up the Elevated stairway and parted with Mr. Fairchild at the ticket office.

 

As he went down to the street he reflected that his own position during the broker's absence might not be very comfortable. Still he had his employer's confidence, and that gave him much pleasure.

 

He had reached Harris' large store on his way home when a rakish-looking figure, springing from he knew not where, overtook and touched him on the arm. Chester immediately recognized him as the gambler with whom he had seen the bookkeeper walking on the evening of his first visit to the house of Prof. Hazlitt.

 

"I say, boy," said Ralston, "you're employed by Fairchild, the real estate man, ain't you?"

 

"Yes, sir," answered Chester, coldly.

 

"Didn't I see him going to the Elevated station with you just now?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"With a grip in his hand?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Is he off for a journey?"

 

"He has started for the West."

 

"So? I had business with him, but I suppose I can transact¹⁰ it with Mullins just as well."

 

"You will find him in the office."

 

"All right! I'll go there."

 

Chester turned his glance upon Dick Ralston and rapidly took note of his appearance. He was rather a stocky man, with a red, pimpled¹¹ face, a broad nose, small, twinkling eyes and intensely black hair. He wore a "loud," striped sack suit, and on one of his pudgy fingers was a diamond ring. It was really a diamond, and he had often found it serviceable. When he was in very bad luck he pawned¹² it for a comfortable sum, but invariably redeemed¹³ it when fortune smiled upon him again.

 

He followed Chester into the broker's office. Mullins sat on a stool at the desk, picking his teeth. He looked like a man of leisure, with little upon his mind.

 

"Hello, Mullins, old boy!" said Dick, pushing forward with extended hand. "So you're promoted to boss?"

 

"Yes," answered the bookkeeper, showing his teeth in a complacent¹⁴ smile. "Can I sell you a house this morning?"

 

"Well, not exactly. I'm not quite up to that in the present state of my funds. If you have on your list a one-story shanty¹⁵ on the rocks near Central Park I may invest."

 

"Cash down, or do you want to have part of the purchase money on mortgage?"

 

Then both laughed, and Ralston made a playful dig at Mullins' ribs¹⁶.

 

Chester could not help hearing the conversation. He saw in it a proof of the friendly relations between the two. This, so far as he knew, was the first visit made by Ralston to Mr. Mullins. It was clear that the bookkeeper felt that such a caller would injure him in the eyes of Mr. Fairchild.

 

"I am glad old Fairchild is gone," said Dick Ralston, lowering his tone. "Now I can come in freely."

 

"Don't come in too often," replied Mullins, with a cautioning look at Chester. "It might——"

 

Chester lost the rest of the sentence.

 

"Send him out!" suggested Dick, in a still lower tone, but Chester caught the words.

 

"Chester," said the bookkeeper, "you may go up to the Fifth Avenue Hotel and ask at the office if Mr. Paul Perkins, of Minneapolis, has arrived?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

After Chester went out, Ralston inquired, "Is there a man named Paul Perkins?"

 

"Not that I know of," answered Mullins, with a laugh.

 

"I see. You're a sharp fellow. You only wanted to get rid of the kid."

 

"Exactly. Now we can talk freely."

 

"That's what I came about. Do you know, Mullins, you are owing me seven hundred and fifty dollars?"

 

"Is it so much as that?" asked the bookkeeper, anxiously.

 

"Yes; I can show you the account. Now, to tell you the truth, Mullins, I'm in a tight fix, and my bank account needs replenishing."

 

"So does mine," returned Mullins, with a sickly smile.

 

Dick Ralston frowned slightly.

 

"No joking, please!" he said, roughly. "I'm in earnest."

 

"I don't see what I am going to do about it," muttered Mullins, defiantly¹⁷.

 

"Don't you. Then perhaps I can help you by a suggestion."

 

"I wish you would."

 

"You are left in charge here during Mr. Fairchild's absence?"

 

"Well, suppose I am."

 

"And you handle the funds?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then," and Dick Ralston bent¹⁸ over and whispered something in the bookkeeper's ear.

 

Mullins started, and looked agitated¹⁹.

 

"What would you have me do?" he inquired.

 

"Borrow a little money from the office," answered Dick, coolly.

 

"But, good heavens, man, it would ruin me. Must you have me risk prison?"

 

"Don't be alarmed! I only want you to borrow two or three hundred dollars. You can return it before Fairchild gets back."

 

"How am I to return it?"

 

"You can win it back in one evening at the gaming table."

 

"Or lose more."

 

There was considerable further conversation, Dick Ralston urging, and Mullins feebly opposing something which the gambler proposed. Then a customer came in, who had to receive attention. Inside of an hour Chester re-entered the office, accompanied by a sandy-complexioned stranger, his head covered with a broad, flapping, Western sombrero, and wearing a long, brown beard descending²⁰ at least eighteen inches.

 

"I hear you want to see me," he said to Mullins.

 

"Who are you?" asked the astonished bookkeeper.

 

"I am Paul Perkins, of Minneapolis," was the surprising reply.

1 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

2 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

3 apprise   

vt.通知，告知

参考例句：

• He came to apprise us that the work had been successfully completed.他来通知我们工作已胜利完成。
• We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.我们必须告诉他们可能涉及的危险。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

6 detrimental   

adj.损害的，造成伤害的

参考例句：

• We know that heat treatment is detrimental to milk.我们知道加热对牛奶是不利的。
• He wouldn't accept that smoking was detrimental to health.他不相信吸烟有害健康。

7 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

9 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

10 transact   

v.处理；做交易；谈判

参考例句：

• I will transact my business by letter.我会写信去洽谈业务。
• I have been obliged to see him；there was business to transact.我不得不见他，有些事物要处理。

11 pimpled   

adj.有丘疹的，多粉刺的

参考例句：

• How do you like your pimpled rubber-turned outside or inside? 您喜欢颗料海绵胶是正贴还是反贴的？ 来自互联网
• It is inward pimpled rubber. 这是反贴海锦（拍）。 来自互联网

12 pawned   

v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• He pawned his gold watch to pay the rent. 他抵当了金表用以交租。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 redeemed   

adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。
• He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker's. 他从当铺赎回手表。

14 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

15 shanty   

n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子

参考例句：

• His childhood was spent in a shanty.他的童年是在一个简陋小屋里度过的。
• I want to quit this shanty.我想离开这烂房子。

16 ribs   

n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

17 defiantly   

adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地

参考例句：

• Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

19 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

20 descending   

n. 下行 adj. 下降的

参考例句：

• The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
• The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。