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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Chester Rand or The New Path to Fortune » CHAPTER XXXVII. DAVID MULLINS AGAIN.
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CHAPTER XXXVII. DAVID MULLINS AGAIN.
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 When David Mullins saw Chester enter the office he turned pale, and looked panic-stricken.
 
"You here!" he exclaimed, in a hollow voice.
 
"Yes, Mr. Mullins. I am surprised to meet you."
 
"Then you didn't know I was here?"
 
"I heard from Felix that you were in this part of the country."
 
"I am trying to earn an honest living," said Mullins, in agitation1. "My employers know nothing to my prejudice. Do you come as a friend or an enemy?"
 
"Mr. Mullins, I haven't the least intention of harming you. I will not even appear to know you. I came here to see Dean & Downie, with whom I have business."
 
"Heaven be praised! I will not soon forget your kindness. Here comes Mr. Dean. Remember your promise."
 
At this moment Mr. Dean entered the office. David Mullins had returned to his desk.
 
"This young man wishes to see you, Mr. Dean," he said, formally, when his employer entered.
 
Mr. Dean looked at Chester, inquiringly.
 
"I am Chester Rand, with whom you have had some correspondence," said Chester, tendering his card. "I have just arrived from New York."
 
The broker2 regarded him in surprise.
 
"You Chester Rand?" he exclaimed. "Why, you are a boy."
 
"I must plead guilty to that indictment," said Chester, smiling, "but I am the owner of the lots which I understand are wanted for the new hotel."
 
David Mullins, who heard this conversation, looked up in amazement3. He had not known of the correspondence with Chester, as Mr. Dean had written his letter personally, and it had not gone through the office.
 
"Can you furnish any evidence of this?" asked Mr. Dean.
 
"Here is the letter you sent me, and here is a copy of my reply."
 
The broker took the letter from Chester's hand and all doubt vanished from his countenance4.
 
"I am glad to see you here so soon, Mr. Rand," he said, "as the parties with whom I am negotiating are anxious to conclude matters as soon as possible. Will you go over with me to Mr. Taylor's office? Taylor and Pearson are the parties' names."
 
"I will go with pleasure."
 
As they walked through the chief business street Chester noticed with interest evidences of activity everywhere. Tacoma he found was situated5, like San Francisco, on a side hill, sloping down toward Puget Sound.
 
"What a fine location for a town," he said.
 
"Yes," answered Mr. Dean, "this is destined6 to be a large city. Our people are enterprising and progressive. Seattle is at present ahead of us, but we mean to catch up, and that ere many years."
 
"At what price are lots selling on this street?"
 
"I see you have business ideas," said the broker, smiling. "I suppose you want to know what price you can charge for your lots."
 
"You are right."
 
"Of course it will not be right for me to advise you, being employed by the other party, but I will give you some idea. The lot adjoining your plot sold last week for two thousand dollars."
 
"Two thousand?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Probably it would be well for me to wait a year or two, as the lots would undoubtedly7 command more then."
 
"That is one way of looking at it. Let me point out another. You have five lots, have you not?"
 
"Yes, sir."
 
"If you sell three to the hotel company you can hold the other two five years if you like. The proximity8 of the hotel will help to enhance their value."
 
"I see that."
 
"That is a point to be considered. If you ask a prohibitory price, the hotel will go elsewhere, and you may have to wait a good while before you have a chance to sell. But here is Mr. Taylor's office."
 
The broker entered, followed by Chester. Here a surprise awaited him.
 
Sitting in an armchair was his venerable friend of the train, appearing very much at home. His face lighted up when Chester came in.
 
"William," he said to a stout9 man of middle age, "this is the young man who generously advanced money to meet my car fare when I was in danger of being put off the train."
 
The younger man advanced and cordially offered his hand.
 
"My boy," he said, "I shall not soon forget your kindness to my father. I will gladly repay you for the money you disbursed10 on his account."
 
"I was very glad to stand his friend, sir," returned Chester, modestly.
 
"Let me know to whom I am indebted."
 
"Mr. Taylor," said the broker, "this young gentleman is Chester Rand, owner of the lots which you wish to buy."
 
"Is it possible?" ejaculated William Taylor. "I didn't know that the owner of the lots was a boy."
 
"The lots were a bequest11 to me from the original owner," said Chester.
 
"And you have never been out this way before?"
 
"This is my first visit to Tacoma."
 
"You are hardly old enough to be in business."
 
"I am an artist; that is, I furnish illustrations to a comic weekly paper in New York."
 
"You have begun life early. I suspect you are better fitted for business than most young men of your age. Here is my partner, Mr. Pearson."
 
In the negotiation12 that followed the reader will not be interested. At length a mutually satisfactory arrangement was made. Chester agreed to sell the three lots wanted for the hotel for eight thousand dollars, half cash and the balance on a year's time at twelve per cent. interest.
 
When the business was concluded and papers signed, Mr. Dean said: "Mr. Rand, I think you have made a good bargain. You might have extorted13 more, but you have received a fair price and retained the good will of the purchaser. What do you propose to do with the four thousand dollars you will receive in cash?"
 
"I have not had time to think."
 
"I will venture to give you some advice. My partner, John Downie, has made a specialty14 of city property, and he will invest any part for you in lower-priced city lots, which are sure to advance rapidly."
 
"Then I will put the matter in his hands and rely on his judgment15. I will carry back with me a thousand dollars, and leave with him three thousand dollars for investment."
 
"Then come back to the office and I will introduce you to Mr. Downie, with whom you can leave instructions."
 
Chester was presented to Mr. Downie, a blond young man, who looked honest and reliable, and they soon came to an understanding. They walked about the town—it was not a city then—and Chester picked out several lots which he was in favor of buying.
 
He remained a week in Tacoma, and before the end of that time all arrangements were perfected, and he found himself the owner of seven lots, more or less eligible16, in addition to the two he had reserved in the original plot.
 
On the evening of the second day, as he was taking a walk alone, he encountered David Mullins.
 
"Good-evening, Mr. Mullins," he said, politely.
 
"Good-evening, Chester," returned the bookkeeper, flushing slightly. "I want to thank you for not exposing my past misdeeds."
 
"I hope, Mr. Mullins, you did not think me mean enough to do so."
 
"I am sorry to say that according to my sad experience eight out of ten would have done so, especially if they had reason, like you, to complain of personal ill treatment."
 
"I don't believe in persecuting17 a man."
 
"I wish all were of your way of thinking. Shall I tell you my experience?"
 
"If you will."
 
"When I left New York I went to Chicago and obtained the position of collector for a mercantile establishment. I was paid a commission, and got on very well till one unlucky day I fell in with an acquaintance from New York.
 
"'Where are you working?' he asked.
 
"I told him.
 
"The next day my employer summoned me to his presence.
 
"'I shall not require your services any longer,' he said.
 
"I asked no questions. I understood that my treacherous18 friend had given me away.
 
"I had a few dollars saved, and went to Minneapolis. There I was undisturbed for six months. Then the same man appeared and again deprived me of my situation."
 
"How contemptible19!" ejaculated Chester, with a ring of scorn in his voice.
 
"Then I came to Tacoma, and here I have been thus far undisturbed. When I saw you I had a scare. I thought my time had come, and I must again move on."
 
"So far from wishing to harm you, Mr. Mullins," said Chester, "if, through the meanness of others you get into trouble you can any time send to me for a loan of fifty dollars."
 
"Thank you," ejaculated Mullins, gratefully, wringing20 Chester's hand. "You are heaping coals of fire on my head."
 
"You will always have my best wishes for your prosperity. If ever you are able, repay the money you took from Mr. Fairchild, and I will venture to promise that he will forgive you."
 
"With God's help I will!"

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
2 broker ESjyi     
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。
3 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
4 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
5 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的
参考例句:
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
6 destined Dunznz     
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句:
  • It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
  • The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
7 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
8 proximity 5RsxM     
n.接近,邻近
参考例句:
  • Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
  • Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。
10 disbursed 4f19ba534204b531f6d4b9a8fe95cf89     
v.支出,付出( disburse的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • In the 2000—2008 school year, $426.5 million was disbursed to 349085 students. 2000至2008学年,共有349085名学生获发津贴,总额达4.265亿元。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The bank has disbursed over $350m for the project. 银行已经为这个项目支付了超过3.5亿美元。 来自辞典例句
11 bequest dWPzq     
n.遗赠;遗产,遗物
参考例句:
  • In his will he made a substantial bequest to his wife.在遗嘱里他给妻子留下了一大笔遗产。
  • The library has received a generous bequest from a local businessman.图书馆从当地一位商人那里得到了一大笔遗赠。
12 negotiation FGWxc     
n.谈判,协商
参考例句:
  • They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判,他们的食糖生意成交了。
  • The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。
13 extorted 067a410e7b6359c130b95772a4b83d0b     
v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 );曲解
参考例句:
  • The gang extorted money from over 30 local businesses. 这帮歹徒向当地30多户商家勒索过钱财。
  • He extorted a promise from me. 他硬要我答应。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
14 specialty SrGy7     
n.(speciality)特性,特质;专业,专长
参考例句:
  • Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
  • His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。
15 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
16 eligible Cq6xL     
adj.有条件被选中的;(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的
参考例句:
  • He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
  • Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。
17 persecuting 668e268d522d47306d7adbfe4e26738d     
(尤指宗教或政治信仰的)迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 ); 烦扰,困扰或骚扰某人
参考例句:
  • This endurance made old Earnshaw furious, when he discovered his son persecuting the poor, fatherless child, as he called him. 当老恩萧发现他的儿子这样虐待他所谓的可怜的孤儿时,这种逆来顺受使老恩萧冒火了。
  • He is possessed with the idea that someone is persecuting him. 他老是觉得有人要害他。
18 treacherous eg7y5     
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的
参考例句:
  • The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
  • The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
19 contemptible DpRzO     
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的
参考例句:
  • His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬,言语粗俗。
  • That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。
20 wringing 70c74d76c2d55027ff25f12f2ab350a9     
淋湿的,湿透的
参考例句:
  • He was wringing wet after working in the field in the hot sun. 烈日下在田里干活使他汗流满面。
  • He is wringing out the water from his swimming trunks. 他正在把游泳裤中的水绞出来。


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