CHAPTER V. EFFECTING A LOAN.

 As Dan stood on the sidewalk with his bundle of papers, and only forty cents toward the two dollars and a half required for the rent, he felt like many a business man who has a note to meet and not enough money on hand to pay it. Indeed, he was worse off, for generally business men have friends who can help them with a temporary loan, but Dan's friends were quite as poor as himself. One, however, Dick Stanton, a mere¹ boy, had the reputation of being more saving than his companions. It was known that he had an account in the Bowery Savings² Bank, and among the street boys he was considered wealthy.

 

"Perhaps I can borrow two dollars of him," thought Dan, as Dick passed him on his way to Canal street.

 

"I say, Dick," said Dan, "stop a minute. I want to speak to you."

 

"Go ahead, Dan."

 

"I want you to lend me two dollars. Our rent is due, and I can raise it all but that."

 

Dick shook his head, and was about to speak, when[Pg 40] Dan said hurriedly, for he felt that it was his last chance:

 

"You needn't be afraid of me, Dick; I'll pay you sure, and give you more interest, too, than you get in the bank."

 

"I haven't got any money in the bank, Dan."

 

"You had last week," said Dan, suspiciously³.

 

"So I had, but I haven't now."

 

"You don't want to lend—that's what's the matter."

 

"You are mistaken, Dan. I'm not a bit afraid of lending to you, but I have lent my money already."

 

"Who to?" asked Dan, ungrammatically, falling into a mistake made by plenty of greater age and better experience than himself. "Of course it isn't any of my business," he added, "if you don't want to tell."

 

"I don't mind telling you, Dan. I've lent it to my aunt. She's got two children, and a hard time to get along. Perhaps I shall never see it again, but I couldn't refuse her."

 

"Of course you couldn't," said Dan, heartily⁴. "You've done right, and you won't be sorry for it. I wish I knew some way of making two dollars before twelve o'clock."

 

"Are you in urgent need of two dollars, my boy?" asked a pleasant voice.

 

[Pg 41]

 

Dan turned, and met the face of the stranger introduced in the first chapter.

 

"Yes, sir," he answered. "I want it the worst way."

 

"Have you been extravagant⁵ and run up bills, Dan?"

 

"No, sir; the only bill we have is the rent, and that comes due this noon."

 

"How much is it?"

 

"Six dollars, sir."

 

"I thought you said you wanted to borrow two dollars."

 

"I've got four dollars toward it, sir."

 

"Do you often fall behind when rent day comes, Dan?"

 

"No, sir; this is the first time in two years."

 

"How do you account for it? Has business been duller than usual during the last month?"

 

"Yes, sir, I think it has. There hasn't been as much news in the papers, and my sales have fallen off. There's another thing, too."

 

"What is that?"

 

"Mother has a dollar and twenty cents due her, and she can't collect it."

 

"Is it for making vests?"

 

"Yes, sir. Mr. Gripp won't pay till she has made a full dozen."

 

[Pg 42]

 

"That seems inconsiderate."

 

"Oh, he's a mean fellow."

 

"I've a great mind to buy the debt of you."

 

"I wish you would, sir," said Dan, eagerly. "That would leave only sixty cents short, for I shall make ten cents more before twelve o'clock, it's likely."

 

"It is only half-past eleven. To put you quite at ease, I mean to lend you five dollars, and help you collect your mother's bill."

 

"You are very kind, sir," said Dan, surprised and grateful; "but I don't need so much."

 

"You may get short again when I am not here to assist you."

 

"Are you not afraid I shall never pay you, sir?"

 

"That thought won't keep me awake nights," said the gentleman, laughing.

 

"You sha'n't lose anything by me, sir; I promise you that," said Dan, earnestly.

 

"Then come into the hotel with me, and we will arrange the matter in a business-like way."

 

"All right, sir."

 

Dan followed his new friend into the Astor House, and up stairs into a pleasant bedroom, which in its comfortable apartments reminded Dan of the days before his father's failure.

 

"I wish I could live so again," he thought. "I don't like a tenement-house."

 

[Pg 43]

 

Mr. Grant—for this was his name—took writing materials from his valise, and seated himself at a table.

 

"I am going to draw up a note for you to sign," he said. "I probably understand better than you the necessary form."

 

"Thank you, sir."

 

His pen ran rapidly over the paper, and in a minute or two he handed Dan the following form of acknowledgment:

 

 "New York, Sept. 15, 18—.

 

"For value received I promise to pay to Alexander Grant five dollars on demand with interest."

 

"Now," said Mr. Grant, "put your name at the bottom."

 

Dan did so.

 

"I added 'with interest,' but only as a form; I shall require none."

 

"I would rather pay it, sir."

 

"That may be as you please. How much will six per cent. interest make it amount to in a year?"

 

"Five dollars and thirty cents," answered Dan, promptly⁶.

 

"Good! I see you have not forgotten what you learned in school."

 

"I have ciphered through cube root," said Dan, with some pride. "I am not sure whether I [Pg 44]remember that now, but I could do any sum in square root."

 

"It is a pity you could not have remained in school."

 

"I should like to; but it's no use crying for spilt milk."

 

"As long as you didn't spill it yourself," added Mr. Grant.

 

"No, sir; it was not my fault that I had to leave school."

 

Mr. Grant folded up the note and carefully deposited⁷ it in his wallet.

 

"The next thing is to hand you the money," he said. "Shall I give you a five-dollar bill, or small bills?"

 

"Small bills, sir, if it is just as convenient."

 

Mr. Grant placed in Dan's hands two two-dollar bills and a one.

 

"One thing more," he said. "Give me an order on Mr. Gripp for the money due your mother. It is as well to have it in your own handwriting. I won't tell you how to write it. See if you can find a way."

 

Dan wrote an order, which Mr. Grant pronounced satisfactory.

 

"On the whole," said he, "I believe I will take you with me when I call upon Mr. Gripp. Can you call here at three o'clock this afternoon?"

 

[Pg 45]

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"That is settled, then. We will see whether Mr. Gripp will be any more polite to me than he was to you."

 

"He will be surprised to see me in your company," said Dan, laughing.

 

"It is a good thing to surprise the enemy, Dan. A surprise often leads to victory. When does your landlord call for his rent?"

 

"Between twelve and one."

 

"Then I won't detain⁸ you longer. Remember your appointment at three."

 

"I won't forget it, sir."

 

"Well, I'm in luck!" said Dan to himself, as he emerged⁹ into the street. "Who would have thought that a stranger would lend me so large a sum? He's a trump¹⁰, and no mistake. Now, if I could only sell the four papers I have left before twelve o'clock. I don't want to get stuck on them."

 

Fortune was not tired of favoring Dan. In ten minutes he had sold his papers, and turned his steps toward the humble¹¹ home where his mother was awaiting, not without anxiety, the visit of an unamiable landlord.

1 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 suspiciously   

ad.猜疑地，可疑地

参考例句：

• The aforementioned person was seen acting suspiciously. 有人看见前面提到的那个人行动可疑。
• The man looked at her suspiciously. 那个男人以狐疑的目光看着她。

4 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。

5 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

6 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

7 deposited   

存放( deposit的过去式和过去分词 )； （尤指小心地或准确地）放置； 付（保证金）； （把硬币）放入（自动售货机）

参考例句：

• It was deposited in the vaults of a bank. 它存在一家银行的保险库里。
• He deposited the money under [in] the name of his son. 他挂着他儿子的名（在银行）存款。

8 detain   

vt.拘留，扣留，留住，耽搁

参考例句：

• The act allows police to detain a suspect for up to 48 hours.该法令允许警方将嫌疑犯扣押最多48小时。
• Allow me to detain you for a moment.请允许我耽误你一会。

9 emerged   

vi. 浮现, (由某种状态)脱出, (事实)显现出来

参考例句：

• They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. 他们走出教堂来到明亮的日光下。
• The swimmer emerged from the lake. 游泳者从湖水中浮出来。

10 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

11 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。