CHAPTER XI WHAT A HUNDRED DOLLARS DID

 Nat continued to gaze at the bill like one in a dream. He had never seen a greenback that was worth a hundred dollars before, but he had no doubt of its genuineness.

 

"A hundred dollars!" he repeated several times. "Why, it's a small fortune!"

 

Then he began to wonder if Paul Hampton had not made a mistake, and turned to the slip of paper, upon which he found written:

 

"I give you this hundred dollars for what you did for me at Niagara Falls. Don't be discouraged. If you ever need a friend, write or come and see me. I sincerely hope the money will bring you good fortune."

 

"What a kind man," murmured Nat, and read the note again. "It was a mighty¹ lucky thing for me that I went to the Falls."

 

When he went to bed he felt rich, and he came to the breakfast table whistling merrily.

 

"Hullo," cried Dick, "have you struck luck at last?"

 

"I'm in luck in one way," answered our hero. "Look at that," and he showed the bank bill.

 

"Why, it's a hundred dollars, Nat!" And the newsboy's eyes opened widely.

 

"Exactly."

 

"Where on earth did you get the money?"

 

"A gentleman gave it to me."

 

"What for?"

 

"For saving his life. But I didn't know I had it until I went to bed last night."

 

"You're talking in riddles²."

 

"I'll explain," and then our hero told as much of the Niagara Falls episode as he deemed necessary.

 

"Here is the note," he concluded, showing the slip of paper, which was unsigned. "I don't feel at liberty to mention the gentleman's name. I don't think it would be just right."

 

"A rich man like that would be a fool to commit suicide," said Dick, bluntly. "What are you going to do with all that money?"

 

"I don't know. But I shan't squander³ it, I can tell you that."

 

"You can go into business for yourself on that amount."

 

"Maybe, but I guess I had better keep on hunting for a job. I can go into business for myself when I know more about New York."

 

"That's where you are sensible. You might lose your money in double-quick time in your own business."

 

Nat put the bill away very carefully, and then went out to look for a position as before. But the week passed and nothing turned up.

 

On Sunday the country boy attended a church in the vicinity of his boarding house, and in the afternoon he took a walk to Central Park. In the evening he stayed at home and read a paper which Dick brought in.

 

As was natural Nat read over the want advertisements very carefully. It was not long before he came to one which excited his curiosity. The advertisement was as follows:

 

"WANTED—A clerk, to whom a liberal salary will be paid. One preferred who comes from the country and is not too old. References expected. Must deposit $100 as security, for which interest will be paid. Inquire Room 24, Dallax Building, Broadway."

 

"That ought to strike me," mused⁴ Nat, as he laid down the paper. "Just the thing, and no mistake. I'll go and see about it."

 

Our hero had acquired sufficient knowledge of New York to find the place indicated in the advertisement without much trouble. It was a four-story stone building, and he walked up two flights of stairs until he reached Room 24. On the door was the sign:

 

Hamilton Dart⁵

Brokerage and Commissions

Entering the office he found it plainly but neatly⁶ furnished with two desks and several chairs. In front of one of the desks sat a middle-aged⁷ man, well dressed, and smoking a cigar.

 

"Is this Mr. Dart?" questioned Nat, taking off his hat.

 

"That is my name," responded Hamilton Dart, with a keen glance at our hero.

 

"Did you advertise for a clerk. I saw an advertisement——"

 

"Oh, yes!" interrupted the man. "Pray be seated," and he motioned to one of the chairs. "You came to see about the place, did you?"

 

"Yes, sir. You advertised that you would like somebody from the country, and that hits me."

 

"You came from the country to try your luck?"

 

"Yes, sir. I got tired of the farm."

 

Hamilton Dart smiled good-naturedly, and blew a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling of his office.

 

"I don't blame you. I got tired of the farm myself when I was about your age, and came here with less than a hundred dollars in my pocket."

 

"Well, I came with just a little more than that," answered Nat, innocently.

 

"Indeed! Then you are better off than I was. But I shan't complain, for I have made money right along. But what do you think I am worth now?"

 

"I don't know, I am sure—five or ten thousand dollars maybe."

 

"Nearly fifty thousand dollars," and Hamilton Dart looked at Nat, coolly and innocently.

 

"Fifty thousand!" cried the boy. "You've certainly been lucky. I wish I could make that much."

 

"You have the same opportunities that I had. Let me see, what did you say your name was?"

 

"I didn't say. It is Nat Nason."

 

"I am glad to know you. You have a bright and honest face, and faces count a good deal with me."

 

This was gratifying to Nat, and he could not help but think that Mr. Dart was a pleasant gentleman with whom to deal.

 

"I advertised for a country young man because I was that myself once, and I like to help country young men along," continued Hamilton Dart. "You are out of work at present?"

 

"Yes, sir. I worked for a firm, but they sold out to another firm."

 

"I see. Have you any recommendations? Not that they are strictly⁸ necessary from one who looks so honest."

 

"I can refer you to the firm I worked for."

 

"That will be satisfactory, although I don't mind telling you that I am very particular in the selection of my clerks. So far I have rejected seventeen who applied⁹."

 

"I should try my best to do what was right," answered Nat, modestly.

 

"That is the way I like to hear a person talk."

 

"Then you will take me?"

 

"We haven't agreed on terms yet. What do you expect in the way of salary?"

 

"I guess I'll leave that to you," answered Nat, after some hesitation¹⁰.

 

"What did you get at your last place?"

 

"Seven dollars a week."

 

"Humph! Your employer was not very liberal. A clerk that is worth anything to me is worth ten dollars a week at least."

 

The mentioning of ten dollars made Nat's heart jump.

 

"If you'll pay me ten dollars a week, Mr. Dart, I'll do my level best to earn it."

 

"Do you write a fair hand?"

 

"Here is my handwriting," answered the boy, and wrote his name on a piece of paper.

 

"That is quite good—for a boy. I think you will improve by practice. Here you will have quite some writing to do, and bills to sort out. But the work will not be difficult, for the summer is our dull season."

 

"I see."

 

"By the way, I suppose you know I require a deposit of one hundred dollars from each of my clerks," went on Hamilton Dart, with assumed carelessness. "Sometimes my clerks have quite some money to handle for me."

 

"I can make that deposit," answered Nat. "Will I get a receipt for it?"

 

"To be sure, and I will also pay you six per cent. interest on the money. You can have it back whenever you leave my service. When can you make the deposit?"

 

"Right now, if you say so."

 

"Very well; I'll make out the receipt."

 

Hamilton Dart wrote out a receipt for a hundred dollars, and signed his name with a flourish. He passed it to Nat, and the boy handed him the hundred-dollar bill.

 

"You don't believe in carrying small bills," said the man, with an assumed smile.

 

"That is the only big bill I ever owned," was the answer.

 

Hamilton Dart pocketed the bill, and looked out of the window as if in deep thought.

 

"I was thinking you might go to work to-day, but perhaps it will be as well to go to work to-morrow," he said, after a pause. "Come at nine o'clock sharp."

 

"I will, sir."

 

"Then that is all for the present. I am sure we will get along very well together. To-morrow another clerk will be here to help you along."

 

Hamilton Dart turned to his desk, and began to write. Feeling himself dismissed, Nat said "good-morning," and bowed himself out. The man listened to his footsteps as he descended¹¹ the stairs, and then gave a low chuckle¹².

 

"That was easy, Nick," he muttered. "Two so far. I wonder how many more fools I'll catch before the game plays out?"

1 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

2 riddles   

n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜

参考例句：

• Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看，口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
• But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句

3 squander   

v.浪费，挥霍

参考例句：

• Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。
• Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

4 mused   

v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事）

参考例句：

• \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们，”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道：‘我们这是在干什么？” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

5 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。

6 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

7 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

10 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

11 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

12 chuckle   

vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑

参考例句：

• He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
• I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个，我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。