CHAPTER III — DICK MAKES A PROPOSITION

 Though Dick was somewhat startled at discovering that the bill he had offered was counterfeit¹, he stood his ground bravely.

 

"Clear out of this shop, you young vagabond," repeated the clerk.

 

"Then give me back my bill."

 

"That you may pass it again? No, sir, I shall do no such thing."

 

"It doesn't belong to me," said Dick. "A gentleman that owes me for a shine gave it to me to change."

 

"A likely story," said the clerk; but he seemed a little uneasy.

 

"I'll go and call him," said Dick.

 

He went out, and found his late customer standing² on the Astor House steps.

 

"Well, youngster, have you brought back my change? You were a precious long time about it. I began to think you had cleared out with the money."

 

"That aint my style," said Dick, proudly.

 

"Then where's the change?"

 

"I haven't got it."

 

"Where's the bill then?"

 

"I haven't got that either."

 

"You young rascal³!"

 

"Hold on a minute, mister," said Dick, "and I'll tell you all about it. The man what took the bill said it wasn't good, and kept it."

 

"The bill was perfectly⁴ good. So he kept it, did he? I'll go with you to the store, and see whether he won't give it back to me."

 

Dick led the way, and the gentleman followed him into the store. At the reappearance of Dick in such company, the clerk flushed a little, and looked nervous. He fancied that he could browbeat⁵ a ragged⁶ boot-black, but with a gentleman he saw that it would be a different matter. He did not seem to notice the newcomers, but began to replace some goods on the shelves.

 

"Now," said the young man, "point out the clerk that has my money."

 

"That's him," said Dick, pointing out the clerk.

 

The gentleman walked up to the counter.

 

"I will trouble you," he said a little haughtily⁷, "for a bill which that boy offered you, and which you still hold in your possession."

 

"It was a bad bill," said the clerk, his cheek flushing, and his manner nervous.

 

"It was no such thing. I require you to produce it, and let the matter be decided⁸."

 

The clerk fumbled⁹ in his vest-pocket, and drew out a bad-looking bill.

 

"This is a bad bill, but it is not the one I gave the boy."

 

"It is the one he gave me."

 

The young man looked doubtful.

 

"Boy," he said to Dick, "is this the bill you gave to be changed?"

 

"No, it isn't."

 

"You lie, you young rascal!" exclaimed the clerk, who began to find himself in a tight place, and could not see the way out.

 

This scene naturally attracted the attention of all in the store, and the proprietor¹⁰ walked up from the lower end, where he had been busy.

 

"What's all this, Mr. Hatch?" he demanded.

 

"That boy," said the clerk, "came in and asked change for a bad bill. I kept the bill, and told him to clear out. Now he wants it again to pass on somebody else."

 

"Show the bill."

 

The merchant looked at it. "Yes, that's a bad bill," he said. "There is no doubt about that."

 

"But it is not the one the boy offered," said Dick's patron. "It is one of the same denomination¹¹, but on a different bank."

 

"Do you remember what bank it was on?"

 

"It was on the Merchants' Bank of Boston."

 

"Are you sure of it?"

 

"I am."

 

"Perhaps the boy kept it and offered the other."

 

"You may search me if you want to," said Dick, indignantly.

 

"He doesn't look as if he was likely to have any extra bills. I suspect that your clerk pocketed the good bill, and has substituted the counterfeit note. It is a nice little scheme of his for making money."

 

"I haven't seen any bill on the Merchants' Bank," said the clerk, doggedly¹².

 

"You had better feel in your pockets."

 

"This matter must be investigated," said the merchant, firmly. "If you have the bill, produce it."

 

"I haven't got it," said the clerk; but he looked guilty notwithstanding.

 

"I demand that he be searched," said Dick's patron.

 

"I tell you I haven't got it."

 

"Shall I send for a police officer, Mr. Hatch, or will you allow yourself to be searched quietly?" said the merchant.

 

Alarmed at the threat implied in these words, the clerk put his hand into his vest-pocket, and drew out a two-dollar bill on the Merchants' Bank.

 

"Is this your note?" asked the shopkeeper, showing it to the young man.

 

"It is."

 

"I must have made a mistake," faltered¹³ the clerk.

 

"I shall not give you a chance to make such another mistake in my employ," said the merchant sternly. "You may go up to the desk and ask for what wages are due you. I shall have no further occasion for your services."

 

"Now, youngster," said Dick's patron, as they went out of the store, after he had finally got the bill changed. "I must pay you something extra for your trouble. Here's fifty cents."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Dick. "You're very kind. Don't you want some more bills changed?"

 

"Not to-day," said he with a smile. "It's too expensive."

 

"I'm in luck," thought our hero complacently¹⁴. "I guess I'll go to Barnum's to-night, and see the bearded lady, the eight-foot giant, the two-foot dwarf¹⁵, and the other curiosities, too numerous to mention."

 

Dick shouldered his box and walked up as far as the Astor House. He took his station on the sidewalk, and began to look about him.

 

Just behind him were two persons,—one, a gentleman of fifty; the other, a boy of thirteen or fourteen. They were speaking together, and Dick had no difficulty in hearing what was said.

 

"I am sorry, Frank, that I can't go about, and show you some of the sights of New York, but I shall be full of business to-day. It is your first visit to the city, too."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"There's a good deal worth seeing here. But I'm afraid you'll have to wait to next time. You can go out and walk by yourself, but don't venture too far, or you will get lost."

 

Frank looked disappointed.

 

"I wish Tom Miles knew I was here," he said. "He would go around with me."

 

"Where does he live?"

 

"Somewhere up town, I believe."

 

"Then, unfortunately, he is not available. If you would rather go with me than stay here, you can, but as I shall be most of the time in merchants'-counting-rooms, I am afraid it would not be very interesting."

 

"I think," said Frank, after a little hesitation¹⁶, "that I will go off by myself. I won't go very far, and if I lose my way, I will inquire for the Astor House."

 

"Yes, anybody will direct you here. Very well, Frank, I am sorry I can't do better for you."

 

"Oh, never mind, uncle, I shall be amused in walking around, and looking at the shop-windows. There will be a great deal to see."

 

Now Dick had listened to all this conversation. Being an enterprising young man, he thought he saw a chance for a speculation¹⁷, and determined¹⁸ to avail himself of it.

 

Accordingly he stepped up to the two just as Frank's uncle was about leaving, and said, "I know all about the city, sir; I'll show him around, if you want me to."

 

The gentleman looked a little curiously¹⁹ at the ragged figure before him.

 

"So you are a city boy, are you?"

 

"Yes, sir," said Dick, "I've lived here ever since I was a baby."

 

"And you know all about the public buildings, I suppose?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"And the Central Park?"

 

"Yes, sir. I know my way all round."

 

The gentleman looked thoughtful.

 

"I don't know what to say, Frank," he remarked after a while. "It is rather a novel proposal. He isn't exactly the sort of guide I would have picked out for you. Still he looks honest. He has an open face, and I think can be depended upon."

 

"I wish he wasn't so ragged and dirty," said Frank, who felt a little shy about being seen with such a companion.

 

"I'm afraid you haven't washed your face this morning," said Mr. Whitney, for that was the gentleman's name.

 

"They didn't have no wash-bowls at the hotel where I stopped," said Dick.

 

"What hotel did you stop at?"

 

"The Box Hotel."

 

"The Box Hotel?"

 

"Yes, sir, I slept in a box on Spruce Street."

 

Frank surveyed Dick curiously.

 

"How did you like it?" he asked.

 

"I slept bully²⁰."

 

"Suppose it had rained."

 

"Then I'd have wet my best clothes," said Dick.

 

"Are these all the clothes you have?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Mr. Whitney spoke²¹ a few words to Frank, who seemed pleased with the suggestion.

 

"Follow me, my lad," he said.

 

Dick in some surprise obeyed orders, following Mr. Whitney and Frank into the hotel, past the office, to the foot of the staircase. Here a servant of the hotel stopped Dick, but Mr. Whitney explained that he had something for him to do, and he was allowed to proceed.

 

They entered a long entry, and finally paused before a door. This being opened a pleasant chamber²² was disclosed.

 

"Come in, my lad," said Mr. Whitney.

 

Dick and Frank entered.

1 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

4 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

5 browbeat   

v.欺侮；吓唬

参考例句：

• They browbeat him into signing the document.他们威逼他签署了文件。
• The judge browbeat the witness.那法官威吓证人。

6 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

7 haughtily   

adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地

参考例句：

• She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
• Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯，走到二楼，我刚好站在那儿。

8 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。

9 fumbled   

（笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下

参考例句：

• She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
• He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。

10 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

11 denomination   

n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位

参考例句：

• The firm is still operating under another denomination.这家公司改用了名称仍在继续营业。
• Litre is a metric denomination.升是公制单位。

12 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

13 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

14 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

15 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

16 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。

17 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

18 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

19 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

20 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

21 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

22 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。