The three entered. A young clerk, who had been in the employ of the former proprietor, and whom Paul had agreed to retain at the same wages, was behind the counter.
"Good-morning, Mr. Hoffman," he said.
"Have you sold anything this morning?" asked Paul.
"Yes, sir; I have entered the sales on the slate."
"Let me see them."
"A new style of necktie is out. I think it will be well to get it. It was asked for this morning."
"Very well. Just make a memorandum of it."
"Paul," said Mrs. Hoffman, who had listened to the conversation in surprise, "have you anything to do with this store?"
"I am the proprietor," answered Paul, smiling.
"Is it true? How did it happen?"
"I wanted to surprise you, mother, and so I told you nothing about it."
"When did you come into it?"
"This is only the second day. Mr. Preston helped me, or I could not have carried out the arrangement."
"Do you think you can pay all your expenses and make money?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, a little frightened when she heard of the rent which Paul had agreed to pay.
"I mean to try, mother. I don't feel much afraid. I shall devote myself faithfully to business, and if I don't do well it won't be my fault."
We have kept our promise, and shown how Paul advanced slowly but surely from the humble position of a street merchant to be the proprietor of a shop. Now that several years have elapsed, I am able to say that he succeeded, even beyond his anticipations. At the end of two years he took a larger shop and engaged two extra clerks. Prompt in his engagements, and of thorough integrity, he is likely to be even more prosperous as the years roll on.
His mother is no longer dependent upon him. Mr. Henderson, the English artist, now able to obtain purchasers for his pictures at remunerative prices, asked her to become his wife and a mother to his little girl, and, after a little hesitation, she consented, partly, I think, because Jimmy liked the artist so much. Mr. Henderson took pains to instruct Jimmy and develop his talent, with such encouraging success that Paul's prediction seems likely to be fulfilled, and I shall not be surprised if the name of James Hoffman should, before many years, rank among the most prominent in the list of our artists.
Julius, as I have already stated, left the streets of New York for a home in the West. His old enemies, Jack Morgan and Tom Marlowe, were sentenced to a long imprisonment in Sing Sing. Marlowe threatens vengeance upon Julius whenever he gets free from prison. Whether he will have an opportunity of carrying out his threat I cannot tell.
THE END.