The latter smiled a little superciliously, evidently thinking it rather a joke that a boy of Paul's age should think himself entitled to an interview with Mr. Preston during business hours, and on business of his own. However, he took the card and approached the office.
"There's a boy outside wishes to see you, Mr. Preston," he said.
"From whom does he come?" asked his employer, a portly, pleasant-looking gentleman.
"On business of his own, he says. Here is his card."
"Oh, to be sure. Paul Hoffman!" repeated Mr. Preston, glancing at the card. "Tell him to come in."
"I wonder what business he can have with Mr. Preston," thought the clerk, considerably surprised.
"You can go in," he said on his return.
Paul smiled slightly, for he observed and enjoyed the other's surprise.
"Well, my young friend," said Mr. Preston cordially, "how are you getting on?"
"Pretty well in business, sir," answered Paul. "But we got burned out yesterday."
"How burned out?"
"I mean the tenement house in which we lodged was burned down."
"No one injured, I hope."
"No, sir; but we lost what little we had there."
"Were you at home at the time?"
"No, sir; my mother and little brother and myself were at Barnum's Museum. But for that we might have saved some of our clothing."
"Well, have you got a new place?" "No, sir; we are stopping at the rooms of some friends. I am looking out for some furnished rooms, as I don't want to buy any new furniture. As all our clothes are burned, I may have to draw fifty dollars of the money in your hands."
"How much rent do you expect to pay?"
"I suppose we must pay as much as twenty dollars a month for comfortable furnished rooms."
"Can you afford that?"
"My business brings me in as much as fifty dollars a month."
"You haven't engaged rooms yet?"
"No, sir; my mother and I went out to look at some this morning. We only saw one place that suited us. That we could have got for twenty-two dollars and a half rent, but when they heard of my little brother they wouldn't take us."
"I see. Some persons object to young children. I am glad you have not engaged a place yet."
Paul looked at Mr. Preston inquiringly.
"A gentleman of my acquaintance," proceeded the merchant, "is about sailing to Europe with his family. He is unwilling to let his house, fearing that his furniture would be injured. Besides, the length of his stay is uncertain, and he would want to go into it at once if he should return suddenly. What I am coming to is this. He wants some small family to go in and take care of the house while he is away.
They would be allowed to live in the basement and use the chambers on the upper floor. In return they would receive the rent free. How would your mother like to make such an arrangement?"
"Very much," answered Paul promptly. He saw at a glance that it would be a great thing to save their rent, amounting, at the sum they expected to pay, to more than two hundred and fifty dollars a year.
"Where is the house?"
"It is in Madison avenue, between Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth streets."
This was a considerable distance uptown, about three miles away from his place of business; but then Paul reflected that even if he rode up and down daily in the cars the expense would be trifling, compared with what they would save in house-rent. Besides, it would be rather agreeable to live in so fashionable a street.
"Do you think my mother can get the chance?" he asked.
"I think so. The gentleman of whom I spoke, Mr. Talbot, expects to sail for Europe next Wednesday, by the Cunard Line. So the matter must be decided soon."
"Shall I call upon Mr. Talbot," asked Paul, "or shall you see him?"
"Here he is, by good luck," said Mr. Preston, as the door opened and an elderly gentleman entered. "Talbot, you are just the man I want to see."
"Indeed! I am glad to hear that. What is it?"
"Have you arranged about your house yet?"
"No; I came in partly to ask if you knew of any trustworthy family to put in while I am away."
"I can recommend some one who will suit you, I think," returned Mr.
Preston. "The young man at your side."
"He hasn't got a family already?" inquired Mr. Talbot, with a humorous glance at our hero. "It seems to me he is rather forward."
"I believe not," said Mr. Preston, smiling; "but he has a mother, a very worthy woman, and a little brother. As for my young friend himself, I can recommend him from my own knowledge of his character.
In fact, he has done me the honor of making me his banker to the extent of a hundred and fifty dollars."
"So that you will go bail for him. Well, that seems satisfactory. What is his name?"
"Paul Hoffman."
"Are you in a counting-room?" asked Mr. Talbot, turning to Paul.
"No, sir; I keep a necktie stand below the Astor House."
"I must have seen you in passing. I thought your face looked familiar.
How much can you make now at that?"
"From twelve to fifteen dollars a week, sir."
"Very good. That is a good deal more than I made at your age."
"Or I," added Mr. Preston. "Paul was burned out yesterday," he added, "and is obliged to seek a new home. When he mentioned this to me, I thought at once that you could make an arrangement for your mutual advantage." "I shall be glad to do so," said Mr. Talbot. "Your recommendation is sufficient, Mr. Preston. Do you understand the terms proposed?" he continued, addressing Paul.
"Yes, sir, I think so. We are to have our rent free, and in return are to look after the house."