Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
ager was alone, save for the presence Of the


Raising his voice trif1e and addressing
the unn,annerly youth. he exclaimed, "Ex-
crse ME. sir but will You ask the manager
to give me five minutes of his time? want
to see him on a matter Of business"
Paul noticed the gray head perk up bit
In the inside room AS the sound seeped
through. and presently a brusque Mr.
Petors" hoated outward.
The proprietor of the tall collar unwound
his long legs from the stool, and. with n
black look at Paul. disappeared in the pri-
waite room.
In few minutes he emerged, stin wear
ing a scowl. and. walking over to Paul.
jerk ed out, Hell see you now.
'Oh, thank YOU" returned the lad with
one of his biandest looks; sorry to have
put you to so much trouble"
He wasted no time in stating his business
when he stood before the manager. Il saw
your advertisement about a lost key, he
began II found Ii last night in front Of
the Royal Theater. This is the article,
believe" and he placed the key on the
bankers desk.
The manager picked it up. saw the num-
Der was correct, and said: This Is certain
ly the key l lost. Permit me to pay You
for your trouble"
1T was no trouble at all. sir, ami you
don't owe me a cent" was the respectful
out emphatic reply. II found the Key by
the merest chance. and. noticing your ad-
5ertisement this morning. brought II over
at once because / had nothing else TO do. 4
Am glad to have obliged you, but 1T really
sn't worth talking about
The banker smiled. you are an Ameri-
can, aren't your he pleasantly asked.
Yes, sir: from Chicago"
"A great city and great country" he
observed. IF you wont let me pay you
| for the key at least tell me il there is any
thing can do for you while you are in sgd
| ney"
| One OF his happy inspirations seized Paul
| IF you would be kind enough to give me
| letter to the agent Of the Orient Steamship
Company / would be greatly obliged he
| don't mind l
| been trying for some time to get employ
| n'ent on one of their homeward-bouni
boats, but l don't receive any encourage
ment. A good word to the agents would be
| a great help. / am sure"
| I'm give you the letter with pleasure. /
| happen to know the agents intimately. Let
me have your name. please"
Paul 1ravers sir"
Just be seated few minutes. Mr.
| Travers. AMI you shall have what you
| want. Then he rang a bell and stenog-
| rapher appeared to whom the banker die
/ tated a short letter, overhearing which
| Paul mentally decided his vexations and
| disappointments were nearing an end.
| Il gather you are trying to see bit OF
ager while the letter was being typewrit-
| ten.
Yes. sir: for that reason 1 prefer the
roundabout way home instead Of returning
to San Francisco. Not having much money
l, OF course. work my passage from point
| to point. So far / have done fairly we'll
ana with good luck I'expect to be back IN
| Chicago six months from now"
| And then, what? second long tramp
| in some other direction?'
| NO. sir: / am planning to be a news
paper man and hope to go to work on one
| of the big Chicago daiiies when get back
| The door opened and a clerk brought in
| the expected letter. Taking the envelope
| the banker wrote In the lower left-hand
corner, "Introducing my young friend, Paul
! Travers." There" he exclaimed, handing
II over to Paul, IF that doesn't do the bust
ness come back and let me know. Then
he shook hands with the younsster as IL he
| was really interested in him ana wished
him safe and pleasant voyage back to
| America.
In the outer room Paul brushed by the
| pin-headed youth on the stool Goodbye,
! collars" he murmured as he passed. Try
| TO be little more accommodating to the
| next stranger who wants TO see your man
| ager." Without waiting for a response CT
even turning his head to note the effect OF
| this fippancy he kept serenely on through
the Office until he reached the street.
! 1t was the junior member of the iirn or
| steamship agents who received the letter
| of Introduction which Paul brought from
the banker. He told the lad it was beyond
| his power to make a position for him on
any of the company's boats, but he would
| furnish him n letter Of recommendat ton TO
| tie captain of the incoming steamer which
was due In few days. and If there CHANGED
| TO be a vacancy he had no doubt il would
help him to secure IL. Thankful enough TO
get this concession Paul went away after
arranging to call fer the letter as soon as
the Cnimborazo was bulletined.
The four days Intervening dragged
heavily for the boy. With a voraciuus ap-
petite and an almost empty purse me prob
lem of adjusting himself to these conditions
was trying one. BY nice figuring his
finances would procure just five meals SO
lac was obliged TO restrict himself to one a
day. This he planned to eat at3 O'Clock in
the afternoon, combining in IT breakfast,
n IN nt,I
else which had a tendency to Increase the
appetite, and to shorten the time between
meals as much as possible he read assidu-
ously in the public library. lie usually
visited the reading room Immediately after
taking his combination meal. remaining
there until the doors were closed at 10
O'Clock. Then he borrowed an interesting
book from an attendant. went 10 his room
and read till almost daybreak.
An economical sleep followed lasting
until O'Clock in the afternoon, by which
time he was hungry clear through and
nearly ready TO dine off ten enay nails
He found restaurant where bread was
placed on the table in generous quantities
and by filling up freely this staple a
shilling bought all he could eat IN the way
OF meat and vegetables. Once In "A while
he managed 10 slip double slice of bread
ana butter in his pocket for a midnight
luncheon, but this was always a red-letter
occasion.
Tie Chimborazo had scarcely made fast
W uOSh NHtn taut sought the CAPTAIN
and presented his credentials Glancius
over the letter the skipper scrubbed a few
words across its face. and instructed the
lad to present IT to the chief steward Thu
latter was keen-faced Englishinan wi,h
eyes that looked out from the corners ard
a square, firm chin that denoted a constant
exercise of authority. He read the letter
very deliberately, meantime taking mental
note of Paufs personal appearance
Ever do any stewarding?' he suddenly
asked.
Yes. SIR
Got your sea legs, suppcse?"
Yes, sir ="
When can you come to work."
I'm an hour"
IAN right; get back here promptly cad
report 10 me"
This was the extent of his catcchisn and
that was the way in which Paul beca ne
enc of the crew OF the steamship Chimbo-
razo, as stanch n vessel as ever brestei the
waves of the Indian ocean or pIowct b..
tween the sun-bakci shores of the Sue
canal
On the ships books he was rated merely
as general servant" in which classifica-
ton all the underStewSris were entered
If Paul had an easy tir,c ashore ne socn
made up for II by his labors aboard the
Chimborazo, which in the week prior "a
sailing he found arduous enough He was
one of n score of youngsters, ranging IN
age from sixteen TO twenty whose dutie.
Co. 81,