The Boy Broker Part 20

"What do you mean?" asked Herbert.

"I mean that it will pay you a good deal better to make terms with me."

"How so?"

"Would you like to be rich?" was the reply.

"I suppose every American wants to be rich, and I guess we are no exception, are we, Bob?"

"I should think we ain't," replied the latter.

"So I thought," said the old fence, "and it's in my power to make you rich."

The boys were listening to subtle, dangerous words.

"How can you do that?" said Bob, growing interested.

"There are a number of ways that I might do it. In the first place, I could give both of you all the money you will ever need, and still be rich myself."

"But a man isn't likely to give away so much," said Herbert.

"You must have a payin' business," observed the young detective.

"Of course I must, and that is the point I am coming at. You boys have shown yourselves keen lads, and I always like to help such boys along, for I was poor once myself. Now my proposition is this: I'll give you both a show in the business here with me."

"No, sir, thank you, we do not care to go into a dishonest business like this," said Herbert, emphatically, speaking for both Bob and himself.

"Not if you could each make ten thousand a year, clean money?"

"No; not if we could make ten times that," replied our hero.

"You could have a good time on ten thousand a year--boys of your age."

"Not on stolen money."

"It wouldn't be on stolen money."

"It looks very much like it, when you buy stolen goods."

"Yes, and fix up a job for bank robbin'," added Bob.

"Well, suppose it does look so, why couldn't you enjoy the money just as much?"

"Because it wouldn't be right for us to have it," returned our hero.

"Boys, you are not so old as I am. I've seen a good deal of life. Money is money, and it don't matter where it comes from, it will buy just as much."

"It will not always buy one his liberty," replied young Randolph, coolly.

This remark came close home to the old fence, and disconcerted him for a minute. Presently, however, he rallied, and said:

"Do you think one has his liberty, as you call it, when he is poor--so poor that he can have no luxuries?"

"To be sure he does. Why not?"

"You will change your mind some day, and perhaps it will be too late."

"I hope I shall never change my mind in favor of dishonesty and crime."

"Do you know that a boy's chance to get rich hardly ever comes to him but once in his life?" continued old Gunwagner, undaunted.

"No, and I don't believe it is so, either."

"Another evidence of your inexperience. When you get older, you will look back and see what I tell you is true; and if you miss this chance you will never get another one like it."

"We don't want another one like it, so it's no use to talk about it any more."

"That's so," said Bob; "he hain't got no interest in us; I can see through his trick."

"You are mistaken, young man. If you don't want to go into the business here yourselves, I'll give you an interest in it, if you will do nothing to injure it. You see, you know about the business here now, and if you should give it away to the police, why it would hurt it, don't you understand?"

"Yes, we understand it too well, but do not want an interest in it,"

said Herbert.

"It would pay you well," persisted the old fence; "say about seven to ten thousand dollars each every year, and you needn't come anear it--just take your dividends every week, and that's all."

"Well, we don't want no such dividends," said Bob; "nor we couldn't get 'em if we did want 'em, that's all."

"You are mistaken again, for if you think the business don't pay as well as I say, why I can show you the money."

"Got it with you?" said Bob.

This question pleased the old fence, and gave him renewed courage. He thought now that perhaps there was yet hope for him.

"I have it in the house," said he.

"In cash?"

"Yes, and I can get it if you want to see it."

"Don't see how you're goin' to get it, the way you are fixed now,"

continued Bob.

"Well, if you will not let me go for it, I can tell you where to find it."

"Can you? Well, where is it?"

"It is in my bedroom, in the further end of the house. You will find it in the thick wallet, under my pillow."