The Boy Broker Part 27

"But don't some of them make slats of money? Answer me that."

"They don't make no money what sticks to 'em."

"What do you mean by that, Bob? I don't understand."

"I mean that they lose it the same way they make it, so it don't stick to 'em. Do you see?"

"Yes, I see. But how's a feller like me goin' to make any money, Bob, if he don't bet any?"

"Now, Tom, you're gettin' to somethin' I've been thinkin' about, and I'll let you into the secret. You see, Tom, I don't believe in horse bettin' the way you do, but I ain't afraid to take chances all the same."

"What is it, Bob?" interrupted Tom, eager to get into the secret.

"Wall Street," replied Bob, striking the att.i.tude of a money king.

"Do you mean it, Bob?" asked young Flannery, incredulously.

"Of course I mean it, Tom. There's piles of money down there."

"I know there is, Bob, but how are fellers like you 'n' me going to get it?"

"Why, by speculatin', of course. How does any of 'em make it?"

"Them fellers are all rich, Bob. They didn't go down there the same as what we would go, with only five dollars," replied Tom.

"They didn't, did they? Well, tell me if Jay Gould, and the old man Sage, and half a dozen more of them big fellers, didn't go into Wall Street without a cent?"

"I can't tell you, Bob; I never heard anybody say," answered Tom, humbly.

"Well, Tom Flannery, I should think you would find out such things.

Don't you never want to know anything?"

"I ain't been thinkin' about Wall Street, and them fellers you speak about, Bob," apologized Tom. "But I wish you'd tell me about 'em, for I'd like to know how they made their money."

"Well, I'll tell you some other time," said Bob, with a.s.sumed ease. As a matter of fact, however, he did not know himself, but was not willing to admit so much to Tom. He therefore decided to change the subject at once before getting cornered.

"Now, Tom," he continued, "I'll tell you what it is. I've jest thought what we'll do, you 'n' me and Herbert."

"What is it, Bob?"

"Well, you see we got knocked out of our breakfast this morning, Tom, so I think the best thing we can do is to have a big dinner tonight."

"I think so too, Bob," said Tom, eagerly.

"You see, 'twould be a celebration of the way we worked the detective business."

"So 'twould, Bob. That's a good idea, I think."

"I think so, too, Tom, and we'll have a regular first cla.s.s lay out."

"It will be immense, Bob, I know 'twill," said Tom, with enthusiasm. "I never had a big dinner, Bob."

"No, I should think you never did, but you won't be hungry, Tom, when you get done with the one we will have tonight."

"I hope I won't, Bob."

"So do I," answered Bob, comically.

"When will Herbert be here?" asked Tom, looking at the large _Tribune_ clock.

"It's time for him to show up now."

"I should think so, too," replied Tom, with an expression of doubt.

He was thinking about that morning's experience when Herbert failed to appear till after he had breakfasted.

In a little time young Randolph joined them. He was as much surprised as Tom had been at the change made in Bob's personal appearance by his handsome new suit.

"You must go down and let Mr. Goldwin see you with it on," said he.

"When shall we start, Bob?" put in Tom Flannery, who couldn't see the propriety in delaying dinner simply to discuss new clothes.

"Are you so very hungry?" laughed Bob, good naturedly.

"I should think I am, for I haven't had no dinner."

"It don't make no difference, Tom, whether you did or not. You'd be starvin' all the same."

"Well, I can't help it; I think it's time to eat, don't you, Herbert?"

"Yes, it is about time for dinner," replied our hero. "Are you ready to go, Bob?"

"Yes, but we won't go up to the Boss Tweed tonight," replied the young detective, somewhat pompously.

"Bob is goin' to ask us up town for a big lay out," said Tom.

Herbert looked doubtful.

"That's so," said Bob. "We will have kind of a blow out all by ourselves."

"And shall we do the town afterwards, as the bloods say?" asked Tom.

"What does 'doing the town' mean?" asked Herbert. The expression was new to him.

"It's goin' round and seeing the sights," replied Bob. "But come, let's be movin'. We can talk about doin' the town while we are at dinner."

"So I say," said Tom, with characteristic hunger.