Desk and Debit; or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk

ed to gross lies and mean deception to carry her point. Upon my honor and conscience, I would rather have lost the twelve dollars I had advanced than had the old woman turn out to be a swindle

oy like me. My respect for the knowledge and penetration of the gentlemanly conductor rose about ten degrees, and I was tempted to say to mys

y," said Mrs. Whippleton, as if conscious that s

case perfectly," I replied, disgusted with my seat-mate. "He said you did

y just the same thing six times

intend to pa

hey hadn't pussicuted m

idn't buy

ce does it make to this railroad company whether

t make much if pe

hen. You hain't seen much of the world yet, my boy. Whe

to be proud of being dishonest," I

ean by that? Do you prete

had tried to cheat the railroad company out of twelve do

e a sil

should think God had forsaken me, if I

t took me a good while to earn twelve dollars; and when I see

lve dollars-do you-w

will say that. If that nasty conductor had used me well, I should have paid my fare; but it won't make n

w him give up

se. It is just as right that I should go free as he; and I can tell you, if I can get over the road for nothing, it is my duty to do so-a duty I o

n, boasting that he evaded paying his fare in the train because the conductor did not call for it. I hold him to be a swindler, just as much as though he had been called upon for his ticket. When he got into the car, he virtually bargained with the railroad c

the thief who steals your money, or the gentlemanly swindler who plunders you of it by the polite tricks of h

rdinarily green, imparting a lesson on worldly wisdom, which, I am hap

hat yet; but I like you, young man. You have behaved very well t

ly satisfied

by me. I might have cheated you out of

respect; and I was forced to acknowledge the truth of her proposition. Thoug

ged to you for not d

n mean in me to let you lose twelve dollars after what you did for

money to pa

tor after I had told him I had no

been consistent al

ou fetched, I felt an interest in you; and i

d have done anything for her to ind

t belong in Chicag

I never w

's a wick

be wicked from

no worse than any

is. I suppose you h

N

you goin' t

I shall go to som

are awfu

k or so at a cheap hotel. I don't

u silly boy. It will cost you a dollar

to profit by the old lady's knowle

on't take none for a week or two; but I'll take you, after what's happe

. I'm very much obliged to yo

my assistance, and we walked to her house, which was at a considerable distance from the station. The dwelling was a large, plain house. I found that it was furnished in a very cheap style. The landlady called a servant girl, who conducted me to a small room over the entry, in which there was a narrow bed. It did not comp

lf into a large rocking-chair, which was evidently kept for the especial use of his mother. He was well dressed, and after I had heard so much about the man, I scrutinized his features qu

without wasting any of his

tin; but I didn't

the dutiful son, whose question impli

urprise, the affectionate son informed her that she was an old fool, glancing at me, as though, after a day's

tly held

ool, but I know wh

ty dollars than had you a

a mean

I must keep on the

ask me to do so, for I hate mean folks. If I should meet

if you didn't," s

r have got home, if this youn

n, as though he thought I was as

tinued the dutiful son. "Did

taken all that trouble and spent all that money, h

ed now," added Mr. Char

ad my visi

reason Rufus

me. They say he isn't very well-just

a clerk for three weeks for his sa

, a young man of eighteen, to take the place of entry clerk in the counting-room of the firm. That was just such a place