“All right, I’ll try to fit you out with them,” said Herbert, “if you don’t let it cost too much.”
So the queerly assorted pair entered a clothing house on the Bowery, where Adler succeeded in obtaining a coat and a pair of shoes for ten dollars. Following that he was taken into a barber shop and treated to a clean shave and haircut. The improvement in his appearance was remarkable.
“How do you feel now?” asked Herbert, looking at him approvingly.
“Pretty good, but mighty hungry.”
“Well, come with me, and I’ll get you something to eat.”
The two men repaired to a near-by restaurant and Adler was treated to what was probably the best meal he had enjoyed in many a long day.
Herbert settled the score, and once more telling him to be sure to have Arthur Black at the post office at eight o’clock, parted with him and went around to his own lodgings. He looked over his money and found that after paying his board and spending money for food and clothing on Adler and giving the lazy one a two dollar bill, he had only four dollars left to his credit. He was somewhat annoyed at this; but consoled himself with the thought that he would begin employment the next day and would soon have sufficient ready money to satisfy all of his needs. At times he felt angry with himself for having helped Adler, who after all that was said and done, was a very worthless sort of fellow. But on reflection he felt that he might have done the man some good, and that thought was sufficient to give him a feeling of pleasant self-satisfaction.
He left the house immediately after dinner, and after a short walk on Broadway, found himself in the corridor of the main post office at a quarter before eight. He stationed himself in such a position as to command a view of all of those who entered or left the building. It was irksome business waiting for anyone in that place. The hands of the clock gradually moved around and it finally struck eight, but there was no sign of Arthur Black. Herbert waited on, feeling that the expected visitor would be likely to come in at any minute; but time continued to pass, and finally the clock struck nine. Herbert turned and left the building, filled with great disgust:
“Buncoed!” he muttered to himself. “Buncoed, by gosh! My first day in New York and I permit myself to be buncoed by a man who was even without standing in Cleverly! That’s a pretty good lesson for my first day in the metropolis.”