“Oh, ah--yes--I had nearly forgotten that.”
Negotiation was protracted for some days. At length General Wall acceded to Walter’s terms, and agreed to purchase the stock at the price named--sixty thousand dollars--ten thousand down, and the balance payable monthly. Walter instantly telegraphed the good news to Mr. Shaw, his faithful friend, and received his heartiest congratulations. The report got about that Walter had inherited a fortune, and Miss Jones was more devoted than ever. But she shook her ringlets to no purpose. Walter was not to be fascinated.
When the business was completed, our hero started for the East. He had striven under difficult circumstances, and he had succeeded. He felt proud and happy, and grateful to God for having so ordered events as to lead to this fortune.
He stopped over one day in Chicago. Stepping into the bowling-alley connected with the hotel, what was his surprise when, in the boy who set up the pins, shabby and ill clad, he recognized Joshua Drummond!
“Joshua!” he exclaimed, in amazement. “What brings you here?”
Joshua turned scarlet with shame and mortification.
Walter, whom he had once looked down upon, was handsomely dressed, a gentleman in appearance, while he looked like a beggar.
“I have been very unlucky,” he whined.
“Surely, you don’t like this business?”
“I have to like it. I should starve if I didn’t.”