CHAPTER XIX
TOM MAKES A PROPOSAL.
TOM SPENT the following three days in making himself familiar with localities in New York. He procured a pocket-map of the city, and guiding himself by it, walked about to so much good purpose that at the end of four days he knew more about the streets and public buildings than many who have lived in the city as many months.
It was in the afternoon of the fourth day that Tom was walking through the lower part of Pearl Street, when he found himself passing in front of a warehouse, on which was the firm name of Richard Armstrong & Co.
“Richard Armstrong,” repeated Tom. “Why, that must be the merchant to whom my father lent ten thousand dollars. By his failure one-quarter of my property is gone.”
There might, of course, be another Richard Armstrong, but Tom was impressed with the idea that this was the man—his father’s friend.
He paused before the entrance.
“Shall I go in,” he thought. “Perhaps I shall hear something that will give me a clearer idea of my prospects.”
A clerk brushed by him as this thought entered his mind, saying rather impertinently:
“What business have you here, boy? Don’t you know any better than to fill up this passage-way?”