CHAPTER XXXIX
HOW JOE'S BUSINESS PROSPERED
Joe and his friend Bickford arrived in San Francisco eight days later without having met with any other misadventure or drawback. He had been absent less than three months, yet he found changes. A considerable number of buildings had gone up in different parts of the town during his absence.
"It is a wonderful place," said Joe to his companion.
"It is going to be a great city some day."
"It's ahead of Pumpkin Holler already," said Mr. Bickford, "though the Holler has been goin' for over a hundred years."
Joe smiled at the comparison. He thought he could foresee the rapid progress of the new city, but he was far from comprehending the magnificent future that lay before it. A short time since, the writer of this story ascended to the roof of the Palace Hotel, and from this lofty elevation, a hundred and forty feet above the sidewalk, scanned with delighted eyes a handsome and substantial city, apparently the growth of a century, and including within its broad limits a population of three hundred thousand souls. It will not be many years before it reaches half-a-million, and may fairly be ranked among the great cities of the world.
Of course Joe's first visit was to his old place of business. He received a hearty greeting from Watson, his deputy.
"I am glad to see you, Joe," said he, grasping our hero's hand cordially. "When did you arrive?"
"Ten minutes ago. I have made you the first call."
"Perhaps you thought I might have 'vamosed the ranch,'" said Watson, smiling, "and left you and the business in the lurch."
"I had no fears on that score," said Joe. "Has business been good?"
"Excellent. I have paid weekly your share of the profits to Mr. Morgan."
"Am I a millionaire yet?" asked Joe.
"Not quite. I have paid Mr. Morgan on your account"—here Watson consulted a small account-book—"nine hundred and twenty-five dollars."
"Is it possible?" said Joe, gratified. "That is splendid."
"Then you are satisfied?"
"More than satisfied."
"I am glad of it. I have made the same for myself and so have nearly half made up the sum which I so foolishly squandered at the gaming-table."
"I am glad for you, Mr. Watson."
"How have you prospered at the mines?"
"I have had excellent luck."
"I don't believe you bring home as much money as I have made for you here."
"Don't bet on that, Mr. Watson, for you would lose."
"You don't mean to say that you have made a thousand dollars?" exclaimed Watson, surprised.
"I have made five thousand dollars within a hundred or two."
"Is it possible!" ejaculated Watson. "You beat everything for luck, Joe."
"So he does," said Bickford, who felt that it was time for him to speak. "It's lucky for me that I fell in with him. It brought me luck, too, for we went into partnership together."
"Have you brought home five thousand dollars, too?" asked Watson.
"I've got about the same as Joe, and now I'm going home to marry Susan Smith if she'll have me."
"She'll marry a rich miner, Mr. Bickford. You needn't be concerned about that."
"I feel pretty easy in mind," said Joshua.
"How soon do you sail?"
"When does the next steamer go?"
"In six days."
"I guess it'll carry me."
Watson turned to Joe.
"I suppose you will now take charge of your own business?" said lie.
"I am ready to hand over my trust at any minute."
"Would you object to retaining charge for—say for four months to come?" asked Joe.
"Object? I should be delighted to do it. I couldn't expect to make as much money any other way."
"You see, Mr. Watson, I am thinking of going home myself on a visit. I feel that I can afford it, and I should like to see my old friends and acquaintances under my new and improved circumstances."
Watson was evidently elated at the prospect of continued employment of so remunerative a character.
"You may depend upon it that your interests are safe in my hands," said he. "I will carry on the business as if it were my own. Indeed, it will be for my interest to do so."
"I don't doubt it, Mr. Watson. I have perfect confidence In your management."
Joe's next call was on his friend Morgan, by whom also he was cordially welcomed.
"Have you called on Watson?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then he has probably given you an idea of how your business has gone on during your absence. He is a thoroughly reliable man, in my opinion. You were fortunate to secure his services."
"So I think."
"Have you done well at the mines?" asked Mr. Morgan doubtfully.
"You hope so, but you don't feel confident?" said Joe, smiling.
"You can read my thoughts exactly. I don't consider mining as reliable as a regular business."
"Nor I, in general, but there is one thing you don't take into account."
"What is that?"
Mr. Bickford answered the question.
"Joe's luck."
"Then you have been lucky?"
"How much do you think I have brought home?"
"A thousand dollars?"
"Five times that sum."
"Are you in earnest?" asked Mr. Morgan, incredulous.
"Wholly so."
"Then let me congratulate you—on that and something else."
"What is that?"
"The lots you purchased, including the one on which your restaurant is situated, have more than doubled in value."
"Bully for you, Joe!" exclaimed Mr. Bickford enthusiastically.
"It never rains but it pours," said Joe, quoting an old proverb. "I begin to think I shall be rich some time, Mr. Morgan."
"It seems very much like it."
"What would you advise me to do, Mr. Morgan—sell out the lots at the present advance?"
"Hold on to them, Joe. Not only do that, but buy more. This is destined some day to be a great city. It has a favorable location, is the great mining center, and the State, I feel convinced, has an immense territory fit for agricultural purposes. Lots here may fluctuate, but they will go up a good deal higher than present figures."
"If you think so, Mr. Morgan, I will leave in your hands three thousand dollars for investment in other lots. This will leave me, including my profits from the business during my absence, nearly three thousand dollars more, which I shall take East and invest there."
"I will follow your instructions, Joe, and predict that your real estate investments will make you rich sooner than you think."
"Joe," said Bickford, "I've a great mind to leave half of my money with Mr. Morgan to be invested in the same way."
"Do it, Mr. Bickford. That will leave you enough to use at home."
"Yes—I can buy a farm for two thousand dollars and stock it for five hundred more. Besides, I needn't pay more than half down, if I don't want to."
"A good plan," said Joe.
"Mr. Morgan, will you take my money and invest it for me just like Joe's? Of course I want you to take a commission for doing it."
"With pleasure, Mr. Bickford, more especially as I have decided to open a real estate office in addition to my regular business. You and Joe will be my first customers. I shouldn't wonder if the two or three thousand dollars you leave with me should amount in ten years to ten thousand."
"Ten thousand!" ejaculated Joshua, elated. "Won't I swell round Pumpkin Holler when I'm worth ten thousand dollars!"
Six days later, among the passengers by the steamer for Panama, were Joseph Mason and Joshua Bickford.
CHAPTER XL
JOE'S WELCOME HOME
On arriving in New York both Joe and Mr. Bickford bought new suits of clothes. Mr. Bickford purchased a blue dress suit, resplendent with brass buttons, and a gold watch and chain, which made a good deal of show for the money. His tastes were still barbaric, and a quiet suit of black would not have come up to his idea of what was befitting a successful California miner.
He surveyed himself before the tailor's glass with abundant satisfaction.
"I guess that'll strike 'em at home, eh, Joe?" he said.
"You look splendid, Mr. Bickford."
"Kinder scrumptious, don't I?"
"Decidedly so."
"I say, Joe, you'd better have a suit made just like this."
Joe shuddered at the thought. In refinement of taste he was decidedly ahead of his friend and partner.
"I'm going to buy a second-hand suit," he said.
"What!" ejaculated Joshua.
Joe smiled.
"I knew you'd be surprised, but I'll explain. I want people to think at first that I have been unlucky."
"Oh, I see," said Joshua, nodding; "kinder take 'em in."
"Just so, Mr. Bickford."
"Well, there is something in that."
"Then I shall find out who my true friends are."
"Just so."
* * * * *
It is not my purpose to describe Mr. Bickford's arrival in Pumpkin Hollow, resplendent in his new suit. Joshua wouldn't have changed places with the President of the United States on that day. His old friends gathered about him, and listened open-mouthed to his stories of mining life in California and his own wonderful exploits, which lost nothing in the telling. He found his faithful Susan unmarried, and lost no time in renewing his suit. He came, he saw, he conquered!
In four weeks Susan became Mrs. Bickford, her husband became the owner of the farm he coveted, and he at once took his place among the prominent men of Pumpkin Hollow. In a few years he was appointed justice of the peace, and became known as Squire Bickford. It may be as well to state here, before taking leave of him, that his real estate investments in San Francisco proved fortunate, and in ten years he found himself worth ten thousand dollars. This to Joshua was a fortune, and he is looked upon as a solid man in the town where he resides.
We now turn to Joe.
Since his departure nothing definite had been heard of him. Another boy had taken his place on Major Norton's farm, but he was less reliable than Joe.
"I am out of patience with that boy. I wish I had Joe back again."
"Have you heard anything of Joe since he went away?" inquired Oscar.
"Not a word."
"I don't believe he went to California at all."
"In that case we should have heard from him."
"No, Joe's proud—poor and proud!" said Oscar. "I guess he's wished himself back many a time, but he's too proud to own it."
"Joe was good to work," said the major.
"He was too conceited. He didn't know his place. He thought himself as good as me," said Oscar arrogantly.
"Most people seemed to like Joe," said the major candidly.
"I didn't," said Oscar, tossing his head. "If he'd kept in his place and realized that he was a hired boy, I could have got along well enough with him."
"I wish he would come back," said the major. "I would take him back."
"I dare say he's had a hard time and would be humbler now," said Oscar.
At this moment a knock was heard at the door, and just afterward Joe entered.
He wore a mixed suit considerably the worse for wear and patched in two or three places. There was a rip under the arm, and his hat, a soft felt one, had become shapeless from long and apparently hard usage. He stood in the doorway, waiting for recognition.
"How do you do, Joe?" said Major Norton cordially. "I am glad to see you."
Joe's face lighted up.
"Thank you, sir," he said.
"Shake hands, Joe."
Major Norton was mean in money matters, but he had something of the gentleman about him.
Oscar held aloof.
"How do you do, Oscar?"
"I'm well," said Oscar. "Have you been to California?"
"Yes."
"You don't seem to have made your fortune," said Oscar superciliously, eying Joe's shabby clothing.
"I haven't starved," said Joe.
"Where did you get that suit of clothes?" asked Oscar.
"I hope you'll excuse my appearance," said Joe.
"Well, Joe, do you want to come back to your old place?" asked Major Norton. "I've got a boy, but he doesn't suit me."
"How much would you be willing to pay me, Major Norton?"
The major coughed.
"Well," said he, "I gave you your board and clothes before. That's pretty good pay for a boy."
"I'm older now."
"I'll do the same by you, Joe, and give you fifty cents a week besides."
"Thank you for the offer, Major Norton. I'll take till to-morrow to think of it."
"You'd better accept it now," said Oscar. "Beggars shouldn't be choosers."
"I am not a beggar, Oscar," said Joe mildly.
"You look like one, anyway," said Oscar bluntly.
"Oscar," said Major Norton, "if Joe has been unlucky, you shouldn't throw it in his teeth."
"He went off expecting to make his fortune," said Oscar, in an exulting tone. "He looks as if he had made it. Where are you going?"
"I am going to look about the village a little. I will call again."
After Joe went out Oscar said:
"It does me good to see Joe come in rags. Serves him right for putting on airs."
On the main street Joe met Annie Raymond.
"Why, Joe!" she exclaimed, delighted. "Is it really you?"
"Bad pennies always come back," said Joe.
"Have you– I am afraid you have not been fortunate," said the young lady, hesitating as she noticed Joe's shabby clothes.
"Do you think less of me for that?"
"No," said Annie Raymond warmly. "It is you I like, not your clothes. You may have been unfortunate, but I am sure you deserved success."
"You are a true friend, Miss Annie, so I don't mind telling you that I was successful."
Annie Raymond looked astonished.
"And these clothes—" she began.
"I put on for Oscar Norton's benefit. I wanted to see how he would receive me. He evidently rejoiced at my bad fortune."
"Oscar is a mean boy. Joe, you must come to our house to supper."
"Thank you, I will; but I will go round to the hotel and change my clothes."
"Never mind."
"But I do mind. I don't fancy a shabby suit as long as I can afford to wear a good one."
Joe went to the hotel, took off his ragged clothes, put on a new and stylish suit which he recently had made for him, donned a gold watch and chain, and hat in the latest style, and thus dressed, his natural good looks were becomingly set off.
"How do I look now?" he asked, when he met Miss Annie Raymond at her own door.
"Splendidly, Joe. I thought you were a young swell from the city."
After supper Annie said, her eyes sparkling with mischief:
"Suppose we walk over to Major Norton's and see Oscar."
"Just what I wanted to propose."
Oscar was out in the front yard, when he caught sight of Joe and Annie Raymond approaching. He did not at first recognize Joe, but thought, like the young lady, that it was some swell from the city.
"You see I've come again, Oscar," said Joe, smiling.
Oscar could not utter a word. He was speechless with astonishment.
"I thought you were poor," he uttered, at last.
"I have had better luck than you thought."
"I suppose you spent all your money for those clothes."
"You are mistaken, Oscar. I am not so foolish. I left between two and three thousand dollars in a New York bank, and I have more than twice that in San Francisco."
"It isn't possible!" exclaimed Oscar, surprised and disappointed.
"Here is my bank-book; you can look at it," and Joe pointed to a deposit of twenty-five hundred dollars. "I don't think, Oscar, it will pay me to accept your father's offer and take my old place."
"I don't understand it. How did you do it?" asked the bewildered Oscar.
"I suppose it was my luck," said Joe.
"Not wholly that," said Annie Raymond. "It was luck and labor."
"I accept the amendment, Miss Annie."
Oscar's manner changed at once. Joe, the successful Californian, was very different from Joe, the hired boy. He became very attentive to our hero, and before he left town condescended to borrow twenty dollars of him, which he never remembered to repay. He wanted to go back to California with Joe, but his father would not consent.
When Joe returned to San Francisco, by advice of Mr. Morgan he sold out his restaurant to Watson and took charge of Mr. Morgan's real estate business. He rose with the rising city, became a very rich man, and now lives in a handsome residence on one of the hills that overlook the bay. He has an excellent wife—our old friend, Annie Raymond—and a fine family of children. His domestic happiness is by no means the smallest part of Joe's luck.