Rodney's average profits were only about fifty cent a day, and that was barely sufficient to buy his meals. It left him nothing to put towards paying room rent.
He began to consider whether he would not be compelled to pawn some article from his wardrobe, for he was well supplied with clothing, when he had a stroke of luck.
On Fifteenth Street, by the side of Tiffany's great jewelry store, he picked up a square box neatly done up in thin paper.
Opening it, he was dazzled by the gleam of diamonds.
The contents were a diamond necklace and pin, which, even to Rodney's inexperienced eyes, seemed to be of great value.
"Some one must have dropped them in coming from the jewelry store," he reflected. "Who can it be?"He had not far to seek. There was a card inside on which was engraved:
MRS. ELIZA HARVEY, with an address on Fifth Avenue.
Passing through to Fifth Avenue Rodney began to scan the numbers on the nearest houses. He judged that Mrs. Harvey must live considerably farther up the Avenue, in the direction of Central Park.
"I will go there at once," Rodney decided. "No doubt Mrs.
Harvey is very much distressed by her loss. I shall carry her good news."The house he found to be between Fortieth and Fiftieth Street.
Ascending the steps he rang the bell. The door was opened by a man servant.
"Does Mrs. Harvey live here?" asked Rodney.
"What do you want with her, young man?" demanded the servant in a tone of importance.
"That I will tell her."
"What's your name?"
"I can give you my name, but she won't recognize it.""Then you don't know her.""No."
"If it's money you want, she don't give to beggars.""You are impudent" said Rodney hotly. "If you don't give my message you will get into trouble."The servant opened his eyes. He seemed somewhat impressed by Rodney's confident tone.
"Mrs. Harvey doesn't live here," he said.
"Is she in the house?"
"Well, yes, she's visiting here."
"Then why do you waste your time?" said Rodney impatiently.
He forgot for the time that he was no longer being educated at an expensive boarding school, and spoke in the tone he would have used before his circumstances had changed.
"I'll go and ask if she'll see you," said the flunky unwillingly.
Five minutes later a pleasant looking woman of middle age descended the staircase.
"Are you the boy that wished to see me?" she asked.
"Yes, if you are Mrs. Harvey."
"I am. But come in! Thomas, why didn't you invite this young gentleman into the parlor?"Thomas opened his eyes wide. So the boy whom he had treated so cavalierly was a young gentleman.
He privately put down Mrs. Harvey in his own mind as eccentric.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said. "I didn't know as he was parlor company.""Well, he is," said Mrs. Harvey with a cordial smile that won Rodney's heart.
"Follow me!" said the lady.
Rodney followed her into a handsome apartment and at a signal seated himself on a sofa.
"Now," she said, "I am ready to listen to your message.""Have you lost anything?" asked Rodney abruptly.
"Oh, have you found it?" exclaimed Mrs. Harvey, clasping her hands.
"That depends on what you have lost," answered Rodney, who felt that it was necessary to be cautious.
"Certainly, you are quite right. I have lost a box containing jewelry bought this morning at Tiffany's.""What were the articles?""A diamond necklace and pin. They are intended as a present for my daughter who is to be married. Tell me quick have you found them?""Is this the box?" asked Rodney.
"Oh yes, yes! How delightful to recover it. I thought I should never see it again. Where did you find it?""On Fifteenth Street beside Tiffany's store.""And you brought it directly to me?""Yes, madam."
"Have you any idea of the value of the articles?""Perhaps they may be worth five hundred dollars.""They are worth over a thousand. Are you poor?""Yes, madam. I am trying to make a living by selling papers, but find it hard work.""But you don't look like a newsboy.""Till a short time since I thought myself moderately rich.""That is strange. Tell me your story."
