Chester Rand Part 30

"Now, Chester, you can come to my den." Arthur opened the door of a large room, furnished with every comfort.

It was easy to see that it was a boy's apartment. On a table were boxing gloves. Over a desk in a corner was hung the photograph of a football team, of which Arthur was the captain. There was another photograph representing him with gloves on, about to have a set-to with a boy friend.

"Do you box, Chester?" he asked.

"No; I never saw a pair of boxing gloves before."

"I will give you a lesson. Here, put on this pair."

Chester smiled.

"I shall be at your mercy," he said. "I am, perhaps, as strong as you, but I have no science."

"It won't take you long to learn."

So the two boys faced each other. Before he knew what was going to happen, Chester received a light tap on the nose from his new friend.

"I must tell you how to guard yourself. I will be the professor and you the pupil."

Chester soon became interested, and at the end of half an hour his teacher declared that he had improved wonderfully.

"We will have a lesson every time you come to see uncle," he said.

"Then I shall come to see two professors."

"Yes, an old one and young one. Between uncle, Ernest and myself, you will find your time pretty well occupied when you come here."

"I think it a great privilege to come here," said Chester, gratefully.

"And I am glad to have you. I shall have some one to box with, at any rate. Now," he added, with a comical look, "I can't induce my uncle to have a bout with me. Indeed, I should be afraid to, for he is so shortsighted he would need to wear spectacles, and I would inevitably break them."

Chester could not forbear laughing at the idea of the learned professor having a boxing match with his lively, young nephew.

"If you will make me as good a boxer as yourself, I shall feel very much indebted."

"That will come in time. I am quite flattered at the opportunity of posing as a teacher. Have you a taste for jewelry? Just look in this drawer."

Arthur opened one of the small drawers in his bureau, and displayed a varied collection of studs, sleeve b.u.t.tons, collar b.u.t.tons, scarf pins, etc.

"You might set up a jeweler's store," suggested Chester. "Where did you get them all?"

"I had an uncle who was in the business, and he and other relatives have given me plenty."

"I haven't even a watch."

"No, really? Why, how can you get along without one?"

"I have to."

"Wait a minute."

Arthur opened another drawer, revealing two silver watches, one an open face, the other a hunting watch.

"Take your choice," he said.

"Do you really mean it?"

"Certainly."

"But would your uncle approve of your giving me such a valuable present?"

"My uncle doesn't bother himself about such trifles. I don't use either of these watches. I have a gold one, given me last Christmas."

"Since you are so kind, I think I prefer the hunting watch."

"All right! There it is. Let me set it for you. The chain goes with it, of course."

Chester felt delighted with his present. He had hoped sometime--when he was eighteen, perhaps--to own a watch, but had no expectation of getting one so soon.

"You are a generous friend, Arthur," he said.

"Don't make too much of such a trifle, Chester!" returned the other, lightly.

When Chester said he must go home, Arthur put on his hat and proposed to walk with him part of the way, an offer which Chester gratefully accepted.

They walked over to Broadway, chatting as they went.

All at once, Chester, who had not expected to see anyone he knew, touched Arthur on the arm.

"Do you see that man in front of us?" he asked, pointing to a figure about six feet ahead.

"Yes. What of him?"

"It is our bookkeeper, David Mullins."

"Is it, indeed? Do you know whom he is walking with?"

Chester glanced at a rather flas.h.i.+ly dressed individual who was walking arm in arm with the bookkeeper.

"No," he answered.

"It is d.i.c.k Ralston," answered Arthur, "one of the most notorious gamblers in the city."

CHAPTER XVIII.

d.i.c.k RALSTON.