"That boy," soliloquized Dick, as Johnny took his departure, "aint
got no ambition. I'll bet he won't get five shines to-day. I'm glad
I aint like him. I couldn't go to the theatre, nor buy no cigars,
nor get half as much as I wanted to eat.--Shine yer boots, sir?"
Dick always had an eye to business, and this remark was addressed to
a young man, dressed in a stylish manner, who was swinging a jaunty
cane.
"I've had my boots blacked once already this morning, but this
confounded mud has spoiled the shine."
"I'll make 'em all right, sir, in a minute."
"Go ahead, then."
The boots were soon polished in Dick's best style, which proved very
satisfactory, our hero being a proficient in the art.
"I haven't got any change," said the young man, fumbling in his
pocket, "but here's a bill you may run somewhere and get changed.
I'll pay you five cents extra for your trouble."
He handed Dick a two-dollar bill, which our hero took into a store
close by.
"Will you please change that, sir?" said Dick, walking up to the
counter.
The salesman to whom he proffered it took the bill, and, slightly
glancing at it, exclaimed angrily, "Be off, you young vagabond, or
I'll have you arrested."
"What's the row?"
"You've offered me a counterfeit bill."
"I didn't know it," said Dick.
"Don't tell me. Be off, or I'll have you arrested."
CHAPTER III
DICK MAKES A PROPOSITION
Though Dick was somewhat startled at discovering that the bill he
had offered was counterfeit, he stood his ground bravely.
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