Rupert's Ambition. Alger Horatio Jr.
six months longer, and, of course, we can't wait as long as that."
"No, Mr. Sylvester, it would seem like six years to me."
"Even if your wants were all provided for in that time?"
"I feel that I ought to be at work, and not depending on your generosity. I would rather work for two dollars a week than remain idle."
"That is the right spirit, Rupert. You will be glad, then, to hear that I have at last found employment for you."
"But I thought you just said–"
"That I could not get you a place in Pearl Street. True, but this is a different position—very different. It is that of bell-boy in a hotel."
"What are the duties, Mr. Sylvester?"
"You will be at the command of the clerk, and will have to run up and downstairs, answering calls from the guests, or carrying messages from the office. In fact, you will be a general utility clerk, and I have no doubt will get terribly tired the first few days."
"Never mind. I can stand that. If I make enough to pay my way I shall be satisfied."
"You will be better paid than if you were in a mercantile house. You will receive five dollars a week and get your meals at the hotel."
Rupert's face brightened.
"Why, that is excellent," he said. "When I was at Tenney & Rhodes' I only received five dollars weekly and had to furnish my own meals."
"True, but you were then in the line of promotion. Here you cannot expect to rise any higher unless you qualify yourself to be a hotel man."
"At any rate I am willing to try it. Where is the hotel?"
"It is the Somerset House, on lower Broadway. It is not a fashionable hotel, but comfortable and of good reputation. I am somewhat acquainted with the office clerk, who was an old schoolmate of mine, and at my request he has given you this position."
"I hope I shall give satisfaction. I shall be a green hand."
"The duties are easily understood and learned. If you show that you are desirous of succeeding you will make a good impression, and you will get on well."
"When am I to commence work?" asked Rupert.
"I will take you down town with me to-morrow morning, and introduce you to Mr. Malcolm, the clerk. I suppose you will be expected to go to work directly."
"I should prefer that."
"One thing I must tell you. You will have to secure a room outside, as the employees are not expected to sleep in the hotel. All the rooms are reserved for guests."
"What will my hours be?"
"From seven in the morning till seven in the evening. By this arrangement you will have your evenings to yourself."
Rupert went to bed in good spirits. He was of an active temperament, and enjoyed occupation. It would be pleasant to him also to feel that he was earning his own living.
In the morning Mr. Sylvester went down town with him.
The Somerset House was a hotel of moderate size, only five stories in height, which is low for a city hotel. I may as well say here that I have not given the correct name of the hotel for obvious reasons. So far as our story is concerned, the name I have chosen will do as well as any other.
"Those who frequent this hotel are not of the fashionable class," explained Mr. Sylvester, "but it is largely patronized by traveling salesmen and people from the country. The rates are moderate, and those come here who would not feel able to afford the Fifth Avenue or hotels of that grade."
The entrance was neat, and Rupert was well pleased with the aspect of his new place of employment.
At some distance from the doorway was the office, and behind the reading room.
"Mr. Malcolm," said Sylvester to a pleasant-looking man of thirty-five, who stood behind a counter, "this is the young man I mentioned to you. He will be glad to fill the position of bell-boy, and from my acquaintance with him I feel quite sure he will suit you. His name is Rupert Rollins."
The clerk smiled pleasantly.
"We shall soon know each other better," he said. "I hope you are strong, for you will have a good deal of exercise here."
"I think I can stand it," said Rupert. "I shall soon get used to it."
"I have a plan of the rooms here," went on the clerk. "Take it and go upstairs and look about you on the different floors. It will be necessary that you should learn the location of the rooms."
"I will leave you now, Rupert," said Mr. Sylvester. "You can come back to my house to-night, and to-morrow you can look up a room near the hotel."
For the first few days Rupert got very tired. He would have to go upstairs perhaps thirty or forty times during the day, sometimes to the fifth floor. There was an elevator in the Somerset Hotel, but the bell-boys were not allowed to use it.
When a guest registered and was assigned to a room on one of the upper floors he was conducted to the elevator, but the bell-boy, carrying his valise, was obliged to walk upstairs, and meet him at the landing-place. Often Rupert felt that there was an injustice in this, and that no harm would be done if he were also allowed to use the elevator. However, he was not foolish enough make any complaint, but by his pleasant manners and cheerful alacrity won the good opinion of Mr. Malcolm, the clerk.
The Somerset Hotel was on the European and American systems combined. If a guest preferred simply to lodge at the hotel he could do so, and take his meals either at the hotel restaurant or in any other.
One day a guest registered who was assigned to No. 143, on the fifth floor.
To Rupert was assigned the duty of carrying up the valise. He found it unusually heavy, and more than once as he climbed the stairs he felt that he would be glad to reach his destination. At the elevator landing he met the owner of the valise, a middle-aged man with a brown, sunburned face.
"You found it rather a heavy tug, didn't you?" he asked, with a smile.
"Your clothes seem to be heavy," returned Rupert.
"It isn't clothes merely," said the stranger. "I come from Colorado, and I have some specimens of quartz inside. Here, give me the valise, and lead the way to my room."
Rupert did so.
When they reached No. 143 the stranger drew a fifty cent piece from his pocket and handed it to Rupert.
"Take it," he said. "You deserve something for carrying such a load."
"Thank you, sir," said Rupert. "I don't find many guests so liberal."
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