Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/262



198

An Episode in the Life of Robert the Simple.

[Feb.

can," said the Major. " Now the easiest way to get there is to go up Ninth Street that 's the next cross street north here for one block, and then take from the trail leading southeast from there. It would be shorter to go up Eleventh Street, but the trees haven't been thinned out much in that direction yet, and you might lose your way. You see, we have n't had time to improve the streets much yet, but this summer we '11 get everything in shape. A stranger here, I suppose ? "

" Yes, I have only just arrived."

" Well, you '11 like our city. You can 't help it, my dear boy. We have the greatest site for a great city on earth, and the population 's increasing so fast that we have n't time to pull up the trees to make room for 'em. We have more life, and energy, and business enterprise, to the square inch than you '11 find in a square mile anywhere else in the universe. Why, sir, we couldn't stop this city going ahead if every man, woman, and child, got in and held back. Now, if you won't give me away, I '11 tell you a secret. I have some of the choicest property in this whole metrop- olis that I '11 let you have, dirt cheap. Some property that was left in my hands this morning under peculiar cir- cumstances, and you wouldn't find an- other such chance in a lifetime."

"I am sincerely glad to hear that your town is doing so well. But I am hardly in a position, financially, to in- vest in landed property. I had hoped, rather, to find employment in some legit- imate enterprise. Do you imagine there would be any opportunity for me ? "

" Opportunity ? Why, there 's noth- ing but opportunity here. Just consid- er the proposition for a moment. Trains and boats are arriving here hourly from the north, south, east, and west, bring- ing people by the thousand from the four corners of God's green footstool. The population is increasing at the rate of a thousand a day. Within a year

from the present time we shall have a population of 100,000 people ; within three years we shall have the metropolis ! of the Pacific Coast ; within five years we shall have passed Chicago and New York, and the City of Destiny will stand as the largest and most prosper- ous aggregation on the American con- tinent. Every man who now holds a town lot will then be a millionaire. Now, all these people are coming here to buy land. That's what they want. And we '11 have to have stores for them to deal in ; while the people who are willing to throw away the chance to make a fortune in land and are willing to go into ordinary business are so few that they are in great demand. Why, you '11 be snapped up within twenty- four hours."

But, in spite of the Major's glowing predictions, Robert found it very diffi- cult to find employment ; and day after day he came home to the frail little woman who shared his misfortunes, with the discouraging news that he had been again unsuccessful.

"Never mind, Robert; things will brighten soon. Everybody is making money here, they all tell me about it, and we cannot remain poor forever. Don't be depressed ; tomorrow you may be successful."

But it was wholly unnecessary to tell Robert not to be depressed. His cheer- ful disposition was proof against any disappointment, and he was as light- hearted after a day passed in being re- fused employment as he had been when he started out in the morning with his heart full of hope. He had been brought up as an English younger son, with no idea of business, or of helping himself under difficulties, and in his heart he felt, even while he was asking for em- ployment, that he could be of no use to anybody. He grieved when he thought that his wife was denied certain pleas- ures and luxuries, but he easily dis- missedjsuch disagreeable thoughts.