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to grow dull, and for ten minutes all Paul's eloquent appeals to gentlemen to walk up and try their luck produced no effect.

At this point Paul found that there was a rival in the field.

Teddy O'Brien, who had applied for a partnership the day before, came up with a basket similar to his own, apparently filled with similar packages. He took a position about six feet distant from Paul, and began to cry out, in a shrill voice:

β€œHere's your bully prize packages! Best in the market! Here's where you get your big prizes, fifty cents in some of 'em. Walk up boys, tumble up, and take your pick afore they're gone. Fifty cents for five!”

β€œThat's a lie, Teddy,” said Paul, who saw that his rival's attractive announcement was likely to spoil his trade.

β€œNo, 'tisn't,” said Teddy. β€œIf you don't believe it, just buy one and see.”

β€œI'll tell you what I'll do,” said Paul, β€œI'll exchange.”

β€œNo,” said Teddy; β€œI ain't a-goin' to risk givin' fifty cents for one.”

β€œMore likely you'd get ten for one. You're a humbug.”

β€œHave you really got any fifty-cent prizes?” asked a newsboy, who had sold out his morning stock of papers, and was lounging about the post office steps.

β€œBest way is to buy, Johnny,” said Teddy.

The boy did buy, but his prize amounted to only one cent.

β€œDidn't I tell you so?” said Paul.

β€œJust wait a while and see,” said Teddy. β€œThe lucky feller hasn't come along. Here, Mike, jest buy a package!”

Mike, a boy of fifteen, produced five cents, and said, β€œI don't mind if I do.”

He selected a package, and, without opening it, slipped it into his pocket.

β€œWhy don't you open it?” said Teddy.

β€œWhat's the use?” said Mike. β€œThere ain't no fifty cents inside.”

However, he drew it out of his pocket, and opened it.

β€œWhat's this?” he exclaimed, pulling out a piece of scrip. β€œHowly St. Patrick! it's I that's in luck, anyhow I've got the fifty cents!”

And he held up to view a fifty-cent scrip.

β€œLet me look at it,” said Paul, incredulously.

But there was no room for doubt. It was a genuine fifty cents, as Paul was compelled to admit.

β€œDidn't I tell you so?” said Teddy, triumphantly. β€œHere's where you get fifty-cent prizes.”

The appeal was successful. The sight of the fifty-cent prize led to a large call for packages, of which Teddy immediately sold ten, while Paul found himself completely deserted. None of the ten, however, contained over two cents. Still the possibility of drawing fifty cents kept up the courage of buyers, while Paul's inducements were so far inferior that he found himself wholly distanced.

β€œDon't you wish you'd gone pardners with me?” asked Teddy, with a triumphant grin, noticing Paul's look of discomfiture. β€œYou can't do business alongside of me.”

β€œYou can't make any money giving such big prizes,” said Paul. β€œYou haven't taken in as much as you've given yet.”

β€œAll right,” said Teddy. β€œI'm satisfied if you are. Have a package, Jim?”

β€œYes,” said Jim. β€œMind you give me a good prize.”

The package was bought, and, on being opened, proved to contain fifty cents also, to Paul's great amazement. How Teddy's business could pay, as it was managed, he could not comprehend. One thing was certain, however, his new competitor monopolized the trade, and for two hours Paul did not get a solitary customer.

β€œThere's something about this I don't understand,” he pondered, thoughtfully. β€œHe must lose money; but he's spoiled my trade.”

Paul did not like to give up his beat, but he found himself compelled to. Accordingly he took his basket, and moved off toward Wall street. Here he was able to start in business without competitors, and succeeded in selling quite a number of packages, until a boy came up, and said:

β€œThere's a feller up at the post office that's givin' fifty-cent prizes. I got one of 'em.”

There was a group of half-a-dozen boys around Paul, two of whom were about to invest; but on hearing thus they changed their intention, and walked of in the direction of the post office.

Looking up, Paul saw that the boy who had injured his trade was Mike, who had drawn the first fifty-cent prize from his competitor.

β€œCan't you stop interfering?” he said, angrily. β€œI've lost two customers by you.”

β€œIf you don't like it, you can lump it,” said Mike, insolently. β€œThis is a free country, ain't it?”

β€œIt's a mean trick,” said Paul, indignantly.

β€œSay that ag'in, and I'll upset your basket,” returned Mike.

β€œI'll say it as often as I like,” said Paul, who wasn't troubled by cowardice. β€œCome on, if you want to.”

Mike advanced a step, doubling his fists; but, finding that Paul showed no particular sign of fear, he stopped short, saying: β€œI'll lick you some other time.”

β€œYou'd better put it off,” said Paul. β€œHave a prize package, sir? Only five cents!”

This was addressed to a young man who came out of an insurance office.

β€œI don't mind if I do,” said the young man. β€œFive cents, is it? What prize may I expect?”

β€œThe highest is ten cents.”

β€œThere's a boy around the post office that gives fifty-cent prizes, mister,” said Mike. β€œYou'd better buy of him.”

β€œI'll wait till another time,” said the young man. β€œHere's the money, Johnny. Now for the package.”

β€œLook here,” said Paul, indignantly, when his customer had gone away; β€œhaven't you anything to do except to drive off my customers?”

β€œGive me two cents on every package,” said Mike, β€œand I'll tell 'em you give dollar prizes.”

β€œThat would be a lie, and I don't want to do business that way.”

Mike continued his persecutions a while longer, and then turned the corner into Nassau street.

β€œI'm glad he's gone,” thought Paul. β€œNow there's a chance for me.”

He managed after a while to sell twenty of his packages. By this time it was twelve o'clock, and he began to feel hungry. He resolved, therefore, to go home to dinner and come out again in the afternoon. He didn't know how much he had made, but probably about fifty

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