"Alger Jr, Horatio - The Young Explorer" - читать интересную книгу автора (Alger Horatio Jr)

"So I will," said Ben, brightening up at the thought. "Do you know where it is?"

"Yes."
"Will you show me?"
"I would if I'd make enough to buy me some dinner. I only had a five-cent
breakfast, and I feel kinder holler."
"I feel hungry myself," said Ben. "If you'll go with me I'll buy you some dinner
to pay you for your trouble."
"'Nough said!" remarked Tom briefly, as he shouldered his box. "I'm your man.
Come along! Where shall we go first?"
"To an eating-house. We might have to wait at the office."
Tom conducted Ben to a cheap restaurant, not far away, where the two for a
moderate sum obtained a plentiful meal. Had either been fastidious, some
exception might have been taken to the style in which the dishes were served,
but neither was critical. A dapper young clerk, however, who sat opposite Tom,
seemed quite disturbed by the presence of the bootblack. As his eye rested on
Tom he sniffed contemptuously, and frowned. In truth, our friend Tom might be
useful, but in his present apparel he was not fitted to grace a drawing-room. He
had no coat, his vest was ragged, and his shirt soiled with spots of blacking.
There were spots also upon his freckled face, of which Tom was blissfully
unconscious. It didn't trouble him any to have a dirty face. "Dirt is only
matter in the wrong place," as a philosopher once remarked. Tom was a
philosopher in his own way.
The young clerk pulled out a scented handkerchief, and applied it to his nose,
looking at Tom meanwhile.
"What's the matter of yer?" inquired Tom, suspecting the cause of the dandy's
discomfort. "Be you sick?"
"It's enough to make one sick to sit at the table with you," answered the clerk.

"Why?"
"You are absolutely filthy. Don't you know any better than to come in where
there are gentlemen?"
"I don't see any except him," said Tom, indicating Ben with his glance.
"This is really too much. Here, waiter!"
A waiter answered the summons.
"What is it, sir?"
"Just remove my plate to another table, will you?"
"Is anything the matter, sir?"
"I am not accustomed to associate with bootblacks," said the clerk loftily.
"All right, sir."
"I am really surprised that you admit any of that low class."
"As long as they pay their bills we are willing to receive them."
"I don't believe that boy has got enough to pay for his dinner."
The waiter, at this suggestion, looked at Tom rather suspiciously. After
removing the plate of the sensitive customer, he came back to the table where
the two boys were seated.
"Have you given your order?" he asked.
"Yes."
"If you haven't got money enough to pay your check you'll be bounced."
"Don't you trouble yourself, old woolly head," said Tom coolly. "My friend pays