Richard Dares Venture

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Richard Dare's Venture

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Title: Richard Dare's Venture
Author: Edward Stratemeyer
Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6365] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on December 2, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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RICHARD DARE'S VENTURE
OR
STRIKING OUT FOR HIMSELF
BY EDWARD STRATEMEYER Author of Oliver Bright's Search, To Alaska For Gold, The Last Cruise Of The Spitfire, Shorthand Tom, Etc.

PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
"Richard Dare's Venture," although a complete story in itself, forms the initial volume of the "Bound to Succeed" Series, a line of books written primarily for boys, but which it would seem not only girls but also persons of mature age have taken up with more or less interest.
The story relates the adventures of a country youth who comes to New York to seek his fortune, just as many country lads have done in the past and many are likely to do in the future. Richard feels that there is nothing for him to do in the sleepy village in which he resides, and that he must "strike out for himself," and he does so, with no cash capital to speak of, but with plenty of true American backbone, and with the firm conviction that if he does his duty as he finds it, and watches his chances, he will be sure to make a place for himself.
Richard finds life in the metropolis no bed of roses, and when he at length gains a footing he is confronted by many a snare and pitfall. But, thanks to the Christian teachings of the best of mothers, and his natural uprightness of character, he escapes these evils, and gives a practical teaching of the Biblical admonition of "returning evil with good."
When the first edition of this work was placed on the market several years ago, the author had hoped that it would receive some notice; but he was hardly prepared for the warm reception which readers and critics alike all over the country accorded it. For this enthusiasm he is profoundly grateful. The street scenes in New York have been particularly commended; the author would add that these are not fictitious, but are taken from life.
EDWARD STRATEMEYER.
NEWARK, N.J., March 1, 1899.

CONTENTS
I. A Serious Accident
II. Bitter Moments
III. Preparing to Start
IV. On the Train
V. The Smash-up
VI. Under Suspicion
VII. The End of the Journey
VIII. The "Watch Below"
IX. Locked Out
X. The First Night in New York
XI. Robbed
XII. On the Search
XIII. Richard Calls on Mr. Joyce
XIV. Work Obtained
XV. New Quarters
XVI. Pep
XVII. Getting Acquainted
XVIII. A Strange Situation
XIX. The Laurel Club
XX. Trouble Brewing
XXI. Richard in Trouble
XXII. Richard Visits Mr. Joyce Again
XXIII. Strange Discoveries
XXIV. Pep's Home
XXV. Tom Clover
XXVI. A Scene in the Stock-room
XXVII. A Fire and its Result
XXVIII. A Lucky Resolve
XXIX. Frank's Idea
XXX. Mr. Martin's Clerks
XXXI. Tom Clover's Statement
XXXII. The Firm of Massanet and Dare
CHAPTER I.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
"It is high time, mother, that I found something to do. Father seems to be worse, and I'm afraid before long he won't be able to go to work every day. Ever since I finished schooling I've felt like a fish out of water."
And stowing away the remainder of the slice of bread he was eating, Richard Dare leaned back in his chair and gazed inquiringly across the breakfast-table to where his mother stood, ready to clear away the dishes when he had finished his meal.
"I'm sure you have been busy enough, Richard," responded Mrs. Dare fondly. "I am well satisfied with the way you have planted the garden; and no carpenter could have made a neater job of the front fence. You haven't wasted your time."
"Oh, I don't mean that. Fixing up around the house is well enough. But I mean some regular work--some position where I could bring