Produced by Laura Stewart, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. 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.