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Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 16. Locked Up For The Night |
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_ CHAPTER XVI. LOCKED UP FOR THE NIGHT About nine o'clock, after a comfortable breakfast, for which he had paid out of his morning's earnings, Julius went round again to Paul's necktie stand. He had just opened for business when the boy came up. "You're late this mornin'," said Julius. "I was here before." "Yes; I was detained at home. Is there anything new?" "Yes, there is," said Julius. "What is it?" "They suspect somethin'." "Who?" "Jack and Marlowe. They think I ain't to be trusted." "How do you know? Did they tell you so?" inquired Paul, with interest. "No; Marlowe talked in his sleep." "What did he say?" "'Don't trust the boy! Make it Saturday night.'" "Saturday night!" repeated Paul in excitement. "Why, that's to-morrow night." Julius nodded. "Do they know you overheard?" "No." "So you came and told me. You're a good fellow, Julius. You have done me a great favor." "You've been good to me," said Julius. "That's why I did it." "I shall be ready for them to-morrow night, then," said Paul. This conference was watched, though neither Julius nor Paul was aware of it. Marlowe, on leaving the room some time after Julius, had come into the vicinity with the design of getting a view of Paul and ascertaining whether he was the boy whom he had seen purchasing the coat. He came up a moment after Julius reached the stand. Of course he identified Paul, and his suspicions as to the good understanding between him and Julius were confirmed by seeing them together. He listened intently, hoping to catch something of their conversation, but though not far off, the street noises were such as to render this impossible. "The young viper!" he said to himself. "He's sold us, as sure as my name's Marlowe. I'll wring his neck for him. He'll find he's got into dangerous business." He went back and reported to Jack what he had seen. "If I thought the boy was playin' us a trick," growled Jack, "I'd strangle him; but I ain't sure. You didn't hear what he said?" "No; I couldn't hear, but it stands to reason that he's sold us." "What do you want me to do?" "Nothing yet. The boy don't know that we have changed our plans. He thinks we trust him. Let him think so, and when we get ready to go out Saturday night, we'll tie him hand and foot, so he can't stir. Then we'll go up to the house and take 'em unprepared." "All right," said Jack. "Your head's longer than mine, Marlowe. You know best." "Of course I do," said Marlowe. "You've got the strength and I've got the brain." Jack Morgan extended his arms, and watched his muscular development with satisfaction. He was not sensitive about the slight to his understanding. He was content to be thought what he was, a strong and dangerous animal. What preparations were necessary to be made were made during that day and the next by the two confederates. They were made during the absence of Julius, that he might know nothing of what was going on. Further to mislead him, the two spoke two or three times on the previous evening of their expedition of Monday night. Julius fathomed their design, and was sharp enough not to appear particularly interested. So Saturday night came. At six o'clock Julius entered the room and found the two seated together. He had had half a mind not to appear at all, but to cut loose from them forever; but this would lead to suspicion, and he changed his mind. Though he had not seen Paul since, he had reason to believe that he had made preparations to receive the two burglars. In all probability they would be arrested, and this would be their last meeting. "How are you, Jack?" he said, as he entered the room, with a little qualm at the thought that this man, bad as he was, was so near falling into the hands of justice, and by his means. Jack looked at him, but did not answer. His expression was menacing, as Julius perceived, and his heart beat more quickly, as he thought, "Has he found out anything?" But luckily for him neither Jack nor Marlowe knew anything definite. Had it been so, the boy's life would have been in peril. "Have you seen young Hoffman to-day?" asked Marlowe. "No." "He don't know we're going to call Monday night, does he?" "No," said Julius, and he answered truly. "Where could he find out?" "You might say something to let him know." "What would make me do that?" said Julius boldly. "You might think he'd pay you for telling him." "He ain't rich," said Julius. "Do you know what I'd do to you if I found out as you'd sold us," here broke in Jack Morgan, his dull eyes gleaming fiercely. "I'd kill you." "What makes you say that to me, Jack?" said Julius, not showing the fear he felt. "Oh, it ain't nothin' to you, then?" "No, it isn't." Of course this was a falsehood, but it would have been idle to expect the truth from one like Julius, under such circumstances. He knew Jack well enough to understand that he was quite capable of carrying out his threat, and it decided him, when the two went out, to go out himself and not to return. They might find out that he had been dealing falsely with them, and if so his life was in danger. It was yet early, and he decided to go out at once, as he usually did, for it was not very agreeable to pass an entire evening in the miserable tenement rooms. "Where are you going?" asked Marlowe, as he lifted the latch of the door. "I'm goin' out. I haven't had any supper." "You can do without supper to-night, eh, Jack?" "Yes, he can do without supper to-night." "Why? What's up?" demanded the boy. "Never mind what's up," answered Marlowe. "You ain't goin' out to-night." "I'm hungry." "We'll bring you some supper. We're goin' out ourselves." "You never kept me in before," said Julius, who felt that it was best to show surprise at the action of the confederates, though it did not surprise him. "That's neither here nor there. You ain't goin' out to-night." "All right," said Julius, "if you say so; only bring a feller some grub." "We'll bring you some," said Jack, who was not as fully convinced as his comrade of Julius' treachery. They left the room, carefully locking the door behind them. Julius sat down on the bed, and began to review the situation. Evidently he was to be locked up in the room through the night, while Jack and Marlowe were robbing the house on Madison avenue. In all probability they would be arrested, and prevented from returning. But suppose one or both escaped from the trap in which they were expected to fall. If their suspicions of his fidelity were aroused now they would be confirmed by the discovery of the police. Knowing the desperate character of both, Julius reflected with a shudder that his life would possibly be sacrificed. It would not do for him to remain here. He must escape by some means. But how? This was a difficult question to answer. The room was on the third floor, with a solitary window looking out into a small, dirty court. It was too high up to jump with safety, and there was nothing in the room by which he could descend. He was still considering this question an hour later, when the two returned. Jack had in his hand a couple of apples. "There," said he, tossing them to Julius. "That'll do you till mornin'." "Thank you," said Julius. It was true that he had had no supper, and he ate the apples with a good appetite. The two men sat down, and, producing the same old, greasy pack of cards which they had before used, began to play. It was not until a late hour that they could go about the business which they had planned. Twelve o'clock was as early as they could venture to attempt entering the house. To prime them for the task, they had brought in with them a plentiful supply of whisky, of which they partook at frequent intervals. They offered none to Julius. By and by Julius went to bed. He knew they would not go out till eleven, probably, and he would like to have kept awake till then. But this would have been unusual, and perhaps have increased suspicion. So after awhile he lay quiet, and pretended to be asleep. The men kept on playing cards till half-past ten. Then Marlowe spoke: "We'll hold up now. It's time to be goin'." "What time is it?" "Most eleven." "The boy's asleep." "Is he?" Marlowe went to the bed and leaned over. Julius felt his breath on his face, but gave no sign that he was still awake. He was filled with curiosity to know whether Marlowe and Jack meant to carry out their plan this evening. "He seems to be asleep," said Marlowe, "but we'll lock him in, to make sure. In three hours we'll be back, if all goes well, with plenty of swag." "I hope so, Marlowe. I've got tired of livin' this way; we'll go to California if we come out right." "I'm with you, Jack, on that. A pal of mine went out to the mines and got rich. Then he swore off and turned respectable." "So would I, if I had plenty of tin." "I've no objection myself, with plenty of money to back me. Money's what makes the difference between people in this world. Give me a hundred thousand, and instead of bein' Tom Marlowe I would be Thomas Marlowe, Esq., our eminent fellow-citizen, and you would be the Hon. John Morgan, eh, Jack?" Jack laughed at the unfamiliar title, though possibly he was no more undeserving of it than some who flaunt it in the face of society. "I'm the figger for an Honorable," he said. "But it's time to be goin'. Here's good luck!" and he poured down a glass of the whisky at one gulp. They carefully locked the door behind them, and their heavy steps were heard descending the rickety stairs. Julius listened till the sound was no longer heard. Then he jumped up from the pallet on which he had been counterfeiting sleep, and said to himself, "It ain't safe to stay here any longer. How shall I get out?" _ |
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