CHAPTER V.
A NIGHT IN NEW YORK.
"The description certainly does fit these two men," said Earl, with somehesitation. "And it is queer that Roland should be down here, when onlya few days ago he was in Basco. Guardley, I know, is not abovecheating--he's been up before Squire Dobson several times for it."
"Let us go and have a talk with them," said Randy, impulsively. "If theystole that money, I want to know it."
"It's not our business to hunt those swindlers up," answered Earl,hesitatingly; yet he followed Randy to the platform of the smoking-car,and they were soon inside, and making their way to where Roland andGuardley sat, pulling away at two black-looking cigars.
"How do you do, Earl?" said Tom Roland, familiarly, as soon as the boysappeared. "It's queer we should be on the same train, isn't it?"
"It is queer," answered Earl, stiffly, taken aback by the greeting."Where are you bound?"
"Guardley and I are going to try our luck in the West. Say, I heard youboys were bound for Alaska. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"It costs a heap to go there--didn't know you had so much money," put inGuardley, with a smile that neither Earl nor Randy appreciated.
"And I didn't know you had any money for a Western trip," returned theolder brother, rather sharply.
"Oh, Tom here is seeing me through," answered Guardley; but both Randyand Earl noted that he appeared somewhat confused for the moment.
"Guardley has done me several good turns, and it wouldn't be fair for meto turn my back on him," finished Tom Roland. "We are going rightthrough to San Francisco. How about yourselves?"
"We stop off at New York," said Randy.
"It's a pity we can't travel together--" began Roland, when Earl cut himshort.
"Roland, did you pick up a letter belonging to me?" asked the boy.
The man's eyes dropped, but only for the fraction of a second. "A letterbelonging to you?" he repeated. "No. Where did you lose it?"
"Somewhere around Basco. Did you see it, Guardley?"
The second man shook his head. "Was it important?" he asked.
"Very," said Earl, laconically, and then, as the train began to moveagain he motioned to Randy, and the two started back for their seat inthe last car.
"What do you think?" questioned Randy, when they were seated.
"I don't know what to think. It's mighty queer the pair should leaveBasco in such a hurry."
"We left in a hurry. But we had a good reason."
"And they may have--a reason most folks don't look for."
"Do you think they left on account of some crooked work?" cried Randy.
"That would probably be Jasper Guardley's reason for getting away. Butit's not our affair, and we have enough other matters to think of,"concluded Earl, after a pause. "When we get to New York we'll be likestray cattle in a hundred-acre lot. We must look out not to get lost,and above all things not to lose our money."
"And engage the cheapest and quickest passage to San Francisco," saidRandy. "Let us look over those folders before it gets too late. It's toodark to see much outside."
The lamps were lighted in the car, and they lost no further time indigesting the contents of the folders of the railroad companies andpouring over the maps of the various routes to the Golden Gate.
"One looks about as good as another on paper," remarked Earl, at last."I think we had best take the New York Central Railroad to Chicago, thenthe Rock Island & Chicago to Rock Island, and then the Southern Pacific.We'll find out about that route when we reach New York."
It was exactly ten o'clock in the evening that the train rolled into theGrand Central Depot at Forty-second Street and Randy and Earl alighted.The crowd was very thick, and though both looked for Roland andGuardley, the two men could not be discovered. The coming and going ofso many people confused them, and the many cries which greeted them asthey emerged on the street did not tend to set them at ease.
"Cab, sir? Coupe? This way for the Broadway Central Hotel! Eveningpapers, _Post_ or _Telegram_! _Mail and Express_!"
Several came up to the two boys, offering them cab rides and the like,but both Randy and Earl shook their heads. Then Earl remembered that theticket office was close at hand, and he and his brother went insideagain. A long talk with the ticket clerk followed, and they concluded totake the New York Central road to Chicago, and from there as previouslyintended. The train would start at ten in the morning, and Earl boughttwo tickets, paying an amount which brought their cash balance downquite low once more.
"Never mind; that pays for about all we'll need," said Randy. "Let usleave the tickets to be called for, and then they'll be safe."
"No indeed!" said Earl. "Some one may call for them just as the moneywas called for. I'll carry my ticket in an inside pocket, and you hadbest do the same."
This settled, the brothers strolled out once more. It was rather late,but they could not resist the temptation to a walk down Broadway, ofwhich they had heard so often. They trudged as far as the Post-office,took a look at Park Row and the numerous newspaper buildings, and theBrooklyn Bridge all lit up in a blaze of electric lights, and then Earlhappened to glance at the clock on St. Paul's Church.
"Half-past twelve, Randy!" he ejaculated. "Gracious! we'll never find ahotel open as late as this! Let us get back to the vicinity of the depotagain!"
"I guess the hotels are open all night here," answered the youngerbrother. "Let us ride up Broadway on that street car." And they boardeda cable car, which speedily took them back to Forty-second Street. Aconvenient hotel was found close to the railroad station, and they lostno time in retiring. The constant rumble and roar of the elevated trainsdisturbed them not a little, and it was well into the morning hoursbefore both dropped off into dreamland, not to awaken until a bell boyaroused them at seven o'clock.
After a hasty breakfast another look was taken around the city. Findingthey had the time, they took an elevated train to the Battery and back,staying long enough at the lower end of the city to catch a glimpse ofCastle Garden with its aquarium, and the statue of Liberty out in thebay.
"One could spend a month in sight-seeing here," sighed Randy. "I wish wehad had the time to do Boston and New York thoroughly."
Ten o'clock found them on the train which was to take them through toChicago without change of cars. The cars were comfortably filled, butthere was no crowding. Again they looked for Roland and Guardley, butwithout success.
"I guess they remained in New York," said Earl; but for once the youngfellow was mistaken.
Leaving the vicinity of the metropolis, the train began its long journeyup the beautiful Hudson. But the journey northward did not last long.Soon the train branched to the westward and plunged into the hills androlling lands of the Mohawk Valley. City after city were left behindwith a whir and a rush that almost took Randy's breath from him. At noona stop was made for lunch, then on they went again. Supper was served ina dining-car, and both boys voted it about the best meal they had evertasted.
After the lamps were lit it was not long before the passengers began tothink of going to bed. Both Randy and Earl watched the porter closelyas he drew out the beds from the narrow closets in the sloping roof ofthe car, set up the little wooden partitions, and otherwise arranged thesleeping-apartments. The boys had a section to themselves and concludedto sleep together in the lower berth, so the upper berth was left out.
"A sleeping-car is a great institution," said Earl, as they turned in."Why, a train like this is just a moving house and nothing else!"
Shortly after noon of the day following Chicago was reached. Here theyhad a three hours' stop and spent the time in a ride on State Street,and a trip to the roof of the great Masonic Temple, where a grandbird's-eye view of the entire city was to be seen, spread out far belowthem.
And so the long trip westward continued. To tell of all the placesstopped at would be impossible. All day long for nearly a week they satat their car window taking in the sights of cities, towns, prairies, andmou
ntains. There were wonderful bridges to cross and perilous turns tomake, at which both held their breath, expecting each moment to bedashed to pieces. In the mountains a severe storm was encountered, andthe rolling of the thunder was awe-inspiring, so long was it kept up.
But all journeys, long and short, must come to an end, and one finemorning the boys found themselves safe and sound in San Francisco, andon their way to the Palace Hotel. The trip overland had brightened thema good bit, and they no longer looked as green as when they had started.
They had just stepped from a Market Street car in front of the hotelwhen they saw a youth coming down the hotel steps who looked strangelyfamiliar, in spite of the somewhat ragged clothing he wore.
"Randy, who is that fellow?" questioned Earl, quickly, as he caught hisbrother by the elbow.
"Why, if it isn't Fred Dobson!" burst from Randy's lips. "How in theworld did he get away out here? Fred Dobson! Fred Dobson! Stop, we wantto talk to you!" he called out, as the youth in question was on thepoint of hurrying off.
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