Walter Sherwood's Probation

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  "It is rather hard on the boy," he said. "I can confirm his storyabout the purchase of the watch. I heard the bargaining and saw thepurchase-money paid."

  "That makes no difference to me," said the claimant. "I've identifiedthe watch and I want it."

  Walter removed it from his chain and was about to hand it to theclaimant, when a quiet-looking man, dressed in a drab suit, rose from aseat farther down the car and came forward. He was a small man, not overfive feet five inches in height, and he would not have weighed over onehundred and twenty pounds, but there was a look of authority on his faceand an accent of command in his voice.

  "You needn't give up the watch, my boy," he said.

  Walter drew back his hand and turned round in surprise. The claimantuttered an angry exclamation, and said testily: "By what right do youinterfere?"

  "The watch isn't yours," said the small man nonchalantly.

  "It isn't, hey? Well, of all the impertinent--"

  "Stop there, Jim Beckwith! You see I know you"--as the stout man turnedpale and clutched at the side of the seat.

  "Who are you?" he demanded hoarsely.

  "Detective Green!"

  The claimant lost all his braggadocio air, and stared at the detectivewith a terrified look.

  "That isn't my name," he managed to ejaculate.

  "Very likely not," said the detective calmly, "but it is one of yournames. It is a very clever game that you and your confederate areplaying. He sells the watch, and you demand it, claiming that it hasbeen stolen from you. I was present when the watch was sold, and thereason I did not interfere was because I was waiting for the sequel. Howmany times have you played this game?"

  "There's some mistake," gasped the other.

  "Perhaps so, but I have some doubts whether you came by it honestly."

  "I assure you it is my watch," cried the other, uneasily.

  "How much did you pay for it, young man?" asked the detective.

  "Twenty dollars."

  "Very well, sir; give the boy twenty dollars, and I shall advise him togive the watch back to you, as it may be stolen property, which he wouldnot like to have found in his possession."

  "But that will be paying twenty dollars for my own property. It was notto me he paid the money."

  "You will have to look to your confederate for that. I am not sure but Iought to make you give twenty-five dollars."

  This hint led to the stout man's hastily producing two ten-dollar bills,which he tendered to Walter.

  "It's an outrage," he said, "making a man pay for his own property!"

  "Are you sure that your statements in regard to this man are true?"asked an important-looking individual on the opposite side of the car."To my mind your interference is unwarrantable, not to say outrageous.Justice has been trampled upon."

  The detective looked round sharply.

  "Do you know the man?" he asked.

  "No."

  "Well, I do. I first made his acquaintance at Joliet prison, where heserved a term of years for robbing a bank. Is that true or not, JimBeckwith?"

  The man known as Beckwith had already started to leave the car, but,although he heard the question, he didn't come back to answer it.

  "I generally know what I'm about," continued the detective, pointedly,"as those who are unwise enough to criticise my actions find out, sooneror later."

  The important gentleman did not reply, but covered his confusion byappearing to be absorbed in a daily paper, which he held up before hisface.

  "You let him off easy," said the gentleman in the rear seat. "Youallowed him to take the watch. I was surprised at that."

  "Yes; for, strange as it may seem, it was probably his, though themoney with which he bought it may have been stolen. That watch has beenprobably sold a dozen times and recovered the same way. Were it astolen watch, the risk would be too great. As it is I had no pretext forarresting him."

  "Was it really a ninety-dollar watch?" asked Walter, with interest.

  "No. I know something about watches, as I find the knowledge useful inmy official capacity. The watch would be a fair bargain at forty-fivedollars, but it is showy, and would readily be taken for one worthseventy-five or even ninety dollars."

  "I shouldn't think the trick would pay," said the gentleman in the rearseat.

  "Why not?"

  "Twenty dollars isn't a large sum to be divided between two persons,especially when there's money to be paid for car fare."

  "Sometimes the watch is sold for more--generally, I fancy--but theprice was reduced because the purchaser was a boy. Besides, thesemen doubtless have other ways of making money. They are well-knownconfidence men. If I hadn't been on board the train our young friendwould have lost his twenty dollars."

  "It would have been a great loss to me," said Walter. "I am very muchobliged to you, Mr. Green."

  "Ah, you remember my name. Let me give you my card. Some time you mayget into difficulty and want to consult me. Boys of your age are not amatch for an experienced swindler."

  He handed Walter a card bearing the name:

  SILAS GREEN, 97 H Street.

  Walter put it into his pocket with a polite expression of thanks.

  Meanwhile, of course, the cars were steadily approaching Chicago. Atlength they entered the great Union Depot, and with the rest of thepassengers Walter alighted carrying his valise in his hand.

  A few feet in front of him walked Jim Beckwith, but Walter did not careto join him. He half turned, and as his glance fell on Walter he said,with a scowl: "If you ever meet me again you'll know me."

  "Yes, I shall!" answered Walter, with emphasis.

  CHAPTER X

  AT THE INDIANA HOUSE

  Walter paused before a modest hotel on Monroe Street--we will call itthe Indiana House--and, entering, went up to the desk and inquired therates of board.

  "Are you commercial?" asked the clerk.

  "Not at present, sir."

  "We make special terms for commercial travelers. We will give you asmall room on the third floor for one dollar and a half a day."

  This was as cheap as Walter expected to find it at a hotel, and hesignified his acceptance.

  "Front!" called the clerk.

  A red-haired boy about Walter's age came forward.

  "Take this young man up to No. 36," said the clerk.

  "Yessir," answered the bell-boy, pronouncing the two words in one.

  There was no elevator in the house, and Walter followed the boy up twoflights of stairs to the third landing. The boy opened the door of aroom with a small window looking out into an inner court.

  "Here you are!" he said, and he put the valise on the floor.

  "Thank you," said Walter.

  As he spoke he drew a dime from his vest pocket and deposited it in thehand of the red-haired attendant.

  The effect was magical. The bell-boy's listless manner vanished, hisdull face lighted up, and his manner became brisk.

  "Thank you, sir. Is there anything you want? If you do, I'll get it foryou."

  Walter looked about him. Soap, water, towels--all were in sight.

  "Not just now," he answered, "but I am going to take a wash, and shallprobably use up all the water. Some time this evening you may bring mesome more."

  "All right, sir. Just you ring when you want it."

  He went off, and Walter was left alone. First, he took a thorough wash,which refreshed him very much after his long and dusty ride. Then hechanged his linen, brushed his clothes with a hand-brush he had broughtin his valise and carefully combed his hair.

  "I feel a hundred per cent. better," he soliloquized. "Here I am inChicago and now the battle of life is to begin."

  Walter was sanguine and full of hope. His life had always been easy, andhe did not know what it was to work for a living. Besides, the fact mayas well be told--he had a very comfortable opinion of his own abilities.He felt that he was no common boy. Was he not a sophomore, or rather ajunior-elect, of Euclid college? Did he not possess a knowledge
moreor less extensive of Latin, Greek and mathematics, with a smattering ofFrench and German, not to speak of logic, rhetoric, etc.? For one of hisage he considered himself quite accomplished, and he persuaded himselfthat the world would receive him at his own estimate. It would be verystrange if he could not earn a living, when hundreds and thousands ofhis age, without a tithe of his knowledge, managed to live.

  Walter went downstairs, and, as it would not be supper-time for twohours, went out to walk. He wanted to get some idea of the busy citywhich was for a time at least, to be his home. He walked through MonroeStreet until he reached State. At the corner he caught sight of apalatial structure, nearly opposite.

  "What building is that?" he asked of a boy.

  "Where's year eyes?" returned the boy. "That's the Palmer House."

  Walter gazed admiringly at the showy building, and wished that he couldafford to put up there. It was as far ahead of the Indiana House asa city is ahead of a country village. He continued his walk until hereached the lake front, and looked with interest at the great sheet ofwater which spread out before him like an inland sea. He walked alongthe lake front for a few squares, and then, striking back into the city,saw the Tremont House, the Court-house, the Sherman house, and otherhandsome buildings. On his way he met hundreds of people walkingbriskly, and all seeming occupied.

  "If all these people make a living, why shouldn't I?" he asked himself."I think I am as smart as the average."

  Secretly Walter thought himself a great deal smarter. It must beremembered that Walter was not quite eighteen--a self-conceitedage--and he over-estimated his strength and ability. On the whole, it isfortunate that the young do not comprehend the difficult struggle thatlies before them, or they would become discouraged before they hadfairly entered upon it. It is well that they should be hopeful andsanguine. They are more likely to succeed.

  Walter wandered around in a desultory way, and it was more than an hourbefore he reached the hotel at which he was stopping. As he entered thepublic room he started back in surprise, as his glance rested on a manwearing a white hat. Surely this was the man who had sold him the goldwatch. How did it happen that he was not on the way to Dakota?

  He coughed, with a view to attracting the attention of his railroadacquaintance.

  The ruse succeeded. The man turned, and evidently recognized Walter. Helooked doubtful, not having yet met his confederate nor learned how theplot had come out.

  "I believe I met you on the train," said Walter, smiling.

  The smile decided the other that it would be safe to acknowledge theacquaintance.

  "Yes, I remember you now."

  "You sold me a watch?"

  "Yes," answered the other, hesitating.

  "I thought you wanted to take a train to Dakota this evening?" went onWalter.

  "So I do, but it doesn't go till eight o'clock. May I ask what time itis? You know I sold you my watch."

  "I suppose that is Chicago time," said Walter, pointing to a clock onthe left-hand side of the office.

  "I wonder whether he's got the watch still?" thought the other. "He musthave, as he makes no fuss about it."

  Walter was waiting cunningly to see if his railroad acquaintance wouldbetray himself.

  "I'm awfully sorry to part with the watch," he said. "If you keep it, Imay buy it back some time."

  "I'm sorry I can't oblige you," said Walter, "but I have sold italready."

  "Sold the watch already!" ejaculated the man in the white hat. "Did yousell it since you reached Chicago?"

  "No; I sold it on the train."

  "You don't mean it!" exclaimed the other, in amazement. "Who did yousell it to?"

  "Jim Beckwith," answered Walter.

  "Jim Beckwith!"

  The man in the white hat stared at Walter with an air of startledperplexity that almost made our hero laugh.

  "Yes, that's what he said his name was, or rather somebody told me itwas his name."

  "Jim Beckwith bought that watch of you!" repeated the stranger slowly.

  "Yes; do you know him?"

  "I have heard of him," said the other.

  "Oh, I nearly forgot to say that he claimed the watch as his--said youhad stolen it from him."

  "Jim Beckwith said that?"

  "Yes."

  "And you gave it up to him?"

  "Yes, but not till he paid me the twenty dollars I gave for it."

  The other was more and more mystified.

  "Jim Beckwith gave you twenty dollars?" he said.

  "Yes. That leaves me all right. If you want to buy it back at any timeyou must apply to him."

  The man in the white hat stared at Walter as if he was a museum freak.

  "Boy," he said, in a tone of enforced admiration, "you're smart!"

  "I am glad you think so, sir," returned Walter. "You pay me acompliment."

  "How old are you?"

  "Seventeen."

  "A seventeen-year-old boy who can get the better of Jim Beckwith issmart, and no mistake."

  "Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling me whether it's true that the watchbelongs to Mr. Beckwith, as he says?"

  "I bought it of another man, who may have stolen it from him," said heof the white hat, cautiously.

  "Well, you'll have to settle with him. I'm out of it!"

  While Walter was speaking, an extraordinary change came over thecountenance of the man in the white hat. The color faded from his cheeksand he half rose from his seat. He was not looking at Walter, but beyondhim, toward the door. Walter turned, following his look, and when he sawwho had entered he understood the situation.

  CHAPTER XI

  THE MAN FROM DAKOTA

  The man who had just entered the reading-room was no other thanDetective Green.

  He nodded pleasantly to Walter.

  "So you have put up here," he said. "Well, it is a good place. And isthis gentleman a friend of yours?" indicating the man in the white hat.

  "I bought the watch from him."

  "Ha! I thought so. I see you know me, Steve Ashton."

  "Yes, sir," answered Ashton, nervously. "I hope you are well."

  "You are very kind. Then you really hope I am well?"

  "Of course. Why shouldn't I?"

  "Well, there are some of your companions, I hear, who are not socordial--Jim Beckwith, for instance. By the way, you have some businessarrangements with Jim Beckwith?"

  "I know him, sir," answered Astern, hesitatingly. "You know him well, Isuspect. So you sold my young friend here a watch?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "At a remarkable sacrifice?"

  "Yes, sir. It was worth more than he paid for it."

  "And yet it seemed likely to be a losing bargain for him. It would havebeen--but for me."

  Ashton looked at Walter inquiringly. The latter smiled.

  "You gave me credit for being smarter than I was," said Walter. "Mr.Green, here, came to my assistance."

  "I think, Mr. Ashton," said Detective Green, with suavity, "that youhave a wife and family in Dakota?"

  "I, sir--"

  "Yes; and it was to obtain money to join them that you sold your watchon the train?"

  "Yes, sir," answered Ashton, faintly.

  "I am going to give you a bit of advice. It will be wise for you to goto Dakota, as you planned. This is a wicked city--in spots--and Iam afraid you have been keeping bad company. How long have you knownBeckwith?"

  "About six months."

  "And he drew you into this business?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I thought so. You are new to the profession. Still, I knew you. I makeit a point to get acquainted with the new men. Is the watch honestlyyours?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Get it back from Beckwith, and then drop his acquaintance. Ifnecessary, leave Chicago. Have you a trade?"

  "Yes, sir. I am a machinist."

  "It is a good trade. Go back to it. Is that advice friendly?"

  "Yes, sir," answered Ashton, with more confidence. "I didn't expect tog
et friendly advice from Detective Green."

  "Perhaps not. You didn't know me, that was all. You looked upon me as anenemy, I suppose?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I am an enemy to those who are incurably bad. I think you were meantfor an honest man."

  "So I was, sir. I should be still if I hadn't met with Jim Beckwith."

  "Have done with him, then. If you follow my advice you need not fearmeeting with me again."

  The detective went up to the desk, bought a cigar and then left theroom, with a nod to Ashton and Walter.

  "Will you follow his advice?" asked Walter.

  "Yes, I will. Hereafter I will depend upon honest work for an honestlivelihood. What is your name?"

  "Walter Sherwood."

  "Then, Walter Sherwood, I am glad I did not succeed in robbing you. YetI am glad I met you. It will lead to my reformation. Will you give meyour hand?"

  "Willingly."

  Steve Ashton shook the proffered hand energetically.

  "If I can do you a favor at any time I shall be glad to do so."

  "Perhaps you can. I cannot afford to live at a hotel. Can you recommendme to some respectable but modest-priced boarding-house?"

  "Yes. The widow of a machinist who used to be employed in the sameshop as myself keeps a few boarders. I think she would take you for sixdollars a week, or five if you have a friend to room with you."

  "Can you show me the place after supper--that is, unless you are in ahurry to start for Dakota?" He added, with a smile.