Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER XVI.

  LOCKED UP FOR THE NIGHT.

  About nine o'clock, after a comfortable breakfast, for which he hadpaid out of his morning's earnings, Julius went round again to Paul'snecktie 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-morrownight."

  Julius nodded.

  "Do they know you overheard?"

  "No."

  "So you came and told me. You're a good fellow, Julius. You have doneme 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 awareof it. Marlowe, on leaving the room some time after Julius, had comeinto the vicinity with the design of getting a view of Paul andascertaining whether he was the boy whom he had seen purchasing thecoat. He came up a moment after Julius reached the stand. Of course heidentified Paul, and his suspicions as to the good understandingbetween him and Julius were confirmed by seeing them together. Helistened intently, hoping to catch something of their conversation,but though not far off, the street noises were such as to render thisimpossible.

  "The young viper!" he said to himself. "He's sold us, as sure as myname's Marlowe. I'll wring his neck for him. He'll find he's got intodangerous 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'dstrangle 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. Hethinks we trust him. Let him think so, and when we get ready to go outSaturday night, we'll tie him hand and foot, so he can't stir. Thenwe'll go up to the house and take 'em unprepared."

  "All right," said Jack. "Your head's longer than mine, Marlowe. Youknow best."

  "Of course I do," said Marlowe. "You've got the strength and I've gotthe brain."

  Jack Morgan extended his arms, and watched his muscular developmentwith satisfaction. He was not sensitive about the slight to hisunderstanding. He was content to be thought what he was, a strong anddangerous animal.

  What preparations were necessary to be made were made during that dayand the next by the two confederates. They were made during theabsence of Julius, that he might know nothing of what was going on.Further to mislead him, the two spoke two or three times on theprevious evening of their expedition of Monday night. Julius fathomedtheir design, and was sharp enough not to appear particularlyinterested.

  So Saturday night came. At six o'clock Julius entered the room andfound the two seated together. He had had half a mind not to appear atall, but to cut loose from them forever; but this would lead tosuspicion, and he changed his mind. Though he had not seen Paul since,he had reason to believe that he had made preparations to receive thetwo burglars. In all probability they would be arrested, and thiswould be their last meeting.

  "How are you, Jack?" he said, as he entered the room, with a littlequalm at the thought that this man, bad as he was, was so near fallinginto 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," herebroke in Jack Morgan, his dull eyes gleaming fiercely. "I'd kill you."

  "What makes you say that to me, Jack?" said Julius, not showing thefear 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 expectthe truth from one like Julius, under such circumstances. He knew Jackwell enough to understand that he was quite capable of carrying outhis threat, and it decided him, when the two went out, to go outhimself and not to return. They might find out that he had beendealing falsely with them, and if so his life was in danger. It wasyet early, and he decided to go out at once, as he usually did, for itwas not very agreeable to pass an entire evening in the miserabletenement rooms.

  "Where are you going?" asked Marlowe, as he lifted the latch of thedoor.

  "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' outto-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 bestto show surprise at the action of the confederates, though it did notsurprise 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 somegrub."

  "We'll bring you some," said Jack, who was not as fully convinced ashis 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, whileJack and Marlowe were robbing the house on Madison avenue. In allprobability they would be arrested, and prevented from returning. Butsuppose one or both escaped from the trap in which they were expectedto fall. If their suspicions of his fidelity were aroused now theywould be confirmed by the discovery of the police. Knowing thedesperate character of both, Julius reflected with a shudder that hislife would possibly be sacrificed. It would not do for him to remainhere. He must escape by some means.

  But how? This was a difficult question to answer. The room was on thethird floor, with a solitary window looking out into a small, dirtycourt. It was too high up to jump with safety, and there was nothingin the room by which he could descend.

  He was still considering this question an hour later, when the tworeturned.

  Jack had in his hand a couple of apples.

  "There," said he, tossing them to Julius. "That'll do you tillmornin'."

  "Thank you," said Julius.

  It was true that he had had no supper, and he ate the apples with agood appetite. The two men sat down, and, producing the same old,greasy pack of cards which they had before used, began to play. It wasnot until a late hour that they could go about the business which theyhad planned. Twelve o'clock was as early as they could venture toattempt entering the house. To prime them for the task, they hadbrought in with them a plentiful supply of whisky, of which theypartook at frequent intervals. They offered none to Julius.

  By and by Julius went to bed. He knew th
ey would not go out tilleleven, probably, and he would like to have kept awake till then. Butthis would have been unusual, and perhaps have increased suspicion. Soafter awhile he lay quiet, and pretended to be asleep. The men kept onplaying 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 hisface, but gave no sign that he was still awake. He was filled withcuriosity to know whether Marlowe and Jack meant to carry out theirplan this evening.

  "He seems to be asleep," said Marlowe, "but we'll lock him in, to makesure. In three hours we'll be back, if all goes well, with plenty ofswag."

  "I hope so, Marlowe. I've got tired of livin' this way; we'll go toCalifornia if we come out right."

  "I'm with you, Jack, on that. A pal of mine went out to the mines andgot 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'swhat makes the difference between people in this world. Give me ahundred thousand, and instead of bein' Tom Marlowe I would be ThomasMarlowe, 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 moreundeserving 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 begoin'. Here's good luck!" and he poured down a glass of the whisky atone gulp.

  They carefully locked the door behind them, and their heavy steps wereheard descending the rickety stairs.

  Julius listened till the sound was no longer heard. Then he jumped upfrom the pallet on which he had been counterfeiting sleep, and said tohimself, "It ain't safe to stay here any longer. How shall I get out?"