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

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  A TIMELY RESCUE.

  Julius was filled with a terrible fear, when in the man who stood overhim menacingly he recognized Tom Marlowe. He knew the man's brutaldisposition, and that he was very much incensed against him. He lookedwildly around him for help, but he could see no one. The sailor hadhidden behind a large tree, and was not visible.

  "You're looking for help, are you?" sneered Marlowe. "Look all youwant to. You're in my power. Now tell me, you treacherous young dog,why shouldn't I kill you?"

  Julius regarded him in silent terror.

  "You didn't think I'd get away from the cops you set on my track, didyou? You thought you'd get rid of me, did you? Where's that money yougot for selling us, eh?"

  "I didn't sell you," said Julius, trembling.

  "Don't lie to me. I know all about it. I followed you when you wentwith that boy that keeps the necktie stand. I know how much you got.It was fifty dollars."

  Julius was bewildered. He did not understand how Marlowe could havegained this information.

  "Do you deny this?" demanded Marlowe.

  "I didn't know I was to get any money," stammered Julius. "I wouldn'thave told of you, but Paul had been kind to me."

  "So you forgot all about Jack Morgan and me. You were ready to sellyour best friends. But you didn't count the cost, my chicken! Wegenerally pay up for such favors. I promised Jack I'd settle ouraccount, and I'm goin' to do it."

  "Is Jack took?" asked Julius, shrinking under the man's fierce glance.

  "Yes, he is, curse you! If it hadn't been for your blabbing tonguewe'd both have got off with the swag. Now hand over that money, and bequick about it."

  "What money?" faltered Julius.

  "You know well enough--the fifty dollars."

  Julius felt thankful now that he had deposited the greater part withPaul.

  "I haven't got it."

  "You lie!" exclaimed Marlowe, brutally.

  "I gave it to Paul, all except five dollars." "I don't believe you.Empty your pockets."

  Julius did so, but only five dollars were found. Marlowe was badlydisappointed. Fifty dollars would have been of essential service tohim, and they had dwindled to five.

  "What business had you to give the money to him?" he demanded,harshly.

  "I was afraid I might lose it."

  "Give me the five dollars."

  Julius reluctantly handed the bill to his enemy, who thrust it intohis pocket.

  "Now," said he, seizing Julius by the shoulder with a dark andmenacing look, "I'll give you a lesson you'll remember to the last dayof your life."

  He threw Julius upon the ground, and was about savagely to kick thehelpless boy, who would in all probability have died from the brutaltreatment he was likely to receive, when he was seized by the collar,and sent whirling backward by a powerful hand.

  "Avast there, you lubber!" said the sailor, who had felt it time tointerfere. "What are you about?"

  Marlowe turned furiously upon his unexpected assailant.

  "I'll soon let you know, if you don't leave here pretty sudden. Whatbusiness is it of yours?" he said, furiously.

  "It's always my business," said the sailor, manfully, "when I see abig brute pitching into a youngster like that. I ain't the man tostand by and see it done."

  "He wants to kill me. Don't let him," implored Julius.

  "That I won't, my lad. He'll have to kill me, too, if that's what he'safter. He'll find me a tough customer, I reckon."

  "This is my boy. I shall beat him as I please," said Marlowe, angrily.

  "I am not his boy," said Julius, fearing the sailor would credit thestatement.

  "Don't you be afraid, my lad. If you were his boy ten times over, heshouldn't beat you while I am by."

  Marlowe was terribly enraged. He saw his victim slipping from hisgrasp just as he was about to glut his vengeance upon him. He was aman of violent passions, and they got the better of his prudence.

  "Stand back!" he shouted, advancing toward the intrepid sailor, "or Iwill serve you and the boy alike."

  "I'm ready," said the other, coolly, squaring off scientifically.

  Marlowe aimed a heavy blow at his head, which, had it taken effect,would have prostrated and perhaps stunned him. But it was warded off,and a counter blow returned, which took better effect. Marlowestaggered under it, but it only maddened him. Half-blinded, he rushedonce more upon his opponent, but received a well-directed blow full inthe chest, which stretched him at the sailor's feet. The latterforbore to take an unmanly advantage of his foe's position, but calmlywaited for him to rise.

  "Do you want more?" he asked, coolly.

  Marlowe, had he been wise, would have desisted, but he was filled witha blind, unreasoning rage, and advanced again to the attack. But hewas no match for the stout sailor. He fared this time no better thanbefore, but again was stretched at the sailor's feet.

  By this time the conflict had attracted attention. Several men camerunning up, among them a member of the local police.

  "What's the meaning of all this?" demanded the latter.

  "Ask the boy," said the sailor.

  Julius, thus appealed to, answered:

  "That man wanted to kill me, but the sailor stopped him."

  "It's a lie!" growled Marlowe. "He's my boy, and I was punishing him."

  "Are you his boy?" asked the policeman, turning to Julius.

  "No."

  "Where do you live?"

  "In New York."

  "Do you know him?"

  "Yes."

  "Who is he?"

  Marlowe saw that it was getting dangerous for him, and was anxious toget away.

  "The boy may shift for himself," he said. "If you take so muchinterest in him you can take care of him."

  These last words were addressed to the sailor.

  He turned on his heel, and hoped to get away without further trouble.

  "Stop, there!" said the officer. "We haven't done with you yet."

  "What do you want?" demanded Marlowe, endeavoring to conceal his alarmunder an air of surly bravado.

  "I want to know who you are."

  "I'm a sailor."

  "Then you're a land sailor," retorted the true son of Neptune.

  "Is he a sailor?" asked the officer of Julius.

  "No, sir."

  "What is his name?"

  "His name is Marlowe," answered Julius, in spite of the black andmenacing looks of his enemy, intended to intimidate him.

  "Marlowe? The man implicated in the burglary in Madison avenue?"

  Julius was not required to answer this, for at the question, showingthat he was known, Marlowe with an oath took to flight, closelypursued by all present. He had run half a mile before he was secured.But his pursuers at length caught up with him, and after a sharpstruggle, in which they were materially assisted by the powerfulsailor, he was taken and bound.

  "If I ever get free, I'll kill you!" he muttered, between his teeth,to Julius. "You'll rue this day's work."

  Julius, secure as he was at present, could not help shuddering as heheard these threatening words. But he felt thankful that he hadescaped the present danger. The peril was over for the time; butJulius could not help feeling that he was not wholly safe as long asMarlowe was at large. I may as well add here that the burglar wasdelivered to the New York authorities, and in due time had his trial,was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the prisonat Sing Sing.

  This adventure, and the excitement attending it, spoiled the enjoymentof Julius for the afternoon. He returned to the pier and took passageon the boat bound for the city. He called on Paul at his stand, andsurprised him with the news of Marlowe's capture, and his own narrowescape.

  "I am glad to hear it, Julius," said Paul. "So that sailor thatfollowed you was Marlowe."

  "Yes. Did you see him?"

  "I noticed him two or three times, but had no idea he was followingus."

  "I never should have known him, he looked so different."
"He mighthave got away if he hadn't been so anxious to revenge himself on you."

  "He's got my five dollars," said Julius, regretfully.

  "It might have been much worse. You've got forty-five dollars leftyet. Do you want any of it?"

  "You may give me five more."

  Paul drew a five-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Julius.

  "By the way, Julius," he said "where do you expect to sleep to-night?"

  "In the lodgin' house."

  "Come up and stop with me. We can find room for you. Besides, mymother will give you a good supper."

  "You are very kind to me, Paul," said Julius, gratefully.

  "I ought to be. You did us all a great service. You must stay with ustill it is time for you to go out West."

  Julius made some faint objections, out of bashfulness; but he was sopleasantly received by Mrs. Hoffman, and treated with so muchkindness, that he came to feel quite at home, and needed no urgingafter the first night. Jimmy asked him a multitude of questions aboutthe burglars, how they looked and how they lived, to which Juliusanswered patiently.

  "When you are out West, you must write to us how you are gettingalong, Julius," said Mrs. Hoffman, kindly.

  Julius blushed, and did not answer. He seemed much embarrassed.

  "Won't you?" asked Jimmy.

  "I don't know how to write!" said Julius at last, feeling suddenlyashamed of his ignorance.

  "Such a big boy as you can't write?" said Jimmy, in amazement.

  "There is plenty of time to learn," said Paul, cheerfully. "Julius hashad no chance to learn yet, but after he gets to the West he will makeit up."

  The mortification which Julius felt at his ignorance made himdetermine to study hard whenever he could. He felt that if he wantedto occupy a respectable position in society, he must, at least, knowhow to read and write.