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?"