A TIMELY RESCUE.
Julius was filled with a terrible fear, when in the man who stood over
him menacingly he recognized Tom Marlowe. He knew the man's brutal
disposition, and that he was very much incensed against him. He looked
wildly around him for help, but he could see no one. The sailor had
hidden behind a large tree, and was not visible.
"You're looking for help, are you?" sneered Marlowe. "Look all you
want 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, did
you? You thought you'd get rid of me, did you? Where's that money you
got 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 went
with 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 have
gained this information.
"Do you deny this?" demanded Marlowe.
"I didn't know I was to get any money," stammered Julius. "I wouldn't
have told of you, but Paul had been kind to me."
"So you forgot all about Jack Morgan and me. You were ready to sell
your best friends. But you didn't count the cost, my chicken! We
generally pay up for such favors. I promised Jack I'd settle our
account, 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 tongue
we'd both have got off with the swag. Now hand over that money, and be
quick about it."
"What money?" faltered Julius.
"You know well enough--the fifty dollars."
Julius felt thankful now that he had deposited the greater part with
Paul.
"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 badly
disappointed. Fifty dollars would have been of essential service to
him, 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 into
his pocket.
"Now," said he, seizing Julius by the shoulder with a dark and
menacing look, "I'll give you a lesson you'll remember to the last day
of your life."
He threw Julius upon the ground, and was about savagely to kick the
helpless boy, who would in all probability have died from the brutal
treatment 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 to
interfere. "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. What
business is it of yours?" he said, furiously.
"It's always my business," said the sailor, manfully, "when I see a
big brute pitching into a youngster like that. I ain't the man to
stand 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's
after. 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 the
statement.
"Don't you be afraid, my lad. If you were his boy ten times over, he
shouldn't beat you while I am by."
Marlowe was terribly enraged. He saw his victim slipping from his
grasp just as he was about to glut his vengeance upon him. He was a
man of violent passions, and they got the better of his prudence.
"Stand back!" he shouted, advancing toward the intrepid sailor, "or I
will 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. Marlowe
staggered under it, but it only maddened him. Half-blinded, he rushed
once more upon his opponent, but received a well-directed blow full in
the chest, which stretched him at the sailor's feet. The latter
forbore to take an unmanly advantage of his foe's position, but calmly
waited for him to rise.
"Do you want more?" he asked, coolly.
Marlowe, had he been wise, would have desisted, but he was filled with
a blind, unreasoning rage, and advanced again to the attack. But he
was no match for the stout sailor. He fared this time no better than
before, but again was stretched at the sailor's feet.
By this time the conflict had attracted attention. Several men came
running 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 to
get away.
"The boy may shift for himself," he said. "If you take so much
interest 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 alarm
under 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 and
menacing 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, showing
that he was known, Marlowe with an oath took to flight, closely
pursued 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 sharp
struggle, in which they were materially assisted by the powerful
sailor, 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 he
heard these threatening words. But he felt thankful that he had
escaped the present danger. The peril was over for the time; but
Julius could not help feeling that he was not wholly safe as long as
Marlowe was at large. I may as well add here that the burglar was
delivered to the New York authorities, and in due time had his trial,
was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the prison
at Sing Sing.
This adventure, and the excitement attending it, spoiled the enjoyment
of Julius for the afternoon. He returned to the pier and took passage
on the boat bound for the city. He called on Paul at his stand, and
surprised him with the news of Marlowe's capture, and his own narrow
escape.
"I am glad to hear it, Julius," said Paul. "So that sailor that
followed you was Marlowe."
"Yes. Did you see him?"
"I noticed him two or three times, but had no idea he was following
us."
"I never should have known him, he looked so different." "He might
have 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 left
yet. 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, my
mother 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 us
till it is time for you to go out West."
Julius made some faint objections, out of bashfulness; but he was so
pleasantly received by Mrs. Hoffman, and treated with so much
kindness, that he came to feel quite at home, and needed no urging
after the first night. Jimmy asked him a multitude of questions about
the burglars, how they looked and how they lived, to which Julius
answered patiently.
"When you are out West, you must write to us how you are getting
along, 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 suddenly
ashamed 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 has
had no chance to learn yet, but after he gets to the West he will make
it up."
The mortification which Julius felt at his ignorance made him
determine to study hard whenever he could. He felt that if he wanted
to occupy a respectable position in society, he must, at least, know
how to read and write.