AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
Crawford Lane was considerably disconcerted.
"I will call later and buy the ticket," he said to the broker. "At
present I have some business with this young rascal, who robbed me this
morning of a considerable sum of money. Now he has the assurance to make
a charge against me."
The broker looked from one to the other. He was bewildered, and could
not decide which to believe.
Crawford Lane and the two boys went out into the street.
"Now, Mr. Lane," said Scott, in a resolute tone, "please hand over that
money."
"So you are acting the part of a highway robber, are you? If you know
what is best for yourself you will get away from here as soon as
possible."
"I am ready to go as soon as you give me my money. If not----"
"Well, if not?"
"I will summon a policeman."
It chanced that a member of the Broadway squad was within hearing.
He stopped and said: "Am I wanted here?"
"Yes," replied Lane, quickly; "I want you to arrest that boy."
"On what charge?"
"Robbery. I took pity on him, and though I knew scarcely anything of
him, I let him occupy the same room with myself at a hotel on the Bowery
last night. He stole some Bank of England notes from my pocket while I
was sleeping, and I want him arrested."
Scott's breath was quite taken away by the audacious misrepresentation
of his treacherous acquaintance.
"Well, what have you to say?" asked the policeman.
"Only that this man was himself the thief, and stole the notes from me."
"You young rascal!" exclaimed Lane, in assumed indignation. "That is a
likely story. I leave it to the officer which was more likely to have
money to be taken--a gentleman like myself, or a boy like you."
"I think you will have to come with me," said the officer to Scott.
"But," put in John Schickling, "that man has told you a lie. He owes my
mother nine dollars for room rent."
"I never saw the boy before in the whole course of my life," said Lane,
boldly. "He seems to be a confederate of the boy who robbed me."
"You can tell your story at the police station," said the policeman to
Scott. "You, sir, can go with me and prefer a charge."
"I am in a great hurry," replied Lane, taking out his watch. "I will
call at the police station in an hour. Now I have an important
engagement."
"You will have to come now," said the officer, beginning to be
suspicious.
"Oh, well, if it is necessary," said Lane, determined to brazen it out.
Scott was considerably taken aback at the unexpected turn which matters
had taken, and felt some anxiety.
"Will you come with me?" he said, addressing John Schickling.
"You bet I will," responded John, briskly. "I ain't goin' back on a
friend. I'll tell you what I know about this man."
"You'd better clear out," said Lane, "if you know what is best for you,
or you'll find yourself in hot water, too."
"I'll take the risk," rejoined John, not at all alarmed.
So they started for the station house in the City Hall, when something
unexpected happened.
A young man, handsomely dressed, met the procession, as he was himself
walking up Broadway. His eyes lighted up when they rested on Crawford
Lane.
He darted forward, and grasped him by the arm.
"At last I have found you!" he exclaimed. "Officer, I call upon you to
arrest this man."
The officer stared, surprised as he might well be.
Crawford Lane tried to release himself from the grasp of the speaker,
and had he succeeded would have fled unceremoniously.
"What does this mean?" asked the policeman. "He is going with me to the
station house to prefer a charge against this boy."
"That's a good joke! He prefer a charge!"
"He says the boy has robbed him."
"Then you may conclude that he has robbed the boy. He robbed me in
London some weeks since, and I have just caught him."
"This is all a mistake," said Lane, hurriedly. "Officer, you may let the
boy go."
"Do you withdraw the charge?"
"Yes."
"I prefer to go to the station house," said Scott, quietly. "I wish to
tell my story there. This man stole ten pounds from me in English
money."
At this moment there was a sudden excitement in the street. A man had
been knocked over by a passing truck, and all eyes were turned toward
the scene of the accident.
Justin Wood removed his hand from the arm of Crawford Lane, and the
latter lost no time in taking advantage of his freedom. He darted down a
side street, and when his companions turned to look for him he had
disappeared.
Justin Wood looked annoyed.
"He has escaped this time," he exclaimed, "but I will have him yet."
"Then I shall not be needed," said the officer, as he resumed his beat.
"How did this man get a chance to rob you?" asked Justin Wood, turning
to Scott.
Scott briefly explained.
"Did he take all your money?"
"No, sir. I have ten pounds left."
"Pardon me, but is this all you have?"
"Yes, sir."
"But you have a home?"
"Only such a home as I may be able to make for myself."
"Have you no relatives in this city?"
"Yes, sir, I have one. I am going to see him if I can, this afternoon."
Mr. Wood took a card from his pocket.
"I am staying at the Gilsey House," he said. "If you need help or
advice, call there and send up your name. By the way, what is your name,
my boy?"
"Scott Walton."
"I shall remember it. Now I must leave you as, like your late friend, I
have an important engagement."
"I suppose I must be getting back," said John, "as my brother will need
me. I am sorry I didn't collect the nine dollars from that jay."
"He has got the best of all of us," returned Scott. "Where do you live?
I may want to look you up some day."
"In West Thirty-sixth Street," said John. "I haven't got any card with
me, but I can give you the number."
"I won't forget it. You have been my first friend in New York, and I
don't want to lose you."
"I never thought I would like an English boy before," said John, "but I
like you."
"Thank you. I hope we shall remain friends."
When Scott was left alone it occurred to him that he had not yet
exchanged his English money, and he returned to the broker's office,
where he made the exchange, receiving about fifty dollars in greenbacks.
"This is all I have to depend upon," reflected Scott. "It won't do for
me to remain at the hotel much longer. My money would soon be gone."
He had ascertained that the rates at the hotel were two dollars a day,
including board.
This was not a large price, but Scott felt that it was more than he
could afford to pay. It was absolutely necessary that he should begin to
earn something as soon as possible.
He could decide upon nothing till he had seen his mother's cousin, Ezra
Little. If that gentleman should agree to take him into his store in any
capacity, he felt that his anxieties would be at an end. Hence, it was
desirable that he should see Mr. Little as soon as possible. He had
already ascertained that his relative was in the dry-goods business on
Eighth Avenue, but he felt that it would be better to call upon him at
his residence on West Forty-seventh Street. Probably Mr. Little would
have more leisure to talk with him there.
It was with a fast-beating heart that Scott, standing on the steps of a
three-story brick house on West Forty-seventh Street, rang the bell.
The door was opened by a servant girl.
Just behind her was a boy who looked to be about Scott's age, and who
listened inquisitively to what Scott had to say.
"Is Mr. Little at home?"
"He will be in in a few minutes. You can come in and wait for him."
"I should like to do so."
The servant opened the door leading into a small reception room to the
left of the front hall, and Scott, entering, seated himself.
The boy already referred to entered also. He was a very plain-looking
youth with light red hair.
"Did you have business with Mr. Little?" he asked, curiously. "I am his
son."
"Yes."
"Do you come from the store?"
"No."
"Perhaps you are meaning to apply for a place there?"
"I should be glad if your father would give me a place. I have just come
from England. My mother was a cousin of Mr. Little."