RUPERT BECOMES A CONFIDANT.
Some three months later Rupert's attention was called to a boy of
seventeen or thereabouts, with long black hair and a high forehead, who
registered as a guest, and took one of the cheapest rooms in the hotel.
The boy seemed to have no companion, and to know very little about the
city.
"Can you direct me to Palmer's Theatre?" he asked, rather diffidently.
"It is on Broadway, corner of Thirtieth Street," answered Rupert.
"And Daly's?"
"That is nearly opposite, on the other side of Broadway."
The boy took out a memorandum-book and noted down these addresses.
"What can he want at those theatres?" thought Rupert.
Of course he might want to buy a reserved seat in advance, but Rupert
did not think it likely.
After getting his information the boy went out (it was about ten
o'clock), and did not reappear till four o'clock in the afternoon.
Rupert noticed him as he entered the hotel, and observed that he looked
anxious and despondent. He did not go upstairs at once, but sank into a
chair near Rupert, and apparently gave way to sorrowful reflections.
"He has some secret trouble," thought the bell-boy. "If he would speak
to me I might be able to comfort him."
On the impulse of the moment he went up to the young guest, and asked,
in a low tone of sympathy,
"Are you in any trouble?"
The boy started, flushed, and looked at Rupert half suspiciously. But
there was something so friendly and sympathetic in Rupert's face that he
was assured of his being a safe confidant.
"Yes," he said, "I am in trouble."
"If you will tell me, perhaps I can help you."
The boy looked about him hesitatingly.
"I shouldn't like to tell you here," he answered. "There are too many
people round."
"I shall be at leisure after six o'clock. Will that do?"
"Yes. Could you come up to my room?"
"I will come with pleasure."
"I want a confidant. I want advice. You are younger than I am--at least
you look so--but you have lived in the city while I am from the
country."
"At any rate I will give you the best advice I can."
"Thank you. I feel better for having found a friend. I will go and take
a walk, and you will find me here at six o'clock."
When Rupert got through work he found the boy waiting for him in the
same place.
"I can go upstairs with you now."
"All right!" said the young guest, rising from his seat quickly. "We
will take the elevator, for my room is on the top floor."
"In business hours," said Rupert, "I am not allowed to use the elevator.
Now I am no longer a bell-boy, but your visitor."
The room was a small hall bedroom. It was one that was let for
seventy-five cents a day, while the better and larger rooms ranged
upwards to a dollar and a half. The room contained one chair only.
"Please take a seat," said the young host.
"But where will you sit?"
"I will sit on the bed. I don't know but you will laugh at me," he went
on, "when I tell you what brought me to New York."
"Oh, no. I shall not laugh at you. But first, as we are to be friends,
let me tell you my name and ask yours. I am Rupert Rollins."
"That is a nice name. It sounds like a story name. Mine is Leslie
Waters."
"Where do you live?"'
"I was born and brought up in Rahway. That is in New Jersey, about
twenty miles from New York. My father lives about a mile from the
village. He has a small farm."
"And you were brought up to work on the farm?"
"Well, it isn't exactly a farm, but we raise vegetables and fruits for
the New York market. I went to school till a year ago. Then I
graduated, and since then I have worked for my father."
"Did you like it?"
"No, I don't like working on land. I feel," continued Leslie, flushing,
"that I was born for something better and nobler. Besides, I don't want
to live in the country. I prefer the city. There's something going on
here."
"Yes, that is true."
"And I wanted to be in the excitement. I'd rather live half as long in
the city. You can live more here in a year than in the country in two
years."
"Was there any particular thing that you wished to do?"
"Yes, I am coming to that. When I attended school there was one exercise
that many of the boys did not like, but I did. I liked to declaim. I
began with such pieces as 'Casabianca'--you know that, don't you?"
"Oh, yes," said Rupert, smiling. "I have spoken it more than once
myself."
"But of course I got beyond that after a while. I used to speak pieces
from Shakespeare and other dramatic authors. There was one I liked to
speak in particular. It begins:
"The warrior bowed his crested head and tamed his heart of fire,
And sued the haughty king to free his long-imprisoned sire."
"Yes, I know the poem."
"I got a prize for speaking it at one of our closing examinations," said
Leslie, proudly. "Would you like to have me speak it for you now?"
"I afraid it would attract attention in some of the neighboring rooms,
as it is a spirited piece."
Leslie looked disappointed but continued. "Then I have spoken 'Young
Lochinvar' also--I liked that."
"Did you never speak any prose pieces?"
"No, I didn't care for prose. I like poetry best. I wish we were alone,
so I could speak something for you."
"We will go on an excursion some Sunday--say to Weehawken--and then I
shall have a chance to hear you."
"I am afraid I shall not be able to stay in the city," said Leslie,
gloomily. "I have met nothing but disappointment since I came here."