COLEMAN'S LITTLE PLAN
Though Coleman went to bed late, he awoke early. He had the power
of awaking at almost any hour that he might fix. He was still quite
fatigued, but having an object in view, overcame his tendency to
lie longer, and swiftly dressing himself, went downstairs. Luke was
still sleeping, and did not awaken while his companion was dressing.
Coleman went downstairs and strolled up to the clerk's desk,
"You're up early," said that official.
"Yes, it's a great nuisance, but I have a little business to attend
to with a man who leaves Chicago by an early train. I tried to find
him last night, but he had probably gone to some theater. That is
what has forced me to get up so early this morning."
"I am always up early," said the clerk.
"Then you are used to it, and don't mind it. It is different
with me."
Coleman bought a cigar, and while he was lighting it, remarked,
as if incidentally:
"By the way, did my young friend leave my money with you
last evening?"
"He left a package of money with me, but he didn't mention
it was yours."
"Forgot to, I suppose. I told him to leave it here, as I was going
out to the theater, and was afraid I might have my pocket picked.
Smart fellows, those pickpockets. I claim to be rather smart myself,
but there are some of them smart enough to get ahead of me.
"I was relieved of my pocketbook containing over two hundred dollars
in money once. By Jove! I was mad enough to knock the fellow's head
off, if I had caught him."
"It is rather provoking."
"I think I'll trouble you to hand me the money the boy left with
you, as I have to use some this morning."
Mr. Coleman spoke in an easy, off-hand way, that might have taken in
some persons, but hotel clerks are made smart by their positions.
"I am sorry, Mr. Coleman," said the clerk, "but I can only give it
back to the boy."
"I commend your caution, my friend," said Coleman, "but I can assure
you that it's all right. I sent it back by Luke when I was going to
the theater, and I meant, of course, to have him give my name with
it. However, he is not used to business, and so forgot it."
"When did you hand it to him?" asked the clerk, with newborn suspicion.
"About eight o'clock. No doubt he handed it in as soon as he came
back to the hotel."
"How much was there?"
This question posed Mr. Coleman, as he had no idea how much money
Luke had with him.
"I can't say exactly," he answered. "I didn't count it. There might
have been seventy-five dollars, though perhaps the sum fell a little
short of that."
"I can't give you the money, Mr. Coleman," said the clerk, briefly.
"I have no evidence that it is yours."
"Really, that's ludicrous," said Coleman, with a forced laugh. "You
don't mean to doubt me, I hope," and Madison Coleman drew himself
up haughtily.
"That has nothing to do with it. The rule of this office is to
return money only to the person who deposited it with us. If we
adopted any other rule, we should get into no end of trouble."
"But, my friend," said Coleman, frowning, "you are putting me to
great inconvenience. I must meet my friend in twenty minutes and
pay him a part of this money."
"I have nothing to do with that," said the clerk.
"You absolutely refuse, then?"
"I do," answered the clerk, firmly. "However, you can easily
overcome the difficulty by bringing the boy down here to authorize
me to hand you the money."
"It seems to me that you have plenty of red tape here," said
Coleman, shrugging his shoulders. "However, I must do as you
require."
Coleman had a bright thought, which he proceeded to carry
into execution.
He left the office and went upstairs. He was absent long enough to
visit the chamber which he and Luke had occupied together. Then he
reported to the office again.
"The boy is not dressed," he said, cheerfully. "However, he has
given me an order for the money, which, of course, will do as well."
He handed a paper, the loose leaf of a memorandum book,
on which were written in pencil these words:
"Give my guardian, Mr. Coleman, the money I left on deposit
at the office. LUKE LARKIN."
"That makes it all right, doesn't it?" asked Coleman, jauntily.
"Now, if you'll be kind enough to hand me my money at once, I'll
be off."
"It won't do, Mr. Coleman," said the clerk. "How am I to know
that the boy wrote this?"
"Don't you see his signature?"
The clerk turned to the hotel register, where Luke had enrolled
his name.
"The handwriting is not the same," he said, coldly.
"Oh, confound it!" exclaimed Coleman, testily. "Can't you
understand that writing with a pencil makes a difference?"
"I understand," said the clerk, "that you are trying to get
money that does not belong to you. The money was deposited a couple
of hours sooner than the time you claim to have handed it to the
boy--just after you and the boy arrived."
"You're right," said Coleman, unabashed. "I made a mistake."
"You cannot have the money."
"You have no right to keep it from me," said Coleman, wrathfully.
"Bring the boy to the office and it shall be delivered to him;
then, if he chooses to give it to you, I have nothing to say."
"But I tell you he is not dressed."
"He seems to be," said the clerk, quietly, with a glance at the
door, through which Luke was just entering.
Coleman's countenance changed. He was now puzzled for a moment.
Then a bold plan suggested itself. He would charge Luke with having
stolen the money from him.