A THIEF FOILED.
Until that moment Denton had not taken the trouble to notice the face
of his roommate. He had only observed that he was a boy.
The recognition was mutual, and it is hard to tell who was the more
surprised.
"The train boy, as I'm a sinner!" ejaculated Denton, in amazement.
"Luke Denton!" ejaculated Paul in turn.
"How came you here?" asked the man.
"What are you doing with my carpet-bag?" demanded Paul.
"Oh, bother!" returned Denton, defiantly. "That's my business!"
"I should say that it was my business," retorted Paul.
"Where do you keep your money? I don't find any in the bag."
"I don't keep any there."
"Give me your pocket-book quick, youngster. I am hard up, and I must
have money."
As he spoke he advanced toward the bed.
"You can't have mine, Mr. Denton," said Paul. "When did you get out of
jail?"
"Boy, do you want me to kill you?" demanded Denton, fiercely.
"No, and I sha'n't permit you to rob me either."
"Listen to me!" said Denton, rapidly. "I am a desperate man, as I have
already told you. I have escaped from prison, but I have used up what
money I had. I must have more. I don't forget that you were the means
of sending me to prison, but if you will give me all the money you have
about you, I will let you go this time."
"Suppose I refuse?" said Paul.
"Then I will strangle you first, and rob you afterward," answered Luke
Denton, wickedly.
As he spoke he moved nearer the bed, but he paused suddenly when Paul
drew a revolver from beneath his pillow, and pointed it at him.
"Stop there, Mr. Luke Denton," he said, firmly. "I should be very
unwilling to shoot you, but I mean to defend myself. One step nearer
and I fire!"
"You wouldn't dare do it," said Denton, chafing with disappointment.
"You'd better not take the risk."
"I was only joking," said Denton. "I thought I would see if I could
scare you. I'm going to bed."
"Not in this room."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't go to bed in this room," repeated Paul. "This room is mine.
I have a better claim to it than you, for I engaged it first."
"I do not feel safe in passing the night in your company."
"That is nothing to me."
"Listen, Luke Denton. Unless you leave this room at once I will ring
the bell, summon the landlord, and denounce you as an escaped convict."
Luke Denton was so angry that, had he been armed, he might have fired
at our hero, but his stock of money had been too limited to allow him
to purchase a pistol.
"Nonsense!" he said. "I will do you no harm."
"Are you going?" asked Paul, still keeping him covered with his weapon.
There was no help for it. With a muttered execration Luke Denton
left the room, and Paul, glad to be rid of him, locked the door, and
breathed a sigh of relief.
It may be well to add here that Denton was not recaptured, but months
afterward was shot in California by a miner whom he had robbed. It
was a sad ending to a life which might have been honorably spent, for
he was a man of excellent abilities and capacity, but preferred the
hazardous career of a thief to the more prosaic paths of industry and
honesty.
Next day Paul purchased a ticket for Chicago.
As he stood at the depot waiting for his train his attention was drawn
to the pale and sorrowful face of a woman who had just inquired the
price of a ticket to Chicago, and, as if it were beyond her means,
turned away with a deep sigh.
"Are you in trouble, madam?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered. "It is important for me to go to Chicago, but I
have not money enough within five dollars."
"I will advance the money," said Paul, stirred with pity.
"God bless you, young man!" exclaimed the lady, fervently. "You don't
know how important it is for me to make this journey."