ROSWELL JOINS THE MADISON CLUB.
It was not until Saturday night that Roswell obtained the key. The
locksmith, like tradesmen and mechanics in general, kept putting him
off, to Roswell's great annoyance.
As he did not get the key till Saturday night, of course there would
be no opportunity of using it till Monday. The only time then was the
hour in which Mr. Baker and Mr. Jones were absent, and Roswell was left
alone. But to his great vexation, an old gentleman came in directly
after Mr. Baker went out, and inquired for him.
"He's gone to dinner," said Roswell.
"I think I'll wait till he returns," said the visitor, coolly sitting
down in Mr. Baker's arm-chair.
Roswell was in dismay, for this would of course prevent his using the
key which he had taken so much trouble to obtain.
"Mr. Baker is always out a good while," said Roswell.
"Never mind, I can wait for him. I came in from the country this
morning, and shall not need to start back till four."
"Perhaps," suggested Roswell, "you could go out and do the rest of your
errands, and come back at two o'clock. Mr. Baker will be sure to be
back then."
"Who told you I had any more errands to do?" asked the old gentleman,
sharply.
"I thought you might have," said Roswell, somewhat confused.
"You are very considerate; but, as my business is over for the day, I
will ask your permission to remain till my nephew returns."
So this was Mr. Baker's uncle, a shrewd old gentlemen, if he did live
in the country.
"Certainly," said Roswell, but not with a very good grace, adding to
himself; "there'll be no chance for me to get the money to-day. I hope
the old fellow won't come round again to-morrow."
The next day was Tuesday. In the evening the club was to meet, so there
was no time to lose.
Fortunately, as Roswell thought, the coast was clear.
"Suppose the key won't fit?" he thought with uneasiness.
It would have been lucky for Roswell if the key had not fitted. But it
proved to fit exactly. Turning it in the lock, the drawer opened, and
before him lay a pile of bills.
How much or how little there might be Roswell did not stop to examine.
He knew that a customer might come in at any time, and he must do
at once what he meant to do. At the top of the pile there was a
five-dollar bill. He took it, slipped it hastily into his vest-pocket,
relocked the drawer, and, walking away from it, began to dust the books
upon the counter.
He felt that he had taken the decisive step. He was supplied with the
necessary money to pay the initiation fee. The question was, would Mr.
Baker find it out?
Suppose he should, how would it be possible to evade suspicion, or to
throw it upon some one else?
"If I could make him think it was the match boy," thought Roswell,
"I should be killing two birds with one stone. I must see what can be
done."
When Mr. Baker returned, Roswell feared he would go to the drawer, but
he did not seem inclined to do this.
He just entered the store, and said, "Mr. Jones, I am obliged to go
over to Brooklyn on a little business, and I may not be back this
afternoon."
"Very well, sir," said Mr. Jones.
Roswell breathed freer after he had left the shop. It had occurred to
him as possible that if the money were missed, he might be searched,
in which case the key and the bill in his pocket would be enough to
convict him. Now he should not see Mr. Baker again till the next day
probably, when the money would be disposed of.
Mr. Baker, as he anticipated, did not return from Brooklyn before
Roswell left the store.
Roswell snatched a hasty supper, and went over to his friend, Ralph
Graham's room, immediately afterwards.
"Glad to see you, Roswell," said Ralph; "are you coming to the club
with me to-night?"
"Yes," said Roswell.
"Have you got the five dollars?"
"Yes."
"How did you manage it?"
"Oh, I contrived to get it," said Roswell, who did not like to confess
in what way he had secured possession of the money.
"Well, it's all right, as long as you've got it. I was afraid you
wouldn't succeed."
"So was I," said Roswell. "I had hard work of it. What time do the club
meetings begin?" he asked.
"At eight o'clock, but I generally go round about half an hour before.
Generally, some of the fellows are there, and we can have a social
chat. I guess we'll go round at half-past seven, and that will give me
a chance to introduce you to some of the members before the meeting
begins."
"I should like that," said Roswell.
In a short time the boys set out. They paused before a small house on
Fourth Avenue, and rang the bell. The summons was answered by a colored
man.
"Any members of the club upstairs?" inquired Ralph.
"Yes, sir," said the attendant. "There's Mr. Tracy, Mr. Wilmot, and Mr.
Burgess."
"Very well, I'll go up."
"Jackson," said Ralph, "this gentleman is Mr. Crawford, a new member."
"Glad to make your acquaintance, sir," said Jackson.
"Thank you," said Roswell.
"Jackson takes care of the club-room," explained Ralph, "and is in
attendance to admit the members on club nights. Now let us go upstairs."
They went up one flight of stairs, and opened the door of a back room.
It was not a very imposing-looking apartment, being only about twenty
feet square, the floor covered with a faded carpet, while the furniture
was not particularly sumptuous. At one end of the room was a table,
behind which were two arm-chairs.
"That is where the president and secretary sit," said Ralph.
There were already three or four youths in the room. One of them came
forward and offered his hand to Ralph.
"How are you, Graham?" he said.
"How are you, Tracy?" returned Ralph. "This is Mr. Crawford, who was
elected a member at our last meeting. Roswell, this is Mr. Tracy, our
secretary."
"I am glad to see you, Mr. Crawford," said Tracy. "I hope you received
the notification of your election which I sent you."
"Yes," said Roswell. "I am much obliged to you."
"I hope you intend to accept."
"It will give me great pleasure," said Roswell. "You must have very
pleasant meetings."
"I hope you will find them pleasant. By the way, here is our president,
Mr. Brandon. Brandon, let me introduce you to a new member of our
society, Mr. Crawford."
The president, who was a tall young man of eighteen, bowed graciously
to Roswell.
"Mr. Crawford," said he, "allow me, in the name of the society, to bid
you welcome to our gay and festive meetings. We are a band of good
fellows, who like to meet together and have a social time. We are proud
to receive you into our ranks."
"And I am very glad to belong," said Roswell, who felt highly pleased
at the cordial manner in which he was received.
"You'd better go to the secretary, and enter your name in the books of
the club," suggested Ralph. "You can pay him the five dollars at the
same time. Here, Tracy, Mr. Crawford wants to enroll his name."
"All right," said Tracy; "walk this way if you please, Mr. Crawford."
Roswell wrote down his name, residence, and the store where he was
employed.
"I see, Mr. Crawford, you are engaged in literary pursuits," said the
secretary.
"Yes, for the present," said Roswell. "I don't think I shall remain
long, as the book business doesn't give me scope enough; but I shall
not leave at present, as it might inconvenience Mr. Baker. What is your
initiation fee?"
"Five dollars."
"I happen to have the money with me, I believe," said Roswell. "Here it
is."
"Thank you; that is right. I will enter you as paid. The monthly
assessments are one dollar, as perhaps Graham told you."
"Yes, I think he mentioned it. It is quite reasonable, I think," said
Roswell, in a tone which seemed to indicate that he was never at a loss
for money.
"Yes, I think so, considering our expenses. You see we have to pay for
the room; then we pay Jackson's wages, and there are cigars, etc., for
the use of the members. Have you ever before belonged to a club?"
"No," said Roswell. "I have always declined hitherto (he had never
before received an invitation) but I was so much pleased with what I
heard of the Madison Club from my friend Graham, that I determined to
join. I am glad that you are particular whom you admit as members of
the club."
"Oh, yes, we are very exclusive," said Tracy. "We are not willing to
admit anybody and everybody."
Meanwhile there had been numerous arrivals, until probably nearly all
the members of the club were present.
"Order, gentlemen!" said the president, assuming the chair, and
striking the table at the same time. "The club will please come to
order."
There was a momentary confusion, but at length the members settled into
their seats, and silence prevailed. Roswell Crawford took a seat beside
Ralph Graham.