ANOTHER CLUE.
Nicholas Bundy was disappointed by his first failure, but by no means
discouraged.
"There are many Joneses in the world," he said, "but Rupert is an
uncommon name. I didn't think there'd be more than one with that handle
to his name. If he's alive I'll find him."
"Why don't you enquire of somebody that knew him?" asked Oliver.
"The thing is to find such a one," said Bundy. "There's been many
changes in twenty years."
"Don't you know of some tradesman that he used to patronize, Mr. Bundy?"
"The very thing!" exclaimed the miner, for so I shall sometimes
designate Mr. Bundy. "There's one man that may tell me about him."
"Who is that?"
"He kept a drinking-place down near Fulton Ferry. He may be living yet.
I'll go and see him."
So one morning Nicholas Bundy, accompanied by Oliver, took the Third
Avenue cars and went downtown. They got out near the Astor House, and
made their way to the old place, which Bundy remembered well. To his
great joy he found it--a little shabbier, a little dirtier, but in
other respects the same.
They entered. Behind the bar stood a man of nearly sixty, whose bloated
figure and dull red face indicated that he appreciated what he sold to
others.
"What will you have, gentlemen?" he asked briskly.
Nicholas Bundy surveyed his countenance attentively.
"Are you Jacob Spratt?" he asked.
"Yes," answered the bartender. "Do you know me?"
"I knew you twenty years ago," answered the miner.
"I don't remember you."
"You once knew me well."
"I have seen many faces in my time. I can't remember so many years
back."
"Do you recall the name of Nicholas Bundy?"
"Ay, that I do. You used to come here with a man named Jones."
"Yes--Rupert Jones. Can you tell me where he is now?"
Jacob shook his head.
"He left New York not long after you did," he answered. "He went to
Chicago."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Yes, and I'll tell you why. He came here one evening and says:
'Jacob, I'm going away. You won't see me for a long time--I'm going to
Chicago.'"
"Did he tell you why he was going there?"
"He said he was going there as an agent for a New York house--that he
had a good chance."
"You have never seen him since?"
"No," said Jacob. Then he added meditatively: "Once I thought I saw
him. There was a man I met in the street looking as like him as two
peas, makin' allowance for the years he was older. I went up to him and
called him by name, but he colored up and looked annoyed, and told me I
was quite mistaken; that his name wasn't Jones, but something else--I
don't remember what now. Of course I axed his pardon and walked on, but
he was the very picture of Rupert Jones."
"Then you feel sure that he went to Chicago?"
"Yes, he told me so, and that was the last time I saw him. If he had
stayed in the city he would have kept on comin' to my place, or I
should have met him somewhere."
Nicholas Bundy thanked the old man for his information, and ordered
glasses of lemonade for himself and Oliver.
"Won't you have something stronger, Mr. Bundy?" asked the barkeeper
insinuatingly.
Bundy shook his head.
"I've given up liquor," he said. "I'm better off without it, and so
will the boy be. What do you say, Oliver?"
"I agree with you, sir," said Oliver promptly.
"Lucky for me all don't think so," said Spratt. "It 'ould ruin my
business."
When they left the bar-room Nicholas Bundy turned to his young
companion.
"Oliver," he said, "will you go with me to Chicago?"
"I shall be glad to go," said Oliver promptly.
"Then we will start in two or three days, as soon as I have made some
business arrangements."
"Mr. Bundy," said Oliver honestly, "it will cost you considerable to
pay my expenses. I should like very much to go, but do you think it
will pay you to take me?"
"You're considerate, boy, but don't trouble yourself about that. You
are company to me, and I'm willing to pay your expenses for that, let
alone the help you may give me."
"Thank you, Mr. Bundy. Then I will say no more. What day do you think
you will start?"
"To-day is Tuesday. We will start on Saturday. Can you be ready?"
Oliver laughed.
"There won't be much getting ready for me," he said. "All my business
arrangements can be made in half an hour."
Bundy smiled. Our hero's good spirits seemed to enliven his own. He was
not only getting used to Oliver's company, but sincerely attached to
him.