AN ADVERTISEMENT.
When Frank Mansfield awoke next morning he found Detective Hook
standing by his side.
Indeed, it was the pressure of the detective's hand upon his forehead
that had called him from sleep.
"Good-morning, my boy," he said, pleasantly. "It's time you were
stirring, if you intend taking breakfast with me."
Frank sprang off of the lounge and began putting on his clothes.
"I could sleep all day, I think," he said, rubbing his eyes. "I never
felt so sleepy in my life."
"No wonder, after the strain you have been under for the last
forty-eight hours. That was one reason why I insisted upon your coming
home with me. I want you to get thoroughly rested and refreshed; then
you will be able to show what you are made of in working out our
scheme. That hole in the wall may do well enough for newsboys and
bootblacks, but it is no place for a boy like you."
"It served me a good turn the other night, all the same."
"I don't dispute that. By the way, how did you manage to get into the
vault that night? Through the iron door on the New Church street side?"
"Yes, that was the way."
"I thought as much. I took a good look at the place and its
surroundings before I entered. I thought I had sized it up pretty well."
"But how did you come to guess the entrance lay beneath that particular
tombstone?" asked Frank, stooping to tie his shoes. "I didn't know
myself where it was, although I knew there was some way of getting in
from above."
The detective smiled.
"If I told you all I knew," he replied, pleasantly, "why, then you'd
know as much as I do myself, and would have no further use for my
services. No, no, young man, I am working for money. Under the will
of your grandfather you are justly entitled to a large fortune, which
through your own folly and the machinations of that man Callister has
come mighty near slipping through your hands, if it has not already
done so. My work now is to help you to the recovery of this fortune.
Once you are in possession of it, I shall expect to be paid. Then ask
me for my secrets, and I may tell you; meanwhile, we will see what kind
of a breakfast my landlady has sent us up this morning, talk matters
over together, and decide what is the first step to take."
He led the way into the room immediately behind the sleeping chamber,
where a comfortable breakfast for two was already spread.
"I prefer to take my meals in private," said the detective, proceeding
to help Frank to beefsteak, rolls, coffee and eggs. "It avoids all
gossip among the boarders as to my movements and enables me to come and
go as I please without exciting comment from any one, which is just the
sort of an arrangement I need. Make yourself at home; if you don't see
what you want, ask for it. There are the morning papers for you if you
want to read."
Frank appropriated one paper, the detective taking another.
The first thing that struck the boy's eye was a full account of
the robbery of the Webster Bank and the reward offered by the bank
officials for his own arrest.
And over his mind there crept a feeling of renewed shame for the
wretched position into which he had been led by his own folly.
He inwardly resolved that once out of this scrape--once clear before
the world--that never, so long as he lived, should a drop of liquor
pass his lips again.
"The papers seem to be making quite a stir about you, don't they?" said
the detective, laying down the one he had been reading, and plying his
knife and fork. "Wouldn't there be a fine kick-up if they knew I had
you concealed here?"
"I suppose there would. I am entirely in your power, Mr. Hook. You can
handle me as you please."
"Don't say power, Frank. I don't like the word. I know you to be
innocent of any intention to rob the bank. Were it not so, I should
give you up at once."
"And claim the reward?"
"Most assuredly. That's the way I earn my living; but I have no such
intention. I feel interested in your case, and would like to see you
righted, if I can. Besides, it will pay me better to help you recover
the money than to choose any other course. I make no secret of my
motives. They are purely mercenary, you see."
"I am just as much obliged to you, all the same."
"You have reasons to be. The ordinary detective would have marched
you off to the station-house. False witnesses would have been brought
against you beyond a doubt; you would have been convicted, and under
the provisions of your grandfather's will could never have inherited a
cent."
"I don't seem likely to in any case, now that the parchment describing
the hiding-place of his buried money is lost."
"Don't be too sure. I have a feeling that we shall yet succeed in
finding that parchment. But now for a question or two. How came those
boys--what do they call themselves--to lend you a helping hand?"
"They call themselves the 'Bats in the Wall.' Barney has been in the
habit of blacking my boots at the bank. That was the reason he gave for
helping me as he did."
"'Bats in the Wall,' eh? A good name. That accounts for the bat-like
cry Officer Schneider heard. As for the reason, that don't amount to
anything. Depend upon it, these boys would never had let you into their
secret for any such reason as that."
"What do you think was the reason?"
"Blest if I know. If I did, I am certain that I would have the key to
much that is now mysterious about this strange affair. What do you know
about this Jerry Buck?"
"Nothing at all, except meeting him in the wall as I did."
"There is something that boy is keeping back," said the detective,
musingly. "Now what is it? That's the question. Have you noticed,
Frank, how much he resembles you?"
"No, I'm sure, I haven't. Do you mean to say he looks like me?"
"Enough like you to be your twin brother. I never saw a more marked
resemblance in my life. But that is always the way. A man can rarely
see a resemblance to himself in the face of any one else."
"Well, now you speak of it, I can see some points in which we are
alike. His hair is the color of mine; his eyes are not unlike----"
"Eyes, nose, mouth, everything," replied the detective, quickly. "But
never mind that now. Tell me something of your own past--something
concerning that mother of yours."
Tears gathered in the boy's eyes.
"It is a sad, sad story, Mr. Hook," he replied, brokenly. "After my
father's misfortunes she lost her reason, as I have already told you.
Mr. Callister, who had charge of our affairs, had her removed to a
private asylum, where she has been most of the time ever since."
"What asylum was it?"
"Dr. Belding's, St. Nicholas avenue and 150th street, up near the Fort
Washington road."
"I know the locality. You say you went there yesterday, and they told
you she had escaped."
"Yes. She disappeared one night, some three weeks ago."
"And you were not informed?"
"No. Mr. Callister had the matter in charge. I visited the asylum from
time to time, but they would rarely allow me to see my mother, and
never at any time leave us alone."
"Was she very bad?"
"Well, pretty bad at times. She was particularly violent in the
presence of Mr. Callister."
"Humph!" muttered the detective, "I'm not much surprised at that."
"She always had the idea that he was the cause of my father's
misfortunes, though I'm sure I don't know why."
For a few moments the detective maintained silence.
"What was the name of your mother before your father married her,
Frank?" he asked at length.
"Helen Dupont."
"Where was she from?"
"She was born in the upper part of New York, in what was then the
village of Fort Washington."
"Has she any relatives?"
"I don't know. I never heard her speak of her past life at all."
"Then you have no idea why she should seek such quarters as that house
in the rear of the Catherine Market, where we found her?"
"Not the slightest, Mr. Hook. When I first saw her in the street on
that terrible night I never was more surprised in my life. I ought not
to have left her even for a moment. I never would have done so had I
been myself."
"There, there. Don't think anything more about it," said the detective,
kindly, seeing that Frank could no longer restrain the tears. "Whisky
makes fools of us all, my boy. Finish your breakfast and we'll talk
about these matters later on."
He resumed the paper, leaving Frank to his own bitter thoughts.
For the space of a few moments neither spoke.
Suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise and satisfaction, Caleb Hook
brought his hand down upon the table with a thump which made the dishes
rattle.
"The very thing!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "Frank Mansfield, fate is
playing into our hands."
He passed over the paper to Frank, with one finger pressed upon the
advertising columns.
"Read that," he said briefly, "and tell me what you think of it."
It was an advertisement under the head of "Clerks Wanted."
This was the way it read:
"WANTED--A young man for a responsible position in a broker's office.
One familiar with a general stock brokerage business preferred. Apply
to Elijah Callister, Room 62, ---- Building, Broad street."
"What do you think of it?" asked the detective.
"It's Mr. Callister, certainly; but I don't see how it concerns me?"
"You don't? What we want in this little scheme of ours more than
anything else is to set a watch on this man; to trace out his
movements, to learn who his associates are, and what interest he has
with bank burglars and thieves, such as the man in whose company you
saw him at the Catherine Market yesterday morning."
"Do you propose to send one of your men to apply for the place?"
"One of my men! Why, I mean that you shall apply for it, and get it,
too."
Frank laughed.
"He'd know me at a glance," he said.
"Would he? We'll see about that. After a certain costumer with whom
I am acquainted is through with you I don't think he would. But,
supposing you were so effectually disguised that he could never
recognize you, do you think you could fill the position and play your
part?"
"Yes, I'm sure I could. At all events I'm not afraid to try."
"Good! That's the way to talk. I've been studying you closely, my boy,
and feel sure that you could carry the thing through as well as any
actor living."
"Always providing that I can get the place. I have no references, you
know."
"That is easily fixed. The president of the Stock Exchange is a cousin
of mine. You shall apply for that position this very morning with a
letter from him. Do you understand the duties of such a position well
enough to fill it?"
"Oh, perfectly. I learned all that in the bank."
"Then come with me at once," exclaimed Detective Hook, springing to his
feet. "If you want to clear your name before the world--if you want to
avenge the wrong done by that man Callister to you and yours--embrace
this opportunity which fate has thrown in your path, and never rest
until you have read his secrets through and through."