TWO ODD ACQUAINTANCES.
"Ten dollars a week!" repeated Harry Bertram, to who Jed communicated
his good luck. "Why, that is famous!"
"Ten dollars a week and my meals!"
"Better still. That is better than acting."
"I don't know how I shall suit Mr. Holbrook."
"You will suit him if you suit the boy."
By this time Chester made his appearance.
"I want to walk on the beach," he said. "Come, Jed."
And the boy put his hand confidingly in that of Jed.
They descended the steps that led from the bluff to the beach, and
walked leisurely up and down on the sand. Presently Chester expressed a
wish to sit down, and before long was engaged with a small wooden spade
in making a sand fortification.
Relieved from duty, since his young charge could come to no harm, Jed
had leisure to watch the crowds passing him in both directions.
Presently a thin, dark-complexioned man, of perhaps thirty-five, after
walking up and down the beach, came to a stop, and, apparently without
motive, seated himself on the sand beside Chester and his youthful
guardian.
"A pleasant day," he remarked, looking at Jed.
"Yes," answered Jed politely.
He was not favorably impressed by the stranger's appearance, but
recognized the claims of courtesy.
"Is this little boy your brother?"
"No," answered Jed.
"I thought perhaps you brought him down to the beach."
"I did."
"I have seen him about before--with a girl."
"That was Clara, my old nurse," said Chester, who caught the drift of
the conversation. "I haven't got any nurse now," he added proudly. "I
saw you talking to Clara one day," he added, after a closer examination
of the stranger's features.
"Oh, no, my little boy!" said the man, seeming annoyed. "I don't know
Clara, as you call her."
"Then you look just like the man that was talking with her."
The stranger opened his mouth and smiled unpleasantly.
"I dare say there are people that look like me," he said, "though I
can't say I ever met one. What is your name, my little friend?"
"I am not your friend," said Chester, who did not appear favorably
impressed by his new acquaintance.
"My little enemy, then."
"My name is Chester Holbrook."
"And how old are you?"
"Ten years old. How old are you?"
Again the man's lips opened in an unpleasant smile.
"You have an inquiring mind, Chester," he said. "I am--thirty years
old."
"You look older than that."
"I am afraid that is not polite, Chester," said Jed gently.
"Why isn't it?" asked Chester innocently.
"People don't like to be thought older than they are."
"Oh, never mind," said the dark man. "A child is licensed to say what he
pleases. So he is your charge?"
"Yes, sir."
"I don't think I have seen you here before. Have you known Mr. Holbrook
long?"
"No." Then upon the impulse of the moment Jed inquired, "Do you know
him?"
The man's face changed, and he looked a shade embarrassed.
"Why do you think I know him?" he asked.
"I don't think it, but as you seemed interested in the boy, I asked you
the question."
"Oh, that's it. I have seen Mr. Holbrook, and I may have spoken to him.
I can't be sure on the subject, as I meet a good many people. Are you
going in bathing?"
"Do you want to bathe, Chester?" asked Jed.
"No; papa told me not to go to-day, as I have a cold."
"I thought perhaps I would have had your company in the surf. Well, I
must be going or I shall be late for the bath."
The stranger got up slowly and sauntered away.
"I don't like that man. Do you, Jed?" asked Chester.
"Not very much. I never saw him before."
"I have seen him. I saw him one day last week."
"Did you see him on the beach?"
"Yes; he came up and talked with Clara."
"But he said you were mistaken about that."
"I was not mistaken," said Chester positively. "I remember him very
well."
"Do you remember what he was talking about?" asked Jed, struck by what
the boy said.
"Yes; he was asking questions about me."
"He seems a good deal interested in you. Perhaps he is especially fond
of small boys."
Chester shook his head.
"I don't think he is," he answered.
When the bathing hour was over they ascended the steps and took seats in
a summer house on the bluff.
Ten minutes later a tall woman, with piercing black eyes and a swarthy
complexion, entered the arbor and sat down beside them.
"Do you want your fortune told?" she asked of Jed.
He shook his head.
"I don't believe in fortune-tellers," he said.
"Don't you? Let me convince you of my power. Give me your hand."
There seemed a fascination about the woman, and almost involuntarily he
suffered her to take his hand.
"You look prosperous," she began abruptly, "but your life has been full
of poverty and privation. Is this true?"
"Yes," answered Jed, impressed in spite of himself by the woman's words.
"Shall I tell you where your early years were passed?"
"No," answered Jed, with a quick look at Chester. He did not care to
have the boy hear that his life had been passed in the Scranton
poorhouse.
"You are right. The knowledge could do no good and might embarrass you.
You admit that I have told the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then shall I tell you of the future?"
Jed did not answer, but the woman took his assent for granted and went
on. "You will be rich--some day."
"Shall I? I am glad to hear that. But I don't know where the wealth is
to come from."
"It is not necessary for you to know. It will be enough if it comes."
"I agree with you there," said Jed, smiling. "Will it be soon?"
"That is a question which I might answer, but I will not."
"I don't care to know, as long as I am to be prosperous some day. Shall
I ever go back to--to the place where my earlier years were passed?"
"You may, but not to live. That part of your life is over."
"I am glad of that at any rate. One question more. Shall I meet my--any
one belonging to me--any one to whom I am related?"
Jed fixed his eyes anxiously upon the fortune-teller, for skeptical as
he was at first, he was beginning to have some confidence in her claims
to knowledge.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Don't seek to know more. Let me look at this boy's hand. Do you want me
to tell your fortune, my pretty?"
Chester laughed.
"Yes," he said. "Perhaps you can tell me if I will ever be a soldier. I
would like to be a General."
"No; you will never be a soldier, but you will have a fight before you."
"A fight? What kind of a fight?"
The fortune-teller turned to Jed and said rapidly, "This boy is
threatened with a serious danger. He has an enemy."
"How can a young boy have an enemy?"
"There are few who do not have enemies," said the woman sententiously.
"Can you describe the enemy?"
"He is a dark man, not tall, but taller than you. He is thin."
"I met such a man on the beach," said Jed, surprised. "I met him only
this morning. Is he the one you mean?"
"When you meet such a man beware of him!" said the woman, and without
waiting for a reply she rose from her seat and walked away rapidly.
"What a funny old woman!" said Chester. "I am hungry. Let us go up to
the hotel. It is time for lunch."
Jed's face became thoughtful. What he had heard left a deep impression
upon his mind.