THE LADY AT THE ST. NICHOLAS.
When Rudolph reached the sidewalk he stopped a moment to reflect on the
probable meaning of the advertisement.
"Perhaps it is a trap," he thought. "Perhaps, after so many years, they
want to punish me. Shall I go?"
His hesitation was only temporary.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," he concluded. "Very likely I shall
hear something to my advantage. I will go."
Ten minutes' walk brought him to Nassau street. He ascended two flights
of stairs, opened the door of No. --, and found himself in a lawyer's
office. A tall man of forty was seated at a desk, with some papers and
books lying before him.
"Well," he said inquiringly, "what can I do for you, sir?"
The address was not very cordial, for Rudolph did not have the look of
one likely to be a profitable client.
"Are you Mr. Jacob Morris, attorney-at-law?" asked the tramp.
"That is my name."
"I am Rudolph Rugg."
"Rudolph Rugg!" exclaimed the lawyer, briskly, jumping from his chair,
"you don't say so. I am very glad to see you. Take a chair, please."
Reassured by this reception, Rudolph took the seat indicated.
"So you saw my advertisement?" said the lawyer, brushing away the
papers with which he had been occupied.
"Yes, sir. I only saw it this morning."
"It has been inserted for the last two weeks, daily. How happens it
that you did not see it sooner?"
"I have been away from the city. I have been traveling. It was only an
accident that I happened to see it to-day."
"A lucky accident, Mr. Rugg."
"I hope it is, sir, for I have been out of luck myself, and I've been
hoping something would turn up for me. What is the business, sir?"
"My business has been to find you. I can't say anything more."
"To find me?"
"Yes."
"What for?"
"For a client of mine--an English lady."
"A lady?" ejaculated the tramp, with unconcealed surprise.
"Yes."
"Who is it?"
"I suppose I am at liberty to tell. The lady is Mrs. Harvey Middleton,
of Middleton Hall, England."
A peculiar expression swept over Rudolph's face, but he only said:
"I have heard the name of Harvey Middleton. Is--is the lady in New
York?"
"Yes; she is staying at the St. Nicholas Hotel."
"And she wants to find me?"
"Yes, she authorized me to seek you out?"
"Well," said Rudolph, after a brief pause, "I'm found. What next?"
"I shall at once send a messenger to Mrs. Middleton, and await her
orders. You will stay here."
He went to the door and called "John," in a loud voice.
"Look here," said Rudolph, suspiciously, "just tell me one thing. There
ain't any trap is there?"
"Trap, my good friend? What can you possibly mean?"
"You ain't sending for the police?"
"To be sure not. Besides, why should a gentleman like you fear the
police?"
"Oh, that's all gammon. I do fear the police uncommon. But if you tell
me it's all on the square, I'll believe you."
"On my honor, then, it's all on the square, as you call it. No harm
whatever is designed you. Indeed, I have reason to think that you will
make considerable money out of it. Now, hark ye, my friend, a word in
confidence. We can do each other good."
"Can we?" asked the tramp, surveying the lawyer, in surprise.
"Yes, and I'll tell you how. This lady, Mrs. Middleton, appears to be
rich."
"She is rich."
"So much the better for us. I mean to give her the idea that I have
been at great trouble and expense in finding you."
"I see," said Rudolph, smiling. "You mean to charge it in the bill."
"Of course, I shall represent that I sent out messengers in search of
you, and you were found by one of them."
"Very good."
"So you need not say anything about the advertisement."
"All right, sir."
"Grant me a moment while I pencil a note to the lady."
* * * * * * *
In a private parlor at the St. Nicholas sat a lady of middle age. She
had a haughty face, and stern, compressed lips. She was one to repel
rather than to attract. She had a note before her, which she threw down
with an exclamation of impatience.
"So he has heard nothing yet. For three weeks I have been wasting
my time at this hotel, depending on this lawyer, and he has done
absolutely nothing. And the issue is so important. I may have to employ
another person, and that will be a fresh bill of expense."
At this moment a light knock was heard at the door.
"Enter," said the lady.
"A note for Mrs. Middleton," announced a servant.
She took the missive and hastily opened it. It read thus:
"MY DEAR MADAM--At last, after unwearied exertions, I
have succeeded. The man, Rudolph Rugg, has been found by one of my
messengers, and is at this moment in my office, ready to obey your
summons. Shall I send him to you?
"Yours, respectfully,
"JACOB MORRIS."
"P. S.--I assured you at the outset that if he were living I would
find him. I am sure you will appreciate my exertions in your
behalf."
"That means a larger bill," thought the lady. "However, I am willing to
pay handsomely. The man is found, and he can, doubtless, produce the
boy."
"Wait!" she said, in an imperious tone, to the servant, who was about
to withdraw. "There is an answer."
She hastily penciled the following note:
"I am very glad you have found Rudolph Rugg. I wish to speak to him at
once. Send him here directly."
"Short and not sweet!" commented the lawyer, when it was placed in his
hands. "She says nothing about the compensation."
"Is it about me?" asked the tramp, watching the lawyer's face eagerly.
"Yes; it is from Mrs. Middleton. She wants you to come to the hotel at
once. But, my friend, if you will excuse the suggestion, I would advise
you, since you are about to call upon a lady, to put on a better suit
of clothes."
The tramp scowled at the hint.
"How am I to do it," he demanded roughly, "when these are all the
clothes I have?"
The lawyer whistled.
"A pretty looking figure to call upon a lady at a fashionable hotel!"
he thought.
"You must go as you are," he said. "Wait a minute."
He took a blank card and wrote upon it the name:
RUDOLPH RUGG.
"When you reach the hotel," he said, "inquire for Mrs. Middleton, and
send that card up to her."
"Very well, sir."
The tramp started for the hotel, his mind busily occupied.
"What does she want with me? She wasn't Mrs. Middleton when I knew her;
she was Miss Vincent, the governess. I suppose she's a great lady now.
So she got Mr. Harvey to marry her. That ain't surprisin'. She looked
like a schemer even then, and I was a fool not to see what she was at.
Likely she was up to the other thing. Well, I shall soon know."