RUDOLPH HEARS OF TONY.
Four days afterward Rudolph arrived in the town where Tony was
employed. He had not been drawn thither by any clew, but by pure
accident.
He put up for the night at the hotel where our hero had found work. He
enrolled himself on the register as "Obadiah Latham, Philadelphia."
This, he thought, would answer very well for a Quaker name, much
better, certainly, than Rudolph Rugg, which on other accounts also was
objectionable.
"Can thee give me a room, friend?" he inquired at the desk.
"Certainly, sir," was the polite reply. "Here, Henry, show this old
gentleman up to No. 6. No. 6 is one of our best rooms, Mr. Latham."
"I thank thee," said the tramp, who, by this time, was quite accustomed
to the peculiar phraseology of the Friends.
"The Quakers are always polite," said the bookkeeper. "They are good
pay, too, and never give any trouble. I wish we had more of them stop
here."
"If all your customers were of that description, your bar wouldn't pay
very well."
"That is true."
But later in the evening the speaker was obliged to change his opinion.
The Quaker came up to the bar, and asked:
"Will thee give me a glass of brandy?"
"Sir?" said the barkeeper, astounded, and hardly believing his ears.
"A glass of brandy!" repeated Rudolph, irritably. "Where is thy ears?"
"I beg pardon, sir, but I was surprised. I did not know that gentlemen
of your faith ever drank liquor."
"Thee is right," said the tramp, recollecting himself. "It is only for
my health. Thee may make it strong, so that I may feel better soon."
Rudolph drained the glass, and then after a little hesitation, he said:
"I feel better. Will thee mix me another glass, and a little stronger?"
A stronger glass was given him, and he poured it down rapidly.
The barkeeper looked at him shrewdly.
"Quaker as he is, he is evidently used to brandy," he said to himself.
"If he wasn't those two glasses would have upset him."
But Rudolph did not appear to be upset, or, indeed, to be in the least
affected.
He put his broad-brimmed hat more firmly on his head, and went outside.
He determined to take a walk about the village. This was his usual
custom on arriving in a new place. On such occasions he kept his eyes
open, and looked about, in the hope that he might somewhere see the
object of his search. He little suspected that Tony was at that very
moment in the stable-yard in the rear of the hotel.
He walked on for perhaps a quarter of a mile, and then leaned against a
fence to rest. As he stood here, two boys passed him slowly, conversing
as they walked.
"I was surprised, Sam, at Tony Rugg's whipping you," said the first.
"He couldn't do it again," said Sam, sullenly.
Rudolph's attention was at once drawn.
Tony Rugg! Why, there could be but one Tony Rugg.
He advanced toward the boys.
"Boys," he asked, "did thee mention the name of Tony Rugg?"
"Yes, sir."
"Does thee know such a boy?"
"Yes, sir. He is working at the hotel. He got my place away from me,"
said Sam. "Do you know him?"
"I once knew such a boy. But no! his name was Charles."
"Perhaps he's a relation."
"Perhaps thee are right."
This the tramp said cunningly, not wishing Tony to hear that he had
been inquiring after him.