STEPHEN WEBB
The more Browning thought of the newsboy in whom he had so strangely
recognized the son of the man whom he had so cruelly wronged, the more
uneasy he felt.
"He has evidently heard of me," he soliloquized. "His father could not
have been so near death as I supposed. He must have sent the boy or
his mother a message about that money. If it should come to his
knowledge that I am the Thomas Butler to whom his father confided ten
thousand dollars which I have failed to hand over to the family, he
may make it very disagreeable for me."
The fact that so many persons were able to identify him as Thomas
Butler made the danger more imminent.
"I must take some steps--but what?" Browning asked himself.
He kept on walking till he found himself passing the entrance of a low
poolroom. He never played pool, nor would it have suited a man of his
social position to enter such a place, but that he caught sight of a
young man, whose face and figure were familiar to him, in the act of
going into it. He quickened his pace, and laid a hand on the young
man's shoulder.
The latter turned quickly, revealing a face bearing the unmistakable
marks of dissipation.
"Uncle Thomas!" he exclaimed, apparently ill at ease.
"Yes, Stephen, it is I. Where are you going?" The young man
hesitated.
"You need not answer. I see you are wedded to your old amusements. Are
you still in the place I got for you?"
Stephen Webb looked uneasy and shamefaced.
"I have lost my place," he answered, after a pause.
"How does it happen that you lost it?"
"I don't know. Some one must have prejudiced my employer against me."
"It is your own habits that have prejudiced him, I make no doubt."
This was true. One morning Stephen, whose besetting sin was
intemperance, appeared at the office where he was employed in such a
state of intoxication that he was summarily discharged. It may be
explained that he was a son of Mr. Browning's only sister.
"When were you discharged?" asked his uncle.
"Last week."
"And have you tried to get another situation?"
"Yes."
"What are your prospects of success?"
"There seem to be very few openings just now, Uncle Thomas."
"The greater reason why you should have kept the place I obtained for
you. Were you going to play pool in this low place?"
"I was going to look on. A man must have some amusement," said
Stephen, sullenly.
"Amusement is all you think of. However, it so happens that I have
something that I wish you to do."
Stephen regarded his uncle in surprise.
"Are you going to open an office in Chicago?" he asked.
"No; the service is of a different nature. It is--secret and
confidential. It is, I may say, something in the detective line."
"Then I'm your man," said his nephew, brightening up.
"The service is simple, so that you will probably be qualified to do
what I require."
"I've read lots of detective stories," said Stephen, eagerly. "It's
just the work I should like."
"Humph! I don't think much is to be learned from detective stories.
You will understand, of course, that you are not to let anyone know
you are acting for me."
"Certainly. You will find that I can keep a secret."
"I leave Chicago to-morrow morning, and will give you directions
before I go. Where can we have a private conference?"
"Here is an oyster house. We shall be quiet here."
"Very well! We will go in."
They entered a small room, with a sanded floor, provided with a few
unpainted tables.
Stephen and his uncle went to the back of the room, and seated
themselves at the rear table.
"We must order something," suggested Stephen.
"Get what you please," said Browning, indifferently.
"Two stews!" ordered Stephen. "We can talk while they are getting them
ready."
"Very well! Now, for my instructions. At the corner of Clark and
Randolph Streets every morning and evening you will find a newsboy
selling papers."
"A dozen, you mean."
"True, but I am going to describe this boy so that you may know him.
He is about fifteen, I should judge, neatly dressed, and would be
considered good-looking."
"Do you know his name?"
"Yes, it is Luke Walton."
"Is he the one I am to watch?"
"You are to make his acquaintance, and find out all you can about his
circumstances."
"Do you know where he lives?"
"No; that is one of the things you are to find out for me."
"What else do you want me to find out?"
"Find out how many there are in family, also how they live; whether
they have anything to live on except what this newsboy earns."
"All right, Uncle Thomas. You seem to have a great deal of interest in
this boy."
"That is my business," said Browning, curtly. "If you wish to work for
me, you must not show too much curiosity. Never mind what my motives
are. Do you understand?"
"Certainly, Uncle Thomas. It shall be as you say. I suppose I am to be
paid?"
"Yes. How much salary did you receive where you were last employed?"
"Ten dollars a week."
"You shall receive this sum for the present. It is very good pay for
the small service required of you."
"All right, uncle."
The stews were ready by this time. They were brought and set before
Stephen and his uncle. The latter toyed with his spoon, only taking a
taste or two, but Stephen showed much more appreciation of the dish,
not being accustomed, like his uncle, to dining at first-class
hotels.
"How am I to let you know what I find out?" asked Stephen.
"Write me at Milwaukee. I will send you further instructions from
there."
"Very well, sir."
"Oh, by the way, you are never to mention me to this Luke Walton. I
have my reasons."
"I will do just as you say."
"How is your mother, Stephen?"
"About the same. She isn't a very cheerful party, you know. She is
always fretting."
"Has she any lodgers?"
"Yes, three, but one is a little irregular with his rent."
"Of course, I expect that you will hand your mother half the weekly
sum I pay you. She has a right to expect that much help from her
son."
Stephen assented, but not with alacrity, and as he had now disposed of
the stew, the two rose from their seats and went outside. A few words
of final instructions, and they parted.
"I wonder why Uncle Thomas takes such an interest in that newsboy,"
thought Stephen. "I will make it my business to find out."