Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE SPOT UPON THE COAT.

  When Julius went home at six o'clock he found Marlowe and his guardian(if Jack Morgan deserves the title) sitting over a game of cards. Theylooked up as he entered the room.

  "Well, Julius, how are you getting on?" asked Jack. "Have you foundout anything more?"

  "Not yet, Jack."

  "Then it's time you did."

  "I'm goin' up to the house to-night."

  "Does he know it?"

  "Yes; he told me to come."

  "What made him do that?"

  "I axed him for some old clothes. He told me to come up to-night andhe'd give me some."

  "That's good," said Jack, approvingly. "Mind you keep your eyes openwhen you're there. Find out where the swag is kept. It'll save me andMarlowe some trouble."

  Julius nodded.

  "I'll do my best," he said.

  "What time are you going up?"

  "In an hour or so."

  "I hope we'll make a haul, Marlowe," said Jack. "I haven't been inluck lately. If I could raise a thousand or so I'd clear out of thesediggings. The cops know me too well."

  "Where would you go, supposin' you got the money?" asked hiscompanion.

  "I'd go to California. They don't know me there. Something might turnup for me."

  "I'll go with you, Jack, if you go. I've got tired of New York, and,as you say, they know me too well hereabouts. Will you take the boy?"

  "No," said Jack carelessly. "He knows how to take care of himself.He'll be better off here."

  Julius listened to this conversation, thoughtfully watching thespeaker as he spoke, and it helped him to a decision in a matter thathad troubled him somewhat. He could not help seeing that Jack Morgancared nothing for him, except so far as it suited his convenience tohave his companionship. Looking back, he could not see that he owedhim any gratitude. The balance of favors was on the other side. He haddone more for Jack than Jack for him. He asked himself if he wanted togo with Jack Morgan on this journey, and he answered his own questionin the negative. It was better that he should leave him now forever.With him he could only look forward to a future of shame and disgrace.

  "What are you thinking about, boy?" asked Marlowe. "Do you want to goto California with Jack and me?"

  "No," answered Julius.

  "Why not?"

  "I'd rather stay here," answered Julius shortly.

  "When I was a lad I'd have liked to go off on a journey like that."

  "I like stayin' here."

  "He's used to the streets," said Jack. "He likes 'em. That's best, ashe can't go."

  "Can you take care of yourself?" asked Marlowe.

  "I always has," said Julius.

  "That's so," said Jack, laughing. "You ain't given me much trouble,Julius."

  The men resumed their game, and the boy looked on silently. Afterawhile seven o'clock struck, and Julius rose from his seat.

  "I'm goin'," he said.

  "All right, Julius. Keep your eyes open."

  "I know," said the boy.

  He had saved enough money to pay for a ride uptown. He took the Fourthavenue cars, and in half an hour found that he had reached the crossstreet nearest to his destination. Five minutes later he rang thebasement bell of the house in Madison avenue.

  Paul saw him enter the area, and went himself to open the door.

  "Come in, Julius," he said. "I have been expecting you. Have you hadany supper?"

  "I bought some coffee and cakes."

  "I think you can eat a little more," said Paul, smiling. "Mother,can't you give Julius some dinner?"

  "Is this the boy you expected, Paul?"

  "Yes, mother."

  "I saved some for him. Sit down at the table, Julius," she saidhospitably.

  Julius did as he was told, and directly Mrs. Hoffman took from theoven a plate of meat and vegetables, which had thus been kept warm,and poured out a cup of tea also. These were placed before the youngArab. His eyes lighted up with pleasure at the tempting feast, and thevigor of his assaults showed that the coffee and cakes which he hadpartaken had by no means destroyed his appetite. Mrs. Hoffman and Paullooked on with pleasure, glad that they had been able to give pleasureto their young visitor. Jimmy, who had heard them speak of Julius,hovered near, surveying him with curiosity. He wanted to "interview"Julius, but hardly knew how to begin. Finally he ventured to ask: "Areyou the boy that lives with the robbers?"

  "Jimmy!" said his mother reprovingly.

  But Julius was not sensitive.

  "Yes," he answered.

  "Ain't you afraid of them?" continued Jimmy.

  "What for?" asked Julius.

  "Because robbers are bad men."

  "They wouldn't hurt me," said the young Arab indifferently.

  "You ain't a robber, are you?"

  "No," said Julius in a matter-of-fact tone.

  "What makes you live with them?"

  "I haven't got anybody else to live with," said Julius.

  "Are they going to rob this house?"

  "Jimmy, you are talking too much," said Paul reprovingly. "I supposethey haven't changed their plans, have they, Julius?"

  "No."

  "They mean to come next Monday?"

  "Yes."

  "Did they know you were coming up here this evening?"

  "Yes; I told 'em you were goin' to give me some clo'es."

  "Yes," said Paul. "I've got a coat for you."

  He opened a bundle and displayed the purchase he had made thatafternoon in Chatham street.

  "Try it on, Julius," he said.

  Julius took off the ragged coat he had on and tried on the one Paulhad purchased.

  "It is an excellent fit," said Mrs. Hoffman.

  "Look at yourself in the glass," said Paul.

  Julius surveyed himself with satisfaction. Though second-hand, thecoat was decidedly superior to the one he had taken off.

  "It's a bully coat," he said. "Thank you."

  "You are quite welcome, Julius. You may as well wear it. You can putyour old one in a paper and take it back with you."

  "Jack wanted me to find out where the money was kept," said Julius.

  "You may tell him it is in a safe in the front room on the secondfloor. But how did he expect you would find out?"

  "He left that to me."

  "And what will you tell him?"

  "I dunno. I'll think of something."

  "He won't suspect you, will he?"

  "I guess not."

  "Suppose he did?"

  "He'd kill me," said Julius.

  "What a dreadful man he must be!" exclaimed Mrs. Hoffman, shuddering."How do you dare to live with him?"

  "I shan't live with him much longer," said Julius. "He said to-nighthe'd go to Californy if he got swag enough here."

  "What is swag?" asked Mrs. Hoffman, bewildered.

  "He means money, or articles of value," explained Paul. "I don't thinkhe'll go to California, Julius. I think he'll go somewhere else."

  "I guess I'll go," said Julius, moving toward the door.

  "You need not be in a hurry. We should like to have you stay longer."

  "He'll expect me," said Julius.

  "Go, then, if you think it best. But it is a long distance downtown,and you must be tired. Here is money to pay your fare in the cars."

  "Thank yer," said Julius.

  He accepted the money, and went out, first, however, promising to callupon Paul the next day at his stand and let him know whether there wasany change in Jack Morgan's plans.

  "I pity the poor boy," said Mrs. Hoffman, after he went out. "What adreadful thing it is to live with such a desperate man!"

  "I will see what I can do to help him next week," said Paul. "We shallowe him something for letting us know of the robbery."

  "I shudder to think what might have happened if we had been taken bysurprise. We might have been murdered in our beds."

  Jimmy looked so frightened at this suggestion that Paul laughed.
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  "It is no laughing matter, mother," he said; "but Jimmy looked sothoroughly scared that I couldn't help being amused. Don't be alarmed,Jimmy. We'll take good care of you."

  Meanwhile Julius was returning to the miserable room which he calledhome. He was thinking how he could communicate the information agreedupon without arousing the suspicions of the two confederates. Finallyhe decided upon a story which seemed to him satisfactory.

  It was nine o'clock when he entered the room where Jack Morgan andMarlowe, having got tired of playing cards, were leaning back againstthe wall in their chairs, smoking clay pipes. The room was full of theodor of a villainous quality of cheap tobacco when Julius reappeared.

  "Well, Julius," said Jack, removing his pipe from his mouth andregarding him eagerly, "what luck?"

  "Good," said Julius briefly

  "What have you found out?"

  "I found out that the swag is in a safe upstairs on the second floor."

  "Good!" exclaimed Jack, admiringly. "Didn't I tell you he was a sharpone, Marlowe?"

  "How did you find that out?" asked Marlowe keenly. "You didn't ask,did you?"

  "I ain't a fool," answered Julius.

  "You haven't answered my question."

  "They give me some supper," said Julius, who had got his story ready,"and while I was eatin' I heard Mrs. Hoffman tell Paul that she hadgot some men to move the safe from the front room on the second floorinto the bathroom. She didn't say what was in it, but it's likely themoney's there."

  "The boy's right, Marlowe," said Jack.

  "Did they give you anything else besides supper?" asked Marlowe.

  "Yes; they give me this coat," answered Julius, indicating the coat hehad on. "Ain't it a bully fit?"

  "Maybe they'd like to adopt you," said Jack jocosely. "If me andMarlowe go to Californy, you can go there."

  Meanwhile Marlowe's attention had been drawn to the coat. It struckhim that he had seen it before. He soon remembered. Surely it was theone that he had seen purchased in Chatham street the same afternoon.Coats in general are not easily distinguishable, but he had noticed asmall round spot on the lapel of that, and the same reappeared on thecoat which Julius brought home.