Chapter XXXIV.Just In Time.
Dodger, who was a strong, stout boy, gathered himself up and dashedagainst the ruffian with such impetuosity that he fell over hisintended victim, and his bludgeon fell from his hand.
It was the work of an instant to lift it, and raise it in a menacingposition.
The discomfited villain broke into a volley of oaths, and proceeded topick himself up.
He was a brutal-looking fellow, but was no larger than Dodger, who wasas tall as the majority of men.
"Give me that stick," he exclaimed, furiously.
"Come and take it," returned Dodger, undaunted.
The fellow took him at his word, and made a rush at our hero, but avigorous blow from the bludgeon made him cautious about repeating theattack.
"Curse you!" he cried, between his teeth. "I'd like to chaw you up."
"I have no doubt you would," answered Dodger; "but I don't think youwill. Were you going to rob this man?"
"None of your business!"
"I shall make it my business. You'd better go, or you may be lockedup."
"Give me that stick, then."
"You'll have to do without it."
He made another rush, and Dodger struck him such a blow on his armthat he winced with pain.
"Now I shall summon the police, and you can do as you please aboutgoing."
Dodger struck the stick sharply on the sidewalk three times, and theruffian, apprehensive of arrest, ran around the corner just in time torush into the arms of a policeman.
"What has this man been doing?" asked the city guardian, turning toDodger.
"He was about to rob this man."
"Is the man hurt?"
"Where am I?" asked the prostrate man, in a bewildered tone.
"I will take care of him, if you will take charge of that fellow."
"Can you get up, sir?" asked Dodger, bending over the fallen man.
The latter answered by struggling to his feet and looking about him ina confused way.
"Where am I?" he asked. "What has happened?"
"You were attacked by a ruffian. I found you on the sidewalk, with himbending over you with this club in his hand."
"He must have followed me. I was imprudent enough to show awell-filled pocketbook in a saloon where I stopped to take a drink. Nodoubt he planned to relieve me of it."
"You have had a narrow escape, sir."
"I have no doubt of it. I presume the fellow was ready to take mylife, if he found it necessary."
"I will leave you now, sir, if you think you can manage."
"No, stay with me. I feel rather upset."
"Where are you staying, sir?"
"At the Palace Hotel. Of course you know where that is?"
"Certainly. Will you take my arm?"
"Thank you."
Little was said till they found themselves in the sumptuous hotel,which hardly has an equal in America.
"Come to my room, young man; I want to speak to you."
It was still early in the evening, and Dodger's time was his own.
He had no hesitation, therefore, in accepting the stranger'sinvitation.
On the third floor the stranger produced a key and opened the door ofa large, handsomely-furnished room.
"If you have a match, please light the gas."
Dodger proceeded to do so, and now, for the first time, obtained agood view of the man he had rescued. He was a man of about the averageheight, probably not far from fifty, dressed in a neat business suit,and looked like a substantial merchant.
"Please be seated."
Dodger sat down in an easy-chair conveniently near him.
"Young man," said the stranger, impressively, "you have done me agreat favor."
Dodger felt that this was true, and did not disclaim it.
"I am very glad I came up just as I did," he said.
"How large a sum of money do you think I had about me?" asked hiscompanion.
"Five hundred dollars?"
"Five hundred dollars! Why, that would be a mere trifle."
"It wouldn't be a trifle to me, sir," said Dodger.
"Are you poor?" asked the man, earnestly.
"I have a good situation that pays me fifteen dollars a week, so Iought not to consider myself poor."
"Suppose you had a considerable sum of money given you, what would youdo with it?"
"If I had five hundred dollars, I should be able to defeat the schemesof a villain, and restore a young lady to her rights."
"That seems interesting. Tell me the circumstances."
Dodger told the story as briefly as he could. He was encouraged tofind that the stranger listened to him with attention.
"Do you know," he said, reflectively, "you have done for me what Ionce did for another--a rich man? The case was very similar. I was apoor boy at the time. Do you know what he gave me?"
"What was it, sir?"
"A dollar! What do you think of that for generosity?"
"Well, sir, it wasn't exactly liberal. Did you accept it?"
"No. I told him that I didn't wish to inconvenience him. But I askedyou how much money you supposed I had. I will tell you. In a wallet Ihave eleven thousand dollars in bank notes and securities."
"That is a fortune," said Dodger, dazzled at the mention of such asum.
"If I had lost it, I have plenty more, but the most serious peril wasto my life. Through your opportune assistance I have escaped withoutloss. I fully appreciate the magnitude of the service you have doneme. As an evidence of it, please accept these bills."
He drew from the roll two bills and handed them to Dodger.
The boy, glancing at them mechanically, started in amazement. Eachbill was for five hundred dollars.
"You have given me a thousand dollars!" he gasped.
"I am aware of it. I consider my life worth that, at least. JamesSwinton never fails to pay his debts."
"But, sir, a thousand dollars----"
"It's no more than you deserve. When I tell my wife, on my return toChicago, about this affair, she will blame me for not giving youmore."
"You seem to belong to a liberal family, sir."
"I detest meanness, and would rather err on the side of liberality.Now, if agreeable to you, I will order a bottle of champagne, andsolace ourselves for this little incident."
"Thank you, Mr. Swinton, but I have made up my mind not to drinkanything stronger than water. I have tended bar in New York, and whatI have seen has given me a dislike for liquor of any kind."
"You are a sensible young man. You are right, and I won't urge you.There is my card, and if you ever come to Chicago, call upon me."
"I will, sir."
When Dodger left the Palace Hotel he felt that he was a favorite offortune.
It is not always that the money we need is so quickly supplied.
He resolved to return to New York as soon as he could manage it, andtake with him the wife and child of Curtis Waring.
This would cost him about five hundred dollars, and he would have thesame amount left.
Mr. Tucker was reluctant to part with Dodger.
"You are the best assistant I ever had," he said. "I will pay youtwenty dollars a week, if that will induce you to stay."
"I would stay if it were not very important for me to return to NewYork, Mr. Tucker. I do not expect to get a place in New York as good."
"If you come back to San Francisco at any time, I will make a placefor you."
"Thank you, sir."
Mrs. Waring was overjoyed when Dodger called upon her and offered totake her back to New York.
"I shall see Curtis again," she said. "How can I ever thank you?"
But Dodger, though unwilling to disturb her dreams of happiness,thought it exceedingly doubtful if her husband would be equally gladto see her.
Adrift in New York: Tom and Florence Braving the World Page 34
