CHAPTER XXXII.
A CRITICAL MOMENT.
Guided by his boy companion, Andy found the Sherman House and registeredthere. The change was a very satisfactory one, and he enjoyed thecomfortable room to which he was assigned.
After a hearty supper he took a seat in the office and watched withinterest the crowds that surged in and out of the hotel. Presently hesaw a familiar figure entering.
It was his late companion, Percival Robinson. The latter was not long inrecognizing the boy.
He walked up to the chair on which Andy was seated and addressed himwith a look of anger.
"So I have found you, have I?" he said, roughly.
Andy knew that this man had no right to interfere with him, andanswered, coolly:
"So it seems."
"Why did you play me such a mean trick, boy?"
"My name is Andrew," said Andy, with dignity. "What right have you tospeak to me in this manner?"
"I'll tell you presently. You have made a nice return for my kindness."
"I know of no kindness. You got acquainted with me on the train, andtook me to a house where I didn't care to stop."
"Why didn't you care to stop there?"
"Because I found that it didn't have a good reputation. My employerwouldn't care to have me stay at such a house."
"You are mighty independent for a young boy. I want you to return thepocketbook of which you relieved me."
Andy was startled at this reckless charge.
"What do you mean?" he demanded, hotly. "You know that this is afalsehood."
"We'll see if you will brazen it out. If you don't give me back thepocketbook, which I have no doubt you have in your pocket at thismoment, I will have you arrested."
Andy began to feel nervous. He was a stranger in Chicago. There was noone to identify him or vouch for his honesty. What if this man shouldcarry out his threat and have him arrested?
However, Andy had pluck, and didn't intend to surrender at discretion.
This conversation had attracted the attention of two or three guests ofthe hotel, who were disposed to look with suspicion upon Andy. Hisaccuser appeared like a man of good position, being well dressed andwith an air of assurance.
One old gentleman, who was fond of giving advice, said, reprovingly:
"My boy, you will find it best to hand the gentleman his pocketbook. Itis sad to see one so young guilty of theft."
"Perhaps the boy is not guilty," suggested another guest.
"I am in the employ of a gentleman in New York," said Andy, "and thisman is scheming to rob me."
"You are perfectly shameless!" said Robinson, encouraged by what theold gentleman had said. "I will give you just five minutes to return mypocketbook, or I will have you arrested."
Andy felt that he was in a tight place, but his wits had not desertedhim.
"As you claim the pocketbook," he said, "perhaps you will tell how muchmoney there is in it."
"I can't tell exactly," replied Robinson. "I spend money liberally, andI have not counted the money lately."
"That is quite reasonable," said the old gentleman. "I don't know howmuch money there is in my wallet."
"What is there besides money in the pocketbook?" asked Andy following uphis advantage.
"I think there are a few postage stamps," answered Robinson at a guess.
"You certainly have a good deal of assurance, young man," said the oldgentleman in a tone of reproof. "If I were in this gentleman's place Iwould summon a policeman at once."
"I prefer to give the boy a chance," said Robinson, who had his ownreasons for not bringing the matter to the knowledge of the police. "Idon't want to get him into trouble. I only want my money back."
"You are more considerate than he deserves," said Andy's critic. "And bythe way, here is the hotel detective. Officer, will you come here,please? Here is a case that requires your attention."
The hotel detective, a quiet-looking man, approached.
Robinson was far from thanking the old gentleman for his officiousness.He feared recognition.
"What is the matter?" asked the detective, coming up and eying Robinsonsharply.
The old gentleman volunteered an explanation.
The detective seemed amused.
"So this man charges the boy with robbing him?" he asked.
"Yes, sir; and we all believe that he has good grounds for doing so."
"I don't believe it," said the gentleman who had already spoken forAndy.
"What have you to say, my boy?" asked the detective, turning to Andy.
"Only that I made the acquaintance of this man on the train. He inducedme to go to a small hotel on the outskirts of the city, on the groundthat I could board there cheaply. What I saw and heard there excited mysuspicions, and I left the place without his knowledge."
"Taking my pocketbook with you. I incautiously laid it on the bed. WhenI went up later I found that it and you had disappeared."
"Do you hear that, officer?" asked the old gentleman, triumphantly.
"I do," answered the detective. Then, turning to Robinson with a changeof tone, he asked:
"How did you get so much money, Tom Maitland?"
Robinson turned pale. He saw that he was recognized.
"I will let the matter drop," he said. "I don't want to get the boy intotrouble."
He turned toward the door, but the detective was too quick for him.
"You will have to go with me," he said. "You have been trying a boldconfidence game. I shall have to lock you up."
"Gentlemen," said Robinson, turning pale, "will you permit thisoutrage?"
"It is an outrage!" said the old gentleman, hotly.
"My friend," inquired the detective, "do you know this man?"
"No; but--"
"Then let me introduce him as Tom Maitland, one of the cleverestconfidence men in Chicago."
He produced a pair of handcuffs, which he deftly slipped over the wristsof Percival Robinson, and led him out of the hotel.
Andy was satisfactorily vindicated, and, it must be admitted, enjoyedthe discomfiture of the old gentleman, who slunk away in confusion.
When Andy set out on his journey he intended to go to Tacoma by way ofSan Francisco, but found, as he proceeded, that he could go by theNorthern Pacific as far as it was built, and proceed the rest of the wayby stage and over Puget Sound. This seemed to him to afford greatervariety, and he adopted the plan.
Some hundreds of miles east of his destination he took the stage. It wasrather a toilsome mode of traveling, but he obtained a good idea of thecountry through which he was passing.
At that time stage robberies were frequent, nor have they wholly ceasednow. Among the stage robbers who were most dreaded was a certain DickHawley, who had acquired a great reputation for daring, and was known tohave been engaged in nearly twenty stage robberies.
As they approached that part of the route in which he operated, therewas a great anxiety manifested by the passengers, and especially by athin, cadaverous-looking man from Ohio.
"Do you think we shall meet Dick Hawley to-day, driver?" he asked.
"I can't say, sir. I hope not."
"How often have you met him?"
"Three times."
"Did he rob the stage every time?"
"Yes."
"Were there many passengers on board?" asked Andy.
"Nearly ten every time."
"And they allowed one man to rob them?"
"Wait till you meet him," said the driver, shrugging his shoulders.
"If he stops the stage I shall die of fright," said thecadaverous-looking man. "I know I shall."
"Have you a good deal of money with you?" asked a fellow passenger.
"I have ninety-seven dollars and a half," answered the other, soberly.
"Better lose that than die! If you give it up, there won't be any dangerof bodily injury."
The cadaverous-looking man groaned, but did not reply.
Gradually they ascended, for t
hey were among the mountains, till theyreached a narrow ledge or shelf scarcely wider than the stage. On oneside there was a sheer descent of hundreds of feet, and great cautionwas requisite.
Just at the highest point a horseman appeared around a curve andstationed himself directly in front of the stage, with a revolverpointed at the driver.
"Stop and give up your money, or I fire!" he exclaimed.
It was the dreaded highwayman, Dick Hawley.