CHAPTER XVII.
AN ADVERTISEMENT.
When Frank Mansfield awoke next morning he found Detective Hookstanding by his side.
Indeed, it was the pressure of the detective's hand upon his foreheadthat had called him from sleep.
"Good-morning, my boy," he said, pleasantly. "It's time you werestirring, if you intend taking breakfast with me."
Frank sprang off of the lounge and began putting on his clothes.
"I could sleep all day, I think," he said, rubbing his eyes. "I neverfelt so sleepy in my life."
"No wonder, after the strain you have been under for the lastforty-eight hours. That was one reason why I insisted upon your cominghome with me. I want you to get thoroughly rested and refreshed; thenyou will be able to show what you are made of in working out ourscheme. That hole in the wall may do well enough for newsboys andbootblacks, but it is no place for a boy like you."
"It served me a good turn the other night, all the same."
"I don't dispute that. By the way, how did you manage to get into thevault that night? Through the iron door on the New Church street side?"
"Yes, that was the way."
"I thought as much. I took a good look at the place and itssurroundings before I entered. I thought I had sized it up pretty well."
"But how did you come to guess the entrance lay beneath that particulartombstone?" asked Frank, stooping to tie his shoes. "I didn't knowmyself where it was, although I knew there was some way of getting infrom above."
The detective smiled.
"If I told you all I knew," he replied, pleasantly, "why, then you'dknow as much as I do myself, and would have no further use for myservices. No, no, young man, I am working for money. Under the willof your grandfather you are justly entitled to a large fortune, whichthrough your own folly and the machinations of that man Callister hascome mighty near slipping through your hands, if it has not alreadydone so. My work now is to help you to the recovery of this fortune.Once you are in possession of it, I shall expect to be paid. Then askme for my secrets, and I may tell you; meanwhile, we will see what kindof a breakfast my landlady has sent us up this morning, talk mattersover together, and decide what is the first step to take."
He led the way into the room immediately behind the sleeping chamber,where a comfortable breakfast for two was already spread.
"I prefer to take my meals in private," said the detective, proceedingto help Frank to beefsteak, rolls, coffee and eggs. "It avoids allgossip among the boarders as to my movements and enables me to come andgo as I please without exciting comment from any one, which is just thesort of an arrangement I need. Make yourself at home; if you don't seewhat you want, ask for it. There are the morning papers for you if youwant to read."
Frank appropriated one paper, the detective taking another.
The first thing that struck the boy's eye was a full account ofthe robbery of the Webster Bank and the reward offered by the bankofficials for his own arrest.
And over his mind there crept a feeling of renewed shame for thewretched position into which he had been led by his own folly.
He inwardly resolved that once out of this scrape--once clear beforethe world--that never, so long as he lived, should a drop of liquorpass his lips again.
"The papers seem to be making quite a stir about you, don't they?" saidthe detective, laying down the one he had been reading, and plying hisknife and fork. "Wouldn't there be a fine kick-up if they knew I hadyou concealed here?"
"I suppose there would. I am entirely in your power, Mr. Hook. You canhandle me as you please."
"Don't say power, Frank. I don't like the word. I know you to beinnocent of any intention to rob the bank. Were it not so, I shouldgive you up at once."
"And claim the reward?"
"Most assuredly. That's the way I earn my living; but I have no suchintention. I feel interested in your case, and would like to see yourighted, if I can. Besides, it will pay me better to help you recoverthe money than to choose any other course. I make no secret of mymotives. They are purely mercenary, you see."
"I am just as much obliged to you, all the same."
"You have reasons to be. The ordinary detective would have marchedyou off to the station-house. False witnesses would have been broughtagainst you beyond a doubt; you would have been convicted, and underthe provisions of your grandfather's will could never have inherited acent."
"I don't seem likely to in any case, now that the parchment describingthe hiding-place of his buried money is lost."
"Don't be too sure. I have a feeling that we shall yet succeed infinding that parchment. But now for a question or two. How came thoseboys--what do they call themselves--to lend you a helping hand?"
"They call themselves the 'Bats in the Wall.' Barney has been in thehabit of blacking my boots at the bank. That was the reason he gave forhelping me as he did."
"'Bats in the Wall,' eh? A good name. That accounts for the bat-likecry Officer Schneider heard. As for the reason, that don't amount toanything. Depend upon it, these boys would never had let you into theirsecret for any such reason as that."
"What do you think was the reason?"
"Blest if I know. If I did, I am certain that I would have the key tomuch that is now mysterious about this strange affair. What do you knowabout this Jerry Buck?"
"Nothing at all, except meeting him in the wall as I did."
"There is something that boy is keeping back," said the detective,musingly. "Now what is it? That's the question. Have you noticed,Frank, how much he resembles you?"
"No, I'm sure, I haven't. Do you mean to say he looks like me?"
"Enough like you to be your twin brother. I never saw a more markedresemblance in my life. But that is always the way. A man can rarelysee a resemblance to himself in the face of any one else."
"Well, now you speak of it, I can see some points in which we arealike. His hair is the color of mine; his eyes are not unlike----"
"Eyes, nose, mouth, everything," replied the detective, quickly. "Butnever mind that now. Tell me something of your own past--somethingconcerning that mother of yours."
Tears gathered in the boy's eyes.
"It is a sad, sad story, Mr. Hook," he replied, brokenly. "After myfather's misfortunes she lost her reason, as I have already told you.Mr. Callister, who had charge of our affairs, had her removed to aprivate asylum, where she has been most of the time ever since."
"What asylum was it?"
"Dr. Belding's, St. Nicholas avenue and 150th street, up near the FortWashington road."
"I know the locality. You say you went there yesterday, and they toldyou she had escaped."
"Yes. She disappeared one night, some three weeks ago."
"And you were not informed?"
"No. Mr. Callister had the matter in charge. I visited the asylum fromtime to time, but they would rarely allow me to see my mother, andnever at any time leave us alone."
"Was she very bad?"
"Well, pretty bad at times. She was particularly violent in thepresence of Mr. Callister."
"Humph!" muttered the detective, "I'm not much surprised at that."
"She always had the idea that he was the cause of my father'smisfortunes, though I'm sure I don't know why."
For a few moments the detective maintained silence.
"What was the name of your mother before your father married her,Frank?" he asked at length.
"Helen Dupont."
"Where was she from?"
"She was born in the upper part of New York, in what was then thevillage of Fort Washington."
"Has she any relatives?"
"I don't know. I never heard her speak of her past life at all."
"Then you have no idea why she should seek such quarters as that housein the rear of the Catherine Market, where we found her?"
"Not the slightest, Mr. Hook. When I first saw her in the street onthat terrible night I never was more surprised in my life. I ought notto have left her even for a momen
t. I never would have done so had Ibeen myself."
"There, there. Don't think anything more about it," said the detective,kindly, seeing that Frank could no longer restrain the tears. "Whiskymakes fools of us all, my boy. Finish your breakfast and we'll talkabout these matters later on."
He resumed the paper, leaving Frank to his own bitter thoughts.
For the space of a few moments neither spoke.
Suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise and satisfaction, Caleb Hookbrought his hand down upon the table with a thump which made the dishesrattle.
"The very thing!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "Frank Mansfield, fate isplaying into our hands."
He passed over the paper to Frank, with one finger pressed upon theadvertising columns.
"Read that," he said briefly, "and tell me what you think of it."
It was an advertisement under the head of "Clerks Wanted."
This was the way it read:
"WANTED--A young man for a responsible position in a broker's office. One familiar with a general stock brokerage business preferred. Apply to Elijah Callister, Room 62, ---- Building, Broad street."
"What do you think of it?" asked the detective.
"It's Mr. Callister, certainly; but I don't see how it concerns me?"
"You don't? What we want in this little scheme of ours more thananything else is to set a watch on this man; to trace out hismovements, to learn who his associates are, and what interest he haswith bank burglars and thieves, such as the man in whose company yousaw him at the Catherine Market yesterday morning."
"Do you propose to send one of your men to apply for the place?"
"One of my men! Why, I mean that you shall apply for it, and get it,too."
Frank laughed.
"He'd know me at a glance," he said.
"Would he? We'll see about that. After a certain costumer with whomI am acquainted is through with you I don't think he would. But,supposing you were so effectually disguised that he could neverrecognize you, do you think you could fill the position and play yourpart?"
"Yes, I'm sure I could. At all events I'm not afraid to try."
"Good! That's the way to talk. I've been studying you closely, my boy,and feel sure that you could carry the thing through as well as anyactor living."
"Always providing that I can get the place. I have no references, youknow."
"That is easily fixed. The president of the Stock Exchange is a cousinof mine. You shall apply for that position this very morning with aletter from him. Do you understand the duties of such a position wellenough to fill it?"
"Oh, perfectly. I learned all that in the bank."
"Then come with me at once," exclaimed Detective Hook, springing to hisfeet. "If you want to clear your name before the world--if you want toavenge the wrong done by that man Callister to you and yours--embracethis opportunity which fate has thrown in your path, and never restuntil you have read his secrets through and through."