CHAPTER XVII.
BOB GOES FOR AN OFFICER.
Old Gunwagner saw quite clearly that any further effort to play upon theboys' sympathy was useless.
The first shock of his surprise was over, and now the subtle cunning ofhis nature began to reassert itself.
"Boys, you have the advantage of me at present," said he, softly. "But Ican't see how it will pay you to act foolish."
"What do you mean?" asked Herbert.
"I mean that it will pay you a good deal better to make terms with me."
"How so?"
"Would you like to be rich?" was the reply.
"I suppose every American wants to be rich, and I guess we are noexception, are we, Bob?"
"I should think we ain't," replied the latter.
"So I thought," said the old fence, "and it's in my power to make yourich."
The boys were listening to subtle, dangerous words.
"How can you do that?" said Bob, growing interested.
"There are a number of ways that I might do it. In the first place, Icould give both of you all the money you will ever need, and still berich myself."
"But a man isn't likely to give away so much," said Herbert.
"You must have a payin' business," observed the young detective.
"Of course I must, and that is the point I am coming at. You boys haveshown yourselves keen lads, and I always like to help such boys along,for I was poor once myself. Now my proposition is this: I'll give youboth a show in the business here with me."
"No, sir, thank you, we do not care to go into a dishonest business likethis," said Herbert, emphatically, speaking for both Bob and himself.
"Not if you could each make ten thousand a year, clean money?"
"No; not if we could make ten times that," replied our hero.
"You could have a good time on ten thousand a year--boys of your age."
"Not on stolen money."
"It wouldn't be on stolen money."
"It looks very much like it, when you buy stolen goods."
"Yes, and fix up a job for bank robbin'," added Bob.
"Well, suppose it does look so, why couldn't you enjoy the money just asmuch?"
"Because it wouldn't be right for us to have it," returned our hero.
"Boys, you are not so old as I am. I've seen a good deal of life. Moneyis money, and it don't matter where it comes from, it will buy just asmuch."
"It will not always buy one his liberty," replied young Randolph,coolly.
This remark came close home to the old fence, and disconcerted him for aminute. Presently, however, he rallied, and said:
"Do you think one has his liberty, as you call it, when he is poor--sopoor that he can have no luxuries?"
"To be sure he does. Why not?"
"You will change your mind some day, and perhaps it will be too late."
"I hope I shall never change my mind in favor of dishonesty and crime."
"Do you know that a boy's chance to get rich hardly ever comes to himbut once in his life?" continued old Gunwagner, undaunted.
"No, and I don't believe it is so, either."
"Another evidence of your inexperience. When you get older, you willlook back and see what I tell you is true; and if you miss this chanceyou will never get another one like it."
"We don't want another one like it, so it's no use to talk about it anymore."
"That's so," said Bob; "he hain't got no interest in us; I can seethrough his trick."
"You are mistaken, young man. If you don't want to go into the businesshere yourselves, I'll give you an interest in it, if you will do nothingto injure it. You see, you know about the business here now, and if youshould give it away to the police, why it would hurt it, don't youunderstand?"
"Yes, we understand it too well, but do not want an interest in it,"said Herbert.
"It would pay you well," persisted the old fence; "say about seven toten thousand dollars each every year, and you needn't come anearit--just take your dividends every week, and that's all."
"Well, we don't want no such dividends," said Bob; "nor we couldn't get'em if we did want 'em, that's all."
"You are mistaken again, for if you think the business don't pay as wellas I say, why I can show you the money."
"Got it with you?" said Bob.
This question pleased the old fence, and gave him renewed courage. Hethought now that perhaps there was yet hope for him.
"I have it in the house," said he.
"In cash?"
"Yes, and I can get it if you want to see it."
"Don't see how you're goin' to get it, the way you are fixed now,"continued Bob.
"Well, if you will not let me go for it, I can tell you where to findit."
"Can you? Well, where is it?"
"It is in my bedroom, in the further end of the house. You will find itin the thick wallet, under my pillow."
"Well, we will take your word for it, seein' we don't need the money foranything, and wouldn't take it nohow," said the young detective, whodivined the purpose of the old fence.
"But if you don't get it, how can I make you boys a present? You willnot allow me to go for it," said the fence, fearing his scheme hadfailed him.
"We don't want no present, so don't worry yourself about that."
"We prefer taking you with us, rather than the present," said Herbert.
"Old man," continued Bob, "your game didn't work. All you wanted was toget me out of the way so you could er layed Vermont out. But it warn'tno go. You was too anxious to give away money. I could see all the timewhat you was aimin' at."
The old fence protested against this interpretation of his motives, butthe boys were too keen for him. Young Bob Hunter had been knocking aboutthe streets of New York too long to be very easily taken in by this oldGunwagner. His wits had been sharpened to a high degree in his longstruggle for bread, and his knowledge of human nature was as superior tothat of Herbert Randolph as the latter's general education was superiorto Bob's.
GUNWAGNER IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE.]
Finding it impossible to work upon the sympathy of the boys, that buyingthem off was out of the question, and that the scheme to outwit them hadproved a flat failure, Gunwagner now turned to the last weapon which hecould hope to use with any possible effect.
"So you have made up your mind to take me with you?" said he, lookinghard at Herbert.
"Yes," replied the latter, firmly.
"You will make the biggest mistake of your life, if you attempt such anoutrage."
"An outrage! Is that what you call it, when a detective takes a birdlike you in?" said Bob Hunter, in his characteristic manner.
The old fence looked fiercely at him.
"My friends are all around here, and I can raise a dozen of them beforeyou could get me half a block away."
"We do not feel uneasy about your so called friends," said youngRandolph. "But if you prefer it, we will send for an officer, and lethim take you."
"If your friends go back on you the way Mortimer done tonight, when hetold you he would look out for himself, and let you fight it out alone,why, then I guess me and Vermont needn't bother much about your gang."
Further intimidation was tried by Gunwagner, but all to no purpose, fornow the boys were in the act of fastening together the wrists of the oldfence, and binding them securely to a chair. When this had been done, sothat they no longer felt any insecurity, they took from his pocket thekeys to both doors leading to the street, and Bob Hunter started foran officer. Young Randolph remained with the prisoner, because he wasstronger than Bob, and therefore would be the better able to handle him,should he by any means get his hands loose.
Now every hope had failed the old man. He saw nothing but Sing Singbefore him. His evil purpose had at last recoiled upon him, and he was aprisoner in the hands of one who but a few hours before had begged ofhim for mercy.
While waiting for the return of Bob with the officer, Herbert askedGunwagner if the money he
had made in crooked and unlawful ways hadbrought him happiness. He made no audible reply, but sat with his headbent low. An answer, however, was conveyed to our young hero by a silenttear that made its way slowly down the wrinkled and aged face of the oldman, whose life had been worse than wasted, for it had been an evilone.