"I think it will do for me to go to Mr. Afton's office now," thoughtLuke. "If I don't find him in I will wait."
La Salle Street runs parallel with Clark. It is a busy thoroughfare,and contains many buildings cut up into offices. This was the casewith No. 155.
Luke entered the building and scanned the directory on either side ofthe door. He had no difficulty in finding the name of Benjamin Afton.
He had to go up two flights of stairs, for Mr. Afton's office was onthe third floor.
CHAPTER VI
MR. AFTON'S OFFICE
Mr. Afton's office was of unusual size, and fronted on La SalleStreet. As Luke entered he observed that it was furnished better thanthe ordinary business office. On the floor was a handsome Turkeycarpet. The desks were of some rich dark wood, and the chairs were ascostly as those in his library. In a closed bookcase at one end of theroom, surmounted by bronze statuettes, was a full library ofreference.
At one desk stood a tall man, perhaps thirty-five, with red hair andprominent features. At another desk was a young fellow of eighteen,bearing a marked resemblance to the head bookkeeper. There was besidesa young man of perhaps twenty-two, sitting at a table, apparentlyfiling bills.
"Mr. Afton must be a rich man to have such an elegant office," thoughtLuke.
The red-haired bookkeeper did not take the trouble to look up to seewho had entered the office.
"Is Mr. Afton in?" Luke asked, in a respectful tone.
The bookkeeper raised his eyes for a moment, glanced at Luke with asupercilious air, and said curtly, "No!"
"Do you know when he will be in?" continued the newsboy.
"Quite indefinite. What is your business, boy?"
"My business is with Mr. Afton," Luke answered.
"Humph! is it of an important nature?"
"It is not very important," he answered, "but I wish to see Mr. Aftonpersonally."
"Whose office are you in?"
"He isn't in any office, Uncle Nathaniel," put in the red-haired boy."He is a newsboy. I see him every morning round the Sherman House."
"Ha! is that so? Boy, we don't want to buy any papers, nor does Mr.Afton. You can go."
As the bookkeeper spoke he pointed to the door.
"I have no papers to sell," said Luke, "but I come here on businesswith Mr. Afton, and will take the liberty to wait till he comes."
"Oh, my eyes! Ain't he got cheek?" ejaculated the red-haired boy. "Isay, boy, do you black boots as well as sell papers?"
"No, I don't."
"Some of the newsboys do. I thought, perhaps, you had got a job toblack Mr. Afton's boots every morning."
Luke who was a spirited boy, was fast getting angry.
"I don't want to interfere with you in any way," he said.
"What do you mean?" demanded the red-haired boy, his cheeks rivalinghis hair in color.
"I thought that might be one of your duties."
"Why, you impudent young vagabond! Uncle Nathaniel, did you hearthat?"
"Boy, you had better go," said the bookkeeper.
"You can leave your card," added Eustis Clark, the nephew.
A friend of Luke's had printed and given him a dozen cards a few daysprevious, and he had them in his pocket at that moment.
"Thank you for the suggestion," he said, and walking up to the boy'sdesk he deposited on it a card bearing this name in neat script:
LUKE WALTON.
"Be kind enough to hand that to Mr. Afton."
Eustis held up the card, and burst into a guffaw.
"Well, I never!" he ejaculated. "Mr. Walton," he concluded, with aceremonious bow.
"The same to you!" said Luke, with a smile.
"I never saw a newsboy put on such airs before," he said, as Luke leftthe office. "Did you, Uncle Nathaniel? Do you think he really had anybusiness with the boss?"
"Probably he wanted to supply the office with papers. Now stopfooling, and go to work."
"They didn't seem very glad to see me," thought Luke. "I want to seeMr. Afton this morning, or he may think that I have not kept my wordabout the money."
Luke stationed himself in the doorway at the entrance to the building,meaning to intercept Mr. Afton as he entered from the street. He hadto wait less than ten minutes. Mr. Afton smiled in instant recognitionas he saw Luke, and seemed glad to see him.
"I am glad the boy justified my idea of him," he said to himself. "Iwould have staked a thousand dollars on his honesty. Such a face asthat doesn't belong to a rogue."
"I am rather late," he said. "Have you been here long?"
"Not very long, sir; I have been up in your office."
"Why didn't you sit down and wait for me?"
"I don't think the red-haired gentleman cared to have me. The boyasked me to leave my card."
Mr. Afton looked amused.
"And did you?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Do you generally carry visiting cards?"
"Well, I happened to have some with me this morning."
"Please show me one. So your name is Luke Walton?" he added, glancingat the card.
"Yes, sir; office corner Clark and Randolph Streets."
"I will keep the card and bear it in mind."
"I have brought your change, sir," said Luke.
"You can come upstairs and pay it to me in the office. It will be morebusiness-like."
Luke was glad to accept the invitation, for it would prove to theskeptical office clerks that he really had business with theiremployer.
Eustis Clark and his uncle could not conceal their surprise when theysaw Luke follow Mr. Afton into the office.
There was a smaller room inclosed at one corner, which was especiallyreserved for Mr. Afton.
"Come here, Luke," said he, pleasantly.
Luke followed him inside.
He drew from his pocket four dollars and ninety-eight cents, and laidit on the table behind which his patron had taken a seat.
"Won't you please count it and see if it is right?" he asked.
"I can see that it is, Luke. I am afraid I have put you to moretrouble than the profit on the two papers I bought would pay for."
"Not at all, sir. Besides, it's all in the way of business. I thankyou for putting confidence in me."
"I thought I was not mistaken in you, and the result shows that I wasright. My boy, I saw that you had an honest face. I am sure that thethought of keeping back the money never entered your head."
"No, sir, it did not, though one of the newsboys advised me to keepit."
"It would have been very shortsighted as a matter of policy. I willtake this money, but I want to encourage you in the way ofwell-doing."
He drew from his vest pocket a bill, and extended it to Luke.
"It isn't meant as a reward for honesty, but only as a mark of theinterest I have begun to feel in you."
"Thank you, sir," said Luke; and as he took the bill, he started insurprise, for it was ten dollars.
"Did you mean to give as much as this?"
"How much is it?"
"Ten dollars."
"I thought it was five, but I am glad it is more. Yes, Luke, you arewelcome to it. Have you anyone dependent upon you?"
"My mother. She will be very much pleased."
"That's right, my lad. Always look out for your mother. You owe her adebt which you can never repay."
"That is true, sir. But I would like to use a part of this money forsome one else."
"For yourself?"
"No; for a friend."
Then he told in simple language of Jim Norman, and how seriously hisfamily was affected by his sickness and enforced idleness.
"Jim has no money to buy medicine," he concluded. "If you don'tobject, Mr. Afton, I will give Jim's mother half this money, afterbuying some cough medicine out of it."
The merchant listened with approval.
"I am glad, Luke, you feel for others," he said, "but I can betterafford to help your friend than you. Here is a five-dollar bill.
Tellthe boy it is from a friend, and if he should need more let me know."
"Thank you, sir," said Luke, fairly radiant as he thought of Jim'sdelight. "I won't take up any more of your time, but will bid yougood-morning."
Probably Mr. Afton wished to give his clerks a lesson, for he followedLuke to the door of the outer office, and shook hands cordially withhim, saying: "I shall be glad to have you call, when you wish to seeme, Luke;" adding, "I may possibly have some occasional work for youto do. If so, I know where to find you."
"Thank you, sir."
"What's got into the old man?" thought Eustis Clark.
As Mr. Afton returned to his sanctum, Eustis said with a grin, holdingup the card:
"Mr. Walton left his card for you, thinking you might not be in timeto see him."
"Give it to me, if you please," and the rich man took the card withouta smile, and put it into his vest pocket, not seeming in the leastsurprised.
"Mr. Walton called to pay me some money," he said, gravely. "Wheneverhe calls invite him to wait till my return."
CHAPTER VII
A STRANGE ENCOUNTER
Luke went home that evening in high spirits. The gift he had receivedfrom Mr. Afton enabled him to carry out a plan he had long desired torealize. It was to secure a sewing machine for his mother, and thusincrease her earnings while diminishing her labors. He stopped at anestablishment not far from Clark Street, and entering the showroom,asked: "What is the price of your sewing machines?"
"One in a plain case will cost you twenty-five dollars."
"Please show me one."
"Do you want it for your wife?"
"She may use it some time. My mother will use it first."
The salesman pointed out an instrument with which Luke was wellpleased.
"Would you like to see how it works?"
"Yes, please."
"Miss Morris, please show this young man how to operate the machine."
In the course of ten minutes Luke got a fair idea of the method ofoperating.
"Do you require the whole amount down?" asked Luke.
"No; we sell on installments, if preferred."
"What are your terms?"
"Five dollars first payment, and then a dollar a week, with intereston the balance till paid."
"Then I think I will engage one," Luke decided.
"Very well! Come up to the desk, and give me your name and address. Onpayment of five dollars, we will give you a receipt on account,specifying the terms of paying the balance, etc."
Luke transacted his business, and made arrangements to have themachine delivered any time after six o'clock, when he knew he would beat home.
As Luke was coming out of the sewing-machine office he saw Tom Brooksjust passing. Tom looked a little uneasy, not feeling certain whetherLuke had recognized him as one of his assailants or not the eveningprevious.
Luke felt that he had a right to be angry. Indeed, he had it in hispower to have Tom arrested, and charged with a very seriouscrime--that of highway robbery. But his good luck made himgood-natured.
"Good-evening, Tom," he said. "I didn't see you selling papersto-day."
"No; I was on Dearborn Street."
"He doesn't know it was me," thought Tom, congratulating himself, andadded: "Have you been buying a sewing machine?"
This was said in a joke.
"Yes," answered Luke, considerably to Tom's surprise. "I have boughtone."
"How much?"
"Twenty-five dollars."
"Where did you raise twenty-five dollars? You're foolin'."
"I bought it on the installment plan--five dollars down."
"Oho!" said Tom, nodding significantly. "I know where you got thatmoney?"
"Where did I?"
"From the gentleman that bought a couple of papers yesterday."
"You hit it right the first time."
"I thought you weren't no better than the rest of us--you thatpretended to be so extra honest."
"What do you mean by that, Tom Brooks?"
"You pretended that you were going to give back the man's change, andspent it, after all. I thought you weren't such a saint as youpretended to be."
"I see you keep on judging me by yourself, Tom Brooks. I took roundthe money this morning, and he gave it to me."
"Is that true?"
"Yes; I generally tell the truth."
"Then you're lucky. If I'd returned it, he wouldn't have given me acent."
"It's best to be honest on all occasions," said Luke, lookingsignificantly at Tom, who colored up, for he now saw that he had beenrecognized the night before.
Tom sneaked off on some pretext, and Luke kept on his way home.
"Did you do well to-day, Luke?" asked Bennie.
"Yes, Bennie; very well."
"How much did you make?"
"I'll tell you by and by. Mother, can I help you about the supper?"
"You may toast the bread, Luke. I am going to have your favoritedish--milk toast."
"All right, mother. Have you been sewing to-day?"
"Yes, Luke. I sat so long in one position that I got cramped."
"I wish you had a sewing machine."
"So do I, Luke; but I must be patient. A sewing machine costs moremoney than we can afford."
"One can be got for twenty-five dollars, I have heard."
"That is a good deal of money for people in our position."
"We may as well hope for one. I shouldn't be surprised if we were ableto buy a sewing machine very soon."
Meanwhile Luke finished toasting the bread and his mother was dippingit in milk when a step was heard on the stairway, the door was opened,and Nancy's red head was thrust into the room.
"Please, Mrs. Walton," said Nancy, breathlessly, "there's a mandownstairs with a sewing machine which he says is for you."
"There must be some mistake, Nancy. I haven't ordered any sewingmachine."
"Shall I send him off, ma'am?"
"No, Nancy," said Luke; "it's all right. I'll go down stairs and helphim bring it up."
"How is this, Luke?" asked Mrs. Walton, bewildered.
"I'll explain afterwards, mother."
Up the stairs and into the room came the sewing machine, and was setdown near the window. Bennie surveyed it with wonder and admiration.
When the man who brought it was gone, Luke explained to his mother howit had all come about.
"You see, mother, you didn't have to wait long," he concluded.
"I feel deeply thankful, Luke," said Mrs. Walton. "I can do threetimes the work I have been accustomed to do, and in much less time.This Mr. Afton must be a kind and charitable man."
"I like him better than his clerks," said Luke. "There is a red-headedbookkeeper and a boy there who tried to snub me, and keep me out ofthe office. I try to think well of red-headed people on account ofNancy, but I can't say I admire them."
After supper Luke gave his mother a lesson in operating the machine.Both found that it required a little practice.
The next morning as Luke was standing at his usual corner, he had asurprise.
A gentleman came out of the Sherman House and walked slowly up ClarkStreet. As he passed Luke, he stopped and asked, "Boy, have you the_Inter-Ocean?_"
Luke looked up in his customer's face. He paused in the greatestexcitement.
The man was on the shady side of fifty, nearly six feet in height,with a dark complexion, hair tinged with gray, and a wart on the upperpart of his right cheek!
CHAPTER VIII
A MARKED MAN
At last, so Luke verily believed, he stood face to face with the manwho had deceived his dying father, and defrauded his mother andhimself of a sum which would wholly change their positions andprospects. But he wanted to know positively, and he could not think ofa way to acquire this knowledge.
Meanwhile the gentleman noticed the boy's scrutiny, and it did notplease him.
"Well, boy!" he said gruffly, "you seem determined to know me again.You stare hard enoug
h. Let me tell you this is not good manners."
"Excuse me," said Luke, "but your face looked familiar to me. Ithought I had seen you before."
"Very likely you have. I come to Chicago frequently, and generallystop at the Sherman House."
"Probably that explains it," said Luke. "Are you not Mr. Thomas, ofSt. Louis?"
The gentleman laughed.
"You will have to try again," he said. "I am Mr. Browning, ofMilwaukee. Thomas is my first name."
"Browning!" thought Luke, disappointed. "Evidently I am on the wrongtrack. And yet he answers father's description exactly."
"I don't know anyone in Milwaukee," he said aloud.
"Then it appears we can't claim acquaintance."
The gentleman took his paper and turned down Randolph Street towardState.
"Strange!" he soliloquized, "that boy's interest in my personalappearance. I wonder if there can be a St. Louis man who resembles me.If so, he can't be a very good-looking man. This miserable wart oughtto be enough to distinguish me from anyone else."
He paused a minute, and then a new thought came into his mind.
"There is something familiar in that boy's face. I wonder who he canbe. I will buy my evening papers of him, and take that opportunity toinquire."