CHAPTER XVI
ADRIFT IN NEW YORK
Puzzled, worried and not a little frightened at what the outcome of hisinvestment might be, Ned boarded an elevated train for his aunt's home.He was sure the inspector had referred to him, and, though he knew hehad done nothing wrong, yet he admitted he was ignorant of the lawsregarding stocks and bonds, and might have, unknowingly, actedillegally.
He had read of cases where the stockholders in a fraudulent concern wereliable for the corporation's debts, and, in fancy, he saw a suit startedagainst himself. As he was a minor he thought his father would have tostand the damage. Poor Ned was in a highly nervous state when he went upthe steps of his aunt's home.
He began to imagine there might be a policeman waiting for him in thehall. He looked around as he reached the front door, expecting to see ablue-coated officer close at his heels. That there was a general alarmsent out for him he felt positive.
Something in Mary's manner, as she opened the door in response to hisring, told him there was trouble in the house. The girl's eyes showedshe had been crying.
"Oh, Master Ned!" she exclaimed as he entered. "Isn't it awful! To thinkof the trouble!"
"Why, how did you hear?" asked the boy, wondering if in the parlor therewas an officer to arrest him.
"Why, 'twas a message we got, to be sure."
"Then the postoffice authorities sent a letter here?" asked Ned, somewhatrelieved to find he would not have to break to his aunt what he believedwould be terrible news.
"No, dear," Mrs. Kenfield called down from the head of the stairs. "Itwasn't a letter from the postoffice, it was a telegram. I have receivedbad news."
"Oh, aunt, it wasn't my fault at all!" burst out Ned. "I didn't knowabout it, or I'd never have come to New York."
"Of course it isn't your fault," his aunt said. "How could you knowabout it when I only got the telegram myself a little while ago? As foryour coming to New York, that couldn't be helped. Of course it's toobad. But you can pay me another visit."
Ned thought she meant he must hurry away to escape arrest.
"Are you almost packed up, Mrs. Kenfield?" asked Mary.
"Yes, almost. I shall want a little help. I must go at once."
"Why--what--are you--I don't understand--" began Ned.
"Of course, just like women, to begin at the wrong end," said Mrs.Kenfield, and Ned's heart beat fast. He wondered if his aunt was goingto reproach him for bringing disgrace on the family. He thought shewould have to flee the city too, in order to avoid arrest. How he wishedhis uncle was at home to advise and help them.
"Do you have to go, aunt?" he asked. "Can't I let 'em take me? I don'tmind."
"No, it's very good of you to offer, Ned. But I must go. They need me tohelp nurse her."
"Help nurse," repeated Ned, wondering if he had heard aright.
"Yes, didn't Mary tell you? We have just received a telegram from myniece Jane Alden in Chicago. She has typhoid fever and I must go to herat once. She has no other relatives living and I must take care of her.I shall have to start at once and, as there is no telling when I willcome back I must close up the house."
"Close up the house," Ned said.
"Yes, it will make lots of trouble, and I am so sorry that it will spoilthe pleasure of yourself and your chums. But there is no help for it. Ithink you had better go back home, Ned. You and your friends can comeand spend two months here next summer."
"Is Mary going too?" asked Ned.
"Mary is going to stay with some relatives in Long Island until I comeback. I have sent a cablegram explaining matters to your uncle and itwill be waiting for him when his ship arrives on the other side. Oh,poor dear Jane! I hope her case is not a severe one. It is lucky I knowhow to nurse. She never could get along without me. I am sorry for you,Ned."
Ned felt sorry for himself but he did not feel like inflicting his owntroubles on his aunt. Still he did want some instructions about what hehad better do. He was all upset and did not know whether to go home atonce or wait until his aunt had started. He half resolved to tell herwhat had happened and ask her advice.
"Maybe she can send me to uncle's lawyer and he can help me," he said tohimself. His aunt came downstairs at that moment and he decided to makean attempt to gain an idea of how to proceed.
"Do you know anything about stocks, aunt?" asked Ned.
"Stocks? Mercy, no! I leave all that to your uncle. I have troubleenough--"
The door bell rang and Mrs. Kenfield opened it. A boy handed her atelegram. Her hands shook as she opened it.
"Jane is worse," she said as she read the second brief dispatch. "I musthurry off soon. Now Ned, I can't tell you how sorry I am, but you hadbetter arrange to go home at once. I will take the noon train forChicago. What time can you get one back to Darewell?"
"At four this afternoon."
"Then you had better take it. Mary, hurry packing those trunks. Then getyour own things ready."
"Mine are all packed, Mrs. Kenfield," the girl replied.
"All right then. See that the house is well locked up. Don't leave anyvictuals around where they will spoil. Shut all the blinds and fastenthe windows well. You can go any time you are ready, Mary."
"I was going to the station with you and help you carry your valise."
"Ned can do that. His train doesn't go until four o'clock; can't you,Ned?"
"Certainly, aunt."
Ned's chance to ask advice was gone for, following the receipt of thesecond telegram, his aunt was so excited about getting ready that he hadno heart to bother her with his affair. He started every time the doorbell rang, fearing the police might have traced him to his aunt's houseand would arrest him at any moment.
An expressman, who had been telephoned for, took two trunks belonging toMrs. Kenfield. They were to go to Chicago. Mary's was also shipped toher friends in Long Island. Ned was glad he had left his at the depot,as it could be checked back to his home from there.
Mary departed about ten o'clock. The house had been darkened by theclosing of the shutters so that it was necessary to light the gas. Mrs.Kenfield went about making sure that all the doors were fastened.
"I can't tell you how sorry I am," she said to Ned. "To think of yourholiday being spoiled!"
"Don't worry about that, aunt," said the boy. "It couldn't be helped."
In fact he was thinking less about his broken holiday than he was abouthis own plight in the stock transaction. He felt the certificate rustlein his pocket when he moved, and he had half a mind to throw it away.But he feared lest doing that, even with the tearing of it into smallbits, might lead to his discovery. He was too worried and excited to beable to think clearly.
"I guess we are all ready," his aunt remarked as she stood in the hall.She had a small valise to carry, and Ned had the one he had brought fromhome.
"Be sure and explain to your father how it happened," Mrs. Kenfieldsaid. "Tell him about your uncle's unexpected trip to Europe and aboutJane Alden. He knew her quite well when he was a young man. Now I guesswe will start. I like to be in plenty of time for my train. I hate tohurry at the last minute."
Together they left the house, Ned carrying both valises. They boardedthe elevated which ran near Mrs. Kenfield's house and were soon on theirway to the station where Ned's aunt was to take her train.
The boy saw her safely aboard and bade her good-bye. She told him towrite to her, and gave him her Chicago address.
"Tell your chums how sorry I was to disappoint them," she called to Nedas her train rolled out of the depot.
"I will," replied Ned.
Then, left alone as he was in the big city, he felt a sense of fear, andhardly knew what to do.
"Guess I'd better go straight back to Darewell and tell dad all aboutit," he said to himself.
He was soon in the station at which he had arrived the day previous, andwhere he had left his trunk. As he was going to the baggage room, tohave it rechecked to Darewell, he caught sight of a man who seemedstrangely familiar
to him. The man had his back toward Ned, but when heturned the boy saw it was the postal inspector who had been at theoffices of Skem & Skim.
"He's after me!" thought Ned. "He's on my track! I must not let him seeme."
He turned suddenly away so the man could not observe his face. Theinspector was talking to a policeman, and Ned overheard the bluecoatask:
"Have you sent the telegram?"
"Yes, they'll be on the watch for him if he goes back home," was thereply. "They'll nab him as soon as he gets off the train. If he callsfor his baggage the agent here will hold him and notify me."
Ned hurried from the depot and ran up the street as if the officer wasafter him. The last way of escape seemed closed.