CHAPTER XXI
NED FLEES AGAIN
"I tell you I haven't your money!" exclaimed Ned. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean well enough! I had a lot of dollar bills under mypillow! You sneaked in and took them! I want my money!"
"And I tell you I haven't it and didn't take it!" Ned repeated. "This ismy room, and you'd better get out of it!"
"Not until I have my money! Where is it?"
He lifted a pillow from Ned's bed. Under it were four one dollar billswhich Ned had placed there before he went to sleep.
"Here's part of it, anyhow!" the man exclaimed. "I want the rest now!Fork it over!"
"That's my money!" cried Ned, as the red-moustached man took the billsand stuffed them into his pocket.
"Your money! A likely story! Anybody with as much money as that wouldnever stop in a place like this."
"How did you happen to stop here then?" asked Ned quickly.
"Me? Why young impudence, I'm the proprietor of this lodging house! Ilive here! That's why. Hey, Bill!" he called in a loud voice, "comehere. There's trouble."
In answer to the summons a big man, evidently the night porter orwatchman, came shuffling down the corridor.
"What's the trouble, boss?" he asked, and Ned began to believe the manhad spoken the truth when he said he was the proprietor of the place.
"Why, here's a kid comes into my room when I'm asleep and takes my cashright from under my pillow. I wake up just in time to see him sneakback into his room and when I get him with the goods on him he has theimpudence to deny it. There's part of the cash," and he showed Ned'smoney, "but I want the rest. Better call a policeman, Bill."
"All right, boss. Just as you say," and the porter shuffled off.
"Do you mean to say you're going to have me arrested on a charge ofstealing your money?" asked Ned.
"That's what I am unless you give it up."
"But I didn't take it. It must have been some one else, if you reallywere robbed. Why don't you look in some of the other rooms along here?"
"Because I saw you come in here after you were in my room, and had yourhand under my pillow."
"Couldn't you be mistaken?"
"Not much. I've been in this business too long. 'Tisn't the first timeI've been robbed, but it's the first time I got the thief and I'm goin'to make an example of you."
"You're making a big mistake," Ned said, trying to speak bravely, butthe accusation, unjust as it was, coupled with his other misfortunes wasalmost too much for him.
"I'll take the chances on that. Who are you, anyhow? What's your name,and where'd you come from?"
Ned hesitated. If he gave his real name it might lead to trouble overthe stock, in case the proprietor carried out the threat to have himarrested. He was not used to telling untruths and he was afraid if hegave a false name he would soon betray himself. Still it seemed the bestthing to do and would harm no one save himself.
"My name's George Anderson," he said boldly. "Where I came from is noneof your affair."
"Afraid to tell, eh? Well, the judge will soon have it out of you."
It was quite cold now, and Ned, standing half dressed as he was in theroom, began to shiver. He put on his clothes.
"Guess that's a wise thing to do," the proprietor of the lodging houseremarked. "You'll get a ride in the hurry-up wagon soon."
The words struck a chill of terror to Ned's heart. Must he spend therest of the night in a cell? The man's manner showed no relenting. Heeither believed Ned had robbed him or was insisting on the charge forsome reason of his own.
"Are you in earnest about this?" asked Ned, as he put on his hat andovercoat.
"You can make up your mind to that," was the man's answer. "It'll be thejail for yours, in a little while, if you don't give me back my money.It isn't too late. I can fix it with the cop if you'll give up. Why lookhere, kid, they'll search you and find it on you. You haven't had timeto hide it, and, besides, there's no place in this room. You must haveit on you. Give it up and save trouble."
"I haven't your money," Ned said boldly. "Those bills you took fromunder the pillow were mine. You can search me now if you want to. Thatis all the money I have except a little change in my overcoat pocket,"and he showed the man.
"That don't go with me. I'm sure you robbed me. I'll not search you oryou'd say I was up to some game, and nobody ever said but what JimCassidy was honest, though he does keep a cheap lodging house. No, sir,the cop'll search you."
Ned knew the officer would find nothing--except the stock certificate.There was the trouble. Ned thought every officer in New York had adescription of it and was looking for the boy who carried it. No, hecouldn't allow himself to be searched.
"It's cold!" exclaimed Cassidy suddenly, as he shivered in his longnightrobe. "I'm goin' to get dressed. Better not try to run or I'll nabyou. I'll be in the next room."
He went into his own apartment and Ned could hear him putting on hisclothes. By the grunts and puffs that ensued he judged Cassidy washaving hard work, as he was a large man, and putting on a shirt was noeasy matter.
Then a daring plan came into Ned's mind. In spite of the excitementcaused by the proprietor's entrance into his room and the loud talkingthat followed the accusation, none of the other lodgers had gotten up.Even sending the porter for a policeman had not excited any curiosity.
Ned resolved to make his escape if possible. He thought he could slippast Cassidy's door and down the stairs before Bill would return with apoliceman. He got upon the bed and looked over the partition intoCassidy's room. The proprietor was putting on his shoes and had his backto the door. There was a light at the far end of the corridor,illuminating it dimly.
Ned took off his own shoes, and, carrying them in his hand stepped tothe door of his room. He stole softly into the corridor and was about toslip past Cassidy's room when the door of the apartment opposite hisopened just a crack and a hoarse voice whispered:
"Hey, cully! If youse wants t' make a git-away, go de other way an' downde back stairs. Youse kin slip around through de alley an' inter destreet 'fore de cop comes. I heard what youse said and ye sounds honest,an' dat's more'n ye kin say fer a lot in dis joint. Quick, some one'scomin' up de front stairs!"
Then, before Ned could thank his unknown friend, the door was shut. Nedcould hear Cassidy getting up from the chair on which he had seatedhimself to lace his shoes. There was not a moment to spare.
Making no sound in his stocking feet, Ned hurried down the dark corridor,away from the front of the building. He had to trust almost entirely tofeeling, as the gleam from the single lamp farther toward the frontstairs did not penetrate thus far. He did not even know where the rearflight was, but trusted to luck to find them. With his hand stretched outin front of him, to avoid running into any obstructions he went on asfast as he could. Suddenly he turned a corner in the passage and saw adim light. Then he observed a flight of stairs leading downward. Helistened a moment. Behind him he could hear the tramp of heavy feet, andguessed that Bill had returned with the policeman.
Ned hurried down the stairs. He stopped only long enough, when hereached the bottom, to put his shoes on, but did not lace them. He onlytucked the ends of the strings into the tops so they would not dangleand trip him if he had to run. Then Ned stepped from the hallway intothe dark and deserted street. Once more, though entirely innocent, hehad been obliged to flee from officers of the law.
"It's getting to be a habit with me," he said grimly, as he hurriedalong.
What happened back in the lodging house he did not know and he caredless. That his flight would seem a confession of guilt he was sure; butwhat did it matter?
It was cold and dark and cheerless in the streets. He was a nightwanderer, with no place to go, and, as far as he knew, not a friend inthe big city.
"I guess I'll have to walk the streets all night," poor Ned thought. "Ihaven't much money left." He felt in the pocket of his overcoat, andcounted the change. There was less than a dollar.
"Have to take fifteen cent beds after this," he remarked to himself. "Asfor eating I guess I'll have to cut that out altogether."
He walked through several thoroughfares. Not a soul did he meet saveonce as he passed a policeman the officer stared at him suspiciously.But Ned still had his good clothes with him, and his overcoat thoughcrumpled from being used as a bed-spread, made him look decent enough topass muster in the neighborhood where he was.
"I think I'll find another lodging house and get a bed," he said tohimself. "I must get a little rest if I am to look for work to-morrow."
He had no difficulty in finding a place, for there were many suchnearby. He got a fifteen cent bed, in a room where scores of other menand youths were sleeping. His entrance excited no comment, and, in fact,few were awake to notice his arrival.
Ned was so tired he fell asleep with most of his clothes on. He hadlittle fear of being robbed for he had little left to take. He got afrugal breakfast the next morning and started out to search for work.
But New York seemed to be overflowing with men and boys on the sameerrand. Every place where Ned applied, either from seeing a sign "BoyWanted," or by getting the address from a newspaper he bought, had beentaken or else he would not fill the bill. All day long he tramped,spending a few cents for some buns and coffee at a lunch stand. Atnight, tired and discouraged, he went back to the lodging house where hehad last stayed, and again got a fifteen cent bed.
"To-morrow's Thursday," thought Ned, as he crawled under his overcoat,which he once more used as a blanket. "I wonder if the boys arrivedto-day? What could they have thought when they saw the house closed?Oh, I wish I could find them. If this keeps on I'll have to pawn myovercoat for something to eat, and it looks as if it would snowto-morrow. What a pickle I'm in!"
Then, in spite of his troubles he fell asleep, for he was very tired.