CHAPTER XXVTHE MERCHANT FROM PORTLAND
"Look here, young chap," said Andy, "what made you tell me that wasthe Merchants' Bank?"
"Isn't it?" asked the bootblack, with a grin.
"It's the bank where you'll be wanted some time. Shouldn't wonder ifthey'd make a mistake and lock you up instead of your money."
"Have you got any money in the Merchants' Bank?" asked the other.
"I'm goin' to see if they won't give me some. If you hadn't cheatedme, maybe I'd have invited you to dine with me at my hotel."
"Where are you stoppin'?" asked the street boy, not quite knowing howmuch of Andy's story to believe.
"At the most fashionable hotel."
"Parker's?"
"You're good at guessin'. Perhaps you'd like to dine there?"
"I don't know as they'd let me in," said the boy, doubtfully; "butI'll show you where there's a nice eatin' house, where they don'tcharge half so much."
"'Twouldn't be fashionable enough for me. I shall have to dine alone.See what comes of tryin' to fool your grandfather."
Andy went on, leaving the boy in doubt whether his jest had reallylost him a dinner.
Andy didn't go to the Parker House, however. His expenses were to bepaid by the Misses Grant, and he felt that it wouldn't be right to beextravagant at their expense.
"I shall come across an eatin' house presently," he said to himself.
Not far off he found one with the bill of fare exposed outside, withthe prices. Andy examined it, and found that it was not an expensiveplace. He really felt hungry after his morning's ride, and determined,before he attended to his business, to get dinner. He accordinglyentered, and seated himself at one of the tables. A waiter came up andawaited his commands.
"What'll you have?" he asked.
"Bring me a plate of roast beef, and a cup of coffee," said Andy, "andbe quick about it, for I haven't eaten anything for three weeks."
"Then I don't think one plate will be enough for you," said thewaiter, laughing.
"It'll do to begin on," said Andy.
The order was quickly filled, and Andy set to work energetically.
It is strange how we run across acquaintances when we least expect it.Andy had no idea that he knew anybody in the eating house, andtherefore didn't look around, feeling no special interest in thecompany. Yet there was one present who recognized him as soon as heentered, and watched him with strong interest. The interest was notfriendly, however, as might be inferred from the scowl with which hesurveyed him. This will not be a matter of surprise to the reader whenI say that the observer was no other than Fairfax, whose attempt torob Colonel Preston had been defeated by Andy.
He recognized the boy at once, both from his appearance and his voice,and deep feelings of resentment ran in his breast. To be foiled wasdisagreeable enough, but to be foiled by a boy was most humiliating,and he had vowed revenge, if ever an opportunity occurred. For thisreason he felt exultant when he saw his enemy walking into the eatinghouse.
"I'll follow him," he said to himself, "and it'll go hard if I don'tget even with him for that trick he played on me."
But how did it happen that Andy did not recognize Fairfax?
For two reasons: First, because the adventurer was sitting behind him,and our hero faced the front of the room. Next, had he seen him, itwas doubtful if he would have recognized a man whom he was far fromexpecting to see. For Fairfax was skilled in disguises, and no longerwas the black-whiskered individual that we formerly knew him. Frommotives of prudence, he had shaved off his black hair and whiskers,and now appeared in a red wig, and whiskers of the same hue. If any ofmy readers would like to know how effectual this disguise is, let themtry it, and I will guarantee that they won't know themselves when theycome to look at their likeness in the mirror.
After disposing of what he had ordered, Andy also ordered a plate ofapple dumpling, which he ate with great satisfaction.
"I wouldn't mind eatin' here every day," he thought. "Maybe I'll be inbusiness here some day myself, and then I'll come here and dine."
Fairfax was through with his dinner, but waited till Andy arose. Hethen arose and followed him to the desk, where both paid at the sametime. He was careless of recognition, for he felt confident in hisdisguise.
"Now," thought Andy, "I must go to the bank."
But he didn't know where the bank was. So, when he got into thestreet, he asked a gentleman whom he met: "Sir, can you direct me tothe Merchants' Bank?"
"It is in State Street," said the gentleman. "I am going past it, soif you will come along with me, I will show you."
"Thank you, sir," said our hero, politely.
"Merchants' Bank!" said Fairfax to himself, beginning to feelinterested. "I wonder what he's going there for? Perhaps I can raise alittle money, besides having my revenge."
He had an added inducement now in following our hero.
When Andy went into the bank, Fairfax followed him. He was in the roomwhen Andy received the dividends, and, with sparkling eyes, he sawthat it was, a thick roll of bills, representing, no doubt, aconsiderable sum of money.
"That money must be mine," he said to himself. "It can't be the boy's.He must have been sent by some other person. The loss will get himinto trouble. Very likely he will be considered a thief. That wouldjust suit me."
Andy was careful, however. He put the money into a pocketbook, or,rather, wallet, with which he had been supplied by the Misses Grant,put it in his inside pocket, and then buttoned his coat up tight. Hewas determined not to lose anything by carelessness.
But this was not his last business visit. There was another bank inthe same street where it was necessary for him to call and receivedividends. Again Fairfax followed him, and again he saw Andy receive aconsiderable sum of money.
"There's fat pickings here," thought Fairfax. "Now, I must manage, insome way, to relieve him of that money. There's altogether too muchfor a youngster like him. Shouldn't wonder if the money belonged tothat man I tried to rob. If so, all the better."
In this conjecture, as we know, Fairfax was mistaken. However, it madecomparatively little difference to him whose money it was, as long asthere was a chance of his getting it into his possession. The factwas, that his finances were not in a very flourishing condition justat present. He could have done better to follow some honest andrespectable business, and avoid all the dishonest shifts andinfractions of law to which he was compelled to resort, but he hadstarted wrong, and it was difficult to persuade him that even now itwould have been much better for him to amend his life and ways. Inthis state of affairs he thought it a great piece of good luck that heshould have fallen in with a boy in charge of a large sum of money,whom, from his youth and inexperience, he would have less trouble inrobbing than an older person.
Andy had already decided how he would spend the afternoon. He hadheard a good deal about the Boston Museum, its large collection ofcuriosities, and the plays that were performed there. One of thepleasantest anticipations he had was of a visit to this place, theparadise of country people. Now that his business was concluded, hedetermined to go there at once. But first he must inquire the way.
Turning around, he saw Fairfax without recognizing him.
"Can you direct me to the Boston Museum?" he asked.
"Certainly, with pleasure," said Fairfax, with alacrity. "In fact, Iam going there myself. I suppose you are going to the afternoonperformance?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you ever been there?"
"No; but I have heard a good deal about it. I don't live in the city."
"Nor do I," said Fairfax. "I am a merchant of Portland, Maine. I havecome to the city to buy my winter stock of goods. As I only come twicea year, I generally try to enjoy myself a little while I am here. Doyou stay in the city overnight?"
"Yes," said Andy.
"So do I. Here is the Museum."
They had reached the Museum, which, as some of my readers are aware,is situated in Tremont Street.
; "We go up these stairs," said Fairfax. "If you don't object, we willtake seats together."
"I shall be glad to have company," said Andy, politely.
Reserved seats adjoining were furnished, and the adventurer and hisintended victim entered the Museum.