CHAPTER XVIII.
RUFUS ENTRAPPED.
"Now," said Rufus to himself on the morning succeeding the robbery,"I've got a week to recover that box. How shall I go about it?"
This was a question easier asked than answered. Martin being the thief,the first thing, of course, was to find him; and Rufus had considerablehopes of encountering him in the street some day. Should this be thecase, he might point him out to a policeman, and have him arrested atonce; but this would not recover the box. Probably it was concealed atMartin's boarding-house, and this it was that Rufus was anxious to find.He decided, therefore, whenever he got on the track of his step-father,to follow him cautiously until he ascertained where he lodged.
He walked the street with his eyes about him all day, but did not catcha glimpse of Martin. The fact was, the latter was at Newark, having beensent there by his employers with a supply of counterfeit money todispose of, so that our hero's search was of course fruitless, and so hewas obliged to report to Mr. Turner the next morning.
"Probably he is in hiding," said his employer. "I don't think you havemuch chance of meeting him for a few days to come."
"I should like to try," said Rufus. "He won't be content to hide long."
"I have notified the banks and railroad companies of the robbery," saidMr. Turner; "so that it will be impossible to sell the shares. After awhile, should we fail to recover them, they will grant us duplicatecertificates. I have advertised, also, the numbers of the bonds; and, ifan attempt is made to dispose of them, the thief will find himself introuble. So the loss is reduced to four hundred dollars."
"That is too much to lose," said Rufus.
"That is true; but we are lucky to get off so cheap."
"I hope to get back some of that," said our hero, stoutly.
"Did it ever strike you that there might be some risk encountering thisman? If he is driven to bay he may become dangerous."
"I don't think of the danger, Mr. Turner," said Rufus. "I lost that box,and it is my duty to recover it if I can, danger or no danger."
Mr. Turner secretly admired the pluck of Rufus; but he was not a mangiven to compliments, so he only said, quietly, "Well, Rufus, you shallhave the week I promised you. I have no doubt you will do your best. Ishall not be surprised, however, if you fail."
So Rufus entered upon his second day's search.
He went up Chatham Street, and explored most of the streets intersectingit, visiting many places which he remembered as former haunts of hisstep-father. But he was quite off the track here. Martin's employmentnow was on the other side of the city, near the North River, and he hadno longer occasion to visit his old haunts. Besides, he had again beensent over to New Jersey, and did not get back to the city at all tilllate in the afternoon.
The next day Martin complained of headache, and was permitted to remainat home. He did not think it prudent to be out during the day; buteasily solaced himself in his confinement with whiskey and cigars, ofwhich he had laid in a good supply. He was sitting in his shirt-sleevesat the front window, looking through the blinds, which were alwaysclosed, when his eyes lighted on Rufus passing on the opposite side ofthe street.
"He's looking for me," exclaimed Martin to himself, observing that Rufuswas looking about him as he walked.
"Who's looking for you?" asked his confederate, Smith, who happened justthen to enter the room.
"My undootiful son. Look, there he is," said Martin, nervously. "Iwonder if he has heard about my living here."
Smith went to the window, and looked out.
"He looks resolute and determined," said Smith. "We must pull histeeth."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we must put it out of his power to do you harm."
"How are we going to do that?"
"Wait a minute and I'll tell you."
Smith left the room hastily, and after a brief interval returned.
"I think I'll fetch it," he said.
"What have you done?" asked Martin.
"I've sent Humpy to follow your son. He's to carry him a message fromyou."
"What do you mean?" asked Martin, alarmed.
"Don't be afraid. It's all right."
"But I don't understand it. I didn't send any message. What was it?"
"I'll tell you. If I'm not mistaken Humpy will bring your son back withhim, so that I shall have the pleasure of reuniting parent and child."
"You don't mean to say you are going to bring Rufus here?" said Martin,his lower jaw falling. "You aint going to betray me, are you?"
"Stuff and nonsense! What are you thinking of? All you need understandis, that the boy is getting dangerous. He is following you round as ifhe meant something, and that must be stopped. I mean to get him into thehouse, but I don't mean to part company with him very soon."
Smith here briefly detailed the instructions which he had given to hiserrand-boy. Martin listened with much satisfaction.
"What a head you've got!" he said admiringly.
"I'm generally ready for an emergency," remarked Smith, complacently."You've got to get up early in the morning to get ahead of me."
We must now follow Smith's messenger, and we shall ascertain thatgentleman's plan.
Humpy was a boy of sixteen, very short, in fact almost a dwarf, and, ashis name implies, disfigured by a hump. He was sharp, however, andsecretive, and, though he could not help understanding the character ofthe men who employed him, was not likely to betray them. He had a pridein deserving the confidence which he saw was reposed in him.
After receiving the instructions of his principal, he crossed thestreet, and followed Rufus at a little distance, being particular tokeep him in sight. Our hero turned a corner, and so did he. He thenquickened his pace and came up with him.
"Was you a-lookin' for anybody in particular?" he said.
"What makes you ask?" said Rufus, facing round upon him.
"Maybe I could help you."
"Perhaps you know who I am after," said Rufus, looking at him steadily.
"You're looking for a man named Martin, aint you?"
"Do you know where I can find him?" asked Rufus, eagerly.
"Yes, I do. He sent me after you."
"He sent you!" repeated our hero, hardly believing his ears.
"Yes; he wants to see you."
"What does he want to see me for?" asked Rufus, inclined to besuspicious.
"There's something he's got of yours that he wants to return," saidHumpy, in a low voice, looking around cautiously.
Rufus was more and more astonished. Was it possible that Martin'sconscience troubled him, and that he wanted to make restitution? Hecould hardly believe this, knowing what he did of his step-father.Martin was about the last man he would have suspected of being troubledin any such way.
"Yes, he has got something of mine," he said aloud. "Does he want toreturn it?"
"Yes, he's sorry he took it. He's afraid you'll set the copps on him."
"So he's frightened," thought Rufus. This seemed to throw light on thenew phase of affairs. He had never regarded his step-father as verybrave, and now concluded that he was alarmed about the consequences ofthe theft.
"If he'll return what he took, all right," said Rufus, venturing to makethis promise on his own responsibility; "he shan't be touched. Where ishe?"
"Not far off," said Humpy.
"Tell him to bring it to me, and I'll give my word not to have himarrested."
"He can't come."
"Why can't he?"
"He's sick."
"Where?"
"In a house near by. He wants you to come and see him."
Rufus hesitated.
"What's the matter with him?" he asked.
"He caught a cold, and is threatened with a fever," said the boy,glibly. "If you want to see him, I'll lead you where he is."
"All right! Go ahead!" said Rufus, thoroughly deceived by the boy'splausible story.
"You'll promise not to set the copps on him, after you've got the
box?"said Humpy.
"Yes, I promise."
"Then follow me."
Rufus followed, congratulating himself that things were coming outsatisfactorily. He had no hesitation in making the promise he did, forhe felt sure that he would be sustained by his employer. At any rate, hedetermined that, having pledged his word to Martin, nothing should makehim break it.
Humpy stumped along, followed by Rufus. They turned the corner again,and the boy guided him at once to the counterfeiter's den.
"He's in there," said Humpy, with a jerk of his forefinger. "Comealong!"
He mounted the steps, and opened the door, which had been left unlocked.
"He's upstairs," said Humpy. "Come up."
Rufus, without suspicion, followed his humpbacked guide up the narrowstaircase. They had scarcely reached the top, when Smith, coming out ofa room on the floor below, locked the outer door, and put the key in hispocket. This Rufus did not see, or it would have aroused his suspicion.The boy opened the door of a chamber at the head of the staircase. "Goin there," he said.
Rufus entered, and looked around him, but saw no one. He did not have towait long. A step was heard at the door, and James Martin entered theroom, apparently in perfect health.
"I'm glad to see you, Rufus," he said with a triumphant grin. "You'vebeen such an undootiful son that I didn't much expect you'd come to seeyour sick father."
Rufus sprang to his feet in dismay. The whole plot flashed upon him atonce, and he realized that he had walked into a trap with his eyes wideopen.