CHAPTER XIII
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
"Uncle," said John Wade, "you spoke of inviting Frank Fowler to occupya room in the house. Why don't you do it? It would be more convenient toyou and a very good chance for him."
"I should like it," said Mr. Wharton, "but Mrs. Bradley did not seem toregard it favorably when I suggested it."
"Oh, Mrs. Bradley is unused to boys, and she is afraid he would give hertrouble. I'll undertake to bring her around."
"I wish you would, John. I don't think Frank would give any trouble, andit would enliven the house to have a boy here. Besides, he reminds me ofGeorge, as I told you the other day."
"I agree with you, uncle," he said. "He does remind me a little ofGeorge."
"Well, Mrs. Bradley, what do you think I have done?" asked John,entering the housekeeper's room directly after his interview with hisuncle.
"I don't know, Mr. John," she answered.
"I have asked him to give that boy a room in the house."
"Are you carried away with him as well as your uncle?"
"Not quite. The fact is, I have a motive in what I am doing. I'll tellyou."
He bent over and whispered in her ear.
"I never should have thought of that."
"You see, our purpose is to convince my uncle that he is unworthy of hisfavor. At present that would be rather difficult, but once get him intothe house and we shall have no trouble."
"I understand."
In due time John Wade announced to his uncle that the housekeeper hadwithdrawn her objections to his plan.
"Then I'll tell him to-night," said Mr. Wharton, brightening up.
Shortly after Frank entered the library that evening Mr. Wharton madethe proposal.
"You are very kind, Mr. Wharton," he said. "I never thought of such athing."
"Then it is settled that you are to come. You can choose your own timefor coming."
"I will come to-morrow, sir."
"Very well," said Mr. Wharton, with satisfaction.
The next day, by special favor, Frank got off from the store two hoursearlier than usual. He bought at a Sixth Avenue basement store, a small,second hand trunk for two dollars. He packed his scanty wardrobe intothe trunk, which, small as it was he was unable to fill, and had itcarried to Mr. Wharton's house.
He asked to see Mrs. Bradley, and she came to the door.
"I am glad to see you," she said graciously. "You may leave your trunkin the hall and I will have it carried up by the servants."
"Thank you," said Frank, and he followed the housekeeper up the handsomestaircase.
"This is to be your room," said the housekeeper, opening the door of asmall chamber on the third floor.
"It looks very nice and comfortable," said Frank, looking about him withsatisfaction.
She left the room, and five minutes later our hero's modest trunk wasbrought up and deposited in the room.
That evening Frank read to Mr. Wharton as usual.
When nine o'clock came he said:
"You need not read aloud any more, but if you see any books in mylibrary which you would like to read to yourself you may do so. In fact,Frank, you must consider yourself one of the family, and act as freelyas if you were at home."
"How kind you are to me, Mr. Wharton," said Frank.
The next morning after Frank had left the house for his daily task, JohnWade entered the housekeeper's room.
"The boy is out of the way now, Mrs. Bradley," he said. "You had bettersee if you have a key that will unlock his trunk."
The two conspirators went upstairs, and together entered Frank's room.
Mrs. Bradley brought out a large bunch of keys, and successively triedthem, but one after another failed to open it.
"That's awkward," said John Wade. "I have a few keys in my pocket. Onemay possibly answer."
The housekeeper kneeled down, and made a trial of John Wade's keys. Thelast one was successful. The cover was lifted, and the contents weredisclosed. However, neither John nor Mrs. Bradley seemed particularlyinterested in the articles for after turning them over they locked thetrunk once more.
"So far so good," said John Wade. "We have found the means of openingthe trunk when we please."
"When do you expect to carry out your plan, Mr. John?"
"Two weeks from this time my uncle is obliged to go to Washington for afew days on business. While he is gone we will spring the trap, and whenhe comes back he will find the boy gone in disgrace. We'll make shortwork of him."