Alger Horatio Jr.
Cast Upon the Breakers
CHAPTER X
MIKE PUTS ON A UNIFORM
A wonderful change came over Mike Flynn. Until he met Rodney he seemed quite destitute of ambition. The ragged and dirty suit which he wore as bootblack were the best he had. His face and hands generally bore the marks of his business, and as long as he made enough to buy three meals a day, two taken at the Lodging House, with something over for lodging, and an occasional visit to a cheap theater, he was satisfied.
He was fifteen, and had never given a thought to what he would do when he was older. But after meeting Rodney, and especially after taking a room with him, he looked at life with different eyes. He began to understand that his business, though honorable because honest, was not a desirable one. He felt, too, that he ought to change it out of regard for Rodney, who was now his close companion.
“If I had ten dollars ahead,” he said one day, “I’d give up blackin’ boots.”
“What else would you do?”
“I’d be a telegraph boy. That’s more respectable than blackin’ boots, and it ‘ould be cleaner.”
“That is true. Do you need money to join?”
“I would get paid once in two weeks, and I’d have to live till I got my first salary.”
“I guess I can see you through, Mike.”
“No; you need all your money, Rodney. I’ll wait and see if I can’t save it myself.”
This, however, would have taken a long time, if Mike had not been favored by circumstances. He was standing near the ladies’ entrance to the Astor House one day, when casting his eyes downward he espied a neat pocketbook of Russia leather. He picked it up, and from the feeling judged that it must be well filled.
Now I must admit that it did occur to Mike that he could divert to his own use the contents without detection, as no one had seen him pick it up. But Mike was by instinct an honest boy, and he decided that this would not be right. He thrust it into his pocket, however, as he had no objection to receiving a reward if one was offered.
While he was standing near the entrance, a tall lady, dressed in brown silk and wearing glasses, walked up from the direction of Broadway. She began to peer about like one who was looking for something.
“I guess its hers,” thought Mike.
“Are you looking for anything, ma’am?” he asked.
She turned and glanced at Mike.
“I think I must have dropped my pocketbook,” she said. “I had it in my hand when I left the hotel, but I had something on my mind and I think I must have dropped it without noticing. Won’t you help me look for it, for I am short sighted?”
“Is this it?” asked Mike, producing the pocketbook.
“Oh yes!” exclaimed the lady joyfully. “Where did you find it?”
“Just here,” answered Mike, indicating a place on the sidewalk.
“I suppose there is a good deal of money in it?” said Mike, with pardonable curiosity.
“Then you didn’t open it?”
“No, ma’am, I didn’t have a chance. I just found it.”
“There may be forty or fifty dollars, but it isn’t on that account I should have regretted losing it. It contained a receipt for a thousand dollars which I am to use in a law suit. That is very important for it will defeat a dishonest claim for money that I have already paid.”
“Then I’m glad I found it.”
“You are an honest boy. You seem to be a poor boy also.”
“That’s true, ma’am. If I was rich I wouldn’t black boots for a livin’.”
“Dear me, you are one of the young street Arabs I’ve read about,” and the lady looked curiously at Mike through her glasses.
“I expect I am.”
“And I suppose you haven’t much money.”
“My bank account is very low, ma’am.”
“I’ve read a book about a boy named ‘Ragged Dick.’ I think he was a bootblack, too. Do you know him?”
“He’s my cousin, ma’am,” answered Mike promptly.
It will be observed that I don’t represent Mike as possessed of all the virtues.
“Dear me, how interesting. I bought the book for my little nephew. Now I can tell him I have seen ‘Ragged Dick’s’ cousin. Where is Dick now?”
“He’s reformed, ma’am.”
“Reformed?”
“Yes, from blackin’ boots. He’s in better business now.”
“If I should give you some of the money in this pocketbook, you wouldn’t spend it on drinking and gambling, would you?”
“No, ma’am. I’d reform like my cousin, Ragged Dick.”
“You look like a good truthful boy. Here are ten dollars for you.”
“Oh, thank you, ma’am! you’re a gentleman,” said Mike overjoyed. “No, I don’t mean that but I hope you’ll soon get a handsome husband.”
“My young friend, I don’t care to marry, though I appreciate your good wishes. I am an old maid from principle. I am an officer of the Female Suffrage Association.”
“Is it a good payin’ office, ma’am?” asked Mike, visibly impressed.
“No, but it is a position of responsibility. Please tell me your name that I may make a note of it.”
“My name is Michael Flynn.”
“I see. You are of Celtic extraction.”
“I don’t know, ma’am. I never heard that I was. It isn’t anything bad, is it?”
“Not at all. I have some Celtic blood in my own veins. If you ever come to Boston you can inquire for Miss Pauline Peabody.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” said Mike, who thought the lady rather a “queer lot.”
“Now I must call upon my lawyer, and leave the receipt which I came so near losing.”
“Well, I’m in luck,” thought Mike. “I’ll go home and dress up, and apply for a position as telegraph boy.”
When Rodney came home at supper time he found Mike, dressed in his Sunday suit.
“What’s up now, Mike?” he asked. “Have you retired from business?”
“Yes, from the bootblack business. Tomorrow I shall be a telegraph boy.”
“That is good. You haven’t saved up ten dollars, have you?”
“I saved up two, and a lady gave me ten dollars for findin’ her pocketbook.”
“That’s fine, Mike.”
There chanced to be a special demand for telegraph boys at that time, and Mike, who was a sharp lad, on passing the necessary examination, was at once set to work.
He was immensely fond of his blue uniform when he first put it on, and felt that he had risen in the social scale. True, his earnings did not average as much, but he was content with smaller pay, since the duties were more agreeable.
In the evenings under Rodney’s instruction he devoted an hour and sometimes two to the task of making up the deficiencies in his early education. These were extensive, but Mike was naturally a smart boy, and after a while began to improve rapidly.
So three months passed. Rodney stood well in with Mr. Goodnow, and was promoted to stock clerk. The discipline which he had revived as a student stood him in good stead, and enabled him to make more rapid advancement than some who had been longer in the employ of the firm. In particular he was promoted over the head of Jasper Redwood, a boy two years older than himself, who was the nephew of an old employee who had been for fifteen years in the house.
Jasper’s jealousy was aroused, and he conceived a great dislike for Rodney, of which Rodney was only partially aware.
For this dislike there was really no cause. Rodney stood in his way only because Jasper neglected his duties, and failed to inspire confidence. He was a boy who liked to spend money and found his salary insufficient, though he lived with his uncle and paid but two dollars a week for his board.
“Uncle James,” he said one day, “when do you think I will get a raise?”
“You might get one now if it were not for the new boy.”
“You mean Ropes.”
“Yes, he has just been promoted to a place which I hoped to get for you.”
“It is mean,” grumbled Jasper. “I have been here longer than he.”
“True, but he seems to be Mr. Goodnow’s pet. It was an unlucky day for you when he got a place in the establishment.”
“Did you ask Mr. Goodnow to promote me?”
“Yes, but he said he had decided to give Archer’s place to Ropes.”
Archer was a young clerk who was obliged, on account of pulmonary weakness, to leave New York and go to Southern California.
“How much does Ropes get now?”
“Seven dollars a week.”
“And I only get five, and I am two years older. They ought to have more regard for you, Uncle James, or I, as your nephew, would get promoted.”
“I will see what we can do about it.”
“I wish Ropes would get into some scrape and get discharged.”
It was a new idea, but Jasper dwelt upon it, and out of it grew trouble for Rodney.
CHAPTER XI
MISSING GOODS
James Redwood was summoned one morning to the counting room of his employer.
“Mr. Redwood,” said the merchant “I have reason to think that one of my clerks is dishonest.”
“Who, sir?”
“That is what I want you to find out.”
“What reason have you for suspecting any one?”
“Some ladies’ cloaks and some dress patterns are missing.”
“Are you sure they were not sold?”
“Yes: the record of sales has been examined, and they are not included.”
“That is strange, Mr. Goodnow,” said Redwood thoughtfully. “I hope I am not under suspicion.”
“Oh, not at all.”
“The losses seem to have taken place in my department.”
“True, but that doesn’t involve you.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Watch those under you. Let nothing in your manner, however, suggest that you are suspicious. I don’t want you to put any one on his guard.”
“All right, sir. I will be guided by your instructions. Have you any idea how long this has been going on?”
“Only a few weeks.”
Mr. Redwood turned to go back to his room, but Mr. Goodnow called him back.
“I needn’t suggest to you,” he said, “that you keep this to yourself. Don’t let any clerk into the secret.”
“Very well, sir.”
James Redwood, however, did not keep his promise. After supper he called back Jasper as he was about putting on his hat to go out, and said, “Jasper, I wish to speak with you for five minutes.”
“Won’t it do tomorrow morning? I have an engagement.”
“Put it off, then. This is a matter of importance.”
“Very well, sir,” and Jasper, albeit reluctantly, laid down his hat and sat down.
“Jasper,” said his uncle, “there’s a thief in our establishment.”
Jasper started, and his sallow complexion turned yellower than usual.
“What do you mean, uncle?” he asked nervously.
“What I say. Some articles are missing that have not been sold.”
“Such as what?”
“Ladies’ cloaks and dress patterns.”
“Who told you?” asked Jasper in a low tone.
“Mr. Goodnow.”
“What the boss?”
“Certainly.”
“How should he know?”
“I didn’t inquire, and if I had he probably wouldn’t have told me. The main thing is that he does know.”
“He may not be sure.”
“He is not a man to speak unless he feels pretty sure.”
“I don’t see how any one could steal the articles without being detected.”
“It seems they are detected.”
“Did—did Mr. Goodnow mention any names?”
“No. He wants to watch and find out the thief. I wish you to help me, though I am acting against instructions. Mr. Goodnow asked me to take no one into my confidence. You will see, therefore, that it will be necessary for you to say nothing.”
“I won’t breathe a word,” said Jasper, who seemed to feel more at ease.
“Now that I have told you so much, can you suggest any person who would be likely to commit the theft?”
Jasper remained silent for a moment, then with a smile of malicious satisfaction said, “Yes, I can suggest a person.”
“Who is it?”
“The new boy, Rodney Ropes.”
James Redwood shook his head.
“I can’t believe that it is he. I am not in love with the young fellow, who seems to stand in the way of your advancement but he seems straight enough, and I don’t think it at all likely that he should be the guilty person.”
“Yes, Uncle James, he SEEMS straight but you know that still waters run deep.”
“Have you seen anything that would indicate guilt on his part?”
“I have noticed this, that, he is very well dressed for a boy of his small salary, and seems always to have money to spend.”
“That will count for something. Still he might have some outide means. Have you noticed anything else?”
Jasper hesitated.
“I noticed one evening when he left the store that he had a sizable parcel under his arm.”
“And you think it might have contained some article stolen from the stock?”
“That’s just what I think now. Nothing of the kind occurred to me at that time, for I didn’t know any articles were missing.”
“That seems important. When was it that you noticed this?”
“One day last week,” answered Jasper hesitatingly.
“Can you remember the day?”
“No.”
“Couldn’t you fix it some way?”
“No. You see, I didn’t attach any particular importance to it at the time, and probably it would not have occurred to me again, but for your mentioning that articles were missing.”
“There may be something in what you say,” said his uncle thoughtfully. “I will take special notice of young Ropes after this.”
“So will I.”
“Don’t let him observe that he is watched. It would defeat our chances of detecting the thief.”
“I’ll be careful. Do you want to say anything more, uncle?”
“No. By the way, where were you going this evening?”
“I was going to meet a friend, and perhaps go to the theater. You couldn’t lend me a dollar, could you, Uncle James?”
“Yes, I could, but you are not quite able to pay for your own pleasures. It costs all my salary to live, and its going to be worse next year, for I shall have to pay a higher rent.”
“When I have my pay raised, I can get along better.”
“If Ropes loses his place, you will probably step into it.”
“Then I hope he’ll go, and that soon.”
When Jasper passed through the front door and stood on the sidewalk, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“So, they are on to us,” he said to himself. “But how was it found out? That’s what I’d like to know. I have been very careful. I must see Carton at once.”
A short walk took him to a billiard room not far from Broadway. A young man of twenty five, with a slight mustache, and a thin, dark face, was selecting a cue.
“Ah, Jasper!” he said. “Come at last. Let us have a game of pool.”
“Not just yet. Come outide. I want to speak to you.”
Jasper looked serious, and Philip Carton, observing it, made no remonstrance, but taking his hat, followed him out.
“Well, what is it?” he asked.
“Something serious. It is discovered at the store that goods are missing.”
“You don’t mean it? Are we suspected?”
“No one is suspected—yet.”
“But how do you know?”
“My uncle spoke to me about it this evening—just after supper.”
“He doesn’t think you are in it.”
“No.”
“How did he find out?”
“Through the boss. Goodnow spoke to him about it today.”
“But how should Goodnow know anything about it?”
“That no one can tell but himself. He asked Uncle James to watch the clerks, and see if he could fasten the theft on any of them.”
“That is pleasant for us. It is well we are informed so that we can be on our guard. I am afraid our game is up.”
“For the present at any rate we must suspend operations. Now, have you some money for me?”
“Well, a little.”
“A little? Why there are two cloaks and a silk dress pattern to be accounted for.”
“True, but I have to be very careful. I have to submit to a big discount for the parties I sell to undoubtedly suspect that the articles are stolen.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to pawn them?”
“It would be more dangerous. Besides you know how liberal pawnbrokers are. I’ll tell you what would be better. If I had a sufficient number of articles to warrant it, I could take them on to Boston or Philadelphia, and there would be less risk selling them there.”
“That is true. I wish we had thought of that before. Now we shall have to give up the business for a time. How much money have you got for me?”
“Seven dollars.”
“Seven dollars!” exclaimed Jasper in disgust. “Why, that is ridiculous. The articles must have been worth at retail a hundred dollars.”
“Perhaps so, but I only got fourteen for them. If you think you can do any better you may sell them yourself next time.”
“I thought I should assuredly get fifteen dollars out of it,” said Jasper, looking deeply disappointed. “I had a use for the money too.”
“Very likely. So had I.”
“Well, I suppose I must make it do. Listen and I will tell you how I think I can turn this thing to my advantage.”
“Go ahead!”
CHAPTER XII
WHAT WAS FOUND IN RODNEY’S ROOM
“There is a boy who stands between me and promotion,” continued Jasper, speaking in a low tone.
“The boy you mentioned the other day?”
“Yes, Rodney Ropes. Mr. Goodnow got him from I don’t know where, and has taken a ridiculous fancy to him. He has been put over my head and his pay raised, though I have been in the store longer than he. My idea is to connect him with the thefts and get him discharged.”
“Do you mean that we are to make him a confederate?”
“No,” answered Jasper impatiently. “He would be just the fellow to peach and get us all into trouble.”
“Then what do you mean?”
“To direct suspicion towards him. We won’t do it immediately, but within a week or two. It would do me good to have him turned out of the store.”
Jasper proceeded to explain his idea more fully, and his companion pronounced it very clever.
Meanwhile Rodney, not suspecting the conspiracy to deprive him of his place and his good name, worked zealously, encouraged by his promotion, and resolved to make a place for himself which should insure him a permanent connection with the firm.
Ten days passed, and Mr. Redwood again received a summons from the office.
Entering, he found Mr. Goodnow with a letter in his hand.
“Well, Mr. Redwood,” he began, “have you got any clew to the party who has stolen our goods?”
“No, sir.”
“Has any thing been taken since I spoke with you on the subject?”
“Not that I am aware of.”
“Has any one of the clerks attracted your attention by suspicious conduct?”
“No, sir,” answered Redwood, puzzled.
“Humph! Cast your eye over this letter.”
James Redwood took the letter, which was written in a fine hand, and read as follow:
MR. GOODNOW:
DEAR SIR,—I don’t know whether you are aware that articles have been taken from your stock, say, ladies’ cloaks and silk dress patterns, and disposed of outside. I will not tell you how it has come to my knowledge, for I do not want to get any one’s ill will, but I will say, to begin with, that they were taken by one of your employees, and the one, perhaps, that you would least suspect, for I am told that he is a favorite of yours. I may as well say that it is Rodney Ropes. I live near him, and last evening I saw him carry a bundle to his room when he went back from the store. I think if you would send round today when he is out, you would find in his room one or more of the stolen articles. I don’t want to get him into trouble, but I don’t like to see you robbed, and so I tell you what I know. A FRIEND.
Mr. Redwood read this letter attentively, arching his brows, perhaps to indicate his surprise. Then he read it again carefully.
“What do you think of it?” asked the merchant.
“I don’t know,” answered Redwood slowly.
“Have you ever seen anything suspicious in the conduct of young Ropes?”
“I can’t say I have. On the contrary, he seems to be a very diligent and industrious clerk.”
“But about his honesty.”
“I fancied him the soul of honesty.”
“So did I, but of course we are liable to be deceived. It wouldn’t be the first case where seeming honesty has been a cover for flagrant dishonesty.”
“What do you wish me to do, Mr. Goodnow? Shall I send Ropes down to you?”
“No; it would only give him a chance, if guilty, to cover up his dishonesty.”
“I am ready to follow your instructions.”
“Do you know where he lodges?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then I will ask you to go around there, and by some means gain admission to his room. If he has any of our goods secreted take possession of them and report to me.”
“Very well, sir.” Half an hour later Mrs. McCarty, Rodney’s landlady, in response to a ring admitted Mr. James Redwood.
“Does a young man named Ropes lodge here?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“I come from the house where he is employed. He has inadvertently left in his room a parcel belonging to us, and I should be glad if you would allow me to go up to his room and take it.”
“You see, sir,” said Mrs. McCarty in a tone of hesitation, “while you look like a perfect gentleman, I don’t know you, and I am not sure whether, in justice to Mr. Ropes, I ought to admit you to his room.”
“You are quite right my good lady; I am sure. It is just what I should wish my own landlady to do. I will therefore ask you to go up to the room with me to see that all is right.”
“That seems all right, sir. In that case I don’t object. Follow me, if you please.”
As they entered Rodney’s room Mr. Redwood looked about him inquisitively. One article at once fixed his attention. It was a parcel wrapped in brown paper lying on the bed.
“This is the parcel, I think,” he said. “If you will allow me I will open it, to make sure.”
Mrs. McCarty looked undecided, but as she said nothing in opposition Mr. Redwood unfastened the strings and unrolled the bundle. His eyes lighted up with satisfaction as he disclosed the contents—a lady’s cloak.
Mrs. McCarty looked surprised.
“Why, it’s a lady’s cloak,” she said, “and a very handsome one. What would Mr. Ropes want of such a thing as that?”
“Perhaps he intended to make you a present of it.”
“No, he can’t afford to make such present.”
“The explanation is simple. It belongs to the store. Perhaps Mr. Ropes left it here inadvertently.”
“But he hasn’t been here since morning.”
“He has a pass key to the front door?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then he may have been here. Would you object to my taking it?”
“Yes, sir, you see I don’t know you.”
“Your objection is a proper one. Then I will trouble you to take a look at the cloak, so that you would know it again.”
“Certainly, sir. I shall remember it!”
“That is all, Mrs. –?”
“McCarty, sir.”
“Mrs. McCarty, I won’t take up any more of your time,” and Mr. Redwood started to go down stairs.
“Who shall I tell Mr. Ropes called to see him.”
“You needn’t say. I will mention the matter to him myself. I am employed in the same store.”
“All right sir. Where is the store? I never thought to ask Mr. Ropes.”
“Reade Street, near Broadway. You know where Reade Street is?”
“Yes, sir. My husband used to work in Chambers Street. That is the first street south.”
“Precisely. Well, I can’t stay longer, so I will leave, apologizing for having taken up so much of your time.”
“Oh, it’s of no consequence, sir.”
“He is a perfect gentleman,” she said to herself, as Mr. Redwood closed the front door, and went out on the street. “I wonder whether he’s a widower.”
Being a widow this was quite a natural thought for Mrs. McCarty to indulge in, particularly as Mr. Redwood looked to be a substantial man with a snug income.
Mr. Redwood went back to the store, and went at once to the office.
“Well, Redwood,” said Mr. Goodnow, “did you learn anything?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go on.”
“I went to the lodging of young Ropes, and was admitted to his room.”
“Well?”
“And there, wrapped in a brown paper, I found one of our missing cloaks lying on his bed.”
“Is it possible?”
“I am afraid he is not what we supposed him to be, Mr. Goodnow.”
“It looks like it. I am surprised and sorry. Do you think he took the other articles that are missing?”
“Of course I can’t say, sir, but it is fair to presume that he did.”
“I am exceedingly sorry. I don’t mind saying, Redwood, that I took an especial interest in that boy. I have already told you the circumstances of my meeting him, and the fancy taken to him by my friend Mulgrave.”
“Yes, sir, I have heard you say that.”
“I don’t think I am easily taken in, and that boy impressed me as thoroughly honest. But of course I don’t pretend to be infallible and it appears that I have been mistaken in him.”
The merchant looked troubled, for he had come to feel a sincere regard for Rodney. He confessed to himself that he would rather have found any of the other clerks dishonest.
“You may send Ropes to me,” he said, “Mr. Redwood, and you will please come with him. We will investigate this matter at once.”
“Very well, sir.”
