Alger Horatio Jr.
Frank and Fearless; or, The Fortunes of Jasper Kent
CHAPTER XXIII.
WHERE JASPER FOUND DICK
To find the address given by the kidnapper was not difficult. It was only necessary to look over a plan of the city, which Jasper did in Mr. Fitch's counting-room.
"Come back when your business is over," said the merchant.
"I will," said Jasper.
He set out with one hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket for 132 S– Street.
We will precede him.
It was a shabby house of two stories, with a wide front. It looked dilapidated and neglected, but except that it was in an unsavory neighborhood there was nothing to draw attention to it, or lead to the impression that it was the haunt of lawbreakers and desperate characters.
In a back room sat three men, one of whom we recognize as the kidnapper, Dick, alias Mark Mortimer. Of the other two, one was under twenty-five, with a reckless, dare-devil look, as of one who would stop at little in his criminal schemes. He had more than once been engaged in burglary, but as yet had escaped detection.
The third was a stout, square-built man, of middle age, with a heavy, brutal face, such as might belong to a prize-fighter. He, too, was a burglar, an accomplished counterfeiter, a gambler, who supplemented luck by various swindling devices, in which he was an adept. This man was known as Slippery Bill, while his young companion was Jack, with a choice of last names.
The three men were playing a game of euchre, with a pack of greasy cards. The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon.
"It's most time for the boy to come," said Dick, looking toward the clock.
"How do you know but he'll give you the slip?" suggested Jack.
"If he did I'd break his neck!" exclaimed Dick, hastily. "But he won't. Leastways he won't if he can help it."
"It strikes me, Dick," said Bill, "that you ought never to have asked him to come here."
"Why not?"
"Who's to tell but he may bring company?" continued the stout man.
"What kind of company?"
"The police."
"He won't," said Dick.
"How do you know?"
"I'll trust him. He's a good 'un."
"How long have you known him, that you speak with so much confidence?" inquired the younger man.
"Since yesterday morning," answered Dick, cornered.
The two men burst into a boisterous laugh.
"Why, Dick, you're as innocent as a baby. You haven't knowed this chap more'n twenty-four hours, and you'll stake your life on him."
"Laugh as much as you like," said Dick, stubbornly. "I ought to speak up for my own nephew."
"Your nephew!" exclaimed his two companions, in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"What I say. He's my sister's son."
"A minute ago you said you never saw him till yesterday," said the stout man, suspiciously.
"No more I did. My sister lives at the East."
"Has she sent him to you to be brought up in the way he should go?" asked Jack, with a sneer.
"No; the boy's run away. He came across me by chance."
"That's better," said Bill, partially reassured. "He won't be likely to betray you—not now—but he may inform against this place."
"I'll answer for him."
"Are you going to let him go as soon as he brings the money, or will he stay with you?"
"Oh, he'll go. I can't take care of a lad like him. I've other fish to fry."
"Suppose we keep him and train him up to our business?"
"He ain't the right sort for that."
"Shows the white feather, eh?"
"No; he's as brave as any boy I ever saw."
"What's the matter, then?"
"He's too honest and virtuous."
"What! your nephew, Dick?" and the two men laughed loudly. "That's too thin. Don't ask us to swallow that."
"It's true."
"Why did he run away from home, then?"
"My sister's got a very rough temper—that's why."
"We can believe that," said Jack, "better than the other."
"Look here, Jack," said Dick, who was getting irritated, "you may find that I've got the same kind of temper if you keep on badgering me about the boy. I say he's to be trusted."
"He can be trusted under our eye. Have you any objection to our detaining him?"
"There's no need."
"I say there is. You've let him into the knowledge of this place. He'll blow on us some day."
"Do as you like," said Dick; "I don't care. I wash my hands of the responsibility."
"That's all we want," said Bill. "We need a young one to help us in our plans. If this nephew of yours is as brave as you say, he'll do. What time was he to come here?"
"Twelve."
"Then it's a minute past the time. I don't think he'll come."
"The clock may be wrong." said Dick, but he glanced uneasily at the clock, which now indicated a little past the hour.
His suspense was not a long one.
An old man, thin and shriveled, with a crafty eye, and a thin, squeaking voice, here put his head in at the door.
"Is Mr. Mark Mortimer here?" he asked.
"That's me!" exclaimed Dick, jumping up eagerly.
"There's a boy wants to see you, Mr. Mark Mortimer," said the old man, repeating the name as if he enjoyed it.
"It's my nephew," said Dick.
"Is his name Mortimer, too?" asked the proprietor of the establishment, for such the old man was.
"Never mind," said Dick, impatiently. "Bring the boy in."
Almost directly Jasper was ushered into the room—fearlessly, but looking about him with some curiosity.
The two men, who had not before seen him, surveyed him with equal curiosity.
"He does you credit," said the stout man.
"He's what I was at his age," said Dick. "Now, boy, have you got the money?"
"Yes," said Jasper.
"One hundred and fifty dollars?"
"Yes."
Dick's eyes glistened.
"Give it here. You're a trump. Did old Fitch make any difficulties?"
"No; he was glad to get the boy back."
"Did he ask you about me?"
"Yes."
"How much did you tell him?" demanded the kidnapper, hastily.
"Nothing. I told him that I had made a promise not to tell."
Dick looked triumphantly at his two companions.
"Didn't I tell you?" he said.
"You have the boy's word for it," said Jack, with a quiet sneer. "How did you find your way here, boy?"
"I looked at a map of the city," answered Jasper.
"Where?"
"In the office of Mr. Fitch."
"Where did you pass last night?"
"At the house of Mr. Fitch."
"Where are you going when you leave here?"
"I have promised to go to Mr. Fitch's counting-room."
"You seem to be very intimate with this gentleman," said Jack.
"There's nothing strange in that," said Jasper, quietly. "It was I who carried his boy home."
"The boy is right," said Dick, who, having obtained his money, felt graciously disposed toward our hero, through whose agency he had obtained it.
"What does he want of you?" asked Jack, continuing the cross-examination.
"I hope he is going to help me to a place," answered Jasper.
"No need of going to him," said the stout man. "We'll give you employment."
"You!" repeated Jasper, with an attentive glance, which took in the man's disreputable appearance.
"Yes, if you deserve it. What do you say?"
"I feel obliged for your offer," said Jasper, "but having promised Mr. Fitch to return, I would prefer to do so."
"Boys," interrupted Dick, at this point, "I'm sorry to leave this festive crowd, but I've got other business to attend to, and must be going."
"I'll go with you," said Jasper, who was anxious to leave the place.
"No, you don't, just yet," said Jack, rising, and striding between Jasper and the door. "We'll have a drink all around first."
"Thank you," said Jasper, "I don't drink."
"You must drink now. It's the law of this establishment."
"All right, Jasper," said Dick. "I'll treat. You can drink what you like, though."
Jasper felt that it would be politic to comply, and chose lemonade.
"I'll order the drinks," said Jack, and he left the room for that purpose.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SLEEPING POTION
Presently the old man already referred to appeared with the drinks. It Is hardly necessary to say that Jasper was alone in his choice of lemonade. The rest selected stronger liquors.
"Here's to you, Dick," said Jack, tossing off the contents of his glass, "and may you live to treat us many times more!"
"Amen to that!" said Bill.
"Haven't you got anything to say, youngster?" asked Dick, turning to Jasper.
"I wish you a pleasant journey," said Jasper, politely.
"As to that, it depends on my success with my sister."
"When do you leave?"
"To-night, if I can."
"What's all that about, Dick? Are you going to leave us?" asked Bill.
"I'm goin' East for the benefit of my health and my purse," said Dick, with a grin. "Do you wish me success, mates?"
"To be sure. Is it anything we can help you in?"
"No, no. It's my private venture."
"Anything in my line?"
"No; it's a strictly virtuous and honest undertaking. I don't mind giving you a hint of it. I've got a near relative that's come into a fortune. Now I think I ought to come in for a share."
"To be sure!"
"Have another game of euchre, Dick?"
"I don't know—I ought to be going," said the kidnapper, hesitating. "We'll make it poker, and the boy may take a hand."
"No," said Jasper, languidly. "I don't know how to play."
"We'll teach you."
"I don't care about it."
"You look sleepy, lad," said Dick.
"Yes, I feel so. It's strange. I didn't feel so when I came in."
"Oh, don't mind the boy's looks," said Jack. "Lay down on that settee, if you want to, boy."
Jasper felt so heavy and drowsy that he accepted the permission and stretched himself out, closing his eyes.
"Why am I so sleepy?" he thought, languidly. "I never was before, in the middle of the day, except when I was sick."
He listened at first to the conversation between the players, but gradually it sounded only like a confused hum, and at length he could not hear it at all.
He was fast asleep.
When this became clear through his heavy breathing, Dick turned to the younger man, and pointing to Jasper, asked:
"What have you been doing to him?"
"I put a sleeping potion into his drink," answered Jack.
"What for?"
"I mean to keep him for a while, and that saves a fuss."
"What do you want to do with him?"
"Prevent him from doing mischief."
"There's no need. He can be trusted."
"You can trust him, for you'll be a long way off. He might blow on us any time."
Dick shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, well, do as you please, but you're over careful. Don't hurt him."
"He'll be all right as long as he behaves himself. It's your deal."
The game was over at last, and Dick arose to go. Jasper was sleeping soundly, and was wholly unconscious of his departure.
"Give me a hand, Bill, and we'll take the boy up stairs," said the younger man.
"What's your plan, Jack?"
"To make him one of us. He'll come to it in time."
There was a windowless room on the second floor, in the centre of the house, wholly dark, except when lighted by gas. It was to this room that our hero was conveyed, and laid upon some bedding in the corner of the room. There was a slide in the partition to admit air, and with it a few faint rays of light. Jasper stirred a little while he was being moved, but the sleeping potion had too much potency to allow him to wake.
"There," said Jack, in a tone of satisfaction, "he's safe now."
"He'll make a fuss when he gets up."
"Let him. He can't get out."
As they went down stairs, Jack called aside Nathan Gibson, the old man who had charge of the house.
"Nathan," said he, "did you see the boy that was with us just now?"
"Yes."
"We've put him in the prison" (for this was the name by which the small dark room was known). "He's not to be let out."
"Good! I understand."
"You may take him some supper at five or six o'clock. Look in before that time to see if he's awake."
"All right!" said the old man, grinning. "What's your game?"
"It's your game as well as mine. The boy ought never to have come here. He may blow on us."
The mean-faced little man looked by turns frightened and fierce.
"I'd slit his throat if he did!" he said.
"No need of that. We'll make him join us."
"That would be the best way; but can you?"
"We can try. Don't forget what I told you."
Nathan nodded.
Still Jasper slept, little suspecting into what a trap he had walked.
CHAPTER XXV.
JASPER FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER
It was after five o'clock when Jasper opened his eyes. As soon as consciousness returned he looked around him with astonishment and wonder.
"Where am I?"
A few rays of light entered at the sliding-door above, and to this his eyes were naturally drawn.
Here was another puzzle. He explored his memory, and could recall no such place as this. He had never before been in such a room.
At last he recalled the circumstances under which he fell asleep, and he jumped to the conclusion that he was in the same house still.
"They must have put me to bed," he said to himself. "They were very kind; but this is a queer room."
Thus far no thought that he was a prisoner had entered his mind.
He arose and began to feel his way around by the walls. He judged that he was in a room not more than ten feet square. He could form no idea what was the time. It might be the middle of the night, so far as he knew.
"This is awkward," he thought. "I don't fancy being shut up like this. Where's the door? There must be one somewhere."
He found it at last, and tried the lock, but it did not yield to his efforts.
Then came the startling thought:
"Am I a prisoner?"
He stopped short and thought over the situation. He recalled all he could of the men in whose company he had been at the time he went to sleep. The longer he thought the more it seemed probable that it was as he suspected.
Though a little startled at this view of the situation, Jasper was by no means disposed to be despondent. His courage arose with the difficulties of his position.
"I'll find out how matters stand," he said to himself. "I'll pound till somebody comes."
He began to pound on the walls of the room with such effect that the old man below heard him.
"The bird is beating against the walls of his cage," he thought. "I'll go up and see him."
Presently Jasper heard steps ascending the stairs. Almost immediately another sliding-door about four feet from the floor was drawn open, and the old man's face was poked in.
"Did you knock?" he asked, grinning.
"Yes," said Jasper. "Open the door, and let me out."
"Won't you have some supper first?" asked Nathan, with a leer.
"No; I'd rather go out," said Jasper, in a tone of suspicion.
"I couldn't allow that. Oh, no!" said Nathan.
"What right have you to keep me here against my will?" exclaimed Jasper, furiously.
"We like your company so much, my dear young man," said Nathan, nodding his head waggishly.
"Who's 'we'?" demanded Jasper.
"Jack, and Bill, and me."
"Let me out, I say."
"Don't be agitated, my dear boy. You'll be taken good care of."
"I'd rather take care of myself. Will you open the door?"
"I couldn't, but I'll bring you up some supper directly."
The sliding-door was closed suddenly, and again Jasper found himself in the dark, fully understanding now that he was a prisoner, but why, he could not form a conjecture.
CHAPTER XXVI.
IN CONFINEMENT
Soon the old man reappeared and opened the sliding-door. He carried a small waiter containing a cup of tea, a plate of cold meat, and a slice of white bread without butter.
"We don't want you to starve," he said. "Here's something to stay your stomach. You're hungry, ain't you?"
Jasper admitted that he was.
"I thought so. When I was your age I was always eating. Never could get enough."
Jasper wondered, if this were the case, why the old man had not grown larger, but he did not say this. He took the waiter from Nathan and set it on his lap, there being no table.
"I hope you don't mean to keep me long as a boarder," he said. "You won't find it profitable, boarding me for nothing."
"That isn't for me to say," said Nathan. "Jack and Bill will see to that."
"Did they tell you to confine me?"
"Yes; I told you that already."
"Will you ask them to come up and speak to me? I want to know why I am here."
"They ain't at home now. I'll tell them when they come in."
"Thank you. Do you think that will be to-night?"
"Not likely. They'll come in so late you'll be abed and asleep."
"Don't let them go out to-morrow morning without seeing me."
"I'll tell them."
The old man waited till Jasper had finished eating, and then took the waiter back through the window.
"Won't you let me have a light?" asked Jasper. "I don't want to stay here in the dark."
"You'll set the house on fire," said the old man, hesitating.
"And get burned up myself? I should be fool to run such a risk as that."
This consideration suggested itself to the old man's judgment, and he promised to bring up a lamp before long.
This he really did. Jasper found it a great relief. He was now broad awake, the effect of the drug having passed off.
There was nothing to do, indeed, but his thoughts were busy, and he tried hard to devise some method of escape, in case he should not be released.
The next morning breakfast was brought to him about eight o'clock. It was not till ten that the sliding-door was opened and the face of Jack appeared at the opening.
"Well, boy, how do you like your quarters?" he asked, with a disagreeable smile.
"Not at all," answered Jasper. "Why do you keep me here?"
"We had reasons for putting you here."
"What were they?"
"First and foremost, you knew too much."
"Were you afraid I should betray you?" asked Jasper.
"You might."
"I promise not to, if you will let me go."
"That's all very well, but when you get out you might break your promise."
"Then it would be for the first time," said Jasper, proudly. "I never break my promises."
"You talk well, boy, but it's easy to talk."
"It's all I can do. There is no way of proving what I say."
"That's so; and that's the reason I'm going to keep you."
"At that rate, you will have to keep me all my life."
"No; there's another way."
"What is it?" asked Jasper, eagerly.
"Join us, and when you're in the same box you won't go to blabbing."
"What do you mean by joining you?" asked Jasper, though he was afraid he understood only too well.
"You ought to be smart enough to know that."
"I don't know what your business is," said our hero.
"You don't!" said Jack, ironically. "Perhaps you think we're commission merchants, or bankers, or something of that kind, Bill and me?"
"I don't think you are either of them," said Jasper, laughing.
"Why not?"
"You don't look like a commission merchant or a banker."
"What do I look like, eh, boy?"
"You may be angry if I answer that question."
"No, I won't. Go ahead!"
"You look as if you didn't get your living in any way so honest as that."
"Well, suppose you are right?"
"Then I am sorry. I wish you would reform and lead a different life."
"No preaching! I didn't bargain for that."
"Then all I have to say is, you are in no danger from me. I shall not betray you."
"Perhaps you are to be trusted, but I can't run the risk. You must join us."
"You may be wicked yourself. You have no right to make me so," said Jasper, firmly.
"That's all nonsense. The world owes me a living, and you, too."
"Not without work. I'm going to work for my living."
"I mean you shall. You shall work for me."
"That kind of work will do the world no good. I want to do something useful."
"So you shall. You shall help us bleed some of these bloated aristocrats. They've got more money than is good for them—more than they have any business to keep."
"I don't agree with you," said Jasper.
"You'd better. It is for your interest," said Jack, frowning.
"It can't be for my interest to become a law-breaker."
"Then you can stay here till you rot!" retorted the burglar, roughly. "You won't come out of this chamber till you have agreed to become one of us."
There was something in this threat which startled Jasper, bold and brave as he was.
"Such an outrage won't be permitted," he said.
"Won't it?" sneered Jack. "We'll see about that. I'll take the risk. You don't know me yet," he added, with an oath.
"Is it wholly because you are afraid I will betray you that you treat me in this way?" asked Jasper.
"No."
"What other reason have you?"
"I'll tell you. You're the sort of boy we want. You ain't any whining, milk-and-water sort of boy. You're brave and spirited. You would be worth a good deal to us."
Burglar though Jack was, Jasper was not insensible to the compliment. Any boy likes to be considered spirited, even if he does not deserve it, and he felt flattered by this tribute, which he felt that he deserved, at least, in part.
"I am glad you have a good opinion of my courage," he said, "but I think I can find a better use for it than in the career you open to me. If I accepted your proposal from fear of imprisonment it would show that I was not such a boy as you describe."
"You are an obstinate fool!" said Jack, with a frown.
"I am obstinate in this," said Jasper, composedly. "You want to spoil my life by making me a criminal."
"Do you mean to call me a criminal!" exclaimed Jack, angrily.
"I call you nothing—I only take you at your word."
"You'll talk differently from this a week from now!" said Jack, prepariug to shut the sliding-door.
"Do you mean to keep me in this dark hole a week?" asked Jasper, unable to repress a shudder.
"Ha! that disturbs you, does it?" asked the other, smiling sardonically.
"Yes, it does. You don't think I fancy it, do you?"
"Well, you know the way to end your imprisonment."
"Is there only one way?"
"There's only one way. Tell the old man, Nathan, when you've made up your mind to accept my offer."
Without waiting for a reply Jack pushed the sliding-door in its place, and once more Jasper found himself in the dark.
