CHAPTER XX
RUFUS CAMERON'S BOLD MOVE
"What do you want?" demanded our hero. He did not like the idea of beingdetained, now that his business was concluded.
"I want to talk to you a minute," said the man. "Come into the parlor."
"I am in something of a hurry, Mr.----"
"My name is Rufus Cameron. Mrs. Parloe is my aunt. I must talk to you.Come in."
Rufus Cameron caught a firm hold of our hero and almost forced him intothe parlor. Then he shut the door tightly and stood in front of it.
"What do you want?" demanded Nat. He did not like the looks of RufusCameron. The fellow's face was dissipated.
"You got my aunt to sign a certain document, didn't you?"
"What if I did?"
"I want to see that paper."
"If you do, you'll have to see my employer about it."
"You've got the paper right here. Why can't you show it to me?"
"Because I have no authority for so doing," answered our hero, firmly.
"Humph! It won't hurt you to let me look over the paper," growled RufusCameron.
"I have my orders."
"Did John Garwell tell you not to show me the paper?"
"He told me to have it signed, and to bring it right back."
"Well, I want to see it, and I'm going to do it before you leave thishouse."
"Are you going to take the paper away from me!" cried Nat, in alarm.
"I only want to look at it. As soon as I've read it, I'll give it backto you."
"I can't allow the paper to go out of my possession, Mr. Cameron."
"Mrs. Parloe isn't entirely responsible for what she does. I must see toit that everything is all right."
"Well, you had better call on Mr. Garwell."
"No, I must see the document while you have it here. Come! hand itover."
"I will not."
Nat had scarcely spoken when Rufus Cameron caught him roughly by theshoulder.
"Look here, boy, I am not a man to be trifled with!" he whispered,fiercely. "Let me see the paper, and it will be all right. But if youwon't, I'll make a whole lot of trouble for you."
"Let go of me!" and Nat tried to pull himself away.
"You stole this ring while you were upstairs," said Rufus Cameron,quickly, and, putting his hand in Nat's side pocket, he brought it outagain with a diamond ring.
"I--I never saw that ring before," gasped Nat.
"You stole it, I say, and unless you behave yourself, I'll have youarrested," went on Rufus Cameron, coldly.
Nat was dumfounded, but like a flash he saw through the trick that theman wanted to play on him.
"You can't fool me, Mr. Rufus Cameron," said he, sharply. "Let me go, orI'll have you hauled up in court for this. Your dirty trick won't workwith me."
Rufus Cameron fell back, crestfallen. He had not anticipated suchbravery on our hero's part. He was a coward at heart, and too muchliquor had somewhat muddled his brain.
"Then you won't show me the document?" he muttered.
"No."
As Nat uttered the word, Rufus Cameron picked up a sea shell lying on amantelshelf, and swung it behind his head.
"If you don't let me see that----" he began.
Nat rushed at him, and pushed him to one side. Then our hero made forthe door. He was just opening it when the seashell was sent whizzingforward. It hit Nat on the head, and the boy dropped unconscious acrossan easy chair.
For the instant Rufus Cameron was startled. Then rushing to the door, helocked it, and also locked some folding doors leading to a rearapartment.
"I hope I didn't hurt him much," he muttered. "What a young fool he wasnot to let me see the paper."
He propped Nat up in the easy chair, and placed his hand in the boy'sinside pocket. Soon he had the document in his possession, and waslooking over it rapidly.
"Just as I thought. I'm glad I got it. Now, we'll see if Shanley and Ican't outwit Mr. John Garwell."
Nat was already coming to his senses, and Rufus Cameron lost no time inhurrying to the library of the house. Here he obtained an old documentof no consequence, but which still bore his aunt's signature. Rushingback, he placed this in the envelope which had held the other paper ofimportance.
Nat was just returning to his senses when he found himself being takenout of the house by Rufus Cameron. The man supported him as far as thecorner and there placed him on a stone step leading to a church.
"Wha--what did you hit me for?" stammered our hero, feebly.
"I didn't mean to do that; really I didn't," said Rufus Cameron,smoothly. "The shell slipped. I am very sorry--very sorry, indeed."
"It was a mean thing to do."
"It was an accident, I give you my word on it."
Nat felt in his pocket to learn if the document was still there.
"Did you look at that paper?" he questioned.
"No, I didn't. On second thought I have concluded to let my aunt do justas she pleases in this matter."
Nat felt in no condition to argue. He took out the document, glanced atit, and shoved it back into the envelope and then in his pocket.
"I'm sorry this happened. I was excited for the minute. Come and have adrink with me. It will do you good," went on Rufus Cameron.
"I don't drink."
"Shall I show you to the car then?"
"Yes."
When Nat got up the rascal supported him, and thus they made their wayto the car line running to the Bridge. Here, our hero boarded a car, andRufus Cameron watched him ride out of sight.
"That was easy after all," muttered Rufus Cameron to himself. "I onlyhope it don't make too much trouble in the future. I'll have to letShanley have this document without delay, and I'd better get out ofsight until the affair blows over."
Making his way to a neighboring cafe, Rufus Cameron treated himself to adrink of strong liquor and a black-looking cigar. Then he returned tohis aunt's home. He lived with her, and was doing his best to getcertain of her properties away from her.
"Aunt Jane, what did that young man want?" he asked, as he entered herroom.
"He came to see me on private business, Rufus," was the quiet answer.Mrs. Parloe did not fancy her nephew's habits, and had often warned himthat he must reform.
"Was there anything I could do for you?"
"No, Rufus."
"Do you know, Aunt Jane, I've been thinking of taking a trip to theWest," he went on, after a pause.
"So you said before."
"I'd go in a minute if I had the money."
"How much do you want?"
"Two or three hundred dollars at least."
"Is the money gone that I let you have last month?"
"Yes, I had to pay some back bills with that."
"You are very extravagant, Rufus."
"Oh, a young man must spend something."
"But not as much as you spend."
"I don't spend any more than the rest of the fellows in my set. I havegot to keep up appearances, you know."
"Your set is altogether too fast a one to suit me."
"Will you let me have the money?"
"How long do you expect to be gone?"
"That depends upon what you will give me. If you'll let me have fivehundred dollars, I'll make a trip of two or three months."
Mrs. Parloe thought for a moment, and at last consented to give hernephew the five hundred. She had her check book handy, and soon thecheck was passed over to the nephew.
"When shall you start?" she asked.
"I don't know. I've a good notion to start to-night. But if you want meto do anything for you before I go----"
"There is nothing, Rufus. Only, if you want to please me, don't get intoany bad habits while you are gone."
"Oh, I'm going to turn over a new leaf when I leave Brooklyn," said thehypocrite. "Then, I can leave to-night?"
"Yes."
"In that case, I'll pack my trunk at once," said Rufus Cameron; and alittle later he did so. Then he h
ad the trunk taken away, bid his auntgood-by, and was off.
"That was easy," he said to himself, when away from the house. "Now tosee Shanley and to arrange for keeping out of sight, in case JohnGarwell kicks up a fuss."