CHAPTER X.
BEN RECEIVES A CALL.
Ben had scarcely left the room when it occurred to him that he oughtto send home for the remainder of his clothes. He did not like to doso, however, without first consulting Miss Sinclair.
"Well, Ben?" said the young lady inquiringly.
"I would like to write home for my clothes, if you have noobjection."
"Certainly; but don't say anything about me."
"All right."
Ben went to the reading-room, and, procuring writing-materials,penned the following letter to his uncle:
"ASTOR HOUSE, NEW YORK.
"DEAR UNCLE JOB: Will you send me the rest of my clothes at once, byexpress? You may direct to this hotel, where I am now staying. Thefirm that I came to see turned out to be swindlers, and I was atfirst quite disappointed; but I have made other friends, and am tosail for California next Saturday. This may seem sudden to you. Atany rate it does to me, and I don't expect to realize it till I amfairly at sea. It will be some time before I can write you, but Iwill send you a line from Panama, if possible. You needn't send meany more of my money, for I have with me all I shall need atpresent.
"Give my love to aunt and Cousin Jenny. I should like to see you allagain before I start, but I cannot spare the time. I am in goodhealth and spirits, and I think my prospects are good. Youraffectionate nephew, BEN."
This letter excited considerable surprise in Hampton.
"I'm afraid Ben's gettin' extravagant," said Uncle Job. "I've alwaysheerd that the Astor House is a fashionable hotel where they chargebig prices. Ben ought to have gone to a cheap place, and saved hismoney."
"He says he's got money enough with him, father," said Mrs. Stanton."How much did he take away with him?"
"Seventy-five dollars."
"And he had to pay his passage to California out of that?"
"Of course."
"He won't have much left when he gets to California, then."
"No, he won't."
"Don't you think you'd better send him some?"
"No, wife. Ben says no, and I'm goin' accordin' to his directions.I suppose he knows best what he wants."
Sam Sturgis did not often condescend to notice Job Stanton, but hiscuriosity got the better of his pride, and, meeting the old man ashort time afterward, he asked: "Have you heard anythiug from Ben?"
"Yes, he writ me a letter from New York. I got it this mornin'?"
"Has he got a chance to black boots?" asked Sam, with a sneer.
"He's stayin' at the Astor House," said Job, enjoying Sam'ssurprise.
"Staying at the Astor House!" exclaimed the young aristocrat inastonishment. "Why, that is a tip-top hotel."
"I always heerd it was," returned Job. "How can he afford to staythere?"
"He didn't say."
"Oh, I understand," said Sam, with an air of relief. "He's got aplace to black boots, or clean knives. That must be the way of it."
"I don't think it is, for he has engaged passage to Californy."
"Is that so? When does he sail?"
"On Saturday. We're goin' to send him his clothes. Do you want tosend him any word or message?"
"No; why should I?"
"I thought you was one of his friends."
"Yes, I will send him a message," said Sam. "Just tell him that whenhe has spent all his money, I'll give him the place I offered himbefore he left Hampton."
"You're very kind," said Job, concealing his amusement; "but I don'tthink Ben will need to take up with your offer."
"I think he will," said Sam.
"I wonder whether Ben is really staying at the Astor House, andpaying his expenses there," he said to himself. "If he is, he's afool. I've a great mind to ask father if I may go up to New York,and see. Maybe he's only humbugging his uncle."
So when Sam got home he preferred a request to visit New York, andobtained permission.
We now return to the Astor House.
Miss Sinclair and Ben went in to supper together. The young lady hadscarcely taken her place, and looked around her, when she started,and turned pale.
"Ben," she said hurriedly, "I must leave the table. Do you see thattall man sitting by the window?"
"Yes, Cousin Ida."
"It is my guardian. He has not seen me yet, but I must be cautious.Direct a servant to bring me some supper in my room, and come upthere yourself when you are through."
"All right!"
Miss Sinclair left the room, but Ben maintained his place. He tookparticular notice of the gentleman who had been pointed out to him.He was a tall, slender man, with iron-gray hair, and a stern,unpleasant look. Ben judged that her guardian had not seen MissSinclair, for he seemed wholly intent upon his supper.
"I don't wonder she wanted to run away from him," thought our hero.Ben smiled as it flashed upon him that this young lady was runningaway with him.
"I didn't expect, when I left home, to meet with any such adventureas this," he said to himself. "But I do mean to help Miss Sinclairall I possibly can. It doesn't seem quite natural to call her Ida,but I will do as she wants me to."
Meanwhile Mr. Campbell had made inquiries at the office if a younglady from Albany was staying at the hotel.
"No," said the clerk.
It will be remembered that Miss Sinclair had registered fromPhiladelphia, or, rather, Ben had done so for her.
"Have you any young lady here without escort?" asked Mr. Campbell.
"No, sir. There is a young lady from Philadelphia, but she arrivedwith her cousin, a lad of fifteen or sixteen."
"That cannot be the one I am in search of," said the unsuspectingguardian.
Of course, as the reader will readily surmise, Ida Sinclair was notthe young lady's real name, but it is the name by which we shallknow her for the present.
After supper Ben went to Miss Sinclair's room, as directed.
"I think, Ben," she said, "it will be best for me to take all mymeals in my room during the short time I stay here. Should myguardian catch sight of me he might give me some trouble, and that Iwish to avoid."
"I guess you're right," said Ben.
"I shall wish you to come to my room two or three times a day, as Imay have some errands for you to do."
"All right, Miss Sinclair."
"You had better call me 'Cousin Ida,' so as to get used to it."
The next day as Ben was standing on the steps of the hotel he saw,with surprise, Sam Sturgis approaching. It did not occur to him,however, that he was responsible for Sam's presence in the city. Hewas glad to see a familiar Hampton face, and he said cordially: "Howare you, Sam?"
Sam nodded.
"You don't mean to say that you are stopping here, do you?"
"Yes, I do," said Ben, smiling. "Why not?"
"Because it's a first-class hotel."
"Why shouldn't I stay at a first-class hotel, Sam?"
"Because you are a poor boy. Maybe you've got some relations amongthe servants?"
"If I have I don't know it."
"Your uncle told me you were stopping here, but I didn't believeit."
"Do you believe it now?" asked Ben.
"Perhaps you just stay round here to make people believe you are aguest of the house."
"Why should I care what people think? Nobody knows me here. However,Sam, if you want to be convinced, just come up to my room with me."
Sam concluded to accept the invitation, and accompanied Ben to thedesk.
"Please give me the key to number sixty-six," said Ben.
"Here it is, sir."
Sam began to think Ben's statement was true, after all. There was noroom for doubt when Ben ushered him into the handsome chamber whichhe occupied.
"Make yourself at home, Sam," said Ben, enjoying his companion'ssurprise.
"It's very queer," thought Sam. "I wonder whether he won't run offwithout paying his bill."
Sam rather hoped that this might be the case, as it would involveBen in disgrace.
"Your uncle tells
me you are going to sail for California onSaturday."
"Yes, Sam."
"Have you bought your ticket?"
"Yes."
"How much did you pay?"
"Excuse me. I would rather not tell just now."
"I suppose he goes in the steerage," thought Sam.
As he could learn nothing more from our hero, Sam soon left him.
It was certainly remarkable that the boy to whom he had recentlyoffered the position of his bootblack should be a guest of afashionable New York hotel.