CHAPTER XI.
MISS SINCLAIR'S STRATAGEM.
Mr. Campbell had no particular reason to think that Miss IdaSinclair, registering from Philadelphia, was the ward of whom he wasin pursuit. Still, he thought it worth while to find out what hecould about her, and managed to waylay Ben in the corridor of thehotel the next morning.
"Good morning, boy!" he said stiffly, not having the art ofingratiating himself with young people.
"Good morning, man!" Ben thought of replying, but he thought thiswould be hardly polite, and said: "Good morning, sir," instead.
He suspected Mr. Campbell's purpose, and resolved to answercautiously.
"This is a nice hotel," said the guardian, resolving to come to thepoint by degrees.
"Yes, sir."
"I suppose you are too young to have traveled much?"
"I never traveled much, sir."
"Didn't I see you in the company of a young lady?"
"Very likely, sir."
"Your sister, I suppose?"
"No, sir."
"A relation, I suppose?"
"I call her Cousin Ida," said Ben truthfully.
"Indeed! And she is from Philadelphia?"
Ben was placed in a dilemma. He saw that he should be forced tomisrepresent, and this he did not like. On the other hand, he couldnot tell the truth, and so betray Miss Sinclair to her persecutor.
"You can tell by looking at the hotel register," he said coldly.
Mr. Campbell judged by Ben's tone that our hero meant to rebuke hiscuriosity, and, having really very little idea that he was on theright track, he thought it best to apologize.
"Excuse my questions," he said, "but I have an idea that I know yourcousin."
"In that case," said Ben, "if you will tell me your name I willspeak to Cousin Ida about it."
Now Mr. Campbell was in a dilemma. If Ida Sinclair were really theward of whom he was in pursuit, his name would only put her on herguard. He quickly thought of a ruse.
"I will send a card," he said.
He stepped to the clerk's desk, and asked for a blank card. After aninstant's hesitation, he penciled the name James Vernon, and handedit to Ben.
"The young lady may not remember my name," he said; "but in aninterview I think I can recall it to her recollection. Please giveit to your cousin."
"All right, sir."
Ben went up-stairs and tapped for admission at Miss Sinclair's door.
"Well, Ben?" she said inquiringly.
"Here is a card which a gentleman down-stairs asked me to hand you."
"James Vernon!" repeated the young lady, in surprise. "Why, I don'tknow any gentleman of that name."
"He said you might not remember it; but he thought he could recallit to your recollection in a personal interview."
"I don't want a personal interview with any gentleman."
"Not with your guardian?" asked Ben, smiling.
"Was the man who handed you this card my guardian?"
"Yes; he tried to find out all he could from me; but wasn't verysuccessful. Then he said he thought he knew you, and handed me thiscard."
"So he thinks to delude me by masquerading under a false name! Hemust suspect that I am his ward."
"Of course you won't see him?"
"No."
"What shall I say?"
"That I don't remember the name, and decline to see him."
"Won't that increase his suspicions?"
"I can't help it."
"Very well."
Ben went below; but thought he might as well put off the interview.It was not till afternoon that Mr. Campbell met him again.
"Did you deliver my card, boy?" he asked.
"My name is Benjamin," returned our hero, who did not fancy themanner of address.
"Very well. Did you deliver my card, Benjamin?"
"Yes, sir."
"What did your cousin say?"
"That she knew no gentleman or family of your name."
"I did not expect she would remember; but I have reasons for askingan interview."
"You mustn't be offended, sir; but she declines to meet a stranger."
Mr. Campbell was baffled.
"She mistakes my motive," he said, in a tone expressive ofannoyance. "How long do you stay here?"
"I can't say, sir," said Ben coldly.
Mr. Campbell bit his lip and walked away. He did not fancy beingfoiled by a boy. It occurred to him, however, that by waitingpatiently he might see the young lady at dinner. He kept watch,therefore, till he saw Ben entering the dining-room, and then,entering himself, secured a seat near-by. But the young lady,greatly to his chagrin, did not appear. Ben observed his vigilantwatch, and after dinner reported to Miss Sinclair.
The young lady smiled.
"I have thought of a way to deceive him and quiet his suspicions,"she said.
Ben looked curious.
"If I remain away from the table he will feel sure that I am hisward."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Listen to my plan, then. I have the New York Herald here, with halfa column of advertisements of seamtresses. I will give you a list ofthree, and you shall engage one to be here early to-morrow morning.Select one with a figure as much like mine as possible."
"All right!"
"I see you look puzzled," said Miss Sinclair, smiling.
"I am, a little; I don't know what good that will do."
"Then I will explain. I shall dress the seamstress in one of my owndresses, and let her go to the table with you. Mr. Campbell willnaturally suppose that she is Miss Ida Sinclair, and will besatisfied."
"I see! That is splendid!" exclaimed Ben, entering with heartyenthusiasm into the conspiracy.
It happened, luckily, that the first seamstress on whom he calledwas sufficiently like Miss Sinclair in figure to justify him inengaging her. He directed her to call at the hotel at eight the nextmorning without fail. The poor girl was glad to make thisengagement, having been without employment for two weeks previous.
When she arrived, Miss Sinclair, without confiding too much in her,made known her desire, and the girl, who had had but a scantybreakfast, was glad to embrace the opportunity of enjoying thehospitality of a first-class hotel. Miss Sinclair had really workenough to employ her during the day.
When Mr. Campbell caught sight of Ben approaching the dining-room incompany with a young lady, he advanced eagerly and peered into theyoung lady's face. He turned away in disappointment.
"I have made a fool of myself. It is only a common country girl. Imust look elsewhere for my ward."
Directly after breakfast Ben had the satisfaction of seeing theobnoxious guardian depart in a hack.
"Good-by, Mr. Vernon!" he said politely. "I see you are leaving thehotel."
"Good-by!" muttered Campbell.
"I hope you'll excuse my cousin for not seeing you?"
"I don't think she's the one I supposed," said Campbell. "It's of noconsequence."
Ben hastened to inform Miss Sinclair of her guardian's departure.
"Now the field is clear," said Ida, breathing a sigh of relief.
"I say, Ida, you managed him tip-top," said Ben admiringly. "I nevershould have thought of such a plan."
Miss Sinclair smiled faintly.
"I don't like to employ deceit," she said, "but it seems necessaryto fight such an enemy with his own weapons."
"He wanted to deceive you. He put a wrong name on his card."
"That is true, Ben. I must thank you for the manner in which youhave aided me in this matter. I should not have known how to act ifI had not had you to call upon."
Ben's face brightened.
"I am glad to hear you say that, Cousin Ida," he said. "You arespending so much money for me that I shall be glad to feel that Ihave earned some of it."
"Have no trouble on that score, Ben. I foresee that you willcontinue to be of great service to me. I regard the money expendedfor you as well invested."
Ben heard this with satisfact
ion. It naturally gave him a feeling ofheightened importance when he reflected that a wealthy heiress hadselected him as her escort and right-hand man, and that she wassatisfied with her choice.
On Saturday morning Miss Sinclair and Ben went on board theCalifornia steamer, and when the tide served, they started on theirlong voyage.