CHAPTER XIII.
MARTIN MAKES A BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT.
Martin was agreeably surprised at the attention paid him by his newfriend. There are some who have no difficulty in making friends at firstsight, but this had not often happened to him. In fact, there was verylittle that was attractive or prepossessing about him, and though hecould not be expected to be fully aware of that, he had given upexpecting much on the score of friendship. Yet here was a stranger, who,to Martin's undiscriminating eyes, appeared quite the gentleman, who hadgiven him a cigar, paid his dinner-bill, and treated him with a degreeof attention to which he was unaccustomed. Martin felt that he was inluck, and if there was anything to be made out of his new friend he wasdetermined to make it.
They turned down a side street, perhaps because the stranger's courseled that way, perhaps because he was not proud of his new acquaintance.
"So you've had poor luck," he remarked, by way of starting theconversation.
"Yes," grumbled Martin, "you may say that. Things have all been ag'instme. It's a pretty hard rub for a poor man to get a livin' here."
"Just so," said the other. "What's your business?"
"I'm a carpenter."
"And you can't find work?"
"No," said Martin. "Besides," he added, after a pause, "my health aintvery good. Hard work don't agree with me."
He might have said that hard drinking did not agree with him, and thiswould have been rather nearer the truth. But he was afraid his newfriend would offer to find him employment as a carpenter, and for thishe was not very anxious. There had been a time when he was content towork early and late, for good wages, but he had of late years led such ashiftless and vagabond life, that honest industry had no more attractionfor him, and he preferred to get his living by hook or crook, in factin any way he could, rather than take the most direct path to a goodliving by working hard for it.
"What is your name?"
"James Martin. What's yours?"
"Mine," said the stranger, pausing, and fixing his eyes thoughtfullyupon Martin; "well, you may call me Smith."
"That aint a very uncommon name," said Martin, thinking he hadperpetrated a good joke.
"Just so," said the stranger, composedly. "I've been told so often."
"Well, Mr. Smith, do you think you could help me to some light businessthat wouldn't be too hard on my health?"
"Perhaps I might," said the other. "What do you think you would like?"
"Why," said Martin, "if I only had a little capital, I could set up asmall cigar store, or maybe a drinkin' saloon."
"That would be light and genteel, no doubt," said Smith, "but confining.You'd have to be in the store early and late."
"I might have a boy to stay there when I wanted to go out," suggestedMartin.
"So you might," said the other. "There doesn't seem any objection, ifyou can only raise the capital."
This was rather a powerful objection, however, especially as Mr. Smithoffered no encouragement about supplying the capital himself. Martin sawthis, and he added, "I only mentioned this. I aint any objection toanything else that's light and easy. Do you think of anything I coulddo?"
"I may be able to throw something in your way," said Mr. Smith. "But,first, I must ask you a question. Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes," said Martin, "just as many as you like."
"Because the business which I have to propose is of rather aconfidential character, and a great deal depends on its being keptsecret."
"All right; I'm your man then."
"When I saw you in the restaurant," said Smith, "it struck me that youmight answer our purpose. You look as if you could be trusted."
"So I can be," said Martin, pleased with the compliment. "I'll never saya word about the matter. What is it?"
"You shall learn presently,--that is, if my partner thinks we had betterengage you."
"Where is your place of business?"
"We will go there. Let us jump into this horse-car."
They had reached Eighth Avenue, and entered a car bound downwards. Whenthe conductor came along, Smith said, "I pay for two," indicatingMartin. This was fortunate; for Martin's purse was at a low ebb, hisentire stock of money being limited to fifty cents.
They rode some fifteen minutes, at the end of which Smith signalled tothe conductor to stop.
"We get out here," he said to Martin.
Martin jumped out after him, and they turned westward down one of thestreets leading to the North River.
"Is it much farther?" asked Martin.
"Not much."
"It's rather an out-of-the-way place for business, isn't it?" remarkedMartin, observing that the street was lined with dwelling-houses oneither side.
"For most kinds of business it is," said his new acquaintance; "but itsuits us. We like a quiet, out-of-the-way place."
"Are you in the wholesale business?" asked Martin, whose curiosity beganto be considerably excited.
"Something of that sort," answered the stranger. "Ah, here we are!"
The house before which he stopped was a brick dwelling-house, of threestories. The blinds were closed, and it might have been readily supposedthat no one lived there. Certainly nothing could have looked less like aplace of business, so far as outward appearance went, and Martin, whoseperceptions were not very acute, saw this, and was puzzled. Still hiscompanion spoke so quietly and composedly, and seemed to understandhimself so well, that he did not make any remark.
Instead of pulling the bell, Mr. Smith drew a latch-key from his pocket,and admitted himself.
"Come in, Mr. Martin," he said.
Martin stepped into the entry, and the door was closed.
Before him was a narrow staircase, with a faded stair-carpet upon it. Adoor was partly open into a room on the right, but still there wasnothing visible that looked like business.
"Follow me," said Smith, leading the way up stairs.
Martin followed, his curiosity, if anything, greater than before.
They went into a front room on the second floor.
"Excuse me a moment," said Smith.
Martin was left alone, but in two minutes Smith returned with a tall,powerful-looking man, whose height was such that he narrowly escapedbeing a giant.
"Mr. Martin," said Smith, "this is my partner, Mr. Hayes."
"Proud to make your acquaintance, I am sure, Mr. Hayes," said Martin,affably. "I met your partner this mornin' in an eatin'-house, and hesaid you might have a job for me. My health aint very good, but I coulddo light work well enough."
"Did you tell Mr. Martin," said the giant, in a hoarse voice thatsounded as if he had a cold of several years' standing, "that ourbusiness is of a confidential nature?"
"Yes," said Martin, "I understand that. I can keep a secret."
"It is absolutely necessary that you should," said Hayes. "You say youcan, but how can I be sure of it?"
"I'll give you my word," said Martin.
The giant looked down upon Martin, and ejaculated, "Humph!" in a mannerwhich might be interpreted to convey some doubt as to the value ofMartin's word. However, even if Martin had been aware of this, he wasnot sensitive, and would not have taken offence.
"Are you willing to take your oath that you will never reveal, under anycircumstances, anything connected with our business?"
"Yes," said Martin, eagerly, his curiosity being greater than ever.
There was a Bible on the table. Hayes cast his eyes in that direction,but first said something in a low voice to Smith. The latter drew asmall brass key from his pocket, and opened a cupboard, or small closetin the wall, from which, considerably to Martin's alarm, he drew out arevolver and a knife. These he laid on the table beside the book.
"What's that for?" asked Martin, with an uneasy glance at the weapons.
"I'll tell you what it's for, my friend," said the giant. "It's to showyou what your fate will be if you ever reveal any of our secrets.Perhaps you don't want to take the risk of knowing what they are. If youd
on't, you can say so, and go."
But Martin did not want to go, and he did want to learn the secrets morethan ever.
"I'm ready," he said. "I'll take the oath."
"Very well, you understand now what it means. Put your hand on the book,and repeat after me: 'I solemnly swear, on the penalty of death bypistol or knife, never to reveal any secret I may have imparted to me inthis room.'"
Martin repeated this formula, not without a certain shrinking, not tosay creeping, of the flesh.
"Now that you have taken the oath," said Smith, "we will tell you oursecret."
"Yes," said Martin, eagerly.
"The fact is," said Smith, in a low voice, "we are counterfeiters."
"You don't say so!" ejaculated Martin.
"Yes, there's a light, genteel business for you. There are all ways ofmaking a living, and that isn't the worst."
"Does it pay pretty well?" asked Martin, getting interested.
"Yes, it's a money-making business," said Smith, with a laugh; "butthere's a little prejudice against it, and so we have a very quiet placeof business."
"Yes, I see," said Martin.
"You see the world owes us a living," continued Smith, "as you remarkedthis morning, and if it doesn't come in one way, it must in another."
"Isn't it dangerous?" asked Martin.
"Not if it's carefully managed."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Supply money to our agents chiefly. It won't do to have too many cometo the house, for it might excite suspicion. You will come everymorning, receive money and directions from one of us, and then do as youare bid."
"How much will you give me?"
"What do you say to a hundred dollars a month?"
"In good money," said Martin, his eyes sparkling with pleasure.
"No, of course not. In money of our manufacture."
Martin's countenance fell.
"First thing I know I'll be nabbed," he said.
"Not if you are careful. We'll give you instructions. Do you accept ourterms?"
"Yes," said Martin, unhesitatingly.
"Of course you take a risk. No gain without risk, you know. But if youare unlucky, remember your oath, and don't betray us. If you do, you'rea dead man within twenty-four hours from the time you leave the prison.There are twenty men bound by a solemn oath to revenge treachery bydeath. If you betray our secret, nothing can save you. Do youunderstand?"
"Yes," said Martin, whose mind was suitably impressed with the absolutenecessity of silence. The representations of his new friends might ormight not be true, but, at all events, he believed them to be inearnest, and their point was gained.
"When do you want me to begin?" he asked.
"To-day; but first it will be necessary for you to be more decentlydressed."
"These are all the clothes I have," returned Martin. "I've beenunfortunate, and I haven't had any money to buy good clothes with."
"Have we any clothes in the house that will fit this man?" asked Smithof his confederate.
"I will go and see."
The giant soon returned with a suit of clothing, not very fine or veryfashionable, but elegant compared with that which Martin now wore.
"I guess these will fit you," he said. "Try them on."
Martin made the change with alacrity, and when it had been effected,surveyed himself in a mirror with considerable complacency. Histemporary abstinence from liquor while at the Island had improved hisappearance, and the new suit gave him quite a respectable appearance. Hehad no objection to appearing respectable, provided it were at otherpeople's expense. On the whole, he was in excellent spirits, and feltthat at length his luck had turned, and he was on the high road toprosperity.