CHAPTER XXIII.
ESCAPE.
Humpy made up his mind to accept our hero's offer. Fifty dollars was tohim a small fortune, and he saw no reason why he should not earn it. Thebrutal treatment he had received from Smith removed all the objectionshe had at first felt.
Now, how was he going to fulfil his part of the compact?
To release Rufus would be comparatively easy. He happened to know thatthe key of his own room in the attic would also fit the door of thechamber in which our hero was confined. The difficulty was to getpossession of the tin box. He did not even know where it was concealed,and must trust to his own sagacity to find out.
To this end he watched his employer carefully whenever he got a chanceto do so without being observed, hoping he might take the box out fromits place of concealment. Finally Smith noticed the boy's glances, andsaid, roughly, "What are you looking at, boy? Do you think you shallknow me the next time you see me?"
Humpy did not reply, but this made him more careful.
In the morning he took up our hero's breakfast, meeting Martin on hisway downstairs.
"Well," said Rufus, eagerly, as he entered the room, "have you found outanything about the box?"
"Not yet," said Humpy. "I'm tryin' to find where he's hid it. I can letyou out any time."
"How?"
"I've got a key that fits this lock."
"That's well, but I'd rather wait till I can carry the box with me."
"I'll do what I can," said Humpy. "I'm goin' to watch him sharp. I'dbetter go down now, or maybe he'll be suspectin' something."
Humpy went downstairs, leaving Rufus to eat his breakfast. On his waydown his attention was drawn by angry voices, proceeding from the roomin which he had left Smith. He comprehended at once that Smith andMartin were having a dispute about something. He stood still andlistened attentively, and caught the following conversation:--
"The boy tells me," said Martin, doggedly, "that there was four hundreddollars in the box. You only gave me fifty."
"Then the boy lies!" said Smith, irritated.
"I don't believe he does," said Martin. "I don't like him myself, but heaint in the habit of telling lies."
"Perhaps you believe him sooner than you do me."
"I don't see where the three hundred dollars went," persisted Martin."Considerin' that I did all the work, fifty dollars was very small forme."
"You got half what there was. If there'd been more, you'd have gotmore."
"Why didn't you wait and open the box when I was there?"
"Look here," said Smith, menacingly, "if you think I cheated you, youmight as well say so right out. I don't like beating around the bush."
"The boy says there was four hundred dollars. Turner told him so."
"Then Turner lies!" exclaimed Smith, who was the more angry, because thecharge was a true one. "The box is just as it was when I opened it. I'llbring it out and show you just where I found the money."
When Humpy heard this, his eyes sparkled with excitement andanticipation. Now, if ever, he would find out the whereabouts of the tinbox. Luckily for him the door was just ajar, and by standing on theupper part of the staircase he could manage to see into the room.
He saw Smith go to a desk at the centre of one side of the room, andopen a drawer in it. From this he drew out the box, and, opening it,displayed the contents to Martin.
"There," said he, "that's where I found the money. There was a roll often ten-dollar bills. I divided them into two equal parts, and gave youyour share. I was disappointed myself, for I expected more. I didn'tthink you'd suspect me of cheating you. But I don't want any fuss. I'llgive you ten dollars off my share, and then you can't complain."
So saying, he took out a ten from his pocket-book, and handed it toMartin.
"Are you satisfied now?" he asked.
"I suppose I shall have to be," said Martin, rather sullenly, for he wasby no means sure of the veracity of his confederate.
"It's all I can do for you at any rate," said Smith. "And now suppose wetake breakfast. I shall want you to go to Newark to-day."
He replaced the box in the drawer, and, locking it, put the key in hispocket.
By this time Humpy thought it would do to reappear.
"Where've you been all the time?" asked Smith, roughly.
"The boy upstairs was talkin' to me."
"What did he say?"
"He asked what was your business."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him I didn't rightly know; but I thought you was amanufacturer."
"Right, Humpy; you're a smart boy," laughed Smith. "You know a thing ortwo."
The boy showed his teeth, and appeared pleased with the compliment.
"What else did he ask?"
"He asked, would I let him out?"
"Did he, the young rascal? And what did you tell him?"
"Not for Joe!"
"Good for you! There's a quarter;" and Smith offered the boy twenty-fivecents.
"If he'd done that yesterday instead of hittin' me," thought Humpy, "Iwouldn't have gone ag'inst him."
But the money came too late. Humpy had a brooding sense of wrong, noteasily removed, and he had made up his mind to betray his employer.
The breakfast proceeded, Humpy waiting upon the table. When the meal wasover, Smith gave Martin some instructions, and the latter set out forNewark, which was to be the scene of his operations during the day.About half an hour later Smith said, "Humpy, I've got to go down town; Imay be gone all the forenoon. Stay in the house while I am gone, andlook out, above all, that that boy upstairs don't escape."
"Yes, sir," said Humpy.
When Smith left, the coast was clear. There were none in the houseexcept Rufus and the boy who was expected to stand guard over him. Thegiant had gone to Philadelphia on some business, precisely what Humpydid not understand, and there was nothing to prevent his carrying outhis plans.
He had two or three old keys in his pocket, and with these he eagerlytried the lock of the drawer. But none exactly fitted. One was toolarge, the other two were too small.
Humpy decided what to do. He left the house, and went to a neighboringlocksmith.
"I want to get a key," he said.
"What size?"
"A little smaller than this."
"I must know the exact size, or I can't suit you. What is it the keyof?"
"A drawer."
"I can go with you to the house."
"That won't do," said Humpy. "I've lost the key, and I don't want theboss to know it. He'd find out if you went to the house."
"Then I'll tell you what you can do. Take an impression of the lock inwax. I'll give you some wax, and show you how. Then I'll make a key foryou."
"Can you do it right off? I'm in a great hurry."
"Yes, my son, I'll attend to it right away."
He brought a piece of wax, and showed Humpy how to take an impression ofa lock.
"There," said he, laughing, "that's the first lesson in burglary."
Humpy lost no time in hurrying back and following the locksmith'sinstructions. He then returned to the shop.
"How soon can I have the key?"
"In an hour. I'm pretty sure I've got a key that will fit thisimpression with a little filing down. Come back in an hour, and youshall have it."
Humpy went back, and seeing that there were some traces of wax on thelock, he carefully washed them off with soap. A little before the hourwas up, he reported himself at the locksmith's.
"Your key is all ready for you," said the smith. "I guess it willanswer."
"How much is it?"
"Twenty-five cents."
Humpy paid the money, and hurried to the house, anxious to make hisexperiment.
The locksmith's assurance was verified. The key did answer. The draweropened, and the errand-boy's eyes sparkled with pleasure as they restedon the box. He snatched it, hastily relocked the drawer, and went up thestairs two at a time. He had the key of his attic room in h
is pocket.With this he opened the door of the chamber, and, entering triumphantly,displayed to Rufus the tin box.
"I've got it!" he ejaculated.
Rufus sprang to his feet, and hurried up to him.
"You're a trump!" he said. "How did you get hold of it?"
"I haven't time to tell you now. We must be goin', or Mr. Smith may comeback and stop us."
"All right!" said Rufus; "I'm ready."
The two boys ran downstairs, and, opening the front door, made theiregress into the street, Rufus with the tin box under his arm.
"Where will we go?" asked Humpy.
"Are you going with me?"
"Yes, I want that money."
"You shall have it. You have fairly earned it, and I'll see that you getit, if I have to pay it out of my own pocket."
"I shan't go back," said Humpy.
"Why not?"
"He'll know I let you out. He'll murder me if I go back."
"I'll be your friend. I'll get you something to do," said Rufus.
"Will you?" said the hunchback, brightening up.
"Yes. I won't forget the service you have done me."
Rufus had hardly got out these words when Humpy clutched him violentlyby the arm, and pulled him into a passageway, the door of which was opento the street.
"What's that for?" demanded Rufus, inclined to be angry.
Humpy put his finger to his lip, and pointed to the street. On theopposite sidewalk Rufus saw Smith sauntering easily along with a cigarin his mouth.