Slow and Sure: The Story of Paul Hoffman the Young Street-Merchant

  CHAPTER XII.

  A GOOD ACTION MEETS ITS REWARD.

  Paul Hoffman was standing beside his stock in trade, when all at oncehe heard the question, so common in that neighborhood, "Shine yerboots?"

  "I guess not," said Paul, who felt that his income did not yet warranta daily outlay of ten cents for what he could easily do himself.

  "I'll shine 'em for nothin'," said the boy.

  Such a novel proposition induced Paul to notice more particularly theboy who made it.

  "Why for nothing?" he asked, in surprise, not recognizing Julius.

  "You gave me a dinner yesterday," said Julius.

  "Are you the boy?" asked Paul, with interest.

  "I'm the one," answered Julius. "Will you have a shine?"

  "I don't want any pay for the dinner," said Paul. "You're welcome toit."

  "I'd rather give you a shine," persisted Julius.

  "All right," said Paul, pleased by his grateful spirit, and he put outhis foot.

  "Won't you let me pay for it?" asked Paul, when the job was finishedand his boots were resplendent with a first-class polish.

  "No," said Julius, hastily drawing back.

  "Thank you, then. Have you had good luck this morning?"

  "I got four shines," said Julius.

  "I once blacked boots myself, for a little while," said Paul.

  "You're doin' better now."

  "Yes, I'm doing better now. So will you some day, I hope."

  "Do you live in a house on Madison avenue?" asked Julius, abruptly.

  "Yes," said Paul, surprised. "Who told you?"

  "You take care of the house for a gentleman as has gone to Europe,don't you?"

  "How do you know it?" demanded Paul.

  "I want to tell you something" said Julius, "only don't you never leton as I told you."

  "All right. Go ahead!" said Paul, more and more mystified.

  "Ain't there some gold and bonds kept in the house?"

  "Why do you ask?" demanded Paul, eying the boy with suspicion.

  "There's a couple of chaps that's plannin' to rob the house," saidJulius, sinking his voice almost to a whisper, and looking cautiouslyabout him to guard against being overheard.

  "Who are they? How do you know it?" asked Paul, startled.

  "One is Jack Morgan, the man I live with; the other is a friend ofhis, Tom Marlowe."

  "Did you hear them talking about it?"

  "Yes; last night."

  "Did they tell you about it?"

  "They wanted me to find out all about you--if you'd got any friends inBrooklyn, or anywheres round. They want to get you off the nightthey're goin' to break in."

  "When is that?"

  "Next Monday."

  "What made you tell me all this?"

  "'Cause you was good to me and give me a dinner when I was hungry."

  "Give me your hand," said Paul, his heart warming toward the boy whoexhibited so uncommon a feeling as gratitude.

  "It's dirty," said Julius, showing his hand stained with blacking.

  "Never mind," said Paul, grasping it warmly. "You're a good fellow,and I'd rather take your hand than a good many that's cleaner."

  Julius, rough Arab as he was, looked gratified, and his facebrightened. He felt that he was appreciated, and was glad he hadrevealed the plot.

  "Now," said Paul, "you have told me about this man's plans; are youwilling to help me further? Are you willing to let me know anythingmore that you find out about the robbery?"

  "Yes, I will," said Julius, unhesitatingly.

  "Then I'll depend upon you. What sort of a man is this that you livewith? What's his name?"

  "His name is Jack Morgan. He's a bad sort, he is. He's shut up most ofthe time."

  "What makes you stay with him?"

  "I'm used to him. There ain't nobody else I belong to."

  "Is he your father?"

  "No, he ain't."

  "Any relation?"

  "Sometimes he says he's my uncle, but maybe it ain't so--I dunno."

  "Is he a strong man?"

  "Yes; he's a hard customer in a fight."

  "How about the other man?"

  "That's Marlowe. He's the same sort. I like Jack best."

  "Do you think they will try to break in next Monday night?"

  "If they think you are away."

  "What will you tell them?"

  "What do you want me to tell them?" asked Julius, looking at himearnestly.

  "I don't know," said Paul, thoughtfully. "If you should say I wasgoing to be away, they'd want to know where, and how you found out.They might suspect something."

  "That's so," said Julius.

  "Suppose they heard that I would remain in the house, what would theydo to prevent it?"

  "They might get you took up on a false charge and put in thestation-house over night, or maybe they'd seize you if they got achance and lock you up somewhere."

  "How could they have heard that Mr. Talbot left any valuables in thehouse?"

  Julius shook his head. On that point he could give no information.

  "You may tell them," said Paul, after a moment's thought, "that Ihave an aunt, Mrs. Green, living in Brooklyn."

  "Whereabouts in Brooklyn?"

  "No. 116 Third avenue," said Paul, at a venture. "Can you remember?"

  "Yes."

  "They will probably send a message from her late Monday evening for meto go over there."

  "Will you go?"

  "I will leave the house, for they will probably be watching; but Ishall not go far, and I shall leave the house well guarded."

  Julius nodded.

  "I'll tell 'em," he said.

  He was about to go, when Paul called him back.

  "Won't you get yourself into trouble?" he said. "I should not want tohave any harm come to you."

  "They won't know I'm in the game," answered Julius.

  "Will you come to-morrow and let me know what they say?"

  "Yes."

  Julius crossed Broadway and turned into Fulton street, leaving Paulfull of thought. He felt what a great advantage it was to beforewarned of the impending danger, since being forewarned wasforearmed, as with the help of the police he could prepare for hisburglarious visitors. He saw that the money he had paid for a dinnerfor a hungry boy was likely to prove an excellent investment, and hedetermined that this should not be the last favor Julius received fromhim.

  Meanwhile Julius returned to business. With the help of his blackingmaterials he succeeded in earning a dollar before the close of theday. Unluckily, half of this was to be given to the young capitalistwho had supplied him with a box and brush; but still fifty cents wasmore than he would probably have earned if he had been compelled todepend upon chance jobs. At six o'clock he met his young employer andhanded over fifty cents, which the other pocketed with muchsatisfaction.

  "Do you want to take the box ag'in to-morrow?" he asked.

  "Yes," said Julius.

  "All right. You can keep it then. You can take it home with you andbring me the stamps to-morrow night at this same hour."

  So the contract was continued, and Julius, having treated himself tosome supper, went home.

  Jack Morgan was already there. He looked up as Julius entered.

  "Where'd you get that box?" he asked.

  "I borrored it."

  "Of a boy?"

  "Yes; I give him half I makes."

  "How much did you make to-day?"

  "Ten shines. That was a dollar."

  "And half of it went to you?"

  "Yes, Jack."

  "Where is it?"

  "I had to get my dinner and supper. There's all that's left."

  He handed Jack ten cents.

  "Why didn't you keep the whole of the money?" grumbled Jack. "Youneedn't have paid the boy."

  "He'd have licked me."

  "Then I'd lick him."

  Julius shook his head.

  "That would be cheatin'," he said. "I wouldn't want to cheat h
im whenhe give me the box."

  "Oh, you're gettin' mighty particular," sneered Jack, not very wellsatisfied at having so large a portion of the boy's earnings divertedfrom himself.

  "If I had a box and brush of my own I could keep all the stamps Imade," said Julius.

  "I'm dead broke. I can't give you no money to buy one. Did you go tosee that boy I told you of?"

  "Paul Hoffman?"

  "Yes, if that's his name."

  "Yes, I went to see him."

  "And did you find out anything?" asked Jack, with eagerness.

  "Yes."

  "Well, out with it, then. Don't let me do all the talking."

  "He's got an aunt as lives in Brooklyn."

  "Whereabouts?"

  "No. 116 Third avenue."

  "How did you find out?"

  "I got 'him to talkin'."

  "That's good. And did he suspect you?"

  "No," said Julius.

  "No. 116 Third avenue," repeated Jack. "I must put that down. Did hetell you the name?"

  "Mrs. Green."

  "That's good. We'll trump up a message from her late Monday evening. Iwish I knew how things was arranged in the house."

  "Maybe I could go there," said Julius.

  "What, to the house?"

  "Yes. I could go there in the evenin' and ask him if he'd let me havesome old clothes. Maybe he'd invite me upstairs, and--"

  "You could use your eyes. That's a good idea, but I don't believeyou'd get a chance to go up."

  "Shall I try?"

  "Yes; you may try to-morrow night. If we make a haul, you shall haveyour share. Halloo, Marlowe!"

  These last words were addressed to Marlowe, who enteredunceremoniously without knocking.

  "I'm in luck," said Marlowe. "Here's a fiver," and he displayed afive-dollar greenback. "Come out and we'll have a jolly supper."

  Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, communicating to hiscompanion as they walked along the information Julius had picked up.