"And then you will proceed to carry out your own plans?"
"Yes, sir. After supper, if you can spare the time, I will tell you mysituation, and the circumstances that led me here, and ask for advice."
"Very well. I will gladly give you the best counsel I can."
After supper Jasper told his story briefly, and confirmed the favorableimpression he had already begun to make. Mr. Fitch cast aside hislingering remnant of suspicion, and promised his good offices inprocuring him employment.
"After you have seen this man and paid him the money," he said, "come tomy counting-room, and we will talk over your affairs."
The evening was spent socially, little Harry, of course, being thecentral object of interest. The little fellow appeared to have taken agreat fancy to Jasper, and was unwilling to have him go the next day. Hewas not reconciled till Jasper promised to come back.
CHAPTER XXIII.
WHERE JASPER FOUND DICK.
To find the address given by the kidnapper was not difficult. It wasonly necessary to look over a plan of the city, which Jasper did in Mr.Fitch's counting-room.
"Come back when your business is over," said the merchant.
"I will," said Jasper.
He set out with one hundred and fifty dollars in his pocket for 132S---- Street.
We will precede him.
It was a shabby house of two stories, with a wide front. It lookeddilapidated and neglected, but except that it was in an unsavoryneighborhood there was nothing to draw attention to it, or lead to theimpression that it was the haunt of lawbreakers and desperatecharacters.
In a back room sat three men, one of whom we recognize as the kidnapper,Dick, alias Mark Mortimer. Of the other two, one was under twenty-five,with a reckless, dare-devil look, as of one who would stop at little inhis criminal schemes. He had more than once been engaged in burglary,but as yet had escaped detection.
The third was a stout, square-built man, of middle age, with a heavy,brutal face, such as might belong to a prize-fighter. He, too, was aburglar, an accomplished counterfeiter, a gambler, who supplemented luckby various swindling devices, in which he was an adept. This man wasknown as Slippery Bill, while his young companion was Jack, with achoice of last names.
The three men were playing a game of euchre, with a pack of greasycards. The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon.
"It's most time for the boy to come," said Dick, looking toward theclock.
"How do you know but he'll give you the slip?" suggested Jack.
"If he did I'd break his neck!" exclaimed Dick, hastily. "But he won't.Leastways he won't if he can help it."
"It strikes me, Dick," said Bill, "that you ought never to have askedhim to come here."
"Why not?"
"Who's to tell but he may bring company?" continued the stout man.
"What kind of company?"
"The police."
"He won't," said Dick.
"How do you know?"
"I'll trust him. He's a good 'un."
"How long have you known him, that you speak with so much confidence?"inquired the younger man.
"Since yesterday morning," answered Dick, cornered.
The two men burst into a boisterous laugh.
"Why, Dick, you're as innocent as a baby. You haven't knowed this chapmore'n twenty-four hours, and you'll stake your life on him."
"Laugh as much as you like," said Dick, stubbornly. "I ought to speak upfor my own nephew."
"Your nephew!" exclaimed his two companions, in surprise. "What do youmean?"
"What I say. He's my sister's son."
"A minute ago you said you never saw him till yesterday," said the stoutman, suspiciously.
"No more I did. My sister lives at the East."
"Has she sent him to you to be brought up in the way he should go?"asked Jack, with a sneer.
"No; the boy's run away. He came across me by chance."
"That's better," said Bill, partially reassured. "He won't be likely tobetray you--not now--but he may inform against this place."
"I'll answer for him."
"Are you going to let him go as soon as he brings the money, or will hestay with you?"
"Oh, he'll go. I can't take care of a lad like him. I've other fish tofry."
"Suppose we keep him and train him up to our business?"
"He ain't the right sort for that."
"Shows the white feather, eh?"
"No; he's as brave as any boy I ever saw."
"What's the matter, then?"
"He's too honest and virtuous."
"What! your nephew, Dick?" and the two men laughed loudly. "That's toothin. Don't ask us to swallow that."
"It's true."
"Why did he run away from home, then?"
"My sister's got a very rough temper--that's why."
"We can believe that," said Jack, "better than the other."
"Look here, Jack," said Dick, who was getting irritated, "you may findthat I've got the same kind of temper if you keep on badgering me aboutthe boy. I say he's to be trusted."
"He can be trusted under our eye. Have you any objection to ourdetaining him?"
"There's no need."
"I say there is. You've let him into the knowledge of this place. He'llblow on us some day."
"Do as you like," said Dick; "I don't care. I wash my hands of theresponsibility."
"That's all we want," said Bill. "We need a young one to help us in ourplans. If this nephew of yours is as brave as you say, he'll do. Whattime was he to come here?"
"Twelve."
"Then it's a minute past the time. I don't think he'll come."
"The clock may be wrong." said Dick, but he glanced uneasily at theclock, which now indicated a little past the hour.
His suspense was not a long one.
An old man, thin and shriveled, with a crafty eye, and a thin, squeakingvoice, here put his head in at the door.
"Is Mr. Mark Mortimer here?" he asked.
"That's me!" exclaimed Dick, jumping up eagerly.
"There's a boy wants to see you, Mr. Mark Mortimer," said the old man,repeating the name as if he enjoyed it.
"It's my nephew," said Dick.
"Is his name Mortimer, too?" asked the proprietor of the establishment,for such the old man was.
"Never mind," said Dick, impatiently. "Bring the boy in."
Almost directly Jasper was ushered into the room--fearlessly, butlooking about him with some curiosity.
The two men, who had not before seen him, surveyed him with equalcuriosity.
"He does you credit," said the stout man.
"He's what I was at his age," said Dick. "Now, boy, have you got themoney?"
"Yes," said Jasper.
"One hundred and fifty dollars?"
"Yes."
Dick's eyes glistened.
"Give it here. You're a trump. Did old Fitch make any difficulties?"
"No; he was glad to get the boy back."
"Did he ask you about me?"
"Yes."
"How much did you tell him?" demanded the kidnapper, hastily.
"Nothing. I told him that I had made a promise not to tell."
Dick looked triumphantly at his two companions.
"Didn't I tell you?" he said.
"You have the boy's word for it," said Jack, with a quiet sneer. "Howdid you find your way here, boy?"
"I looked at a map of the city," answered Jasper.
"Where?"
"In the office of Mr. Fitch."
"Where did you pass last night?"
"At the house of Mr. Fitch."
"Where are you going when you leave here?"
"I have promised to go to Mr. Fitch's counting-room."
"You seem to be very intimate with this gentleman," said Jack.
"There's nothing strange in that," said Jasper, quietly. "It was I whocarried his boy home."
"The boy is right," said Dick, who, having obtained his money, feltgraciously dispo
sed toward our hero, through whose agency he hadobtained it.
"What does he want of you?" asked Jack, continuing thecross-examination.
"I hope he is going to help me to a place," answered Jasper.
"No need of going to him," said the stout man. "We'll give youemployment."
"You!" repeated Jasper, with an attentive glance, which took in theman's disreputable appearance.
"Yes, if you deserve it. What do you say?"
"I feel obliged for your offer," said Jasper, "but having promised Mr.Fitch to return, I would prefer to do so."
"Boys," interrupted Dick, at this point, "I'm sorry to leave thisfestive crowd, but I've got other business to attend to, and must begoing."
"I'll go with you," said Jasper, who was anxious to leave the place.
"No, you don't, just yet," said Jack, rising, and striding betweenJasper and the door. "We'll have a drink all around first."
"Thank you," said Jasper, "I don't drink."
"You must drink now. It's the law of this establishment."
"All right, Jasper," said Dick. "I'll treat. You can drink what youlike, though."
Jasper felt that it would be politic to comply, and chose lemonade.
"I'll order the drinks," said Jack, and he left the room for thatpurpose.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SLEEPING POTION.
Presently the old man already referred to appeared with the drinks. ItIs hardly necessary to say that Jasper was alone in his choice oflemonade. The rest selected stronger liquors.
"Here's to you, Dick," said Jack, tossing off the contents of his glass,"and may you live to treat us many times more!"
"Amen to that!" said Bill.
"Haven't you got anything to say, youngster?" asked Dick, turning toJasper.
"I wish you a pleasant journey," said Jasper, politely.
"As to that, it depends on my success with my sister."
"When do you leave?"
"To-night, if I can."
"What's all that about, Dick? Are you going to leave us?" asked Bill.
"I'm goin' East for the benefit of my health and my purse," said Dick,with a grin. "Do you wish me success, mates?"
"To be sure. Is it anything we can help you in?"
"No, no. It's my private venture."
"Anything in my line?"
"No; it's a strictly virtuous and honest undertaking. I don't mindgiving you a hint of it. I've got a near relative that's come into afortune. Now I think I ought to come in for a share."
"To be sure!"
"Have another game of euchre, Dick?"
"I don't know--I ought to be going," said the kidnapper, hesitating."We'll make it poker, and the boy may take a hand."
"No," said Jasper, languidly. "I don't know how to play."
"We'll teach you."
"I don't care about it."
"You look sleepy, lad," said Dick.
"Yes, I feel so. It's strange. I didn't feel so when I came in."
"Oh, don't mind the boy's looks," said Jack. "Lay down on that settee,if you want to, boy."
Jasper felt so heavy and drowsy that he accepted the permission andstretched himself out, closing his eyes.
"Why am I so sleepy?" he thought, languidly. "I never was before, in themiddle of the day, except when I was sick."
He listened at first to the conversation between the players, butgradually it sounded only like a confused hum, and at length he couldnot hear it at all.
He was fast asleep.
When this became clear through his heavy breathing, Dick turned to theyounger man, and pointing to Jasper, asked:
"What have you been doing to him?"
"I put a sleeping potion into his drink," answered Jack.
"What for?"
"I mean to keep him for a while, and that saves a fuss."
"What do you want to do with him?"
"Prevent him from doing mischief."
"There's no need. He can be trusted."
"You can trust him, for you'll be a long way off. He might blow on usany time."
Dick shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh, well, do as you please, but you're over careful. Don't hurt him."
"He'll be all right as long as he behaves himself. It's your deal."
The game was over at last, and Dick arose to go. Jasper was sleepingsoundly, and was wholly unconscious of his departure.
"Give me a hand, Bill, and we'll take the boy up stairs," said theyounger man.
"What's your plan, Jack?"
"To make him one of us. He'll come to it in time."
There was a windowless room on the second floor, in the centre of thehouse, wholly dark, except when lighted by gas. It was to this room thatour hero was conveyed, and laid upon some bedding in the corner of theroom. There was a slide in the partition to admit air, and with it a fewfaint rays of light. Jasper stirred a little while he was being moved,but the sleeping potion had too much potency to allow him to wake.
"There," said Jack, in a tone of satisfaction, "he's safe now."
"He'll make a fuss when he gets up."
"Let him. He can't get out."
As they went down stairs, Jack called aside Nathan Gibson, the old manwho had charge of the house.
"Nathan," said he, "did you see the boy that was with us just now?"
"Yes."
"We've put him in the prison" (for this was the name by which the smalldark room was known). "He's not to be let out."
"Good! I understand."
"You may take him some supper at five or six o'clock. Look in beforethat time to see if he's awake."
"All right!" said the old man, grinning. "What's your game?"
"It's your game as well as mine. The boy ought never to have come here.He may blow on us."
The mean-faced little man looked by turns frightened and fierce.
"I'd slit his throat if he did!" he said.
"No need of that. We'll make him join us."
"That would be the best way; but can you?"
"We can try. Don't forget what I told you."
Nathan nodded.
Still Jasper slept, little suspecting into what a trap he had walked.
CHAPTER XXV.
JASPER FINDS HIMSELF A PRISONER.
It was after five o'clock when Jasper opened his eyes. As soon asconsciousness returned he looked around him with astonishment andwonder.
"Where am I?"
A few rays of light entered at the sliding-door above, and to this hiseyes were naturally drawn.
Here was another puzzle. He explored his memory, and could recall nosuch place as this. He had never before been in such a room.
At last he recalled the circumstances under which he fell asleep, and hejumped to the conclusion that he was in the same house still.
"They must have put me to bed," he said to himself. "They were verykind; but this is a queer room."
Thus far no thought that he was a prisoner had entered his mind.
He arose and began to feel his way around by the walls. He judged thathe was in a room not more than ten feet square. He could form no ideawhat was the time. It might be the middle of the night, so far as heknew.
"This is awkward," he thought. "I don't fancy being shut up like this.Where's the door? There must be one somewhere."
He found it at last, and tried the lock, but it did not yield to hisefforts.
Then came the startling thought:
"Am I a prisoner?"
He stopped short and thought over the situation. He recalled all hecould of the men in whose company he had been at the time he went tosleep. The longer he thought the more it seemed probable that it was ashe suspected.
Though a little startled at this view of the situation, Jasper was by nomeans disposed to be despondent. His courage arose with the difficultiesof his position.
"I'll find out how matters stand," he said to himself. "I'll pound tillsomebody comes."
He began to pound on the walls of the room with such
effect that the oldman below heard him.
"The bird is beating against the walls of his cage," he thought. "I'llgo up and see him."
Presently Jasper heard steps ascending the stairs. Almost immediatelyanother sliding-door about four feet from the floor was drawn open, andthe old man's face was poked in.
"Did you knock?" he asked, grinning.
"Yes," said Jasper. "Open the door, and let me out."
"Won't you have some supper first?" asked Nathan, with a leer.
"No; I'd rather go out," said Jasper, in a tone of suspicion.
"I couldn't allow that. Oh, no!" said Nathan.
"What right have you to keep me here against my will?" exclaimed Jasper,furiously.
"We like your company so much, my dear young man," said Nathan, noddinghis head waggishly.
"Who's 'we'?" demanded Jasper.
"Jack, and Bill, and me."
"Let me out, I say."
"Don't be agitated, my dear boy. You'll be taken good care of."
"I'd rather take care of myself. Will you open the door?"
"I couldn't, but I'll bring you up some supper directly."
The sliding-door was closed suddenly, and again Jasper found himself inthe dark, fully understanding now that he was a prisoner, but why, hecould not form a conjecture.