"Now, if the window should be fastened, what should I do?" he thought.
But it was not. He succeeded in raising it, and with a feeling ofintense relief made his way into the chamber.
Then for the first time there flashed upon him the thought that he hadplaced himself in a very suspicious predicament. He had entered a houseat midnight through the window. Why might he not be taken for a burglar?This was the way a burglar was likely to enter, and if he should becaught here his explanation would be considered very unsatisfactory.
Jasper, brave as he was, was startled by this thought, whilesimultaneously the difficulty of escape was forced upon him. He lookedabout him in mental disturbance.
It was a small attic chamber. There was a bed in the room, a wash-stand,a couple of chairs, and a clothes-press. This, being open, revealed afew clothes belonging, apparently, to a man.
"Why isn't he here?" thought Jasper, "and what shall I do if he comes?"
Though his story was true, he nevertheless felt that it was improbable,and before he could tell it he thought it likely that an alarm would begiven, resulting in his being consigned to the care of the police.
An idea came to him.
He opened the bed, drew out one of the sheets and arrayed himself in it,after carefully folding back the quilt.
"Now," he said to himself, "if it is necessary, I will see what sort ofa ghost I can make."
Hardly had he done this than he heard steps ascending the stairs. Jasperhad little doubt that it was the occupant of the chamber which he had sounceremoniously entered.
"I'll get into the wardrobe if I can," he thought.
He managed to squeeze himself into the wardrobe, and waited with anxietyfor the arrival of the new-comer.
Through a crevice he saw the entrance of a stout, good-natured-lookingyoung man, whistling a popular song. He was probably a clerk or youngmechanic, who, after a hard day's work, had been to some cheap place ofamusement. Wholly unconscious of Jasper's presence, the young manundressed himself, still continuing to whistle, and got into bed. It wasso light outside that he had not lighted the gas.
"I wonder how long it'll take for him to get to sleep?" thought Jasper."I'm getting tired of being cooped up here."
Unfortunately for him the young man seemed to be in no hurry. Hewhistled to himself, and occasionally sung in a low tone. At lengthJasper decided to make a desperate move. Observing that the young manwas lying with his face turned from the wardrobe, he seized hisopportunity, stepped softly out, and gained the middle of the floorbefore he was seen.
The effect upon the young man was startling. The whistle died away, andwith blanched cheeks and staring eyes he sat bolt upright in bed.
"Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed, tremulously. "What are you?"
Not a word escaped from the white figure, but it solemnly waved itshand.
"Are you a ghost?" asked the young man.
Jasper made a guttural noise and waved his arm again.
"Oh, Lord preserve me!" ejaculated the young man, shaking with terror."Go away, do, good ghost! I haven't done anything!"
As he spoke he covered up his head with the bedclothes, and Jasper couldsee by the convulsive movements that he was in a state of the greatestagitation. Our hero felt inclined to laugh, but forebore. He consideredwhether it would be safe, disguised as he was, to make his way downstairs and out at the front door. But another course suddenly suggesteditself. The young man looked good-natured. Why shouldn't he revealhimself to him, and throw himself upon him for protection? Besides, hewas sorry to frighten him so much.
Acting upon his new resolution, he threw off the sheet and said in hisnatural voice:
"Don't be frightened. I am not a ghost."
The young man in bed took courage to uncover his head.
"Ain't you a spirit?" he said, doubtfully.
"No more than you," said Jasper, laughing.
"What made you frighten me so? Who are you?"
"I am a friend of yours."
"I don't think I ever saw you before. How did you get in?"
"Through the window."
"You ain't a burglar, are you?" asked the young man, with freshapprehension.
"Of course not," said Jasper, laughing. "Do I look like a burglar?"
"No; but I don't see what made you come in."
"The fact is, I want you to help me," said Jasper. "Just light the gas,and I'll tell you all about it."
He spoke so frankly and straightforwardly that the young man wasreassured. He got out of bed and lighted the gas.
"There! do I look like a burglar?" asked Jasper.
"No, you don't; but I don't see how you got in."
"Then I'll tell you. I've just escaped from the next house."
"Escaped?"
"Yes. I was locked up in a dark room for four days, and the only way Icould get out was through the roof. Of course I couldn't slide off intothe street and break my neck, so I got in here through the window."
"You don't say!" ejaculated the young man. "What did they shut you upfor? Was it your father?"
"No. It's a long story. I knew something they were afraid I would tell."
"What are you going to do?"
"I am going to ask you to let me out into the street."
"What! so late as this? You would have to stay out all night."
"That would be better than to be locked up as I have been for the lastfour days."
"Suppose you wait till morning. This bed is big enough for both of us."
"Thank you. I should like that, and shall be much obliged to you."
"You are sure you are not a burglar?" said the young man, with a briefreturn of his former suspicion.
"Neither burglar nor ghost," said Jasper.
"What made you put on the sheet?"
"I was afraid you would take me for a burglar, so I meant to frightenyou and escape, concluding that you would be afraid to pursue me."
"That's so. I really thought you were a spirit."
"If you think so now, just feel my muscle," said Jasper, smiling.
"I don't think so now."
"If I am to sleep with you, here is your sheet. We can make better useof it than in masquerading as ghosts."
Jasper undressed himself and got into bed. He learned that hiscompanion's name was Adam Diedrich, and that he kept a small cigar storenear-by.
CHAPTER XXX.
JASPER GETS A PLACE.
Jasper took breakfast the next morning with the friendly young German,whose acquaintance he had so singularly made. Not a word was said as tothe manner in which he had entered the house. He was introduced by Adamas "my friend, Mr. Kent."
After breakfast Jasper went around with his new friend to the place ofbusiness of the latter. He decided not to call upon Mr. Fitch till aboutten o'clock.
While on his way to the merchant's counting-room he met the girl, Nancy,with a tin pail in her hand. The girl's face lighted up when she sawhim.
"So you got off the roof," she said. "I was so afraid you would fall."
"Thank you, Nancy," said Jasper. "Thanks to you I am out of prison."
"But how did you get off the roof?"
Jasper gave her an account of his midnight adventures.
"And now tell me," he said, "how does your uncle take my flight?"
"He's awful mad about it," said the girl, shaking her head.
"What does he think? Does he suspect you?" asked Jasper, eagerly.
"He did at first, but he doesn't now. He's puzzled to know how you gotaway. And Jack, he's mad, too."
"Jack, does he know it?"
"Yes; he came around to the house about eight o'clock. He was lookingseedy, as if he'd been up all night. As near as I can find out, hefailed in some job last night, and that made him cross."
"Very likely."
"'Have you carried up that boy's breakfast?' I heard him say.
"'No,' said my uncle.
"'Then give it to me, and I'll take it up; I want to talk to him.'
&
nbsp; "So Uncle Nathan made me get the breakfast ready. I gave it to him, andhe went up. A minute after he roared down stairs:
"'Where's the boy? What have you done with him?'
"Uncle Nathan stared, and called out:
"'Where's your eyes, Jack? Can't you see straight this morning?'
"Jack answered, as mad as could be:
"'Come up here, you old fool, and see if your eyes are any better thanmine!'
"Uncle went up the stairs, two at a time, and looked in the chamber,too.
"'There, what do you say to that?' I heard Jack say.
"'I'm dumfounded!' said Uncle Nathan; and then he called me."
"Were you frightened?" asked Jasper.
"A little," said the girl. "I was afraid I'd look guilty.
"'Do you know anything about this?' asked my uncle, sternly.
"'Good gracious! You don't mean to say he's gone?' I said, looking asmuch surprised as possible. 'How did he get out?'
"'That's what I want to know,' said Jack, and he looked suspiciously atUncle Nathan and me.
"'I'm as innocent as a new-born babe,' said Uncle Nathan.
"'Somebody must have let him out,' said Jack.
"'I guess he squeezed through the opening,' said I.
"'Maybe he did,' said Uncle Nathan.
"'Suppose he did, you'd see him or hear him. He couldn't get out.'
"'He might have got out through the door in the night,' said UncleNathan.
"'Did you find the door unlocked?' asked Jack.
"'Nancy was up first. How was it, Nancy?' asked my uncle.
"'No; it was all right,' said I.
"That puzzled them both. Then they thought of the roof, and went up. Iwas afraid they would find you there, but they didn't. They seemed tothink you couldn't get away so, and they're dreadfully puzzled to knowhow you did escape. I was afraid you'd fallen off, so I went outside tosee if I could find any blood on the sidewalk, but I couldn't, and Ihoped you'd got into the next house."
"Your uncle didn't think of that, did he?"
"No, nor Jack, either."
"Well, I've been lucky. I only hope they won't suspect you."
"They will if they should see me talking to you in the street."
"Then we'd better separate. Good-morning, Nancy. I won't forget theservice you've done me."
"Good-morning, Jasper. I'm so glad you got away."
"I wish you were away, too, Nancy. It's not a good place for you."
"I don't think I shall stay long," said the girl. "I didn't know unclekept such company or I wouldn't have come to his house. Some day I shallleave him, and then I shall go out to service."
"That would be better for you. I advise you to do it soon."
The two parted company, and Jasper proceeded at once to Mr. Fitch'soffice.
"I wonder what he'll think of me?" Jasper said to himself. "I promisedto come back after carrying the money, and now it is four days late."
"Is Mr. Fitch in the counting-room?" asked our hero of the clerk.
"Yes, but he's busy."
"I will wait, then."
"Can't I attend to your business?"
"I think not."
"Your business must be very important," said the clerk, with a sneer.
"I don't know about that," said Jasper, composedly, "but I think if youwill tell Mr. Fitch that Jasper Kent is here he will receive me."
"Is your name of such weight?" asked the clerk, with another sneer.
"Suppose you put it to the test," said Jasper, smiling.
The clerk had not seen Jasper when he called before and didn't recognizehim as the restorer of little Harry; otherwise, he would have treatedour hero with more attention.
Influenced by curiosity he went into the counting-room and announcedJasper's name.
"Bring him in," said the merchant.
Jasper entered, but the manner of Mr. Fitch differed greatly from whatit had been when they parted four days before. Then it was cordial andfriendly, now it was cold and suspicious.
"Good-morning, Mr. Fitch," said Jasper.
"Good-morning," responded the merchant, coldly. "You have been a longtime returning from your errand!"
"That's true, sir; but I would have come sooner if I could."
Mr. Fitch looked up in surprise.
"Do you mean to say that you couldn't come?" demanded he.
"Yes, sir."
"What prevented you?"
"I was in close confinement."
"What! were you arrested?" and again the merchant's face was overspreadby doubt and suspicion.
"No, sir; I hope I shall never fall into the hands of the police."
"How then could you be in confinement? This is a riddle."
"The house to which I was requested to bring the money was a haunt ofdesperate men--burglars, I found out--and they were afraid I wouldbetray their rendezvous. They mixed me some lemonade, which I now thinkmust have been drugged, for I went to sleep in the middle of the day,soon after drinking it. When I awoke up I found myself in a dark room,in the centre of the house."
"Is this true?" asked the merchant, amazed. "Can such things take placewithin earshot of the police?"
"Yes, sir; there was no chance of my making myself heard; if there hadbeen I would have called for help."
"How did you get out, and when?"
"Last night, at midnight."
"How?"
"I will tell you, sir. That, I think, is the most interesting part ofit."
"Proceed."
When Mr. Fitch had heard Jasper's explanation he no longer doubted him.His friendly, cordial manner returned, and he congratulated our hero onhis prompt rejection of Jack's offers, though that rejection exposed himto continued imprisonment.
"Now," he asked, "what are your plans?"
"To get something to do," said Jasper.
"Of what kind?"
"Any kind."
"I will engage you, for the present, at ten dollars a week. Will thatsuit you?"
"Yes, sir. Nothing could suit me better."
"Do you think you can live on that?"
"Easily."
"Then that is settled. To-night you will go home with me. To-morrow willbe soon enough to look for a boarding-place. Here are your first week'swages in advance."
"Thank you, sir. You are very kind."
"I have not forgotten that I am indebted to you for the recovery of mylittle Harry. Here, Leonard."
The clerk already mentioned entered the counting-room. He lookedinquiringly from Jasper to Mr. Fitch.
"Leonard," said the latter, "this young man is to be your fellow-clerk.He takes the place of Victor, who left last week. Instruct him in hisduties."
"Yes, sir," said the clerk, in no little surprise.
Jasper followed him out into the warehouse.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE UNWELCOME RELATIVE.
Now that Jasper has found a place we can venture to leave him for a timeand go back to the home which he had felt compelled to leave.
His step-mother felt relieved by his departure. It left her mistress ofthe situation, with no one to interfere with or question her authority.How Jasper fared she cared little, or not at all. How he was likely toget along without money she never inquired, nor did she feel a twinge ofremorse for her treatment of one who had been her late husband's solecare and hope. It was enough for her that she had Nicholas with her.Stern as she generally was toward him, she was weakly indulgent.Whatever he wanted she gave him, if it were not utterly unreasonable.She was afraid he would tire of the country and want to go away, andthis led her to gratify him in his wishes, in order that she mightretain him at her side.
Nicholas was not slow in finding out his power and in using it. He askedand obtained a horse for his own use, and later an elegant littlecarriage was ordered from the city, in which he used to drive around theneighborhood with the airs of a young prince. To others he might seemarrogant and conceited--to his mother he was only possessed of theproper spirit
of a gentleman. In her eyes he was handsome, though in theeyes of no one else.
But perfect happiness is short-lived. In her new prosperity Mrs. Kentforgot that she had a brother who was not likely to reflect credit uponthe family. She had not heard from him for years, and supposed he didnot know where she was. But in this, as we know, she was mistaken.
One day Nicholas was standing on the lawn in front of the house, waitingfor his carriage to be brought around from the stable, when hisattention was drawn to a common-looking man who was standing by thefence and looking at him in what he considered an impudently familiarway.
Since Nicholas had become a young aristocrat he was easily made angry bysuch familiarity on the part of anyone of the lower orders, and heresented it at once.
"Why are you standing there, fellow?" he demanded, frowning.
The man neither seemed overawed nor angry. He only looked amused.
"Because I am tired of walking," he said.
"Then go somewhere else."
"Thank you, this suits me very well," said the man, smiling provokingly.
"It doesn't suit me, though," said Nicholas, bristling up.
"Who are you?" inquired Dick, for it was he, with provoking nonchalance.
"Who am I? I'll let you know!" retorted Nicholas, now very angry.