CHAPTER XXV
CAUGHT IN A TRAP
Jack and his guide paused in front of a large three-story brickbuilding. The woman rang the bell. An untidy servant girl made herappearance.
Mrs. Hardwick spoke to the servant in so low a voice that Jack couldn'thear what she said.
"Certainly, mum," answered the servant, and led the way upstairs to aback room on the third floor.
"Go in and take a seat," she said to Jack. "I will send Ida to youimmediately."
"All right," said Jack, in a tone of satisfaction.
Peg went out, closing the door after her. She, at the same time, softlyslipped a bolt which had been placed upon the outside. Then hasteningdownstairs she found the proprietor of the house, a little old man witha shrewd, twinkling eye, and a long, aquiline nose.
"I have brought you a boarder," she said.
"Who is it?"
"A lad, who is likely to interfere in our plans. You may keep him inconfinement for the present."
"Very good. Is he likely to make a fuss?"
"I should think it very likely. He is high-spirited and impetuous, butyou know how to manage him."
"Oh, yes," nodded the old man.
"You can think of some pretext for keeping him."
"Suppose I tell him he's in a madhouse?" said the old man, laughing, andthereby showing some yellow fangs, which by no means improved hisappearance.
"Just the thing! It'll frighten him."
There was a little further conversation in a low tone, and then Peg wentaway.
"Fairly trapped, my young bird!" she thought to herself. "I think thatwill put a stop to your troublesome appearance for the present."
Meanwhile Jack, wholly unsuspicious that any trick had been played uponhim, seated himself in a rocking-chair and waited impatiently for thecoming of Ida, whom he was resolved to carry back to New York.
Impelled by a natural curiosity, he examined attentively the room inwhich he was seated. There was a plain carpet on the floor, and theother furniture was that of an ordinary bed chamber. The mostconspicuous ornament was a large full-length portrait against the sideof the wall. It represented an unknown man, not particularly striking inhis appearance. There was, besides, a small table with two or threebooks upon it.
Jack waited patiently for twenty minutes.
"Perhaps Ida may be out," he reflected. "Still, even if she is, Mrs.Hardwick ought to come and let me know. It's dull work staying herealone."
Another fifteen minutes passed, and still no Ida appeared.
"This is rather singular," thought Jack. "She can't have told Ida I amhere, or I am sure she would rush up at once to see her brother Jack."
At length, tired of waiting, Jack walked to the door and attempted toopen it.
There was a greater resistance than he anticipated.
"Good heavens!" thought Jack, in consternation, as the real state of thecase flashed upon him, "is it possible that I am locked in?"
He employed all his strength, but the door still resisted. He could nolonger doubt that it was locked.
He rushed to the windows. They were two in number, and looked out upon ayard in the rear of the house. There was no hope of drawing theattention of passersby to his situation.
Confounded by this discovery, Jack sank into his chair in no veryenviable state of mind.
"Well," thought he, "this is a pretty situation for me to be in. Iwonder what father would say if he knew that I had managed to get lockedup like this? I am ashamed to think I let that treacherous woman, Mrs.Hardwick, lead me so quietly into a snare. Aunt Rachel was about rightwhen she said I wasn't fit to come alone. I hope she'll never find outabout this adventure of mine. If she did, I should never hear the lastof it."