CHAPTER XVI.
THE EVENTS OF A MORNING.
Graham and Vincent had kept quiet during the latter part of the voyage.They had a wholesome fear of Mr. Waterbury, and kept aloof from him andTom. They even exchanged their stateroom for one at a different part ofthe boat. All was satisfactory to Tom and his companion.
When the worthy pair reached Cincinnati they were hard up. Their unitedfunds amounted to but seven dollars, and it seemed quite necessary thatthey should find the means of replenishing their purses somewhere. Theymanaged to ascertain that Tom and his friend were going to separate, andthis afforded them satisfaction, since it made their designs upon ourhero more feasible. At a distance they followed Tom to the AlleghanyHouse, and themselves took lodgings at a small, cheap tavern near-by.Like Tom, they set out soon after their arrival in quest of adventure.
"We must strike a vein soon, Graham," said Vincent, "or we shall be in atight place."
"That's so," answered Graham.
"Thus far our trip hasn't paid very well. It's been all outgo and noincome."
"You're right, partner; but don't give up the ship," responded Graham,whose spirits returned, now that he was on dry land. "I've been in thesame straits about once a month for the last five years."
"I've known you for three years, Graham, and, so far as my knowledgeextends, I can attest the truth of what you say. By the way, you neversay anything of your life before that date."
A shadow passed over Graham's face.
"Because I don't care to think of it; I never talk of it," he said.
"Pshaw, man, we all of us have some ugly secrets. Suppose we confide ineach other. Tell me your story, and I will tell you mine. It won'tchange my opinion of you."
"Probably not," said Graham. "Well, there is no use in holding back. Forthis once I will go back to the past. Five years ago I was a favorite insociety. One day an acquaintance introduced me into a gambling house,and I tried my hand successfully. I went out with fifty dollars morethan I brought in. It was an unlucky success, for it made me a frequentvisitor. All my surplus cash found a market there, and when that wasexhausted I borrowed from my employer."
"Without his knowledge?"
"Of course. For six months I evaded discovery. Then I was detected. Myfriends interceded, and saved me from the penitentiary, but I lost mysituation, and was required to leave the city. I went to New York, triedto obtain a situation there, failed, and then adopted my presentprofession. I need not tell you the rest."
"My dear friend, I think I know the rest pretty well. But don't looksober. A fig for the past. What's the odds, as long as you're happy?"
"Are you happy?" inquired Graham.
"As long as I'm flush," answered Vincent, shrugging his shoulders. "I'mnearly dead-broke now, and of course I am miserable. However, my storycomes next in order. I was a bank teller, appropriated part of the fundsof the bank, fled with it, spent it, and then became an ornament to ourcommon profession."
"Where was the bank?"
"In Canada. I haven't been there since. The climate don't suit me. It'sbleak, but I fear it might prove too hot for me. Now we know eachother."
"You don't allow it to worry you, Vincent," said Graham.
"No, I don't. Why should I? I let the dead past bury its dead, asLongfellow says, and act in the living present. That reminds me, weought to be at work. I have a proposal to make. We won't hunt incouples, but separate, and each will try to bring home something to helpthe common fund. Is it agreed?"
"Yes."
"_Au revoir_, then!"
"That fellow has no conscience," thought Graham. "Mine is callous, buthe goes beyond me. Perhaps he is the better off."
Graham shook off his transient dull spirits, and walked on, keeping asharp lookout for a chance to fleece somebody. In front of a railroadticket office he espied a stolid-looking German, who was trying to readthe placard in the window.
Graham approached him, and said politely, "My friend, perhaps I can helpyou. Are you thinking of buying a railroad ticket?"
The German turned, and his confidence was inspired by the friendlyinterest of Graham's manner.
"I go to Minnesota," he said, "where my brother live."
"Exactly, and you want a ticket to go there?"
"Yes, I want a ticket. Do they sell him here?"
"No," said Graham. "That is, they do sell tickets here; but they ask toomuch."
"I will not pay too much," said the German, shaking his headdecisively.
"Of course not; I will take you to a cheaper place."
"That is good," said the German, well pleased. "It is luck I meet mit afriend like you."
"Yes," said Graham, linking his arm in that of his new acquaintance. "Idon't like to see a worthy man cheated. Come with me. How much moneyhave you?"
This inquiry ought to have excited the suspicions of the German; but hewas trustful, and answered promptly, "Two hundred dollar."
Graham's eyes sparkled.
"If I could only get the whole of it," he thought. But that didn't seemeasy.
They walked through street after street till Graham stopped in front ofan office.
"Now," said he, "give me your money, and I will buy the ticket."
"How much money?" asked his new acquaintance.
"I don't know exactly," said Graham carelessly. "Just hand me yourpocketbook, and I will pay what is needed."
But here the German's characteristic caution came in.
"I will go with you," he said.
"If you do, I can't get the tickets so cheap. The agent is a friend ofmine, and if he thinks it is for me he will give it to me for less.Don't give me all your money. Fifty dollars will do. I will buy theticket, and bring you the rest of the money."
This seemed plausible enough, and Graham would have got what he askedfor, but for the interference of Tom, who had come up just in time tohear Graham's proposal. He had no difficulty in comprehending hispurpose.
"Don't give him the money," he said. "He will cheat you."
Both Graham and his intended victim wheeled round, and looked at ourhero.
"Clear out of here, you young vagabond!" said Graham angrily.
"This man wants to cheat you," persisted Tom. "Don't give him yourmoney."
The bewildered foreigner looked from one to the other.
"This is no ticket office," said Tom. "I will lead you to one, and youshall buy a ticket for yourself."
"He wants to swindle you," said Graham quickly.
"You shall keep your money in your own hands," said Tom. "I don't wantit."
"I go with you, my young friend," said the German, convinced by Tom'shonest face. "The other man may be all right, but I go with you."
Graham protested in vain. His victim went off with Tom, who saw that hewas provided with the ticket he wanted. His new friend tried to force adollar upon him; but this Tom steadily refused.
"I'll get even with you yet!" said Graham furiously; but our hero wasnot disturbed by this menace.
Vincent, meantime, was making a tour of observation, ready for anyadventure that might put an honest or dishonest penny into his pocket.About half an hour later he found himself on the leading retail streetin Cincinnati. In front of him walked a lady, fashionably attired,holding a mother-of-pearl portemonnaie carelessly in her hand. Hebrushed by her, and at the same moment the pocketbook was snatched fromher hand.
The lady screamed, and instinctively clutched Vincent by the arm.
"This man has robbed me, I think," she said. The crowd began to gatherabout Vincent, and he saw that he was cornered. Among the crowd,unluckily for himself, was Tom. By a skilful movement Vincent thrust theportemonnaie into our hero's pocket.
"You are mistaken, madam," he said coolly; "I saw that boy take yourmoney."
Instantly two men seized Tom.
"Search him," said Vincent, "and see it I am not right."
The portemonnaie was taken from Tom's pocket, amid the hootings of thecrowd.
"So young, and
yet so wicked!" said the lady regretfully.
"I didn't take the money, madam," protested Tom, his face scarlet withsurprise and mortification.
"Don't believe him, ma'am. I saw him take it," said Vincent virtuously.
Poor Tom looked from one to another; but all faces were unfriendly. Itwas a critical time for him.