CHAPTER X
ROY GAINS A FRIEND
"Come neah gettin' left, sah!" exclaimed the colored porter of Roy'scar, as our hero, followed by Mortimer De Royster, entered the coach."Dat were a close call, sah."
"Yes, but I wish I had had a chance to round-up those swindlers. I'dshown them how we handle such chaps out on the ranch!" exclaimed Roy.
"Swindlers? Was dem nicely dressed gen'men swindlers?" inquired theporter.
"Swindlers, upon my word, they are the very worst kind," put in DeRoyster. "The idea of tricking me into letting them see my watch, andthen keeping it, don't you know! I shall report them to theauthorities."
"I'm afraid it will not do much good," remarked Roy. "They are farenough away by now, and we're getting farther off from them everyminute."
"That's so. Well, then, my watch and diamond pin are gone," and thedude seemed to accept the loss quite calmly.
"Excuse me, sah," broke in the colored man, addressing De Royster, "buthas youh a ticket for dis parlor car?"
"Not yet. I could not buy one at the little station back there, butyou may get me one, from the conductor, don't you know," spoke thewell-dressed youth, taking a roll of bills from his pocket. At thesight of the money the eyes of the colored man shone in anticipation ofa tip he might receive. His opinion of the stranger went up severalpoints. Such is the effect of money, and it is not always the rightone.
"Are you going to travel in this car?" asked Roy.
"Yes, it looks like a fairly decent coach. I am really quiteparticular how I ride."
Roy was rather amused at the airs Mortimer De Royster assumed, and hedid not quite know whether to like him or not. The youth had anaffected manner of speaking, and some oddities, but, in spite of theseRoy thought he might be all right at heart.
The boy from the ranch had learned, from his life in the west, not tojudge persons by outward appearances, though they often give anindication of character.
"I don't believe I thanked you for what you did for me," went on DeRoyster to Roy, when the porter returned with his ticket and thechange. The colored man's heart was made happy by a generous tip.
"I don't know that I did anything in particular. I didn't think theywere going to take your hide off, or I would have warned you sooner."
"My hide off? I don't quite catch your meaning, my dear chap--Oh, yes,I see. You mean they were going to skin me. Oh, yes. That's a goodjoke. Ha! Ha! Well, thanks to you, they didn't."
"Still they got something."
"Yes, that watch was a valuable one, and one my father gave me as apresent. The diamond was worth considerable, too. But I am glad theydid not get my money. Only for your timely warning they might have.Some of it is mine, but the most of it belongs to the firm I work for."
"They tried to get me into some swindling games, but I refused to haveanything to do with them," and Roy told of the efforts of Baker and hiscronies.
"I was easily taken in," admitted Mortimer De Royster. "I am ashamedof myself."
"Do you carry a valuable stock?" asked Roy, wondering if it were notdangerous to have so much jewelry about one.
"Quite valuable, yes, but all traveling jewelry salesmen belong to aleague, and if thieves get away with anything belonging to any member,we have the services of a good detective agency to run the criminalsdown. The professional thieves know this, and, as capture is almostcertain in the end, we have little fear of being robbed. Theseswindlers took my personal property, and nothing belonging to the firm,I'm glad to say."
"Perhaps you will get it back," suggested Roy.
"No, I'm afraid not. But I say, my dear chap, where are you going?You don't look as if you had traveled much."
"I haven't. I am going to New York on business for my father."
"To New York? Good! Then I shall have company on the way. That isunless you don't like to be seen with one who lets himself be robbed soeasily."
"That would not make any difference to me."
"Thank you. Perhaps I may be able to be of some service to you in NewYork. I know the town fairly well."
"That will be very kind of you. I know nothing about it, and I'mafraid I'll be rather green when I get there. I have lived on a ranchall my life."
"On a ranch? Fancy now! Really, don't you know, I often used to thinkI would like to be a cowboy," drawled the dude.
Roy looked at the slim figure, and delicate features of Mr. De Royster,and thought that he would hardly be strong enough for the rough life onthe plains. But he was too polite to mention this.
"Yes," went on the well-dressed youth, "if I had not gone into thejewelry business I might now be a 'cow-puncher,'--I believe that iswhat you call those gentlemen who take charge of wild steers?" and helooked at his companion inquiringly.
"Yes, some folks call 'em that."
"It must be a very nice sort of life. Now this sort of thing is rathertame, don't you know."
"Well, you had it exciting enough a while ago."
"So I did," admitted Mr. De Royster with a smile. "But that doesn'thappen every day. I wish I could do you some favor, in return for whatyou did for me."
"I didn't do much. I wish I could have gotten them in time to havesaved your watch and chain. But they stampeded before I could ropethem."
"Stampeded?"
"Yes, I mean they started to run."
"Oh, yes. And--er--rope--"
"Oh, I forgot you didn't understand my lingo. I meant catch them.Whenever we want to catch anything on the ranch, we rope it. Throw alariat over it, you know."
"Oh, yes, a lasso. I should like to have seen you lasso those chaps.Have you a lasso with you?"
"I have one in my large valise."
"Where are you going to stop in New York?"
"I don't know yet. I'm going to look around for a good place to get mygrub, and a bunk after I get there."
"Your grub and bunk?" Mr. De Royster seemed puzzled.
"Well, I mean my meals and a place to sleep."
"Ah, then perhaps I can be of service to you. I know most of the besthotels, and I can introduce you to the managers of some of them. Doyou intend to remain in the city long?"
"I can't tell. I don't just know how long my father's business willkeep me. Probably I shall be there several weeks."
"Then I'll tell you what I'll do," said De Royster, in a friendly tone."I'll get you fixed up at a good hotel, and then I'll show you thesights."
"But how can you spare the time from your business?" asked Roy, who wasbeginning to think he had found a real friend in the rather eccentricperson of Mortimer De Royster.
"Oh, my work is nearly done now for the season. I shall not start outon the road again until fall, when I shall take goods for the springtrade. I was selling Christmas stock this trip."
"Christmas stock, and it is only June," exclaimed Roy. "My, but theyhustle things in the East!"
"They have to. That's why I'll have some spare time now. I can showyou various sights of interest, and, in turn, you must promise toprotect me from robbers. I think I'll have to get a guardian if thiskeeps on," and the dude laughed at his joke.
"I'll do my best," replied Roy. "If I see those fellows again, they'llnot get off so easily."
"Then we'll consider ourselves friends!" exclaimed De Royster,extending his hand, which Roy shook warmly.
The boy was quite attracted to the young man, whom he began to likemore and more, as he saw that, under his queer ways, he hid a heart ofreal worth and kindness.