CHAPTER XIV
ROY'S TRICK
"What can I do for you, sir?" asked the real estate agent as Royentered. "Take a chair."
Caleb Annister had been a little curious to see the young man whom hisoffice boy described. He could not imagine what was wanted, but hescented a possible customer to engage some of the offices in thestructure, for which he collected the rents.
"I want to make some inquiries regarding an office in your Bleekerstreet building," said Roy, for such was the designation of theproperty in question.
"Ah, yes. You are going to open an office, perhaps?"
"I may." This was the truth as Roy's father had said, if the agent wasfound to be dishonest, a new one, with an office in the Bleecker streetbuilding might be engaged.
"Aren't you rather young to go in business?"
"Perhaps, but I am representing other persons. Have you any offices torent in that building?"
"A few."
"What do they rent for?"
It was Roy's idea to make inquiries in the guise of a possible tenant,and, see what prices Mr. Annister was charging. What his next move wasyou shall very soon see.
"Well, young man, rents are very high in that building. It is in agood neighborhood, where property is increasing in value all the while,and we have to charge high rents. Besides there is a good demand foroffices there."
This, Roy thought, was not the sort of information Mr. Annister hadsent to Mr. Bradner at the ranch.
"Do you own the building?" asked the western lad, wanting to see whatthe agent would say.
"No, but I am in full charge. It would be no use for you to see theowner, as he leaves everything to me. He would not give you any lowerrent rate than I would. Besides, he lives away out West, and nevercomes to New York."
"Can you give me an idea of what the rents are for such offices as arevacant?" asked Roy, trying not to let any Western expressions slip intohis talk, as he wanted to pose as a New Yorker.
"Is it for yourself?"
"No, for parties I represent."
"I can give you a list of such offices as are vacant, with the prices,and you can go and see them. The janitor will show them to you, if Isend him a note."
"That will do very well."
Caleb Annister went over some books, and soon handed Roy a list of roomnumbers, with the prices at which they rented by the month. It neededbut a glance at the list, and a rapid calculation on the part of Roy,who was quick at figures, to see that if the entire building rented inthe same proportion, the income from it was much larger than what hisfather was receiving. Clearly there was something wrong, and he mustfind out where it was.
"I shall look at these offices," he said, "and let you know whether ornot they will suit my friend."
"What is the name?" asked Mr. Annister, preparing to write a note tothe janitor.
Now Roy was "up against it" as he put it. He did not want to give hisname, or Mr. Annister would suspect something at once, and, possibly,put some obstacles in his way. Nor did he want to tell an untruth, andgive a false name. Finally he saw a way out of the difficulty.
He decided to give De Royster's name, as he had an idea that if Mr.Annister proved to be dishonest, as it seemed he was, the young jewelrysalesman could be induced to take the agency of the building, at leastuntil he had to begin his travels again. To do this De Royster wouldneed an office in the building, so it would be no untruth for Roy togive his name, and say he was looking for apartments for him. He knewhis friend would consent. So he said:
"You may make out the note in the name of Mortimer De Royster."
"De Royster? That is a good name. I know some of the family."
Mr. Annister wrote the note, and gave it to Roy, not asking his name.In fact, the real estate man took his caller to be an office boy forMr. De Royster, for business men in New York frequently send theiroffice helpers on errands of importance, and this was no more than theaverage office boy could do.
With the note Roy went to the Bleecker Building, as it was called. Hefound the janitor, who readily showed him the vacant offices.
"Aren't rents rather high here?" asked Roy.
"That's what they are. But this is a good location for business men,and they're willing to pay for it," answered the man.
"Have you no cheaper offices than these?"
"No. In fact all the others cost more. Some men have several rooms,and they pay a good price."
"How many offices, or sets of offices, have you in this building? Ishould think it would keep you busy looking after them."
"It does," replied the janitor, who, like others of his class, liked achance to complain of how hard they worked. "There are more than ahundred offices in this building."
"And are most of them rented?"
"All but the five I showed you. I tell you the man who owns thisbuilding has a fine thing out of it. He must make a lot over hisexpenses."
"Who owns it?" asked Roy, wanting to see how much the janitor knew.
"I couldn't tell you. Mr. Annister never told me. He hires me. Iguess he must have an interest in the property."
"Yes, entirely too much of an interest in it," thought Roy. "He hassome of my interest, and I'm going to get it back."
There was one thing more he wanted to know.
"Are the tenants good pay?" he asked.
"They have to be, young man. If they get behind a month Mr. Annisterputs them out. That's why those five offices are vacant. But they'llsoon be rented. You'd better hurry if you want one."
"My friend will think it over," answered the boy from the ranch.
He had found out what he wanted to know. The property, instead ofdecreasing in value as Mr. Annister had said, was increasing. Nearlyevery office was rented at a good price, and the tenants were promptpay, save in a few instances. It did not require much calculation tosee that the income from the property was nearly double what Mr.Annister reported it to be to Mr. Bradner. That meant but one thing.The dishonest agent was keeping part of the rent for himself, andsending false reports to Roy's father.
But it was one thing to know this, and another to prove it. Roy leftthe building, thanking the janitor for his trouble, and started backtoward Mr. Annister's office.
"I wonder what I had better do?" he thought.