CHAPTER XXIV
ANOTHER RASCALLY ATTEMPT
"What next?" asked Roy of Mortimer De Royster, as they emerged from thelawyer's office.
"Well, as it's getting near dinner time, suppose we go back to thehotel."
"That's a good idea. Will you stay and have grub with me--I meanlunch. I must get used to calling it that while I'm in New York."
"Yes, thank you. I've got a good appetite since that tussel withWakely."
"You had nerve to tackle him."
"I thought he was going to cut the rope and let you drop."
"If he had, that would have been the end of me. I'd have 'passed in mychips,' as the card players say."
"Those card players! I'd like to meet them. I'd get even with themfor stealing my watch and diamond!"
"Maybe you'll have a chance, when we round up Annister."
"If we ever do. But I imagine he's too slick a criminal to be caught."
"We'll see," said Roy.
"What would you like to do this afternoon?" asked De Royster, when themeal was finished. "I can show you some sights if you'd like to seethem."
"I sure would. I haven't had much time so far. There wasn't a greatdeal to see in that tenement."
"Then we'll go up to Bronx Park. We can make a quick trip in thesubway."
"That's the place I thought was a tunnel, and I was wondering when wewould come to the end," and Roy laughed at the memory of his naturalmistake.
The two friends had a good time in the Park, looking at the animals.The herd of buffalo interested Roy very much, as did the elephants,tigers, and other beasts from tropical countries, for he had never seenany before, since no circuses ever came to Painted Stone, nor anywherein that vicinity.
"You haven't got any of these out West; have you?" asked Mortimer DeRoyster, with a New Yorker's usual pride in the big Zoo.
"No, and we don't want 'em."
"Why not?"
"They'd stampede the cattle in seven counties. What would a drove ofsteers or a band of horses do if they saw one of them elephants comingat 'em, so's they couldn't tell which end was the tail? Or one of themlong-necked giraffes? Why, those giraffes would starve out our way.There's no trees tall enough for 'em to eat their breakfast from."
They went into the reptile house, and the snakes fascinated Roy. Hepaused before a glass box of rattlers.
"There's something we've got out West," he said, "and we'd give a gooddeal not to have 'em. We lose lots of cattle from snake-bites--thoseugly rattlers! I don't like to look at 'em! I nearly stepped on oneonce, and he stuck his fangs in my boot."
"What did you do?"
"Stepped on it and killed it. Come on; let's look at something morepleasant."
They spent the rest of the day in the Park, and returned to the hotelthat evening.
For about a week nothing occurred. Mortimer De Royster took Roy foroccasional pleasure trips, including one jaunt to Coney Island, wherethe boy from the ranch had his first glimpse of the ocean. The bigwaves, and the immense expanse of water, astonished him more thananything he had seen in New York.
"I never knew there was so much water in the world," he said. "Thiswould be fine out our way in time of drouth, when all the pastures dryup."
"I'm afraid it would be worse than none at all," said Mr. De Royster."It's salt, and it would kill the grass."
"That's so. I didn't think about that."
They went in bathing, and took in many amusements at the pleasureresort. It was quite late when they got back to the hotel, and DeRoyster did not go all the way with Roy, turning off to go to his ownboarding house, which was about a mile from where Roy was stopping.
"I'll see you to-morrow," called the jewelry salesman, as the twoparted. "I guess the lawyer will have some word for us then."
"There's a note for you," said the hotel clerk to Roy as the boyentered, and he handed over a sealed envelope. In the upper left handcorner was the printed name and address of the lawyer to whom DeRoyster had taken him.
"Mr. Felix Ketchum must have some news for me," thought Roy, as heopened the note. It was a written request for him to call at a certainaddress that night, where he would receive some information that wouldbe of service to him, and the communication was signed with Mr.Ketchum's name. A postscript stated that the lawyer would be there.
"That's queer," thought the boy. "I wonder why he didn't have me callat his office? But perhaps he has to work secretly against Annister.I guess that's it."
"When did this note come?" he asked the clerk.
"Right after dinner."
"Dinner?"
"I mean the evening dinner--I suppose you call it supper out West," andthe clerk smiled.
"That's what we do. Who brought this?"
"A boy. He said there was no answer. Hope it isn't bad news."
"No; only a business matter. Can you tell me where the Bowery is?"
"The Bowery. You're not going there; are you?"
"Yes, I have an appointment to meet a man there," and Roy mentioned thenumber.
"You want to be careful," cautioned the clerk. "It's not the bestplace in the world after dark. Don't take much money with you, for youmight be robbed."
"Aren't there policemen there?"
"Yes, but they can't be all over. That address is not far from theChinese district, and it's a hanging-out place for thieves andcriminals."
"Funny that Mr. Ketchum should want me to go there," thought Roy, "butperhaps he has to get evidence against Mr. Annister from a man whodoesn't care to be seen during the day. I guess I'll chance it. Therecan't be much danger in the midst of a big city, with policemen around.Besides I'll be on my guard. I wish I could tell Mr. De Royster. But,no, I'll not bother him. He'll think I'm a regular baby, not able totake care of myself."
This thought decided Roy to go alone. He suspected nothing, but, hadhe known more about New York, he would have considered twice beforeventuring into one of the worst parts of that great city.
The clerk once more cautioned the boy, gave him directions how to getto the address on the Bowery, and in due time Roy arrived there. Partof the street was brilliantly lighted, but the building where he wasdirected to call, was in a dark location, and did not look veryinviting.
"I wonder if this is it?" thought Roy. "Guess I'll ask."
He saw a door opening into a dim hallway. A man was standing there.
"Is Mr. Ketchum in this building?" asked Roy, for the note hadinstructed him to ask for the lawyer.
"Yes, come on in," said the man gruffly.
Roy advanced. The door shut after him with a click, and he was left inalmost total darkness. At the same time he felt some one grab him.
"Have you got him?" cried a voice. "Don't hurt him, but hold himtight."
Roy recognized the voice as that of Caleb Annister!
As he felt arms closing around him he kicked out vigorously. There wasa howl of pain, but Roy was not released. He knew that once more hewas in the hands of Annister's accomplices.