"Is this the office of Locke & Green?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Will you describe Mr. Locke to me?" asked the young man, who appearedto be laboring under some excitement.
Walter was rather surprised at such a request, but complied with it.
"Yes, he's the man," said his visitor, slapping his hands togetherimpetuously. "He's the man that cheated me out of fifty dollars!"
"You must be mistaken," said Walter. "How did he cheat you out of it?"
"One moment--are you his confidential clerk?"
"Yes."
"I thought so," returned the young man, laughing wildly. "So was I."
"You were his clerk?"
"Yes, for two weeks. I paid him fifty dollars good money as security."
"You did?" repeated Walter, with some anxiety.
"Yes; at the end of two weeks he told me I would not suit."
"But he paid you your wages and returned you your money?"
"No, he didn't!" exploded the young man. "He told me to come round onMonday morning and he would pay me."
"Well?"
"I called Monday, and he was gone! He had moved, the scoundrel! I shouldlike to choke him!"
"Was it this office?"
"No. Let me see that book! Ah, it is the same that I kept. Have you,too, given him money?"
"I deposited thirty dollars."
"Ah, it is the same old game! You will never see a cent of it again."
"But," said Walter, "I don't understand. He is doing a good business.I have had calls from two of his agents. One of them handed me thischeck," and he drew out the check Mr. Damon had given him.
The young man took it and laughed bitterly.
"I don't believe there is any such bank," he said. "I never heard ofit."
"Then why should the agent hand me the check?"
"To pull wool over your eyes. These agents are in league with this manLocke. That wasn't his name when he engaged me."
"What was it then?"
"He called himself Libby. Libby & Richmond, that was the name of thefirm."
"What made you think he might have changed his name?"
"Because the advertisement reads the same."
"And you really think it is the same man?"
"Yes, I feel sure of it."
"He will be back at one o'clock. If you will wait till then you can seefor yourself."
"I'll wait!" said the young man, grinding his teeth. "I will confrontthe swindler face to face. I will demand my money."
The door opened and some one put in his head, but before Walter or hisvisitor could see who it was it closed again.
Fifteen minutes later a telegraph boy entered the office.
CHAPTER XVIII
WALTER IS TURNED ADRIFT
"Mr. Sherwood?" said the telegraph messenger inquiringly.
"That is my name," answered Walter.
"A message for you."
Walter opened the note, and read as follows:
"I am called out of the city. You may close up at four, and leave thekey with the janitor. Report for duty to-morrow morning. LOCKE."
"What is it?" asked the young man eagerly.
Walter showed him the note.
"It looks to me like some trick," said the stranger.
"But I don't see any object in it."
"He has your thirty dollars."
"And I have a check for over two hundred."
"I would rather have the thirty dollars. What shall you do?"
"There is nothing to do but follow directions."
The young man shrugged his shoulders.
"Then you will come round to-morrow morning?" he said.
"Certainly."
"I'll look in upon you. I want to see this Mr. Locke, though I doubt ifthat is his name."
Walter was disposed to think the young man too suspicious. He was of asanguine temperament, and he tried to persuade himself that there wasreally no good reason to suspect Mr. Locke of unfair dealing. He laidconsiderable stress upon the favorable reports of the agents who hadcalled upon him during the day.
At length four o'clock came, and he closed up the office, leaving thekey with the janitor. He went home, not quite knowing whether he was tobe congratulated or not. He decided not to say anything just yet abouthis engagement, lest it might turn out to be deceptive. Had he beenquite sure that it was substantial and to be relied upon, he would havewritten to his guardian to announce the good news, but he thought itbest to wait.
The next morning he went to the office, arriving at the hour agreedupon.
"Please give me the key to Locke & Green's office," he said to thejanitor.
"Mr. Locke's given up the room," was the startling reply.
Walter was dismayed.
"Given up the room! Have you seen him?" he inquired.
"Yes."
"When?"
"He called yesterday afternoon, an hour after you went away, and got thekey from me. In about ten minutes he came down again, carrying a ledgerin his hand.
"'I have taken another office,' he said. 'This is not large enough forme.'
"'Have you told your clerk?' I asked him.
"'Yes, I have sent a message to him,' he replied carelessly."
Walter sank against the door. He felt limp and helpless. Mr. Locke hadgone off, and carried his thirty dollars with him. There was hardly roomto doubt that it was a case of deliberate swindling.
True, he had the check in his possession--a check for two hundred andtwenty-seven dollars--but, even if it were genuine, it was made out infavor of Locke & Green, and would be of no service to him, though inthat case it would insure Mr. Locke's calling upon him. Should such bethe Case, he determined that he would not give up the Check till histhirty dollars were returned.
Walter walked slowly out of the building. When he reached DearbornStreet he went into the office of a private banker, and, showing thecheck, asked, "Is there any such bank as this?"
"I never heard of any," said the banker.
Walter turned pale.
"Then you think it is bogus?"
"Very likely. Under what circumstances did you receive it?"
Walter explained.
"I am sorry to say that you are probably the victim of a confidenceman, or firm. I think I saw an expose of some similar swindlers in the_Inter-Ocean_ a few weeks since. Did you give the fellow any money?"
"Yes, sir; thirty dollars."
"You will have to whistle for it, in all probability."
Walter's heart felt as heavy as lead. He had less than twenty dollarsnow, and his small balance would last him less than three weeks. Whatshould he do then? Should he write to his guardian for more money? Hehated to do this, and, above all, he hated to confess that he had beenvictimized.
In the next three days he answered several advertisements, and madepersonal applications for employment. But no one seemed to want him. Inone case he was offered three dollars a week as an office boy, but hehad not got quite so low down as to accept this place and salary. Itstruck Walter as very singular that one who had spent two yearsat college, and possessed a fair knowledge of Latin, Greek, andmathematics, should be in so little request. He envied the small officeboys whom he saw on the street, and even the busy newsboys, who appearedto be making an income. They had work to do, and he had none. Hedecided that he must reduce his expenses, and accordingly hired a poorhall-bedroom for a dollar and a quarter a week, and took his meals atrestaurants.
One day he went into Kinsley's restaurant, on Adams Street, feeling theneed of a good meal, and sat down at a table. He gave his order, andate his dinner with appetite. He was about to rise from the tablewhen, casting his eye about the room, he started in surprise, as at aneighboring table he saw the familiar face of Mr. Jonas Damon, whosecheck he held in his pocket.
Instantly his resolve was taken. He would speak to Mr. Damon, and try toascertain something about the check.
He walked over to the table, and touching Damon on the shoulder, s
aid:"Mr. Damon, I believe?"
The man looked up quickly, and a little change in his countenance showedthat he recognised Walter; but he assumed a stolid look, and said: "Wereyou speaking to me, young man?"
"Yes, sir."
"What did you call me?"
"Mr. Damon."
"You're off the track. That isn't my name."
"Perhaps not," said Walter resolutely; "but when you called at Locke& Green's office and handed me a check you said your name was JonasDamon."
"Ho, ho!" laughed Damon. "So I gave you a check, did I?"
"Yes, for two hundred and twenty-seven dollars."
"That's news to me. I'm not in a position to give such checks as that."
"I have got the check with me now."
"Why didn't you cash it?"
"It was not made payable to me."
"Then why didn't you give it to the party it was made out to?"
"Because he disappeared."
"That's a strange story. Do you know what I think?"
"No; but I should like to."
"I think you are a confidence man, and are trying to take in a poorcountryman. But I've read about you fellows in the papers, and I am onmy guard. You'd better go away, or I may call a policeman."
This certainly was turning the tables on Walter with a vengeance. For afellow like Damon to accuse him of being a confidence man was somethinglike the wolf's charge against the lamb in AEsop's fable.
Damon saw that Walter looked perplexed, and followed up the attack.
"If anybody has given you a check," he said, "I don't see what you'vegot to complain about. You'd better make use of it if you can."
"Do you deny that your name is Damon?"
"Of course I do. My name is Kellogg--Nelson Kellogg, of Springfield,Illinois. I am in the city to buy goods."
"And you don't know Mr. Locke, of Locke & Green?"
"Never heard of the gentleman. If you've got a check of his, you'dbetter advertise for him. I wish my name was Locke. I shouldn't mindreceiving it myself."
Here the waiter came up with Mr. Damon's order, and that gentlemanaddressed himself to disposing of it.
Walter left the restaurant slowly, and walked in a dejected mannerin the direction of the Palmer House. He began to think that he wasa failure. When he was a student of Euclid College he was in his ownestimation, a person of importance. Now he felt his insignificance. Ifthe world owed him a living, it seemed doubtful if it was inclined topay the debt.
CHAPTER XIX
WALTER MEETS PROFESSOR ROBINSON
Two weeks passed. Walter applied for all sorts of situations, butobtained no engagement. Meanwhile his money steadily diminished, till heawoke one morning to find only seventy-five cents in his purse. Thingswere getting decidedly serious.
"I wonder if there is any poorhouse in Chicago," thought Walter, notwholly in jest. "It is not the sort of home I should prefer, but it isbetter than genteel starvation."
He went out, breakfasted, and at the restaurant picked up a copy of theChicago _Times_. This was a piece of luck, for it saved him from thesmall expenditure necessary to secure it. He turned to the department ofHelp Wanted, and looking down the column came to this notice:
"WANTED--By a traveling lecturer, a young man who can make himselfgenerally useful; one who plays the violin preferred. Apply to PROFESSORROBINSON, Hotel Brevoort."
Walter knew this hotel. It was located on Madison Street, and was on theEuropean plan.
"That will suit me," he said to himself. "I must lose no time in makingapplication. I can play the violin fairly well. If it will help me to aposition, I will bless the violin."
In ten minutes he was at the hotel, inquiring for Professor Robinson.
"He is in his room," said the clerk, "You can go up at once."
Guided by a bell-boy, Walter reached the door of No. 65 and knocked.
"Come in!" said a deep bass voice.
Opening the door he found himself in the presence of a stout man,inclined to be tall, with a long, full beard, who glanced at himinquiringly.
"Professor Robinson, I believe?" said Walter.
"I am the man," answered the professor.
"I have come to apply for a position. I have read your advertisement inthe _Times_."
"Just so! Let me look at you."
Walter blushed a little while the professor transfixed him with hisglittering eye. He anxiously hoped that he would bear inspection.
"Humph! I think you'll do. How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
In fact, Walter's birthday had been passed in Chicago.
"You are rather young. Can you play on the violin?"
"Yes, sir."
"Let me hear you."
The professor pointed to a violin on the bed.
"I am glad he doesn't expect me to furnish the violin," Walter said tohimself.
He took the instrument from its case, and trying the strings began toplay a series of familiar airs. The violin was not a Stradivarius, butit was of good quality, and responded satisfactorily to the efforts ofthe young musician. Professor Robinson listened attentively, and noddedhis approval.
"You play better than the last young man I had."
Walter was glad to hear it.
"I may as well tell you the nature of your duties, in case I engage you.I call myself a traveling lecturer, but this may convey an erroneousidea. I am the discoverer of Professor Robinson's Liquid Balm, whichis warranted to cure more diseases than any other patent preparationin existence. I won't go into particulars, for these can be read in mycircular. Now, it is my custom to go from one town to another, engagea hall if the weather requires, otherwise gather a crowd around me in apublic place, and lecture about the merits of my remarkable preparation.You, besides assisting me in a general way, are expected to draw andentertain the crowd by your performance on the violin. Can you sing?"
Walter shook his head.
"I am afraid," he said, "that if I should undertake to sing it woulddrive away the crowd."
"Very well! It isn't necessary, though it would have helped. Now, whatare your ideas as to compensation?"
As the professor spoke, he leaned back in his chair and awaited a reply.
"I hardly know what it would be right to ask," returned Walterhesitatingly. "How much did you pay your last assistant?"
"I paid him fifteen dollars a month and his traveling expenses."
This was a good deal more than Walter had made since he had undertakento earn his own living, yet there seemed small chance of laying upanything out of it.
"May I ask, sir," he inquired, "do you meet with pretty good success indisposing of your balm?"
"Yes; the public knows a good thing when it is brought to itsattention."
"Would you be willing to pay my expenses and ten per cent. commission onsales?"
"Why do you prefer this to a stated salary?"
"Because it would be an incentive to do my best. Then if I helped you toa successful sale I should be paid in proportion."
"I have an idea. You look blooming and healthy. Are you willing I shouldadvertise you as one who has been snatched from death by my celebratedbalm?"
"I don't think I would like it, sir. It would be imposing upon thepublic."
"I merely suggested it, but I won't insist upon it. I suppose you arethoroughly honest and reliable?"
Walter smiled.
"I don't know that my assurance will satisfy you, but I can truly saythat I am."
"You look it, and I trust a good deal to appearances. I will accept yourassurance."
"Thank you, sir."
"Can you join me at once?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then I will expect you to bring your baggage here during the day--thesooner the better. You will then receive your instructions."
Walter was very glad to hear this, for his purse was so nearly exhaustedthat it was comforting to think his lodging and meals would hereafterbe paid by some one else. When he came to reflect upon the natu
re of hisduties--general assistant to a quack doctor, playing on village commonsand in country halls to draw a crowd of prospective customers, he feltthat it was hardly a thing to be proud of. With his college traininghe ought to be qualified for something better, but the cold, hard factstared him in the face that it was the only employment that offered, andhe must accept it or starve. Walter had become practical. His limitedacquaintance with the world had made him so, and he was not going torefuse bread and butter because it was offered by a quack doctor.
Within an hour Walter had given up his room--the rent had been paid inadvance--and transferred his luggage to the Hotel Brevoort, where he wasassigned a small apartment on the upper floor.
"I shall leave the city in two days," said the professor. "I have put anadvertisement into the daily papers which brings customers to the hotel,but I depend chiefly upon my sales on the road."
"Do you travel on the cars?" asked Walter.
"No; I have a neat wagon in which I carry a supply of bottles of balm,and this enables me to stop where I like. I prefer villages to verylarge towns and cities. It is better for me to visit places where thereare no drug-stores, as the people are more dependent on what is broughtto them."
"When you are in the city shall I get my commission?"
"Ahem! I am not clear as to that," answered Professor Robinsonthoughtfully. "You see you are not called upon to play."