CHAPTER VII.
A LUCKY MEETING
It saddened Rupert to think his mother's wedding ring must be sacrificed, but when they were actually in need of food sentiment must not be considered. After that, when they had no longer anything to pawn except articles of clothing, Rupert shuddered to think what might lay before them.
He entered Simpson's with a slow step. A woman was ahead of him and he waited for his turn.
"Well," said an attendant, courteously, "what can I do for you?"
"What will you give me on this ring?"
"What do you want on it?"
"Two dollars," answered Rupert.
"No doubt it is worth that, but we have so many rings in stock that we are not anxious to receive more. We will give you a dollar and a quarter."
Rupert hesitated, when to his surprise some one tapped him on the shoulder.
"What brings you here, Rupert?" were the words that reached his ear.
He turned round in surprise.
"Mr. Sylvester!" he exclaimed.
"I see you have not forgotten me. What brings you here?"
"Sad necessity, Mr. Sylvester. But—I didn't expect to find you here. Surely you–"
"No, I have not come here to pawn anything," said the young man, smiling. "On the contrary, I want to redeem a watch for an old schoolmate who was obliged to pawn it. He has a wife and child and was thrown out of employment four weeks since. Fortunately I ran across him, and have got him a place."
"I will wait till you have attended to your business."
Soon a gold watch was placed in Mr. Sylvester's hands, and he paid the pawnbroker twenty dollars and sixty cents. It had been pledged not quite a month for twenty dollars. The sixty cents represented the three per cent. a month interest allowed by the laws regulating pawn shops.
"Now, young man," said the attendant, "do you want the dollar and a quarter I offered you on your ring?"
"Yes," answered Rupert.
"No," interposed Frank Sylvester, quietly. "What ring is this, Rupert?"
"My mother's wedding ring."
"And you are actually reduced to pawning it?"
"Yes, Mr. Sylvester, I can't get anything to do, and we are out of money."
"You have a mother and sister, I think you told me?"
"Yes, sir."
"I think we can do better than pawn the ring. Where do you live?"
"In Elizabeth Street."
"Does your mother prefer the city to the country?"
"No, sir; but she has no choice."
"Suppose I obtain for her a position as housekeeper in the family of an elderly gentleman in Rutherford, about ten miles out on the Erie Railroad, would she accept?"
"She would be glad to do so but for Grace. She could not be separated from her."
"There would be no occasion. My uncle lives alone in a large house, and a child would make the house pleasanter."
"Some gentlemen don't like children."
"That is not the case with Uncle Ben. But let us go out. You have no further business here. We will go into the Astor House reading room and have a chat."
Rupert followed his friend to the Astor House and they ascended to the reading room on the second floor. Taking adjoining armchairs, Mr. Sylvester drew from his pocket the following letter which he showed to Rupert. It ran thus:
"My housekeeper is about to leave me, to join her married daughter in Wisconsin. I must supply her place, but I know of no one in Rutherford who would suit me. Can't you find me some one—a pleasant, ladylike person, who would make my house homelike and attractive? I think you know my tastes. Please give this matter your early attention.
Benjamin Strathmore."
"Now," continued Mr. Sylvester, "I was quite at a loss whom to recommend, but I think your mother would suit Uncle Ben."
"Suppose you call and make her acquaintance, Mr. Sylvester. Then you can tell better. That is, if you don't object to visiting our poor home."
"My dear Rupert, I shall be delighted to meet your mother. One thing I am sure of in advance, she is a lady."
"She is, Mr. Sylvester," said Rupert, warmly.
Mrs. Rollins was a good deal surprised when Rupert entered the room, followed by a handsomely-dressed young man, and she rose from her seat in some trepidation.
"Mother," said Rupert, "this is Mr. Sylvester, who was kind enough to give us the money and provisions I brought home the other day."
"I am glad to meet so kind a friend," said the widow, with simple dignity. "Ask him to take a seat."
"I came to make you a business proposal," began Mr. Sylvester, who was already favorably impressed with Rupert's mother. "Your son thinks you might be willing to accept the position of housekeeper in my uncle's family, in Rutherford."
Mrs. Rollins instinctively looked towards Grace.
"I see what you are thinking of," interposed her caller. "There will be no difficulty about taking your daughter with you."
"Then I shall be glad to accept. And Rupert–"
"Rupert, I am sure, will prefer to remain in the city. I will find him a place. Till then he can stay with me."
Rupert brightened up at this suggestion. He had no desire to go to the country, but would like nothing more than a place in some city establishment.
"How soon could you arrange to go, Mrs. Rollins?"
"Next Monday."
"That will answer. I will apprise my uncle. Now as to the compensation."
"If I have Grace with me I shall hardly feel justified in asking compensation."
"My uncle would not think of making any account of the little girl's board. I think he paid your predecessor twenty-five dollars a month. Will that be satisfactory?"
"It is very liberal, sir."
"You will allow me to offer you a month's salary in advance. I can settle it with Uncle Ben."
This relieved Mrs. Rollins from a great embarrassment, as she needed to replenish her wardrobe to some extent.
"I will go out with you on Monday, and take Rupert with me, as he will wish to see how his mother and sister are situated."
"How kind you are, Mr. Sylvester!" said Rupert, gratefully.
"Don't give me too much credit, Rupert. You have helped me out of an embarrassment. I expected to have a long hunt for a housekeeper. Thanks to your mother I have escaped all that."
"You don't know how much it means to us, Mr. Sylvester."
"Well, perhaps, I have some idea. It seems a good arrangement for all of us. Well, good morning. Oh, by the way, you meet me at the Astor House to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock."
"Yes, sir, with pleasure."
Mrs. Marlow was a very observing woman. She always kept her door ajar, and saw every one who went upstairs. Her curiosity was considerably excited when she saw Rupert's companion.
"My stars!" she said to herself. "What a fine-looking young man! He looks like a real gentleman—I wonder does he know them Rollinses."
Mrs. Marlow would liked to have listened at the door and heard the conversation between her neighbors and the distinguished-looking visitor. But this was not practicable. However, as Mr. Sylvester came down stairs she ventured out and intercepted him.
"Sure, you've been callin' on my friend, Mrs. Rollins," she said.
"Is she a friend of yours?" asked Sylvester, looking at her curiously.
"Indeed she is, and she's a fine lady. But she's been very unfortunate. I would like to have helped her, but I am poor myself, and–"
"Won't you accept this?" said Sylvester, offering her a dollar as the easiest way of getting rid of her.
"Thank you, sir," said Mrs. Marlow, with a profound courtesy. "It's easy to see you're a kindhearted man."
"What a curious woman! I should hardly think Mrs. Rollins would have made choice of her as a friend!" soliloquized the young man as he pushed on to the street.
"I wonder what his name is and where he lives," speculated Mrs. Marlow. "He must be the young man that gave the Rollinses the purse and the basket of provisions. If I knew where he lived I'd go and see him often."
There is very little doubt that Mrs. Marlow would have kept her word, but unfortunately she had no clew to the residence of her new acquaintance.
When Rupert came downstairs, she put herself in his way.
"You had a call from a nice gentleman this morning," she said, insinuatingly.
Rupert felt too happy to slight even Mrs. Marlow, and he answered, courteously,
"Yes."
"I hope he brought a present for your mother."
"No, Mrs. Marlow, but he brought something better."
"And what can that be?" asked the widow, with intense curiosity.
"He engaged mother to take a place as housekeeper for a gentleman in the country."
"You don't say! And what'll be done with your sister? I'll board her cheap, and be like a mother to her."
Rupert could not help smiling at the idea of leaving his sister in such hands. He explained that Grace would go with her mother.
"Sure your mother's a lucky woman! I'd like to be a housekeeper myself. Wouldn't you speak to the gentleman for me?"
"I'll mention it if you like."
Rupert could promise this safely, for he would take care that Mr. Sylvester understood the character of their unscrupulous neighbor.
"If you'll do it, Rupert, dear, I'll pay you back the dollar I borrowed the other day, when I get my first week's wages."
"Some folks is lucky!" soliloquized Mrs. Marlow. "The young man ought to have taken me. I'm much stronger than Mrs. Rollins, and I would have made a better housekeeper, but maybe my turn will come next."
CHAPTER VIII.
JULIAN LORIMER
On Monday Rupert saw his mother and sister established at Rutherford. Their new home was a large old-fashioned mansion, exceedingly comfortable. One of the best chambers was assigned to Mrs. Rollins, with a small room opening out of it for Grace.
Benjamin Strathmore was a stout old gentleman of seventy, tall, and patriarchal-looking with his abundant white hair.
"How do you like my selection of housekeeper, Uncle Ben?" asked Sylvester, when he had a chance to be alone with the old gentleman.
"She will just suit me," said Mr. Strathmore, emphatically. "She is evidently a lady, and she will be an agreeable companion if I am not mistaken. Mrs. Martin was a good housekeeper, but she had no idea outside of her duties. I could not chat with her unless I talked about cooking. My evenings were solitary. She spent the time in the kitchen or in her own room. Now the house will be really social."
"I am delighted to have suited you, Uncle Ben."
"Where in the world did you come across Mrs. Rollins? Have you known her long?"
"I became acquainted through her son Rupert, to whom I introduced you."
"He seems a fine, manly boy. He can stay here, too. I will find something for him to do."
"Thank you, Uncle Ben, but I shall find him a place in New York. He prefers the city, and it will afford him more opportunities of advancement. Rupert is ambitious, and I predict that he will rise in time to an excellent position."
"Just as you think best, Frank; but remember that if ever there is need, or he becomes sick, there is room for him here."
To anticipate a little. Mr. Strathmore was not disappointed in Mrs. Rollins. It came to be her custom to spend the evenings with her employer. Sometimes she read aloud to him. At others, while she was engaged in needlework, and Grace, now restored to health, was occupied with her books, the old gentleman sat back in his easy chair, and with calm content watched his companions. He no longer felt his former burden of solitude.
"I have never been happier," he wrote later on to his nephew. "I regretted the loss of Mrs. Martin, but now I feel that it was for my happiness, since it has opened the way for such an acceptable substitute."
Rupert went at first to the house of Mr. Sylvester, where their acquaintance soon ripened into friendship.
They were walking down Broadway one day, when Frank Sylvester noticed a sudden start on the part of his young companion.
"What is the matter, Rupert?" he asked.
"Do you see that stout man on the opposite side of the street, Mr. Sylvester?" said Rupert.
"Yes. What of him?"
"He was the cause of my poor father's failure and death."
"How was that?"
"My father was a merchant in Buffalo, and that man was his partner. During a three months' absence in California, where he went partly for his health, the business was managed by Mr. Lorimer in such a way that the firm became deeply involved and was brought to the brink of failure.
"My father was greatly astonished at the sudden change, for when he left all was prosperous. He could not account for the disappearance of assets and the accumulation of claims against the firm except on the theory that large sums had been appropriated by his partner. He could prove nothing, however, and the firm was dissolved. When the business was closed there was barely enough money left to pay the creditors. My father found himself with nothing, and soon died of grief and mortification."
"What became of Lorimer?"
"I have not seen him till to-day. I heard that he had come to New York and established himself on Third Avenue somewhere, in the same business. If so, he must have had capital, and this must have been the sum of which he defrauded my father."
"The story is a sad one, Rupert. You and your mother must have suffered from the change in circumstances."
"We did. We did not care to stay in Buffalo, where we had been accustomed to live in good style, so we came to New York, where we could live according to our change in circumstances among those who had never known us. I thought I might get employment that would enable me to support my mother and sister in tolerable comfort. I did get a place with Tenney & Rhodes, but I only earned five dollars a week. Just before meeting you I lost that, and had you not come to our assistance I don't know what would have become of us."
"I feel repaid for whatever I have done for you," said Frank Sylvester, kindly. "Has this Mr. Lorimer a family?"
"He has a wife and one son."
"Were your families intimate?"
"Yes. We occupied adjoining houses. Julian Lorimer was about my age, and attended the same school. I never liked him, however. He had a very high opinion of himself, and put on airs which made him generally unpopular."
"Did he put on airs with you?"
"Not till after the failure. My father moved out of his house, but Mr. Lorimer remained in his, and appeared to live in about the same style as before, while we moved into a few rooms in an unfashionable part of the city. After this Julian took very little notice of me."
"You haven't met him since you came to New York?"
"No; I rather wonder I haven't, but I suppose I shall some day."
The time came sooner than he anticipated.
Rupert was crossing Eighth Avenue near Forty-second Street one day, when he came near being run into by a bicycle. The rider gave a note of warning, and then stopped short in surprise.
"Rupert Rollins!" he said, in a half tone of inquiry.
"Is it you, Julian?" asked Rupert, recognizing his former schoolmate.
"Yes. Are you living in New York?"
"Yes."
"Whereabouts?"
"At present I am staying in Harlem."
"I heard you and your mother were living in a tenement house down town."
"My mother is not living in the city," returned Rupert, coldly.
He did not care to give Julian any more information than was absolutely necessary.
"Where is she, then?"
"In Rutherford, New Jersey."
"Why don't you live there, too?"
"Because I expect to be employed in New York."
"Then you are out of work now?"
"Yes."
"Why don't you live in the Newsboys' Lodge? That is cheap."
"Have you ever lived there?"
"Do you mean to insult me? I live in a nice house on One Hundred and Sixteenth Street."
"So do I."
"You are bluffing."
"Why should I? What good would it do me?"
Further inquiry developed the fact that they lived in neighboring blocks.
"I don't see how you can afford to live on such a street."
"I am at present visiting a friend—Mr. Sylvester."
"Is he rich?"
"Yes. I believe so."
"I suppose you know that my father has a nice new store on Third Avenue, near Forty-second Street?"
"I heard something of the kind," said Rupert, briefly.
"He's doing a staving business—a good deal larger than he did in Buffalo."
Rupert made no comment.
"You said you were out of employment, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"You might call round at the store. Perhaps pa can find a place for you as a cash boy, though you would be rather large for that."
"How much does he pay his cash boys?"
"Two and a half a week."
"I hardly think I could live on that," said Rupert, smiling.
"It is better than being out of work."
"That is true, but I shouldn't like to be getting more and more behindhand every week. Are you attending school?"
"Yes, but I think of going into business soon."
"Perhaps," suggested Rupert, "you will take one of the cash boys' places."
"You must be crazy. When I go into business it won't be into a retail store. I will get a place in some wholesale establishment. There's a better chance to rise there."
"I didn't know but you would go to college."
"I am not very fond of study. Pa would send me to Columbia College or to Harvard, if I wanted to go, but I prefer a life of business. I want to become a merchant prince."
"It would certainly be agreeable. I shall be satisfied if I can be successful enough to support my mother and sister in comfort. That is my ambition."
"Oh, I dare say. You are a poor boy, you know."
"Look here, Julian, there's one thing I don't understand. Your father and mine were partners, and I supposed in the same circumstances. Both failed together. Yet your father now has a large store of his own, and we are poor. Can you tell me why?"
"I'm not good at conundrums. I'll have to be going. If you want a place as cash boy I'll ask pa to fit you out. Ta ta!" And Julian dashed off on his wheel.
"I hope some time to be a successful and honorable man of business," thought Rupert, as he followed his former schoolfellow with his glance. "My ambition would not be satisfied with anything short of this."
CHAPTER IX.
RUPERT BECOMES A BELL-BOY
Rupert found a pleasant home at the house of Mr. Sylvester, but he was anxious as soon as possible to secure employment. His friend was active in his behalf, but the general depression in business was such that there seemed to be no opening anywhere.
One evening at supper Mr. Sylvester said: "I have been hoping to find you a place in a wholesale establishment in Pearl Street. I learned that one of the younger clerks was about to leave, but he has decided to stay six months longer, and, of course, we can't wait as long as that."
"No, Mr. Sylvester, it would seem like six years to me."
"Even if your wants were all provided for in that time?"
"I feel that I ought to be at work, and not depending on your generosity. I would rather work for two dollars a week than remain idle."
"That is the right spirit, Rupert. You will be glad, then, to hear that I have at last found employment for you."
"But I thought you just said–"
"That I could not get you a place in Pearl Street. True, but this is a different position—very different. It is that of bell-boy in a hotel."
"What are the duties, Mr. Sylvester?"
"You will be at the command of the clerk, and will have to run up and downstairs, answering calls from the guests, or carrying messages from the office. In fact, you will be a general utility clerk, and I have no doubt will get terribly tired the first few days."
"Never mind. I can stand that. If I make enough to pay my way I shall be satisfied."
"You will be better paid than if you were in a mercantile house. You will receive five dollars a week and get your meals at the hotel."
Rupert's face brightened.
"Why, that is excellent," he said. "When I was at Tenney & Rhodes' I only received five dollars weekly and had to furnish my own meals."
"True, but you were then in the line of promotion. Here you cannot expect to rise any higher unless you qualify yourself to be a hotel man."
"At any rate I am willing to try it. Where is the hotel?"
"It is the Somerset House, on lower Broadway. It is not a fashionable hotel, but comfortable and of good reputation. I am somewhat acquainted with the office clerk, who was an old schoolmate of mine, and at my request he has given you this position."
"I hope I shall give satisfaction. I shall be a green hand."
"The duties are easily understood and learned. If you show that you are desirous of succeeding you will make a good impression, and you will get on well."
"When am I to commence work?" asked Rupert.
"I will take you down town with me to-morrow morning, and introduce you to Mr. Malcolm, the clerk. I suppose you will be expected to go to work directly."
"I should prefer that."
"One thing I must tell you. You will have to secure a room outside, as the employees are not expected to sleep in the hotel. All the rooms are reserved for guests."
"What will my hours be?"
"From seven in the morning till seven in the evening. By this arrangement you will have your evenings to yourself."
Rupert went to bed in good spirits. He was of an active temperament, and enjoyed occupation. It would be pleasant to him also to feel that he was earning his own living.
In the morning Mr. Sylvester went down town with him.
The Somerset House was a hotel of moderate size, only five stories in height, which is low for a city hotel. I may as well say here that I have not given the correct name of the hotel for obvious reasons. So far as our story is concerned, the name I have chosen will do as well as any other.
"Those who frequent this hotel are not of the fashionable class," explained Mr. Sylvester, "but it is largely patronized by traveling salesmen and people from the country. The rates are moderate, and those come here who would not feel able to afford the Fifth Avenue or hotels of that grade."
The entrance was neat, and Rupert was well pleased with the aspect of his new place of employment.
At some distance from the doorway was the office, and behind the reading room.
"Mr. Malcolm," said Sylvester to a pleasant-looking man of thirty-five, who stood behind a counter, "this is the young man I mentioned to you. He will be glad to fill the position of bell-boy, and from my acquaintance with him I feel quite sure he will suit you. His name is Rupert Rollins."
The clerk smiled pleasantly.
"We shall soon know each other better," he said. "I hope you are strong, for you will have a good deal of exercise here."
"I think I can stand it," said Rupert. "I shall soon get used to it."
"I have a plan of the rooms here," went on the clerk. "Take it and go upstairs and look about you on the different floors. It will be necessary that you should learn the location of the rooms."
"I will leave you now, Rupert," said Mr. Sylvester. "You can come back to my house to-night, and to-morrow you can look up a room near the hotel."
For the first few days Rupert got very tired. He would have to go upstairs perhaps thirty or forty times during the day, sometimes to the fifth floor. There was an elevator in the Somerset Hotel, but the bell-boys were not allowed to use it.
When a guest registered and was assigned to a room on one of the upper floors he was conducted to the elevator, but the bell-boy, carrying his valise, was obliged to walk upstairs, and meet him at the landing-place. Often Rupert felt that there was an injustice in this, and that no harm would be done if he were also allowed to use the elevator. However, he was not foolish enough make any complaint, but by his pleasant manners and cheerful alacrity won the good opinion of Mr. Malcolm, the clerk.
The Somerset Hotel was on the European and American systems combined. If a guest preferred simply to lodge at the hotel he could do so, and take his meals either at the hotel restaurant or in any other.
One day a guest registered who was assigned to No. 143, on the fifth floor.
To Rupert was assigned the duty of carrying up the valise. He found it unusually heavy, and more than once as he climbed the stairs he felt that he would be glad to reach his destination. At the elevator landing he met the owner of the valise, a middle-aged man with a brown, sunburned face.
"You found it rather a heavy tug, didn't you?" he asked, with a smile.
"Your clothes seem to be heavy," returned Rupert.
"It isn't clothes merely," said the stranger. "I come from Colorado, and I have some specimens of quartz inside. Here, give me the valise, and lead the way to my room."
Rupert did so.
When they reached No. 143 the stranger drew a fifty cent piece from his pocket and handed it to Rupert.
"Take it," he said. "You deserve something for carrying such a load."
"Thank you, sir," said Rupert. "I don't find many guests so liberal."
"Shall I tell you why I am so liberal? It is because when I was a boy, rather older than you, I was for four months a bell-boy in a Chicago hotel."
"Were you, indeed, sir?" said Rupert, with interest. "Did you retire on a fortune?"
"No; fees were few and far between. However, I saved a little and borrowed a little more, and made my way first to Nevada, and afterwards to Colorado. I have been pretty well prospered, and now I come home to see my old father and mother in Maine."
"I hope you will find them well."
"Thank you, my boy, I heartily hope so. It is seventeen years since I have seen their dear old faces, and it will be a good day for me when we meet again."
"Are your father and mother both living?"
"Both at last accounts."
"Then you are luckier than I am. My father is dead."
"That is unfortunate. You are young to have lost a parent."
"Can I do anything for you, sir? Have you all that you need?"
"Yes," answered the guest, with a look at the washstand. "What I want first is water and towels, for I have just got in from a long railroad journey. Those seem to be provided. If I want anything else I will ring."
"Fifty cents!" repeated Rupert. "I wish I could be as well paid every time I carry a valise up stairs. Then I should get rich fast."
During the second week a tall, thin man with long hair flowing down over his coat collar registered at the Somerset.
"No. 119," said the clerk. "Front!"
Rupert answered the summons.
"Take this gentleman's valise to No. 119."
Rupert thought the stranger a very singular-looking man. His long, unkempt locks were of yellowish hue, and his eyes were shifty and evasive. But of course in a hotel frequented by all sorts of people, no special attention was paid to any particular guest.
Rupert met him upstairs and conducted him to his room.
"Take the valise inside," said the guest.
Rupert did so, when he was startled by the guest locking the door, making him a prisoner.
"Now, boy," he said, his eyes lighted with an insane gleam, "you must prepare to die!"
"What?" exclaimed Rupert, startled. "What do you mean?"
"I am commanded by God to offer you up as a sacrifice, even as Abraham offered up his son Isaac."
As he spoke he drew a knife from his breast and advanced toward the hapless bell-boy.