"Not at all. You have been mistaken in me, but I am not mistaken in you. I judge you to be a gentlemanly adventurer, ready to take advantage of any who have money and are foolish enough to be gulled by your tricks. You are welcome to the profit you made out of the theater tickets, also to the little supper to which you have done so much justice. I must request you, now, however, to devote yourself to some one else, as I do not care to meet you again."Louis Wheeler slunk away, deciding that he had made a great mistake in setting down his Montana acquaintance as an easy victim.
"I didn't think he'd get on to my little game so quick," he reflected. "He's sharper than he looks,"Rodney took breakfast with Mr. Pettigrew the next morning.
When breakfast was over, the Montana man said:
"I'm going to make a proposal to you, Rodney. How much pay did you get at your last place?""Seven dollars a week.""I'll pay you that and give you your meals. In return I want you to keep me company and go about with me.""I shall not be apt to refuse such an offer as that, Mr.
Pettigrew, but are you sure you prefer me to Mr. Wheeler?"laughed Rodney.
"Wheeler be--blessed!" returned the miner.
"How long are you going to stay in New York?""About two weeks. Then I shall go back to Montana and take you with me.""Thank you. There is nothing I should like better."Two days later, as the two were walking along Broadway, they met Mr. Wheeler. The latter instantly recognized his friend from Montana, and scrutinized closely his young companion.
Rodney's face looked strangely familiar to him, but somehow he could not recollect when or under what circumstances he had met him.
He did not, however, like to give up his intended victim, but had the effrontery to address the man from Montana.
"I hope you are well, Mr. Pettigrew."
"Thank you, I am very well."
"I hope you are enjoying yourself. I should be glad to show you the sights. Have you been to Grants Tomb?""Not yet.""I should like to take you there."
"Thank you, but I have a competent guide."
"Won't you introduce me to the young gentleman?""I don't require any introduction to you, Mr. Wheeler," said Rodney.
"Where have I met you before?" asked Wheeler abruptly.
"In the cars. I had a box of jewelry with me," answered Rodney significantly.
Louis Wheeler changed color. Now he remembered Rodney, and he was satisfied that he owed to him the coolness with which the Western man had treated him.
"I remember you had," he said spitefully, "but I don't know how you came by it.""It isn't necessary that you should know. I remember I had considerable difficulty in getting it out of your hands.""Mr. Pettigrew," said Wheeler angrily, "I feel interested in you, and I want to warn you against the boy who is with you.
He is a dangerous companion."
"I dare say you are right," said Pettigrew in a quizzical tone.
"I shall look after him sharply, and I thank you for your kind and considerate warning. I don't care to take up any more of your valuable time. Rodney, let us be going.""It must have been the kid that exposed me," muttered Wheeler, as he watched the two go down the street. "I will get even with him some time. That man would have been good for a thousand dollars to me if I had not been interfered with.""You have been warned against me, Mr. Pettigrew,"said Rodney, laughing. "Mr. Wheeler has really been very unkind in interfering with my plans.""I shan't borrow any trouble, or lie awake nights thinking about it, Rodney. I don't care to see or think of that rascal again."The week passed, and the arrangement between Mr. Pettigrew and Rodney continued to their mutual satisfaction. One morning, when Rodney came to the Continental as usual, his new friend said:
"I received a letter last evening from my old home in Vermont.""I hope it contained good news.""On the contrary it contained bad news. My parents are dead, but I have an old uncle and aunt living. When I left Burton he was comfortably fixed, with a small farm of his own, and two thousand dollars in bank. Now I hear that he is in trouble.
He has lost money, and a knavish neighbor has threatened to foreclose a mortgage on the farm and turn out the old people to die or go to the poorhouse.""Is the mortgage a large one?""It is much less than the value of the farm, but ready money is scarce in the town, and that old Sheldon calculates upon.
Now I think of going to Burton to look up the matter.""You must save your uncle, if you can, Mr. Pettigrew.""I can and I will. I shall start for Boston this afternoon by the Fall River boat and I want you to go with me.""I should enjoy the journey, Mr. Pettigrew.""Then it is settled. Go home and pack your gripsack. You may be gone three or four days."
