CHAPTER XXII. THE HEAVY VALISE.

 Ben had sold half his papers when the arrival of the train from Philadelphia gave him an opportunity to return to his legitimate¹ calling.

 

"Smash your baggage, sir?" asked Ben of a dark-complexioned man of thirty-five, who carried a moderate-sized valise.

 

"Yes," said the other.

 

"Where shall I carry it?"

 

"To——" Here the man hesitated, and finally answered, "There is no need of telling you. I will take it from you when we have got along far enough."

 

Ben was about to walk beside the owner of the valise; but the latter objected to this.

 

"You needn't walk beside me," he said. "Keep about a block ahead."[Pg 247]

 

"But how will I know where to go?" asked Ben, naturally.

 

"You know where Broome Street runs into the Bowery?"

 

"Of course I do."

 

"Go there by the shortest route. Don't trouble yourself about me. I'll follow along behind, and take the valise from you there. If you get there before I do, wait for me."

 

"I suppose I'm too ragged² to walk alongside of him," thought Ben.

 

He could think of no other reason for the direction given by the other. However, Ben's pride was not very much hurt. Although he was ragged now, he did not mean to be long. The time would come, he was confident, when he could lay aside his rags, and appear in a respectable dress.

 

The valise which he carried proved to be considerably³ heavier than would have been imagined from its size.

 

"I wonder what's in it," thought Ben, who found it tugging⁴ away at his arms. "If it's shirts they're cast-iron. Maybe they're just comin' in fashion."[Pg 248]

 

However, he did not perplex himself much about this point. Beyond a momentary⁵ curiosity, he felt no particular interest in the contents of the valise. The way in which it affected⁶ him principally was, to make him inwardly resolve to ask an extra price, on account of the extra weight.

 

After walking a while he looked back for the owner of the valise. But he was not in sight.

 

"I might carry off his baggage," thought Ben, "without his knowin' it."

 

He kept on, however, never doubting that the owner would sooner or later overtake him. If he did not care enough for the valise to do this, Ben would not be responsible.

 

He had just shifted the heavy burden from one hand to the other, when he felt himself tapped on the shoulder. Looking round, he saw that the one who had done this was a quiet-looking man, of middle size, but with a keen, sharp eye.

 

"What's wanted?" asked Ben.

 

"Where did you get that valise, my lad?" asked the new-comer.

 

"I don't know as that's any of your business,"[Pg 249] answered Ben, who didn't perceive the other's right to ask the question.

 

"Is it yours?"

 

"Maybe it is."

 

"Let me lift it a moment."

 

"Hands off!" said Ben, suspiciously. "Don't try none of your tricks on me."

 

The other did not appear to notice this.

 

"I take it for granted that the valise is not yours," he said. "Now tell me where you got it from."

 

There was something of authority in his manner, which led Ben to think that he had a warrant for asking the question, though he could not guess his object in doing so.

 

"I'm a baggage-smasher," answered Ben. "I got this from a man that came by the Philadelphia train."

 

"Where is he?"

 

"I guess he's behind somewheres."

 

"Where are you carrying the valise?"

 

"Seems to me you want to know a good deal," said Ben, undecided as to the right of the other to ask so many questions.[Pg 250]

 

"I'll let you into a secret, my lad; but you must keep the secret. That valise is pretty heavy, isn't it?"

 

"I'll bet it is."

 

"To the best of my information, the man who employed you is a noted⁷ burglar, and this valise contains his tools. I am a detective, and am on his track. I received a telegram an hour ago from Philadelphia, informing me that he was on his way. I got down to the wharf⁸ a little too late. Now tell me where you are to carry this;" and the detective pointed⁹ to the valise.

 

"I am to meet the gentleman at the corner of Broome Street and the Bowery," said Ben.

 

"Very well. Go ahead and meet him."

 

"Shall you be there?" asked Ben.

 

"Never mind. Go on just as if I had not met you, and deliver up the valise."

 

"If you're goin' to nab him, just wait till I've got my pay. I don't want to smash such heavy baggage for nothin'."

 

"I agree to that. Moreover, if I succeed in getting hold of the fellow through your information, I[Pg 251] don't mind paying you five dollars out of my own pocket."

 

"Very good," said Ben. "I shan't mind takin' it, not by no means."

 

"Go on, and don't be in too much of a hurry. I want time to lay my trap."

 

Ben walked along leisurely¹⁰, in accordance with his instructions. At length he reached the rendezvous¹¹. He found the owner of the valise already in waiting.

 

"Well, boy," he said, impatiently, "you took your time."

 

"I generally do," said Ben. "It aint dishonest to take my own time, is it?"

 

"I've been waiting here for a quarter of an hour. I didn't know but you'd gone to sleep somewhere on the way."

 

"I don't sleep much in the daytime. It don't agree with my constitution. Well, mister, I hope you'll give me something handsome. Your baggage here is thunderin' heavy."

 

"There's twenty-five cents," said the other.

 

"Twenty-five cents!" exclaimed Ben, indignantly.[Pg 252]

 

"Twenty-five cents for walkin' two miles with such a heavy load. It's worth fifty."

 

"Well, you won't get fifty," said the other, roughly.

 

"Just get somebody else to carry your baggage next time," said Ben, angrily.

 

He looked round, and saw the quiet-looking man, before referred to, approaching. He felt some satisfaction in knowing that his recent employer would meet with a check which he was far from anticipating.

 

Without answering Ben, the latter took the valise, and was about moving away, when the quiet-looking man suddenly quickened his pace, and laid his hand on his arm.

 

The burglar, for he was really one, started, and turned pale.

 

"What do you want?"

 

"You know what I want," said the detective, quietly. "I want you."

 

"What do you want me for?" demanded the other; but it was easy to see that he was nervous and alarmed.

 

"You know that also," said the detective; "but[Pg 253] I don't mind telling you. You came from Philadelphia this morning, and your name is 'Sly Bill.' You are a noted burglar, and I shall take you into immediate¹² custody¹³."

 

"You're mistaken," said Bill. "You've got hold of the wrong man."

 

"That will soon be seen. Have the kindness to accompany me to the station-house, and I'll take a look into that valise of yours."

 

Bill was physically¹⁴ a stronger man than the detective, but he succumbed¹⁵ at once to the tone of quiet authority with which he spoke¹⁶, and prepared to follow, though by no means with alacrity¹⁷.

 

"Here, my lad," said the detective, beckoning¹⁸ Ben, who came up. "Come and see me at this place, to-morrow," he continued, producing a card, "and I won't forget the promise I made you."

 

"All right," said Ben.

 

"I'm in luck ag'in," he said to himself. "At this rate it won't take me long to make fifty dollars. Smashin' baggage for burglars pays pretty well."

 

He bethought himself of his papers, of which half remained unsold. He sold some on the way back to[Pg 254] the wharf, where, after a while, he got another job, for which, being at some distance, he was paid fifty cents.

 

At five in the afternoon he reported himself at the news-stand.

 

"I've sold all the papers you gave me," he said, "and here's the money. I guess I can sell more to-morrow."

 

The news-dealer paid him the commission agreed upon, amounting to eighteen cents, Ben, of course, retaining besides the five cents which had been paid him extra in the morning. This made his earnings¹⁹ for the day ninety-eight cents, besides the dollars promised by the detective.

1 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

2 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

3 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

4 tugging   

n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉，样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他，一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句

5 momentary   

adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的

参考例句：

• We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
• I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

9 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

10 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

11 rendezvous   

n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇

参考例句：

• She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
• I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。

12 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

13 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

14 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

15 succumbed   

不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死

参考例句：

• The town succumbed after a short siege. 该城被围困不久即告失守。
• After an artillery bombardment lasting several days the town finally succumbed. 在持续炮轰数日后，该城终于屈服了。

16 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

17 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

18 beckoning   

adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
• He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句

19 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。