It was a small shop, not more than twelve feet wide by eighteen deep. The only person in attendance was a young man approaching thirty years of age, his eyes and hair very light, and his features small and insignificant4. He was the druggist's clerk, working on a small salary of ten dollars a week, and his name was James Cromwell.
He came forward as the person first named entered the shop.
"How can I serve you, sir?" he inquired in a respectful voice.
"I want that," he said; "do you happen to have it?"
"You are aware, I suppose, that this is a subtle poison?" he said, interrogatively.
"Yes," said the other, in a tone of outward composure, "so I understand from the friend who desired me to procure7 it for him. Have you it, or shall I have to go elsewhere?"
"Yes; we happen to have it by the merest chance, although it is rather a rare drug in the materia medica. I will get it for you at once."
The customer's face assumed an air of satisfaction as the clerk spoke8, and he sat down on a stool in front of the counter.
James Cromwell quickly placed a small parcel in his hands, and the customer, drawing out a pocketbook, which appeared to be well-filled, paid for his purchase.
[Pg 3]
He then walked out of the shop, and to the corner of the street, where he waited for an uptown car. As he left the shop, a ragged9 boy of ten, with a sharp, weazened face entered.
"I want an ounce of carmels," he said.
"Then you must follow the gentleman who just went out of the shop: find out where he lives, and what his name is. Come out, and I will point him out to you."
Just outside of the door, James Cromwell cast his eyes up the street and saw his late customer in the act of jumping on board a Fourth Avenue car.
"There he is," he said, hastily pointing him out to the boy. "You will have to ride, too. Can you catch that car?"
"I've got no money," said the boy.
"Here's a quarter. Now run."
"But I'm to have a quarter besides?"
"Yes, yes. Make haste."
The boy ran forward, and succeeded in overtaking the car and clambering on board.
"Look here, young chap," said the conductor,[Pg 4] suspiciously, "have you got any money to pay your fare?"
"Yes, I have," said the boy. "Don't you be afraid, old hoss."
"Show your money, then."
The boy produced the quarter which had just been given him.
"You're richer than I supposed," said the conductor. "Here's your change."
The boy put back the twenty-two cents remaining in the pocket of his ragged pants, and began to look about him for the passenger whom he was required to track. The latter was seated on the left hand side, four seats from the door.
"I wonder why I'm to foller him about," said the boy to himself. "Maybe he's run off without paying his bill. Anyway, it's nothing to me as long as I earn a quarter. It'll pay me into the Old Bowery to-night."
And the boy began to indulge in pleasing anticipations12 of the enjoyment13 he would receive from witnessing the great spectacle of the "Avenger14 of Blood," which was having a successful run at the favorite theatre with boys of his class.
Before proceeding15, I may mention that the boy referred to was known as Hake, a name whose[Pg 5] derivation I have been unable to learn. He had been a street vagrant16 for half his life, and was precocious17 in his knowledge of metropolitan18 life in its lowest phases.
If the gentleman whom he was employed to watch noticed the ragged boy, he hadn't the remotest suspicion that there was the least connection between them, or that his being there had anything to do with his own presence in the car. He took out a paper from his pocket and began to read.
"I wonder how far I've got to go," thought Hake. "If it's far I'll have to ride back, and that'll take three cents more."
He reflected, however, that nineteen cents would remain, and he would besides have the quarter which had been promised him.
The car rapidly proceeded uptown, passing union Square and the Everett House at the corner of Seventeenth Street. Two blocks farther, and the passenger first introduced rose from his seat.
"Next corner," he said to the conductor.
[Pg 6]
Hake scrambled23 out also, and followed him up the street. He crossed Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and did not pause till he had reached a handsome house between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Before this time he had thrown open the coat in which he had been muffled, for the weather was not inclement24, appearing to feel that there was now no further need of concealment25.
The door was opened directly by a servant, and he entered.
Scarcely had the door closed when Hake also ascended the steps and looked at the door-plate. The name was there, but unfortunately for Hake, he had not received even an elementary education, and could not read. This was rather inconvenient27, as it stood in the way of his obtaining the information he desired.
Looking about him, he saw a schoolboy of his own age passing.
"Look here," he said, "what's that name up there on that door?"
"Can't you read?"
[Pg 7]
"I left my spectacles at home," said Hake, "and I can't read without 'em."
"Paul Morton," repeated Hake to himself. "All right!"
But he was not quite sure whether he had not been deceived. So he went to the basement door, and rang.
"What's wanted?" said the servant, curtly.
"Does Paul Morton live here?" asked Hake.
"You might say Mr. Paul Morton while you're about it," said the servant. "Yes, he lives here, and what do you want with him?"
"I was sent here," said Hake with no particular regard for truth, "by a man as said Mr. Morton was a good man, and would give me some clothes."
"Then you won't get them here," said the girl, and the door was slammed in the boy's face.
"I've found out his name now," said Hake, "sure," and he repeated it over to himself until he was certain he could remember it. He retraced29 his steps to Fourth Avenue, and jumped on board a returning car, and was ere long landed at the druggist's shop.
[Pg 8]
"Well," said James Cromwell, looking up, "did you do as I told you?"
"Yes," said Hake.
"What did you find out?"
"His name is Paul Morton."
"Where does he live?"
"At No. —— West Twenty-ninth Street."
"What sort of house is it?"
"A nice one."
"Are you sure you made no mistake?"
"Yes, it's all right. I want my quarter."
"Here it is."
The boy took the money and scrambled off, well content with the results of his expedition; his mind intent upon the play he was to see in the evening.
"Paul Morton!" mused30 the clerk, thoughtfully. "I must put that name down. The knowledge may come in use some day. I hope some time or other I shall not be starving on ten dollars a week. It may be that my rise in the world will come through this same Paul Morton. Who can tell?"
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1
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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2
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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3
passerby
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| n.过路人，行人 | |
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4
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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5
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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6
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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8
spoke
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| 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 | |
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9
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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10
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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11
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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12
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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13
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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14
avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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15
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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vagrant
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| n.流浪者，游民；adj.流浪的，漂泊不定的 | |
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17
precocious
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| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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19
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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21
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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23
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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24
inclement
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| adj.严酷的，严厉的，恶劣的 | |
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25
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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26
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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28
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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29
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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30
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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