Ben followed James Martin down Spruce Street, keeping sufficiently2 in the background, so as not to excite the suspicions of the latter.
"I wonder where he's goin'," thought Ben; "I don't think I could follow him more'n a hundred miles without wantin' to rest. Anyhow I guess I can stand it as well as he can."
Martin walked along in a leisurely3 manner. The fact was that he had made up his mind not to work that day, and therefore he felt in no particular hurry. This was rather improvident4 on his part, since he had voluntarily assumed the extra expense of supporting Rose; but then prudence5 and foresight6 were not his distinguishing traits. He had a vague idea that the world owed him a living, and that he would rub along somehow or other. This is a mischievous7 doctrine8, and men who deserve to succeed never hold it. It is true, however, that the world is pretty sure to provide a living for those who are willing to work for it, but makes no promises to those who expect to be taken care of without any exertions9 of their own. The difference between the rich merchant and the ragged10 fellow who solicits11 his charity as he is stepping into his carriage, consists, frequently, not in natural ability, but in the fact that the one has used his ability as a stepping-stone to success, and the other has suffered his to become stagnant12, through indolence, or dissipation.
But we must come back to Mr. Martin.
He walked down towards the East River till he reached Water Street, then turning to the left, he brought up at a drinking-saloon, which he had visited more than once on a similar errand. He found an old acquaintance who invited him to drink,—an invitation which he accepted promptly13.
Ben remained outside.
"I thought he did business at some such place by the looks of his nose," soliloquized Ben. "What shall I do while I'm waitin' for him?"
Looking around him, Ben saw two boys of about his own age pitching pennies. As this was a game with which long practice had made him familiar, he made overtures14 towards joining them.
"Let a feller in, will you?" he said.
"How much you got?" asked one of the boys, in a business-like way.
"Ten cents," said Ben. "I lent old Vanderbilt most of my money day afore yesterday, to buy up a new railroad, and he haint forked over."
Ben need not have apologized for his comparative poverty, as he proved to be the richest of the three. The game commenced, and continued for some time with various mutations of fortune; but at the end of half an hour Ben found himself richer by two cents than when he had commenced. From time to time he cast a watchful15 glance at the saloon opposite, for he had no intention of suffering the interest of the game to divert him from the object of his expedition. At length he saw James Martin issue from the saloon, and prepared to follow him.
"Are you going?" asked one of the boys with whom he had been playing.
"Yes, I've got some important business on hand. Here's your money;" and he threw down the two cents he had won.
"You won it?"
"What if I did? I only played for amoosement. What's two cents to a gentleman of fortune, with a big manshun up town?"
"It's the Tombs, he manes," said one of his late opponents, laughing.
"He can blow, he can," remarked the other.
But Ben couldn't stop to continue the conversation, as James Martin had already turned the corner of the street. It was observable that his gait already showed a slight unsteadiness, which he tried to remedy by walking with unusual erectness16. The consequence of this was that he didn't keep fairly in view the occupants of the sidewalk, which led to his deliberately17 walking into rather a stout18 female, who was approaching in the opposite direction.
"Is it goin' to murther me ye are, you spalpeen?" she exclaimed, wrathfully, as soon as she could collect her breath. "Don't you know better than to run into a dacent woman in that way?"
"It was you run into me," said Martin, steadying himself with some difficulty after the collision.
"I see how it is," said Martin; "you're drunk, ma'am, you can't walk straight."
This led to a voluble outburst from the irate20 woman, to which Ben listened with evident enjoyment21.
"Am I drunk, boy?" asked Martin, appealing to Ben, whom he for the first time noticed.
"Of course you aint, gov'nor," said Ben. "You never did sich a thing in your life."
"What do you know about it?" demanded the woman. "It's my belief you're drunk yourself."
"Do you know who this gentleman is?" asked Ben, passing over the personal charge.
"No, I don't."
"He's President of the Fifth Avenue Temperance Society," said Ben, impressively. "He's just been drinking the health of his feller-officers in a glass of something stiff, round in Water Street, that's all."
"Who are you?" asked Martin, turning to Ben. "You're a good feller."
"That's so," said Ben. "That's what everybody says."
"So'm I a good feller," said Martin, whose recent potations must have been of considerable strength, to judge from their effects. "You know me."
"Take a drink?" said Martin.
"Not at present," said Ben. "My health don't require it this mornin'."
"Where are you going?"
"Well," said Ben, "I aint very particular. I'm a wealthy orphan25, with nothin' to do. I'll walk along with you, if it's agreeable."
"I wish you would," said Martin; "I aint feeling quite well this morning. I've got the headache."
"I don't wonder at that," thought Ben. "I'll accompany you to your residence, if it aint too far off."
"I live in Brooklyn," said Martin.
"Oho!" thought Ben. "Well, that information is worth something. Shall we go over Fulton Ferry?" he asked, aloud.
"Yes," said Martin.
"Take hold of my arm, and I'll support your totterin' steps," said Ben.
Mr. Martin, who found locomotion26 in a straight line rather difficult on account of his headache, willingly availed himself of this obliging offer, and the two proceeded on their way to Fulton Ferry.
"What's his name?"
"Rufus. He sells newspapers in front of the 'Times' office."
"The boys call him Rough and Ready, don't they?"
"Yes. Do you know him?" asked Martin, a little suspiciously. "He aint a friend of yours, is he?"
"I owe him a lickin'," said Ben, with a show of indignation.
"So do I," said Martin. "He's an impudent young rascal."
"So he is," chimed in Ben. "I'll tell you what I'd do, if I were you."
"What?"
"I'd disinherit him. Cut him off with a shilling'."
"I mean to," said Martin, pleased to find sympathy in his dislike to his stepson.
Probably the newsboy would not have suffered acute anguish30, had he learned his stepfather's intention to disinherit him, as the well-known lines, "Who steals my purse, steals trash," might at almost any time have been appropriately applied31 to Mr. Martin's purse, when he happened to carry one.
Ben paid the toll32 at the ferry, and the two entered the boat together. He conducted Mr. Martin to the Gentleman's Cabin, where he found him a seat in the corner. James Martin sank down, and closed his eyes in a drowsy33 fit, produced by the liquor he had drunk.
Ben took a seat opposite him.
"You're an interestin' object," soliloquized Ben, as he looked across the cabin at his companion "It's a great blessin' to be an orphan, if a feller can't own a better father than that. However, I'll stick to him till I get him home. I wonder what he'd say if he knowed what I was goin' with him for. If things don't go contrary, I guess I'll get the little girl away from him afore long."
"There aint no hurry," thought Ben; "I'll let him sleep a little while."
After the boat had made three or four trips, Ben went across and shook Martin gently.
The latter opened his eyes, and looked at him vacantly.
"What's the matter?" he said, thickly.
"We've got to Brooklyn," said Ben. "If you want to go home, we'll have to go off the boat."
James Martin rose mechanically, and, walking through the cabin, passed out upon the pier, and then through the gates.
"Where'll we go now?" asked Ben. "Is it far off?"
"Yes," said Martin. "We'll take a horse-car."
"All right, gov'nor; just tell us what one we want, and we'll jump aboard."
Martin was sufficiently in his senses to be able to impart this information correctly. He made no objection to Ben's paying the fare for both, which the latter did, as a matter of policy, thinking that in his present friendly relations with Mr. Martin he was likely to obtain the information he desired, with considerably35 less difficulty than he anticipated. On the whole, Ben plumed36 himself on his success, and felt that as a detective he had done very well.
Martin got out at the proper place, and Ben of course got out with him.
"That's where I live," said Martin, pointing to the house. "Won't you go in?"
"Thank you for the compliment," said Ben; "but I've got some important business to attend to, and shall have to be goin'. How's your headache?"
"It's better," said Martin.
"Glad to hear it," said Ben.
Martin, on entering the house, was informed of the ill-conduct of Rose, as Mrs. Waters chose to represent it, and that in consequence she had been shut up in the cellar.
"Keep her there as long as you like," said Martin. "She's a bad girl, and it won't do her any harm."
If Rose had known that an agent of her brother's was just outside the house, and was about to carry back to Rufus tidings of her whereabouts, she would have felt considerably better. There is an old saying that the hour which is darkest is just before day.
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1
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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3
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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improvident
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| adj.不顾将来的，不节俭的，无远见的 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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7
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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8
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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9
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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10
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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solicits
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| 恳请 | |
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12
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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15
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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16
erectness
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| n.直立 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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19
calumny
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| n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤 | |
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20
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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21
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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22
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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23
deigning
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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26
locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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30
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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31
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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32
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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33
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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34
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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35
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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36
plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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