Chapter 22 An Old Acquaintance Turns Up

    In his new position Rodney could easily hear the conversation which took place between the Western man and his old railroad acquaintance.

    "I am quite a man of leisure," said Wheeler, "and it will give me great pleasure to go about with you and show you our city."

    "You are very obliging."

    "Oh, don't mention it. I shall really be glad to have my time occupied. You see I am a man of means -- my father left me a fortune -- and so I am not engaged in any business."

    "You are in luck. I was brought up on a farm in Vermont, and had to borrow money to take me to Montana four years ago."

    "I hope you prospered¹ in your new home?"

    "I did. I picked up twenty five thousand dollars at the mines, and doubled it by investment in lots in Helena."

    "Very neat, indeed. I inherited a fortune from my father -- a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars -- but I never made a cent myself. I don't know whether I am smart enough."

    "Come out to Montana and I'll put you in a way of making some money."

    "Really, now, that suggestion strikes me favorably. I believe I will follow your advice. When shall you return to your Western home?"

    "In about a fortnight I think."

    "You must go to the theater tonight. There is a good play on at the Madison Square."

    "I don't mind. When can I get ticket?"

    "I'll go and secure some. It is only a few blocks away."

    "Do so. How much are the tickets?"

    "A dollar and a half or two dollars each."

    "Here are five dollars, if it won't trouble you too much."

    "My dear friend, I meant to pay for the tickets. However, I will pay next time. If you will remain here I will be back in twenty minutes."

    Louis Wheeler left the hotel with the five dollars tucked away in his vest pocket.

    He had no sooner disappeared than Rodney went forward and occupied his seat.

    "Excuse me, sir," he said to the miner, "but do you know much of the man who has just left you?"

    "I only met him here. He seems a good natured fellow. What of him?"

    "He said he was a man of independent means."

    "Isn't he?"

    "He is a thief and an adventurer."

    The miner was instantly on the alert.

    "How do you know this?" he asked.

    "Because he stole a box of jewelry² from me in the cars some months ago."

    "Did you get it again?"

    "Yes; he left the train, but I followed him up and reclaimed³ the jewelry."

    "Was it of much value?"

    "They were family jewels, and were worth over a thousand dollars."

    "Do you think he wants to bunco me?"

    "I have no doubt of it."

    "I have given him money to buy theater tickets. Do you think he will come back?"

    "Yes. He wouldn't be satisfied with that small sum."

    "Tell me about your adventure with him."

    "I will do it later. The theater is so near that he might come back and surprise us together. I think he would recognize me."

    "Do you advise me to go to the theater?"

    "Yes, but be on your guard."

    "Where can I see you again?"

    "Are you staying at this hotel?"

    "Yes. Here is my card."

    Rodney read this name on the card:

    JEFFERSON PETTRIGREW.

    "I wish you were going to the theater with us."

    "It wouldn't do. Mr. Wheeler would remember me."

    "Then come round and breakfast with me tomorrow -- at eight o'clock, sharp."

    "I will, sir. Now I will take a back seat, and leave you to receive your friend."

    "Don't call him my friend. He seems to be a mean scoundrel."

    "Don't let him suspect anything from your manner."

    "I won't. I want to see him expose his plans." Five minutes afterwards Louis Wheeler entered the hotel.

    "I've got the tickets," he said, "but I had to buy them of a speculator, and they cost me more than I expected."

    "How much?"

    "Two and a half apiece. So there is no change coming back to you."

    "Never mind! As long as you had enough money to pay for them it is all right."

    As a matter of fact Wheeler bought the tickets at the box office at one dollar and fifty cent each, which left him a profit of two dollars. When he saw how easily the Western man took it he regretted not having represented that the tickets cost three dollars each.

    However, he decided⁴ that there would be other ways of plundering⁵ his new acquaintance. He took his seat again next to the miner.

    "It is not very late," he said. "Would you like a run out to Central Park or to Grant's Tomb?"

    "Not today. I feel rather tired. By the way, you did not mention your name."

    "I haven't a card with me, but my name is Louis Wheeler."

    "Where do you live, Mr. Wheeler?"

    "I am staying with an aunt on Fifth Avenue, but I think of taking board at the Windsor Hotel. It is a very high toned house, and quite a number of my friends board there."

    "Is it an expensive hotel?"

    "Oh, yes, but my income is large and -- -- "

    "I understand. Now, Mr. Wheeler, I must excuse myself, as I feel tired. Come at half past seven and we can start for the theater together."

    "Very well."

    Wheeler rose reluctantly, for he had intended to secure a dinner from his new acquaintance, but he was wise enough to take the hint.

    After he left the room Rodney again joined Mr. Pettigrew.

    "He didn't give me back any change," said the Western man. "He said he bought the tickets of a speculator at two dollars and a half each."

    "Then he made two dollars out of you."

    "I suppose that is the beginning. Well, that doesn't worry me. But I should like to know how he expects to get more money out of me. I don't understand the ways of this gentry⁶."

    "Nor I very well. If you are on your guard I think you won't be in any danger."

    "I will remember what you say. You seem young to act as adviser⁷ to a man like me. Are you in business?"

    "At present I am out of work, but I have money enough to last me three months."

    "Are you, like my new acquaintance, possessed⁸ of independent means?"

    "Not now, but I was six months ago."

    "How did you lose your money?"

    "I did not lose it. My guardian⁹ lost it for me."

    "What is your name?"

    "Rodney Ropes."

    "You've had some pretty bad luck. Come up to my room and tell me about it."

    "I shall be glad to do so, sir."

    Mr. Pettigrew called for his key and led the way up to a plain room on the third floor.

    "Come in," he said. "The room is small, but I guess it will hold us both. Now go ahead with your story."

    In a short time Rodney had told his story in full to his new acquaintance, encouraged to do so by his sympathetic manner. Mr. Pettigrew was quite indignant, when told of Jasper's mean and treacherous¹⁰ conduct.

    "That boy Jasper is a snake in the grass," he said. "I'd like to give him a good thrashing."

    "There isn't any love lost between us, Mr. Pettigrew, but I think it will turn out right in the end. Still I find it hard to get a place in New York with him circulating stories about me."

    "Then why do you stay in New York?"

    "I have thought it might be better to go to Philadelphia or Boston."

    "I can tell you of a better place than either."

    "What is that?"

    "Montana."

    "Do you really think it would be wise for me to go there?"

    "Think? I haven't a doubt about it."

    "I have money enough to get there, but not much more. I should soon have to find work, or I might get stranded¹¹."

    "Come back with me, and I'll see you through. I'll make a bargain with you. Go round with me here, and I'll pay your fare out to Montana."

    "If you are really in earnest I will do so, and thank you for the offer."

    "Jefferson Pettigrew means what he says. I'll see you through, Rodney."

    "But I may be interfering¹² with your other friend, Louis Wheeler."

    "I shall soon be through with him. You needn't worry yourself about that."

    Mr. Pettigrew insisted upon Rodney's taking supper with him. Fifteen minutes after Rodney left him Mr. Wheeler made his appearance.

1 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

2 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

3 reclaimed   

adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 plundering   

掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The troops crossed the country, plundering and looting as they went. 部队经过乡村，一路抢劫掳掠。
• They amassed huge wealth by plundering the colonies. 他们通过掠夺殖民地聚敛了大笔的财富。

6 gentry   

n.绅士阶级，上层阶级

参考例句：

• Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
• Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。

7 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

8 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

9 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

10 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

11 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

12 interfering   

adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词

参考例句：

• He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
• I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。