Cast Upon the Breakers. Alger Horatio Jr.
really do. But I am too old a traveler to be taken in by such tricks. I propose to have that casket.”
“Well, sir, you are the most impudent thief and burglar I ever met. You break into a gentleman’s room, and undertake to carry off his private property. Unless you go out at once, I will have you arrested.”
“That you can do very readily, for I have an officer within call.”
Louis Wheeler changed color. He began to see that the situation was getting serious.
“There is a great mistake here,” he said.
“I agree with you.”
The agent went to the door, and called “Constable Barlow.”
The constable promptly presented himself.
“Do you want me, sir?” he asked.
“That depends on this gentleman here. If he will peacefully restore to my young friend here yonder jewel casket I am willing to let him go. Otherwise—” and he glanced at Wheeler significantly.
“Perhaps I have made a mistake,” admitted the thief. “I had a casket exactly like this. Possibly I have taken the wrong one.”
“I have the key to the casket here,” said Rodney, “and I can tell you without opening it what it contains.”
“What did yours contain?” asked the agent.
“Jewelry,” answered Wheeler shortly.
“What articles?”
“Never mind. I am inclined to think this casket belongs to the boy.”
“Rodney, you can take it and Mr. Wheeler will probably find his where he left it.”
No objection was made, and the discomfited thief was left a prey to mortification and disappointment.
Rodney handed a dollar to the constable which that worthy official received with thanks, and he and the agent resumed their journey by an afternoon train. They saw nothing further of Louis Wheeler who sent for dinner to be served in his room.
CHAPTER V
A YOUNG FINANCIAL WRECK
“You have been very fortunate in recovering your jewels,” said the agent.
“I owe it to you,” replied Rodney gratefully.
“Well, perhaps so. If I have rendered you a service I am very glad.”
“And I am very glad to have found so good a friend. I hope you will let me pay for your ticket to New York.”
“It won’t be necessary. The interruption of our journey won’t invalidate the ticket we have.”
An hour later they reached New York.
“What are your plans, Rodney?” asked Adin Woods, who by this time had become quite intimate with his young companion.
“I shall call on my guardian, and perhaps he may give me some advice as to what I do. Where would you advise me to go—to a hotel?”
“No; it will be too expensive. I know of a plain boarding house on West Fourteenth Street where you can be accommodated with lodging and two meals—breakfast and supper, or dinner as we call it here—for a dollar a day.”
“I shall be glad to go there, for the present, at least. I haven’t much money, and must find something to do as soon as possible.”
“We will both go there, and if you don’t object we will take a room together. That will give us a larger apartment. Mrs. Marcy is an old acquaintance of mine, and will give you a welcome.”
Rodney was glad to accept his companion’s proposal. They proceeded at once to the boarding house, and fortunately found a good room vacant on the third floor. Mr. Woods went out in the evening to make a call, but Rodney was glad to go to bed at nine o’clock.
The next morning after breakfast Rodney consulted his companion as to what he should do with the casket.
“Do you want to raise money on it?” asked the agent.
“No; I shall not do this unless I am obliged to.”
“Have you any idea as to the value of the jewels?”
“No.”
“Then I will take you first to a jeweler in Maiden Lane, a friend of mine, who will appraise them. Afterwards I advise you to deposit the casket at a storage warehouse, or get Tiffany to keep it for you.”
“I will do as you suggest.”
Maiden Lane is a street largely devoted to jewelers, wholesale and retail. Rodney followed Mr. Woods into a store about midway between Broadway and Nassau Street. A pleasant looking man of middle age greeted the agent cordially.
“What can I do for you?” he asked. “Do you wish to buy a diamond ring for the future Mrs. Woods?”
“Not much. I would like to have you appraise some jewelry belonging to my young friend here.”
The casket was opened, and the jeweler examined the contents admiringly.
“This is choice jewelry,” he said. “Does your friend wish to sell?”
“Not at present,” answered Rodney.
“When you do give me a call. I will treat you fairly. You wish me to appraise these articles?”
“Yes, sir, if you will.”
“It will take me perhaps fifteen minutes.”
The jeweler retired to the back part of the store with the casket.
In about a quarter of an hour he returned.
“Of course I can’t give exact figures,” he said, “but I value the jewelry at about twelve hundred dollars.”
Rodney looked surprised.
“I didn’t think it so valuable,” he said.
“I don’t mean that you could sell it for so much, but if you wish to dispose of it I will venture to give you eleven hundred.”
“Thank you. If I decide to sell I will certainly come to you.”
“Now,” said the agent, “I advise you on the whole to store the casket with Tiffany.”
“Shall I have to pay storage in advance?” asked Rodney anxiously.
“I think not. The value of the jewels will be a sufficient guarantee that storage will be paid.”
Rodney accompanied Adin Woods to the great jewelry store on the corner of Fifteenth Street and Union Square, and soon transacted his business.
“Now, you won’t have any anxiety as to the safety of the casket,” said the agent. “Your friend of the train will find it difficult to get hold of the jewels. Now I shall have to leave you, as I have some business to attend to. We will meet at supper.”
Rodney decided to call at the office of his late guardian, Benjamin Fielding. It was in the lower part of the city.
On his way down town he purchased a copy of a morning paper. Almost the first article he glanced at proved to be of especial interest to him. It was headed—
SKIPPED TO CANADA
Rumors have been rife for some time affecting the business standing of Mr. Benjamin Fielding, the well known commission merchant. Yesterday it was discovered that he had left the city, but where he has gone is unknown. It is believed that he is very deeply involved, and seeing no way out of his embarrassment has skipped to Canada, or perhaps taken passage to Europe. Probably his creditors will appoint a committee to look into his affairs and report what can be done.
LATER—An open letter has been found in Mr. Fielding’s desk, addressed to his creditors. It expresses regret for their losses, and promises, if his life is spared, and fortune favors him, to do all in his power to make them good. No one doubts Mr. Fielding’s integrity, and regrets are expressed that he did not remain in the city and