Dan The Newsboy 23

Dan The Newsboy 23

CHAPTER XIX.

 

DAN AS A GOOD SAMARITAN.

 

 

"What made your husband treat you so badly?" asked Dan.

 

"Rum!" answered the woman. "Rum has been sinking him lower and lower,

and it's easy to see the end."

 

"What will be the end?"

 

"The prison--perhaps the gallows."

 

"You are taking too dark a view of your husband," said Dan, soothingly.

"He won't go as far as that."

 

The woman shook her head.

 

"I know him only too well," she said. "This very evening he has been

planning a burglary."

 

Dan started, and a sudden suspicion entered his mind.

 

"Did you hear him doing it?" he asked.

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you know where it is?" he asked, eagerly.

 

"Yes; it is a store on Pearl street."

 

Dan felt that he was on the track of a discovery. He was likely to be

repaid at last for the hours he had spent in detective service.

 

"Who put him up to it?" he asked, fixing his eyes intently on the woman.

 

"I don't know his name; he is a well-dressed man. I think he is in the

store."

 

"Was it a man who came to your rooms this evening?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Is this the way he looked?" Here Dan gave a rapid description of

Talbot.

 

"That is the man. Do you know him?"

 

"Yes, I know him. He is the book-keeper of the firm."

 

"He is a bad man. He is to pay a thousand dollars for the job. Bill is

to have half of it."

 

"Bill, I suppose, is your husband?"

 

"Yes."

 

Dan looked thoughtful. Here was a most important discovery. He must

consider what to do.

 

By this time they had reached a small public-house, of humble exterior,

but likely to afford his companion better accommodations than she had at

home.

 

"Come in," said Dan.

 

The woman followed him, with the child in her arms. A stout German, who

appeared to be the proprietor of the establishment, was sitting in an

arm-chair, smoking a pipe. He scanned the party phlegmatically.

 

"What you wants?" he asked.

 

"Can you give this lady a room?" asked Dan.

 

"Is she your vife?" asked the German, with a broad grin.

 

"No; she is an acquaintance of mine. Her husband has driven her out of

his house in a fit of drunkenness. Can she sleep here?"

 

"Has she got any money?" asked the Dutchman, shrewdly.

 

"I will pay for her lodging."

 

"That's all right. She shall stay here."

 

"What will you charge?"

 

"Fifty cents a night for the lodging."

 

"Here it is."

 

"Will the lady go up now?" asked the landlord, upon whom the silver

half-dollar produced a visible impression.

 

"Yes," said the woman; "my poor baby is tired."

 

"You had better stay here two nights," said Dan. "Don't let your husband

know where you are just yet. Here is money to pay for another night's

lodging, and enough to buy food besides."

 

"God bless you, boy!" she said, gratefully. "But for you I should have

had to stay out all night."

 

"Oh, no; some one would have taken you in."

 

"You don't know this neighborhood; the policeman would have found me,

and taken me to the station-house. For myself I care little; but my poor

babe, who is worse than fatherless----" and she burst into tears.

 

"Keep up your courage, madam. Brighter days may be in store," said Dan,

cheerfully.

 

"I will come and see you day after to-morrow," said Dan. "Good-night."

 

Our hero must not be awarded too great credit for his generosity. He

knew that Mr. Rogers would willingly defray all expenses connected with

the discovery, and that the money he had advanced to his unfortunate

companion would be repaid. Had it been otherwise, however, his generous

heart would have prompted him to relieve the woman's suffering.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XX.

 

LAYING THE TRAIN.

 

 

Very early the next morning Dan rang the bell at Mr. Rogers' residence.

 

"Can I see Mr. Rogers?" he asked.

 

"The master won't be up for an hour," said the servant.

 

"Tell him Dan wishes to see him on business of importance."

 

The girl shrugged her shoulders.

 

"I don't think he'll see you. He was up late last night," she said.

 

"Never mind. Let him know I am here."

 

"It's very important you make yourself," said Susan, crossly.

 

"I _am_ a person of great importance," said Dan, smiling. "Mr. Rogers

will see me, you'll find."

 

Two minutes later Susan descended the stairs a little bewildered.

 

"You're to walk into the parlor," she said. "Master'll be down

directly."

 

Dan did not have long to wait. Mr. Rogers came down stairs almost

directly in dressing-gown and slippers.

 

"Well, Dan, what is it?" he asked.

 

"The store is to be broken open to-night and the safe robbed!" said Dan.

 

"Good heavens! By whom?"

 

"By two men living in Houston street--at least, one lives there."

 

"Have you any more to tell?"

 

"Yes, sir; they are employed by Mr. Talbot."

 

Mr. Rogers started.

 

"Are you sure of this?" he asked.

 

"Quite sure."

 

"How did you find out?"

 

"Partly by accident, sir."

 

"Go on. Tell me all."

 

Dan rehearsed the story, already familiar to our readers, combining with

it some further information he had drawn from the woman.

 

"I didn't think Talbot capable of this," said Mr. Rogers. "He has been

in our employ for ten years. I don't like to think of his treachery,

but, unhappily, there is no reason to doubt it. Now, Dan, what is your

advice?"

 

"I am afraid my advice wouldn't be worth much, Mr. Rogers," said Dan,

modestly.

 

"I am not sure of that. I am indebted to you for this important

discovery. You are keen and ready-witted. I won't promise to follow your

advice, but I should like to hear it."

 

"Then, sir, I will ask you a question. Do you want to prevent the

robbery, or to catch the men in the act?"

 

"I wish to catch the burglars in the act."