Grit or The Young Boatman of Pine Point 39
Then the thought came to him, for, though he was a country boy, his wits
had been sharpened by his recent experiences. "It must be a storehouse
of stolen goods."
This supposition seemed in harmony with the character of the man who had
lured him here, and now held him captive.
"If I were only outside," thought Grit, "I would tell Mr. Baker of this.
The police ought to know it."
Just then he heard his name called, and, turning suddenly, distinguished
by the faint light which the candle threw into the passage the stern and
menacing countenance of Colonel Johnson.
"Come out here, boy!" he called, in an angry tone. "I have an account to
settle with you."
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AN UNPLEASANT INTERVIEW.
There was nothing to do but to obey. Judging by his own interpretation
of the discovery our hero was not surprised that his captor should be
incensed. He retraced his steps, and found himself once more in the
subterranean chamber facing an angry man.
"What took you in there?" demanded Colonel Johnson.
"Curiosity, I suppose," answered Grit composedly. He felt that he was in
a scrape, but he was not a boy to show fear or confusion.
"How did you happen to discover the entrance?"
"It was quite accidental. I was pacing the floor to see how wide the
room was, when my hand touched the spring."
"Why did you want to know the width of the room?" asked Johnson
suspiciously.
"I didn't care much to know, but the time hung heavily on my hands, and
that was one way of filling it up."
Colonel Johnson eyed the boy attentively. He was at a loss to know
whether Grit really suspected the nature and meaning of his discovery,
or not. If not, he didn't wish to excite suspicion in the boy's mind. He
decided to insinuate an explanation.
"I suppose you were surprised to find the passageway," he remarked.
"Yes, sir."
"As you have always lived in the country, that is natural. Such
arrangements are common enough in the city."
"I wonder whether trap doors are common," thought Grit, but he did not
give __EXPRESSION__ to his thought.
"The room into which you looked is under the house of my brother-in-law,
and the passage affords an easy mode of entrance."
"I should think it would be easier going into the street," thought Grit.
"Still I am annoyed at your meddlesome curiosity, and shall take
measures to prevent your gratifying it again. I had a great mind when I
first saw you to shut you up in the passage. I fancy you wouldn't enjoy
that."
"I certainly shouldn't," said Grit, smiling.
"I will have some consideration for you, and put a stop to your
wanderings in another way."
As he spoke he drew from his pocket a thick, stout cord, and directing
Grit to hold his hands together, proceeded to tie his wrists. This our
hero naturally regarded as distasteful.
"You need not do this," he said. "I will promise not to go into the
passage."
"Humph! Will you promise not to attempt to escape?"
"No, sir, I can't promise that."
"Ha! you mean, then, to attempt to escape?"
"Of course!" answered Grit. "I should be a fool to stay here if any
chance offered of getting away."
"You are candid, young man," returned Johnson. "There is no earthly
chance of your escaping. Still, I may as well make sure. Put out your
feet."
"You are not going to tie my feet, too, are you?" asked Grit, in some
dismay.
"To be sure I am. I can't trust you after what you have done this
morning."
It was of no use to resist, for Colonel Johnson was a powerful man, and
Grit, though strong, only a boy of sixteen.
"This doesn't look much like escaping," thought Grit. "I hope he won't
search my pockets and discover my knife. If I can get hold of that, I
may be able to release myself."
Colonel Johnson had just completed tying the last knot when the door,
which had been left unbolted, was seen to open, and the half-witted
boy, Daniel, entered hastily.
"How now, idiot!" said Johnson harshly. "What brings you here?"
"There's a gentleman up-stairs wants to see you, master," said Daniel,
with the scared look with which he always regarded his tyrant.
"A gentleman!" repeated Johnson hastily. "Who let him in?"
"I did, sir."
"You did!" thundered Johnson. "How often have I told you to let in
nobody? Do you want me to choke you?"
"I--forgot," faltered the boy. "Besides, he said he wanted to see you
particular."
"All the more reason why I don't want to see him. What does he look
like?"
"He's a small man, sir."
"Humph! Where did you leave him?"
"Room above, sir."
"I'll go up and see him. If it's somebody I don't want to see, I'll
choke you."
"Yes, sir," said Daniel humbly.
As Johnson went out, Daniel lingered a moment, and, in a hoarse whisper,
said to Grit: "It's him."
"Who is it?" asked Grit puzzled.
"It's the man you sent me to."
"Good! You're a trump, Daniel," said Grit joyfully.
A minute after a confused noise was heard in the room above. Daniel
turned pale.
"Tell him where I am, Daniel," said Grit, as the boy timidly left the
room.
CHAPTER XL.
COLONEL JOHNSON COMES TO GRIEF.
We must now follow Johnson up-stairs.
In the room above, sitting down tranquilly in an arm-chair, but not in
that in the center of the room, was a small, wiry man of unpretending
exterior.
"What is your business here, sir?" demanded Johnson rudely.
"Are you the owner of this house?" asked Benjamin Baker coolly.
"Yes. That does not explain your presence here, however."
"I am in search of a quiet home, and it struck me that this was about
the sort of a house I would like," answered Baker.
"Then, sir, you have wasted your time in coming here. This house is not
for sale."
"Indeed! Perhaps I may offer you enough to make it worth your while to
sell it to me."
"Quite impossible, sir. This is my house, and I don't want to sell."
"I am sorry to hear it. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me over
the house to let me see its arrangements, as I may wish to copy them if
I build."
"It strikes me, sir, you are very curious, whoever you are," said
Johnson angrily. "You intrude yourself into the house of a quiet
citizen, and wish to pry into his private arrangements."
"I really beg your pardon, Mr. ---- I really forget your name."
"Because you never heard it. The name is of no consequence."
"I was about to say, if you have anything to conceal, I won't press my
request."
"Who told you I had anything to conceal?" said Johnson suspiciously.
"I inferred it from your evident reluctance to let me go over your
house."
"Then, sir, I have only to say that you are mistaken. Because I resent
your impertinent intrusion, you jump to the conclusion that I have
something to conceal."
"Just so. There might, for example, be a trap-door in this very
room----"
Colonel Johnson sprang to his feet and advanced toward his unwelcome
guest.
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