Allen Chapman

“ He expressed regret at the necessity which so unexpectedly called him abroad, and said his trip could not be postponed.
“But you will have a good time with your aunt,” he added with a smile. “She knows as much about New York as I do, and will have more opportunities to take you around.”
“Perhaps I had better telegraph the other boys not to come,” suggested Ned. “It may inconvenience you.”
“No, no; let them come and welcome!” exclaimed Mrs. Kenfield. “I love boys. We’ll have a fine time. I have lots of room, and I want you and your chums to enjoy this visit to New York.” ”

“ It was a crisp November day, with a suggestion of more cold to come, and the first few flakes had been followed by others while the boys waited until Bart, whose hand was almost well again, got the runners from the cellar.
“Looks as if we’d have quite a storm,” remarked Jim Dodd, the driver of the express wagon, whom the boys had hired to take their stuff to a point about two miles inside the woods. The road, which was made by lumbermen, came to an end there. “Yes sir,” Jim went on, “it’s goin’ t’ be a good storm. You boys better stay home.”
“Not much!” cried Ned. “A storm is what we want.” ”

“ Ned decided. “I’ll stay in New York until—well until something happens. But the worst of it is I can’t even write to the folks at home. I can’t let them know what has occurred. I wonder what the boys will do when they come and find the house closed? If I send a letter to father the postal authorities can trace where it came from and get me. A telegram would be as bad. I’m just like a prisoner who can’t communicate with his friends. The only thing to do is to stick it out until something happens. If they would only arrest Skem & Skim maybe their testimony would clear me. ”

“ The door was opened and a little girl peered out.
“Can we come in and get warm?” asked Ned. “We’re lost in the storm.”
“Who is it?” asked a woman’s voice, as she came to the door.
“We were camping out,” explained Bart, “and the storm caught us as we were about to go home. We live in Darewell.”
“Come in!” the woman exclaimed. “Our cabin is poor enough but it is better than the woods in such a storm. I’m sorry we can’t offer you anything to eat, but we have only a little for ourselves and there’s no telling when we’ll get more.”
“And to-morrow’s Thanksgiving,” murmured Ned in a low voice. ”

“ With a hasty look up at the window of his room he had just left, and from which the rope still dangled, Ned, in worse plight than he had been before, hurried away. Once more he felt himself an outcast, without a place to go.
“When they see that rope they’ll suspect I’m some sort of a criminal,” he reflected bitterly. “What a lot of trouble a fellow can get into without meaning it,” he reflected. “This is the last time I’ll ever buy stocks or bonds on my own responsibility. I guess dad can manage finances until I learn the ropes a little better.” ”

“ But New York seemed to be overflowing with men and boys on the same errand. Every place where Ned applied, either from seeing a sign “Boy Wanted,” or by getting the address from a newspaper he bought, had been taken or else he would not fill the bill. All day long he tramped, spending a few cents for some buns and coffee at a lunch stand. At night, tired and discouraged, he went back to the lodging house where he had last stayed, and again got a fifteen cent bed.
“To-morrow’s Thursday,” thought Ned, as he crawled under his overcoat, which he once more used as a blanket. ”

“ Mrs. Perry exclaimed with a sigh. “I wonder if he will have as nice a Thanksgiving dinner as we will, thanks to the generosity of you boys.”
“We’ll hope so,” said Fenn. “So you haven’t any idea where he is?”
“Not the least. He used to say he wanted to see New York, as I suppose all boys do. But I hardly believe he is there. I wish I knew where he was. He should come home, pride or not, no matter if he hasn’t a cent.”
“New York,” murmured Ned. “I expect to go there soon. I might see Willie.”
“Oh! If you only could!” exclaimed Jane. “Tell him to come home at once. You can easily recognize him. ”

“ Perry, telling her of the unexpected finding of her wandering boy, the three chums told the waif their reason for being in New York.
“And you haven’t been able to find a trace of Ned, eh?” asked William, musingly.
“Not a trace,” replied Frank. “But don’t let our troubles worry you. You must get strong and hurry home to your mother.”
“Say, let me help you!” exclaimed William eagerly. “Maybe I can pay you back for your kindness. I know New York like a book. I’ve knocked all around it for the last six months. Maybe I can locate Ned for you. ”

“ Wilding, and he spoke a little gravely, “I’m not going to stand in your way. I’ve allowed you to take that hundred dollars to invest as you please. Now I’m not going to advise you. If I did I might as well invest the money myself. I want you to learn to be a business man and the best way to learn is by experience, though it isn’t always the easiest way. If you want to buy stock in that oil company do so. If you get ‘bitten’ you do so with your eyes open.” ”

“ The words struck a chill of terror to Ned’s heart. Must he spend the rest of the night in a cell? The man’s manner showed no relenting. He either believed Ned had robbed him or was insisting on the charge for some reason of his own.
“Are you in earnest about this?” asked Ned, as he put on his hat and overcoat.
“You can make up your mind to that,” was the man’s answer. “It’ll be the jail for yours, in a little while, if you don’t give me back my money. It isn’t too late. I can fix it with the cop if you’ll give up. Why look here, kid, they’ll search you and find it on you. ”

“ Why young impudence, I’m the proprietor of this lodging house! I live here! That’s why. Hey, Bill!” he called in a loud voice, “come here. There’s trouble.”
In answer to the summons a big man, evidently the night porter or watchman, came shuffling down the corridor.
“What’s the trouble, boss?” he asked, and Ned began to believe the man had spoken the truth when he said he was the proprietor of the place.
“Why, here’s a kid comes into my room when I’m asleep and takes my cash right from under my pillow. ”

“ CHAPTER V THE BLIZZARD
“Now for some more game!” cried Ned, as Frank tied the legs of the turkey and slung the bird across his back in true hunter fashion.
“Guess we’ll have to tramp a long distance before we get any more,” remarked Fenn. “All the turkeys for a mile around heard the guns and they’ll keep to deep cover.”
However the boys, ever hopeful, resumed their tramp. They found plenty of turkey tracks but no birds, and, after covering several miles, decided to make their way back to camp, as it was getting dark early on account of the storm. ”

“ He felt the rustle of the stock certificate in his pocket as he took the pen. What was he to do?
“Is it necessary to register?” he asked.
“Course it is,” replied the clerk looking at him curiously. “That’s the law. Everybody who stops at a hotel has to put their name on the book. What’s the matter? You ain’t afraid to register, are you? Don’t look as though you’d committed a murder or had robbed some one,” and the clerk grinned at his joke.
“No, of course not,” Ned replied, his heart thumping away under his overcoat. ”

“ But still less did they like the thought of pulling their heavy sled five miles.
“Look here, Sandy!” exclaimed Ned. “This is a strict business proposition. Will you drive us to Darewell for four dollars, and take our sled? That’s a dollar apiece, and it’s more than livery prices. We’re not asking you out of friendship.”
“No, and I guess you’d better not!” exclaimed Sandy. “Not the way you acted toward me!”
“We never injured you in any way!” said Bart. “But we’re not going to discuss that now. Will you give us a lift for money, or won’t you?” ”

“ They looked so good they made Ned’s mouth fairly water.
“I’m going to have some,” he decided. “It will take fifteen cents, if I get coffee with them, but it’s worth it. I’ll make this meal do for dinner too. But supper—”
Ned did not dare carry his thoughts further. All he knew was that he was very hungry, and at least he had money enough to pay for a simple meal. Supper must take care of itself.
“Maybe I can get a night’s lodging at some free place, and save the rest of my money for supper and breakfast to-morrow,” Ned thought to himself as he entered the restaurant. ”

“ He wouldn’t stay in New York, where he doesn’t know a soul, after his aunt and uncle left.”
“Then I s’pose the only thing for us to do is to follow Ned back to Darewell,” suggested Bart. “Here’s an end to our holiday. Too bad!”
“Why need we go back?” asked Frank. “We’re here in New York. It may be many years before we have another chance like this. We have enough money to last us a week or more, even if we have to stay at a hotel.”
“What do you mean?” asked Fenn.
“Why not spend a week in New York anyhow?” Frank went on. “It’s too bad Ned has gone home. He’d stay with us if he was here. ”

“ For a few moments Sandy stood surveying the scene. It looked as if it would take several men to set matters right, even if the sleigh was not broken. Then Sandy, with a sigh, set to work unhitching the horses. He led them from the ice and tied them to a tree on shore. Then he began moving the bags of feed so as to get a clear place around the vehicle. The chums watched him for a few minutes. They were thinking, as no doubt Sandy was, of that day when he had refused them a lift.
“It’s a good chance to get square,” murmured Bart to his companions. ”

“ In this way Bart and his companions could scrutinize at short range nearly every person in the throng.
“Aren’t you getting tired of it?” asked Bart one evening when they were starting out for a large lodging house on the Bowery.
“I don’t mind it a bit,” replied John. “I’d do more than this to help find Ned. Besides, it’s a good advertisement for me. You see the fellows in these places hear me, and when they see my name on the theatrical bill boards they’ll come in. You can’t get too much advertising when you’re an actor,” and John looked quite important. ”

“ New Yorkers have formed the habit of not taking much interest in affairs that do not concern them directly.
As they were crossing a narrow street in one of the thickly settled tenement districts a horse, attached to a wagon, and rapidly driven, bore down on them. Ned, with the instinct of a quick runner, started to dash ahead. Cassidy, who moved slower, pulled back toward the curb, to let the steed pass. The movement separated Ned from his captor, for Cassidy’s hold on the boy’s sleeve was broken. Ned was free! ”

“ It informed those who cared to know that the place was the “Owl Lodging House,” and that single beds could be had for fifteen cents a night, or a room including the privilege of a bath, for twenty-five cents.
“That about fits my pocketbook,” Ned reasoned. “Twenty-five cents a night is cheaper than a dollar, and I’ve got to be saving. I wonder if it’s clean? It seems like living in a tenement house, but I s’pose lots of men have to. I’ll try it anyhow. If I don’t like the looks of it I can leave.”
He walked up the stairs. ”

“ Ned rejoined. “Frank’s a queer chap anyhow.”
“I think he’s nice,” remarked Alice.
“So do I,” chimed in Jennie.
“Who said he wasn’t?” demanded Bart. “Can’t a fellow make a remark about his chum without being found fault with?”
“I don’t think it’s nice to say he’s queer,” Alice said.
“Why he admits it himself,” her brother put in. “He doesn’t care what we say about him. We call him queer about twice a week; don’t we fellows.”
“Sure,” replied Ned, coming to his chum’s support.
[75] “Well, never mind,” Alice rejoined. “Let’s hurry home or we’ll be blown into the next county.” ”

“ Now the thing for us to do is to find him.”
“But how?” asked Fenn.
“There are dozens of ways. We must communicate with the police and ask their help.”
“Ned wouldn’t like that,” interposed Bart. “He’s not a criminal.”
“Of course not,” Frank answered. “But the police have to help find lots of persons who are not criminals. If Ned’s in trouble we want to know it as soon as possible so we can help him.”
“Then the sooner we start the better,” suggested Bart. “Where ought we to begin?”
“Let’s ask the agent here at the station where Ned’s train came in,” Frank said. “Perhaps he may have noticed him.” ”

“ This is enough to arouse excitement anywhere, but in a New York tenement nothing can sooner be calculated to draw the inmates from their rooms, than such an alarm, unless, indeed, it be one of fire.
No sooner had the first cry resounded through the corridor than the hall was swarming with people. Ned found his way blocked, the more effectually when one woman ran to the front door and closed it.
“I’ve caught you!” she exclaimed. “I’ll teach you to rob honest people, even if they are poor!” ”

“ Ned after walking about the streets for awhile went back to the same restaurant where he had dined before, as he did not fancy the looks of his hotel well enough to eat there. He strolled about through the brilliantly lighted streets after supper pondering on his curious plight, and then went back to the Imperial.
As he approached the desk to get to the elevator he saw a stout man in close conversation with the clerk. He could hear the latter, in reply to some question, say:
“Guess we haven’t got anybody here you want, Jim. No new ones came except a kid. ”

“ Ned slowed his pace down from a run to a rapid walk, as he noticed that several persons were looking curiously at him. He did not want to attract attention.
“What had I better do?” he asked himself. [133] “If I stay here I’m liable to arrest any moment. If I go home I’m sure of it as soon as I get off the train, as every one at the depot knows me. But they don’t here,” he added, as a thought came to him. “That’s one good thing. I’m an utter stranger in New York. The only persons who know me are my uncle and aunt. They are far enough off. ”