Ned Wilding

“ Don’t know how to behave in company!”
“It takes Fenn to please the girls,” retorted Ned, and he dodged to escape a blow Stumpy aimed at him. Then the gong rang for the afternoon session and the pupils went back to their classrooms.
While the boys are at their lessons, which is about the only time, save when they are asleep, that they are not talking or doing something, there will be opportunity of telling who they are.
Ned Wilding’s mother had been dead some years. His father was cashier in the only bank in Darewell, a thriving manufacturing town not far from Lake Erie. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ Ned was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He had stood about all he could, and with the poor food and the bad sleeping places, which were all he could afford, his health was in danger.
"Come now, no loafing!" exclaimed Cassidy's coarse voice, as Ned paused a moment in his scrubbing. "When I pay a dollar and a half a day I expect good, quick work. We don't want any idlers around here."
Wearily Ned began to move the wet broom over the dirty boards. There were a number of unkempt men engaged in the same occupation. ”

“ 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. Certainly the place would not have taken a prize for cleanliness but then, Ned reflected, beggars must not be choosers. He emerged into a big room, lighted by several gas jets, and seemingly filled with men in chairs who were lolling about in all sorts of attitudes. ”

“ Something about the lad attracted William's attention.
"I wonder if that's Ned?" he said to himself. "He looks just like the boys told me he would and like that photograph Mr. Wilding had. Still I wouldn't like to make a mistake. I must get closer."
He pretended to be searching for a number on the building, and so approached near to the boy helping unload the crates.
"I'll bet it is Ned," William said to himself with conviction. "I'm going to ask him. He can't any more than say no." ”

“ 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. ”

“ Ain't any of you going to help a fellow out!" exclaimed Ned, clearing his throat with unnecessary violence. "What I mean is we've got a lot of things to eat, on our sled. We'd be glad to have you—Oh, here! Boys come on out and bring in some of the things!" and before the astonished woman knew what was happening Ned and his chums were out in the snow fairly tearing the things off the sled. In they trooped again, bearing turkeys, rabbits, and a lot of the camp food they had not eaten. ”

“ It was quite cold now, and Ned, standing half dressed as he was in the room, began to shiver. He put on his clothes.
"Guess that's a wise thing to do," the proprietor of the lodging house remarked. "You'll get a ride in the hurry-up wagon soon."
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. ”

“ The telegram from Ned's father, which the three chums received that Wednesday evening, telling them their friend was not at his home in Darewell, was a great shock to them.
"Why," remarked Bart, as he picked up the message he had dropped, "it hardly seems possible. I wonder where in the world he can be. He starts for home but he never arrives."
"Are we sure he started for home?" asked Frank.
"Why of course," Fenn answered. "Didn't the telegram from Mrs. Kenfield say so?"
"She would hardly know," Frank went on. "Ned's train for Darewell wouldn't leave until four o'clock. ”

“ From that village it was seven miles to Darewell.
"It's going to be a long pull," remarked Ned. "But I guess we can make it."
"Let's go out and see how the snow is," suggested Bart.
They found though it was quite deep it was dry and soft so that tramping through it, and pulling the sled, would not be so great an exertion as it otherwise would have been.
"We'll have to take it easy, and we may get home in time for dinner," said Frank. "Pity, though, we can't have some of our own game cooked for the feast, but we'll not arrive in time." ”

“ Wilding with a smile.
“Why, I lost my hundred dollars the first thing.”
“Not exactly lost it, Ned, though you haven’t got it. You can consider that you bought a hundred dollars worth of experience, and I think you got quite a lot for your money.”
“I certainly did,” replied Ned with conviction.
“By the way,” his father went on. “I got a telegram from your aunt. Her niece in Chicago is not as ill as was at first believed, and Mrs. Kenfield is coming home soon. She wants you boys to stay and visit her. Your uncle will be home from Europe in another week.” ”

“ I knew I'd get him!"
"You don't think this is the same one you fired at a while ago, do you?" asked Ned.
"Well, it's one just as big and just as good," retorted Bart. "I'm satisfied if he is."
He slung the gobbler, which was a large fat one, over his shoulder and went on, much pleased with himself and his new gun.
"Guess we'll have roast turkey to-night all right," Frank remarked as they trudged along.
"I guess not, if I have to cook it!" exclaimed Fenn. "It's too late to dress any birds to-night. Canned stuff and coffee for yours." ”

“ You can go off hunting and enjoy yourself while other folks work. Then because you get lost in the woods you think every one you meet has got to give you a ride. Not much! You can walk to Darewell!" And whipping up his horses Sandy drove on, laughing loudly at the predicament of the chums.
"Might have known better than to ask him," murmured Ned. "Well, fellows, I guess we'll have to walk."
It was easier traveling in the road than through the woods and across the fields, but still it was hard work. However, they managed to get a lift from a farmer when they were within a mile of town. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. I wake up just in time to see him sneak back into his room and when I get him with the goods on him he has the impudence to deny it. There's part of the cash," and he showed Ned's money, "but I want the rest. Better call a policeman, Bill." ”

“ Wilding should continue the search with a private detective he had hired, while William and Bart would make a tour of the lodging houses. Fenn and Frank were to remain at the Imperial Hotel.
“There’s no telling when a message may come from the baggage agent telling us that Ned has called for his trunk,” Bart said, “and some one ought to be ready to hurry to the depot. We’ll have to divide our forces.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ Ned made good time. He speeded down the thoroughfare until he came to where another intersected it, and turned the corner. This put him out of Cassidy’s view.
The second street was not so thronged as the one he had just left, and Ned had a chance to run [209] better. But there was this disadvantage, that he was more closely observed. On the crowded avenue a running lad attracts little attention, but when more plainly in sight, as Ned now was, he becomes an object of interest. ”

“ He turned suddenly away so the man could not observe his face. The inspector was talking to a policeman, and Ned overheard the bluecoat ask:
"Have you sent the telegram?"
"Yes, they'll be on the watch for him if he goes back home," was the reply. "They'll nab him as soon as he gets off the train. If he calls for his baggage the agent here will hold him and notify me."
Ned hurried from the depot and ran up the street as if the officer was after him. The last way of escape seemed closed. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Bart Keene, Ned Wilding, Frank Roscoe and Fenn Masterson, (who was called Stumpy, for short, because of his rather limited height and breadth of beam) , were four boys who lived in the town of Darewell. This was located not far from Lake Erie, on the Still River, a stream in which the boys fished, swam and upon which they spent many hours in their big rowboat.
With the exception of Frank Roscoe, the boys lived in the heart of the town. Their parents were fairly well off, and the boys had been chums since they attended primary school together. ”

“ I think you had better go back home, Ned. You and your friends can come and spend two months here next summer."
"Is Mary going too?" asked Ned.
"Mary is going to stay with some relatives in Long Island until I come back. I have sent a cablegram explaining matters to your uncle and it will be waiting for him when his ship arrives on the other side. Oh, poor dear Jane! I hope her case is not a severe one. It is lucky I know how to nurse. She never could get along without me. I am sorry for you, Ned."
Ned felt sorry for himself but he did not feel like inflicting his own troubles on his aunt. ”

“ A boy answered the ring of the bell which the clerk touched, and, taking Ned's grip led the way. A rattling, shaking elevator, of an antiquated type, carried Ned and his guide to the fifth floor. The young porter opened the door of a small room and set Ned's grip down inside of it.
"Here's where you bunk," he remarked.
Ned had read of the necessity for tips in New York, and handed the boy a dime. The lad seemed to welcome it.
"T'anks," he said.
"What's that rope for?" asked Ned, as he noticed one in a corner of his room.
"Fire escape. New law. All rooms has to have 'em," the boy replied. ”

“ It was still snowing the next day, and though Ned found the field pretty well covered by scores of other men and boys, he managed to earn two [191] dollars, which made him feel quite like a capitalist, as he shut the door of his lodging-house room that night.
The three chums, who wanted to find John Newton had no trouble. They met him coming from the rear of the theater, as he had done his “turn,” and was not to go on again for three hours.
The “Bird Warbler” was as much surprised to see his former acquaintances from Darewell as they were to find him engaged at a theater. ”

“ Jim said, in puzzled tones. "But it's all right. I'm sleepy to-day. Is the tower still—?" Then the exertion of talking seemed to be too much for him, and he closed his eyes again.
"Come on," said Ned. "I've got to get home and make arrangements for my New York trip."
"Oh, yes, and I must find out when I can go," Bart added. "We can have jolly sport there, fellows."
There were several family councils that night. Ned's plans were all made, and he had but to pack his trunk, ready to leave on the following Monday morning. The other chums, though, had to consult their relatives. ”