On the Monday succeeding, Scott started on his trip with a supply of samples and full instructions. His route extended as far as Cleveland, including Albany and the principal towns in New York State, besides some in Ohio.
He traveled slowly, having been told to make a thorough canvass of the places he visited.
He was everywhere well received. His bright, pleasant manner made friends, and though sometimes his youth proved at first an obstacle, in a short time he won the confidence of customers. It became clear that he understood his business.
"You are rather young to represent such a large firm as Tower, Douglas & Co," said a careful Scotch merchant in Syracuse.
"I think so myself," answered Scott, good-humoredly.
"Have they any other drummers as young?"
"I don't think so. In fact, I know they have not."
"How did they come to make an exception in your case?"
"I don't know, unless it was out of kindness."
"Then you don't think it was because you were extra smart?" asked the merchant, pointedly.
"Time will show whether I am or not," said Scott, smiling.
"Well, I will ask you a few questions, and then I can judge for myself."
Scott answered these questions freely and intelligently. He seemed to understand the different qualities of the goods he carried, and would not allow himself to make any claims for them that could not be substantiated. As a result, Mr. Cameron bought a large order.
"I begin to understand why you were selected," he said.
"I hope you think the firm was justified."
"I do. You understand your business, and you make no misrepresentations."
"Thank you, sir."
"If ever you leave your present place I will give you a position."
"Thank you still more. I will remember it."
At Elmira, Scott received the following in a letter from Mr. Douglas, the junior partner: "You are doing finely. You are beating the record."
This pleased Scott. He did not know whether he had done as well as was anticipated, but this reassured him.
Two days after Scott started on his mission, Loammi entered the store on a visit instigated by curiosity. It was partly also at the suggestion of his father, who thought through Scott's influence he might redeem his error and obtain an interest in the invention, which he believed would be very profitable.
Entering the store, Loammi looked about him, and finally spoke to a young man near the door.
"Is a boy named Scott Walton employed here?" he asked.
The clerk addressed was a friend of Scott, and guessed who it was that was inquiring about him. He was tempted to play a joke on Loammi.
"There was a clerk here by that name," he answered, slowly.
"Isn't he here now?"
"He left us two or three days since.
"Has he got another place?"
"I don't think so."
Loammi brightened up. It seemed too good news to be true. His despised cousin had been discharged.
Loammi could not have heard anything that would have pleased him more.
"Do you know why he was discharged?" he asked, eagerly.
"No, I don't," answered the other, with a twinkle in his eye. "Do you know him?"
"Yes; he is a distant relation of mine."
"Then perhaps you can judge better than I why he did not give satisfaction."
"I am not at all surprised. He was too fresh. That was the matter with him."
"Dear me! How unfortunate!"
"Yes; he'll never stay long anywhere. Pa had him in his store for a while—Ezra Little's store, Eighth Avenue—but he was obliged to send him away."
"And are you Mr. Little's son?" asked the young clerk, with mock deference.
"Yes; I am his only son," answered Loammi, loftily.
"Dear me! I am proud to know you. And I suppose you will some time own the store?" continued the clerk, inquiringly.
"Probably, though I am not sure but I may become a lawyer. Do you know where Walton lives?"
"No. There are so many in the store that I know the residences of very few."
Loammi took his departure in a very complacent frame of mind. He had always been jealous of Scott, and the intelligence that he had lost his place was very agreeable to him.
It so happened that on Broadway he met Seth Lawton, whom he had not seen for a good while. Under ordinary circumstances he would have taken no notice of him, but now he had an object in speaking to him.
"Good-morning, Mr. Lawton," he said, condescendingly.
"Oh, good-morning, Loammi," rejoined the old man, who was short-sighted, when he realized who it was that had addressed him.
"Where do you think I have been?"
"I am sure I cannot tell."
"I have been to the store of Tower, Douglas & Co., to call upon Scott."
"Indeed! That was very kind of you."
"And you can imagine my surprise to find that he had been discharged."
"Is it possible?" ejaculated Seth, who at once guessed how Loammi had been misled.
"Yes."
"That is a great pity. Perhaps your father will take him back into the store."
"I don't think he will. If he don't do for Tower, Douglas & Co., he won't do for pa."
"But the poor boy must live."
"Oh, well," said Loammi, carelessly, "he can get a chance to sell papers or—black boots."
"Surely your father would not allow his young cousin to sink to that employment."
"Pa wouldn't interfere. I have heard him say that he has washed his hands of Scott. If he had behaved himself it would have been different."
"Poor boy! I must see what I can do for him."
"You'd better not, Cousin Seth. You are a poor man, and it will be all you can do to look after yourself."
"Still, Loammi, consider Scott's position."
"He must look out for himself. I advise you not to call round and ask pa to take him back."
"I must think what I can do for him."
"The old man feels pretty bad," thought Loammi. "Well, they are a good match. For my part I don't think much of poor relations."
Loammi hurried home to impart the welcome news to his father.
"What do you think, pa?" he burst out. "Scott's lost his position."
"Is this true, Loammi?" asked his father, in some surprise.
"Yes, pa; I went to the store this morning, and one of the clerks told me."
"Do you know what was the matter?"
"Oh, I suppose he was too fresh. Now, I suppose, he will be trying to come back to you."
"I might agree to take him if he would come back on the old terms."
"You don't mean it, pa! After he has lost his place, too!"
"Oh, well, I could look after him. He would be worth his board."
"One thing, he couldn't put on any airs after his disgrace. By the way, I met Mr. Lawton on Broadway."
"Cousin Seth?"
"Yes."
"Did he have anything to say about Scott's discharge?"
"He didn't appear to know anything about it till I told him."
"Do you know where Scott boards?"
"No."
"Oh, well, he will probably be coming around to see me after a while. I should like to have him, as I want to get at that inventor through him."
"Do you think there's money in it, pa?"
"As I should manage it there might be," said his father, cautiously.
Mr. Little looked for Scott from day to day, but three weeks passed and he heard nothing from him.
On his way back from Cleveland, Scott, having the necessary leisure, stopped a couple of days at Niagara Falls. He registered his name at the Clifton House, on the Canada side.
He lost no time in visiting the objects of interest connected with the falls, and at the close of the first day sat on the piazza, with the falls in sight.
A blond-bearded young man of perhaps twenty-five, evidently an Englishman, sat near by. He looked at Scott once or twice, as if tempted to speak, but a certain reticence characteristic of his countrymen appeared to prevent.
Scott observed this, and made a remark by way of opening a conversation.
"Yes," answered the young man, "you are right. The falls are grand. You Americans ought to be very proud of them."
"But," said Scott, smiling, "I am not an American."
The Englishman looked surprised, for Scott,though he had only been in America a year, had come to resemble the people among whom he had cast his lot.
"What, then, are you?" inquired his new acquaintance, looking puzzled.
"I was born in England."
"Indeed!" said the other. "Then we are countrymen."
"I am glad to know it," said Scott, courteously.
"How long have you been in America, if I may ask?"
"A little more than a year."
"And do you live in Canada?"
"No, I live in New York."
"You are not—in business?" queried the Englishman, noticing his youthful appearance.
"Oh, yes, I am employed by a New York firm."
"But how do you happen—excuse my asking—to be here? But perhaps it is your vacation."
"No, I am traveling for the firm. I am a traveling salesman for the house of Tower, Douglas & Co."
"That is a large firm, I have heard."
"One of the largest in New York."
"I confess I am puzzled. You occupy such a responsible position, and yet you are so young."
"I believe my case is exceptional. I am the youngest traveler for our house."
"I rejoice in your success, since you are an English boy. May I ask your name?"
Scott handed his new acquaintance a card like this:
SCOTT WALTONRepresentingTower, Douglas & Co.NEW YORK.
SCOTT WALTON
Representing
Tower, Douglas & Co.
NEW YORK.
"Thank you," said the other.
He took from his pocket a card, from which Scott learned that he was Lord Cecil Grant, Earl of Windermere.
"I am honored in making your acquaintance," said Scott. "May I say that you seem young to be an earl? I fancied all earls were at least fifty years of age."
"I wish that I had waited till fifty for my title," said the young Englishman, gravely; "but my poor father died suddenly, six months ago, and partly to dissipate my grief I came to America."
"Have you been here long, my lord?" asked Scott, not knowing exactly how to address his distinguished companion.
"Never mind the title," said the earl, smiling.
"It comes awkwardly to an American to use it, and you are already half an American."
"What shall I call you, then?"
"You may call me Mr. Grant, if you like. If you come to know me better, you may call me Cecil. I shall take the liberty, since you are a boy, to call you Scott."
As he spoke there was a winning smile upon his face, and Scott felt that he should like him.
"I will try to forget that you are an earl," he said, "and then I shall feel more at home with you."
"What do you say to a walk, Scott? The evening is too fine to spend here."
"I shall be delighted."
He put on his hat, and the two sauntered off together. They were both good walkers, and had covered several miles before they returned to the hotel.
"I wish I had met you before, Scott," said the earl, familiarly. "Won't you tell me something about yourself, and your history? I am sure you have one."
Almost before he knew it, Scott had told the story already familiar to the reader. The earl listened with evident interest.
"Really," he said, "it is worthy of telling in book form. That uncle of yours——"
"My mother's cousin," corrected Scott.
"No matter. We will say relative. He must certainly be a mean, disagreeable fellow, don't you know, and as to your cousin with the peculiar name——"
"Loammi."
"Yes, I never heard the name before. Well, he must be a cad."
"I think he is," said Scott, smiling; "but I assure you he considers himself infinitely above me."
"I shall not ask you for an introduction."
"He would like nothing better than to become acquainted with you, Mr. Grant."
"You compliment me. Well, here we are at the hotel. What are your plans for to-morrow? I hope you do not leave in the morning?"
"No; I shall spend another day here."
"Why not spend it together?"
"I should like nothing better," said Scott, sincerely.
"Then we will do so. I will secure a carriage in the morning, and we will make a day of it."
He was as good as his word, and Scott had a delightful time. He almost succeeded in forgettinghis companion's rank, and found him a congenial companion.
Just after supper, when the earl had gone up to his room, a pretentious-looking man of middle age, who seemed to be continually trying to assert his claim to superiority, came up to Scott.
"Boy," he said, "I understand there is an English earl staying at the hotel?"
"Yes, sir. It is the Earl of Windermere."
"Have you seen him? Could you point him out to me?"
"He has gone up to his room, but will probably be back almost immediately."
"How shall I know him?"
"He will come up and speak to me, and then we shall probably go out to walk together."
"Are you a friend of the earl?" asked Mr. Burton, in surprise.
"I think I may call myself so. We have been together all day."
Mr. Burton regarded Scott with new respect. He had unceremoniously called him "boy," but it was before he knew that he was a friend of an earl.
"Would you kindly introduce me?" he asked, eagerly.
"I am not quite sure whether he would be willing," returned Scott, with hesitation.
"Would you mind asking him?"
"If you will let me know your name, sir."
"I am Nathan Burton, of Albany. I have been an alderman," said the other, consequentially.
"I hope you may yet be mayor," answered Scott, amused.
"Stranger things have happened," rejoined Mr. Burton, complacently. "Did you come over with the earl?"
"A year earlier," returned Scott, gravely.
From this Mr. Burton inferred that they had been friends on the other side.
"And your name is——"
"Scott Walton."
"An aristocratic name!" thought the Albany alderman. "Are you related to the earl?"
"No, sir. We are only friends."
At this moment the earl entered the room, and at once went up to Scott.
"Are you ready for a walk, Scott?" he asked.
"Yes, but first——" And here in a low voice Scott communicated Mr. Burton's request.
The earl looked around at the alderman and seemed amused.
"Very well," he said, smiling.
At a signal, Mr. Burton approached.
"My lord," said Scott, formally, "allow me to present Mr. Alderman Burton, of Albany."
Mr. Burton bowed profoundly.
"I am glad to become acquainted with a representative American," said the earl, in a dignified voice, quite different from his tone in talking with Scott.
"My lord earl, I feel very much honored to make your acquaintance," said Mr. Burton, with another profound bow.
"I believe you Americans have no titles," said the earl.
"No, my lord; but I should be in favor of having them."
"In that case, you might become Earl of Albany."
"You do me proud, indeed you do, my lord," said the gratified alderman.
"I am sorry to leave you so soon, but my young friend and I propose to have a walk."
"Don't let me detain you, my lord. If I might dare to ask one favor——"
"What is it, sir?"
"If you would favor me with your card?"
With a smile, the earl produced the coveted bit of pasteboard and handed it to the alderman.
When they were fairly out of the hotel, both laughed merrily.
"Do you want me to be as respectful as Mr. Alderman Burton?" asked Scott.
"No, be yourself, Scott. That will suit me better."
Scott intended to start on his homeward journey the next morning, but an hour before he was to leave he received a telegram to the following effect:
"Wait for letter.Tower."
Scott understood at once that the letter would contain instructions from the firm, and therefore informed the earl that he would remain a day longer.
"That will suit me admirably," said the earl. "If you are at leisure, we will take a long drive."
"I shall have nothing to do till I receive my letter," answered Scott.
"Then you can join me?"
"I shall be glad to do so."
It turned out that the earl wished to ride across the country to a point some twenty miles distant. What the attraction was it is not necessary here to state. Probably the trip was undertaken chiefly for the drive.
At the end of twenty miles a village was reached,which contained a passable hotel. Here the two tourists dined, and did not leave on their return till about six o'clock.
"We shall be rather late," said the earl. "Still, our horse is a good one, and we ought to reach the hotel in two hours, or little more."
"That won't be very late."
"Then we can stop on the way somewhere."
When the travelers had proceeded half a dozen miles on their way, the horse suddenly showed signs of lameness. What had occasioned it neither could tell, but as he appeared to be in pain, it was decided, upon consultation, to stop at the next house and make arrangements to pass the night. It would be easy to start again on the following morning with the horse they had, or, if necessary, a substitute. Neither felt in haste, and the time lost would not be serious.
The next house proved to be situated on the edge of the woods. It occupied a lonely location, and seemed in rather a dilapidated state. Everything about it bore an aspect of neglect.
Scott jumped from the carriage, and went to the door.
It was opened, after he had knocked two or three times, by a careworn woman of middle age.Her face was lined, and she wore a look of depression and discouragement.
"What's your will?" she asked.
"Our horse has fallen lame, and we would like to stop here overnight, and let the horse rest. I see you have a barn."
"I don't know," said the woman, slowly. "We don't keep a hotel."
"I am quite aware of that, and we must apologize for intruding. We shall give you some trouble, but we are willing to pay for it. If five dollars will compensate you we will be glad to pay that sum for supper, lodging and breakfast for ourselves, and accommodation for our horse."
The woman seemed surprised by the liberality of the offer. In such a household five dollars was a good deal of money.
"You can come in," she said, "and I will get you some supper. My man will soon be home, and if he is willing you can stay all night."
"I hope he will soon be back, as we would like to know what to depend upon."
"He'll be here in an hour, likely."
"May we put the horse in the barn?"
"Yes, if you can do it yourself. There ain't no men folks 'round."
"Oh, yes, we will attend to it."
"I'll go right to work getting supper. I've got some eggs and bacon in the house, if that will do you."
"That will do very well, I think. You can give us some tea, too, I presume?"
"Yes, or you can have some whisky. My man always wants some."
"Thank you, but I think we should prefer tea."
"That's just as you like. I have tea for myself. My man won't drink it. He says it's only fit for women."
"Consider us women, then," said Scott, laughing. "I will go and tell my friend that you will receive us."
"If my man agrees."
"That is understood."
"What is your friend's name?"
"Mr. Grant," answered Scott, knowing that the earl would not care to have his rank known in such a place. It might have led to extravagant terms for the accommodation rendered, and Scott considered that he had already offered liberal compensation.
He communicated to the earl the result of his mission.
"Do you think we shall get decent fare?" the earl inquired.
"I think so, but we may have to rough it a little. It won't be equal to our hotel."
"Oh, well, it will be an adventure. I have roughed it before."
"I thought earls always fared luxuriously," said Scott, smiling.
"Earls, as well as other men, are subject to circumstances, and can rough it, if necessary. Some time I will tell you how I fared in Italy last winter. I confess that my appetite has been sharpened, and I am exceedingly hungry."
"So am I. We are to have bacon and eggs. I hope you have no prejudice against such a dish."
"No, it is a favorite with me. My only apprehension is, that they won't have enough to satisfy me."
In the barn the visitors found stalls for two horses, both of them unoccupied. They unharnessed their horse, or rather Scott did, for the earl, who had always had this work done for him, seemed awkward and inexperienced.
"I am sorry to put all the work upon you, Scott," he said.
"Never mind. It is no trouble."
"I suppose I ought to be ashamed of my awkwardness."
"I can easily understand that you never had to do it. In England, father for a time kept a horse, and I had the care of him."
When the horse was safely stalled, Scott and the earl came out into the yard.
"Shall we go into the house?" asked Scott.
"No, we might be in the way. Here is a fence rail. We can sit upon that."
"You are making yourself very democratic," Scott said.
"Why should I not be?"
"Our new acquaintance, Mr. Alderman Burton, would be surprised to see you sitting on a fence rail."
"I shouldn't do it before him. I should keep up my dignity, or he might be shocked."
"What do you think he asked me last evening, when you were out of the room?"
"What was it?"
"He asked me if you ever dined with the queen?"
"What did you answer?"
"Only when you were invited."
"Quite correct. As a matter of fact, I don'tthink I ever was honored by such an invitation, or, as we consider it, a command."
"He also asked me to inquire of you whether the queen wore her crown at the dinner table."
"Poor old lady; I should pity her if she were obliged to do so."
Half an hour later the woman came to the door, and looking toward them, called out: "Supper's ready."
"And so am I," said the earl, in a low voice. "I hope our hostess has made a liberal provision for us."
On entering the kitchen, where the table was spread, they found she had done so. A dozen eggs, flanked by several slices of bacon, were on a dish in the center, and there was an ample supply of butter and corn bread.
An expression of profound satisfaction lit up the faces of the two travelers.
"Thank you, madam, for kindly complying with our request. We appreciate it more because we know you do not keep a hotel."
"I hope you'll like it," replied the woman. "I misremember what the boy said your name was."
"Mr. Grant," said Scott.
"Is he your brother?"
"No; my name is Walton."
"Be you in any business, Mr. Grant?" asked the woman, who began to show curiosity.
"No, madam, not at present. I am an Englishman. Possibly my friend and I might buy out a store in Buffalo."
Scott could scarcely forbear smiling. It seemed a great joke to him to think of going into a business partnership with an earl.
They ate supper with evident enjoyment. They had about concluded it, when a heavy step was heard outside.
"That is my man," said the woman, nervously.
Scott and the earl looked up with curiosity to see him enter.
The man who entered was of medium height, thickset, and his hair and beard were red. His face was far from prepossessing.
He looked at the visitors, and then at his wife inquiringly.
"So you have company?" he said.
"Yes, Ralph," answered the woman, rather nervously. "I told them we didn't keep a hotel, but they offered me five dollars to take care of them and the horse till morning."
The man's face lost its scowl. The sum offered made an impression.
"You did right," he said. "I am willing to accommodate. Where's the horse?"
"We put him in the barn."
"All right. And where may you be from?" he asked, addressing the earl.
"I am an Englishman."
"Are you in any business?"
"Not at present."
"But you have money?"
This remark was accompanied by a look of keen curiosity.
"I have some," answered the earl, cautiously.
"He is going to buy out a store in Buffalo," put in the woman.
"What sort of a store?"
"I haven't decided yet," replied the earl, who did not choose to take the man into his confidence.
"It takes a power of money to buy a store."
"It depends on the nature of the business, I should think."
"About how much do you mean to invest?"
"Really, the fellow is getting impertinent," thought his guest.
"I don't think I can answer that question," he answered.
Their host took from a shelf a dirty clay pipe, filled it with tobacco, and began to smoke. The fumes were far from pleasant, and the earl, rising from his chair, signaled to Scott to go outside with him.
"Where are you going?" asked the red-haired man.
"We are going to take a walk."
"Has he paid you the five dollars?" asked the man, addressing his wife.
"No."
"Then you may as well hand it over," said the host.
"Certainly, if you wish it now."
"That is safest. You might take your horse and give us the slip. Then we'd be so much out."
"What do you take us for?" demanded the earl, indignantly.
"I don't know anything about you. You may be gentlemen, or——"
"This will settle the question," and the earl took out his wallet, and from a thick roll of bills picked out a five-dollar note, and handed it to the woman.
"Give it here to me, Sarah," said her husband, sharply. "I take charge of the money."
With meek obedience she passed the bill to him.
He scrutinized it closely, but the result of his inspection seemed to be favorable, and he put it away in his vest pocket.
Scott noticed that he had regarded the roll of bills with a covetous glance, and he felt that the earl had been imprudent in making such a display of his money.
"It's all right," their host said, slowly. "You're an honest man. You pay your bills."
The earl smiled, and opening the outer door, went out, followed by Scott.
"What do you think of our host, Scott?" he asked.
"I distrust him, Mr. Grant. I am sorry you showed him that roll of bills."
"It may have been imprudent, but I don't think there is any danger of his attempting to rob me."
"He was curious to learn your business. I wonder what his is."
"To-morrow we shall leave the house, and we are never likely to meet him again," said the earl, indifferently. "So it is hardly worth thinking about."
They strolled along in a leisurely way, and sat down under a tree, about a mile distant from their home. Under the same tree reclined a young man who looked like a farmer or a farmer's assistant.
"Good-evening," said the earl, courteously.
"Good-evening, sir."
"Do you live hereabouts?"
"Yes, I am working for my uncle, who owns a farm not far from here. You are a stranger, are you not?"
"Yes, my friend and myself are staying at Niagara. We were taking a long drive, but the horse went lame, and we engaged lodgings for the night about a mile from here."
"At what house?" asked the young man.
"I will tell you, and you can perhaps tell me something of the man who occupies it."
The young man listened to the description, and when it was finished shrugged his shoulders.
"I shouldn't care to be in your place," he said.
"Why not?"
"Red Ralph doesn't have a very good reputation," he explained.
"Is that what he is called?"
"Yes. You noticed his profusion of red hair. His real name is Moody, I believe, but everybody calls him Red Ralph."
"How long has he lived in this neighborhood?"
"About three years."
"What is his business, or, rather, how does he make his living?"
"That is hard to tell. I believe he trades in horses to some extent."
"Is nothing known of his history before he came here?"
"It is reported that he has been in jail. Aman who saw him there said that he was quite confident he had seen him in a visit to Joliet prison."
"Is his life reputable? Has he ever been in any trouble since he came here?"
"Nothing has been proved against him, but more than one rough-looking man has been seen in his house."
"Decidedly, Scott," said the earl, "we have not been fortunate in our selection of a lodging house. However, it is only for one night."
"Have you much money with you?" asked their new acquaintance.
"A tolerably large sum," answered the earl.
"Then, I advise you to bolt your door when you retire."
"I shall do so. Without knowing anything of our worthy host, I had formed an unfavorable opinion of him before I spoke with you."
"He will bear watching," said the young man, briefly.
"What could have been his object in establishing himself here? If he is a rogue, I don't see what opportunities he has of practicing dishonesty."
"Bear in mind that this house is not many miles from the border. If he committed a robbery inthe States, he could easily take refuge in his Canadian home, where he would be safe from arrest."
"There is something in that."
"If you don't care to remain in his house overnight, I think I could insure you a welcome from my uncle, who lives not far away."
"Thank you, but it would be awkward to make a change at this late hour. Besides, what explanation could we give?"
"Still, if you distrust him——"
"There is another consideration. We have paid in advance," suggested Scott.
"I should not mind forfeiting five dollars," said the earl. "There is one thing I should mind more."
"What is that?"
"To leave now would be a confession of cowardice. We ought—the two of us—to be a match for Red Ralph."
"I will do my share," said Scott, smiling.
"Yes, you look like a brave boy." Then, turning to the young man, "I thank you for your kind offer, but I think we will stay with Red Ralph for this one night."
Already it was getting dark, and the air was chill.
"Let us go back, Scott," said the earl. "It isnot very late, but I feel sleepy, and I think I shall retire early."
"Very well, sir."
It was not quite nine o'clock when they entered the farmhouse. There was a fire of logs in the fireplace, and before it, with his legs stretched out, sat Red Ralph. But he was not alone.
A man of dark complexion sat opposite him. He was tall and swarthy, and, though differing in appearance seemed a fitting companion for Red Ralph. Both had pipes in their mouths, and the room was pervaded by the fumes of bad tobacco.
"Well, stranger, you took a long walk," said Red Ralph, turning in his chair.
"We sat down under a tree to rest," responded the earl. "Can we have a candle?"
The woman got up from her chair at the back of the room and lighted one.
"Come with me," she said, "and I will show you your chamber."
There was nothing especially noticeable about the chamber into which Scott and the earl were ushered. It was a corner apartment, and had two windows on different sides of the room.
There was a double bed, a washstand, a small table, and two chairs, besides a plain pine bureau. There was no carpet on the floor, but beside the bed was a cheap rug.
"Will this do you?" asked the woman, as she set the candle on the table.
"Yes," answered the earl, after a comprehensive glance around the room.
"We don't keep a hotel. If we did——"
"My good lady, make no apologies. We are obliged to you for taking us in."
"I hope you'll sleep well," said the woman, with her hand on the latch.
"We generally do," replied the earl.
"Ah!" she said, and there seemed something significant in her tone.
She opened the door and went downstairs, leaving the two travelers alone.
"This isn't very luxurious, Mr. Grant," remarked Scott.
"No."
"I suppose you are used to a luxurious house?"
"When I am at home—yes; but I have knocked about the world so much that I can stand a little discomfort. How is the bed?"
He felt of the mattress, and found that it was of straw. Had there been a feather bed over it there would have been greater comfort.
"Only a straw bed," he said. "This is, certainly, Spartan simplicity. I don't think Red Ralph would be a success as an innkeeper."
"I think I can sleep, Mr. Grant," rejoined Scott. "I feel quite tired."
"Is there a lock on the door?"
Scott went forward to examine.
"Yes," he reported, "there is a lock, but no key."
"Is there a bolt?"
"No."
"I wonder," said the earl, very thoughtfully, "whether the key has been lost or intentionally removed?"
"We might ask for a key."
"No. That would make it evident that we were distrustful. Besides, it may be that the people below are not aware that there is no means of locking them out. On the whole, we will not call attention to our defenseless condition."
While they were talking, a step was heard on the stairs—a heavy step, too heavy for the woman. Then came a knock at the door.
Scott opened it.
There stood Red Ralph, holding in his hand a pitcher and glass.
"I have brought you a nightcap," he said. "I had my wife mix some whisky and water. It is good for the stomach. I drink some every night before I go to bed."
"Thank you," returned the earl, politely. "You are very considerate."
He took the pitcher and set it down on the table. Red Ralph lingered a moment, and his eyes wandered about the apartment.
There was nothing to see, however, as the travelers had brought no luggage with them, not expecting to be detained overnight.
"I hope that you will be comfortable," he said, cordially.
"Thank you."
"Do you sleep sound?"
"Generally. Do you?"
"Oh, I never wake from the time I strike the bed. At what hour shall I wake you?"
"At seven."
"Good! I will tell the wife to have breakfast at half-past seven."
"By the way, may I trouble you to look after my horse? I meant to go out to the barn before I retired."
"I will look after him. I am used to horses. I am a horse trader."
"Thank you. Good-night."
"Good-night."
"Our friend is unusually attentive," said the earl, with a glance at the pitcher.
"Yes; perhaps we have misjudged him."
"Perhaps, but I am not sure. Scott, will you hold the candle?"
He took the pitcher and peered into it attentively, rather to Scott's surprise. Then he poured out a small quantity, and tasted it.
"I hope you will excuse me from drinking, Mr. Grant," said Scott. "I promised my father I would never drink whisky."
"Even if you did indulge, I should not advise you to drink any of this."
"Why not? Is it of poor quality?"
"I am quite confident that it is drugged. It has a peculiar taste, and I detect minute particles of some foreign substance which has been mixed with it."
"Poison?" asked Scott, looking startled.
"Not so bad as that. It is only a sleeping potion. Our friend had an object in asking if we slept soundly. He means that we shall."
"Are you quite sure the whisky has been tampered with, Mr. Grant?"
"I am reasonably sure of it."
"Then of course we won't drink it."
"Certainly not, but we will appear to have done so. Open the window."
The earl poured out a glass of the whisky and emptied it out of the window. He filled the glass a second time, and again emptied it.
"That is better than to have swallowed it," he said. "I will leave a small portion in the pitcher to disarm suspicion."
"What do you think Red Ralph intends to do?" asked Scott, in a low tone.
"I think he intends to make us a visit duringthe night. As there is no way of locking the door, that will be very easily managed. Had we drunk the whisky, we should have slept so profoundly that Ralph could have ransacked the room without interference.
"Have you a pistol, Mr. Grant?"
"Yes, but I might as well be without one. I have no means of loading it."
"What, then, do you propose to do?"
"That is not easy to decide."
"Can we secure the door in any way?"
"I can think of no way."
"We might put the bureau against it."
"Yes; I will consider whether that is best. It interposes only a temporary obstacle. Then Ralph and his companion may be armed, while we are not. The two would be more than a match for us."
"I suppose they would be satisfied if you would give up your money."
"Probably, but though the loss of the money would not seriously embarrass me—it is only five hundred dollars—I decidedly object to being robbed of it. By the way, have you a newspaper with you?"
"Yes, Mr. Grant. Here it is."
The earl took the paper, and carefully tore it into strips about the size of a bank bill. Then he removed the bank bills from his wallet, put them in an inside pocket in his vest, and replaced them with strips of newspaper.
"It is a good plan to oppose roguery with artifice," he said. "Possibly this will help to circumvent the enemy."
Scarcely had he done this when Ralph's step was heard on the staircase, and a moment afterward there was a knock at the door.
"Open it, Scott."
There stood Ralph, smiling craftily.
"Have you drunk the whisky, gentlemen?" he asked. "Would you like to have me fill the pitcher again?"
"We shall not need any more, thank you," said the earl. "Perhaps you will kindly take the pitcher?"
Ralph looked into the pitcher, and his face indicated satisfaction. From the little that remained he felt assured that both his guests had drunk liberally.
"I hope you liked it," he said.
"You were very kind to think of us," rejoined the earl, avoiding a reply to his question.
"Won't you let me fill the pitcher?"
"No, we shall not need any more. I think you said it would make us sleep sound?"
"It has that effect upon me."
"I think you are right. I can hardly keep my eyes open," and the earl yawned ostentatiously.
"I feel the same way," added Scott.
Red Ralph smiled.
"Yes," he said, "I am sure you will have a good night's sleep. I will remember to call you at seven. I won't stay any longer, for you must wish to retire."
"Good-night, then."
"Now," said the earl, when the coast was clear, "we must decide what to do."
"Shall we go to bed?"
"We will lie on the bed, but it will be better not to undress. We must be prepared for any contingency."
"Shall I move the bureau against the door?"
"No. We will try to keep awake for an hour. My opinion is that our friend will make us a visit within that time."
Though the two travelers had not removed their clothes, they covered themselves up with the quilt, in order to deceive anyone entering the room. Then they lay and waited.
It was perhaps ten minutes less than the hour when they heard the door softly opened. In the half light they saw Red Ralph enter. He had removed his shoes, and was walking in his stocking feet.
The earl had hung his coat from a nail just behind the door.
Ralph saw it, and at once began to search the pockets. He only glanced carelessly at the bed, for he felt sure that the potion had done its work, and that both his guests were asleep.
In the side pocket he found the wallet. He uttered an ejaculation of satisfaction, and quickly transferred it to his own pocket.
He could not very well examine it in thedarkness. But he could tell from the feeling that it was well filled, and naturally concluded that the contents represented a large sum of money.
Having got what he wanted, he withdrew as quietly as he came, carefully shutting the door behind him.
When he had gone, Scott broke the silence.
"What will he do when he discovers that the wallet is stuffed with waste paper?"
"Probably he will be angry, and feel that he has been defrauded."
Scott laughed.
"Do you think he will make us another visit?"
"If he does, and complains of the deception, it will involve a confession that he is a thief. I confess I don't know what to anticipate."
Ten minutes later a slow step was heard ascending the staircase.
Scott and the earl listened in excitement. They could not forecast the next act in the drama.
The steps paused before the door, but the door was not opened. In place of this they heard a key turn in the lock outside. It was clear that they were locked in.
"Ralph does not mean that we should escape," said the earl.
"What shall we do?"
"I shall go to sleep. I think we are secure from any other visit. Hostilities are probably deferred till morning. What will be done then I am quite at a loss to understand, but when that time comes we can decide what to do."
When Red Ralph went downstairs after purloining the wallet, it was with a feeling of satisfaction at the apparent success of his dishonest scheme.
Below, his wife and his accomplice still sat before the fire.
"Well, Ralph?" said the latter, with an eager look of interrogation.
"I have got it," chuckled Ralph.
"I don't like such doings," said his wife, wearily. "Heaven will never prosper dishonesty."
"Shut up, Sarah," commanded Ralph, harshly. "I can't stand a sniveling woman. What I have done is my business, not yours."
"I wish they had never come. I ought to have sent them away."
"You did just right. You invited them in, and delivered them into my hands."
"Open the wallet!" said the dark man, impatiently.
Ralph seated himself in the chair which he had vacated before he went upstairs, and, with a smile, opened the wallet.
But the smile quickly faded from his face, and it grew dark with anger, as the contents were disclosed.
"Confusion!" he muttered. "Look at this!" and he threw the paper into the fire.
"What does it mean?" asked his accomplice, bewildered.
"It means that we have been fooled—tricked! They have filled the wallet with this trash, in order to deceive us."
"But are you sure that they had any money?"
"Sure? Why, I saw it with my own eyes. Didn't you, Sarah? Didn't the man pull out a thick roll of bills when he paid the five dollars he agreed upon?"
"Yes," answered the woman, reluctantly.
"There was no mistake about that. The money was real, fast enough. There must have been two or three hundred dollars."
"Where could he have put it, then?"
"I don't know."
"Why should he play such a trick upon you?"
"He evidently suspected something."
"How could he suspect a man with your honest face?"
"Be careful, Conrad! I don't allow any man to insult me," said Ralph, with lowering brow.
"Don't get mad, Ralph; I was only joking. What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know."
"The money must be somewhere in the chamber," said Conrad, suggestively.
"Probably it is, but it is concealed. I can't get at it without waking them up."
"If they drank the doctored whisky, it would be safe enough."
"I don't know whether they did drink it or not. They pretended to, but if they suspected me, they may have emptied it out of the window."
"Then you won't do anything?" asked Conrad, in evident disappointment.
"I will lock them in. I will see, at any rate, that they don't escape from the room. In the morning I will consider what is best to be done."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief. She was honest at heart, and felt no sympathy with her outlaw husband.
It was perhaps by way of consoling themselvesfor their disappointment that the two men resumed their drinking, and drank heavily.
"Go and get some more whisky, Sarah," said Ralph, for the pitcher was about empty.
The woman did so, but an idea had occurred to her. She was resolved to prevent the robbery of her guests, and to afford them a chance to escape.
She turned the tables upon her husband, and dropped into the whisky some of the same sleeping potion which had been intended for the two travelers.
Red Ralph and his accomplice were too much affected already to notice any peculiar taste in the whisky. They drank deep, getting more and more drowsy, until at last Ralph slipped from his chair to the floor, where he lay without sense or motion.
"Good-night, old fellow!" hiccoughed Conrad. "I'm with you," and he was soon lying beside his friend.
Sarah looked at the twain half remorsefully.
"Ought I to have done it?" she asked herself. "But there was no other way. I have perhaps saved my husband from prison, for the theft would surely have been found out. The man looked strong and resolute, and would not haveallowed himself to be robbed without seeking to punish the robber."
She left the two men lying upon the floor, and sought her own bed.
"They won't wake till late," she reflected, "and I can let the travelers lie till morning. I won't deprive them of their night's rest."
She went upstairs and saw the key in the lock. "I guess I will leave it there," she said, "till morning."
About five o'clock—her usual time for rising—she dressed and went upstairs. She unlocked the door, and knocked loudly upon it.
"Who is it?" asked Scott, jumping out of bed.
"It is I," answered Sarah.
Scott was agreeably surprised, for he had feared it might be Ralph.
"The door is locked," he said.
"You can open it."
He did so, and saw the nervous, half-frightened look of his hostess.
"You must get up at once," she said, "you and your friend. It is not safe to remain here."
"I had found that out. But won't your husband interfere with us?"
"He is sound asleep, and won't wake for hours.But you had better get up now, and avoid difficulty."
"Wait a minute, till I wake my friend."
But the earl was already awake. He quickly grasped the situation.
"Are you not exposing yourself to danger on our account?" he asked, earnestly, of the woman.
"No, I shall know how to manage, but go now. It is morning, and the sooner you get away the better."
"Can we get into the barn, and take our horse?"
"Yes, there will be no difficulty. Make as little noise as possible coming downstairs. My husband might awake."
"Madam," said the earl, "we are much indebted to you. Take this as an acknowledgment," and he tendered her a ten-dollar bill.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "Should my husband discover that I had money he would suspect that I had let you out. Then I should be in danger."
"Then we can only thank you."
They were already dressed, and followed the woman downstairs. They saw Ralph and his friend lying like logs on the floor, and suspectedwhy they slept so soundly. Both were snoring loudly.
With a sensation of disgust they left the house, and led the horse out of the barn. He seemed to be much better of his lameness, so that he was able to travel, though slowly. They reached Niagara in time for breakfast.