The Argosy, Vol. XI No. 19 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

302 ** No, Mr. Cooper, thanking you all the same.” ‘You haven't been homesick yet, Grant, have you ? ” ' * No; except the first day, when 1 didn't know how I was coming out.” ‘© And you wouldn’t like to be back on Mr. Tarbox’s farm again ?” ‘* Not much; but I should like to see mother again, if only fora few minutes.”’ ‘“Tf you do well, and carry home a pood sum of money, you can make things comfortable for her, you know.” ‘* That's what I am thinking of all the time.” Grant took leave of the blacksmith and went back to work. He was glad to think he had some one to call upon who reminded him of home. He worked long hours, though the labor could not be considered hard. There was one other waiter beside himself, a young man of twenty five named Albert Benton. He was thin and dark complexioned, and Grant, without being able to explain why, conceived a dislike to him. He saw that Benton was inclined to shirk work, though he received higher pay than his voung associate. He was paid five dollars per day, and had a room outside. Mr. Smithson, the proprietor of the res- taurant, had desired him to sleep in a small room over the restaurant, but he had declined todo so. Upon this the same request was made of Grant, and he complied, glad to save the price of lodging else- where. When the restaurant closed at ten o’clock, frequently Grant would go out for a short walk, as it was a relief to breathe the fresh outside air after being confined in the close atmosphere of the eating house during the day and evening. Generally he and Benton went out together, but his companion soon left him, finding a simple walk entirely too slow and unexciting for his taste. CHAPTER XIX. GRANT FALLS UNDER SUSPICION, T struck Grant as strange that his fellow waiter, though he received five dollars a day, never seemed to have any money on hand. More than once he had borrowed a couple of dollars of Grant, which, however, he always repaid. ‘* What can he do with his money ?” thought Grant. ‘‘ He gets very little chance to spend it, for he is confined in the restaurant from twelve to fourteen hours a day.” The mystery was solved when one night he saw Renton entering a notorious gambling saloon not far from the restaurant. ‘*So that is where he disposes of his money,” reflected Grant, ‘‘I wish I could venture to give hima hint. But probably he would pay it no attention, as I am a boy considerably younger than he.” He did, nowever, find occasion for speaking soon afterward. ‘* Have you ever been to the mines, Mr. Benton ?”’ he asked. ee No,” ‘* Don’t you ever expect to po ?" ‘*T would go in a minute if I had monev enough.” ‘‘T should think you might save enough in a month or two, get good pay.” ‘It’s tiresome saving from one’s daily pay. I want to make a strike. Some day I shall. I might win five hundred dollars in the next week. When I do Vil bid the old man pood by, and set out for the mines.” ‘7 believe in'saving. A friend of mine, now in San Francisco, warned me to keep clear of the gambling houses, and I would be sure to get on.” Albert Benton regarded Grant suspiciously. ‘* Does the boy know I gamble, I wonder ?” he said to himself, ‘Your frienad’s an old fogy,” he said contemptuously. ‘Don't you think his advice good ?” “Well, yes; I don't believe in gambling to any extent, but I have been in once or twice. [t did me no harm." If he had told the truth, he would have said that he went to the gambling house nearly every evening. ‘It's safest to keep away, I think.” ‘Well, yes, perhaps it is, for a kid like you.” No more was said at the time. But something happened soon which involved both Benton and his associate. Mr. Smithson, the proprietor, began to find that his receipts fell off. This puzzled him, for it appeared to him that the restaurant was doing as good a business as ever. He mentioned the matter to the senior waiter. ‘¢ Benton,” said He, ‘‘ last week I took in fifty dollars less than usual." ‘' Is that so?" asked Benton indifferently. You THE ARGOSY **Yes; I can’t understand it. Has the trade fallen off any, do you think ?” ‘* Really, I can’t say. It seemed about the same as usual—that is, the number of customers did.” ‘* So it seemed to me.” ‘* Perhaps they ordered less. Now I think of it, 1 feel sure that they did.” ‘That might explain it partially, but not so large a falling off.” ‘*T suppose you haven't thought of any other solution of the ques- tion ?”’ said Benton, slowly scrutinizing the face of his employer. ‘* Have you ?” ‘Well, sir, I have, but I don’t like to mention it.” ** Out with it !" ‘$I don’t £aow anything, sir.” ‘‘ If you suspect anything, it’s your duty to tell me.” ‘Well, perhaps it is, but I might be doing injustice to Grant.” ‘* Ha! what has Grant to do with it ?” “Nothing that I 2rzow of.” ‘*Good Heavens, man, don’t tantalize me in this way. you suspect ?” ‘* Well, sir, the boy always appears to have money.” ‘* He seems to be economical, and I pay him well. That counts for nothing.” ‘* No, sir, but—some one told me that he had seen him entering a gambling house on the street.” ‘Ha! that would account for his needing a good deal of money. By the way, do you ever enter such places ?” ‘‘] have entered out of curiosity, sir,” answered Benton with a burst of candor, ‘* I wanted to see what they were like.” ‘* Better keep out of them altogether.” ‘* No doubt you are right, sir.” ‘* But about the boy—have you ever seen him take anything from the drawer ?” **T couldn't be sure of it, but once when he was alone I entered sud- denly, and saw him near the drawer, He flushed up, and came away Inahurry. [ couldn't swear that he took anything.” However, Benton’s tone implied that he felt sure of it all the same, and so it impressed Mr. Smithson. ‘* Did you have any recommendations with Grant ?” inquired Ben- ton in an insinuating tone. ‘‘ No; but, then, I had none with you, either.” ‘* That is true, Still, I hope you have confidence in me.” ‘*T know of no reason why [ should not. Do you know if Grant drinks 2?” «1 don’t think he drinks much.” ** Does he drink at all 2?” asked Smithson curtly. ‘*One evening | saw him coming out of a drinking saloon pretty well loaded. That is the only time, however.” “Tt was once too often. Benton, [ have been greatly deceived in that fellow. I thought him a model boy.” ‘So did I, sir, and I don't think he is very bad now. has been a Jittle indiscreet.” ‘* Tt is very kind of you to excuse him; but if what you say is true, I shall not be able to retain him in my employment,” ‘*Give him a little more time. Remember that I Axo nothing pos- itive to his discredit. He may not have taken the money.” This half hearted defense of Grant led Mr. Smithson to think that Benton was his friend and spoke against him unwillingly. It never occurred to him that his senior waiter was only seeking to divert sus- picion from himself. Very well,” he said. ‘* Ill keep him ona week longer. Perhaps something may occur in that time to confirm my suspicions or discredit them.” The result of this conversation was that the restaurant keeper was all but convinced that Grant wasa sly young villain and was secretly robbing him. He had a friend, however, who had once been a detec- tive in St. Louts, though now engaged in a different business in Sacra- mento. He souvht him out and told him the story. Vincent listened attentively. ‘* It looks bad for the boy ; don’t you think so ?”* Smithson asked. ‘Yes, if all is true that is said against him. But who says it ?” ‘* Albert “Benton.” ‘The older waiter 2?” ‘* Yes.” What do Perhaps he MIC OOO (CO) (CO) fd