"He"s a snake in the gra.s.s, Dodger. It may be wicked, but I just wish something would happen to him. And how is Miss Florence lookin", poor dear?"
"She"s lookin" like a daisy."
"Does she worry much?"
"She did at first, but now she"s workin" every day, and she looks more cheerful-like."
"Miss Florence workin"! She that was always brought up like a lady!"
"She"s teachin" a little girl three hours a day."
"Well, that isn"t so bad!" said Jane, relieved. "Teachin" is genteel.
I wish I could see her some day. Will you tell her, Dodger, that next Sunday is my day out, and I"ll be in Central Park up by the menagerie at three o"clock, if she"ll only take the trouble to be up there?"
"I"ll tell her, Jane, and I"m sure she"ll be there."
A day or two afterward Curtis Waring asked: "Have you heard from my Cousin Florence since she went away?"
"Yes, sir."
"Indeed! Where is she staying?"
"She didn"t send me word."
"How, then, did you hear from her?"
"Dodger came with an expressman for her trunk."
Curtis Waring frowned.
"And you let him have it?" he demanded, sternly.
"Of course I did. Why shouldn"t I?"
"You should have asked me."
"And what business have you with Miss Florence"s trunk, I"d like to know?" said Jane, independently.
"Never mind; you ought to have asked my permission."
"I didn"t think you"d want to wear any of Miss Florence"s things, Mr.
Waring."
"You are silly and impertinent," said Curtis, biting his lips. "Did that boy tell you anything about her?"
"Only that she wasn"t worryin" any for you, Mr. Curtis."
Curtis glanced angrily at his cousin"s devoted friend, and then, turning on his heel, left the room.
"I"ll bring her to terms yet," he muttered. "No girl of seventeen shall defy me!"
Chapter XIII.
Tim Bolton"s Saloon.
Not far from Houston Street, on the west side of the Bowery, is an underground saloon, with whose proprietor we are already acquainted.
It was kept by Tim Bolton, whose peculiar tastes and shady characteristics well fitted him for such a business.
It was early evening, and the gas jets lighted up a characteristic scene.
On the sanded floor were set several tables, around which were seated a motley company, all of them with gla.s.ses of beer or whiskey before them.
Tim, with a white ap.r.o.n on, was moving about behind the bar, ministering to the wants of his patrons. There was a scowl upon his face, for he was not fond of work, and he missed Dodger"s a.s.sistance.
The boy understood the business of mixing drinks as well as he, and often officiated for hours at a time, thus giving his guardian and reputed father a chance to leave the place and meet outside engagements.
A tall, erect gentleman entered the saloon, and walked up to the bar.
"Good-evening, colonel," said Tim.
"Good-evening, sir," said the newcomer, with a stately inclination of the head.
He was really a colonel, having served in the Civil War at the head of a Georgia regiment.
He had all the stately courtesy of a Southern gentleman, though not above the weakness of a frequent indulgence in the strongest fluids dispensed by Tim Bolton.
"What"ll you have, colonel?"
"Whiskey straight, sir. It"s the only drink fit for a gentleman. Will you join me, Mr. Bolton?"
"Of course, I will," said Tim, as, pouring out a gla.s.s for himself, he handed the bottle to the colonel.
"Your health, sir," said the colonel, bowing.
"Same to you, colonel," responded Tim, with a nod.
"Where"s the boy?"
Col. Martin had always taken considerable notice of Dodger, being naturally fond of boys, and having once had a son of his own, who was killed in a railroad accident when about Dodger"s age.
"Danged if I know!" answered Tim, crossly.
"He hasn"t left you, has he?"