"I don"t know. I haven"t made any plans."
"I was thinking I might call upon you."
"Don"t trouble yourself, Mr. Ralston. Probably you would not find me in."
Mr. Perkins was a tolerably shrewd man. He had "sized up" the gambler, and decided that he did not care to become any better acquainted with him.
"Just as you say," returned d.i.c.k Ralston, looking discomfited. "I thought perhaps I could make it pleasant for you."
"If I find I have time I can call at your place of business," said the man from Minneapolis, with a shrewd glance at the gambler.
"I have no place of business," returned Ralston, rather awkwardly. "I am a--a capitalist, and sometimes speculate in real estate. Don"t I, Mullins?"
"Of course. By the way, I forgot to tell you that I have four lots on Ninety-sixth Street which would make a good investment."
"Ninety-sixth Street! Ahem, rather far uptown. What"s the figure?"
"Five thousand dollars."
"I"ll take a look at them as soon as I have time. You see, Mr. Perkins, I do all my real estate business through my friend, Mr. Mullins."
"Just so."
Neither Mr. Perkins nor Chester was taken in by Ralston"s a.s.sumption of the character of a capitalist. The Western man had already a shrewd suspicion of the gambler"s real business, and being a cautious and prudent man, did not care to cultivate him.
"Good-morning!" said Mr. Perkins. "I must not take up any more of your time. Will you allow Chester to go out with me for five minutes?"
"Certainly."
David Mullins would have liked to refuse, but had no good excuse for doing so.
"Don"t stay long!" he said, rather sharply.
"I won"t keep him long."
When they were in the street Mr. Perkins said: "I don"t like the looks of that bookkeeper of yours."
"Nor do I," returned Chester.
"I wouldn"t trust him any further than I could see him. Who was that Ralston? Have you ever seen him before?"
"Once. He doesn"t come into the office when Mr. Fairchild is at home."
"Do you know anything about him?"
"I know--that is, I have heard that he is a well-known gambler."
"By the great horn spoon, if I didn"t think so! He seemed very anxious to show me round the city."
"He would probably have taken you to a gambling house."
"Not if I was in my senses. I don"t gamble, and I hope you don"t."
"I shouldn"t know how," answered Chester, with a smile.
"Have you any engagement for this evening?"
"No, sir."
"What time do you leave the office?"
"At five o"clock."
"Then come round to the hotel and take dinner with me. I don"t know anyone in the city, and I shall be glad to have your company this evening. We will take a walk together, and you can show me what"s worth seeing."
"Are you not afraid that I will take you to a gambling house?" asked Chester, with a smile.
"I"ll risk it."
"You would find Mr. Ralston a better guide."
"But not so safe a one. I shall be satisfied with you."
When Chester returned to the office Mullins asked, sharply: "What did Perkins want to say to you?"
"He asked me to dine with him to-night at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."
"Speak a good word for me, Chester," said Ralston, with unusual affability. "I would like to become better acquainted with him."
"What shall I say, Mr. Ralston?"
"Tell him I am a prominent man, and expect to be nominated for Congress next fall."
This he said with a wink. Chester and the bookkeeper laughed.
"I"ll tell him," said Chester.
CHAPTER XXII.
d.i.c.k RALSTON"S FATHER.
When Chester followed Mr. Perkins into the great dining room of the Fifth Avenue he was rather dazzled by its size and the glistening appearance of the tables.
"I hope you have brought your appet.i.te with you, Chester," said his Western friend. "The Fifth Avenue sets a good table."