"Is this the place, madam?"
The old lady looked out of the hack.
"Yes," she answered. "I had no idea we had got along so far."
Luke helped her out of the cab. She paid the man his fare, and then signed Luke to help her up the steps.
"I want you to come into the house with me," she said. "I have not got through talking with you."
A maidservant answered the bell. She looked surprised when she saw the old lady"s young companion.
"Is my niece in?" asked the old lady.
"No, Mrs. Merton--Master Harold is in."
"Never mind! You may come upstairs with me, young man."
Luke followed the old lady up the broad, handsome staircase, stealing a curious glance at an elegantly-furnished drawing-room, the door of which opened into the hall.
His companion led the way into the front room on the second floor.
"Remain here until I have taken off my things," she said.
Luke seated himself in a luxurious armchair.
He looked about him and wondered how it would seem to live in such luxury. He had little time for thought, for in less than five minutes Mrs. Merton made her appearance.
"You have not yet told me your name," she said.
"Luke Walton."
"That"s a good name--I am Mrs. Merton."
"I noticed that the servant called you so," said Luke.
"Yes; I am a widow. My married niece lives here with me. She is also a widow, with one son, Harold. I think he might be about your age. Her name is Tracy. You wonder why I give you all these particulars? I see you do. It is because I mean to keep up our acquaintance."
"Thank you, Mrs. Merton."
"My experience this morning has shown me that I am hardly fit to go about the city alone. Yet I am not willing to remain at home. It has occurred to me that I can make use of your services with advantage both to you and myself. What do you say?"
"I shall be glad of anything that will increase my income," said Luke, promptly.
"Please call here to-morrow morning, and inquire for me. I will then tell you what I require."
"Very well, Mrs. Merton. You may depend upon me."
"And accept a week"s pay in advance."
She put a sealed envelope into his hand. Luke took it, and, with a bow, left the room.
CHAPTER XII
A PLOT THAT FAILED
As the distance was considerable to the business part of the city, Luke boarded a car and rode downtown. It did not occur to him to open the envelope till he was half way to the end of his journey.
When he did so, he was agreeably surprised. The envelope contained a ten-dollar bill.
"Ten dollars! Hasn"t Mrs. Merton made a mistake?" he said to himself.
"She said it was a week"s pay. But, of course, she wouldn"t pay ten dollars for the little I am to do."
Luke decided that the extra sum was given him on account of the service he had already been fortunate enough to render the old lady.
Next to him sat rather a showily dressed woman, with keen, sharp eyes.
She took notice of the bank-note which Luke drew from the envelope, and prepared to take advantage of the knowledge.
No sooner had Luke replaced the envelope in his pocket than this woman put her hand in hers, and, after a pretended search, exclaimed, in a loud voice: "There is a pickpocket in this car. I have been robbed!"
Of course, this statement aroused the attention of all the pa.s.sengers.
"What have you lost, madam?" inquired an old gentleman.
"A ten-dollar bill," answered the woman.
"Was it in your pocketbook?"
"No," she replied, glibly. "It was in an envelope. It was handed to me by my sister just before I left home."
As soon as Luke heard this declaration, he understood that the woman had laid a trap for him, and he realized his imprudence in displaying the money. Naturally he looked excited and disturbed. He saw that in all probability the woman"s word would be taken in preference to his.
He might be arrested, and find it difficult to prove his innocence.
"Have you any suspicion as to who took it?" asked the old gentleman.
"I think this boy took it," said the woman pointing to Luke.
"It"s terrible, and he so young!" said an old lady with a severe cast of countenance, who sat next to the old gentleman. "What is the world coming to?"
"What, indeed, ma"am?" echoed the old gentleman.
Luke felt that it was time for him to say something.
"This lady is quite mistaken," he declared, pale but resolute. "I"m no thief."
"It can easily be proved," said the woman, with a cunning smile. "Let the boy show the contents of his pockets."