"He may have changed his name."
"I was stupid not to think of that before. There can hardly be two men so singularly alike. I have come to ask you, Mrs. Merton, if you can spare me for two or three days."
"For as long as you like, Luke," said the old lady, promptly. "Have you any money for your traveling expenses?"
"Yes, thank you."
"No matter. Here are twenty dollars. Money never comes amiss."
"You are always kind to me, Mrs. Merton," said Luke, gratefully.
"It is easy to be kind if one is rich. I want to see that man punished. Let me give you one piece of advice. Be on your guard with this man! He is not to be trusted."
"Thank you! I am sure your advice is good."
"I wish you good luck, Luke. However things may turn out, there is one thing that gratifies me. Warner is showing himself your friend. I have looked upon him till recently as a black sheep, but he is redeeming himself rapidly in my eyes. I shall not forget his kindness to you."
As Luke went downstairs he met Mrs. Tracy.
"Here again!" said she, coldly. "Did my aunt send for you this afternoon?"
"No, madam."
"Then you should not have intruded. You are young, but you are very artful. I see through your schemes, you may rest a.s.sured."
"I wished to show Mrs. Merton a letter from your brother, now in Milwaukee," said Luke.
"Oh, that"s it, is it? Let me see the letter."
"I must refer you to Mrs. Merton."
"He has probably sent to Aunt Eliza for some money," thought Mrs.
Tracy. "He and the boy are well matched."
CHAPTER XL
FACE TO FACE WITH THE ENEMY
Thomas Browning sat in his handsome study, in a complacent frame of mind. The caucus was to be held in the evening, and he confidently expected the nomination for mayor. It was the post he had coveted for a long time. There were other honors that were greater, but the mayoralty would perhaps prove a stepping-stone to them. He must not be impatient. He was only in middle life, and there was plenty of time.
"I didn"t dream this when I was a penniless miner in California," he reflected, gleefully. "Fortune was hard upon me then, but now I am at the top of the heap. All my own good management, too. Tom Butler--no, Browning--is no fool, if I do say it myself."
"Someone to see you, Mr. Browning," said the servant.
"Show him in!" replied the philanthropist.
A poorly dressed man followed the maid into the room.
Mr. Browning frowned. He had thought it might be some influential member of his party.
"What do you want?" he asked, roughly.
The poor man stood humbly before him, nervously pressing the hat between his hands.
"I am one of your tenants, Mr. Browning. I am behindhand with my rent, owing to sickness in the family, and I have been ordered out."
"And very properly, too!" said Browning. "You can"t expect me to let you stay gratis."
"But sir, you have the reputation of being a philanthropist. It hardly seems the character----"
"I do not call myself a philanthropist--others call me so--and perhaps they are right. I help the poor to the extent of my means, but even a philanthropist expects his honest dues."
"Then you can do nothing for me, sir?"
"No; I do not feel called upon to interfere in your case."
The poor man went out sorrowfully, leaving the philanthropist in an irritable mood. Five minutes later a second visitor was announced.
"Who is it?" asked Browning, fearing it might be an other tenant.
"It is a boy, sir."
"With a message, probably. Show him up."
But Thomas Browning was destined to be surprised, when in the manly-looking youth who entered he recognized the Chicago newsboy who had already excited his uneasiness.
"What brings you here?" he demanded, in a startled tone.
"I don"t know if you remember me, Mr. Browning," said Luke, quietly.
"Luke Walton is my name, sir, and I have sold you papers near the Sherman House, in Chicago."
"I thought your face looked familiar," said Browning, a.s.suming an indifferent tone. "You have made a mistake in coming to Milwaukee. You cannot do as well here as in Chicago."
"I have not come in search of a place. I have a good one at home."
"I suppose you have some object in coming to this city?"
"Yes; I came to see you."
"Upon my word, I ought to feel flattered, but I can"t do anything for you. I have some reputation in charitable circles, but I have my hands full here."
"I have not come to ask you a favor, Mr. Browning. If you will allow me, I will ask your advice in a matter of importance to me."
Browning brightened up. He was always ready to give advice.