"He stole a fiddle," said Pietro, doggedly.
"He had paid for it over and over again," said the doctor. "Phil, come along. We have no further business with this young man."
They walked on, but Pietro followed at a little distance. Seeing this, Dr. Drayton turned back.
"Young man," he said, "do you see that policeman across the street?"
"Si, signore," answered Pietro.
"Then I advise you to go in a different direction, or I shall request him to follow you."
Pietro"s sallow face was pale with rage. He felt angry enough to tear Phil to pieces, but his rage was unavailing. He had a wholesome fear of the police, and the doctor"s threat was effectual. He turned away, though with reluctance, and Phil breathed more freely. Pietro communicated his information to the padrone, and the latter, finding that Phil had found a powerful protector, saw that it would be dangerous for him to carry the matter any further, and sensibly resolved to give up the chase.
Of the padrone I have only further to say that some months later he got into trouble. In a low drinking saloon an altercation arose between him and another ruffian one evening, when the padrone, in his rage, drew a knife, and stabbed his adversary. He was arrested and is now serving out his sentence in Sing Sing.
Pietro, by arrangement with him, took his place, stipulating to pay him a certain annual sum. But he has taken advantage of his uncle"s incarceration to defraud him, and after the first payment neglected to make any returns. It may readily be imagined that this imbitters the padrone"s imprisonment. Knowing what I do of his fierce temper, I should not be surprised to hear of a murderous encounter between him and his nephew after his release from imprisonment, unless, as is probable, just before the release, Pietro should flee the country with the ill-gotten gains he may have acquired during his term of office. Meanwhile the boys are treated with scarcely less rigor by him than by his uncle, and toil early and late, suffering hardships and privations, that Pietro may grow rich.
Paul Hoffman had often thought of Phil, and how he had fared. He was indeed surprised and pleased when the young fiddler walked up and called him by name.
"Phil," he exclaimed, grasping his hand heartily, "I am very glad to see you. Have you made a fortune?"
"He has found a father," said Dr. Drayton, speaking for Phil, "who wants to thank you for your past kindness to his son."
"It was nothing," said Paul, modestly.
"It was a great deal to Phil, for, except your family, he had no friends."
To this Paul made a suitable reply, and gave Phil and his new father an earnest invitation to dine with him. This the doctor declined, but agreed to call at the rooms of Mrs. Hoffman, if Paul would agree to come and pa.s.s the next Sunday with Phil as his visitor. Paul accepted the invitation with pleasure, and it is needless to say that he received a hearty welcome and agreed, in the approaching summer, to make another visit.
And now we bid farewell to Phil, the young, street musician. If his life henceforth shall be less crowded with adventures, and so less interesting, it is because he has been fortunate in securing a good home. Some years hence the Doctor promises to give himself a vacation, and take Phil with him to Europe, where he will seek out his Italian home, and the mother with whom he has already opened communication by letter. So we leave Phil in good hands, and with the prospect of a prosperous career. But there are hundreds of young street musicians who have not met with his good fortune, but are compelled, by hard necessity, to submit to the same privations and hardships from which he is happily relieved. May a brighter day dawn for them also!
I hope my readers feel an interest in Paul Hoffman, the young street merchant, who proved so efficient a friend to our young hero. His earlier adventures are chronicled in "Paul, the Peddler." His later history will be chronicled in the next volume of this series, which will be ent.i.tled "Slow and Sure; or From the Sidewalk to the Shop."
THE END