"I don"t think you would; but we business men must not regard such things."
Tom listened to him with incredulity. Only the day before he would have put full confidence in his statement; but he had learned a lesson, thanks to Graham himself.
"How far are you going, Miss Watson?" continued Graham.
"To Cincinnati. My mother and I are going to live there."
"It is a very pleasant city. I have often been there--on business."
"What is your business, Mr. Graham?" Tom could not help asking.
"I see you are a Yankee," said Graham, smiling. "Yankees are very inquisitive--always asking questions."
"Are you a Yankee, Mr. Graham?" asked Jennie. "You asked me where I was going."
"A fair hit," said Graham. "No, I am not a Yankee. I am a native of New York."
"And I of New Jersey," said Tom.
"Oh, you are a foreigner then," said Graham. "We always call Jerseymen foreigners."
"It is a stupid joke, I think," said Tom, who was loyal to his native State.
"You didn"t answer Tom"s question," said Jennie, who was a very straightforward young lady.
"Oh, my father is a commission merchant," answered Graham.
"What does he deal in?"
"Articles too numerous to mention. Tom, will you pa.s.s me the potatoes?"
Dinner was soon over, and the pa.s.sengers went upon deck. Graham lit a cigar.
"Have a cigar, Tom?" he said.
"No, thank you; I don"t smoke."
"You"ll soon learn. I"ll see you again soon."
"Tom," said Jennie, "tell me about this Mr. Graham. What do you know about him?"
"I don"t like to tell what I know," said Tom, hesitating.
"But I want you to. You introduced me, you know."
"What I know is not to his advantage. I don"t like to talk against a man."
"You needn"t mind telling me."
On reflection Tom decided that he ought to tell what he knew, for he felt that Jennie ought to be put on her guard against a man whom he did not consider a suitable acquaintance for her.
"Very well," said he, "if you promise not to let him know that I have told you."
"I promise."
"He was my roommate last night at the Pittsburg House," said Tom, in a low voice. "During the night he tried to rob me."
"You don"t say so!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jennie, in round-eyed wonder.
"I will tell you the particulars."
This Tom did. Jennie listened with indignation.
"But I don"t understand," she said. "Why should the son of a merchant need to rob a boy like you? He looks as if he had plenty of money."
"So I thought; but the hotel clerk told me that sharpers often appeared like this Mr. Graham, if that is his name."
"How strange it seems!" said Jennie. "I wish you hadn"t introduced me."
"I didn"t want to; but he asked, and at the table I couldn"t give my reasons for refusing."
"My dear child," said her mother, "you are too ready to form new acquaintances. Let this be a lesson for you."
"But some new acquaintances are nice," pleaded Jennie. "Isn"t Tom a new acquaintance?"
"I will make an exception in his favor," said Mrs. Watson, smiling pleasantly.
"Thank you," said Tom. "How do you know but I may be a pickpocket?" he continued, addressing Jennie.
"As I have only ten cents in my pocket I will trust you," said the young lady merrily. "I"d trust you with any amount, Tom," she added impulsively.
"Thank you, for your good opinion, Miss Jennie."
"Don"t call me Miss Jennie. If you do, I"ll call you Mr. Tom."
"I shouldn"t know myself by that t.i.tle. Then I"ll call you Jennie."
"I wish you were going to live in Cincinnati," said the young lady. "It would be nice to have you come and see us."
"I should like it; but I mustn"t think so much of pleasure as business."
"Like Mr. Graham."
"I must work hard at the mines. I suppose I shall look pretty rough when I am there."
"When you"ve made your pile, Tom--that"s what they call it, isn"t it?--you"ll come back, won"t you?"
"Yes."