The Boy Broker Part 19

While old Gunwagner was a cruel, heartless man, he nevertheless lacked genuine courage. Like the majority of men of his cla.s.s, he was a coward at heart. He therefore readily gave up the struggle, when surprised by Herbert Randolph.

"It's your turn now, old man," said our young hero, triumphantly. "Last night you pounced upon me, and seemed to like it. Now perhaps you will enjoy this!"

A coa.r.s.e oath, characteristic of the old villain, was the reply.

"You may as well submit decently. You are in our power now, and if you behave yourself, you will save us the necessity of compelling you to obey."

The old fence grated his teeth, and looked the very incarnation of all that was evil. The wicked spirit that shone in his face would have afforded a rare study for a painter. He made a movement of his right hand, as if to reach back to his hip pocket. A movement of this sort, under such circ.u.mstances, is considered suggestive of firearms.

Bob did not wait to see whether he was reaching for a revolver or some other ugly weapon, but instantly fell upon this hand, and secured it.

The other hand was in Herbert's firm grasp, so it was useless for the old fence to struggle further.

"My turn has come now to get square with you, you cruel old sinner,"

said Herbert. "I begged of you to take me out of that foul cellar and away from those dreadful rats, but you showed no mercy."

Gunwagner made no reply.

"Yes, and he was goin' to send you off on some kind of a ship tomorrow, so you would never get back to New York no more," said Bob.

"Send me off on a ship!" exclaimed our hero, with a shudder. He had not until now even imagined the full purpose of his enemies.

"Yes, that's what they said tonight, him and that Mortimer feller."

"And you heard this?"

"Yes, when I was in that box under the counter there," replied Bob, with enthusiasm; "and they talked about bank robbin', too."

At this revelation old Gunwagner seemed to give up all hope. The hardness of his face melted into an expression of pain, and he trembled with fear, like the frightened thing that he was. He had been outwitted by the young detective.

"Richard Goldwin's bank, I suppose," replied young Randolph, almost dazed at the audacity of the villains.

"Yes, that was their game in getting you out of the way."

"I didn't think of that before."

"Well, you hain't been in New York very long, and so you don't know the way they do things here--them that is bad, like this gang."

"How did you find out where I was, and how in the world did you manage to get in here without being seen?"

"Well, you see, I was a detective," said Bob, with a show of pride.

"A detective!" exclaimed the young Vermonter, looking at his friend with the innocent wonder of a country boy.

"Yes, but I hain't got no time to tell you about it now. We must be movin', you see."

"So we must," replied Herbert.

Doubtless old Gunwagner, too, would have liked much to hear Bob relate how he discovered his friend's prison. But even this small satisfaction was denied him.

"What's the first move?" said Bob.

"I have been thinking about that," replied our hero.

"Of course, we must have him arrested."

"Certainly we must."

"Oh, no, don't, don't!" pleaded the old man, speaking for the first time.

"It is too late to plead now," said young Randolph. "You should have thought of this before committing the evil that you have done."

"But I am an old man, and he led me into it."

"Who?"

"Mortimer, Felix Mortimer. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't er done it."

"Oh, that don't go with us," said Bob. "I heard the whole story tonight.

You was into the game with him, and now you're trapped you wanter squeal, that's what you do. But it won't do you no good. You are a bad lot from way back--gettin' boys to steal things for you!"

This was a revelation to young Randolph, as he did not know until now that old Gunwagner kept a fence.

"Don't have me arrested, boys," whined the old villain, now trying to work on their sympathy. "It would kill me. I am so old."

"Do you expect sympathy from me, after your heartless treatment?" said Herbert.

"He made me do it," was the reply, referring to Mortimer.

"Nonsense, you could have taken me out of that old cellar if you had wanted to do so."

"Yes, and do you think you would er showed me any sympathy, if you'd got me into your clutches alone?" put in Bob.

"I wouldn't have been hard on you."

"No, you wouldn't," said the young detective, sarcastically. "Your talk tonight, when I was hid away, sounded as if you wouldn't er been hard on me--oh, no, you wouldn't. I could tell that from the way you plunged at me just now, when you came through that door with your war paint on."

CHAPTER XVII.

BOB GOES FOR AN OFFICER.

Old Gunwagner saw quite clearly that any further effort to play upon the boys' sympathy was useless.

The first shock of his surprise was over, and now the subtle cunning of his nature began to rea.s.sert itself.

"Boys, you have the advantage of me at present," said he, softly. "But I can't see how it will pay you to act foolish."