The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview Part 43

"You can stay here until we can do something for you," she said. "I know how it would feel to have little Tommy on the streets homeless."

And soon after that Dottie was put to bed, very well content. Her hard life with Crazy Jim had made her used to ups and downs that no ordinary little girl could have endured.

The reader can well imagine that Jerry did not sleep much that night. He could not forget that Alexander Sloc.u.m had the precious packet of papers.

Bitterly he regretted not having taken better care of the doc.u.ments.

"I will call on Sloc.u.m, and come to some sort of an understanding," Jerry said to himself. "Perhaps when I tell him that both Nellie Ardell and myself are ready to proceed against him he will be willing to come to terms."

The next day was a busy one at the book-bindery, and our hero got no chance to call on Sloc.u.m. During that time he learned that Crazy Jim had been locked up for resisting the officer and had been sentenced to thirty days on Blackwell's Island.

The young oarsman did not know what to do about little Dottie, but Nellie Ardell solved this question.

"I have received a whole lot of new work," she said. "So for the present we can keep her to mind Tommy while I am dressmaking."

So the little girl stayed on. Jerry never dreamed of how much she had to do with his future life.

On Thursday Mr. Islin's brother died and the bindery was closed for several days. Jerry took the opportunity to walk down to Alexander Sloc.u.m's offices.

The real estate man was alone, and greeted our hero with a sinister smile.

"So you have seen fit to call again, young man," were his first words.

"Mr. Sloc.u.m, let us come to business," Jerry replied firmly. "What are you going to do about my father's claim?"

Alexander Sloc.u.m laughed harshly.

"Your father's claim?" he repeated. "I don't recognize the fact that your father has any claim against me."

CHAPTER x.x.xIV.

ALEXANDER SLOc.u.m SHOWS HIS HAND.

Alexander Sloc.u.m's statement was no more than Jerry had expected, so he was not taken back by the words. He looked the man steadily in the eyes.

"So that is the position you are going to take now--since you received my packet from James MacHenry," said Jerry, deliberately.

Sloc.u.m started and winced, and the young oarsman saw that Crazy Jim had spoken the truth.

"I haven't anything belonging to you, Upton."

"It is useless for you to deny it, Mr. Sloc.u.m. He found the packet and delivered it to you for a reward of five dollars."

"The packet he delivered to me was my own. It contained some legal doc.u.ments belonging to this office."

"You may make others believe that, Mr. Sloc.u.m, but--"

"But what, boy? Remember, I want none of your insolence here. I will listen to you, but you mustn't grow impertinent."

"I'm only speaking the truth. You virtually robbed me, just as you robbed my father and Mr. Bryant Ardell."

"Ha!" Sloc.u.m leaped to his feet. "Who--where did you hear of Bryant Ardell?" he asked, excitedly.

"I have met Nellie Ardell several times--in fact, I am boarding with her."

"Did she set you to hounding me?"

"No; we met by accident after I had come to New York almost on purpose to see you."

"She is an impudent young woman."

"She told me that you had her land papers, just as you now have mine."

"It's a falsehood!"

"If both of us go to court with our story, we may prove that it is not a falsehood."

"Ha! are you going to combine to ruin my reputation?" cried the real estate dealer, growing pale.

"We are going to try to obtain our rights."

"You'll gain nothing. I'll--I'll have you locked up on a charge of black-mail!" Alexander Sloc.u.m began to pace his office nervously. "See here, Upton how much do you want to go off and leave me alone?" he questioned, suddenly.

"I want what is due my father."

"You'll not get it!" he whispered, hoa.r.s.ely, throwing his mask aside. "Do you think I have plotted and worked all these years for nothing? Not much!

All that property is mine, do you hear? n.o.body else shall ever own a foot of it. Now, I'll tell you what I am willing to do. I'll give you a hundred dollars in cash and we'll call it square. Mind you, I don't admit your claim. I only want to avoid trouble."

Jerry looked at the man and drew a long breath. He could see through Sloc.u.m's words as clearly as he could see through the window. His father's claim was worth a fortune!

"Come, what do you say?" demanded Sloc.u.m as Jerry did not answer him.

"I say this, Mr. Sloc.u.m," rejoined our hero. "I won't accept your proposition, and before I am done with you I'll have our rights and you'll be in state's prison."

With a snarl very much like that made by a fretful tiger, the man leaped toward the boy as if to grab him by the throat.

"You fool! I'll make you come to terms!"

His hand touched Jerry's collar, but the young oarsman evaded him and placed the flat-top desk between them. When the man ran around the desk, Jerry picked up a heavy bra.s.s-bound ruler.

"Stop, or I'll crack you with this!" cried our hero, and, seeing the weapon, Sloc.u.m halted.

"Don't be a fool, boy!"

"I don't intend to be."