The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-13

was not another baby.
"You haven't any uniform, noting for
the first time this lack on the boys part
mo, ma'am; l amt a reg'lar-only took
fur de holidays"
$50 much the better. You won't look I'M
like a hundred other boys who play ia the
streets and will attract less attention on
that account. Now, come with me in here,
and will tell you what want you to do"
She led the way into the conservatory,
and Petey, nothing loath, followed in the
wake of the trailing silken gown. She told
him to sit down on low stool in the win
dow, which he had noticed from the street,
where he could see all the passersby with
out one of them knowing that he was there.
The lady stood back of him and gave her
instructions in low voice that trembled
with emotion at times and then became
harsh and almost metallic.
You see that large building opposite,
across the squarep That is n clubhouse. |
want you to wait here with me until a tall,
fair man, with long coat, comes out of it.
He is my husband | want you to follow
him from the time he leaves that door until
he returns to this. You will then be adj
mitted here, where you can watch for his
exit. Then you must follow again. want
you to do this until tell you to stop. You
understand? Here is $40 for your expenses.
You boys know how to get into places
where other people cannot. Now you will
watch with me until he comes out; then
you start. think you know what want"
But the Officer gasped Petey, who had
not anticipated doing detective work.
"What will they think when l don't show
upS"
-"Oh, that'll be all right" replied the
lady in the nconsequent way rich people
have of looking at the affairs of others not
SO well off in the world. Trust me, will
see that you are no worse off by entering
my employ.
"There," she suddenly exclaimed, there
he is nowl Go at once, and do not lose sight
of him for an instant"
In less time than it takes to tell Petey
was out of the house, across the square
and following in the wake of a tall, broad
shouldered man, who strolled along all I'M
conscious of the small shadow at his heels.
Into another club he went, then out again
and down into the more thickly settled
portion of the city where offices abound.
Into a tall building, with ever shabby
little boy copying his movements, up in
the elevator together went the man and his
shadow,
The door of the wire cage clicked, the
man vanished into an office, and Petey was
left outside in the hall. What was he do
ing inside the door? If it were only glass,
so that Petey could glance in now and them
Maybe there was another way out, and he
would miss him after all. At this horrible
thought Petey grew bold, and drawing up
one leg and assuming the beggar's whine,
he pushed open the door and walked conf
IDENTIFY in. The room was filled with clerks,
who glared at him, and one roared, Get
outl'' but it didn't matter, for in that brief
interval he saw that his man was there all
right, and that he couldn't get out save by
the way that he went in. Therefore Petey
was satisfied to wait in the shadow of the
hallway until he emerged.
He then followed him to the top of an
other big building, where lie had luncheon,
and Petey's $40 bill did good service here,
as he sat down and ordered steak and a
cup of coffee. He didn't dare tackle any
of the unknown dishes on the bill of fare
that the quizzical waiter set before him,
but stuck to what he knew how to pro-
nounce and the taste of which he was &C
quainted with. Eighty-fve cents seemed
pretty big sum for such little meal, but
then Petey was wise enough to know that
he had to pay for style and didn't expect
eating house prices.
The rest of the day was spent in weary
tramp from one place of business to an
other. in none of which his man staid over
20 minutes. Petey was getting pretty tired
when the tall, broad shouldered figure
stopped at IA jewelers. and his weary follow
er was permitted to rest for awhile When
he had made his purchases, he came out
and ordered a cab. Instantly Petey secured
another and they tore on out of the bust
al lo
very house they had quilted in the morning.
This is satisfactory" thought Petey.
~ can rest for "a little while at least" He
went to the kitchen door, and little while
later the lady came to him for particulars
Of his days work. She seemed rather dis
appointed at the details of the morning,
but when he mentioned the jewelers. her
eyes flashed with fire as she strobe up and
down, regardless of the eyes of the watch
er. HE bought something at the jewel
er's, did he? That but confirms my sus-
picion. What was it, boy? You do not
know? How stupid Never mind, it does
not matter. Oh, the base deceitful wretch!
And loved him sop Here she broke down
In very torrent of tears that poor Petey
was powerless to assuage
The next day, after a comfortable nights
rest below stairs, Petey was summoned to
the conservatory and in few minutes the
banging of the hall door gave him his sig
nal. The lady, however, changed his direc-
tions somewhat by telling him to report
that evening at the house of friend, where
she intended to spend the day.
Petey's work on the second day was not
as arduous as on the first occasion, and he
was about thinking that his man meant to
stay in his Office forever when he came out,
told the porter to call cab and consulted
his watch anXiously every now and then
before the vehicle arrived. Petey was used
to his actions by this time, noted the I'M
usual Impotence and concluded at once
that at last he was about to discover some
thing worth telling his pretty employer.
The time was too short for him to secure
another cab, but that did not matter much,
rs he had often before this rested on the
back of carriage and jolted over the
stones for many mile in that uncomforta-
BILE position. Therefore he but waited for
the start to hang on behind, half sitting,
at times running, and ever anxious lest
some envious boy would give the warning
cry, Cut behind" and he would have to
| walk.
Fortune favored him, however, and he
IL. L