Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-07-20
knew that the original of the picture was

before him.
''How long you have beenr' was the first
greeting that he received from the lady.
who, despite her youth and rich attire
looked anything but happy IL suppose
you loitercd on the way. Messenger BOYS
always do. There is not one fit to be in the
service, not one, and if | had my way they
all should he discharged. Here | have
waited nearly an hour for you and rung up
the Office dozen times"
II came as soon as | could" apologized
Petey. ITS long ways from de ofTus."
He didn't think it necessary to tell of the
stolen ride or the saunterings prior to it.
WELL | suppose you did" smiled the
lady, showing the loveliest teeth and cute
little dimples in that one heeting burst Of
sunshine, but needed you so much that
| | presume it seemed longer than it really
was. You are very small" she remarked
abruptly, sizing up the little figure before
her.
Pm going on A." answered Petey, re-
senting the implied youthfulness of his ap-
pearance.
Maybe it is as we'll Now, do you think
you could do something very important,
something that l would trust to no one
else, and something for which, if you are
successful, will pay you, say, SlO?"
TRY me, ma'am," enthusiastically re-
sponded Petey, hoping, however, that it
was not another baby.
You haven't any uniform" noting for
the first time this lack on the boys part
mo, ma'am amt reg 'lar-only took
fur de holidays"
80 much the better You won't look un-
like hundred other boys who play in 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 slken gown. She told
him to sit down on a 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 square? That is a clubhouse.
want you to wait here with me until tall,
fair man, with a 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
What will they think when don't show
up2"
'"Oh, that'll be all rightn' replied the
lady in the inconsequent 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 sGrolled along all un-
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 tall building, with ever a 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 thenl
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
out!' 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 he had luncheon,
and Petey's $40 bill did good service here,
as he sat down and ordered a steak and
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 ac-
Qudluteu WIN. LiSHly y-iNe CenJS seemed
a 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 noneof which his man staid over
20 minutes. Petey was getting pretty tired
when the tall, broad shouldered figure
stopped at jewelers., and his weary follow
er was permitted to rest for awhile When
he had made his purchases, he came out
and ordered cab. Instantly PeTey secured
another, and they tore on out of the bust
ness section until they drew up before the
very house they had quilted in the morning.
"This is satisfactory" thought Petey.
II can rest for little while at least" He
went to the kitchen door, and a 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 her That but confirms my sus-
yTTLak a hovS Wpt, a. rnf