Part 12 (1/2)
CHAPTER X.
SOMETHING ABOUT HERBERT RANDOLPH.
Had our young hero been more wary, he would not have so easily fallen a victim to the deceit of the genial stranger whom he met on the Bowery.
He should have been more cautious, and less ready to a.s.sume friendly relations with a stranger. His lack of prudence in this respect was almost inexcusable, inasmuch as he had been warned by Bob Hunter to look out for himself. Moreover, his suspicions should have been excited by the two young fellows he saw on Wall Street, who appeared to be shadowing him.
But none of these prudential thoughts seemed to occur to young Randolph.
In Vermont, he spoke to every one with a frank, open confidence. He had always done so from his earliest recollections. Others in his locality did the same. Unrestrained social intercourse was the universal custom of the people. Habit is a great power in one's life. It guided our hero on this fatal night, and he talked freely and confidentially with his new acquaintance.
”Have you ever been in one of these Bowery museums?” asked the genial young man, after they had chatted for a little time.
”No, I have not,” replied Herbert, in a hesitating manner that implied his desire to enter.
This young man was the same one whose boots Bob Hunter blackened when he was acting the detective, otherwise Peter Smartweed.
The latter smiled at the readiness with which young Randolph caught at the bait.
”Well, you have missed a treat,” said he, with a.s.sumed surprise.
”I suppose so,” replied Herbert, feeling that his education had been neglected.
”They have some wonderful curiosities in some of these museums,”
continued the young confidence scamp.
”So I should think, from the looks of these pictures.”
”But this is the poorest museum on the Bowery. There are some great curiosities in some of them, and a regular show.”
”Have you been in all of them?” asked Herbert.
”Oh, yes, dozens of times. Why, I can go into one of the museums whenever I like, without paying a cent, and it is the best one in New York.”
”Can you?” said Herbert, with surprise. ”I wish I could go in free.”
”I can fix that for you all right,” said Peter, magnanimously. ”I often take a friend in with me.”
”And it doesn't cost you anything?”
”No, not a cent. If you like, we will stroll down the Bowery, and drop in for a little while. By the way, I remember now that a new curiosity, a three headed woman, is on exhibition there.”
”A three headed woman!” exclaimed Herbert; ”she must be a wonderful sight!”
”So she is. Come on, let's go and see her. It is not down very far. You have nothing to do, I suppose?”
”No, only to pa.s.s the time away for an hour or so.”
”Very well, then, you can't pa.s.s it in any more agreeable way than this, I am sure.”