Ned Wilding's Disappearance/Chapter 25
CHAPTER XXV
NED SHOVELS SNOW
A nultitude of thoughts rushed through Ned's mind as he stood in the restaurant awaiting the arrival of the policeman for whom the cashier had sent. He could not imagine what had become of his money. He knew his pockets had no holes in them and he came to the conclusion he must have dropped it on the bed in the lodging house instead of putting it in his oversoat. But he knew he must think of something besides the lost money, as any moment the officer might appear and take him to the police station.
He looked across the street to where a man was shoveling snow from the sidewalk. Then a bright idea came to Ned. He turned to the cashier who was looking at him vindictively and asked:
"Can't I shovel your walk off and pay for my breakfast that way?"
"Humph! That's a different proposition," the cashier replied. "If you're willing to do the square thing, I guess we are, too. Only don't try any trick like that again. I s'pose if I let you take a shovel you'll not skip out with it?"
"I'm not in the habit of stealing," Ned answered indignantly.
"I don't know anything about your habits," the man answered. "I only know a fellow worked that game on me once and I don't intend to be caught again. I'll give you thirty cents for cleaning the walk. That'll pay for your meal and be fifteen cents over. You can take it or go to jail."
"I'll take it," Ned exclaimed. "Where's the shovel?"
"I'll be watching you," the clerk went on. "If you try the sneaking act I'll have the cop after you."
"You needn't be afraid," rejoined Ned.
The waiter came back to report that the policeman would be there in a few minutes.
"Go and tell him it's all right," the clerk said. "The kid's going to shovel the walk to pay for his grub."
The waiter, not much relishing his second trip through the storm, scowled at Ned as he passed our hero, but the boy was so pleased at the escape from his predicament that he did not mind the waiter's black looks.
Ned made a good job of cleaning the walk. The snow was not falling so heavily now, though the storm was far from being over.
"I think I could get work at this if I only had a shovel," Ned thought as he put the finishing touches on his task. "Maybe the clerk would lend me this one."
He made the request when he went in to get his pay.
"I'll leave the fifteen cents with you as security for the shovel," he said, when he had made his request.
"That's a hot one; fifteen cents security on a dollar and a half shovel," the clerk replied with a laugh. "Still, you look honest, though I had my doubts at first," he added. "Go ahead, take the shovel. Never mind about leaving the money. You'll need it to get dinner with. Bring the shovel back to-night."
Thus was Ned started in business. He got several jobs at cleaning sidewalks, and at noon had earned two dollars. He went back to the restaurant, returned the shovel and got dinner. The cashier he had dealt with had gone, but the one who had relieved him knew about the transaction. When Ned had finished his fifteen cent dinner, for that was all he allowed himself, the waitress brought him a big piece of pie.
"I didn't order that," he said, though he looked at it longingly.
"The cashier says it's his treat," the girl replied with a smile, and Ned had no further compunctions about eating it.
"I told the other fellow you wouldn't bring the shovel back," the cashier remarked as Ned paid his check.
"How do you mean?" asked Ned.
"Why the clerk, who was on duty here when you ate breakfast, said he thought you would, and I said I didn't believe you would show up again. I said if you did I'd give you some pie. See?"
"Oh," Ned answered with a laugh, "much obliged."
That afternoon he bought a second-hand shovel and went about looking for more walks to clean. By night he had earned a dollar additional, which gave him considerable more capital than he had possessed since the episode at the hotel.
"I'll get a room at the lodging house to-night," he said as he finished a simple supper. "I don't like those beds all in a heap."
It was still snowing the next day, and though Ned found the field pretty well covered by scores of other men and boys, he managed to earn two dollars, which made him feel quite like a capitalist, as he shut the door of his lodging-house room that night.
The three chums, who wanted to find John Newton had no trouble. They met him coming from the rear of the theater, as he had done his "turn," and was not to go on again for three hours.
The "Bird Warbler" was as much surprised to see his former acquaintances from Darewell as they were to find him engaged at a theater.
"I'm studying to be an actor," John said, "but it's dull times now and I took this job. It pays pretty well."
"I never knew you could whistle good enough for this work," said Fenn.
"It comes natural I guess," replied John. "But what are you chaps doing in New York?"
They told him, and Bart suggested that perhaps John might happen to see Ned.
"If I do I'll let you know," the "warbler" replied. "Where are you stopping?"
"At the Imperial," replied Bart. "You might telephone us if you hear anything of Ned."
"I will. Come and have a glass of soda with me," John added, but the chums were too anxious to keep on with their search to accept, and, bidding the "warbler" good-bye they kept on.
They got back to their rooms at noon, to find that William Perry was up and dressed, and impatient to go out.
"I want to begin to help you," he said. "Did you see the clerk when you came in?"
"No. Why?" asked Fenn.
"He's anxious to tell you something. Says they opened a valise a fellow left here and he thinks it might contain a clew that would help you."
"Maybe it's about Ned," suggested Bart. "Come on fellows."
"What did you say the name of your missing friend was?" the clerk asked them, as the three chums hurried down to his desk.
"Ned Wilding," answered Frank. "Why?"
"You remember me telling you about that fellow who slipped down the fire escape rope and lost his valise?" the clerk asked. The boys said they did. Well, we opened it to-day, and the collars are marked 'N. W.' I thought it might be a tip for you."
"Let's see the things in the satchel," suggested Fenn.
The clerk showed them to the chums. They had no difficulty in identifying as Ned's several articles in the valise.
"Then that writing was his, after all!" exclaimed Frank. "Boys, we are on his track."
"But where can he be?" asked Bart. "We only know he ran away from here. Why did he leave in that fashion? Had he done something he was afraid of?"
"Perhaps he suddenly went—" began Frank, and then he stopped in seeming confusion.
"What were you going to say?" asked Bart.
"Nothing," Frank replied. "I made a mistake. I think we'd better tell the police about this."
"That's so. I nearly forgot," the clerk added. "You are to go to police headquarters. A message came over the telephone a little while ago."
"Perhaps they've found Ned!" exclaimed Bart for they had left the telephone number of their hotel with the sergeant at headquarters and the official had promised he would telephone if he had any news.
"Hurry up!" cried Fenn. "Perhaps Ned is there waiting for us."
"I only hope he is," Frank remarked, and the boys noticed he appeared gloomy and sad.
"Wonder what ails Frank?" asked Bart of Fenn, as they went to their rooms to get their coats and hats.
"A fit of the same old mysteriousness," replied Stumpy. "Don't notice him and it will pass over."
"Let me go to headquarters with you," begged William. "I want to help."
"Are you strong enough to go out?" asked Bart. "It's quite cold."
"Oh I'm used to that," and the boy laughed.
"But you—er—you have no overcoat," said Fenn, wishing when it was too late he had not mentioned it.
"I'm used to that too," William replied.
"Would you mind if we loaned you money enough to get a coat?" asked Bart.
William thought for a moment.
"I'm ever so much obliged to you," he said. "You've done more for me now than I can ever repay."
"Then a little more won't hurt," said Fenn with a laugh.
The overcoat was purchased, and the four boys went to police headquarters.
"Gentleman waiting to see you," the sergeant said. "Seems terribly upset about something."
They went into an anteroom and found Mr. Wilding. He had been in New York since early Thursday morning, but had been unable to locate the boys, since the finding of William in the snow had taken from the minds of the three chums all thoughts of sending the telegram to Darewell, telling Ned's father of their address.
"I knew there was something we should have attended to, but I couldn't think what it was," Bart exclaimed.
"Have you any news?" asked Mr. Wilding eagerly after explaining he had obtained the address of the chums from the police sergeant who offered to telephone to them.
"Just a little," replied Fenn and he told of the finding of Ned's valise. Then all went over the situation, but the prospect seemed no brighter than ever.
"I'll tell you what we ought to do," declared William.
"What?" asked Mr. Wilding anxiously.
"We ought to make a regular search of all the lodging houses and other places. I've slept in lots of 'em. That's where men and boys go when they have only a little money, and I guess your son hadn't much when he lost his valise."
"I believe you're right!" exclaimed Ned's father. "It is a good suggestion. I will hire some private detectives to help in the search."
"And I'll do all I can," said William, whose story had been told to Mr. Wilding.
"My poor boy," Ned's father murmured. "I wonder where he can be."
"Don't you fret!" exclaimed William. "We'll find him for you," and he spoke so hopefully that Mr. Wilding smiled for the first time since he had left home.
It was arranged that he would stay at a hotel near police headquarters while the four boys would remain at the Imperial as there was a bare chance Ned would return.
"Now here's where I get busy," declared William, as they left the police station.