Andy left the depot with his new acquaintance, who gave his name as Percival Robinson, and, following his lead, boarded a horse car, which took them both a distance of three miles to the southern part of the city. As they went on, dwellings became scattering.
"Your friend's house seems quite out of the way," said Andy.
"Yes; but Chicago is a city of distances. It really doesn't make much difference where you stop. Street cars will carry you anywhere."
"Still it would be pleasanter to be centrally located."
"But by going some way out you get cheaper accommodations."
"That is true," thought Andy; "and I have time enough."
At length Robinson signaled to the conductor to stop.
Andy followed him out of the car. They seemed to be in the very outskirts of the city.
Robinson led the way to a rather shabby brick house standing by itself. It was three stories in height.
"This is where my friend lives," he said, walking up the front steps and ringing the front-door bell.
Two minutes later the door was opened by a red-haired man in his shirt sleeves.
"Hello, Tom!" he exclaimed.
"I thought his name was Percival," Andy said to himself.
"My young friend and I will stay overnight with you," said Robinson.
"All right. Come in."
A door on the left was opened, and Andy saw a sanded floor, and on one side of the room a bar.
"Go in there a minute," said Robinson, "while I speak to my friend."
Andy went in, and picked up a copy of the _Clipper_ from the table--the only paper in the room.
In five minutes the two returned.
"I'll take your gripsack," said the man in shirt sleeves. "I will show you to your room."
They went up two flights of stairs to a room on the third floor. It was a small apartment about ten feet square, with a double bed in one corner.
"I guess you'll both be comfortable here," said the landlord.
"I think I would rather have a room to myself," said Andy, by no means satisfied.
"Sorry we can't accommodate you, but the house is full."
It didn't look so, but then the lodgers might be out.
Andy thought for a moment he would go downstairs, and take a car back to the central part of the city, but he was afraid his action would seem strange, and he made no objection.
"I guess we'll get along together," said Robinson, in an easy tone.
Andy didn't think so, but he found it awkward to make objections.
"I will take a wash," he said, seeing that the pitcher on the washstand contained water.
"All right!" returned Robinson. "Just make yourself at home. I'll go downstairs. You'll find me there."
Left alone, Andy reproached himself for his too ready yielding to the plans of his companion. He wondered why he had done so.
"Mr. Crawford didn't ask me to be economical," he reflected. "He is willing I should pay ordinary prices at a hotel. I think I have been very foolish. However, I am in for it. It will serve as a lesson to me, which I will remember hereafter."
He looked out of the window. There was a lot behind the hotel--if it was a hotel--covered with ashes, tin cans, and other litter.
"I am sure," thought Andy, "this isn't the kind of hotel Mr. Crawford wished me to stay at."
When he had washed he went downstairs. As he passed the door of the barroom he saw Mr. Robinson inside, sitting at the table, with a bottle and a glass before him.
"Come in, Grant, and have some whisky," he said.
"Thank you, but I don't care for whisky."
"Perhaps you would prefer beer?"
"I don't care to drink anything, thank you."
"You don't mean to say you're a temperance crank?"
"Yes, I think I am."
"Oh, well, do just as you please. By the way, it is the rule here to pay for board in advance."
"How much is it?"
"A dollar and a quarter, please," said this red-haired man, who stood behind the bar.
Andy paid over the money.
"I thought perhaps you would stay more than one day."
"No, I have little time. I shall have to leave to-morrow. I think, Mr. Robinson, I will go out and take a walk."
Join or Log In!
You need to log in to continue reading
(Left Keyword <-) Previous:
Chapter 30 An Unexpected Proposal
Back
Next:
Chapter 32 A Critical Moment
(Right Keyword:->)