“Glad to see you, Ralph. I began to think you wasn’t going to turn up, it was getting so late,” said the man, holding out his hand and drawing him inside.
“I was delayed on the way. Our class is giving a spread to-night, and the sophs got hold of me, making me a prisoner. I had some trouble breaking away. Then I had to go and warn the fellows so they might not be taken by surprise. But after all it isn’t much after half-past eight, sir.”
Ralph while speaking was looking around.
“Surprised to see me alone here? Well, to tell the truth I was ashamed to let the missus know what a mean thing I done aways back, and I got her to take all the kids and go over to stay with a neighbor to-night. The woman’s sick, and my wife can make herself useful there. I wanted a clear field, because I’ve got something to say I’m mighty much ashamed of,” said Smalling, slowly.
“Before you tell me anything I think I ought to let you know what’s happened to me since I met you this afternoon.”
So saying, Ralph rapidly narrated what the New York lawyer had told him. The man listened eagerly, though his manner was rather moody.
“Yes,” he said as Ralph finished, “it all seems to agree with what I know, only I wasn’t so sure about them names. The man called himself Andrew Jackson when he hired me to help him out years back. Money tempted me; and besides, at that time I hadn’t met the woman that helped me get the better of my drink habit. Mind, I ain’t makin’ excuses for what I done. It was a low game, and I’ve often thought about it since, wondering what had come of the baby I helped kidnap!”
“Oh!”
Ralph could not keep back that one exclamation. It seemed to him that he must either be dreaming, or else deep in some romance. That these matters were connected with his own life seemed bordering on an absurdity.
“You must be about fourteen now, Ralph, I judge. It was nigh that time back that I fell in with a gentleman who seemed to have plenty of money, and wanted some one to help him play a little game. As I said, at that time I was drinking hard, and conscience seldom bothered me; so I joined forces with him, and together we did the business.