CHAPTER V.

REUBEN SEES MORE OF OWEN GRANT.

NOT two days only, but two weeks, passed, and Reuben saw nothing of Owen Grant. He began to wonder if his loan of five shillings had been forgotten by Owen. Reuben felt, not unnaturally, that he should like to see his money again. He did not know where Owen lodged, but he knew the shop at which he worked, and he resolved that since Owen did not seek him, he would go in search of Owen.

Reuben could not get to the draper's shop in which Owen was employed till near the hour of closing. But late as it was, the shop was full of customers. The atmosphere was hot with gas. The assistants looked tired, but very busy. When Reuben asked if he could see Owen Grant, he was told to stand on one side and wait. Reuben waited patiently, finding entertainment in watching the scene before him.

Presently he spied Owen seated before a high desk in the middle of the shop. He had a large book before him, in which he continually made entries, at the same time receiving money and giving forth change with a rapidity which astonished Reuben. Busy though he was, he caught sight of Reuben, and nodded to him. But something in his look as he did so, made Reuben fancy that Owen was not over-pleased to see him.

Gradually the number of customers in the shop lessened, one after another they went out, most of them carrying parcels. Already the shutters were being put up, and the wearied assistants, with an air of relief, began to roll up the materials they had been displaying, and to carry things back to their places. Still Reuben had to wait many minutes ere Owen was at liberty to come to him.

When at last he came, he looked pale and jaded, and the smile with which he greeted Reuben seemed forced.

"Come outside, old fellow," he said quickly; "every one is on the move now, and we cannot talk here."

"I need not keep you, Owen," said Reuben; "I only came to ask if you could let me have the five shillings I lent you. Have you forgotten it?"

Owen lifted his hand with a quick movement, as though to check Reuben's words; then looked round uneasily as he said, "All right! We'll talk about that outside; there is no need to acquaint all these fellows with my private affairs."

But no one was near enough to them to have heard what Reuben said. Without another word, he followed Owen into the open air. Then, as they turned along the street, Owen began to talk away to him so fast that Reuben had difficulty in getting in a word.

"What do you think of our shop?" he asked, without waiting for Reuben's reply. "Smart, isn't it? I can tell you we do a rattling good trade. I've had to work hard, I know, since I was promoted to be cashier."

"How long have you been cashier?" Reuben managed to ask.

"Oh, only since Christmas. The other fellow fell ill; that was how I got the post. It was a stroke of good luck for me, for of course it means better pay, though I have to work hard. But I was always quick at accounts, you know, so the book-keeping comes easy to me. The manager is pleased with the way I do the work; he told me so last week. But here's a pub. Let's go in and have a drink. One wants one badly enough after pegging all day in that close shop."

"You forget that I am a teetotaler," said Reuben.

"What, are you still? I should have thought you would have given up that nonsense when you came to town. I signed the pledge myself, years ago, at Ashworth, but I am wiser now. As if a man cannot be trusted to take care of himself! He is a poor creature who cannot tell when he has had enough and leave off drinking."

"There are a good many such poor creatures about," remarked Reuben gravely. "Do your father and mother know, Owen, that you have broken the pledge?"

"I should like to know what that is to you," exclaimed Owen, suddenly getting angry. "You just leave my father and mother alone, Reuben Roy. It's no business of yours what they know or do not know."

"You are right," said Reuben, quietly. "My business with you, this evening, Owen, is to ask you to return the five shillings I lent you."

"All right!" said Owen, colouring up and beginning to feel in his pockets. He drew forth a shilling and some coppers, and stood looking at them, as though wondering they were not more.

"I'm awfully sorry, Reuben," he said, after a minute, "but I can't pay you to-night. This is all I have with me. The fact is, that little affair quite slipped my memory, or you should have been paid before this. But I'll bring it to you one of these days. You need not trouble to look me up again."

"But what day will you bring it?" asked Reuben, thinking it well, if possible, to prevent the "little affair" from again slipping Owen's memory; "and will you bring it to me at my lodging, or come to the works?"

"Oh, the works will be nearer, but it is only on Saturday that I can come, for we close early on that day, and so do you. Unfortunately I have an engagement for next Saturday. But Saturday week I could come. Would that suit you, Reuben?"

"Yes; if you won't forget," said Reuben.

"Oh, I'll not forget. I'll be outside the works at three o'clock without fail."

And with that understanding they parted.

When the Saturday came, Reuben felt doubtful whether Owen would keep his appointment. But Owen did arrive, after Reuben had waited for some minutes at the entrance to the works.

Owen wore his smartest attire. The pin that adorned his gay necktie represented a racehorse; he was smoking a cigar, and flourished a cane. Altogether there was a fast look about the young man. Mr. Akenside noted it as he passed the two standing at the edge of the pavement. He turned and took a close survey of Reuben's companion. The result was unsatisfactory. He was sorry that Reuben should make a friend of such a lad. He knew nothing of Owen's connection with Ashworth, having never seen him there.

With a patronising, half-contemptuous air, Owen handed Reuben the five shillings.

"There's your money, Reuben. I hope I have not inconvenienced you by keeping it so long."

"No," said Reuben; "I should have spent the money if I had had it. But not having it, I learned to do without it. So now I can look upon this as so much saved, and I am not sorry."

"I tell you what, Reuben," said Owen, in a low, confidential tone, "if you have any money saved, I can tell you how to double it. The Warwick races come off next week, and I know the names of the winners. If you like to back a horse, I'll give you a tip."

"How can any one know which horse will win before the race comes off?" asked Reuben.

"Oh, there are ways of finding out. You may rely on my information," said Owen.

But Reuben shook his head and smiled.

"No, no, thank you," he said. "'A fool and his money are soon parted,' they say. I'm not such a fool as to throw mine away in bets. Besides, I think betting is very wrong: I am sure I should not like to take another fellow's money if I won it. Don't you remember how Mr. Howe used to warn us against gambling of all kinds? He used to say that nothing led so surely to dishonesty and crime."

"That will do, thank you. Pray spare me Mr. Howe's sermon. It is no good trying to put any gumption into you, Reuben. You are a fool—a precious fool."

Not long after this, Reuben changed his lodging. It was by Mr. Akenside's arrangement that he did so. Just within the large gates which guarded the entrance to the works was a small dwelling, occupied by an old man who acted as gate-keeper by day and had charge of the premises at night. He had been in the service of the firm for many years, and they were loth to dismiss him, but he was obviously getting past his work. His hearing was no longer good, nor his movements alert. Rather than dismiss him, Mr. Akenside suggested that he should have a young man to live with him, who could accompany him on his rounds at night to see that everything was secure, and whose keen young ears could be trusted to repair the old man's deficiency.

The gate-keeper had no objection to this plan, and seemed pleased when Mr. Akenside named Reuben Roy as the youth he thought of placing with him.

"He's a good lad is Reuben Roy," he said. "If all the young fellows would behave themselves as he does, we should not have much to complain of. I tell him sometimes he has an old head on young shoulders."

Mr. Akenside heard him with surprise. "I am afraid you are mistaken in Reuben Roy, Samuel," he said. "I used to have a high opinion of him. But Savage tells me he is very tiresome, and does not attend to his work properly. I fancy he has taken up with bad companions; I saw him myself the other day with a fast young fellow, whose appearance I did not at all like. To tell you the truth, I hoped that being here with you would act as a restraint on him, and you might get a good influence over him, for I know you are a favourite with the young fellows."

"Well, we live and learn," said the old man musingly. "I should certainly never have thought Reuben Roy a lad who needed restraint, nor one likely to be led astray by bad companions."

His words made an impression on Mr. Akenside. He would fain think well of Reuben Roy. He began to wonder if Savage had been quite fair towards Reuben, or whether he had conceived a prejudice against him.

When, a few days later, Savage ventured to remonstrate with Mr. Akenside concerning his appointment of Reuben to be old Samuel's helper, saving that he thought it dangerous to allow such a lad the range of the factory, he found to his dismay that his words were without effect; Mr. Akenside was not to be persuaded to give up his purpose.

Savage had reasons of his own for desiring that Reuben Roy should not be stationed at the gatehouse, but he had to reconcile himself to the disagreeable fact; the will of the master prevailed.

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