This was a consideration which had not occurred to the tramp. He had only thought of punishing the lady for not acceding to his terms. He asked himself, moreover, did he really wish Tony to come into such a piece of good fortune, and that after the boy had been instrumental in having him arrested. No, anything but that! He decided to work for Mrs. Middleton, and make the best terms he could.
"I'll tell you what I'll do ma'am," he said. "I'll say eight hundred dollars down, and the same every year."
To this sum Mrs. Middleton finally agreed.
"You say you know where the boy is?" she asked.
"Only a little. But I shall want some money. I haven't a penny."
"Here are a hundred dollars," she said. "The rest shall be paid you when you have earned it."
Rudolph rose to go, and as he went down stairs thoughtfully, he said to himself:
"That woman's a case if ever there was one. How coolly she hires me to kill the boy. I don't half like the job. It's too risky. But there's money in it, and I can't refuse. The first thing is to find him!"
The tramp decided that the best way to find Tony would be to return to that part of the country where he had lost him, and make inquiries for a boy of his description. He could do it more comfortably now, being provided with funds, thanks to Mrs. Middleton. He was now able to command fair accommodations, and this was satisfactory.
But there was another difficulty which, at times, gave him uneasiness. He had escaped from the custody of the law, and was liable to be arrested. This would have disconcerted him, and interfered seriously with the purpose he had in view.
"I must disguise myself," thought Rudolph. "It won't do to run any risk. When I was a tramp I didn't care, but now I've got something to live for."
It was not the first time in his varied experience that he had felt the need of a disguise, and he knew just where to go to find one. In the lower part of the city there was a shop well provided with such articles as he required. He lost no time in seeking it out.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Rugg?" asked the old man who kept the establishment.
"Then you've come to the right shop. What will you be--a sailor, a Quaker, a--"
"Hold, there," said Rudolph. "You've named the very thing."