Buck Hawk, Detective | Page 7

I will allow any one to make me out a thief, nor do I care to stand your daughter's insulting conduct much longer."
"Indeed! Perhaps it would cure you of some of your lofty importance to turn you out on the world for a time? That I shall certainly do if you do not deliver me up that paper!"
"Then, I will consider myself dismissed!" the girl retorted, with flashing eyes. "If I can see Captain Clyde I am sure be will help me to find a situation!"
"If you dare to speak to Captain Clyde, I will have you arrested!" Jerome St. Clair cried, while his daughter looked the jealous anger she felt.
"Oh! you are afraid, Mr. St. Clair, that the captain will hear of how you have treated me, and will not then realize so much pleasure in your daughter's company. Perhaps you are right!"
And with a defiant laugh, Etta swept from the room, and set about preparing to leave the house.
She had a little money which she had saved from her monthly allotment, but it did not exceed ten dollars all told, and she knew she could not exist long on that amount without work.
It was yet early in the evening, and she was resolved to set forth that very night, but at the same time had no idea where she should go.
Packing her not extravagant wardrobe into her sachel, and wrapping herself up, she left the St. Clair residence, a feeling of freedom thrilling her with hope and ambition.
As quickly as possible she got out of the neighborhood, for she really believed that Jerome St. Clair would send the officers after her.
After an hour's wandering, she found herself at the Broad street railway depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and feeling fatigued, she concluded to rest in the spacious waiting-room, until she read an evening paper she had purchased, hoping to see a situation advertised that would suit her fancy.
There were plenty of calls for girls to do housework, but having a good education, Etta felt that she was capable of filling some higher position than being a common servant.
As if to gratify her desire, her gaze directly fell upon the following advertisement, which was one of a number of others in the same column:
"Wanted-- A well educated, respectable young lady as secretary and reader, for an old gentleman. Good salary to the right party. Apply at No.-- North Tenth street."
Poor Etta's heart bounded with joy as she read this, and she made up her mind to put in her application at once.
It could do no harm, at least, to try.
To think, with her, was to act, and leaving her sachel, at a near-by store, for safe-keeping, she went in search of the residence of the advertiser.
She found it, at length-- a large, imposing edifice, with a marble-trimmed front, and ascending the steps she rung the bell, somewhat timidly,
A colored servant in livery answered the summons.
"I called in answer to an advertisement, sir," Etta explained, eagerly.
The "sir" seamed to banish the servant's chilliness of demeanor, for be opened the door still further, with a gracious bow.
"Walk right in, miss-- walk right in. De boss is in de parlor 'xaminin' a lot ob gals dis berry minute."
And before she was scarcely aware of it, Etta found herself ushered into a grand reception-room, where an old gentleman and several young ladies were seated.
All of the latter were dressed much more expensively and stylishly than Etta, and she felt rather uncomfortable, as she became aware that their eyes were bent upon her, but a spirit of resolution caused her to show no trace of agitation or confusion.
The old gentleman was a fat, round-faced personage of sixty years, who had a very bald head, and a pair of pleasant eyes which rather agreeably lit up his ruddy, clean-shaven face.
He was seated in a comfortable chair, with one foot upon a cushioned stool, wrapped up with a plenitude of blankets and flannels, which was plain enough evidence that he was a sufferer from the gout.
He nodded to Etta, as she entered, and motioning her to a seat, turned to a haughty-appearing lady, who had previously been speaking.
"So ye think you'd fill the bill, do ye?" he queried, surveying her critically.
"I do," was the reply. "I am proficient in all branches of study, and would like you to give me a trial."
"Yas, I suppose so," was the reply. "That's what these other girls want, too, but they've all got fellers. I can't have no gals about my place what has got feller on the brain. S'pose you're like the rest, eh?"
"Certainly. But I don't think you are doing right to interfere in a young lady's private affairs."
"Then we don't agree. I pay a girl good wages to be ready for biz, when I want her. If