It was during this period of anxiety that his heart leaped for joy when on Broadway he saw the familiar form of Reuben Gordon, a young man already mentioned, to whom Phil had sold his gun before leaving Gresham.
"Why, Reuben, how are you?" exclaimed Phil joyfully. "When did you come to town?"
"Phil Brent!" exclaimed Reuben, shaking hands heartily. "I'm thunderin' glad to see you. I was thinkin' of you only five minutes ago, and wonderin' where you hung out."
"But you haven't told me when you came to New York."
"Only this morning! I'm goin' to stay with a cousin of my father's, that lives in Brooklyn, over night."
"I wanted to ask you about Mrs. Brent and Jonas.
I was afraid they might be sick, for I wrote four days ago and haven't got any answer yet."
"Where did you write to?"
"To Gresham, of course," answered Phil, in surprise.
"You don't mean to say you hain't heard of their leavin' Gresham?" said Reuben, in evident astonishment.
"Who has left Gresham?"
"Your mother--leastwise, Mrs. Brent--and Jonas.
They cleared out three weeks ago, and nobody's heard a word of them since--that is, nobody in the village."
"Don't you know where they've gone?" asked Phil, in amazement.
"No. I was goin' to ask you. I s'posed, of course, they'd write and let you know."
"I didn't even know they had left Gresham."
"Well, that's what I call cur'us. It ain't treatin' you right accordin' to my ideas."
"Is the house shut up?"
"It was till two days ago. Then a brother of Mrs. Brent came and opened it. He has brought his wife and one child with him, and it seems they're goin' to live there. Somebody asked him where his sister and Jonas were, but they didn't get no satisfaction. He said he didn't rightly know himself.
He believed they was travelin'; thought they might be in Canada."
Phil looked and felt decidedly sober at this information. He understood, of course, now, why his letter had not been answered. It looked as if he were an outcast from the home that had been his so long. When he came to New York to earn a living he felt that he was doing so voluntarily, and was not obliged to do so. Now he was absolutely thrown upon his own resources, and must either work or starve.
"They've treated you real mean," said Reuben.
"I never did like Mrs. Brent, or Jonas either, for that matter.
"Where are you working?"
Phil answered this question and several others which his honest country friend asked, but his mind was preoccupied, and he answered some of the questions at random. Finally he excused himself on the ground that he must be getting back to the store.
That evening Phil thought seriously of his position.
Something must be done, that was very evident.
His expenses exceeded his income, and he needed some clothing. There was no chance of getting his wages raised under a year, for he already received more pay than it was customary to give to a boy. What should he do?
Phil decided to lay his position frankly before the only friend he had in the city likely to help him--
Mr. Oliver Carter. The old gentleman had been so friendly and kind that he felt that he would not at any rate repulse him. After he had come to this decision he felt better. He determined to lose no time in calling upon Mr. Carter.
After supper he brushed his hair carefully, and made himself look as well as circumstances would admit. Then he bent his steps toward Twelfth Street, where, as the reader will remember, Mr. Carter lived with his niece.
He ascended the steps and rang the bell. It was opened by Hannah, who recognized him, having admitted him on the former occasion of his calling.
"Good-evening," said Phil pleasantly. "Is Mr. Carter at home?"
"No, sir," answered Hannah. "Didn't you know he had gone to Florida?"
"Gone to Florida!" repeated Phil, his heart sinking. "When did he start?"
"He started this afternoon."
"Who's asking after Uncle Oliver?" asked a boy's voice.
Looking behind Hannah, Phil recognized the speaker as Alonzo Pitkin.
