CHAPTER XXXIV
PHILIP GETS RID OF HIS PLUNDER
"Philip," said his mother, at the breakfast table the next morning, "theservant tells me she found the outside door unlocked this morning. Didn't I ask you to lock it before you went to bed?"
"So you did, mother. I really hope you'll excuse me. When I got ready togo to bed, I forgot all about it."
"It might have proved serious," remarked his father, "for I found thismorning that I had left my bunch of keys on my desk. I don't see how Icame to be so negligent."
"It's lucky no burglar or dishonest person knew of it," said Mrs. Ross.
"You might have met with a serious loss."
"So I might, for I had about a thousand dollars' worth of governmentbonds in my trunk, besides certificates of various kinds of stock. Thelatter would have done no one any good, though the loss would haveannoyed me, but the government bonds might readily be sold."
"I shouldn't think you'd keep the trunk downstairs, father," saidPhilip, who felt easy, as there seemed no likelihood of suspicion beingfixed upon him.
He resolved so to act as to divert any future suspicion.
"I don't know but it is imprudent," said Colonel Ross.
"Of course it is," said his wife. "You deserve to suffer loss."
"I will take it upstairs hereafter," said her husband, "especially," headded, jocularly, "if Philip is to be trusted to lock the front door."
Philip smiled, but his smile was not exactly an easy one, for he wasevery minute apprehensive that it would occur to his father to open thetrunk and examine the contents. He did not want this to happen till hewas out of the way, for it would be rather a trial to his nerves to hearthe announcement made of the loss, while he knew that the missing bondswere concealed in his inside coat pocket.
Philip was in a hurry to see Congreve, and get rid of his troublesomedeposit. He hurried through his breakfast, therefore, and rose from thetable.
"You've eaten very little, Phil," said his mother.
"Oh, I'm not hungry," said Philip, carelessly. "I didn't get up earlyenough to raise an appetite."
"You got up as early as usual," said his father.
"Perhaps reading in the evening didn't agree with me," replied Philip, smiling.
"Where are you going?" asked his mother.
"Just out for a walk."
"Will you call at the grocery store and tell them to send up a barrel offlour?"
"All right."
Usually Philip, who was far from obliging naturally, made a fuss whenasked to do an errand, but now he spoke very good-humoredly. He was soanxious to get out of the house that he was ready to promise anything.
"I really think Philip is improving," said his mother, after he had goneout.
"There's some room for it," remarked his father, dryly.
Philip, as may be supposed, made his way as quickly as possible to thehotel. As he came up, he saw the one of whom he was in search – JamesCongreve – standing on the piazza, smoking a cigarette.
"Well?" he said, guessing something from the evident excitement of
Philip's manner.
"Let us go up to your room, Congreve," said Phil.
"All right."
He led the way upstairs to the small room which he occupied as abedroom, and Philip followed him in. The latter carefully closed thedoor.
"I've got 'em," he exclaimed, triumphantly.
"The bonds? You don't say!"
"As true as you stand there."
"Let me see them."
Philip drew the bonds from his pocket, and handed them to Congreve.
The latter said, joyfully:
"You're a trump, Phil!"
"Yes, I think I managed pretty well," said Phil, complacently.
"Tell me how you did it."
So Phil explained.
"You were in precious luck, I can tell you. I had no idea things wouldturn in your favor so. Let me see – here are two one-hundreds."
"Yes; that's what you said."
"True. Were there more in the trunk?"
"Yes; I heard father say there were a thousand dollars in bonds."
James Congreve's face was overspread by an expression of covetousness.
"It's a pity you didn't take more," he said.
"But what was the need of taking more? These will pay my debt to you."
"Of course. Still, it seemed such a good chance."
"You don't think I'm going to set up as a thief, do you, Congreve?" asked Philip, in surprise.
"No, of course not. I didn't mean anything. Well, Phil, the sooner theseare disposed of the better."
"You are going to attend to that?"
"Yes. I believe I will take the next train up to the city."
"When will you be back?"
"To-night. I will bring you the balance of the money – say, fiftydollars."
"There ought to be more than that for me."
"Oh, it will be all right! Only, you know, I will have to sell thembelow the market price, at some place where no questions are asked."
"I've no doubt you'll do the square thing," said Philip, who did notknow that this statement of Congreve's was only a flimsy pretense toenable him to appropriate a larger share of the plunder, as it mayfairly be called.
"I'll promise you fifty dollars, whatever the bonds bring," said
Congreve.
"Thank you."
"Now, I must get ready, for the next train leaves for the city in halfan hour."
"I'll go along with you to the depot," said Philip.
"No, you'd better not. After the loss is discovered, it might excitesome remark, and possibly suspicion, if it were remembered."
"Then I'll be going. I've got an errand over at the store. Shall I seeyou to-night?"
"You'd better not come around till to-morrow morning. It may help avertsuspicion."
"Just as you say."
"A pretty good haul!" said Congreve to himself. "I didn't think thelittle fool would have spunk enough to do it, but he has. I may pay himthat fifty dollars, and then again I may not. I don't think I shall careto come back again to this dull hole to-night. I shall have to leave mytrunk, but it isn't worth the sum I owe the landlord, and he is welcometo it. With the price of these bonds I can start anew cheaper."
Philip left his friend, without the least suspicion that he intended toplay him false. He felt very comfortable. He had got the bonds out ofhis possession, so that there was no danger of their being found on him, and he was to receive, the next morning, fifty dollars, a larger sumthan he had ever possessed at one time in his life. He made up his mindthat he would put it away in his trunk, and use it from time to time ashe had occasion for it.
He went to the grocery store, and left his mother's order. Then he tookan aimless walk, for Congreve was away, and there was no one else hecared to be with.
So he turned to go home. He rather dreaded to enter the house, lest hisfather might have discovered his loss. In the yard he saw Tom Calder. Tom, remembering what he had seen the evening before, looked at Philipwith a significant grin, but said nothing.
"What are you grinning at?" demanded Philip,
"Nothing. I feel gay and festive, that is all," responded the stableboy.
"Where's my father?"
"He went out to ride in the buggy."
Philip felt relieved. Evidently the loss had not been discovered yet. Hewas glad to have it put off.
"Is there any news?" asked Tom, with another grin.
"News? Why should there be any?"
"I don't know. I thought you might know of some."
"You talk like a fool," said Philip, angrily, and went into the house.
"There'll be some news soon, I reckon," said Tom to himself, with agrin. "I won't say nothing till the time comes. Wonder if Philip'llthink I am talking like a fool then?"
CHAPTER XXXV
THROWING SUSPICION ON HARRY
During the day Colonel Ross had no occasion to look into his trunk ofsecurities. Clearly, he had no suspicion that he had met with a loss.
It might strike the reader as curious that Philip began to be impatientto have his father make the discovery. An impending blow always leads toa state of suspense which is by no means agreeable. When the blow falls, a certain relief is felt. So Philip knew that the discovery would bemade sooner or later, and he wanted to have the matter settled, andclear himself at once from suspicion by diverting it to Harry Gilbert.
In the hope that his father would find out his loss, he lingered roundthe house through the afternoon, filling up the time as well as hecould. Usually, he would have passed at least a part of the time withJames Congreve, but the latter had gone to the city.
"Don't you feel well, Philip?" asked his mother.
"Certainly! What makes you ask?"
"You don't generally stay at home all the afternoon."
"Oh, well, there isn't anything going on in the village."
"Where is that friend of yours who is staying at the hotel?"
"He went away this morning to the city."
"Isn't he coming back?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose so."
"I suppose you feel lonely without him?"
"Yes, mother."
"Have you seen anything of Uncle Obed lately?" asked Mrs. Ross, making awry face as she pronounced the word admitting the relationship.
"Yes; I saw him walking with the Gilbert boy the other evening."
"Did you speak to him?"
"No; I just nodded. I don't care about getting intimate with him. I wishhe'd leave town."
"As likely as not, he'll use up all his money, and then come on yourfather for help."
"I hope father won't give him anything, then," said Philip.
"I am willing that he should give him enough to get him back toIllinois. He ought never to have left there. If he thinks we are goingto pay his board here, all I can say is that he is very much mistaken," said Mrs. Ross, pressing her thin lips together with emphasis.
"That's the talk, ma! I am glad you don't mean to be imposed upon. Isuppose old Wilkins thinks you are soft, and won't see him suffer. You'dbetter keep a stiff upper lip."
"He will know me better after a while," said Mrs. Ross.
The afternoon wore away, and supper came. Philip partook as usual, andwaited afterward in the confident expectation that his father would openthe small trunk. He was not mistaken.
Upon retiring to his special apartment, Colonel Ross took up the trunk, and, producing the key, opened it.
It so happened that he was after some papers, and did not immediatelytake up the envelope containing the government bonds. Philip was ratherafraid he wouldn't, and ventured to remind him of them by a question.
"How many government bonds have you in that envelope, pa?" he asked.
"A little over a thousand dollars," answered Colonel Ross.
"Will you let me look at one? I want to see how it looks."
This question led the colonel to open the envelope. He took out a bondand handed it to Philip.
"Are these coupons?" asked Philip, who knew perfectly well, but onlywanted to fix his father's attention.
"Yes, they are promises to pay interest semiannually. In January andJuly I cut off one of these little slips, and receive the interest itrepresents in gold."
"That's very convenient, isn't it?"
"Yes, for I can get the coupons cashed at any bank or broker's office."
Almost mechanically, he began to draw out the bonds and count them. Buthis air of inattention was quickly replaced by a look of surprise andanxiety. He counted the bonds over again, more deliberately, but eachtime the number came short two.
"That's strange," he said, in a low tone.
"What is strange, pa?"
"Two bonds seem to be missing," said his father, in a tone of concern.
"I've got one, you know, in my hand."
"Yes, yes. I reckoned that."
"How large were they? Is it much of a loss?"
"One hundred dollars apiece, and each worth a hundred and fifteendollars, on account of the premium. Do you know anything about them?" and Colonel Ross fixed a piercing eye on his son.
"I, pa? How should I know anything about them? Why, I didn't knowexactly how they looked. When did you see them all last?"
"Last evening. I happened to count them then."
"They must have been taken from the trunk since then."
"Then I am almost sure I know how it happened," said Philip, suddenly, as if a light had dawned upon him.
"I should like to have you tell me, then."
"You remember, pa, you left the keys on the desk?"
"Yes; but there was no one here except you," and again the father hadsuspicion of his son.
"I hope you don't think I'd do such a thing as that?" said Philip, virtuously. "But I am afraid it is my fault, for I left the outside doorunlocked all night. Any one might have come in and stolen the bonds."
"That is true; but why didn't they take more, or all? You didn't see anyone round when you went to bed, did you?"
"Yes, I did," answered Philip, with well-feigned eagerness. "Just as Iwas going to bed, I went into the next room, where the trunk is, and, turning to look out of the window, I was quite startled to see HarryGilbert's face close to the window. The light shining through thedoorway was quite strong enough for him to see the trunk and keys lyingon your desk. It's as sure as can be that he took the bonds. You see, hecould slip in after I went upstairs, and there was nothing to prevent. He might have been lurking around when you were examining the bonds lastnight, and saw you place them back in the envelope."
"What is all this about?" asked Mrs. Ross, entering the room at thispoint.
It was explained to her, and she instantly adopted her son's view.
"Phil's hit the nail on the head, I do believe," she said. "I didn'tthink he was so sharp. Colonel Ross, I have no doubt the Gilbert boytook the bonds."
"Then, why didn't he take more?" asked Ross.
"Oh, he got frightened – thought he heard a noise, or perhaps he thoughtit would not be discovered so quick if he only took two. There arereasons enough."
Philip and Mrs. Ross assumed so confident a tone that Colonel Ross, though at first inclined to discredit the charge, ended by believing itvery probable.
"This thing must be attended to," he said. "What are you going to doabout it, pa?"
"I shall go before Justice Slocum, and get a warrant to search Widow
Gilbert's house. If I find anything, I shall have Harry arrested."
"Now, you're in a scrape, Harry Gilbert," said Philip to himself, exultantly.
"I guess I'll go along with you, pa," he said, aloud, "and see if James
Congreve has got back from the city."
CHAPTER XXXVI
HARRY IS CHARGED WITH THEFT
Philip called at the hotel, and inquired, with considerable confidence, if "Mr. Congreve" was in.
"He has not returned," answered the landlord.
"Then he won't be back to-night," said Philip, feeling considerablydisappointed.
"No; the last train is in."
"I wonder if he had any trouble in selling the bonds," thought Philip; but this thought was one to which he didn't think it prudent to giveexpression.
He walked home slowly, while Colonel Ross kept on his way to the modesthome of the Gilberts. We will precede him.
The little family was gathered in the plain sitting-room. There were butthree – Mrs. Gilbert, Harry and Uncle Obed.
The old man – to begin with the oldest first – was sitting in a rockingchair, with his hands folded in his lap, and an expression of placidcontentment on his face. He had reached the age when rest is agreeable, and was satisfied to sit through the evening, now watching Harry or hismother, and now occupied with thoughts of earlier days and distantscenes. He was thoroughly satisfied with the new home he had found, plain and humble though it was. Indeed, perhaps, for that very reason, it suited him better.
Mrs. Gilbert was sewing. She had time enough to sew for some of herneighbors, and in that way earned a moderate sum for herself, though, asthe family was now situated, she could have dispensed with it.
Harry was reading a "Life of Benjamin Franklin," which he had taken fromthe Sunday school library, and was evidently deeply interested in it.
"What are you reading, Harry?" asked the old man, after a while.
"Franklin's life, Uncle Obed."
"You couldn't read anything better. Old Ben is a good model for Americanboys. He was a great man."
"So he was, Uncle Obed; and he began poor, too."
"Sarten, sarten! Poor boys make the smartest men – that's myobservation."
"Then I've got one thing in my favor," said Harry, smiling.
"And you will succeed, too; I make no doubt of it. You've made a prettygood beginning already."
"Thank you, Uncle Obed, for your favorable opinion. I hope I shalldeserve it."
"You're worth half a dozen boys like Philip Ross. I reckon he'll neveramount to much."
"He doesn't think so," said Harry, smiling. "He thinks himself a veryimportant character."
"Like enough! He looks like it. He doesn't care to own me as arelation."
"It would be different if you were rich, Uncle Obed."
"Mebbe so. I think so myself. Thank the Lord, I ain't beholden to him orhis family for any favors. They wanted to send me home to Illinoy. I wastoo unfashionable for them, I expect, but I've found a home – yes, I'vefound a good home."
"I am glad we succeeded in making it comfortable for you, Mr. Wilkins," said Mrs. Gilbert, looking up from her sewing.
"You do, ma'am," said the old man. "I ain't been so well taken care offor years as I am now. I wish I could do something to show mygratitude."
"The money you pay us is of great service. It makes the largest part ofour income. I am only afraid you pay too much."
"No, I don't," said Uncle Obed. "Money isn't of much vally, comparedwith a good home. If I ain't as rich as my niece, I can afford to payfair board. When a man's turned seventy, as I have, the best money cando for him is to give him a happy home."
Mrs. Gilbert and Harry were pleased to find their boarder so contented. The money he paid weekly, with unvarying punctuality, made things easyfor the widow, and relieved her of the anxiety which she had constantlyfelt before his arrival.
The conversation above recorded was scarcely over, when a knock washeard at the front door – a sharp, peremptory knock – as of one whodemanded admittance, rather than requested it.
All looked up, with some surprise, for it was now eight o'clock, andthey did not often have evening callers.
"I will go to the door, mother," said Harry. "You need not interruptyour sewing."
So Harry opened the outer door, and, considerably to his surprise, sawstanding on the step the dignified figure of Colonel Ross.
"Colonel Ross!" he exclaimed, in surprise.
"I will come in a few minutes," said the Colonel, stiffly.
"Certainly, sir. Excuse my not inviting you."
"It is very excusable – under the circumstances," said the Colonel, stiffly.
"What does he mean?" thought Harry. "I can't tell what circumstances herefers to."
"Mother," said he, opening the door of the sitting-room, "here is
Colonel Ross."
"Take a seat, Colonel Ross," said the widow, politely.
Colonel Ross seated himself deliberately in a chair near his wife'suncle.
"Glad to see you, Mr. Ross," said Uncle Obed, thinking the visit wasmeant for him. "You're very kind to look in on an old man."
"I – well, my visit this evening has a different object."
"Oh, come to see Mrs. Gilbert! Well, how's Lucinda?"
"Mrs. Ross is enjoying her usual health," said Colonel Ross, ceremoniously.
"Glad to hear it," said the old man. "She hasn't called on me yet, though I'm the only relation she's got within a thousand miles."
"Mrs. Ross is very much occupied," said her husband, coldly. "However, you will excuse me if I proceed to the object of my visit. I regret tosay that last evening the trunk in which I keep a part of my securitieswas opened, and two government bonds abstracted."
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Mr. Wilkins, really surprised. "When didit happen?"
"Sometime in the evening or night. The outer door was left unlocked, through the neglect of my son, Philip, who sat up later than his motheror myself. Unfortunately, I had myself carelessly left my bunch of keys, including the key to this trunk, on my desk, so that the thief found hiswork very easy."
"You and Philip were both careless. Have you got track of the rogue?"
"I think I have," answered Colonel Ross, in a significant tone.
"I'm glad on't. These fellows ought to be caught. I don't have muchsympathy for a thief."
"I am glad to hear you say so," said Colonel Ross.
"You didn't think I had, did you?" asked the old man, puzzled.
"I thought you might have, when you came to know who it was I suspect."
"I don't see as that will make any difference. Who is it?"
"My son, just before retiring, saw a person prowling round the house, and looking into the window. Doubtless, he saw the bunch of keys, andwas tempted to enter and steal the bonds."
"Have you arrested him?"
"Not yet; but probably I shall before long."
"Who is it, Colonel Ross?" asked Mrs. Gilbert, with interest.
"Madam," said the Colonel, slowly, "it pains me to say that the personseen prowling round my house, and looking in at my window, was your son, Harry!"
"Harry!" ejaculated the widow, scarcely thinking she had heard aright.
"It's ridiculous!" exclaimed Uncle Obed.
"Colonel Ross," said Harry, rising to his feet, and confronting thevisitor, with clear eyes and an expression of honest indignation, "doyou mean to say that you suspect me of stealing any of your property?"
"Young man, I advise you not to be impudent or brazen-faced. Do you meanto deny that you were near my house last evening between half-past nineand ten o'clock?"
"No, I don't. I did pass your house about that time."
"I am glad you have the sense to own it. You may as well confess therest – that you entered through the unlocked door, opened my small trunk, and took out two government bonds of a hundred dollars each."
"Whoever charges me with that utters a falsehood," said Harry, boldly. "I passed your house, but I did not enter it, and did not even look inthe window, and it is news to me that the door was unlocked, or the keyson the desk. In fact, I didn't know you had a trunk in which you keptyour bonds."
"Of course you deny it," said Colonel Ross, "but I think it entirelylikely that the stolen bonds are at this very moment hidden beneath thisroof."