CHAPTER XXVII
THE ARREST
Philip's face changed suddenly, and he uttered an exclamation of dismay.
He really believed that his life was in danger.
"There he is!" he ejaculated, his eyes nearly starting out of his head.
Harry turned, and his glance, too, fell on the menacing face of theoutlaw. But his face did not reflect the terror so plainly to be seen onPhilip's. It should be remembered, however – for I do not wish to giveour hero more credit than he really deserves for his courage – that heknew help was near at hand, and Philip didn't.
Ralph Temple didn't speak at first. Then he looked from Philip to Harry, and demanded, savagely:
"Who released that boy?"
"I did," answered Harry, undaunted.
"How dared you do it!" again demanded Temple, in the same tone.
"I thought he must be uncomfortable."
Temple looked at him as if puzzled to account for his cool courage. Itwas evident that here was a boy who would not be easily scared.
"Did you know that I tied him?" asked Temple, fiercely.
"Yes."
"And yet you dared to untie him?"
"Certainly. You had no business to tie him."
"What! you dare say this to my face?"
"Why shouldn't I? What did you tie him for?"
"Didn't he tell you?"
"No."
"Then I will, though it's none of your business. He stole my property."
"Did you do that, Philip?" asked Harry, who was not yet aware of
Temple's suspicion.
"No; I hope to die. I did not!" answered Philip, solemnly.
"What does he say that you stole?" continued Harry.
"He says I stole a tin box, containing some bonds or something."
"I begin to understand," thought Harry. "Philip is suffering for what Ihave done. I must free him, if I can.
"Was the box in the cabin?" he asked, not considering it prudent tobetray all that he knew.
"No; it was buried in the earth, out in the woods," said Philip.
"That's true," said Temple, with an oath. "It was all the property Ihad."
"It's a queer place to keep articles of value," said Harry, lookingsteadily at Temple.
"I shall keep my own property where I please," said Temple, doggedly. "You don't suppose I'd keep it here in this hut. It wouldn't be safe fortwenty-four hours."
"Did you see Philip take it?" continued Harry, assuming, unconsciously, the tone of a judge or advocate.
"No; but I saw him prowling round near-by, and the earth had beendisturbed. As for the tin box, that was gone, and he stays here till itis found."
As he spoke he approached Philip, to tie him anew.
"Oh, please don't tie me again, Mr. Temple!" pleaded the terrified boy.
"Indeed, I didn't carry off your tin box. I didn't know you had any."
"Perhaps the box dug itself up and walked off," said Temple, withwithering sarcasm. "You must think I am a fool. Somebody dug it up, andknows where it is now."
"It wasn't me."
"At any rate, it won't do any harm to tie you up until I find out moreabout it."
Temple picked up the rope which Harry had thrown on the floor, and wasabout to repeat his work, when Philip exclaimed, partly from theinstinct of self-preservation, partly to gratify his mean spite againstHarry:
"I shouldn't wonder if Harry Gilbert carried it off himself. He wasprowling about the wood yesterday."
Harry could hardly believe his ears. This boy who accused him was theone he had just released from his bonds.
He looked at Philip, his face expressing the contempt he felt.
"I suppose this is to pay me for untying you?" he said.
"I can't help it; I am sure you did it," persisted Philip, thinking whata fine thing it would be for Harry to change places with him. "I amrich, and I have no need to steal. You are poor, and, I dare say, wouldlike to get hold of Mr. Temple's bonds."
Temple paused a moment, and then said:
"The boy may be right. I'll tie both of you. One of you knows somethingabout it, or I'm mistaken."
Philip's face fell. He had hoped to get free himself. It would be somesatisfaction for him to see the boy he hated in the same plight, butstill he would rather go free.
"Tie him first," he said.
It occurred to him that while Harry was being tied he might slip away.
"I know my own business best, youngster," said Temple.
And he made Philip sit down again in the chair from which he had beenreleased.
"Don't you dare leave the cabin, unless you want to be brought back," hesaid to Harry. "Your turn will come next."
Harry did not answer, but coughed. It was the signal agreed upon betweenhim and the officer outside.
Temple was on his knees beside Philip's chair, tying the boy, with hisback toward the door. He listened to hear whether our hero made anyattempt to escape, being prepared to pursue and bring him back byforce.
He heard a slight motion, and looked around quickly.
There in the doorway stood a stranger, quietly covering him with arevolver.
Temple jumped to his feet, in surprise and alarm.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"I am an officer of the law, Ralph Temple, and I call upon you tosurrender," said the stranger, coolly.
"An officer? I don't believe it. Where is your uniform?"
"I had my reasons for not wearing it. Do you surrender?"
"Why should I? What do you want of me?" asked the outlaw, uneasily.
"I want you for the theft of a tin box of bonds, taken from an office in
New York."
"I know nothing about it," said Temple, hastily.
"That is too late! I have heard you charge that boy with stealing itfrom you. You admitted that you had concealed it in the wood."
"That was my own property. I have been robbed of it."
"You will have a chance to prove that in a court of law."
"I'll do that, if you'll let me alone."
"I have orders to arrest you."
"Then you'll have to show that you are a stronger man than I!" exclaimed
Temple, with an oath, and he prepared to dash forward.
"Stay where you are, or I fire!" said the officer, sternly.
Temple looked in his eyes, and saw that he was dealing with a man ofresolution. He knew something of faces, and he saw that this man wouldbe as good as his word.
"What do you want of me?" he said, sullenly.
"You must go with me."
"Lead on, then. I'll follow."
"I must adopt a little prudential measure first, Harry, take thesehandcuffs."
Harry stepped forward and received them from the officer.
"Hold out your hands" – this was said to Temple – "and let this boy put onthe handcuffs."
"I'll kill him before I'll allow him to do it!" exclaimed Temple, violently.
"I don't think you will, or even make the attempt," said the officer, quietly. "You forget that I hold your life in my hands," and he made aslight motion with the revolver.
"You wouldn't dare to shoot?"
"If you should prove to be mistaken, it would be a serious mistake," said the officer, quietly.
It was his very quietness and freedom from excitement that daunted
Temple.
"You'll repent this!" he said. "You've got the whip hand on me now, butthe time will come when I'll get even with you."
"I have been threatened before," said the officer, briefly. "Harry, dowhat I told you."
Temple sullenly held out his wrists, and Harry put on the handcuffs.
"Now, follow me!"
They went out of the cabin, Philip following. He tried to be social withHarry, but our hero had not forgotten his mean attempt to throwsuspicion upon him, after a service received at his hands, and receivedhis advances very coldly.
CHAPTER XXVIII
MR. CHASE IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
Temple's manner was sullen as he walked beside Harry and the officer, handcuffed. He overcame his sullenness, after a while, so far as toinquire:
"How came you to suspect me of this robbery?"
"Your friend Vernon has confessed it," answered the officer. "You may aswell know, for it will do no harm."
"So he betrayed me?" said Temple, bitterly.
"He had no choice. He was trapped himself."
"Where is he now?"
"In prison, awaiting trial."
Temple looked better satisfied. He had suspected Vernon of turning
State's evidence and betraying him.
"But how was he found out?" he asked, after a pause.
"The night you hid the tin box in the wood, there was some one who sawall that passed."
"Who was that?" asked Temple, eagerly.
"You will know in due time."
"Where are you taking me now?"
"To the county jail."
"Where is the tin box?"
"In the hands of the man from whom you stole it, There, I have answeredyour questions, and have no more to say."
"What do you think will be done with me?" asked Temple, anxiously.
The officer shrugged his shoulders.
"Gentlemen of your profession," he said, "are generally well informed onthat point. If found guilty, you will be boarded at the expense of thecounty for a term of years."
"Curse the luck!" uttered Temple, savagely, and then was silent.
Philip had left them, and was on his way home, glad to get out of hispredicament, but more incensed than ever against Harry for themortification he had put upon him in compelling him to beg his pardon.
"I'll get even with him, see if I don't," he muttered.
When Harry and the officer had lodged their prisoner in jail, the lattersaid:
"I nearly forgot to tell you that Mr. Wheeler wishes you to call at hisoffice to-morrow."
"In the morning?"
"As you please."
"I think I will go up by the morning train," said Harry, after a littlereflection.
"Then you will be likely to meet me on the train. I shall be apassenger."
"I will look for you. I shall be glad to have company."
"By the way, that was very creditable work of yours, ferreting out thebond robbers."
"I was lucky, that is all," answered Harry, modestly.
"Partly so, but you have showed excellent judgment throughout, andpersonal bravery."
"Don't flatter me, Mr. Pry. You may make me conceited."
"You ought to be one of us."
"I don't think I should like it," said Harry, slowly.
"Perhaps not, but you're fitted for it, for all that. Well, good-day. Ishall see you to-morrow."
"You are getting to be an important business man, Harry," said UncleObed, when our hero announced that he had a summons to the city nextday.
"What is it all about, Harry?" asked his mother, rather puzzled.
"Let the boy explain in his own good time, Mrs. Gilbert," said the oldman. "I know he isn't in any mischief."
"I may be able to tell you to-morrow evening, mother. It will besomething that will surprise you."
"I suppose it is all right, Harry, as Mr. Wilkins says so."
"Yes, mother, I can assure you of that."
In due time Harry boarded the morning train. He looked through the carstill he found Mr. Pry, the detective, and took a seat beside him.
It was not long before his attention was called to a smooth, plausiblevoice, proceeding from a person who sat two seats in advance of the onehe occupied.
"My dear sir, if it will be any accommodation to you, I will myself buyyour bond, and pay you the market price."
There was something in the voice, and in the words, that attracted
Harry's attention and excited his suspicions.
"Excuse me a moment," he said to the detective, and, passing through theaisle, reached a point where he could look back at the speaker.
He knew him at once, not only by his face, but by the profusion of ringsupon his fingers. It was the same man that had cheated the poor farmerby giving him counterfeit money in payment for his coupons.
If, however, he had any doubt, it was set at rest by what followed.
"I don't know," said his seat companion, an industrious mechanic; "perhaps I'd better wait, and sell it in the city."
"As you please, my friend," said the young man. "I only made theproposal thinking I might accommodate you."
"Is that your business – buying bonds?" asked the mechanic.
"In the city, yes. I am a member of the well-known firm of Chase &
Atkins. Of course, you have heard of them."
"Ye-es," answered the mechanic, doubtfully.
"I am Mr. Chase. We do a general banking and brokerage business. Let mesee, what is the denomination of your bond?"
"Eh?"
"I mean, of what size? Is it a fifty, or a hundred?"
"It's only a fifty, sir. It was a present to my wife. Now she wants touse a little money, and so she has got me to sell it."
"We give rather higher prices than most brokers," said Chase, smoothly.
"How can you do that?" asked the mechanic, who was a man of good commonsense.
"Well, you see, we ship 'em to Europe, and make a handsome profit. Itwould be for your advantage to sell to me; but you must act your ownwill."
The mechanic began to think more favorably of the proposal, and askedone or two more questions. Finally he said:
"Well, I don't know but I might as well. Have you got money enough withyou?"
Chase took out a plethoric pocketbook, stuffed with bills, and calledattention to it, smilingly:
"We bankers always have to be well provided with money."
The mechanic looked respectfully at the owner of so much money.
"I dare say it's more than I could earn in a year," he said.
"I dare say you are right, my friend," said the young man.
"Very well. Count out the money, and the bond is yours."
The exchange was made, and both parties seemed well satisfied.
Chase deposited the bond in an inside pocket and then, saying, carelessly, "I'll go into the smoking car for a few minutes," rose fromhis seat.
But in the meantime Harry had returned to his own seat, and whispered afew words in the ear of the detective.
The latter sharply scrutinized the young man who called himself Chase, and said, in a low voice:
"I know him now. He's an old offender. I thought there was somethingfamiliar in his appearance. I'll look after you, my fine fellow."
He waited till the exchange had been effected, and the young man was onthe point of leaving the car.
Then he rose, and, hurrying forward, placed his hand on the young man'sshoulder.
"A word with you, sir," he said.
"Really, sir, I don't remember you."
"Perhaps not. I remember you. Do me the favor to return that bond to theman from whom you obtained it."
"It is mine. I have paid for it."
"With counterfeit money."
"Do you mean to insult me?" demanded Chase; but there was a suddenpallor on his face and a tremor in his voice.
"That will do, Jimmy Neal. I told you I knew you. That is an old trickof yours."
"Who are you?" asked the detected swindler, in a faltering voice.
"Pry, the detective."
"Will you let me go if I restore this bond?"
"No; there is another case I must inquire into – that of a farmer fromwhom you bought some coupons a day or two since, paying him in the sameworthless rags. Sit down here," pointing to a vacant seat. "You mayconsider yourself under arrest."
Great was the consternation of the mechanic when he learned how nearlyhe had been swindled, and profuse were his thanks to Harry and theofficer.
"Be more prudent the next time," said the latter, "and don't sell bondsto a stranger in the cars again."
We may as well add that the traveling broker was duly tried, andsentenced to a term in State's prison, and that enough good money wasfound on him to repay the farmer for the coupons he had imprudentlyparted with.
Greatly to his satisfaction, Harry was intrusted with the office ofacquainting Simon Jones with the pleasant fact that his money would berestored to him.
CHAPTER XXIX
HARRY BECOMES A "BONDHOLDER."
When Harry entered the office of Mr. Wheeler, the lawyer was engagedwith a client. He nodded pleasantly to our hero, and said:
"I shall be at leisure very soon. You will find the morning paper onthat table."
When his interview with the client was over, he beckoned to Harry toapproach.
"Well," he said, "thanks to your good management, we have triumphantlysucceeded. The stolen property is recovered, and the thieves are incustody."
"It was not so much good management as good luck," said Harry.
"Partly both; but, however that may be, the owner of the propertyauthorizes me to make a substantial acknowledgment for the service youhave rendered him. Let me see – the reward offered was two hundred andfifty dollars."
"That's too much, sir."
"The gentleman who gives it does not think so. Indeed, he authorizes meto somewhat exceed it. In this envelope" – here the lawyer produced alarge-size package – "you will find two one-hundred-dollar governmentbonds and one fifty. The value of the three, at present prices, isnearer three hundred dollars than two hundred and fifty. I need notcaution you to take good care of them."
"Are they for me?" asked Harry, his cheeks flushing with pleasure.
"Yes; they are six per cent. bonds, and will bring you fifteen dollars ayear in interest – not quite enough to live upon," the lawyer added, witha smile, "but something to add to your income."
"I can hardly realize that I am worth so much money," said Harry, as hetook the package and put it into his inside coat pocket.
"Have you a watch?" asked Mr. Wheeler.
"No, sir," replied Harry, in surprise.
"I thought not; and I, therefore, ask you to accept one as a gift, notfrom my client, but from me."
He produced a handsome silver watch, manufactured at Waltham, with asilver chain attached.
Now, Harry had long wanted a watch, but the prospect of obtaining onebefore he was of age had seemed very remote. At the moment, I think, thepresent of the watch gratified him as much as that of the bonds, thoughthe latter were ten times as valuable.
"It is beautiful," he said; "but, Mr. Wheeler, why should you give me apresent? The bonds were not yours."
"That is true, but they were under my charge, and I should have beenseriously troubled had they not been recovered. Take the watch, my boy, and I hope it will please you as much to receive it as it does me togive it."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry, warmly. "It seems to me there is no end tomy good fortune."
"Continue to deserve it, my boy, and I think it will continue. I mustbid you good-morning now, as I have another appointment."
"Good-morning, sir, and thank you."
"By the way," the lawyer added, "I shall bear you in mind, and, should Ihave any work which I think you can do, I will send for you."
"I shall be glad to serve you in any way, sir."
So saying, Harry left the office. He was so much in a hurry to show hispresent at home that, though it was still early, he decided to take thenext train, which would bring him home about noon.
His mother and Mr. Wilkins had just seated themselves at the dinnertable when Harry entered.
"What! home already, Harry?" asked his mother, in surprise.
"I judge from your tone, mother, that you haven't got enough dinner forme," said Harry, gayly.
"If that's the case, I'll eat a little less," said Uncle Obed. "But whydidn't you stay longer?"
"Because I got through with my business, and thought I might as wellcome home," answered Harry.
By this time his mother's eyes happened to fall on the silver chaindisplayed across his vest.
"What is that, Harry?" she asked.
Harry drew out the watch, with pardonable pride.
"Where did you get it?" asked his mother, in amazement.
"A lawyer in New York gave it to me."
"But what lawyer do you know, my son?" asked his mother, more and morebewildered.
"That isn't all, mother. Look at that!"
Harry drew out the package of bonds, and displayed them to hisastonished mother.
She at once concluded that he had found them.
"They are not yours, Harry," she said. "If you found them, you mustrestore them to the owner."
"So I will, Mrs. Gilbert. I give these bonds to you, and recommend youto take good care of them."
"What does all this mean, Harry? You cannot give away what does notbelong to you."
Harry felt that it was time to explain, and he did so. It was necessaryto begin with the account of Philip's treatment of him in the wood.
Mrs. Gilbert was very indignant, and she spoke warmly.
"It was shameful!" she said. "To leave you there alone in the dark wood, tied hand and foot! The boy ought to be served in the same wayhimself!"
"Wait till I get through my story, mother," he said, "and perhaps youwill find that Philip got into a little trouble of his own."
So he continued his story, and told, finally, of how he found Philip
Ross bound, and trembling for his life, in the cabin of Ralph Temple.
"Served him right," said Mrs. Gilbert, satisfactorily.
"As things have turned out, I can afford to overlook his past meanness.
He has suffered punishment, though not at my hands."
"If I had known that you were mixed up with burglars, I should have feltvery anxious, Harry."
"I know it, and that is why I didn't tell you. However, all's well thatends well. The tin box is found, the robbers are caught, and I have arich mother."
As he spoke, he put the bonds into his mother's hands.
"But, Harry, they are yours. I cannot accept them."
"Take care of them, at any rate, mother, and use the interest. I shalllike it better than to keep them myself."
"You are a good boy, Harry," said Uncle Obed. "I like to see boys thinkconsiderable of their mothers. And now, if you are both ready fordinner, I am."
"Excuse me, Mr. Wilkins. I was so intent upon Harry's story that I amafraid the dinner is cold."
They sat down to dinner, and the meal was a very happy one, even if thedishes were somewhat cold. Harry's good luck put them all in finespirits.
After dinner Harry went out into the village, in the direction of thestore.
I suspect he wanted to show his watch, as most boys do when for thefirst time they become the proud possessor of one.
On the way he met Philip Ross and James Congreve. The latter he had notseen since they parted in the wood.
"There's our young captive, Philip," said Congreve.
"He's got a watch. At any rate, I see a watch chain," said Philip, whosecuriosity was excited.
"Hello!" called out Congreve, as they met; "where did you get thatwatch?"
"I don't see wherein my having a watch should concern you; but I doknow, after the contemptible treatment I received at your handsyesterday, your questions deserve no notice from me. But, as mattersturned out so well, I can afford to swallow my indignation."
"It was rather a mean trick, leaving you bound in the wood," said
Congreve, candidly. "I wouldn't have done it, except to oblige Philip."
"Has he told you how he liked being tied himself?"
Congreve looked, in surprise, at Philip. The latter had not chosen tosay anything about his own adventure in Temple's hut.
When Harry told the story, not omitting to mention that he had compelledPhilip to beg his pardon before he released him, Congreve burst intohearty laughter, while Philip stood by, angry and ashamed.
"That's the best joke I ever heard," said Congreve. "I wish I had beenthere to see."
"I thought you were my friend," said Philip, indignantly.
"I laugh at my friends sometimes," said Congreve. "What a splendidjoke!"
Philip didn't see it in that light, and was so mortified that he didn'tgive Congreve an opportunity to ask further about the watch, buthurriedly moved on. All the remainder of the afternoon he passed in asullen frame of mind.