Alger Horatio Jr.
Making His Mark
CHAPTER XIII
AN ARTFUL TRICK
It was a difficult matter to decide. Gerald had a natural dislike to become an informer or expose his fellow-clerk, though he felt that Mr. Tubbs ought to know how he was being robbed. So he let the day pass without speaking of what he had seen. He was no longer surprised that Brandon could spend so much money on billiards, since it did not come out of his salary, but out of his employer's till.
In the evening he called upon Mr. Nugent and asked his advice.
"Have you told Mr. Tubbs what you discovered?" asked the old gentleman.
"No, sir."
"You should do so."
"I don't like to expose Brandon."
"I can understand your objection, but nevertheless it is your duty to do so."
"I wish he would discover it in some other way."
"He is not likely to do so."
"He may not believe me."
"At any rate you will have done your duty."
"I will think it over, Mr. Nugent. In the meantime I am obliged to you for your advice."
"I shall always be glad to advise you," said Mr. Nugent, kindly. "You are a straightforward and honorable boy, and I have all confidence in you."
"Thank you, sir. I am glad to have you say that. Suppose Brandon denies it?"
"You can suggest to Mr. Tubbs to put a marked bill in the drawer, and then try to trace it in case it is taken."
"I will do so."
But Gerald did not have an opportunity to make use of Mr. Nugent's advice. During the day he had shown a degree of perturbation occasioned by his discovery of Brandon's treachery that had excited the notice of his fellow-clerk. Guilt is always suspicious, and Brandon, knowing his own dishonesty, was constantly on the watch for the detection which he dreaded.
"The kid suspects me," he said to himself. "I must forestall him."
Accordingly, when the store closed, he did not offer to go out with Gerald, but said: "I am not quite ready to go yet."
This suited Gerald, who had intended to call on Mr. Nugent to ask his advice. He therefore said "Good night!" and walked away.
Brandon watched him go up the road, and then reentering the store just as his employer was ready to leave, said:
"Can you stop a minute, Mr. Tubbs?"
"Certainly. What is it?"
"I have something to say to you—something important."
"Indeed!" said the grocer, surprised.
"Have you—missed any money within a few days?"
"I can't say. Why do you ask?"
"Because I saw something to-day that startled me. Do you think Gerald is honest?"
"Bless my soul, of course! He comes of a good family. His father was highly respected."
"That may be; but there are plenty of boys and men belonging to respectable families who cannot be relied upon."
"What did you see? What makes you suspect the boy?"
"I saw him take a bill from the drawer this afternoon. Suppose you examine it, and see if you miss anything."
The grocer opened the drawer hastily.
"I can't tell," he said, slowly. "I didn't keep track of the bills in the drawer."
"I did. There was a five-dollar bill paid by Mr. Bacon for a barrel of flour."
"So there was, Brandon—so there was."
"See if you can find the five-dollar bill in the drawer."
"No, I can't," returned Mr. Tubbs, after a brief examination.
"Then that was the bill the boy took."
"I can't believe it; so young, too, and so honest-looking!"
"He is evidently very artful," said Brandon. "I am sorry, Mr. Tubbs, I am really sorry to be obliged to inform against him, but I felt it to be my duty."
"You are a good fellow, Brandon," said the grocer, grasping his hand. "You have done what you ought to do. I feel that you are a true friend."
"I try to be, sir; but I will own that I had a selfish motive."
"What is it?"
"I thought if you missed the bill you might suspect me."
"No, Brandon; I could hardly do that, after the long time you have been with me."
"Yes, sir, I have been in your employ five years, and I humbly hope that you have found me faithful, sir."
"Yes, Brandon," said the deceived grocer, "I have always found you faithful."
Brandon laughed in his sleeve. He found his task easier than he had supposed it would be. Mr. Tubbs was a ready dupe.
"It seems terrible," said the grocer. "What would his poor father have said if he had lived to know of the boy's dishonesty?"
"Perhaps if his father had lived he would not have stolen."
"What do you think I ought to do, Brandon? Would you advise me to have him arrested?"
"No, sir. Ask him to return the bill he took from the drawer. If he denies having taken it, you will know what to think."
"True; your advice is good. I will speak to him to-morrow morning. Thank you, for telling me what you saw."
The store was closed, and the two went in different directions—Mr. Tubbs towards his home, Brandon to the billiard-room.
The latter smiled as he pushed on his way.
"What would the old man have thought," he said to himself, "if he knew that I had the parson's bill in my own pocket? My friend Gerald, I have spiked your guns, as you will find if you undertake to make trouble for me. You are altogether too innocent. You are too good to play billiards, but you will find yourself in something worse.
The next morning Gerald came to the store earlier than usual, for he wanted an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Tubbs. The grocer, unlike most men in business for themselves, generally was first on the ground and opened the store himself. It was a habit he had formed when a subordinate. He always rose early and had an early breakfast, so that this involved no self-denial on his part.
Brandon, to give Mr. Tubbs an opportunity of speaking to Gerald, didn't come round till twenty minutes after his usual time.
Gerald noticed that the grocer looked unusually grave, but was quite unprepared for what was to come.
"Good morning, Mr. Tubbs," he said, in a pleasant tone.
The grocer did not return his greeting, but said:
"Gerald, there is something I wish to speak to you about."
"Yes, sir. I wished also to speak to you."
"I wonder whether he is going to confess," thought Mr. Tubbs.
"What have you to say to me?"
"I think a bank bill was taken from your money-drawer yesterday."
Mr. Tubbs was amazed. What did it mean? Was it possible that the boy was going to make a clean breast of his dishonesty?
"A bank bill was taken from the drawer yesterday," he said—"a five-dollar note."
"I didn't know that it was a five," said Gerald. "I didn't suppose you had discovered it."
"I am glad, however, that you have confessed the theft to me. Return the bill, and I will overlook your fault."
"What on earth do you mean, Mr. Tubbs?" ejaculated Gerald. "You surely do not think that I took the money?"
"Certainly I do."
"Then, sir, you are very much mistaken," said Gerald, indignantly. "I was never dishonest in all my life."
"Some one must have taken the money."
"Some one did."
"Who, may I ask?"
"Brandon! I saw him take it from the drawer when he was putting in a smaller sum, which he had been paid for groceries."
"This is shameful, Gerald Lane," said Mr. Tubbs, angrily. "It is not enough that you take my money, but you seek to place the crime upon an innocent man."
"You are very much mistaken, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, pale but resolute. "I saw Brandon take the money with my own eyes, but I did not know that it was a five-dollar bill. How did you discover your loss?"
"It was called to my attention last evening by Brandon himself."
"He told you the drawer had been robbed!" exclaimed Gerald, in amazement.
"Yes."
"Then he must have done it to divert suspicion from himself. Probably he had the note in his pocket when he was speaking to you."
CHAPTER XIV
A CRISIS
At this moment Brandon entered the store. He took in at a glance what was going on. He noticed Gerald's flushed face and he smiled inwardly.
"I reckon the kid finds himself in hot water," he said to himself.
"Come here, Mr. Brandon," said the grocer.
"Yes, sir," returned Brandon, innocently.
"Do you remember telling me that you saw Gerald take money from the drawer?"
"Yes, sir; I thought it my duty to tell you. At the same time, as it is probably a first offence, I hope you will forgive him."
"You see how considerate Brandon is," said Mr. Tubbs, turning to Gerald. "What do you think the boy says?"
This was, of course, addressed to Brandon.
"I don't know, sir. Does he deny taking the money?"
"Yes. He says he saw you take it!"
"Is it possible?" exclaimed Brandon. "I hope you don't believe the charge, Mr. Tubbs."
"Certainly not."
"You may search me if you like."
"Perhaps it will be well to search you both, though, of course, the note may have been spent."
"I am at your command, Mr. Tubbs. Stay, I will turn my pockets inside out!"
He proceeded to do so, but only a few silver coins were found. The fact was that the note had been paid away in the billiard-room the previous evening.
"Now, Gerald, it is your turn."
Gerald looked embarrassed. Though he was perfectly innocent, he knew that there was a five-dollar bill in his pocketbook—part of the money drawn from the savings bank. Mr. Barton had handed it to him only two days previous.
Brandon had no knowledge of this. His only idea was to subject Gerald to humiliation. But when he saw the boy's confusion, he began to think that things were turning out unexpectedly in his favor.
"I don't think he wants to be searched, Mr. Tubbs," he said, pointedly.
"I am willing to follow the example of Mr. Brandon," said Gerald.
He took out his pocketbook and handed it to the grocer.
The latter opened it, and drew out a five-dollar bill.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, in excitement, as he held it up to view. "This tells the story, Gerald Lane! You are a thief!"
"That's false, Mr. Tubbs!" said Gerald, hotly. "That bill is mine."
"That's a likely story. Of course a boy that will steal will lie."
"It is true," said Gerald, firmly.
"Then where did you get this money?" demanded the grocer, sternly.
"From Mr. Barton, in the savings bank."
"Gerald Lane, you may think I am an idiot, but you are mistaken. I will keep this bill."
"Then it is you who are the thief. You can ask Mr. Barton if I do not tell the truth."
Brandon smiled gleefully. He was very much surprised to learn that Gerald had a five-dollar bill in his possession. He knew, of course, that it was not the bill taken from the drawer; but the grocer did not know, and he saw that it would clear him from suspicion.
"What do you think of this boy, Brandon?" asked Mr. Tubbs.
"I think he yielded to temptation, and that he won't do it again. Will you do me a favor, Mr. Tubbs, and overlook his offense?"
"You are very kind to him, Brandon, especially when he has charged you with robbing the money-drawer; but I cannot retain a thief in my employ."
"I don't wish you to keep me at Mr. Brandon's request," said Gerald, with spirit. "I do not take back my charge against him."
"Then, Mr. Tubbs," said Brandon, "I have no more to say," and he moved to another part of the store.
Things certainly looked dark for Gerald. The circumstantial evidence against him was of a serious and convincing character. But there was an unexpected witness in his favor just entering the store.
It was Mr. Barton.
Gerald's face lighted up when he saw the entrance of his friend. So did that of Mr. Tubbs.
"Now I shall be able to show that you were lying," said the grocer, triumphantly.
"What is the matter?" asked the bank teller, turning from one to the other.
"Mr. Barton," said the grocer, "you come just in good time; This boy has robbed me of a five-dollar bill."
"Impossible!" exclaimed the bank teller. "Gerald Lane is an honest boy."
"So I thought myself; but you are liable to be deceived in boys. Mr. Brandon saw him take the bill from the drawer, and told me. I have searched him and found the bill in his possession. Now he has the assurance to say that he got the bill from you."
"Probably he did."
"What!" ejaculated the grocer, starting back in amazement.
"It is true. I gave Gerald a five-dollar bill."
"That is just what I told you, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, triumphantly.
"But," said the grocer, "Brandon says he saw him take a bill from the drawer, and I miss a five-dollar note."
"Then all I can say is that Mr. Brandon has probably told you what is not true."
"Sir!" exclaimed Brandon, nervously.
"I mean what I say," said Mr. Barton, sternly.
"I know Gerald Lane, and I would trust him implicitly."
"But a bill has been taken from my drawer," said the grocer.
"I am sure Gerald did not take it."
"Mr. Tubbs, I will thank you to give me back my money," said Gerald.
"I don't know that I ought to do it, after what I have heard about you," said Mr. Tubbs, hesitating. "The bill could not have gone away by itself."
"That is true enough, but I am not the only one employed in the store."
The grocer was badly confused. He had decided beyond a doubt that Gerald was a thief; but then Mr. Barton vouched for him, and Mr. Barton was a man of consideration.
He gave back the bill to Gerald, but with reluctance.
"It seems, then," he said, "that I am to bear the loss."
"Yes," said Mr. Barton, "unless you discover who took your money."
"I shall feel uncomfortable to think I have a thief in the store."
"So far as I am concerned," Gerald said, proudly, "you will have no trouble. I resign my position."
"I guess you'd better stay till the end of the week," said Mr. Tubbs. "I can't fill your place right off."
"I will do so to oblige you. If another such charge is brought against me I shall leave you at once."
Here Mr. Barton made his purchase. As he left the store he said:
"Call and see me, Gerald; we can talk this matter over."
When the bank officer had left the store Mr. Tubbs said:
"There seems to be a great mystery about this robbery."
"Yes, sir," answered Brandon.
"Mr. Barton seems to vouch for Gerald."
"He is a good man, but not very sharp. He is surely taken in."
That evening when Gerald went home he said to his stepmother:
"Mrs. Lane, I have something to tell you."
"Well?" she responded, coldly.
"I am going to leave the grocery store," Gerald announced quietly.
"What? without my permission?" she demanded, in displeasure.
"Yes, Mrs. Lane."
"What's your reason? Are you getting lazy? Are you tired of work?"
"No."
"Then let me know the cause of your determination. Not that I shall consent to it."
"Mr. Tubbs charged me with taking money from the drawer."
"Oh-o!" said Abel. "So that's what you have been up to. I suppose he has bounced you!"
"Of course no one will believe it that knows me," returned Gerald, contemptuously.
"I'm not so sure of that."
"If your mother were not here I would give you a thrashing!" said Gerald, hotly.
"Ma wouldn't let you."
"All this is very discreditable, Gerald," said his stepmother. "I certainly did not think that you would descend to theft. Mr. Tubbs might have had you arrested."
"I found a friend to speak up for me—Mr. Barton."
"Has Mr. Tubbs discharged you, or is he willing to keep you?"
"I presume he is."
"Then you will go back," said Mrs. Lane, decisively.
"I shall remain till the end of the week to oblige Mr. Tubbs, but I will stay no longer."
"We will see about that. Now it is time to go to bed."
CHAPTER XV
A STRANGE PROPOSAL
Gerald had learned to look upon Mr. Nugent as a friend upon whose advice and assistance he could rely. On Friday evening he called at the house of his old friend and was cordially received.
"Let me know how you are getting on," said the old gentleman.
Gerald briefly recounted what had passed.
"So your stepmother wishes you to remain with Mr. Tubbs?" said Mr. Nugent.
"Yes, sir."
"And you object?"
"I don't care to remain with a man who doubts my honesty."
John Nugent smiled.
"Would you prefer me as an employer to Mr. Tubbs?" he asked, after a pause.
"Very much," answered Gerald, brightening up.
He wondered, however, what Mr. Nugent could have for him to do. There seemed no chance in his establishment for a boy like himself unless Mr. Nugent needed some one to work for him. Gerald was willing to do this, though he would have preferred some out-of-door employment.
"Perhaps you wish me to do some writing?" he suggested, in a tone of inquiry.
"No, I may wish to send you on a journey. Would you object to that?"
"No, sir; I should be delighted to have the chance to travel."
"So I supposed," said Mr. Nugent, with a benevolent smile. "Most young people enjoy that."
"Am I to go with you, sir?"
"No. I am not a good traveler. A cold, which I should be very apt to contract, would be likely to bring on my old enemy, rheumatism. At my age a man prefers to linger by his own fireside. You are not afraid of rheumatism?" he added, in a jocular tone.
"No, sir."
After a pause Mr. Nugent resumed:
"Two days ago I received a letter from Montana, from a man I supposed to be dead.
"The contents took me very much by surprise. I will read you the letter, and this will prepare the way for the proposal I will make you."
The old gentleman drew from his desk a letter written on coarse paper, and addressed in a hand made tremulous by age or infirmity.
It was post-marked at Campville, Montana.
The letter was passed to Gerald, who read as follows:
"Mr. John Nugent—If you turn to the signature of this letter you will recognize the name of a man who once did you a great wrong. Twenty years ago I was in the employ of the firm of which you were a senior member. I had access to the safe, and one day I appropriated twenty thousand dollars in negotiable securities and fled. You notified the police but I succeeded in getting away with my ill-gotten gains. I visited different parts of the great West, but finally settled down in an out-of-the-way place in Montana. I have been here ever since. Part of the money I deposited in a Chicago bank, part I brought with me. At that time, as now, mining was the chief business in Montana. I engaged in it with varying success.Upon the whole I have greatly prospered. Probably I have in my possession at least twenty-five thousand dollars.
"But I have not been happy. I have lived the life of a recluse, cut off by my own act from friends and society, and my wealth has done me no good. My business has occupied my mind, and afforded me in that way my only relief from remorse. Latterly my health has been poor, and I have felt myself breaking down. I am probably about your own age, but I feel sure that I shall not live long. I have some distant relatives at the East, but I feel that what property I have should be left, in the way of atonement, to the man I have wronged.
"I am not able to go East. Would it be possible for you to come here and receive the money and property I possess, merely leaving me enough to see me through the short time I have yet to live? If not—if you, too, are unable to travel—will you send me some trusted friend who will act in your behalf? If possible, send me some one who will remain with me to the end. There are rough people hereabouts who might rob me. Fortunately, partly from my poor way of living, I am not supposed to have much money. Probably no one supposes me to be worth over three to four thousand dollars. I dread the time when I shall be quite helpless, as then I should be at the mercy of designing and unscrupulous parties.
"You may be surprised that I have learned your address. Lately I fell in with a stranger from the East, who spoke of you and gave me the information I desired. I trust this letter will be received and that you will feel like acting upon it. I shall die easy if I am able, even at this late day, to make some atonement for my wrong-doing.
"Yours respectfully,"Thomas Nixon."
Gerald read this letter with interest, but could not understand how it could bear any relation to him.
"What do you think of it, Gerald?" asked Mr. Nugent.
"The man seems truly penitent," answered Gerald.
"You think, then, that it seems sincere and truthful? You would be likely to put confidence in it?"
"Yes, sir."
"I remember this man Nixon; he was a trusted clerk in our bank when I was a merchant in New York. We all felt amazed when he turned out a thief; he had no bad habits or extravagant tastes so far as any of us knew."
"Did you put the police on his track?"
"The matter was reported, of course; but we found that a considerable expenditure was required to excite interest and spur on the police detectives to active efforts. Finally the search was given up and the matter was well-nigh forgotten."
"Then the sum taken did not embarrass the firm?"
"Only slightly and temporarily. Twenty years have passed, as the letter says, and I had well-nigh forgotten Nixon and his crime till this letter reached me."
The old gentleman paused, and Gerald felt like asking, "What are you going to do about it?" but Mr. Nugent anticipated him.
"I have been thinking over this letter, and the writer's request, and it embarrasses me. Of course it is out of the question for me to go out to Montana, in my state of health."
"So I suppose, sir. You might send some one."
"True, but whom shall I send? Ten years ago, when I was more in touch with the world, I might have thought of some one. But, partly on account of my health, I have withdrawn from society and from business, and actually I cannot think of any one whom I should wish to trust with such a weighty responsibility."
Gerald quite entered into his feelings and views, but was unable to offer a suggestion. Of what Mr. Nugent had in his mind he had not the remotest conception.
"You will want to do something?" he said. "Such a sum of money is worth securing."
"So most people would say. In my case, having abundant means, I am less likely to be influenced by this consideration. My chief object, if I comply with the writer's request, is to bring relief to his mind by enabling him to make atonement for his offence. It was only this afternoon that I thought of one whom I could send out to Montana as my agent."
"Is it any one I know?" asked Gerald.
Mr. Nugent smiled.
"Probably you know him better than any one else in the world. I mean yourself!"
Gerald started in amazement.
"You really mean it?" he asked.
"Yes."
"But I am only a boy."
"True, but you are a good, sensible, reliable boy. How old are you?"
"Sixteen, sir."
"So I supposed. The qualities I mentioned are not a matter of age. Sometimes a boy is more reliable than a man."
"I thank you very much for your good opinion of me," said Gerald; "I am afraid you think too well of me."
"It may be so, but I have a good deal of confidence in you."
"I am very young for such a responsible commission."
"That's true. I wish you were older, but that is a matter that cannot be hastened. The sum of it all is, that failing you I know of no one whom I would care to trust. It must be either you or none. Are you willing to undertake the task?"
"Yes, sir, if you think me competent. I am not only willing, but shall be very glad to."
"You are quite sure that you will like it as well as staying with Mr. Tubbs?"
Mr. Nugent said this with a smile.
"I should not be willing to stay with Mr. Tubbs at any rate."
"When do you leave him?"
"To-morrow evening."
"Very well. I will get you ready to start for Montana on Monday."
When Gerald reached home it was five minutes past ten o'clock. Abel met him at the door.
"Ma says she won't have you comin' home so late," he said. "She'll give it to you!"
