It was all very well to anticipate revenge upon Ben, and his summarydismissal, but this did not relieve Conrad from his pecuniaryembarrassments. As a general thing, his weekly allowance was spent bythe middle of the week. Ben had refused to lend money, and there wasno one else he could call upon. Even if our hero was dismissed, thereseemed likely to be no improvement in this respect.
At this juncture, Conrad was, unfortunately, subjected to a temptationwhich proved too strong for him.
Mrs. Hamilton was the possessor of an elegant opera glass, which shehad bought some years previous in Paris at a cost of fifty dollars.Generally, when not in use, she kept it locked up in a bureau drawer.It so happened, however, that it had been left out on a return from amatinee, and lay upon her desk, where it attracted the attention ofConrad.
It was an unlucky moment, for he felt very hard up. He wished to goto the theater in the evening with a friend, but had no money.
It flashed upon him that he could raise a considerable sum on theopera glass at Simpson's, a well-known pawnbroker on the Bowery, andhe could, without much loss of time, stop there on his way down tobusiness.
Scarcely giving himself time to think, he seized the glass and thrustit into the pocket of his overcoat. Then, putting on his coat, hehurried from the house.
Arrived at the pawnbroker's, he produced the glass, and asked:
"How much will you give me on this?"
The attendant looked at the glass, and then at Conrad.
"This is a very valuable glass," he said. "Is it yours?"
"No," answered Conrad glibly. "It belongs to a lady in reducedcircumstances, who needs to raise money. She will be able to redeemit soon."
"Did she send you here?"
"Yes."
"We will loan you twenty dollars on it. Will that be satisfactory?"
"Quite so," answered Conrad, quite elated at the sum, which exceededhis anticipations.
"Shall we make out the ticket to you or the lady?"
"To me. The lady does not like to have her name appear in thematter."
This is so frequently the case that the statement created no surprise.
"What is your name?" inquired the attendant.
"Ben Barclay," answered Conrad readily.
The ticket was made out, the money paid over, and Conrad left theestablishment.
"Now I am in funds!" he said to himself, "and there is no danger ofdetection. If anything is ever found out, it will be Ben who will bein trouble, not I."
It was not long before Mrs. Hamilton discovered her loss. She valuedthe missing opera glass, for reasons which need not be mentioned, farbeyond its intrinsic value, and though she could readily have suppliedits place, so far as money was concerned, she would not have been aswell pleased with any new glass, though precisely similar, as with theone she had used for years. She remembered that she had not replacedthe glass in the drawer, and, therefore, searched for it wherever shethought it likely to have been left. But in vain.
"Ben," she said, "have you seen my glass anywhere about?"
"I think," answered Ben, "that I saw it on your desk."
"It is not there now, but it must be somewhere in the house."
She next asked Mrs. Hill. The housekeeper was entirely ignorant ofConrad's theft, and answered that she had not seen it.
"I ought not to have left it about," said Mrs. Hamilton. "It may haveproved too strong a temptation to some one of the servants."
"Or someone else," suggested Mrs. Hill significantly.
"That means Ben," thought Mrs. Hamilton, but she did not say so.
"I would ferret out the matter if I were you," continued Mrs. Hill.
"I intend to," answered Mrs. Hamilton quietly. "I valued the glassfar beyond its cost, and I will leave no means untried to recover it."
"You are quite right, too."
When Conrad was told that the opera glass had been lost, he said:
"Probably Ben stole it."
"So I think," assented his mother. "But it will be found out. CousinHamilton has put the matter into the hands of a detective."
For the moment, Conrad felt disturbed. But he quickly recoveredhimself.
"Pshaw! they can't trace it to me," he thought. "They will put it onBen."
CHAPTER XXVIMR. LYNX, THE DETECTIVE
The detective who presented himself to Mrs. Hamilton was aquiet-looking man, clad in a brown suit. Except that his eyes werekeen and searching, his appearance was disappointing. Conrad met himas he was going out of the house, and said to himself contemptuously:"He looks like a muff."
"I have sent for you, Mr. Lynx," said Mrs. Hamilton, "to see if youcan help me in a matter I will explain to you," and then she gave himall the information she possessed about the loss of the opera glass.
"How valuable was the glass?" inquired Mr. Lynx.
"It cost fifty dollars in Paris," said Mrs. Hamilton.
"But you set a higher value upon it for other reasons? Just so."
"You are right."
"Will you favor me with an exact description of the article?" said thedetective, producing his notebook.
Mrs. Hamilton did so, and the detective made an entry.
"Have you ever had anything taken out of your house by outsideparties?" he asked.
"On one occasion, when my brother was visiting me, his overcoat wastaken from the hatstand in the hall."
"A sneak thief, of course. The glass, however, was not so exposed?"
"No; it was not on the lower floor at all."
"It looks, then, as if it was taken by someone in the house."
"It looks so," said Mrs. Hamilton gravely.
"Have you confidence in your servants? Or, rather, have you reason tosuspect any of them?"
"I believe they are honest. I don't believe they would be tempted bysuch an article."
"Not, perhaps, for their own use, but a glass like this may be pawnedfor a considerable sum. Being of peculiar appearance, the thief wouldbe hardly likely to use it himself or herself. Detection would be toosure."
"No doubt you are right."
"How long has the glass been missing?" resumed the detective.
"Three days."
"No doubt it has been pawned by this time. Your course is clear."
"And what is that?"
"To make a tour of the pawnshops, and ascertain whether such anarticle has been brought to any one of them."
"Very well, Mr. Lynx. I leave the matter in your hands. I trusteverything to your judgment."
"Thank you. I will try to deserve your confidence. And now,good-day. I may call upon you to-morrow."
"Mr. Lynx left the presence of the lady, and went downstairs. He hadjust reached the bottom of the staircase, when a thin lady glided fromthe rear of the hall, and spoke to him.
"Are you the detective summoned by Mrs. Hamilton?" she asked.
"Yes, madam," answered Mr. Lynx, surveying housekeeper attentively.
"I am Mrs. Hill, the housekeper," said she. "I may add that I am acousin of Mrs. Hamilton's."
Mr. Lynx bowed, and waited for further information. He knew who wasaddressing him, for he had questioned Mrs. Hamilton as to thedifferent inmates of the house.
"I stopped you," said Mrs. Hill, "because I have my suspicions, and Ithought I might help you in this investigation."
"I shall feel indebted to you for any help you can afford. Do youmind telling me upon what your suspicions rest?"
"I don't like to accuse or throw suspicions on anyone," said thehousekeeper, but I think it is my duty to help my cousin in thismatter."
"Undoubtedly," said Mr. Lynx, noticing that she paused. "Proceed."
"You may or may not be aware that my cousin employs a boy of aboutsixteen, whom, as I think, she engaged rather rashly, without knowinganything of his antecedents. He assists her in her writing andaccounts--in fact, is a sort of secretary.
"His name is Benjamin Barclay, is it not?"
"Yes."
/> "Do you know anything of his habits?"
"He is very plausible. In fact, I think his appearance is in hisfavor; but I think he is sly. Still water, you know, runs deep."
Mr. Lynx bowed assent.
"I was disposed," proceeded Mrs. Hill artfully, "to think well of theboy, and to approve my cousin's selection, until last week he was seenleaving a well-known gambling house in Thirty-first Street."
"Indeed! That is certainly suspicious."
"Is it not?"
"Who saw him leaving the gambling house, Mrs. Hill?"
"My son, Conrad."
"Curious that he should have been near at the time!"
"He was taking a walk. He generally goes out in the evening."
"Of course your son would not visit such a place?"
"Certainly not," answered Mrs. Hill, looking offended at thesuggestion.
"By the way, are the two boys intimate? Do they seem to like eachother?"
"My Conrad always treats the other boy well, out of common politeness,but I don't think he likes him very well."
"Is your son in any situation?"
"He is now."
"Was he at the time this Benjamin was engaged by Mrs. Hamilton?"
"No."
"Rather singular that she did not employ your son, instead of seekingout a stranger, isn't it?"
"Now that you mention it, I confess that I did feel hurt at the slightto my boy. However, I don't wish to interfere with Cousin Hamilton,or obtrude my son upon her."
"Strong jealousy there!" thought the detective.
"So you think this Ben Barclay may have taken the glass?" he saidinquiringly.
"I do. Since he visits gambling houses, he doubtless squanders money,and can find a market for more than he can honestly earn."
"As you say, gambling often leads to dishonesty. Does Mrs. Hamiltonknow that her protege visited a gambling house?"
"Yes."
"Mentioned it to him, I suppose?"
"Yes."
"Of course, he denied it?"
"No; he admitted it, but said he received a letter from a strangerappointing to meet him there. It is rather curious that he couldn'tshow the letter, however. He pretended he had lost it."
"Did Mrs. Hamilton believe him?"
"I don't know. I think not, for, though she has not discharged him,she treats him very coldly."
"Have you any further information to give me?"
"No. I hope this will be of some service to you."
"I think it will. Thank you, and good-afternoon."
"There! I've prejudiced him against Ben," said Mrs. Hill to herself,with a satisfied smile. "These detectives are glad of a hint, sharpas they think themselves. If he finds out that it is Ben, he willtake all the credit to himself, and never mention me in the matter.However, that is just what I wish. It is important that I should notappear too active in getting the boy into trouble, or I may be thoughtto be influenced by interested motives, though, Heaven knows, I onlywant justice for myself and my boy. The sooner we get this boy out ofthe house, the better it will be for us."
As Mr. Lynx left the house, he smiled to himself.
"That woman and her son hate Ben Barclay, that much is certain, andlook upon him as an interloper and a rival. I rather sympathize withthe poor fellow. I should be sorry to find him guilty, but I shallnot stop short till I have ferreted out the truth."
CHAPTER XXVIITHE TELLTALE TICKET
Conrad still had the pawnbroker's ticket which he had received inreturn for the opera glasses, and did not quite know what to do withit. He didn't intend to redeem the glass, and if found in hispossession, it would bring him under suspicion. Now that a detectivehad the matter in charge, it occurred to him that it would be well tohave the ticket found in Ben's room.
The two had rooms upon the same floor, and it would, therefore, beeasy to slip into Ben's chamber and leave it somewhere about.
Now, it chanced that Susan, the chambermaid, was about, though Conraddid not see her, when he carried out his purpose, and, instigated bycuriosity, she peeped through the half-open door, and saw him placethe ticket on the bureau.
Wondering what it was, she entered the room after Conrad had vacatedit, and found the ticket Conrad had placed there.
Susan knew what a pawnbroker's ticket was, and read it with curiosity.
She saw that it was made out to Ben Barclay.
"How, then, did Master Conrad get hold of it?" she said to herself."It's my belief he's trying to get Master Ben into trouble. It's ashame, it is, for Master Ben is a gentleman and he isn't."
Between the two boys, Susan favored Ben, who always treated her withconsideration, while Conrad liked to order about the servants, as ifthey were made to wait upon him.
After Conrad had disposed of the pawn ticket, he said carelessly tohis mother:
"Mother, if I were you, I'd look into Ben's room. You might find theopera glass there."
"I don't think he'd leave it there. He would pawn it."
"Then you might find the ticket somewhere about."
Upon this hint, Mrs. Hill went up to Ben's room, and there, upon thebureau, she naturally found the ticket.
"I thought so," she said to herself. "Conrad was right. The boy is athief. Here is the ticket made out to him by name. Well, well, he'sbrazen enough, in all conscience. Now shall I show it to CousinHamilton at once, or shall I wait until the detective has reported?"
On the whole, Mrs. Hill decided to wait. She could delay with safety,for she had proof which would utterly crush and confound the hatedinterloper.
Meanwhile, the detective pursued his investigations. Of course, hevisited Simpson's, and there he learned that the opera glass, which hereadily recognized from the description, had been brought there a fewdays previous.
"Who brought it?" he asked.
"A boy of about sixteen."
"Did he give his name?"
The books were referred to, and the attendant answered in theaffirmative.
"He gave the name of Ben Barclay," he answered.
"Do you think that was his real name?" asked the detective.
"That depends on whether he had a right to pawn it."
"Suppose he stole it?"
"Then, probably, he did not give his real name."
"So I think," said Mr. Lynx quietly.
"Do you know if there is a boy by that name?"
"There is; but I doubt if he knows anything about the matter."
"I will call again, perhaps to-morrow," he added. "I must report tomy principal what I have discovered."
From Simpson's he went straight to Mrs. Hamilton, who had as yetreceived no communication from the housekeeper.
"Well, Mr. Lynx," she asked, with interest, "have you heard anythingof the glass?"
"I have seen it," was the quiet reply.
"Where?"
"At a well-known pawnshop on the Bowery."
"Did you learn who left it?" asked Mrs. Hamilton eagerly.
"A boy--about sixteen years of age--who gave the name of Ben Barclay."
"I can't believe Ben would be guilty of such a disgraceful act!"ejaculated Mrs. Hamilton, deeply moved.
CHAPTER XXVIIIMRS. HILL'S MALICE
At this moment there was a low knock on the door.
"Come in!" said Mrs. Hamilton.
Mrs. Hill, the housekeeper, glided in, with her usual stealthy step.
"I really beg pardon for intruding," she said, with a slight cough,"but I thought perhaps I might throw light on the matter Mr. Lynx isinvestigating."
"Well?" said the detective, eying her attentively.
"I had occasion to go into Ben's room to see if the girl had putthings in order, when my attention was drawn to a ticket upon thebureau. You can tell whether it is of importance," and she handed it,with an air of deference, to Mr. Lynx.
"What is it?" asked Mrs. Hamilton.
"It is a pawn ticket," answered Mr. Lynx attentively.
"Let me see i
t, please!"
Mrs. Hamilton regarded it with mingled pain and incredulity.
"I need not say," continued the housekeeper, "that I was surprised andsaddened at this evidence of the boy's depravity. Cousin Hamilton hasbeen so kind to him that it seems like the height of ingratitude."
"May I ask, madam," said Mr. Lynx, "if your suspicions had fastened onthis boy, Ben, before you found the pawn ticket?"
"To tell the truth, they had."
"And what reason had you for forming such suspicions?"
"I knew that the boy frequented gambling houses, and, of course, nosalary, however large, would be sufficient for a boy with suchhabits."
Mrs. Hamilton did not speak, which somewhat embarrassed Mrs. Hill.Mr. Lynx, however, was very affable, and thanked her for herassistance.
"I felt it my duty to assist Cousin Hamilton," said she, "though I amsorry for that ungrateful boy. I will now withdraw, and leave you toconfer together."
Mrs. Hill would like to have been invited to remain, but such aninvitation was not given.
"What do you think, Mr. Lynx?" asked Mrs. Hamilton.
"I think your housekeeper does not like Ben Barclay," he answereddryly.
"And you don't think him guilty?" she asked eagerly.
"No; the boy isn't fool enough, first, to give his own name at thepawnbroker's, and next, to leave the ticket exposed in his room."