CHAPTER XXXI.
_AN ARRIVAL._
Lawyer Harvey did not neglect anything which might work to the advantageof his client; but in the face of the evidence his efforts appeared tobe in vain.
Uncle Nathan, who arrived just as the case was called, swore to the factthat Hazelton had been in his store on the Sunday afternoon prior to therobbery, and that he had told the prisoner of his keeping large amountsof money in the building, because of the difficulty and expense ofsending the cash to the Waterville bank.
He also testified that Hazelton seemed unusually interested ineverything pertaining to the store, and asked many questions relative tohis (the witness') habits, such as the time when business usually began,how late he remained in the building at night, as well as several otherthings which now seemed as if the information had been sought simply forthe purpose of knowing when would be the safest time to commit thecrime.
"How much did you lose?" Mr. Harvey asked.
"I don't know for certain; but I stand willin' to give fifty dollars ifthe goods can be recovered, an' if my nephew would tell all heknows----"
"That will do, Mr. Hargreaves," the lawyer said, sharply. "Teddy is notunder examination, and until he is we do not care to hear your opinionconcerning him."
"I reckon I can tell what I want to, can't I, 'Squire?"
"You must confine yourself to this particular case. As to whether thereis sufficient evidence to bind the prisoner over does not concern thecharge against your nephew, at least not to the extent of your tellingwhat you think."
"I thought, perhaps, if he heard me say I'd give fifty dollars to knowwhere the goods were, an' knew I'd swear to it, he might confess, for hehas shown himself to be powerful fond of a dollar."
"That appears to be a peculiarity of some of his relatives," Mr. Harveysaid, dryly, and at this remark the spectators laughed heartily, whilethe old man growled:
"I didn't come here to be told that I was a miser; but it seems even menwho call themselves gentlemen think sich things are all right."
"If you have no other evidence to give we will not detain you," thelawyer said, sharply; and as Uncle Nathan returned to his chair near thedoor the proprietor of the hotel at the Run was called upon to testify.
What he said was in favor of the prisoner rather than otherwise.
He swore to the fact that the prisoner spent the night on which theburglary was committed at his house; that he pretended to retire at anearly hour, and started for Peach Bottom on the first stage.
Under Mr. Harvey's skillful cross-examination the landlord admitted thatunless a man got out of the window he could not have left the housewithout the knowledge of the watchman, who kept the keys and remained inthe office all night. It was also shown that Hazelton brought andcarried away with him, so far as was known at the hotel, nothing but asmall traveling satchel.
Then several people from the Run were called to prove that the fakir wasreally in the town on this particular Sunday, and the driver of thestage testified that the prisoner rode with him the entire distance toPeach Bottom. The landlord of the hotel where Hazelton boarded duringthe fair week, or so much of it as he was at liberty, swore to the factthat the prisoner had never brought any quantity of baggage to hishouse, and appeared to be very regular in his habits. So far as he (thelandlord) knew, the fakir remained in his room nearly all the time,except while on the exhibition grounds.
This ended the testimony, and Mr. Harvey argued that there was reallyno evidence to connect the prisoner with the crime.
"That he conducted a game which could hardly be called honest isadmitted," he said; "but it has nothing to do with the case. Prejudiceshould not be allowed to take the place of facts, and I insist that myclient be released."
"I reckon there's sufficient ground for suspicion," the 'Squire replied,"an' I don't see any other way out of it. A jury must decide, an' Ishall hold him in the sum of three thousand----"
At this moment the dignity of the court received a severe shock, as amost unseemly disturbance suddenly occurred at the door, and the 'Squirepaused to learn who was so bold as to disturb the representative of thelaw at the very instant when he was delivering an opinion.
"It's nobody but a boy," Uncle Nathan replied as he held the door firmlyclosed, while the would-be visitor kicked so vigorously as to threatenthe destruction of the panels.
"Bring him in here, an' we'll see whether such a row can be kicked up ina court of law with impunity."
"Better let me throw him into the street," Uncle Nathan snarled.
"Mr. Constable, bring that boy before me," the 'Squire said, sternly,and an instant later, to the consternation of all those who had seenhim, the boy who was supposed to have been drowned two days beforeentered, looking decidedly the worse for having existed so long withoutwater and soap.
"Why, it's Sam, an' he ain't dead!" Teddy cried as he rose to his feet.
"Of course I ain't; but it wouldn't been many days before I turned intoa corpse if I hadn't got away from them thieves," the amateur detectivereplied.
"Who are you, an' what do you want here?" the 'Squire asked, sternly, ashe rapped on the table for the spectators to remain silent.
"Why, I'm Sam Balderston, the feller who come to the fair to work forthe Davis Boat an' Oar Company of Detroit, an' if what Long Jim told mewas true, folks have been tryin' to find me in the creek."
"This is the boy who was reported to have been drowned on the day whenthose lads," here the lawyer pointed to Teddy and Dan, "claim to haveseen two men carrying goods into an old barn on the marshes. I fancy hecan give us information relative to the true burglars."
"You bet I can," and now that he was the central figure in the scene,all Sam's old assurance returned. "If you mean the fellers what brokeinto Teddy's uncle's store, I can flash one of them up. The other cometo the fair an' didn't get back, so Phil thought he was arrested."
"Who do you mean by the other fellow?" Mr. Harvey asked.
"Why, Long Jim, the same man what swindled Teddy out of his fifteendollars at Waterville."
"Have you been with him since your disappearance?"
"Most of the time he hung around, an' then ag'in Phil was there."
"Who is Phil?"
"Long Jim's partner. They've got a slat of stuff what has been stole'round here, an' I know where all of it is."
"Tell the 'Squire the whole story."
This was Sam's opportunity, and, in order to cover himself with glory,he slaughtered the truth in the most shocking manner.
"Well," he said, in a consequential way, "when Dan an' me an' Teddy sawthe thieves carryin' stuff down to that old barn I wanted to rush in an'arrest both; but the other fellows was scared an' come ashore to talkwith Hazelton so's he'd tell 'em what to do. Then I jes' made up my mindto carry on the job myself, an' went back."
"Where?" the 'Squire asked.
"To the barn to get the stuff. While I was diggin' it up the men comeback, an' the minute they saw who was on their trail they gotfrightened."
"And who was on their trail?" the 'Squire interrupted.
"Why, me, of course. They rushed in, an' I had the awfullest row; but itwas two to one, an' so I got the worst of it. They had to work mightyhard before gettin' me tired, an' then all the stuff was dug up an' putin the boat. My craft was upset an' sent adrift, so's to make it look asif I was dead, an' we went down the creek six or seven miles, where wehid in the woods. Phil came back here after more goods what had beenstolen, an' they was goin' to skip the country, when there was a bigrow, an' Long Jim allowed he'd come to the fair once more. Phil was mad,an' got pretty drunk, an' after that I had my innings. I turned to an'lashed him up same's I'd been; but we had an' awful fight. It takesmore'n one man to git away with me."
"Where is this fellow now?" the 'Squire interrupted again.
"Down the creek, tied up so's he can't hardly breathe, an' he must bepretty near sober by this time."
"If he was very drunk I do not understand how he could have fought s
ohard."
"Well, he did; but I got the best of him, an' what's more, I know whereall the stuff that's been stolen is hid."
"Mr. Constable, bring into court the prisoner who is charged withswindling, and let us see if this extraordinary boy can identify him,"the 'Squire said, with an unusual amount of dignity.
"If it's Long Jim, you bet I can," Sam said, as he turned toward thespectators that they might have a good opportunity of seeing such awonderful detective as he claimed to be.
Teddy and Dan could hardly control their impatience to speak privatelywith Sam. As a matter of course, they understood that he wasembellishing the story, and both were eager to make him tell the exacttruth.
Just at that moment, however, Sam had no time to spend on ordinary boys.He had come out of a bad scrape with apparently flying colors, andintended to enjoy his triumph to the utmost before sinking back to hisrightful plane.
The jail was near at hand, and Sam had not exhibited himself as much ashe desired when Long Jim was brought in.
On seeing the boy the burglar gave a start of surprise, and allowed theincriminating question to escape his lips:
"Has Phil been pinched, too?"
"I took care of that business, an' we'll bring him in some time to-day.Say, what about that awful lickin' you was goin' to give me?"
"I'll cut your throat before this job is finished," was the angry reply,and there was no longer any necessity of asking Sam if he recognized theprisoner.
"You say you can show us the stolen goods, and the other burglar iswhere the officers can get him?" Mr. Harvey asked.
"That's just what I can do," Sam replied, proudly.
"Then you will have earned fifty dollars, for Mr. Hargreaves haspromised, even sworn, that he will pay that amount for the return of hisproperty," Mr. Harvey continued.
"He might as well give me the money now, for I'm ready to turn the stuffup, an' when there's more big detective work to be done, come to me."
"I don't know about payin' any reward till I'm certain the littlevillain isn't one of the thieves himself, an' is doin' this to swindleme," Uncle Nathan cried, quickly.
"He shall have the reward if the story is true," the 'Squire replied."You can't go back on what you've sworn to, an' must pay up. Mr.Constable, get two or three men an' go with this boy. Don't lose sightof him for a minute until he has given all the information in hispower."
CHAPTER XXXII.
_IN CONCLUSION._
Sam was led away before either Teddy or Dan could speak privately withhim; but they went at once to congratulate Hazelton on his apparentlyhappy escape, and, in response to Mr. Harvey's request, the 'Squiresaid:
"The prisoner can remain here, or in your custody, until the partyreturns. If the boy has told the truth there is nothing for me to do butdischarge him, and I am really glad that he has come out sofortunately."
"Don't think I'll ever forget what you've done for me," Hazeltonwhispered to Teddy.
"But it isn't me at all. Sam seems to have fixed everything."
"I've got an idea that I know pretty near the truth of the whole story,never mind how he tells it. At all events, we've no reason to complain,for if the goods and the other burglar are found, we are out of ourtrouble. Your uncle's charges can't hold after that."
It was, as Teddy now realized for the first time, a happy conclusion tothe troubles of both, and his heart was lighter than it had been at anytime since the accusation was made.
There was no question that those who had gone with Sam would be absentseveral hours, and the little party in the court-room had more time attheir disposal than could well be occupied by the discussion of theiraffairs.
After the different phases of the case had been gone over in detail,Hazelton asked Teddy:
"How did you come out at the fair?"
"I haven't figured up; but I know I've made a good deal, an' it must bealmost enough, countin' the money Deacon Jones gave us, to pay the debton the place."
Until this moment Teddy had had so much on his mind that the principalcause of his turning fakir was absent from his mind; but now, withnothing better to do, he began to count up the week's work, announcingthe result a few moments later by saying:
"I took in two hundred an' fifty-two dollars an' fifty cents during theweek. Out of that must come the money I lost at Waterville, what I paidUncle Nathan, the privilege, the money I paid Mr. Reaves for the stock,Tim's wages, an' my board. That leaves one hundred an' forty-fivedollars an' ninety-eight cents. With what came in from the testimonialI'll have enough to pay off the debt on the house, an' pretty neareight dollars for myself, which is what I call a big week's work."
"I'm glad you have made it," Hazelton replied, heartily. "There is alittle matter between you an' I which yet remains to be settled, andwhen that has been done you should be considerably better off."
"I don't want you to do a thing," Teddy said, quickly. "So many peoplehave helped me since the fair opened that it seems as if I was nothingmore or less than a beggar."
"You come very far from deserving that title," the fakir replied, andthen the entrance of Mr. Reaves interrupted the conversation. Aftertalking with the lawyer, the merchant said to Teddy:
"I am more than pleased to learn that you will be freed from all yourtroubles in a short time. Next week I shall be in need of a clerk, andif you wish to take the situation it shall be left open until you areready to go to work. The wages are six dollars a week for the firstyear, with an increase as soon as you can earn it, and I will really bepleased to have you in my employ."
"I'd like to come," Teddy replied; "but it don't seem just right toleave mother."
"There is no necessity of doing so. You can ride back and forth on thestage, unless your mother should decide, as I think she will eventually,to make her home in Waterville."
"If she approves of the plan I'll come to work next week."
"Make it two weeks, so that there'll be plenty of time to arrangematters, and I will expect you," the merchant replied in a tone whichshowed that he was more than satisfied with the arrangement. "I onlycame over to see if you needed any assistance; but Mr. Harvey saysyou'll soon be free from the charge your uncle made, therefore I will goback at once."
About an hour after the merchant departed Sam and the constablesreturned with Phil and the stolen goods.
The amateur detective was in the best possible spirits, and now that theburglar had been apprehended through his assistance the boy feltabsolutely certain he was the greatest detective in the country.
As a matter of course, there was nothing the 'Squire could do savedischarge Hazelton from custody, and after Mr. Harvey had given his wordthat he would take care Sam should appear when wanted as a witness, theboy rejoined his friends, saying as he did so:
"If you fellers had done as I wanted you'd be way up now, the same as Iam. Of course, I don't blame you for being afraid; but when you go outon such work the only way is to hold on."
"I wonder how long you'd have held on if the men hadn't made you staywith them?" Dan asked.
"Who told you that?" Sam said. "If I staid, it was because I knowed itwouldn't be long until I got the upper hand of the gang, an I've doneit."
Before the party separated, and while Uncle Nathan was identifying thegoods which had been stolen from him, Mr. Harvey insisted that thereward should be paid, and although it was very much like drawing atooth, the old man was finally induced to make his word good.
"It's a pile of money, but I earned it," Sam said, as he tucked UncleNathan's grudgingly bestowed cash in his trousers pocket. "There ain'tmany 'round this part of the country who could have done what I did, an'it's only right detectives should be well paid."
Then, with many protestations of friendship, the lawyer started forhome, after returning to Hazelton the money which Teddy had given Mr.Reaves for safekeeping, and the fakir said as he walked out of thecourt-room with the four boys:
"Now, I want you to come with me, until my business is settled, and thenI'll shake
the dust of Peach Bottom from my feet in the shortestpossible time."
Not understanding what he meant, the boys accompanied him to the nearestjewelry store, and there he bought two silver watches, which hepresented to Teddy and Dan, as he said:
"These are only to remind you that I am grateful for what has been done.It isn't much of a present; but it will suffice to show I'm notungrateful. Some time in the future I may meet you again, and then thefull debt shall be paid if I'm solid enough to do it."
He was gone almost before the astonished boys could thank him, and withhis departure this story should properly be concluded, since Teddy hasmade his last appearance as a fakir.
A few more words, and "the end" shall be written.
Sam, still believing himself especially designed for a detective, is yetdisplaying his "style" as an oarsman in the employ of the Davis Boat andOar Company, and he believes he has guessed the weight of the yachtwhich is so soon to be given away.
Dan accepted an offer from Mr. Reaves last week, and he and Teddy arelearning the same business, both looking forward to the time when theyshall own a store equally as large.
Uncle Nathan is still at the Run, but his trade has decreased verymaterially, and Hazelton has not been seen since the day he left PeachBottom; but it is quite possible that when the fair opens this seasonall the fakirs may again meet the country boy who made such a successfulventure at the country fair.
[THE END.]
53 STATE ST. 19 KILBY ST.]
CHARLES E. BROWN & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS, BOSTON.
RIDPATH'S UNITED STATES.
Cloth 3.75 Sheep 5.00 Half Morocco 6.00
Size of Volumes 7-1/2 x 10-1/4 Inches.
THE UNITED STATES A HISTORYJOHN CLARK RIDPATH L.L.D.]
_Fac-simile Volume Reduced._
FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE BY THEPUBLISHERS.
CHARLES E. BROWN & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS BOSTON.
HALL'S IRELAND, 3 VOLS. IN 1.
Cloth 3.75 Sheep 5.00 Half Morocco 6.00
Size of Volumes 7 1/2 x 10 1/4 Inches.
IRELAND ITS HISTORY SCENERY AND PEOPLE]
_Fac-simile Volume Reduced._
FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE BY THEPUBLISHERS.
CHARLES E. BROWN & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS, BOSTON.
MISS PARLOA'S COOK BOOK.
Cloth, silver and black Side and Back 1.25
Size of Volumes 5-1/4 x 7-3/4 Inches.
MISS PARLOA'S COOK BOOK]
_Fac-simile Volume Reduced._
FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE BY THEPUBLISHERS.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
[----] denotes a word missing in the original text.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends