*CHAPTER XIV.*
*CURLY AND COMPANY.*
"Before Jim came here to work," began Dick, clearing his throat, "wewere generally together in the evenings. Since then, of course, hehasn't had much time; but now and then I've been up to wait for him.Coming up this evening I met Mr. Broad, and just afterwards Curly Peterswith a boy named Bryant."
"Is this Peters a friend of yours?" interrupted Mr. Farrant.
"No," replied Dick; "and I've never had anything to do with him. Ithought a long time ago that he wasn't up to much."
"All right; go on."
"Well, thinking they were going to see Jim, I turned back, and theyacted in such a funny way that I became curious. First of all, Bryantfollowed Mr. Broad, very likely to see where he went; then they walkedup to the shop."
"Where were you?"
"On the other side of the road. Curly went to the shop, while the otherchap hid in the next doorway. Presently Jim came out; and, after a time,Curly managed to draw him away from the door a bit. Then Bryant slippedinto the shop, and was back again almost before you could say 'JackRobinson!'"
"Why didn't you call out?"
"That wouldn't have done any good. Besides, Curly was on the movedirectly. He joined his mate down the street, got something from him,and ran back all in a breath to give it to Jim."
The two men exchanged significant glances. Thus far, at any rate, thestory fitted in very well with the suspected boy's assertions.
"But if you knew these boys had been thieving, I can't understand whyyou did not tell your chum," said Mr. Farrant.
"I didn't know for certain," responded Dick promptly. "Besides, Ithought the best thing was to keep an eye on them."
"That's reasonable enough."
"And it was lucky I did, too. I followed them into West Street, wherethey bought three pennyworth of bananas. Then they went on to atobacconist's, and Bryant bought a packet of cigarettes. He paid forthem with a shilling."
"How do you know that?"
"Because directly he came out I went in and asked the man. His name'sMartin, and he knows me. He doesn't know Bryant; but he could recognizehim."
"And what about the shilling?"
"Martin is taking care of it in case it's wanted. And so, sir, the wholething's as plain as anything, you see. They just diddled Jimmy, andthere you are.--How came he to give you the sixpence, Jim?"
"To pay back one that I lent him a month ago."
Mr. Broad was quite satisfied of the truth of Dick's story. It clearedHartland. Even with the marked coin before him he had somehow doubtedthe boy's guilt. His friend showed himself rather more sceptical; buthe, too, admitted that the two stories fitted in admirably.
"We had better go to the tobacconist's," said he, "and then giveinformation to the police. I suppose there won't be much chance oftracing the florin."
"If Curly doesn't know it's marked," said Dick, "he'll stick to it tillthe shilling's gone, and then I expect Bryant won't get much of ashare."
"Then he mustn't be allowed to suspect anything," said Mr.Farrant.--"Broad, suppose you go along with this amateur detective andidentify the shilling. I'll lock up and meet you later at the policestation."
"What about Hartland?"
"Hum! If this Peters sees him with any of us the florin will soon be aminus quantity.--Can you get home without his seeing you?"
"Yes; over Cannon Hill and round by the Park. He isn't likely to bethere."
"Well, I suppose we must trust you, though I don't half like it.However, take care, for your own sake, that you do not meet him."
"Come as usual in the morning, Hartland," added his master. "You willbe required to give evidence at the police-court."
"And thank your lucky stars," remarked Mr. Farrant, "that you won't bein the dock. Your friend here has saved you from that."
Jim recognized this fact fully, and was never slow to acknowledge iteither to himself or to others. Slinking home by a roundabout way, heentered the house, where his mother was awaiting him somewhat anxiously.
"You're late, my boy," said she. "I'm afraid your supper has got cold."
"It doesn't matter, mother, thank you. I'm not hungry."
His mother looked curiously at him, wondering what had happened.
"Don't you feel well?" she asked.
"My head aches a bit. There's been a bother at the shop."
"Try to eat your supper," said she gently. "You can tell me about itafterwards."
Jim did his best in order to please her, but the attempt was not verysuccessful. He was thinking of his marvellous escape, and how, but forDick, he would now be locked up in a prison cell. His mother watchedhim closely, and with something like fear in her heart; but, being atactful woman, she did not press him to tell her his story.
It came out at last, little by little, and the boy did not sparehimself. After all, beyond the folly of associating with unprincipledcompanions, he had done little of which to be really ashamed.
His mother did not interrupt him once; but Jim will never forget thelook in her eyes when he told her of the finding of the marked coin, andof his narrow escape from prison.
"Where is Dick now?" she asked when he had finished.
"Gone with the master to give information to the police. I expect hewill come in on his way home; but don't you think we ought to tell hismother? She may be fidgeting about him."
"Yes; I will go round at once."
Putting on her hat and jacket, she went out, leaving Jim to wonder ifthe marked florin would be found in Curly's possession. A great dealmight depend on that.
Meanwhile, Dick having piloted the worthy stationer to the tobacconist'sshop, where the shilling was at once identified, accompanied him to thepolice station. Here they were shown into a sparsely-furnished room,where an inspector sat at a table writing.
After Mr. Broad had given an outline of the case, Dick was called on forhis story, which he related in the most straightforward and convincingmanner.
"Simple enough," remarked the police inspector, "especially if we canfind the florin;" and, ringing a bell, he ordered the man who answeredit to send Pedder to him.
Pedder was a short, stout, bull-necked man in plain clothes, who, inanswer to his superior, said: "Curly Peters? Oh yes, I know the younggentleman quite well. I've been expecting to put my hand on hisshoulder for a long time."
"And a lad named Bryant?" asked the inspector, reporting Dick'sdescription of him.
Pedder shook his head. "I've seen a chap with Curly, but don't knowanything of him, good or bad."
"Well, take a man with you and bring them both here. Be sure thatPeters has no chance to get rid of any money."
"Very good, sir," said Pedder, looking at the clock. "The round tripoughtn't to take more than half an hour, if I've any luck."
"Sit down, Mr. Broad--and you, my boy," said the inspector, whoimmediately resumed his writing, and did not look up again till Mr.Farrant was shown into the room.
Five minutes after the half-hour there was a scuffling noise in thepassage, the door was thrown open, and in marched Curly Peters andBryant in the custody of the two plain-clothes policemen.
Curly looked about him with easy self-assurance. His companion, on thecontrary, was white and trembling, and would have fallen but for theofficer's support.
"Search them!" said the inspector briefly.
"You won't find anything on me but my own money," said Curly defiantly."I've only a two-shilling piece, which I worked hard enough for, too. Iearned it yesterday, carrying boxes on the quay."
"You'd better keep a still tongue," advised the inspector gruffly. "Allyou say may be used as evidence against you."
"I ain't afraid of telling the truth," responded Curly boldly.
Presently the search was over, and Dick heaved a sigh of satisfactionwhen Pedder placed a florin on the table. Bryant's share of the plunderhad dwindled to twopence halfpenny.
"Can you identify this coin, Mr. Broad?"
"Yes," said the stationer, after examining it carefully; "here is myprivate mark quite plain."
"And the tobacconist can identify the boy from whom he received themarked shilling?"
"I took him to the shop," said the second officer, "and he knew him inan instant."
When all the formalities were concluded, the two boys were marched off,Curly throwing a savage glance at Dick, and muttering, "I'll pay you outfor this!" as he passed.
"I think there is nothing further now," said the inspector to Mr. Broad."Of course you will be present in the morning. As to the shop-boy, Ihardly know whether he should not have been charged with the others; butno doubt we shall get at the truth when the case comes before themagistrates."
"Jim Hartland didn't know anything about it, sir!" cried Dick, who wasbold as a lion in defence of his friend.
"Perhaps not, perhaps not!" replied the inspector testily. "However, weshall soon see."
As soon as he could get away, Dick ran off to Brook Street, knowing thathis chum would be anxiously awaiting him. As a matter of fact Jim stoodat the gate, and on seeing Dick he cried eagerly, "Did you catch them?Had Peters spent the money?"
"Make yourself easy, old chap!" laughed Dick; "it's all right. Curlyhad the florin, and he gave himself away before knowing it was marked."
"Did he try to drag me into it?"
"No. Don't pull such a long face. The truth is bound to come out. Ishall be surprised if Bryant doesn't own up; he's nearly frightened todeath. Well, I must be off; mother will think I'm lost."
"She knows where you are; we told her."
"That's a good chap. She's been awfully fidgety since Dandy Braithwaitewas drowned. Well, ta-ta! See you in the morning, as the fisherman saidwhen he popped the trout into his basket."
"You won't come in?"
"I'd rather not. Wait till this affair's done with, and we'll celebratethe event in fine style."
"Good-night, then. I can't thank you properly just now, but I shan'tforget in a hurry what you've done for me."
"All right, old fellow! _I_ know." And Dick went off whistling.
Jim closed the gate softly, but did not go into the house for some time.Thus far--thanks to Dick--all had gone well; but there was still aprospect of danger. Suppose Curly, finding himself trapped, endeavouredto throw the blame on him. He might even assert that he, Jim, hadplanned the robbery, and had knowingly shared the plunder.
The magistrates might doubt such a tale, but some people would believeit, and in their eyes he would be a thief.
"Oh yes," they would say, "that's the lad who was mixed up in the tillrobbery. Nothing was proved against him, you know, but--" And thenthere would be expressive glances and waggings of heads.
Again, he could hardly expect Mr. Broad to continue to employ him. Ofcourse he would be dismissed, and no one would care to engage a boy whohad lost his situation under such suspicious circumstances. It seemedto him just then that he had recklessly spoiled his career before it hadfairly begun. His thoughts were very, very bitter; but he had notaltogether lost his moral courage, and readily confessed that he wasonly reaping what he had sown. This, however, was but poor consolation,and it was with a heavy heart that he at last went into the house.
"Dick has brought good news, mother," he cried, trying to speakcheerfully: "the police have caught Peters with the money on him. I amgoing to bed now. We shall have to be up early in the morning." And hekissed her good-night.
The Gayton Scholarship: A School Story Page 14