"If I need help in that way, I will come to you."
"Meanwhile, shall you continue to employ the boy?"
"Yes; why not?"
"He might steal something more."
"I will risk it."
Mrs. Merton returned to her room, and presently Harold entered hismother's presence.
"What is this I hear about Aunt Eliza having some money stolen?" heasked.
"It is true. She has lost sixty-five dollars."
"Felicie told me something about it--that it was taken out of herdrawer."
Mrs. Tracy went into particulars, unconscious that her son was betterinformed than herself.
"Does aunt suspect anyone?" asked Harold, uneasily.
"She doesn't, but I do."
"Who is it?"
"That boy, Luke Walton."
"The very one I thought of," said Harold, eagerly. "Did you mentionhim to Aunt Eliza?"
"Yes; but she is so infatuated with him that she didn't take thesuggestion kindly. She has promised to investigate, however, andmeanwhile doesn't want us to interfere."
"Things are working round as I want them," thought Harold.
CHAPTER XXXI
WHO STOLE THE MONEY?
Did Mrs. Merton suspect anyone of the theft? This is the questionwhich will naturally suggest itself to the reader.
No thought of the real thief entered her mind. Though she was fullysensible of Harold's faults, though she knew him to be selfish,bad-tempered, and envious, she did not suppose him capable of theft.The one who occurred to her as most likely to have robbed her was herrecently returned nephew, Warner Powell, who had been compelled toleave Chicago years before on account of having yielded to a similartemptation. She knew that he was hard up for money, and it waspossible that he had opened the table drawer and abstracted thepocketbook. As to Luke Walton, she was not at all affected by theinsinuations of her niece. She knew that Mrs. Tracy and Harold had aprejudice against Luke, and that this would make them ready to believeanything against him.
She was curious, however, to hear what Warner had to say about therobbery. Would he, too, try to throw suspicion upon Luke in order toscreen himself, if he were the real thief? This remained to beproved.
Warner Powell did not return to the house till five o'clock in theafternoon. His sister and Harold hastened to inform him of what hadhappened, and to communicate their conviction that Luke was the thief.Warner said little, but his own suspicions were different. He went upstairs, and made his aunt a call.
"Well, aunt," he said, "I hear that you have been robbed."
"Yes, Warner, I have lost some money," answered the old lady,composedly.
"Louisa told me."
"Yes; she suspects Luke of being the thief. Do you agree with her?"
"No, I don't," answered Warner.
Mrs. Merton's face brightened, and she looked kindly at Warner.
"Then you don't share Louisa's prejudice against Luke?" she said.
"No; I like the boy. I would sooner suspect myself of stealing themoney, for, you know, Aunt Eliza, that my record is not a good one,and I am sure Luke is an honest boy."
Mrs. Merton's face fairly beamed with delight. She understood verywell the low and unworthy motives which influenced her niece andHarold, and it was a gratifying surprise to find that her nephew wasfree from envy and jealousy.
"Warner," she said, "what you say does you credit. In this particularcase I happen to know that Luke is innocent."
"You don't, know the real thief?" asked Warner.
"No; but my reason for knowing that Luke is innocent I will tell you.The money was safe in my drawer when I went out this morning. It wastaken during my absence from the house. Luke was with me during thiswhole time. Of course, it is impossible that he should be the thief."
"I see. Did you tell Louisa this?"
"No; I am biding my time. Besides, I am more likely to find the realthief if it is supposed that Luke is under suspicion."
"Tell me truly, Aunt Eliza, didn't you suspect me?"
"Since you ask me, Warner, I will tell you frankly that it occurred tome as possible that you might have yielded to temptation."
"It would have been a temptation, for I have but twenty-five cents.But even if I had known where you kept your money (which I didn't), Iwould have risked applying to you for a loan, or gift, as it wouldhave turned out to be, rather than fall back into my old disreputableways."
"I am very much encouraged by what you say, Warner. Here are tendollars. Use it judiciously; try to obtain employment, and when it isgone, you may let me know."
"Aunt Eliza, you are kinder to me than I deserve. I will make a realeffort to secure employment, and will not abuse your confidence."
"Keep that promise, Warner, and I will be your friend. One thing more:don't tell Louisa what has passed between us. I can, at any time,clear Luke, but for the present I will let her think I am uncertain onthat point. I shall not forget that you took the boy's part where yoursister condemned him."
"Louisa and Harold can see no good in the boy; but I have observed himcarefully, and formed my own opinion."
Warner could have done nothing better calculated to win his aunt'sfavor than to express a favorable opinion of Luke. It must be said,however, in justice to him, that this had not entered into hiscalculations. He really felt kindly towards the boy whom his sisterdenounced as "sly and artful," and liked him much better than his ownnephew, Harold, who, looking upon Warner as a poor relation, had notthought it necessary to treat him with much respect or attention. Hehad a better heart and a better disposition than Mrs. Tracy or Harold,notwithstanding his early shortcomings.
"Who could have been the thief?" Warner asked himself, as he left hisaunt's sitting room. "Could it have been Harold?"
He resolved to watch his nephew carefully and seek some clew thatwould lead to a solution of the mystery.
"I hope it isn't my nephew," he said to himself. "I don't want him tofollow in the steps of his scapegrace uncle. But I would soonersuspect him than Luke Walton. They say blood is thicker than water,but I confess that I like the newsboy better than I do my high-tonednephew."
"Have you made any discovery of the thief, Aunt Eliza?" asked Mrs.Tracy, as her aunt seated herself at the evening repast.
"Nothing positive," answered the old lady, significantly.
"Have you discovered anything at all?"
"I have discovered who is not the thief," said Mrs. Merton.
"Then you had suspicions?"
"No definite suspicions."
"Wouldn't it be well to talk the matter freely over with me? Somethingmight be suggested."
"I beg your pardon, Louisa, but I think it would be well to banishthis disagreeable matter from our table talk. If I should stand inneed of advice, I will consult you."
"I don't want to obtrude my advice, but I will venture to suggest thatyou call in a private detective."
Harold looked alarmed.
"I wouldn't bother with a detective," he said. "They don't know halfas much as they pretend."
"I am inclined to agree with Harold," said Mrs. Merton. "I will act asmy own detective."
Save for the compliment to Harold, Mrs. Tracy was not pleased withthis speech of her aunt.
"At any rate," she said, "you would do well to keep a strict watchover that boy, Luke Walton."
"I shall," answered the old lady, simply.
Mrs. Tracy looked triumphant.
Warner kept silent, but a transient smile passed over his face as hesaw how neatly Aunt Eliza had deceived his astute sister.
"What do you think, Warner?" asked Mrs. Tracy, desirous of additionalsupport.
"I think Aunt Eliza will get at the truth sooner or later. Of course Iwill do anything to help her, but I don't want to interfere."
"Don't you think she ought to discharge Luke?"
"If she did, she would have no chance of finding out whether he wasguilty or not."
"That is true. I did not think of that."
"I am glad you have changed your opinion of him," said Mrs. Tracy,sharply.
She was now beginning to be jealous of her scapegrace brother.
"So am I," said Warner, smiling. "At the same time I don't blame auntfor her former opinion."
The next morning Harold was about leaving the house, when Felicie, theFrench maid, came up softly, and said: "Master Harold, may I have aword with you?"
"I am in a hurry," said Harold, impatiently.
"It is about the stolen money," continued Felicie, in her soft voice."You had better listen to what I have to say. I have found out whotook it."
Harold's heart gave a sudden thump, and his face indicated dismay.
CHAPTER XXXII
HAROLD AND FELICIE MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT
"You have found out who took the money?" stammered Harold.
"Yes."
"I didn't think it would be found out so soon," said Harold, trying torecover his equanimity. "Of course it was taken by Luke Walton."
"You are quite mistaken," said Felicie. "Luke Walton did not takeit."
Harold's heart gave another thump. He scented danger, but remainedsilent.
"You don't ask me who took the money?" said Felicie, after a pause.
"Because I don't believe you know," returned Harold, "You've probablygot some suspicion?"
"I have more than that. The person who took the money was seen at hiswork."
Harold turned pale.
"There is no use in mincing matters," continued Felicie. "You took themoney."
"What do you mean by such impertinence?" gasped Harold.
"It is no impertinence. If you doubt my knowledge, I'll tell you theparticulars. You opened the drawer with one of a bunch of keys whichyou took from your pocket, took out a morocco pocketbook, opened itand counted the roll of bills which it contained, then put thepocketbook into your pocket, locked the drawer and left the room."
"That's a fine story," said Harold, forcing himself to speak. "I daresay all this happened, only you were the one who opened the drawer."
"I saw it all through a crack in the half-open door," continuedFelicie, not taking the trouble to answer his accusation. "If you wantfurther proof, suppose you feel in your pocket. I presume thepocketbook is there at this moment."
Instinctively Harold put his hand into his pocket, then suddenlywithdrew it, as if his fingers were burned, for the pocketbook wasthere as Felicie had said.
"There is one thing more," said Felicie, as she drew from her pocket abunch of keys. "I found this bunch of keys in your room thismorning."
"They are not mine," answered Harold, hastily.
"I don't know anything about that. They are the ones you had in yourhand when you opened the drawer. I think this is the key you used."
"The keys belong to you!" asserted Harold, desperately.
"Thank you for giving them to me, but I shall have no use for them,"said Felicie, coolly. "And now, Master Harold, do you want to know whyI have told you this little story?"
"Yes," answered Harold, feebly.
"Because I think it will be for our mutual advantage to come to anunderstanding. I don't want to inform your aunt of what I have seenunless you compel me to do so."
"How should I compel you to do so?" stammered Harold, uneasily.
"Step into the parlor, where we can talk comfortably. Your aunt isupstairs, and your mother is out, so that no one will hear us."
Harold felt that he was in the power of the cunning Felicie, and hefollowed her unresistingly.
"Sit down on the sofa, and we will talk at our ease. I will keepsilent about this matter, and no one else knows a word about it,if----"
"Well?"
"If you will give me half the money."
"But," said Harold, who now gave up the pretense of denial, "I havespent part of it."
"You have more than half of it left?"
"Yes."
"Give me thirty dollars and I will be content. I saw you count it.There were sixty-five dollars."
"I don't see what claim you have to it," said Harold, angrily.
"I have as much as you," answered Felicie, coolly. "Still, if youprefer to go to your aunt, own up that you took it, and take theconsequences, I will agree not to interfere. But if I am to keep thesecret, I want to be paid for it."
Harold thought it over; he hated to give up so large a part of hisplunder, for he had appropriated it in his own mind to certainarticles which he wished to purchase.
"I'll give you twenty dollars," he said.
"No, I will take thirty dollars, or go to your aunt and tell her all Iknow."
There was no help for it. Poor Harold took out three ten-dollar bills,reluctantly enough, and gave them to Felicie.
"All right, Master Harold! You've done wisely. I thought you would seematters in the right light. Think how shocked your mother and AuntEliza would be if they had discovered that you were the thief."
"Don't use such language, Felicie!" said Harold, wincing. "There is noneed to refer to it again."
"As you say, Master Harold. I won't detain you any longer from yourwalk," and Felicie, with a smile, rose from the sofa and left theroom, Harold following.
"Don't disturb yourself any more," she said, as she opened the doorfor Harold. "It will never be known. Besides, your aunt can wellafford to lose this little sum. She is actually rolling in wealth. Sheought to be more liberal to you."
"So she ought, Felicie. If she had, this would not have happened."
"Very true. At the same time, I don't suppose a jury would accept thisas an excuse."
"Why do you say such things, Felicie? What has a jury got to do withme?"
"Nothing, I hope. Still, if it were a poor boy that had taken themoney, Luke Walton, for instance, he might have been arrested. Excuseme, I see this annoys you. Let me give you one piece of advice, MasterHarold."
"What is it?"
"Get rid of that morocco pocketbook as soon as you can. If it werefound on you, or you should be careless, and leave it anywhere, youwould give yourself away, my friend."
"You are right, Felicie," said Harold, hurriedly. "Good-morning!"
"Good-morning, and a pleasant walk, my friend," said Felicie,mockingly.
When Harold was fairly out in the street, he groaned in spirit. He hadlost half the fruits of his theft, and his secret had become known.Felicie had proved too much for him, and he felt that he hated her.
"I wish I could get mother to discharge her, with out her knowing thatit was I who had brought it about. I shall not feel safe as long asshe is in the house. Why didn't I have the sense to shut and lock thedoor? Then she wouldn't have seen me."
Then the thought of the morocco pocketbook occurred to him. He feltthat Felicie was right--that it was imprudent to carry it around. Hemust get rid of it in some way.
He took the money out and put it in another pocket. The pocketbook hereplaced till he should have an opportunity of disposing of it.
Hardly had he made these preparations when he met Luke Walton, who hadstarted unusually early, and was walking towards the house. An ideacame to Harold.
"Good-morning, Luke!" he said, in an unusually friendly tone.
"Good-morning, Harold!" answered Luke, agreeably surprised by theother's cordiality.
"Are you going out with Aunt Eliza this morning?"
"I am not sure whether she will want to go out. I shall call andinquire."
"You seem to be quite a favorite of hers."
"I hope I am. She always treats me kindly."
"I really believe she thinks more of you than she does of me."
"You mustn't think that," said Luke, modestly. "You are a relation,and I am only in her employ."
"Oh, it doesn't trouble me. I am bound for the city. I think I shalltake the next car, good-day!"
"Good-day, Harold!"
Luke walked on, quite unconscious that Harold, as he passed by hisside, had manage
d to slip the morocco wallet into the pocket of hissack coat.
CHAPTER XXXIII
HAROLD'S PLOT FAILS
Luke wore a sack coat with side pockets. It was this circumstance thathad made it easy for Harold to transfer the wallet unsuspected to hispocket.
Quite ignorant of what had taken place, Luke kept on his way to Mrs.Merton's house. He rang the bell, and on being admitted, went up, asusual, to the room of his patroness.
"Good morning, Luke," said Mrs. Merton, pleasantly.
"Good-morning," responded Luke.
"I don't think I shall go out this morning, and I don't think of anycommission, so you will have a vacation."
"I am afraid I am not earning my money, Mrs. Merton. You make it veryeasy for me."
"At any rate, Luke, the money is cheerfully given, and I have no doubtyou find it useful. How are you getting along?"
"Very well, indeed! I have just made the last payment on mother'smachine, and now we owe nothing, except, perhaps, for the rent, andonly a week has gone by on the new month."
"You seem to be a good manager, Luke. You succeed in keeping yourmoney, while I have not always found it easy. Yesterday, for instance,I lost sixty-five dollars."
"How was that?" inquired Luke, with interest.
"The drawer in which I keep a pocketbook was unlocked, and this, withits contents, was stolen."
"Don't you suspect anyone?"
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