by Charles King
CHAPTER XXIV.
_A THIRD ARREST._
When the boys returned to the museum tent from supper they had a longand interesting story to tell Mr. Sweet; but to their surprise, afterthe recital was concluded, he said calmly:
"I knew all of that except about the burglar's arrest."
"Why, how did you hear it?" Dan asked.
"The lawyer an' the merchant have been over here twice since noon,pumpin' me about Hazelton, an' tryin' to find out how you boys havebehaved yourselves."
"Why did they want to know anything about us?" Teddy asked, in surprise.
"So's to make sure your stories were straight. When men like them takehold of a thing they don't want to run any chances of bein' fooled. Whathas been done about Sam?"
Dan could best answer this question, and he replied:
"The body hasn't been found; but I heard the manager of the Davis BoatCompany's exhibit say that he should keep men at the work of draggin'the creek till the work was finished. I can't get through my head how hehappened to capsize the craft, for she didn't seem to be cranky."
"That is something none of us will ever know," Mr. Sweet replied,solemnly, and then, as if to change the mournful subject, he asked: "Howdid business pan out to-day, Teddy?"
"I'll count up. We must have come pretty near to what you predicted; butwe would have done a great deal better if it hadn't been for the bigrow. That made us lose at least an hour, to say nothin' of havin' sixcanes broken just when we needed every one in order to make a goodshow."
Then Teddy and Tim emptied the contents of their pockets on a piece ofcanvas, and the other occupants of the tent waited patiently for theresult to be announced.
"It's ninety-four dollars and forty-five cents," the former said, aftercounting the money twice as if doubtful of the first result. "That's abig sum of money, but there's no chance of a mistake."
"You can figure that the row cost you six dollars," Mr. Sweet replied,puffing vigorously at his pipe. "I haven't been 'tendin' out on fairsthese eight years without bein' able to name the amount of such abusiness as yours."
"We'd have had twenty-five more but for that row," Tim said, decidedly.
"You're wrong there, my boy," and the proprietor of the museum wore anair of one who "knows it all." "That is about as much as two boys cantake in, an' you don't want to kick, for I've seen lots of fakirs comeon to a fair ground with a better cane-board than yours an' not getexpenses. Be thankful for what you've earned, an' hope that you can payexpenses to-morrow, for there won't be any too much money floatin'around after such a business as we've had to-day."
"I'm more than satisfied," Teddy replied, as he set aside the amount dueTim, and the latter appeared to be more than contented with havingearned nine dollars and forty-four cents so easily.
"You can suck your thumbs from now out," the barker said,philosophically, "for the backbone of trade has been broken, an' thePeach Bottom fair is already numbered with the things of the past."
"Don't you think we'll do anything more?" Teddy asked.
"Oh, yes, there'll be a little to pick up until to-morrow night, but itwon't amount to anything near like what has already been done, althoughit'll be clear profit."
"Since I am more than satisfied, there's no chance of beingdisappointed," Teddy replied, and at that moment the head of a strangerappeared between the flaps of canvas.
"Is there a boy named Teddy here?" the newcomer asked.
"Well, what do you want of him?" and Mr. Sweet sprang to his feet as ifanticipating trouble.
"Nothing more than what Hazelton wanted me to say," was the reply, asthe stranger entered, evidently thinking his search was at an end.
"And what is that?" the proprietor of the museum asked, motioning Teddyto remain silent.
"There's no need of all this secrecy with me, for I'm Hazelton's partnerin everything except the give-away game," the stranger said, with alaugh. "It appears a man has been arrested by a party whom this boyTeddy knows, and I'm to say that he is to come to jail very earlyto-morrow morning."
Even now Mr. Sweet's suspicions were not allayed, and he asked,cautiously:
"Could you tell me what he's wanted for?"
"Lawyer Harvey will be there, and is going to talk with him whereHazelton can hear what is said."
"Is that all?"
"Everything; and if you see the boy, can I depend on your repeating themessage?"
"Under the circumstances there can be no harm in taking everyprecaution," the proprietor of the museum replied, "and if your errandis finished, I may as well say that this is the boy Teddy whom Hazeltonsent you to see."
"That's all right; there was no need of pointing him out; but since youhave done so, I simply want to ask if he can spare the time to do asHazelton and the lawyer wish?"
"Of course I can," and now Teddy spoke for himself. "Say that if nothinghappens I'll be there."
"Have you heard whether your uncle has succeeded in getting a warrant?"the stranger asked.
"No; but Mr. Harvey seemed to think he might be able to do so, and Idon't want to make any promises that can't be carried out."
"Then I'll count on your being there, but since leaving the jail I'veheard enough to warrant my advising you to remain under cover to-night."
"Why?"
"Those fellows who started the fight when you got away with the moneyare swearing vengeance. I don't think it's likely they'll attack thetent, for, owing to the representations made by the lawyer, there'll bea big force of constables on duty to-night; but if you should ventureoutside the grounds it might be impossible to keep any engagement in thefuture."
"I wasn't thinkin' of leaving here," Teddy replied; but the mere factthat he ought not do so made him feel very uncomfortable.
"I couldn't be in any worse fix if I had committed some big crime," hesaid, bitterly, "and it is tough to feel like a criminal when a fellowis only trying to earn honest money."
"It isn't the rule that honest people fare the best," the strangerreplied, with a laugh; "but I hope you'll come out on the top of theheap. At all events, my business here is finished and I'll go."
The folds of canvas dropped behind him, and Mr. Sweet said, musingly:
"It beats all how you boys have succeeded in getting yourselves mixed upin this affair. If I didn't know all the circumstances I'd say theremust be some fire where there is so much smoke."
"The smoke isn't of our makin', an' Teddy's uncle can be blamed for themost of it," Dan said, angrily. "I only wish he was here to know myopinion of him."
"Are you talkin' about me?" Uncle Nathan asked, as he pushed aside thecanvas and entered without so much as asking permission.
"That's exactly what I was doing," Dan replied, without any show offear, "an' if you've been sneakin' 'round to listen, there's no need ofmy tellin' over ag'in jest what I think of a man who tries to frightenan honest boy into givin' up half of what he has made."
"An honest boy?" the old man repeated, with a sneer, and Teddy whisperedto his friend:
"Don't say anything to make him angry, for I'll only get the worst ofit."
"Of course you will," Uncle Nathan replied, having overheard the words."When an ungrateful wretch like you conspires to rob the hand that hasfed him he must expect to get the worst of it."
"I never took from you the value of a cent," Teddy said, stoutly, andDan cried as he sprang to his feet:
"If there has been any attempt at robbery, you're the guilty one, foryou've tried to steal half the money he made by threatening to have himarrested if he didn't divide his profits."
"That was only a business proposition," the old man replied, not in theleast abashed, "and he has aided others in stealing from me."
"What do you want here?" Mr. Sweet cried, angrily. "This is my tent; Ihave paid for the privilege of putting it upon these grounds, and havethe right to prevent such old hypocrites as you from entering withoutpaying an admission."
"Look out that you do not come within reach of the law," Un
cle Nathanreplied, threateningly, stepping back quickly, as if expecting anattack. "I am here armed with the right to take this boy, and shallexercise it despite all that may be said. Come in, Mr. Officer."
In response to this call a constable entered, and Teddy's heart sankwithin him, for he understood that the long-deferred arrest was about tobe made.
"There is your prisoner," the old man said, vindictively, as hepointed to the boy, "and the sooner you take him to jail where hebelongs the sooner we shall be rid of a viper."
As the constable approached him, Teddy said, "I demand tobe first taken to Deacon Jones!"]
Teddy's grief and fear were so great that he could not speak, and evenDan appeared to have been made dumb by this show of authority; but Mr.Sweet was somewhat accustomed to such scenes, and he demanded:
"Show me the warrant. I do not propose to let any one be taken out of mytent by such an old reprobate as that until I am satisfied it is doneunder the sanction of the law."
"Convince yourself," Uncle Nathan replied, as the constable held out afolded document. "That will show under what authority we act."
Sweet read it carefully, and handed it to the officer as he said to theold man:
"This shows that the constable has the right to take Teddy to prison;but as certain as there will be a sun in the sky to-morrow so certainwill I aid him in making you suffer for doing this thing. You know hehad nothing to do with the burglary committed at your store, and haveonly had this issued in the hope of defrauding him of what he has earnedhonestly."
"Talk is cheap," Uncle Nathan said, impatiently. "Officer, take yourprisoner away unless you count on stayin' here all night."
The short parley between the proprietor of the museum and the accusergave Teddy time to think of what the lawyer had said, and he added, asthe constable approached him:
"I demand to be first carried to Deacon Jones'."
"Now what kind of a bee have you got in your bonnet?" the old man cried,displaying both surprise and fear. "I say you are to go to jail, an'that settles it."
"If he wants to see the deacon I'm bound to take him there," theconstable said.
"Who's been makin' sich foolish talk to you?" Uncle Nathan screamed.
"Lawyer Harvey told me what the law was, an' I don't intend to get intoany fuss by deprivin' a prisoner of his rights," was the stolid reply.