Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work

by L. Frank Baum

  CHAPTER X

  THE FORGED CHECK

  Kenneth and Beth refrained from telling the other girls or Uncle John ofold Will Rogers's visit, but they got Mr. Watson in the library andquestioned him closely about the penalty for forging a check.

  It was a serious crime indeed, Mr. Watson told them, and Tom Gates badefair to serve a lengthy term in state's prison as a consequence of hisrash act.

  "But it was a generous act, too," said Beth.

  "I can't see it in that light," said the old lawyer. "It was adeliberate theft from his employers to protect a girl he loved. I do notdoubt the girl was unjustly accused. The Squierses are a selfish,hard-fisted lot, and the old lady, especially, is a well known virago.But they could not have proven a case against Lucy, if she was innocent,and all their threats of arresting her were probably mere bluff. So thisboy was doubly foolish in ruining himself to get sixty dollars to pay anunjust demand."

  "He was soft-hearted and impetuous," said Beth; "and, being in love, hedidn't stop to count the cost."

  "That is no excuse, my dear," declared Mr. Watson. "Indeed there isnever an excuse for crime. The young man is guilty, and he must sufferthe penalty."

  "Is there no way to save him?" asked Kenneth.

  "If the prosecution were withdrawn and the case settled with the victimof the forged check, then the young man would be allowed his freedom.But under the circumstances I doubt if such an arrangement could bemade."

  "We're going to try it, anyhow," was the prompt decision.

  So as soon as breakfast was over the next morning Beth and Kenneth tookone of the automobiles, the boy consenting unwillingly to this sort oflocomotion because it would save much time. Fairview was twelve milesaway, but by ten o'clock they drew up at the county jail.

  They were received in the little office by a man named Markham, who wasthe jailer. He was a round-faced, respectable appearing fellow, but hismood was distinctly unsociable.

  "Want to see Tom Gates, eh? Well! what for?" he demanded.

  "We wish to talk with him," answered Kenneth.

  "Talk! what's the good? You're no friend of Tom Gates. I can't bebothered this way, anyhow."

  "I am Kenneth Forbes, of Elmhurst. I'm running for Representative on theRepublican ticket," said Kenneth, quietly.

  "Oh, say! that's different," observed Markham, altering his demeanor."You mustn't mind my being gruff and grumpy, Mr. Forbes. I've juststopped smoking a few days ago, and it's got on my nerves somethingawful!"

  "May we see Gates at once?" asked Kenneth.

  "Sure-ly! I'll take you to his cell, myself. It's just shocking how sucha little thing as stoppin' smoking will rile up a fellow. Come this way,please."

  They followed the jailer along a succession of passages.

  "Smoked ever sence I was a boy, you know, an' had to stop last weekbecause Doc said it would kill me if I didn't," remarked the jailer,leading the way. "Sometimes I'm that yearning for a smoke I'm nearlycrazy, an' I dunno which is worst, dyin' one way or another. This isGates' cell--the best in the shop."

  He unlocked the door, and called:

  "Here's visitors, Tom."

  "Thank you, Mr. Markham," replied a quiet voice, as a young man cameforward from the dim interior of the cell. "How are you feeling, today?"

  "Worse, Tom; worse 'n ever," replied the jailer, gloomily.

  "Well, stick it out, old man; don't give in."

  "I won't, Tom. Smokin' 'll kill me sure, an' there's a faint hope o'livin' through this struggle to give it up. This visitor is Mr. Forbesof Elmhurst, an' the young lady is--"

  "Miss DeGraf," said Kenneth, noticing the boy's face critically, as hestood where the light from the passage fell upon it. "Will you leave usalone, please, Mr. Markham?"

  "Sure-ly, Mr. Forbes. You've got twenty minutes according toregulations. I'll come and get you then. Sorry we haven't any receptionroom in the jail. All visits has to be made in the cells."

  Then he deliberately locked Kenneth and Beth in with the forger, andretreated along the passage.

  "Sit down, please," said Gates, in a cheerful and pleasant voice."There's a bench here."

  "We've come to inquire about your case, Gates," said Kenneth. "It seemsyou have forged a check."

  "Yes, sir, I plead guilty, although I've been told I ought not toconfess. But the fact is that I forged the check and got the money, andI'm willing to stand the consequences."

  "Why did you do it?" asked Beth.

  He was silent and turned his face away.

  A fresh, wholesome looking boy, was Tom Gates, with steady gray eyes, anintelligent forehead, but a sensitive, rather weak mouth. He was ofsturdy, athletic build and dressed neatly in a suit that was of coarsematerial but well brushed and cared for.

  Beth thought his appearance pleasing and manly. Kenneth decided that hewas ill at ease and in a state of dogged self-repression.

  "We have heard something of your story," said Kenneth, "and areinterested in it. But there is no doubt you have acted very foolishly."

  "Do you know Lucy, sir?" asked the young man.

  "No."

  "Lucy is very proud. The thing was killing her, and I couldn't bear it.I didn't stop to think whether it was foolish or not. I did it; and I'mglad I did."

  "You have made her still more unhappy," said Beth, gently.

  "Yes; she'll worry about me, I know. I'm disgraced for life; but I'vesaved Lucy from any disgrace, and she's young. She'll forget me beforeI've served my term, and--and take up with some other young fellow."

  "Would you like that?" asked Beth.

  "No, indeed," he replied, frankly. "But it will be best that way. I hadto stand by Lucy--she's so sweet and gentle, and so sensitive. I don'tsay I did right. I only say I'd do the same thing again."

  "Couldn't her parents have helped her?" inquired Kenneth.

  "No. Old Will is a fine fellow, but poor and helpless since Mrs. Rogershad her accident."

  "Oh, did she have an accident?" asked Beth.

  "Yes. Didn't you know? She's blind."

  "Her husband didn't tell us that," said the girl.

  "He was fairly prosperous before that, for Mrs. Rogers was an energeticand sensible woman, and kept old Will hard at work. One morning shetried to light the fire with kerosene, and lost her sight. Then Rogerswouldn't do anything but lead her around, and wait upon her, and theplace went to rack and ruin."

  "I understand now," said Beth.

  "Lucy could have looked after her mother," said young Bates, "but oldWill was stubborn and wouldn't let her. So the girl saw something mustbe done and went to work. That's how all the trouble came about."

  He spoke simply, but paced up and down the narrow cell in front of them.It was evident that his feelings were deeper than he cared to makeevident.

  "Whose name did you sign to the check?" asked Kenneth.

  "That of John E. Marshall, the manager of the mill. He is supposed tosign all the checks of the concern. It's a stock company, and rich. Iwas bookkeeper, so it was easy to get a blank check and forge thesignature. As regards my robbing the company, I'll say that I saved thema heavy loss one day. I discovered and put out a fire that would havedestroyed the whole plant. But Marshall never even thanked me. He onlydischarged the man who was responsible for the fire."

  "How long ago were you arrested?" asked Beth.

  "It's nearly two weeks now. But I'll have a trial in a few days, theysay. My crime is so serious that the circuit judge has to sit on thecase."

  "Do you know where Lucy is?"

  "She's at home, I suppose. I haven't heard from her since the day shecame here to see me--right after my arrest."

  They did not think best to enlighten him at that time. It was better forhim to think the girl unfeeling than to know the truth.

  "I'm going to see Mr. Marshall," said Kenneth, "and discover what I cando to assist you."

  "Thank you, sir. It won't be much, but I'm grateful to find a friend.I'm guilty, you know, and there's no one to blame but mys
elf."

  They left him then, for the jailer arrived to unlock the door, andescort them to the office.

  "Tom's a very decent lad," remarked the jailer, on the way. "He ain't anatural criminal, you know; just one o' them that gives in to temptationand is foolish enough to get caught. I've seen lots of that kind in myday. You don't smoke, do you, Mr. Forbes?"

  "No, Mr. Markham."

  "Then don't begin it; or, if you do, never try to quit. It's--it's_awful_, it is. And it ruins a man's disposition."

  The mill was at the outskirts of the town. It was a busy place, perhapsthe busiest in the whole of the Eighth District, and in it were employeda large number of men. The office was a small brick edifice, separatedfrom the main buildings, in which the noise of machinery was so greatthat one speaking could scarcely be heard. The manager was in, Kennethand Beth learned, but could not see them until he had signed the lettershe had dictated for the noon mail.

  So they sat on a bench until a summons came to admit them to Mr.Marshall's private office.

  He looked up rather ungraciously, but motioned them to be seated.

  "Mr. Forbes, of Elmhurst?" he asked, glancing at the card Kenneth hadsent in.

  "Yes, sir."

  "I've been bothered already over your election campaign," resumed themanager, arranging his papers in a bored manner. "Some girl has beenhere twice to interview my men and I have refused to admit her. You mayas well understand, sir, that I stand for the Democratic candidate, andhave no sympathy with your side."

  "That doesn't interest me, especially, sir," answered Kenneth, smiling."I'm not electioneering just now. I've come to talk with you about youngGates."

  "Oh. Well, sir, what about him?"

  "I'm interested in the boy, and want to save him from prosecution."

  "He's a forger, Mr. Forbes; a deliberate criminal."

  "I admit that. But he's very young, and his youth is largely responsiblefor his folly."

  "He stole my money."

  "It is true, Mr. Marshall."

  "And he deserves a term in state's prison."

  "I agree to all that. Nevertheless, I should like to save him," saidKenneth. "His trial has not yet taken place, and instead of yourdevoting considerable of your valuable time appearing against him itwould be much simpler to settle the matter right here and now."

  "In what way, Mr. Forbes?"

  "I'll make your money loss good."

  "It has cost me twice sixty dollars in annoyance."

  "I can well believe it, sir. I'll pay twice sixty dollars for thedelivery to me of the forged check, and the withdrawal of theprosecution."

  "And the costs?"

  "I'll pay all the costs besides."

  "You're foolish. Why should you do all this?"

  "I have my own reasons, Mr. Marshall. Please look at the matter from abusiness standpoint. If you send the boy to prison you will still sufferthe loss of the money. By compromising with me you can recover your lossand are paid for your annoyance."

  "You're right. Give me a check for a hundred and fifty, and I'll turnover to you the forged check and quash further proceedings."

  Kenneth hesitated a moment. He detested the grasping disposition thatwould endeavor to take advantage of his evident desire to help youngGates. He had hoped to find Mr. Marshall a man of sympathy; but themanager was as cold as an icicle.

  Beth, uneasy at his silence, nudged him.

  "Pay it, Ken," she whispered.

  "Very well, Mr. Marshall," said he, "I accept your terms."

  The check was written and handed over, and Marshall took the forgedcheck from his safe and delivered it, with the other papers in the case,to Mr. Forbes. He also wrote a note to his lawyer directing him towithdraw the prosecution.

  Kenneth and Beth went away quite happy with their success, and themanager stood in his little window and watched them depart. There was agrim smile of amusement on his shrewd face.

  "Of all the easy marks I ever encountered," muttered Mr. Marshall, "thisyoung Forbes is the easiest. Why, he's a fool, that's what he is. Hemight have had that forged check for the face of it, if he'd been sharp.You wouldn't catch 'Rast Hopkins doing such a fool stunt. Not in athousand years!"

  Meantime Beth was pressing Kenneth's arm as she sat beside him andsaying happily:

  "I'm so glad, Ken--so glad! And to think we can save all that misery anddespair by the payment of a hundred and fifty dollars! And now we mustfind the girl."

  "Yes," replied the boy, cheerfully, "we must find Lucy."