CHAPTER XXVIII. MR. CHASE IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
Temple's manner was sullen as he walked beside Harry and the officer, handcuffed. He overcame his sullenness, after a while, so far as toinquire:
"How came you to suspect me of this robbery?"
"Your friend Vernon has confessed it," answered the officer. "You may aswell know, for it will do no harm."
"So he betrayed me?" said Temple, bitterly.
"He had no choice. He was trapped himself."
"Where is he now?"
"In prison, awaiting trial."
Temple looked better satisfied. He had suspected Vernon of turning
State's evidence and betraying him.
"But how was he found out?" he asked, after a pause.
"The night you hid the tin box in the wood, there was some one who sawall that passed."
"Who was that?" asked Temple, eagerly.
"You will know in due time."
"Where are you taking me now?"
"To the county jail."
"Where is the tin box?"
"In the hands of the man from whom you stole it, There, I have answeredyour questions, and have no more to say."
"What do you think will be done with me?" asked Temple, anxiously.
The officer shrugged his shoulders.
"Gentlemen of your profession," he said, "are generally well informed onthat point. If found guilty, you will be boarded at the expense of thecounty for a term of years."
"Curse the luck!" uttered Temple, savagely, and then was silent.
Philip had left them, and was on his way home, glad to get out of hispredicament, but more incensed than ever against Harry for themortification he had put upon him in compelling him to beg his pardon.
"I'll get even with him, see if I don't," he muttered.
When Harry and the officer had lodged their prisoner in jail, the lattersaid:
"I nearly forgot to tell you that Mr. Wheeler wishes you to call at hisoffice to-morrow."
"In the morning?"
"As you please."
"I think I will go up by the morning train," said Harry, after a littlereflection.
"Then you will be likely to meet me on the train. I shall be apassenger."
"I will look for you. I shall be glad to have company."
"By the way, that was very creditable work of yours, ferreting out thebond robbers."
"I was lucky, that is all," answered Harry, modestly.
"Partly so, but you have showed excellent judgment throughout, andpersonal bravery."
"Don't flatter me, Mr. Pry. You may make me conceited."
"You ought to be one of us."
"I don't think I should like it," said Harry, slowly.
"Perhaps not, but you're fitted for it, for all that. Well, good-day. Ishall see you to-morrow."
"You are getting to be an important business man, Harry," said UncleObed, when our hero announced that he had a summons to the city nextday.
"What is it all about, Harry?" asked his mother, rather puzzled.
"Let the boy explain in his own good time, Mrs. Gilbert," said the oldman. "I know he isn't in any mischief."
"I may be able to tell you to-morrow evening, mother. It will besomething that will surprise you."
"I suppose it is all right, Harry, as Mr. Wilkins says so."
"Yes, mother, I can assure you of that."
In due time Harry boarded the morning train. He looked through the carstill he found Mr. Pry, the detective, and took a seat beside him.
It was not long before his attention was called to a smooth, plausiblevoice, proceeding from a person who sat two seats in advance of the onehe occupied.
"My dear sir, if it will be any accommodation to you, I will myself buyyour bond, and pay you the market price."
There was something in the voice, and in the words, that attracted
Harry's attention and excited his suspicions.
"Excuse me a moment," he said to the detective, and, passing through theaisle, reached a point where he could look back at the speaker.
He knew him at once, not only by his face, but by the profusion of ringsupon his fingers. It was the same man that had cheated the poor farmerby giving him counterfeit money in payment for his coupons.
If, however, he had any doubt, it was set at rest by what followed.
"I don't know," said his seat companion, an industrious mechanic; "perhaps I'd better wait, and sell it in the city."
"As you please, my friend," said the young man. "I only made theproposal thinking I might accommodate you."
"Is that your business – buying bonds?" asked the mechanic.
"In the city, yes. I am a member of the well-known firm of Chase &
Atkins. Of course, you have heard of them."
"Ye-es," answered the mechanic, doubtfully.
"I am Mr. Chase. We do a general banking and brokerage business. Let mesee, what is the denomination of your bond?"
"Eh?"
"I mean, of what size? Is it a fifty, or a hundred?"
"It's only a fifty, sir. It was a present to my wife. Now she wants touse a little money, and so she has got me to sell it."
"We give rather higher prices than most brokers," said Chase, smoothly.
"How can you do that?" asked the mechanic, who was a man of good commonsense.
"Well, you see, we ship 'em to Europe, and make a handsome profit. Itwould be for your advantage to sell to me; but you must act your ownwill."
The mechanic began to think more favorably of the proposal, and askedone or two more questions. Finally he said:
"Well, I don't know but I might as well. Have you got money enough withyou?"
Chase took out a plethoric pocketbook, stuffed with bills, and calledattention to it, smilingly:
"We bankers always have to be well provided with money."
The mechanic looked respectfully at the owner of so much money.
"I dare say it's more than I could earn in a year," he said.
"I dare say you are right, my friend," said the young man.
"Very well. Count out the money, and the bond is yours."
The exchange was made, and both parties seemed well satisfied.
Chase deposited the bond in an inside pocket and then, saying, carelessly, "I'll go into the smoking car for a few minutes," rose fromhis seat.
But in the meantime Harry had returned to his own seat, and whispered afew words in the ear of the detective.
The latter sharply scrutinized the young man who called himself Chase, and said, in a low voice:
"I know him now. He's an old offender. I thought there was somethingfamiliar in his appearance. I'll look after you, my fine fellow."
He waited till the exchange had been effected, and the young man was onthe point of leaving the car.
Then he rose, and, hurrying forward, placed his hand on the young man'sshoulder.
"A word with you, sir," he said.
"Really, sir, I don't remember you."
"Perhaps not. I remember you. Do me the favor to return that bond to theman from whom you obtained it."
"It is mine. I have paid for it."
"With counterfeit money."
"Do you mean to insult me?" demanded Chase; but there was a suddenpallor on his face and a tremor in his voice.
"That will do, Jimmy Neal. I told you I knew you. That is an old trickof yours."
"Who are you?" asked the detected swindler, in a faltering voice.
"Pry, the detective."
"Will you let me go if I restore this bond?"
"No; there is another case I must inquire into – that of a farmer fromwhom you bought some coupons a day or two since, paying him in the sameworthless rags. Sit down here," pointing to a vacant seat. "You mayconsider yourself under arrest."
Great was the consternation of the mechanic when he learned how nearlyhe had been swindled, and profuse were his thanks to Harry and theofficer.
"Be more prudent the next time," said the latter, "and don't sell bondsto a stranger in the cars again."
We may as well add that the traveling broker was duly tried, andsentenced to a term in State's prison, and that enough good money wasfound on him to repay the farmer for the coupons he had imprudentlyparted with.
Greatly to his satisfaction, Harry was intrusted with the office ofacquainting Simon Jones with the pleasant fact that his money would berestored to him.