The Tin Box Part 39

"In the hands of the man from whom you stole it, There, I have answered your 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 on that point. If found guilty, you will be boarded at the expense of the county 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 his predicament, but more incensed than ever against Harry for the mortification 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 latter said:

"I nearly forgot to tell you that Mr. Wheeler wishes you to call at his office to-morrow."

"In the morning?"

"As you please."

"I think I will go up by the morning train," said Harry, after a little reflection.

"Then you will be likely to meet me on the train. I shall be a pa.s.senger."

"I will look for you. I shall be glad to have company."

"By the way, that was very creditable work of yours, ferreting out the bond robbers."

"I was lucky, that is all," answered Harry, modestly.

"Partly so, but you have showed excellent judgment throughout, and personal 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. I shall see you to-morrow."

"You are getting to be an important business man, Harry," said Uncle Obed, when our hero announced that he had a summons to the city next day.

"What is it all about, Harry?" asked his mother, rather puzzled.

"Let the boy explain in his own good time, Mrs. Gilbert," said the old man. "I know he isn't in any mischief."

"I may be able to tell you to-morrow evening, mother. It will be something that will surprise you."

"I suppose it is all right, Harry, as Mr. Wilkins says so."

"Yes, mother, I can a.s.sure you of that."

In due time Harry boarded the morning train. He looked through the cars till he found Mr. Pry, the detective, and took a seat beside him.

It was not long before his attention was called to a smooth, plausible voice, proceeding from a person who sat two seats in advance of the one he occupied.

"My dear sir, if it will be any accommodation to you, I will myself buy your 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, pa.s.sing through the aisle, 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 rings upon his fingers. It was the same man that had cheated the poor farmer by 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 the proposal 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 me see, 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 to use 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 common sense.

"Well, you see, we s.h.i.+p 'em to Europe, and make a handsome profit. It would be for your advantage to sell to me; but you must act your own will."

The mechanic began to think more favorably of the proposal, and asked one or two more questions. Finally he said:

"Well, I don't know but I might as well. Have you got money enough with you?"

Chase took out a plethoric pocketbook, stuffed with bills, and called attention to it, smilingly:

"We bankers always have to be well provided with money."