CHAPTER XIX. AN UNWELCOME VISITOR
Luke Harrison had picked up Harry's pocketbook, and, though knowing itto be his, concealed the discovery upon the impulse of the moment.
"What I find is mine," he said to himself. "Of course it is. HarryWalton deserves to lose his money."
It will be seen that he had already decided to keep the money. It lookedso tempting to him, as his eyes rested on the thick roll of bills--for,though insignificant in amount, the bills were ones and twos, and twentyin number--that he could not make up his mind to return it.
Luke was fond of new clothes. He wanted to reestablish his credit withMerrill, for he was in want of a new coat and knew that it would beuseless to order one unless he had some money to pay on account. Hedecided to use a part of Harry's money for this purpose. It would bebetter, however, he thought, to wait a day or two, as the news ofthe loss would undoubtedly spread abroad, and his order might excitesuspicion, particularly as he had been in Harry's company at the timethe money disappeared. He therefore put the pocketbook into his trunk,and carefully locked it. Then he went to bed.
Meanwhile, Harry reached Mr. Leavitt's unconscious of the seriousmisfortune which had befallen him. He went into the sitting room andtalked a while with Mr. Leavitt, and at ten o'clock took his lamp andwent up to bed. While he was undressing he felt in his pocket for hismoney, intending to lock it up in his trunk as usual. His dismay may beconceived when he could not find it.
Poor Harry sank into a chair with that sudden sinking of the heart whichunlooked-for misfortune brings and tried to think where he could haveleft the pocketbook.
That evening he found himself under the necessity of buying a necktie atthe store, and so had taken it from his trunk. Could he have left it onthe counter? No; he distinctly remembered replacing it in his pocket. Hefelt the need of consulting with somebody, and with his lamp in his handwent downstairs again.
"You haven't concluded to sit up all night, have you?" asked Mr.Leavitt, surprised at his reappearance.
"Are you sick, Harry?" asked Mrs. Leavitt. "You're looking dreadfullypale."
"I've lost my pocketbook," said Harry..
"How much was there in it?" asked his employer.
"Thirty-three dollars," answered Harry.
"Whew! that's a good deal of money to lose. I shouldn't want to lose somuch myself. When did you have it last?"
Harry told his story, Mr. Leavitt listening attentively
"And you came right home?"
"Yes."
"Alone."
"No; Luke Harrison came with me."
"Are you two thick together?"
"Not at all. He doesn't like me, and I don't fancy him."
"What was he talking about?"
"He wanted me to join a sleighing party."
"What did you say?"
"I said I couldn't afford it. Then he charged me with being a miser, ashe often does."
"Did he come all the way home with you?"
"No; he left me at Deacon Brewster's. He said he must go back to thestore."
"There is something queer about this," said Mr. Leavitt, shrewdly. "Doyou want my advice?"
"Yes; I wish you would advise me, for I don't know what to do."
"Then go to the store at once. Ask, but without attracting anyattention, if Luke came back there after leaving you. Then askMr. Meade, the storekeeper, whether he noticed you put back yourpocketbook."
"But I know I did."
"Then it will be well to say nothing about it, at least publicly. If youfind that Luke's excuse was false, and that he did not go back, go atonce to his boarding place, and ask him whether he saw you drop thepocketbook. You might have dropped it and he picked it up."
"Suppose he says no?"
"Then we must watch whether he seems flush of money for the next fewdays."
This seemed to Harry good advice. He retraced his steps to the store,carefully looking for the lost pocketbook. But of course, it was not tobe seen and he entered the store troubled and out of spirits.
"I thought you went home, Harry," said Frank Heath.
"You see I am here again," said our hero.
"Time to shut up shop," said Mr. Meade, the storekeeper. "You boys willhave to adjourn till to-morrow."
"Where's Luke Harrison?" asked Frank Heath.
"Didn't he go out with you?"
"Yes; but he left me some time ago. He came back here, didn't he?"
"No; he hasn't been here since."
"He spoke of coming," said Harry. "He wanted me to join that sleighingparty."
"Good night, boys," said the storekeeper, significantly.
They took the hint and went out. Their way lay in different directions,and they parted company.
"Now I must call on Luke," said Harry to himself.
"I hope he found the pocketbook. He wouldn't be wicked enough to keepit."
But he was not quite so sure of this as he would like to have been. Hefelt almost sick as he thought of the possibility that he might neverrecover the money which he had saved so gladly, though with such painfuleconomy. It represented the entire cash earnings of eleven weeks.
Luke Harrison boarded with a Mr. Glenham, a carpenter, and it was at hisdoor that Harry knocked.
"Is Luke Harrison at home?" he inquired of Mrs. Glenham, who opened thedoor.
"At home and abed, I reckon," she replied.
"I know it's late, Mrs. Glenham, but it is about a matter of importancethat I wish to see Luke."
"I reckon it's about the sleighing party."
"No, it is quite another thing. I won't stay but minute."
"Well, I suppose you can go up."
Harry went upstairs and knocked. Ordinarily, Luke would have beenasleep, for generally he sank to sleep five minutes after his headtouched the pillow; but to-night the excitement of his dishonestintention kept him awake, and he started uneasily when he heard theknock.
"Who's there?" he called out from the bed.
"It's I--Harry Walton."
"He's come about that pocketbook," thought Luke.
"I'm in bed," he answered.
"I want to see you a minute, on a matter of importance."
"Come to-morrow morning."
"I must see you now."
"Oh, well, come in, if you must," said Luke.