CHAPTER VIII.
A SCENE IN THE GROCERY STORE.
"So you've come, have you, you young thief?" said Silas, sternly, asChester entered the store. "Ain't you ashamed of yourself?"
"No, I'm not," Chester answered, boldly. "I've done nothing to beashamed of."
"Oh, you hardened young villain. Give me the money right off, or I'llsend you to jail."
"I hear from Abel that the store was robbed last night, and I supposefrom what you say that you suspect me."
"So I do."
"Then you are mistaken. I spent all last night at home as my mother cantestify."
"Then how came your handkerchief here?" demanded Silas, triumphantly,holding up the article.
"It must have been brought here."
"Oho, you admit that, do you? I didn't know but you'd say it came hereitself."
"No, I don't think it did."
"I thought you'd own up arter a while."
"I own up to nothing."
"Isn't the handkerchief yours?"
"Yes."
"Then you stay here while Abel goes for the constable. You've got to bepunished for such doin's. But I'll give ye one chance. Give me back themoney you took--thirty-seven dollars and sixty cents--and I'll forgiveye, and won't have you sent to jail."
"That is a very kind offer, Mr. Tripp, and if I had taken the money Iwould accept it, and thank you. But I didn't take it."
"Go for the constable, Abel, and mind you hurry. You just stay whereyou are, Chester Rand. Don't you go for to run away."
Chester smiled. He felt that he had the key to the mystery, but hechose to defer throwing light upon it.
"On the way, Abel," said Chester, "please call at our house and ask mymother to come to the store."
"All right, Chester."
The constable was the first to arrive.
"What's wanted, Silas?" he asked, for in country villages neighbors arevery apt to call one another by their Christian names.
"There's been robbery and burglary, Mr. Boody," responded Mr. Tripp."My store was robbed last night of thirty-seven dollars and sixtycents."
"Sho, Silas, how you talk!"
"It's true, and there stands the thief!"
"I am sitting, Mr. Tripp," said Chester smiling.
"See how he brazens it out! What a hardened young villain he is!"
"Come, Silas, you must be crazy," expostulated the constable, who feltvery friendly to Chester. "Chester wouldn't no more steal from you thanI would."
"I thought so myself, but when I found his handkerchief, marked withhis name, on a flour barrel, I was convinced."
"Is that so, Chester?"
"Yes, the handkerchief is mine."
"It wasn't here last night," proceeded Silas, "and it was here thismorning. It stands to reason that it couldn't have walked here itself,and so of course it was brought here."
By this time two other villagers entered the store.
"What do you say to that, Chester?" said the constable, beginning to beshaken in his conviction of Chester's innocence.
"I agree with Mr. Tripp. It must have been brought here."
At this moment, Mrs. Rand and the minister whom she had met on the way,entered the store.
"Glad to see you, widder," said Silas Tripp, grimly. "I hope you ain'ta-goin' to stand up for your son in his didoes."
"I shall certainly stand by Chester, Mr. Tripp. What is the trouble?"
"Only that he came into my store in the silent watches of last night,"answered Silas, sarcastically, "and made off with thirty-seven dollarsand sixty cents."
"It's a falsehood, whoever says it," exclaimed Mrs. Rand, hotly.
"I supposed you'd stand up for him," sneered Silas.
"And for a very good reason. During the silent watches of last night,as you express it, Chester was at home and in bed to my certainknowledge."
"While his handkerchief walked over here and robbed the store,"suggested Silas Tripp, with withering sarcasm, as he held up thetelltale evidence of Chester's dishonesty.
"Was this handkerchief found in the store?" asked Mrs. Rand, insurprise.
"Yes, ma'am, it was, and I calculate you'll find it hard to get overthat evidence."
Mrs. Rand's face lighted up with a sudden conviction.
"I think I can explain it," she said, quietly.
"Oh, you can, can you? Maybe you can tell who took the money."
"I think I can."
All eyes were turned upon her in eager expectation.
"A tramp called at our house last evening," she said, "at abouthalf-past nine, and I gave him a meal, as he professed to be hungry andpenniless. It was some minutes after ten when he left the house. Hemust have picked up Chester's handkerchief, and left it in your storeafter robbing the money drawer."
"That's all very fine," said Silas, incredulously, "but I don't know asthere was any tramp. Nobody saw him but you."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Tripp," said the minister, "but I saw him abouthalf-past ten walking in the direction of your store. I was returningfrom visiting a sick parishioner when I met a man roughly dressed andof middle height, walking up the street. He was smoking a pipe."
"He lighted it before leaving our house," said Mrs. Rand.
"How did he know about my store?" demanded Silas, incredulously.
"He was asking questions about you while he was eating his supper."
Silas Tripp was forced to confess, though reluctantly, that the caseagainst Chester was falling to the ground. But he did not like to giveup.
"I'd like to know where Chester got the money he's been flauntin' roundthe last week," he said.
"Probably he stole it from your store last night," said the constable,with good-natured sarcasm.
"That ain't answerin' the question."
"I don't propose to answer the question," said Chester, firmly. "WhereI got my money is no concern of Mr. Tripp, as long as I don't get itfrom him."
"Have I got to lose the money?" asked Silas, in a tragical tone. "It'svery hard on a poor man."
All present smiled, for Silas was one of the richest men in thevillage.
"We might take up a contribution for you, Silas," said the constable,jocosely.
"Oh, it's all very well for you to joke about it, considerin' youdidn't lose it."
At this moment Abel Wood, who had been sweeping the piazza, entered thestore in excitement.
"I say, there's the tramp now," he exclaimed.
"Where? Where?" asked one and another.
"Out in the street. Constable Perkins has got him."
"Call him in," said the minister.
A moment later, Constable Perkins came in, escorting the tramp, who wasevidently under the influence of strong potations, and had difficultyin holding himself up.
"Where am I?" hiccoughed Ramsay.
"Where did you find him, Mr. Perkins?" asked Rev. Mr. Morris.
"Just outside of Farmer Dexter's barn. He was lying on the ground, witha jug of whisky at his side."
"It was my jug," said Silas. "He must have taken it from the store. Ididn't miss it before. He must have took it away with him."
"There warn't much whisky left in the jug. He must have absorbed mostof it."
Now Mr. Tripp's indignation was turned against this new individual.
"Where is my money, you villain?" he demanded, hotly.
"Whaz-zer matter?" hiccoughed Ramsay.
"You came into my store last night and stole some money."
"Is zis zer store? It was jolly fun," and the inebriate laughed.
"Yes, it is. Where is the money you took?"
"Spent it for whisky."
"No, you didn't. You found the whisky here."
Ramsay made no reply.
"He must have the money about him," suggested the minister. "You'dbetter search his pockets, Mr. Perkins."
The constable thrust his hand into the pocket of his helpless charge,and drew out a roll of bills.
Silas Tripp uttered an exclama
tion of joy.
"Give it to me," he said. "It's my money."
The bills were counted and all were there.
Not one was missing. Part of the silver could not be found. It hadprobably slipped from his pocket, for he had no opportunity of spendingany.
Mr. Tripp was so pleased to recover his bills that he neglected tocomplain of the silver coins that were missing. But still he feltincensed against the thief.
"You'll suffer for this," he said, sternly, eying the tramp over hisglasses.
"Who says I will?"
"I say so. You'll have to go to jail."
"I'm a 'spectable man," hiccoughed the tramp. "I'm an honest man. Iain't done nothin'."
"Why did you take my handkerchief last night?" asked Chester.
The tramp laughed.
"Good joke, wasn't it? So they'd think it was you."
"It came near being a bad joke for me. Do you think I robbed your storenow, Mr. Tripp?"
To this question Silas Tripp did not find it convenient to make ananswer. He was one of those men--very numerous they are, too--whodislike to own themselves mistaken.
"It seems to me, Mr. Tripp," said the minister, "that you owe anapology to our young friend here for your false suspicions."
"Anybody'd suspect him when they found his handkerchief," growledSilas.
"But now you know he was not concerned in the robbery you should makereparation."
"I don't know where he got his money," said Silas. "There's suthin'very mysterious about that five-dollar bill."
"I've got another, Mr. Tripp," said Chester, smiling.
"Like as not. Where'd you get it?"
"I don't feel obliged to tell."
"It looks bad, that's all I've got to say," said the storekeeper.
"I think, Mr. Tripp, you need not borrow any trouble on that score,"interposed the minister. "I know where Chester's money comes from, andI can assure you that it is honestly earned, more so than that whichyou receive from the whisky you sell."
Silas Tripp was a little afraid of the minister, who was veryplain-spoken, and turned away muttering.
The crowd dispersed, some following Constable Perkins, who took hisprisoner to the lockup.