CHAPTER XVIII.
LEONARD'S TEMPTATION.
Leonard was not a thief, but the sight of the wallet tempted him, underthe circumstances. He had set his heart on buying a ticket in the giftenterprise, and knew of no way of obtaining the requisite sum--exceptthis. It was, indeed, a little shock to him to think of appropriatingmoney not his own; yet who would know it? The owner of the wallet wasdrunk, and would be quite unconscious of his loss. Besides, if he didn'ttake the wallet, some one else probably would, and appropriate theentire contents. It was an insidious suggestion, and Leonard somehowpersuaded himself that since the money was sure to be taken, he might aswell have the benefit of it as anyone else.
So, after turning over the matter in his mind rapidly, he stooped downand picked up the wallet.
The man did not move.
Emboldened by his insensibility, Leonard cautiously opened thepocketbook, and his eyes glistened when he saw tucked away in one side,quite a thick roll of bills.
"He won't miss one bill," thought Leonard. "Anyone else might take thewhole wallet, but I wouldn't do that. I wonder how much money there isin the roll."
He darted another glance at the prostrate form, but there seemed nodanger of interruption. He took the roll in his hand, therefore, and ahasty scrutiny showed him that the bills ran from ones to tens. Theremust have been nearly a hundred dollars in all.
"Suppose I take a five," thought Leonard, whose cupidity increased withthe sight of the money. "He won't miss it, and it will be better in myhands than if spent for whiskey."
How specious are the arguments of those who seek an excuse for a wrongact that will put money in the purse!
"Yes, I think I may venture to take a five, and, as I might not be ableto change it right away, I will take a one to send for a ticket. Then Iwill put the wallet back in the man's pocket."
So far, all went smoothly, and Leonard was proceeding to carry out hisintention when, taking a precautionary look at the man on the ground, hewas dumfounded by seeing his eyes wide open and fixed upon him.
Leonard flushed painfully, like a criminal detected in a crime, andreturned the look of inquiry by one of dismay.
"What--you--doing?" inquired the victim of inebriety.
"I--is this your wallet, sir?" stammered Leonard.
"Course it is. What you got it for?"
"I--I saw it on the ground, and was afraid some one would find it, androb you," said Leonard, fluently.
"Somebody did find it," rejoined the man, whose senses seemed comingback to him. "How much did you take?"
"I? You don't think I would take any of your money?" said Leonard, invirtuous surprise.
"Looked like it! Can't tell who to trust."
"I assure you, I had only just picked it up, and was going to put itback in your pocket, sir."
The man, drunk as he was, winked knowingly.
"Smart boy!" he said. "You do it well, ol' fella!"
"But, sir, it is quite true, I assure you. I will count over the moneybefore you. Do you know how much you had?"
"Nev' mind. Help me up!"
Leonard stooped over and helped the drunkard to a sitting position.
"Where am I? Where is hotel?"
Leonard answered him.
"Take me to hotel, and I'll give you a dollar."
"Certainly, sir," said Leonard, briskly. He was to get his dollar afterall, and would not have to steal it. I am afraid he is not to be praisedfor his honesty, as it seemed to be a matter of necessity.
"I wish he'd give me five dollars," thought Leonard, but didn't see hisway clear to make the suggestion.
He placed the man on his feet, and guided his steps to the road. As hewalked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recoveredhis equilibrium and required less help.
"How long had you been lying there?" asked Leonard.
"Don't know. I was taken sick," and the inebriate nodded knowingly atLeonard, who felt at liberty to laugh, too.
"Do you ever get sick?"
"Not that way," answered Leonard.
"Smart boy! Better off!"
They reached the hotel, and Leonard engaged a room for his companion.
"Has he got money?" asked the landlord, in a low voice.
"Yes," answered Leonard, "he has nearly a hundred dollars. I counted itmyself."
"That's all right, then," said the landlord. "Here, James, show thegentleman up to No. 15."
"Come, too," said the stranger to Leonard.
The latter followed the more readily because he had not yet been paidhis dollar.
The door of No. 15 was opened, and the two entered.
"I will stay with the gentleman a short time," said Leonard to the boy."If we want anything we will ring."
"All right, sir."
"What's your name?" asked the inebriate, as he sank into a largearmchair near the window.
"Leonard Craig."
"Never heard the name before."
"What's your name, sir?"
"What you want to know for?" asked the other, cunningly.
"The landlord will want to put it on his book."
"My name? Phil Stark."
"Philip Stark?"
"Yes; who told you?"
It will be seen that Mr. Stark was not yet quite himself.
"You told me yourself."
"So I did--'scuse me."
"Certainly, sir. By the way, you told me you would pay me a dollar forbringing you to the hotel."
"So I did. Take it," and Philip Stark passed the wallet to Leonard.
Leonard felt tempted to take a two-dollar bill instead of a one, as Mr.Stark would hardly notice the mistake. Still, he might ask to look atthe bill, and that would be awkward. So the boy contented himself withthe sum promised.
"Thank you, sir," he said, as he slipped the bill into his vest pocket."Do you want some supper?"
"No, I want to sleep."
"Then you had better lie down on the bed. Will you undress?"
"No; too much trouble."
Mr. Stark rose from the armchair, and, lurching round to the bed, flunghimself on it.
"I suppose you don't want me any longer," said Leonard.
"No. Come round to-morrer."
"Yes, sir."
Leonard opened the door and left the room. He resolved to keep theappointment, and come round the next day. Who knew but some more of Mr.Stark's money might come into his hands? Grown man as he was, he seemedto need a guardian, and Leonard was willing to act as such--for aconsideration.
"It's been a queer adventure!" thought Leonard, as he slowly bent hissteps towards his uncle's house. "I've made a dollar out of it, anyway,and if he hadn't happened to wake up just as he did I might have donebetter. However, it may turn out as well in the end."
"You are rather late, Leonard," said his uncle, in a tone that betrayedsome irritation. "I wanted to send you on an errand, and you are alwaysout of the way at such a time."
"I'll go now," said Leonard, with unusual amiability. "I've had a littleadventure."
"An adventure! What is it?" Mr. Gibbon asked, with curiosity.
Leonard proceeded to give an account of his finding the inebriate inthe meadow, and his guiding him to the hotel. It may readily be supposedthat he said nothing of his attempt to appropriate a part of thecontents of the wallet.
"What was his name?" asked Gibbon, with languid curiosity.
"Phil Stark, he calls himself."
A strange change came over the face of the bookkeeper. There was afrightened look in his eyes, and his color faded.
"Phil Stark!" he repeated, in a startled tone.
"Yes, sir."
"What brings him here?" Gibbon asked himself nervously, but no wordspassed his lips.
"Do you know the name?" asked Leonard, wonderingly.
"I--have heard it before, but--no, I don't think it is the same man."