"They were given me by a person who owed me money," he said,plausibly. "How was I to know they were stolen?"
"They were stolen, then?"
"I suppose so. In fact, I know so."
"How do you know?"
"Well--in fact, they were stolen from my stepmother."
Morrison whistled.
"Well," he said.
"Of course you mustn't say that I gave them to you. You would get meinto trouble."
"So you want to save yourself at my expense? I am to be suspected ofstealing the bonds, am I? That's a decidedly cool proposal, but itwon't do. I shall clear myself, by telling just where I got thebonds."
"That's what I want you to do."
"You do!" ejaculated the gambler, in surprise.
"Yes. You are to say that the boy gave them to you."
"Why should I say that?"
"Because he is already suspected of stealing the bonds."
"But I gave them to him to sell."
"You mustn't admit it. There is no proof of it except his word."
"What's your game? Whatever it is, it is too deep for me."
"I've got it all arranged. You are to say that the boy owed you agambling debt, and agreed to meet you to-morrow morning to pay it.Of the bonds, you are to know nothing, unless you say that he toldyou he had some which he was going to sell, in order to get money topay you."
"What advantage am I to get out of all this?"
"What advantage? Why, you will save yourself from suspicion."
"That isn't enough. I didn't take the bonds, and you know it. Ibelieve you did it yourself."
"Hush!" said Willis Ford, looking around him nervously.
"Look here, Ford, I gave up your I O U, and now I find I've got towhistle for my money."
"Go with me to my room, and you shall have four hundred dollarsto-night."
"In cash?"
"No; in bonds."
"Some more of the same kind? No, thank you, I want ready money."
"Then give me a little more time, and I will dispose of them--whenthis excitement blows over."
Finally Morrison gave a sulky assent, and the conspirators parted.
CHAPTER XX -- AT THE FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL
"If I thought he was playing me false," said Jim Morrison, afterFord and himself had parted company, "I'd make him smart for it."
"I guess it's all right," said Tom, who was less experienced andless suspicious than his companion.
"It may be so, but I have my suspicions. I don't trust Willis Ford."
"Shall you go round to the Fifth Avenue Hotel to meet Grantto-morrow morning."
"Of course I shall. I want to see what the boy says. It may be aput-up job between him and Ford."
The very same question was put by Grant to Mr. Reynolds.
"Shall I go round to the hotel to-morrow morning to see Morrison andTom Calder?"
The broker paused a moment and looked thoughtful.
"Yes," he answered, after a pause. "You may."
"And what shall I say when he demands the money?"
Upon this Mr. Reynolds gave Grant full instructions as to what hedesired him to say.
About quarter after eight o'clock the next morning a quiet-lookingman, who looked like a respectable bookkeeper entered the FifthAvenue Hotel and walked through the corridor, glancing, as itseemed, indifferently, to the right and left. Finally he reachedthe door of the reading room and entered. His face brightened as atthe further end he saw two persons occupying adjoining seats. Theywere, in fact, Morrison and Tom Calder.
The newcomer selected a Boston daily paper, and, as it seemed, bychance, settled himself in a seat not six feet away from our twoacquaintances, so that he could, without much effort, listen totheir conversation.
"It's almost time for Grant to come," said Tom, after a pause.
"Yes," grumbled Morrison, "but as he won't have any money for me, Idon't feel as anxious as I should otherwise."
"What'll you say to him?"
"I don't know yet. I want to find out whether Ford has told thetruth about the bonds. I believe he stole 'em himself."
Five minutes later Grant entered the reading-room. A quick glanceshowed him, not only the two he had come to meet, but the quiet,little man who was apparently absorbed in a copy of the BostonJournal. He went up at once to meet them.
"I believe I am in time," he said.
"Yes," answered Jim Morrison. "Have you brought the money?"
"No."
"Why not?" demanded Morrison, with a frown.
"There was something wrong about the bonds you gave me to sell."
"Weren't they all right? They weren't counterfeit, were they?"
"They were genuine, but---"
"But what?"
"A lady claims that they belong to her--that they were stolen fromher. Of course you can explain how they came into your hands?"
"They were given me by a party that owed me money. If he's played atrick on me, it will be the worse for him. Did you sell them?"
"Yes."
"Then give me the money."
"Mr. Reynolds won't let me."
"Does he think I took the bonds?" asked Morrison, hastily.
"No, he doesn't," answered Grant, proudly, "but he would like tohave an interview with you, and make some inquiries, so that he mayform some idea as to the person who did take them. They belonged tohis housekeeper, Mrs. Estabrook, who is the stepmother of Mr. Ford,a young man employed in our office."
Tom Calder and Jim Morrison exchanged glances. Grant's story agreedwith Ford's, and tended to confirm their confidence in his goodfaith.
"When does he want to see me?" asked Morrison.
"Can you call at his house this evening at eight o'clock?"
"Where does he live?"
Grant mentioned the street and number.
"I will be there," he said, briefly.
"Can I come, too?" asked Tom Calder, addressing the question toGrant.
"There will be no objection, I think."
"Tell him we'll be on hand."
The three left the hotel together, Grant taking a Broadway stage atthe door. The quiet man seemed no longer interested in the BostonJournal, for he hung it up in its place, and sauntered out of thehotel. He had not attracted the attention of Jim Morrison or Tom.
When Grant entered the office, and with his usual manner asked Fordif he should go to the post-office, the young man eyed himcuriously.
"Are you to remain in the office?" he said.
"Yes, I suppose so."
"After what you have done?"
"What have I done, Mr. Ford?" asked Grant, eyeing the young man,steadily.
"I don't think you need to have me tell you," he said, with a sneer."I don't think Mr. Reynolds is very prudent to employ a boyconvicted of dishonesty."
"Do you believe me guilty, Mr. Ford?" asked our hero, calmly.
"The evidence against you is overwhelming. My mother ought to haveyou arrested."
"The person who stole the bonds may be arrested."
"What do you mean?" asked Willis Ford, flushing, and lookingdisconcerted.
"I mean that I have no concern in the matter. Shall I go to thepost-office?"
"Yes," snapped Ford, "and take care you don't steal any of theletters."
Grant did not reply. He knew that his vindication was certain, andhe was willing to wait.
If Willis Ford had been prudent he would have dropped the matterthere, but his hatred of Grant was too great to be easily concealed.When a few minutes later the broker entered the office and inquired,"Where is Grant?" Ford, after answering, "he has gone to thepost-office," could not help saying, "Are you going to keep thatboy, Mr. Reynolds?"
"Why should I not?" the broker replied.
"I thought a boy in his position ought to be honest."
"I agree with you, Mr. Ford," said the broker, quietly.
"After taking my mother's bonds, that can hardly be said of GrantThornton."
"You seem to be
sure he did take them, Mr. Ford."
"The discovery of the key settled that to my mind."
"Grant says he has no knowledge of the key."
Ford laughed scornfully.
"Of course he would say so," he replied.
"I propose to investigate the matter further," said the broker. "Canyou make it convenient to call at my house this evening? Possiblysomething may be discovered by that time."
"Yes, sir; I will come, with pleasure. I have no feeling in regardto the boy, except that I don't think it safe to employ him in abusiness like yours."
"I agree with you, Mr. Ford. One who is capable of stealing bondsfrom a private house is unfit to be employed in an office likemine."
"Yet you retain the boy, sir?"
"For the present. It is not fair to assume that he is guilty till wehave demonstrated it beyond a doubt."
"I think there will be no difficulty about that, Mr. Reynolds," saidWillis Ford, well pleased at these words.
"I sincerely hope that his innocence may be proved."
Soon afterward Mr. Reynolds went to the Stock Exchange, and WillisFord returned to his routine duties.
"With the testimony of Jim Morrison I shall be able to fix you, myyoung friend," he said to himself, as Grant returned from thepost-office.
No further allusion was made to the matter during the day. Grant andWillis Ford were both looking forward to the evening, but fordifferent reasons. Grant expected to be vindicated, while Ford hopedhe could convince the broker of the boy's guilt.
CHAPTER XXI -- THE THIEF IS DISCOVERED
Willis Ford ascended the steps of the broker's residence with ajaunty step. The servant admitted him, but he met Grant in the hall.
"Won't you come upstairs, Mr. Ford?" he said.
Willis Ford nodded superciliously.
"Your stay in the house will be short, young man," he thought. "Youhad better make the most of it."
He was ushered not into the housekeeper's room, but into asitting-room on the second floor. He found Mr. Reynolds and hisstepmother there already. Both greeted him, the broker gravely, buthis stepmother cordially. Grant did not come in.
"I have come as you requested, Mr. Reynolds," he said. "I supposeit's about the bonds. May I ask if you have discovered anythingnew?"
"I think I have," answered the broker, slowly.
The housekeeper looked surprised. If anything new had beendiscovered, she at least had not heard it.
"May I ask what it is?" Ford inquired, carelessly.
"You shall know in good time. Let me, however, return the question.Have you heard anything calculated to throw light on the mystery?"
"No, sir, I can't say I have. To my mind there is no mystery at allabout the affair."
"I presume I understand what you mean. Still I will ask you toexplain yourself."
"Everything seems to throw suspicion upon that boy, Grant Thornton.Nobody saw him take the bonds, to be sure, but he has had everyopportunity of doing so, living in the same house, as he does.Again, a key has been found in his pocket, which will open thebureau drawer in which the bonds were kept; and, thirdly, I cantestify, and the boy admits, that he presented them at our officefor sale, and received the money for them. I think, sir, that anyjury would consider this accumulation of proof conclusive."
"It does seem rather strong," said the broker, gravely. "Icompliment you on the way you have summed up, Mr. Ford."
Willis Ford looked much gratified. He was susceptible to flattery,and he was additionally pleased, because, as he thought, Mr.Reynolds was impressed by the weight of evidence.
"I have sometimes thought," he said, complacently, "that I oughtto have become a lawyer. I always had a liking for the profession."
"Still," said the broker, deliberately, "we ought to considerGrant's explanation of the matter. He says that the bonds wereintrusted to him for sale by a third party."
"Of course he would say something like that," returned Willis,shrugging his shoulders. "He can hardly expect anyone to be taken inby such a statement as that."
"You think, then, that he had no dealings with this Morrison?"
"I don't say that, sir," said Ford, remembering the story which heand Morrison had agreed upon. It may be stated here that he had beenanxious to meet Morrison before meeting the coming appointment, inorder to ascertain what had passed between him and Grant. With thisobject in view, he had gone to the usual haunts of the gambler, buthad been unable to catch sight of him. However, as he had seen himthe evening previous, and agreed upon the story to be told, hecontented himself with that.
"You think, then, that Morrison may have given Grant the bonds?"said Mr. Reynolds.
"No, sir; that is not my idea."
"Have you any other notion?"
"I think the boy may have been owing him money, and took this methodof raising it."
"But how should he owe him money?" asked the broker, curiously.
"I don't wish to say anything against Morrison, but I have been toldthat he is a gambler. Grant may have lost money to him at play."
"Or you," thought the broker; but he said:
"Your suggestion is worth considering, but I don't think Grant hashad any opportunity to lose money in that way, as he spends hisevenings usually at home."
"It wouldn't take long to lose a great deal of money, sir."
"That explains it," said the housekeeper, speaking for the firsttime. "I have no doubt Willis is right, and the boy gambles."
"I presume, Mr. Ford," said the broker, with a peculiar look, "thatyou do not approve of gambling?"
"Most certainly not, sir," said Ford, his face expressing the horrorwhich a so-well-conducted young man must naturally feel for sopernicious a habit.
"I am glad to hear it. Will you excuse me a moment?"
After the broker had left the room, Mrs. Estabrook turned to Willisand said: "You are pretty sharp, Willis. You have found out thiswretched boy, and now I think we shall get rid of him."
"I flatter myself, mother," said Willis, complacently, "that Ihave given the old man some new ideas as to the character of hisfavorite. I don't think we shall see him in the office again."
As he spoke, his ears caught the sound of ascending footsteps on thestairs without. He was rather puzzled. He conjectured that Grant hadbeen summoned to confront his accuser, but there seemed, from thesound, to be more than two approaching. When the door opened, andthe broker gravely ushered in Jim Morrison and Tom Calder, bothlooking ill at ease, followed by Grant Thornton, he looked amazedand perplexed.
"I believe you know these gentlemen," said Mr. Reynolds, gravely. "Ihave thought it best to make our present investigation thorough andcomplete."
"I have met the gentlemen before," said Ford, uncomfortably.
"You also have met them, Grant, have you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you had any business transaction with either?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Morrison met me on Wall Street and handed me twobonds, with a request that I would sell them for him, and hand himthe money the next morning, at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."
"Were these the same bonds that you sold to Mr. Ford?"
"Yes, sir."
"I think the boy is lying, sir," burst out Ford.
"What have you to say to the boy's story, Mr. Morrison?" asked thebroker.
"He's made a little mistake," answered Jim Morrison, who by thistime was feeling more at his ease. "I didn't give him no bonds."
Willis Ford looked triumphant, and Grant amazed.
"How, then, could there be any business between you?"
"I may as well own up that I am a gambler," replied Morrison, withvirtuous frankness. "The boy lost the money to me at play, and saidhe'd meet and pay me at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. I didn't know wherehe was goin' to get the money, but I expect he must have stolen thebonds, and got it that way."
Considering the damaging nature of the revelation, Grant showedconsiderable self-command. He did not turn pale, nor did he lookguilty and cons
cience-stricken.
"What have you to say to this charge, Grant?" asked the broker.
"It is not true, sir."
"What a hardened young villain!" said the housekeeper, in a low, butaudible voice.
"Mr. Reynolds will hardly believe you," said Ford, turning upon ourhero and speaking in a tone of virtuous indignation. "You see, sir,"he continued, addressing the broker, "that I was right in myconjecture."
"I am not quite satisfied yet," said Mr. Reynolds. "Grant, call theboy."
Great was the perplexity of Willis Ford and his friends when Grantleft the room, and almost immediately reappeared with a small boy inblue uniform. Not one of them recognized him.
"Have you ever seen any of these gentlemen before, my boy?" askedthe broker.
"I've seed 'em all, sir," answered the boy.
"State where you saw them last."
"I seed him, and him, and him," said Johnny, pointing out WillisFord, Jim Morrison and Tom Calder, "at the Grand Central Hotelyesterday mornin'."
Ford started and became very pale.
"What passed between them?"
"He," indicating Ford, "gave some bonds to him," indicatingMorrison, "and got back a bit of paper. I don't know what was onit."
"It is false!" ejaculated Willis Ford, hoarsely.
CHAPTER XXII -- WILLIS FORD AT BAY