*CHAPTER XIII.*
*AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE.*
When Dick Boden set off after the two boys he had no definite object inview beyond keeping them in sight. As yet he did not quite grasp themeaning of what he had seen, though his suspicions were fully aroused.
Curly and his companion displayed no particular hurry in getting clearof the neighbourhood. They strolled along quietly, and withoutattracting attention, for the street was deserted, and the only lightwas that thrown out by the public lamps.
At the first corner they stopped a moment, and then, turning to theright, plunged into a narrow but busy street, much frequented by hawkersand all kinds of barrow-merchants. Quickening his steps, Dick followed,but they were already swallowed up by the throng of people.
In the middle of the road a policeman stood on point duty, and Dick felta strong desire to accost him; but what could he say? He had reallynothing to go on except his own suspicion that in some way the two boyshad been up to mischief, but the officer was not likely to interfere onthat account.
Putting this idea aside, Dick edged his way through the crowd, keeping asharp lookout for his quarry. For some time he saw nothing of them, andbegan to fear they had dodged up one of the narrow courts, when hecaught sight of them standing by a hand-cart piled with bananas.
"All ripe! all ripe!" the owner was shouting at the top of his voice."Here you are! Two for three-ha'pence. The finest fruit inBeauleigh.--Out o' the way, matey, if you don't want to buy; you'rekeeping off good customers.--Sold again, and got the money! Come on;it's like giving 'em away at the price!"
"Let's have four," said Bryant, "and don't pick out all the little uns."
"Here ye are, sonny," cried the hawker, taking the three coppers; "we'rein luck to-night. Sold again!"
Bryant shared the bananas with his companion, and both fell to withoutdelay. Evidently they were in high spirits, and enjoying themselvesthoroughly, only stopping in their feast to nudge each other playfully.
"It's wonderful how flush of money they seem!" thought Dick.
While he stood watching them his mind was busy recalling the events ofthe evening. He pieced them all together, and, as a result, made up apretty correct picture.
"O my aunt!" said he, "I didn't think Curly was so cute! But the dodgeseems plain enough now. While Curly was bamboozling Jim, the otherslipped into the shop and emptied the till. Ah, ah, you artful dodgers;that accounts for the milk in the cocoanut!"
Suddenly his satisfied smile vanished, and a shiver of fear ran throughhim. Why had Curly gone back? And what had he given Jim? Was itpossible that his old friend formed one of the gang? No, no; he wouldnot believe that! Jim had acted foolishly, no doubt, in taking up withthese fellows, but he was not dishonest. Besides, if he wished to robhis employer, it could be done in a much simpler way.
Yet what did Curly mean by being, "square"? and why had Jim said, "Itcomes in very handy just now"? Had he shared the plunder withoutknowing it? It seemed to Dick that fifty thousand bees were buzzing inhis brain.
"Broad is sure to miss the money," he thought, "and, of course, he'llcharge Jim with stealing it. I wish I knew what to do! If I run back totell him, perhaps he'll think it's a pitched-up yarn. Hullo, they'removing again."
Having finished their bananas the two boys walked on slowly, stoppingnow and then to speak to an acquaintance or to look at the contents ofthe various barrows. They did not seem at all uneasy; only once, when apoliceman came their way, they separated, Bryant stepping on to thepavement just in front of Dick. A few yards farther he was rejoined byCurly, who said something to his companion which Dick could not hear.
Presently they stopped outside a small tobacconist's shop. Dick did notcare to approach too closely, but he got near enough to hear that theywere discussing what to buy.
At last he heard Curly say, "Them's the ones in the corner."
Apparently the other boy raised some objection which made Curly angry.
"What are you frightened of?" he said savagely. "Think I'm on the cross?You change the bob, and we'll square up afterwards."
Bryant went to the door reluctantly, but, as if unable to make up hismind, returned and whispered something to his companion. A scornfullaugh greeted his remark, and without further delay he entered the shop.
All this time Dick had stood a little distance off, thinking. By alucky accident the boys had chosen the shop kept by a man named Martin,for whom Dick had occasionally done a few odd jobs.
"I'll tell Martin," said Dick to himself, "and ask his advice."
In a minute or two Bryant, still looking rather dissatisfied, came outwith a small packet of cigarettes; and, standing in the doorway of anempty shop, he proceeded to share them with his companion.
This was Dick's opportunity, and, screening himself from their view bythe aid of the passers-by, he slipped into the shop, which, save for theproprietor, was fortunately empty.
"Hullo, Dick; what is it?" said the man behind the counter. "Youhaven't taken to smoking, have you?"
"No," said Dick, who hardly knew how to begin his curious story.
"What is it then? Anything wrong at home?"
"No; we're all right, thanks. I say, Mr. Martin, what did that chap buywho was in here just now?"
"Packet of cigarettes," answered the man, looking in surprise at hisquestioner.
"Would you know him again?"
"Pick him out of a thousand, if you like."
"Did he give you a shilling?"
"Eh?" said Martin, opening the till hastily, and taking out the coin."Is it bad?" And he rang it on the counter. "Sounds all right," headded with a sigh of relief, "and there doesn't seem anything the matterwith it. But one is never safe with these young sharks."
He held the coin up to the light, turning it round and round, andexamining it attentively.
"Good enough," he decided, and was about to put it back, when somethingagain arrested his attention.
"Hullo!" he exclaimed, "some one has scratched a circle and star here.Looks like a private mark." And he handed it to Dick.
The boy was in such a state of excitement that he could hardly see.What was the meaning of this? Had Mr. Broad, suspecting something wrong,laid a trap for Jim? It seemed very much like it. But if he had markedone coin he had probably marked others.
The very notion made Dick shudder. He felt sure that Curly had passedsome money to Jim. Suppose it happened to be marked too! "Goodgracious!" he thought in despair; "they'll take him to prison like acommon thief! The disgrace will kill his mother!"
Noticing the agitation which Dick could not conceal, the shopkeepersaid,--
"What's it all about, Dicky? I hope you haven't got mixed up inanything wrong?"
"No," answered the boy. "But trust me; I'll tell you all about itto-morrow. I must be off now; and, I say, Mr. Martin, keep thatshilling by itself, will you? I shouldn't be surprised if the policewant to see it."
"All right, Dick. It shall be ready for them."
"Thank you," said Dick, and left the shop.
"I wonder now," mused the shopkeeper, "what the game is. Somethingqueer, by the youngster's showing. But he's an honest little chap, andsharp as a knife. Well, I'll put the shilling away."
Looking round, he discovered an empty tobacco tin, in which he placedthe coin, and then locked it up in one of the drawers.
"No doubt the youngster will be back again, presently," he said tohimself, "and I shall hear what it's all about. It's very curious,anyhow."
Meanwhile Dick, hot and flustered, was threading his way through theside street. He was too excited to steer very cautiously, but, afternumerous bumps and joltings, he found himself at the top, where thetraffic was less dense.
"Hullo, Dick Boden; you ought to be home and abed! There's your motherdown the road with a cane looking for you." And Curly Peters, who stoodon the edge of the curb puffing away at a cigarette, laughedboisterousl
y.
Dick did not answer, but, being afraid of arousing suspicion, he walkedvery leisurely till he had turned the corner and was out of sight. Thenhe ran at his topmost speed, reaching the stationer's shop breathlessand exhausted. He was approaching the door to knock when he noticed,through the side window, that the shop was brilliantly lit.
"Broad must have returned," thought he, "and perhaps brought apoliceman. I wonder if they are searching Jim."
He tried to peer in, but could see nothing. Then, crouching close tothe door, he listened. All was still; he could hear no sound.
"I may as well knock," he thought, and had raised his hand to do so whena man inside began speaking. "That's Broad," said Dick to himself, anddirectly afterwards he heard his chum's voice. Then the key turned inthe lock, the door was flung open, and Dick found himself face to facewith Mr. Farrant.
"Hullo!" exclaimed the latter, who was just going for a policeman;"who's this?"
Dick was rather taken aback, but he answered boldly, "If you please, Iwant to see Mr. Broad."
"Come again in the morning; he is busy now."
"But I can't wait," pleaded Dick. "I must see him now; it's veryimportant."
"Let him in, Farrant," said the stationer; "he may know something ofthis miserable business."
"Come along then," grumbled Farrant, pulling him roughly inside andshutting the door. "Now, what have you to say? Make haste with youryarn, whatever it is!"
Dick glanced around apprehensively, and felt relieved at finding nopoliceman in the shop. He smiled brightly at Jim, as if to say, "Cheerup, old chap; I'll soon get you out of this scrape!" and then walkedover to Mr. Broad.
"I fancy I have seen you before," said that gentleman. "Aren't you oneof Hartland's friends?"
"Yes, sir," replied Dick promptly; "Jim and I are old friends."
"Oh!" exclaimed Mr. Farrant, showing a sudden interest in theconversation; "is your name Peters?"
"No," replied Dick in surprise; "my name's Boden, but Peters hassomething to do with what I've come about.--Have you lost any money, Mr.Broad?"
"I've been robbed of some," answered Jim's employer sternly.
"Was there a shilling amongst it?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I'll tell you soon, sir," said Dick; "but I want to make sure of myground first. I should like to ask if there was a circle with a starredcentre scratched on it?"
"Yes," replied the stationer, now thoroughly interested--"the same markas on the sixpence which has been found in your friend Hartland'spocket."
"I hope you don't think Jim a thief, sir. He wouldn't steal a pin."
"We aren't listening to testimonials of character," remarked Mr. Farrantdryly; "they can be left to the magistrates. But now, just tell us howyou come to know anything about this business."
Jim had not said a word. On seeing his chum his face had become white,and he hardly dared look at him. By degrees, however, he became morecomposed; and when Dick spoke so emphatically about his honesty, thewarm blood surged to his face. Somehow he felt that in some mysteriousway Dick would be able to prove his innocence, and his heart grew lightat the thought.
Mr. Farrant prepared to listen with a cynical smile, but Mr. Broad wasanxious to give a favourable hearing to anything that might help toclear Jim's character.