CHAPTER IX.
THE PLOT AGAINST HAL.
Hal Carson was sure that he had just missed a most important statement.
"I wish Ferris had finished what he intended to say," he thought.
He waited breathlessly for the two to go on.
"What makes you so scared?" asked Ferris. "Can anybody hear us here?"
"I think not. Still we want to be careful."
"Yes, but----"
"Not another word on that point, Dick." Hardwick's voice grew stern. "Iam a man, while you are a boy, and I know what is best for both of us."
"Well, have your own way."
"I think it will be a wise plan for you to get Carson out of the way. Heis altogether too smart a fellow to have around," continued thebook-keeper.
"I don't think he looks very smart," sneered Ferris, who could not standhearing Hal praised.
"He's smarter than you or most people think. That yarn about his beingbrought up in the poor-house may be true, but I have my doubts."
"Why?" asked Ferris, in high curiosity.
"I can't explain now." There was a brief pause. "Here, take a cigar.Those nasty cigarettes make me sick."
There was the striking of matches, and then another pause.
"Are you going to continue as book-keeper when Allen leaves?" askedFerris.
"Certainly."
"I thought you were to go with Allen in his new venture."
"I will--later on."
"Has he made any definite plans yet?"
"No."
"The reason I asked is because I want you to put in a word for me."
Hardwick laughed.
"Dick, you are getting to be a pretty big boy."
"Didn't I do what you wished of me?" demanded Ferris.
"I must say you did."
"Then you ought to be willing----"
"All right, it shall be as you say."
At this instant came a heavy hand on the door-knob outside.
"Who's that?" cried Ferris.
"Must be Churchley or Wister," replied Hardwick.
As the door was locked, the person outside began to knock.
"I must have locked the door," added the book-keeper. "Wait till I openit."
As soon as the noise outside reached his ears, Hal made for the closet,which stood in one corner of the room. He found the door unlocked, andthe interior empty, save for a broom and a duster and several similarthings.
He entered the closet, transferring the key to the inside as he did so,and locked the door behind him.
A second later Hardwick entered from the inner room, and opened the doorleading to the hall.
"Hullo, Churchley!" Hal heard him exclaim.
"How are you, Hardwick?" returned the new-comer. "Locked me out, didyou?"
"I must have turned the key without thinking," replied the book-keeper.
"All alone?"
"No, there is a young fellow with me."
"Who?"
"Ferris."
"Don't know him."
"I just brought him around to show him the place, and have a quietsmoke. He is in the other room."
"Then don't let me disturb you," replied Churchley. "I just want to lookover the news-papers and find out how that prize-fight over in Hobokencame off."
Hal heard the man drop into a seat by the table, and after a few morewords concerning the prize-fight Churchley had mentioned, Hardwickrejoined Ferris in the other apartment.
"Who is it?" asked Ferris.
"A man named Churchley," replied Hardwick, in a low tone, so that hemight not be overheard.
"One of the club members?"
"Yes."
"Will he overhear us?"
"I guess not. He is reading about the prize-fight, and when Churchleygets on to anything of that kind he gets completely absorbed."
"Then we can go on with our talk?"
"Yes, but not too loud."
"I want to know about this plan against Carson," said Ferris, in awhisper.
"Are you willing to go in against him?"
"Didn't I say I was?"
"But I mean seriously?"
Ferris changed color.
"Of course I don't want to kill him," he faltered.
"I understand. But you are willing to get him into serious trouble."
"I am."
"Then listen to me. Can you get into his room at your aunt's house?"
"I think I can."
"I mean without being seen."
"I have the whole run of the place."
"Then supposing somethings belonging to the others were found inCarson's trunk----"
"He has no trunk," interrupted Ferris.
"So much the better, for you can merely hide the stuff in among histhings."
"Do you mean for me to take them?"
"Some of them."
"Some of them?" questioned Ferris.
"Yes, those from your aunt's boarders. At the same time I will give youseveral articles belonging to the office that you can place with theothers. Is there any one of the boarders you know well?"
"I know Saunders pretty well."
"Then let Saunders lose most of the stuff, and put a flea in his ear tothe effect that you think Carson is the guilty party. This will causethe fellow's room to be searched and the stuff will be found. You mustbe on hand to identify the office stuff; see?"
"I do."
"Carson will be arrested, and you will have your revenge."
"That's a boss plan!" exclaimed Ferris. "When will you furnish me withstuff from the office?"
"To-morrow noon, if you will meet me at the corner of Wall and Nassau."
"I'll be on hand. It made me sick the way my aunt stuck up for Carson.Of course, I wouldn't go into the thing, only I know the tramp's a badegg," returned Ferris, trying to excuse his willingness to enter intosuch an outrageous plot.
"Of course he is a bad egg, and it is our duty to get him out of theway," replied Hardwick. "You will be on hand sure to-morrow?"
"Yes."
"And when will you put the things in his room?"
"Sometime during the afternoon. That will bring matters to a head assoon as Saunders and the others get home."
"You must expose Carson while he is in his room, if possible."
"Oh, he'll be home with the rest."
"Then that's all right. Of course, there is no necessity to caution youto be careful."
"Wasn't I careful before?"
"Hush!"
"Then don't talk that way. Say, do you know these cigars are mightystrong?"
Hardwick laughed.
"That's because you are not used to them, Dick. Now, I generally smokethem twice as strong."
Just at this instant, the two heard Churchley jump to his feet.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
"What's the matter with Churchley?" said Hardwick.
"He's talking to somebody," replied Ferris.
"Hullo! the door's locked," they heard Churchley continue.
"What's up, Churchley?" called out Hardwick, walking toward the otherroom.
"There is somebody in this closet," was the startling reply. "I heard anoise half a dozen times."