CHAPTER XXX
AN UNEXPECTED BLOW
Herbert felt happier than usual. He had recovered the greater part ofhis money, and thus was relieved from various inconveniences which hadresulted from his straitened circumstances, He was the more elated atthis, as it had seemed extremely improbable that the lost money wouldever have found its way back to the pocket of its rightful owner.Then, he had a good place, and a salary sufficient to defray his modestexpenses, and the prospect of promotion, if he should be faithful tothe interests of his employer, as he firmly intended to be. It wasagreeable, also, to reflect that he was in favor with Mr. Godfrey, whohad thus far treated him with as much kindness as if he had been his ownson.
There was, to be sure, the drawback of Tom's enmity, but, as there wasno good reason for this, he would not allow it to trouble him much,though, of course, it would have been more agreeable if all in theoffice had been his friends. He determined to take an early opportunityto write to his good friend, Dr. Kent, an account of his presentposition. He would have done so before, but had hesitated from the fearthat in some way the intelligence would reach Abner Holden, whom hepreferred to leave in ignorance of all that concerned him.
These thoughts passed through Herbert's mind as he went about his dailywork. Meanwhile, a painful experience awaited him, for which he was notin the least prepared.
About one o'clock a gentleman entered the counting-room hastily, andsaid, "Mr. Godfrey, I wonder whether I happened to leave my pocketbookanywhere about your office when I was here an hour ago?"
"I don't think so. When did you miss it?"
"A few minutes since. I went to a restaurant to get a lunch, and, onfinishing it, felt for my pocketbook, and found it gone."
"Was there much in it?"
"No sum of any consequence. Between twenty and thirty dollars, Ibelieve. There were, however, some papers of value, which I shall besorry to lose."
"I hardly think you could have left it here. However, I will inquire.Mr. Pratt, have you seen anything of Mr. Walton's pocketbook?"
"No, sir," said the bookkeeper, promptly.
"Herbert, have you seen it?"
"No, sir," said our hero.
"Thomas?"
Tom Stanton was assailed by a sudden and dangerous temptation. Hisdislike to Herbert had been increased in various ways, and especiallyhad been rendered more intense by the independent tone assumed by ourhero in the conversation which had taken place between them that verymorning. Now, here was an opportunity of getting him into disgrace, andprobably cause him to lose his situation. True, he would have to tell afalsehood, but Tom had never been a scrupulous lover of truth, and wouldviolate it for a less object without any particular compunction.
He hesitated when the question was asked him, and thus, as he expected,fixed Mr. Godfrey's attention.
"Why don't you answer, Thomas?" he said, in surprise.
"I don't like to," said Tom, artfully.
"Why not?" demanded his employer, suspiciously.
"Because I don't want to get anybody into trouble."
"Speak out what you mean."
"If you insist upon it," said Tom, with pretended reluctance, "I supposeI must obey you."
"Of course, if any wrong has been done, it is your duty to expose it."
"Then, sir," said Tom. "I saw Mason pick up a wallet from the floor,and put it in his pocket just after the gentleman went out. He did it soquickly that no one probably observed it but myself."
Herbert listened to this accusation as if stunned. It was utterly beyondhis conception how anyone could be guilty of such a deliberate falsehoodas he had just listened to. So he remained silent, and this operatedagainst him.
"Herbert," said Mr. Godfrey, mildly, for he was unwilling to believe ourhero guilty of intentional dishonesty, "you should have mentioned havingfound the pocketbook."
"So I would, sir," said Herbert, having found his voice at last, "if Ihad found one."
"Do you mean to say that you have not?" demanded Mr. Godfrey, with asearching look.
"Yes, sir," said Herbert, firmly.
"What, then, does Thomas mean when he asserts that he saw you do so?"
"I don't know, sir. I think he means to injure me, as I have noticedever since I entered the office that he seems to dislike me."
"How is that, Thomas? Do you again declare that you saw Herbert pick upthe wallet?
"I do," said Tom, boldly. "Of course, I expected that he would deny it.I leave it to you, sir, if he does not show his guilt in his face? Justlook at him!"
Now it, unfortunately for Herbert, happened that his indignation hadbrought a flush to his face, and he certainly did look as a guiltyperson is supposed to do. Mr. Godfrey observed this, and his heart sankwithin him, for, unable to conceive of such wickedness as Tom's, he sawno other way except to believe in Herbert's guilt.
"Have you nothing to say, Herbert?" he asked, more in sorrow than inanger.
"No, sir," said Herbert, in a low voice; "nothing, except what I havealready said. Tom has uttered a wicked falsehood, and he knows it."
"Of course, I expected you would say that," said Tom, with effrontery.
"This is a serious charge, Herbert," proceeded Mr. Godfrey. "I shallhave to ask you to produce whatever you have in your pockets."
"Certainly, sir," said our hero, calmly.
But, as he spoke, it flashed upon him that he had in his pockettwenty-six dollars, and the discovery of this sum would be likely toinvolve him in suspicion. He could, indeed, explain where he got it;but would his explanation be believed? Under present circumstances, hefeared that it would not. So it was with a sinking heart that he drewout the contents of his pockets, and among them his own pocketbook.
"Is that yours?" asked Mr. Godfrey, turning to Mr. Walton.
"No, it is not; but he may have transferred my money to it."
Upon this hint, Mr. Godfrey opened the pocketbook, and drew out thesmall roll of bills, which he proceeded to count.
"Twenty-six dollars," he said. "How much did you lose?"
"Between twenty and thirty dollars. I cannot be sure how much."
"Here are two tens and three twos."
"I had two tens. I don't remember the denomination of the other bills."
Even Tom was struck with astonishment at this discovery. He knew thathis charge was groundless, yet here it was substantiated in a veryremarkable manner. Was it possible that he had, after all, struck uponthe truth of the matter? He did not know what to think.
"Herbert," said his employer, sorrowfully, "this discovery gives me morepain than I can express. I had a very high idea of you. I could not havebelieved you capable of so mean a thing as deliberate dishonesty."
"I am not guilty," said Herbert, proudly.
"How can you say this in the face of all this evidence? Do you mean tosay that this money is yours?"
"I do," said Herbert, firmly.
"Where could you have got it?" said his employer, incredulously."Did you not tell me when you entered my employ that you were almostpenniless? You have been with me three weeks only, and half your wageshave been paid for board."
"Yes, sir; you are right."
"What explanation, then, can you offer? Your case looks bad."
"The six dollars I saved from my wages, at the rate of two dollarsa week. The twenty dollars is a part of the money I was robbed of. Isucceeded in recovering forty dollars of it yesterday."
Here, Herbert related the circumstances already known to the reader.
"A likely story," said Tom, scornfully.
"Be silent, Thomas," said Mr. Godfrey. "Your story does not seemprobable," he proceeded, speaking to Herbert.
"It is true, sir," said our hero, firmly.
"What could he have done with your wallet, however?" said the merchant,turning to Mr. Walton.
"He has been out to the post office since," said Tom. "He might havethrown it away."
This unfortunately for Herbert, was true. He had been out, and, ofcourse,
could have disposed of the wallet in the way mentioned.
"I don't know what to think, Mr. Walton," said Mr. Godfrey. "I'm afraidthe boy's guilty."
"I'm afraid so. I don't care so much for the money, if he will give meback the papers."
"I can't do it, sir," said Herbert, "for I never had them."
"What shall we do?"
"The other boy declares that he saw this one take the wallet from thefloor, where I probably dropped it. It seems to me that settles thematter."
"I am afraid it does."
"Once more, Herbert, will you confess?" asked Mr. Godfrey.
"I can only say, sir, that I am innocent."
"Mr. Walton, what shall we do?"
"Let the boy go. I will leave it to his honor to return me the papers,and he may keep the money. I think he will make up his mind to do so bytomorrow."
"You hear, Herbert," said Mr. Godfrey. "While this matter remains indoubt, you cannot retain your situation."
"Thank you, Mr. Walton, for your indulgence," said Herbert; "but I amsorry you think me guilty. The truth will some time appear. I shall TRYto do my duty, and TRUST to God to clear me."
He took his hat and left the counting-room with a heavy heart, feelinghimself in disgrace.
"I had great confidence in that boy, Walton," said Mr. Godfrey. "Evennow, I can hardly believe him guilty."