章节正文
every evening."
"So he calls himself Philip Stark, does he?"
"Isn't that his name?"
"I suppose it is one of his names. He was
convicted under that name, and retains it here
on account of its being so far from the place
of his conviction. Whether it is his real name
or not, I do not know. What is the name of
your bookkeeper?"
"Julius Gibbon."
"I don't remember ever having heard it.
Evidently there has been some past acquaintance
between the two men, and that, I should say,
is hardly a recommendation for Mr. Gibbon.
Of course that alone is not enough to condemn
him, but the intimacy is certainly a suspicious
circumstance."
The two soon reached the house of Mr. Jennings,
for the distance was only a quarter of a mile.
Mr. Jennings seemed a little surprised, but
gave a kindly welcome to his unexpected guest.
It occurred to him that he might have come to
give some extra order for goods.
"You are surprised to see me," said Thorndike.
"I came on a very important matter."
A look of inquiry came over the face of Mr. Jennings.
"There's a thief in the village--a guest at
the hotel--whom I recognize as one of the most
expert burglars in the country."
"I think I know whom you mean, a man of moderate height,
rather thick set, with small, black eyes and a slouch hat."
"Exactly."
"What can you tell me about him?"
Mr. Thorndike repeated the statement he
had already made to Carl.
"Do you think our bank is in danger?"
asked the manufacturer.
"Perhaps so, but the chief danger threatens you."
Mr. Jennings looked surprised.
"What makes you think so?"
"Because this man appears to be very intimate
with your bookkeeper."
"How do you know that?" asked the little man, quickly.
"I refer you to Carl."
"Leonard Craig told me to-night that this man
Stark spent every evening at his uncle's house."
Mr. Jennings looked troubled.
"I am sorry to hear this," he said. "I dislike
to lose confidence in any man whom I have trusted."
"Have you noticed anything unusual in the demeanor
of your bookkeeper of late?" asked Thorndike.
"Yes; he has appeared out of spirits and nervous."
"That would seem to indicate he is conspiring to rob you."
"This very day, noticing the change in him,
I offered him a week's vacation. He promptly
declined to take it."
"Of course. It would conflict with the plans
of his confederate. I don't know the man, but
I do know human nature, and I venture to
predict that your safe will be opened within
a week. Do you keep anything of value in it?"
"There are my books, which are of great value to me."
"But not to a thief. Anything else?"
"Yes; I have a tin box containing four
thousand dollars in government bonds."
"Coupon or registered?"
"Coupon."
"Nothing could be better--for a burglar.
What on earth could induce you to keep the
bonds in your own safe?"
"To tell the truth, I considered them quite
as safe there as in the bank. Banks are more
likely to be robbed than private individuals."
"Circumstances alter cases. Does anyone
know that you have the bonds in your safe?"
"My bookkeeper is aware of it."
"Then, my friend, I caution you to remove
the bonds from so unsafe a depository as soon
as possible. Unless I am greatly mistaken,
this man, Stark, has bought over your bookkeeper,
and will have his aid in robbing you."
"What is your advice?"
"To remove the bonds this very evening," said Thorndike.
"Do you think the danger so pressing?"
"Of course I don't know that an attempt
will be made to-night, but it is quite possible.
Should it be so, you would have an opportunity
to realize that delays are dangerous."
"Should Mr. Gibbon find, on opening the
safe to-morrow morning, that the box is gone,
it may lead to an attack upon my house."
"I wish you to leave the box in the safe."
"But I understand that you advised me to remove it."
"Not the box, but the bonds. Listen to my plan.
Cut out some newspaper slips of about the same bulk
as the bonds, put them in place of the bonds in the box,
and quietly transfer the bonds in your pocket to your
own house. To-morrow you can place them in the bank.
Should no burglary be attempted, let the box remain
in the safe, just as if its contents were valuable."
"Your advice is good, and I will adopt it,"
said Jennings, "and thank you for your valuable
and friendly instruction."
"If agreeable to you I will accompany you to
the office at once. The bonds cannot be removed
too soon. Then if anyone sees us entering,
it will be thought that you are showing
me the factory. It will divert suspicion,
even if we are seen by Stark or your bookkeeper."
"May I go, too?" asked Carl, eagerly.
"Certainly," said the manufacturer. "I know, Carl,
that you are devoted to my interests.
It is a comfort to know this, now that
I have cause to suspect my bookkeeper."
It was only a little after nine. The night
was moderately dark, and Carl was intrusted
with a wax candle, which he put in his pocket
for use in the office. They reached the factory
without attracting attention, and entered
by the office door.
Mr. Jennings opened the safe--he and the
bookkeeper alone knew the combination--and
with some anxiety took out the tin box. It
was possible that the contents had already
been removed. But no! on opening it, the
bonds were found intact. According to Mr.
Thorndike's advice, he transferred them to his
pocket, and substituted folded paper. Then,
replacing everything, the safe was once more
locked, and the three left the office.
Mr. Thorndike returned to the hotel, and
Mr. Jennings to his house, but Carl asked
permission to remain out a while longer.
"It is on my mind that an attempt will be
made to-night to rob the safe," he said.
"I want to watch near the factory to see if my
suspicion is correct."
"Very well, Carl, but don't stay out too long!"
said his employer.
"Suppose I see them entering the office, sir?"
"Don't interrupt them! They will find
themselves badly fooled. Notice only if Mr.
Gibbon is of the party. I must know whether my
bookkeeper is to be trusted."
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE BURGLARY.
Carl seated himself behind a stone wall on
the opposite side of the street from the factory.
The building was on the outskirts of the village,
though not more than half a mile from
the post office, and there was very little travel
in that direction during the evening. This
made it more favorable for thieves, though up
to the present time no burglarious attempt
had been made on it. Indeed, Milford had been
exceptionally fortunate in that respect.
Neighboring towns had been visited, some of
them several times, but Milford had escaped.
The night was quite dark, but not what is
called pitchy dark. As the eyes became
accustomed to the obscurity, they were able to
see a considerable distance. So it was with
Carl. From his place of concealment he
occasionally raised his head and looked across
the way to the factory. An hour passed, and
he grew tired. It didn't look as if the
attempt were to be made that night. Eleven
o'clock pealed out from the spire of the Bap-
tist Church, a quarter of a mile away. Carl
counted the strokes, and when the last died
into silence, he said to himself:
"I will stay here about ten minutes longer.
Then, if no one comes, I will give it up for tonight."
The time was nearly up when his quick ear
caught a low murmur of voices. Instantly
he was on the alert. Waiting till the sound
came nearer, he ventured to raise his head for
an instant above the top of the wall.
His heart beat with excitement when he saw
two figures approaching. Though it was so
dark, he recognized them by their size and
outlines. They were Julius Gibbon, the bookkeeper,
and Phil Stark, the stranger staying at the hotel.
Carl watched closely, raising his head for
a few seconds at a time above the wall, ready
to lower it should either glance in his direction.
But neither of the men did so. Ignorant
that they were suspected, it was the farthest
possible from their thoughts that anyone
would be on the watch.
Presently they came so near that Carl could
hear their voices.
"I wish it was over," murmured Gibbon, nervously.
"Don't worry," said his companion. "There is no
occasion for haste. Everybody in Milford is in bed
and asleep, and we have several hours at our disposal."
"You must remember that my reputation is
at stake. This night's work may undo me."
"My friend, you can afford to take the chances.
Haven't I agreed to give you half the bonds?"
"I shall be suspected, and shall be obliged
"So he calls himself Philip Stark, does he?"
"Isn't that his name?"
"I suppose it is one of his names. He was
convicted under that name, and retains it here
on account of its being so far from the place
of his conviction. Whether it is his real name
or not, I do not know. What is the name of
your bookkeeper?"
"Julius Gibbon."
"I don't remember ever having heard it.
Evidently there has been some past acquaintance
between the two men, and that, I should say,
is hardly a recommendation for Mr. Gibbon.
Of course that alone is not enough to condemn
him, but the intimacy is certainly a suspicious
circumstance."
The two soon reached the house of Mr. Jennings,
for the distance was only a quarter of a mile.
Mr. Jennings seemed a little surprised, but
gave a kindly welcome to his unexpected guest.
It occurred to him that he might have come to
give some extra order for goods.
"You are surprised to see me," said Thorndike.
"I came on a very important matter."
A look of inquiry came over the face of Mr. Jennings.
"There's a thief in the village--a guest at
the hotel--whom I recognize as one of the most
expert burglars in the country."
"I think I know whom you mean, a man of moderate height,
rather thick set, with small, black eyes and a slouch hat."
"Exactly."
"What can you tell me about him?"
Mr. Thorndike repeated the statement he
had already made to Carl.
"Do you think our bank is in danger?"
asked the manufacturer.
"Perhaps so, but the chief danger threatens you."
Mr. Jennings looked surprised.
"What makes you think so?"
"Because this man appears to be very intimate
with your bookkeeper."
"How do you know that?" asked the little man, quickly.
"I refer you to Carl."
"Leonard Craig told me to-night that this man
Stark spent every evening at his uncle's house."
Mr. Jennings looked troubled.
"I am sorry to hear this," he said. "I dislike
to lose confidence in any man whom I have trusted."
"Have you noticed anything unusual in the demeanor
of your bookkeeper of late?" asked Thorndike.
"Yes; he has appeared out of spirits and nervous."
"That would seem to indicate he is conspiring to rob you."
"This very day, noticing the change in him,
I offered him a week's vacation. He promptly
declined to take it."
"Of course. It would conflict with the plans
of his confederate. I don't know the man, but
I do know human nature, and I venture to
predict that your safe will be opened within
a week. Do you keep anything of value in it?"
"There are my books, which are of great value to me."
"But not to a thief. Anything else?"
"Yes; I have a tin box containing four
thousand dollars in government bonds."
"Coupon or registered?"
"Coupon."
"Nothing could be better--for a burglar.
What on earth could induce you to keep the
bonds in your own safe?"
"To tell the truth, I considered them quite
as safe there as in the bank. Banks are more
likely to be robbed than private individuals."
"Circumstances alter cases. Does anyone
know that you have the bonds in your safe?"
"My bookkeeper is aware of it."
"Then, my friend, I caution you to remove
the bonds from so unsafe a depository as soon
as possible. Unless I am greatly mistaken,
this man, Stark, has bought over your bookkeeper,
and will have his aid in robbing you."
"What is your advice?"
"To remove the bonds this very evening," said Thorndike.
"Do you think the danger so pressing?"
"Of course I don't know that an attempt
will be made to-night, but it is quite possible.
Should it be so, you would have an opportunity
to realize that delays are dangerous."
"Should Mr. Gibbon find, on opening the
safe to-morrow morning, that the box is gone,
it may lead to an attack upon my house."
"I wish you to leave the box in the safe."
"But I understand that you advised me to remove it."
"Not the box, but the bonds. Listen to my plan.
Cut out some newspaper slips of about the same bulk
as the bonds, put them in place of the bonds in the box,
and quietly transfer the bonds in your pocket to your
own house. To-morrow you can place them in the bank.
Should no burglary be attempted, let the box remain
in the safe, just as if its contents were valuable."
"Your advice is good, and I will adopt it,"
said Jennings, "and thank you for your valuable
and friendly instruction."
"If agreeable to you I will accompany you to
the office at once. The bonds cannot be removed
too soon. Then if anyone sees us entering,
it will be thought that you are showing
me the factory. It will divert suspicion,
even if we are seen by Stark or your bookkeeper."
"May I go, too?" asked Carl, eagerly.
"Certainly," said the manufacturer. "I know, Carl,
that you are devoted to my interests.
It is a comfort to know this, now that
I have cause to suspect my bookkeeper."
It was only a little after nine. The night
was moderately dark, and Carl was intrusted
with a wax candle, which he put in his pocket
for use in the office. They reached the factory
without attracting attention, and entered
by the office door.
Mr. Jennings opened the safe--he and the
bookkeeper alone knew the combination--and
with some anxiety took out the tin box. It
was possible that the contents had already
been removed. But no! on opening it, the
bonds were found intact. According to Mr.
Thorndike's advice, he transferred them to his
pocket, and substituted folded paper. Then,
replacing everything, the safe was once more
locked, and the three left the office.
Mr. Thorndike returned to the hotel, and
Mr. Jennings to his house, but Carl asked
permission to remain out a while longer.
"It is on my mind that an attempt will be
made to-night to rob the safe," he said.
"I want to watch near the factory to see if my
suspicion is correct."
"Very well, Carl, but don't stay out too long!"
said his employer.
"Suppose I see them entering the office, sir?"
"Don't interrupt them! They will find
themselves badly fooled. Notice only if Mr.
Gibbon is of the party. I must know whether my
bookkeeper is to be trusted."
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE BURGLARY.
Carl seated himself behind a stone wall on
the opposite side of the street from the factory.
The building was on the outskirts of the village,
though not more than half a mile from
the post office, and there was very little travel
in that direction during the evening. This
made it more favorable for thieves, though up
to the present time no burglarious attempt
had been made on it. Indeed, Milford had been
exceptionally fortunate in that respect.
Neighboring towns had been visited, some of
them several times, but Milford had escaped.
The night was quite dark, but not what is
called pitchy dark. As the eyes became
accustomed to the obscurity, they were able to
see a considerable distance. So it was with
Carl. From his place of concealment he
occasionally raised his head and looked across
the way to the factory. An hour passed, and
he grew tired. It didn't look as if the
attempt were to be made that night. Eleven
o'clock pealed out from the spire of the Bap-
tist Church, a quarter of a mile away. Carl
counted the strokes, and when the last died
into silence, he said to himself:
"I will stay here about ten minutes longer.
Then, if no one comes, I will give it up for tonight."
The time was nearly up when his quick ear
caught a low murmur of voices. Instantly
he was on the alert. Waiting till the sound
came nearer, he ventured to raise his head for
an instant above the top of the wall.
His heart beat with excitement when he saw
two figures approaching. Though it was so
dark, he recognized them by their size and
outlines. They were Julius Gibbon, the bookkeeper,
and Phil Stark, the stranger staying at the hotel.
Carl watched closely, raising his head for
a few seconds at a time above the wall, ready
to lower it should either glance in his direction.
But neither of the men did so. Ignorant
that they were suspected, it was the farthest
possible from their thoughts that anyone
would be on the watch.
Presently they came so near that Carl could
hear their voices.
"I wish it was over," murmured Gibbon, nervously.
"Don't worry," said his companion. "There is no
occasion for haste. Everybody in Milford is in bed
and asleep, and we have several hours at our disposal."
"You must remember that my reputation is
at stake. This night's work may undo me."
"My friend, you can afford to take the chances.
Haven't I agreed to give you half the bonds?"
"I shall be suspected, and shall be obliged
- account [ə´kaunt]
vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词) - conviction [kən´vikʃən] n.定罪；确信，信服 (初中英语单词)
- welcome [´welkəm] a.受欢迎的；可喜的 (初中英语单词)
- inquiry [in´kwaiəri] n.询问；质询；调查 (初中英语单词)
- moderate [´mɔdərit] a.适度的n.温和主义者 (初中英语单词)
- unusual [ʌn´ju:ʒuəl] a.不平常的；异常的 (初中英语单词)
- vacation [və´keiʃən, vei´keiʃən] n.假期；休庭期；腾空 (初中英语单词)
- conflict [´kɔnflikt, kən´flikt] n.&vi.战斗；抵触 (初中英语单词)
- venture [´ventʃə] n.投机 v.冒险；敢于 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- transfer [træns´fə:] v.&n.迁移；调动；转让 (初中英语单词)
- contents [´kɔ:ntents] n.容纳物；要旨 (初中英语单词)
- agreeable [ə´gri:əbəl] a.适合的；符合的 (初中英语单词)
- manufacturer [,mænju´fæktʃərə] n.制造人；工厂主 (初中英语单词)
- suspect [´sʌspekt, sə´spekt] v.怀疑；觉得 n.嫌疑犯 (初中英语单词)
- anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)
- interrupt [,intə´rʌpt] v.中断；打扰 (初中英语单词)
- favorable [´feivərəbəl] a.赞成的；顺利的 (初中英语单词)
- fortunate [´fɔ:tʃənət] a.幸运的，侥幸的 (初中英语单词)
- considerable [kən´sidərəbəl] a.重要的；值得重视 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- instant [´instənt] a.立即的 n.紧迫；瞬间 (初中英语单词)
- excitement [ik´saitmənt] n.兴奋；骚动；煽动 (初中英语单词)
- companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
- recommendation [,rekəmen´deiʃən] n.推荐；劝告 (高中英语单词)
- unexpected [ʌniks´pektid] a.突然的；意外的 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- confederate [kən´fedəreit] a.同盟的 n.同盟者 (高中英语单词)
- caution [´kɔ:ʃən] n.&vt.小心；告诫；警告 (高中英语单词)
- divert [dai´və:t] vt.转移注意力；消遣 (高中英语单词)
- intimacy [´intiməsi] n.亲密；熟悉；秘密 (英语四级单词)
- devoted [di´vəutid] a.献身...的，忠实的 (英语四级单词)
- moderately [´mɔdəritli] ad.适度；适中；普通 (英语四级单词)
- thieves [θi:vz] thief的复数 (英语四级单词)
- obscurity [əb´skjuəriti] n.暗(淡)；朦胧；含糊 (英语四级单词)
- reputation [repju´teiʃən] n.名誉；名声；信誉 (英语四级单词)
- bookkeeper [´buk,ki:pə] n.记帐员，簿记员 (英语六级单词)
- intact [in´tækt] a.未动过的，完整的 (英语六级单词)
- outskirts [´autskə:ts] n.外边；郊区 (英语六级单词)
- concealment [kən´si:lmənt] n.隐藏，隐瞒 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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