章节正文
to stand my ground, while you will disappear
from the scene."
"Two thousand dollars will pay you for some
inconvenience. I don't see why you should be
suspected. You will be supposed to be fast
asleep on your virtuous couch, while some bad
burglar is robbing your worthyemployer. Of
course you will be thunderstruck when in the
morning the appalling discovery is made. I'll
tell you what will be a good dodge for you."
"Well?"
"Offer a reward of a hundred dollars from
your own purse for the discovery of the villain
who has robbed the safe and abstracted
the bonds."
Phil Stark burst out into a loud guffaw as
he uttered these words.
"Hush!" said Gibbon, timidly. "I thought
I heard some one moving."
"What a timid fool you are!" muttered Stark,
contemptuously. "If I had no more pluck,
I'd hire myself out to herd cows."
"It's a better business," said Gibbon, bitterly.
"Well, well, each to his taste! If you lose
your place as bookkeeper, you might offer your
services to some farmer. As for me, the danger,
though there isn't much, is just enough
to make it exciting."
"I don't care for any such excitement," said
Gibbon, dispiritedly. "Why couldn't you have
kept away and let me earn an honest living?"
"Because I must live as well as you, my dear
friend. When this little affair is over, you
will thank me for helping you to a good thing."
Of course all this conversation did not take
place within Carl's hearing. While it was going
on, the men had opened the office door and
entered. Then, as Carl watched the window
closely he saw a narrow gleam of light from
a dark lantern illuminating the interior.
"Now they are at the safe," thought Carl.
We, who are privileged, will enter the
office and watch the proceedings.
Gibbon had no difficulty in opening the safe,
for he was acquainted with the combination.
Stark thrust in his hand eagerly and drew out the box.
"This is what we want," he said, in a tone of satisfaction.
"Have you a key that will open it?"
"No."
"Then I shall have to take box and all."
"Let us get through as soon as possible,"
said Gibbon, uneasily.
"You can close the safe, if you want to.
There is nothing else worth taking?"
"No."
"Then we will evacuate the premises. Is
there an old newspaper I can use to wrap up
the box in? It might look suspicious if anyone
should see it in our possession."
"Yes, here is one."
He handed a copy of a weekly paper to Phil Stark,
who skillfully wrapped up the box, and placing
it under his arm, went out of the office,
leaving Gibbon to follow.
"Where will you carry it?" asked Gibbon.
"Somewhere out of sight where I can safely open it.
I should have preferred to take the bonds,
and leave the box in the safe. Then the bonds
might not have been missed for a week or more."
"That would have been better."
That was the last that Carl heard. The
two disappeared in the darkness, and Carl,
raising himself from his place of concealment,
stretched his cramped limbs and made the best
of his way home. He thought no one would
be up, but Mr. Jennings came out from the
sitting-room, where he had flung himself on a
lounge, and met Carl in the hall.
"Well?" he said.
"The safe has been robbed."
"Who did it?" asked the manufacturer, quickly.
"The two we suspected."
"Did you see Mr. Gibbon, then?"
"Yes; he was accompanied by Mr. Stark."
"You saw them enter the factory?"
"Yes, sir; I was crouching behind the stone
wall on the other side of the road."
"How long were they inside?"
"Not over fifteen minutes--perhaps only ten."
"Mr. Gibbon knew the combination," said Jennings, quietly.
"There was no occasion to lose time in breaking open the safe.
There is some advantage in having a friend inside.
Did you see them go out?"
"Yes, sir."
"Carrying the tin box with them?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Stark wrapped it in a
newspaper after they got outside."
"But you saw the tin box?"
"Yes."
"Then, if necessary, you can testify to it.
I thought it possible that Mr. Gibbon might
have a key to open it."
"I overheard Stark regretting that he could
not open it so as to abstract the bonds and
leave the box in the safe. In that case, he
said, it might be some time before the robbery
was discovered."
"He will himself make an unpleasant discovery
when he opens the box. I don't think
there is any call to pity him, do you, Carl?"
"No, sir. I should like to be within sight
when he opens it."
The manufacturer laughed quietly.
"Yes," he said; "if I could see it I should
feel repaid for the loss of the box. Let it be
a lesson for you, my boy. Those who seek to
enrich themselves by unlawful means are likely
in the end to meet with disappointment."
"Do you think I need the lesson?" asked Carl, smiling.
"No, my lad. I am sure you don't. But
you do need a good night's rest. Let us go
to bed at once, and get what sleep we may.
I won't allow the burglary to keep me awake."
He laughed in high good humor, and Carl
went up to his comfortable room, where he soon
lost all remembrance of the exciting scene of
which he had been a witness.
Mr. Jennings went to the factory at the
usual time the next morning.
As he entered the office the bookkeeper
approached him pale and excited.
"Mr. Jennings," he said, hurriedly, "I have
bad news for you."
"What is it, Mr. Gibbon?"
"When I opened the safe this morning, I
discovered that the tin box had been stolen."
Mr. Jennings took the news quietly.
"Have you any suspicion who took it?" he asked.
"No, sir. I--I hope the loss is not a heavy one."
"I do not care to make the extent of the loss public.
Were there any marks of violence? Was the safe broken open?"
"No, sir."
"Singular; is it not?"
"If you will allow me I will join in offering
a reward for the discovery of the thief. I
feel in a measure responsible."
"I will think of your offer, Mr. Gibbon."
"He suspects nothing," thought Gibbon,
with a sigh of relief.
CHAPTER XXV.
STARK'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
Philip Stark went back to the hotel with
the tin box under his arm. He would like to
have entered the hotel without notice, but this
was impossible, for the landlord's nephew was
just closing up. Though not late for the city,
it was very late for the country, and he looked
surprised when Stark came in.
"I am out late," said Stark, with a smile.
"Yes."
"That is, late for Milford. In the city
I never go to bed before midnight."
"Have you been out walking?"
"Yes."
"You found it rather dark, did you not?"
"It is dark as a pocket."
"You couldn't have found the walk a very
pleasant one."
"You are right, my friend; but I didn't walk
for pleasure. The fact is, I am rather worried
about a business matter. I have learned
that I am threatened with a heavy loss--an
unwise investment in the West--and I wanted
time to think it over and decide how to act."
"I see," answered the clerk, respectfully, for
Stark's words led him to think that his guest
was a man of wealth.
"I wish I was rich enough to be worried by
such a cause," he said, jokingly.
"I wish you were. Some time I may be able
to throw something in your way."
"Do you think it would pay me to go to the West?"
asked the clerk, eagerly.
"I think it quite likely--if you know some one
out in that section."
"But I don't know anyone."
"You know me," said Stark, significantly.
"Do you think you could help me to a place,
Mr. Stark?"
"I think I could. A month from now write
to me Col. Philip Stark, at Denver, Colorado,
and I will see if I can find an opening for you."
"You are very kind, Mr.--I mean Col.
Stark," said the clerk, gratefully.
"Oh, never mind about the title," returned
Stark, smiling good-naturedly. "I only gave
it to you just now, because everybody in Denver
knows me as a colonel, and I am afraid a
letter otherwise addressed would not reach me.
By the way, I am sorry that I shall probably
have to leave you to-morrow."
from the scene."
"Two thousand dollars will pay you for some
inconvenience. I don't see why you should be
suspected. You will be supposed to be fast
asleep on your virtuous couch, while some bad
burglar is robbing your worthyemployer. Of
course you will be thunderstruck when in the
morning the appalling discovery is made. I'll
tell you what will be a good dodge for you."
"Well?"
"Offer a reward of a hundred dollars from
your own purse for the discovery of the villain
who has robbed the safe and abstracted
the bonds."
Phil Stark burst out into a loud guffaw as
he uttered these words.
"Hush!" said Gibbon, timidly. "I thought
I heard some one moving."
"What a timid fool you are!" muttered Stark,
contemptuously. "If I had no more pluck,
I'd hire myself out to herd cows."
"It's a better business," said Gibbon, bitterly.
"Well, well, each to his taste! If you lose
your place as bookkeeper, you might offer your
services to some farmer. As for me, the danger,
though there isn't much, is just enough
to make it exciting."
"I don't care for any such excitement," said
Gibbon, dispiritedly. "Why couldn't you have
kept away and let me earn an honest living?"
"Because I must live as well as you, my dear
friend. When this little affair is over, you
will thank me for helping you to a good thing."
Of course all this conversation did not take
place within Carl's hearing. While it was going
on, the men had opened the office door and
entered. Then, as Carl watched the window
closely he saw a narrow gleam of light from
a dark lantern illuminating the interior.
"Now they are at the safe," thought Carl.
We, who are privileged, will enter the
office and watch the proceedings.
Gibbon had no difficulty in opening the safe,
for he was acquainted with the combination.
Stark thrust in his hand eagerly and drew out the box.
"This is what we want," he said, in a tone of satisfaction.
"Have you a key that will open it?"
"No."
"Then I shall have to take box and all."
"Let us get through as soon as possible,"
said Gibbon, uneasily.
"You can close the safe, if you want to.
There is nothing else worth taking?"
"No."
"Then we will evacuate the premises. Is
there an old newspaper I can use to wrap up
the box in? It might look suspicious if anyone
should see it in our possession."
"Yes, here is one."
He handed a copy of a weekly paper to Phil Stark,
who skillfully wrapped up the box, and placing
it under his arm, went out of the office,
leaving Gibbon to follow.
"Where will you carry it?" asked Gibbon.
"Somewhere out of sight where I can safely open it.
I should have preferred to take the bonds,
and leave the box in the safe. Then the bonds
might not have been missed for a week or more."
"That would have been better."
That was the last that Carl heard. The
two disappeared in the darkness, and Carl,
raising himself from his place of concealment,
stretched his cramped limbs and made the best
of his way home. He thought no one would
be up, but Mr. Jennings came out from the
sitting-room, where he had flung himself on a
lounge, and met Carl in the hall.
"Well?" he said.
"The safe has been robbed."
"Who did it?" asked the manufacturer, quickly.
"The two we suspected."
"Did you see Mr. Gibbon, then?"
"Yes; he was accompanied by Mr. Stark."
"You saw them enter the factory?"
"Yes, sir; I was crouching behind the stone
wall on the other side of the road."
"How long were they inside?"
"Not over fifteen minutes--perhaps only ten."
"Mr. Gibbon knew the combination," said Jennings, quietly.
"There was no occasion to lose time in breaking open the safe.
There is some advantage in having a friend inside.
Did you see them go out?"
"Yes, sir."
"Carrying the tin box with them?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Stark wrapped it in a
newspaper after they got outside."
"But you saw the tin box?"
"Yes."
"Then, if necessary, you can testify to it.
I thought it possible that Mr. Gibbon might
have a key to open it."
"I overheard Stark regretting that he could
not open it so as to abstract the bonds and
leave the box in the safe. In that case, he
said, it might be some time before the robbery
was discovered."
"He will himself make an unpleasant discovery
when he opens the box. I don't think
there is any call to pity him, do you, Carl?"
"No, sir. I should like to be within sight
when he opens it."
The manufacturer laughed quietly.
"Yes," he said; "if I could see it I should
feel repaid for the loss of the box. Let it be
a lesson for you, my boy. Those who seek to
enrich themselves by unlawful means are likely
in the end to meet with disappointment."
"Do you think I need the lesson?" asked Carl, smiling.
"No, my lad. I am sure you don't. But
you do need a good night's rest. Let us go
to bed at once, and get what sleep we may.
I won't allow the burglary to keep me awake."
He laughed in high good humor, and Carl
went up to his comfortable room, where he soon
lost all remembrance of the exciting scene of
which he had been a witness.
Mr. Jennings went to the factory at the
usual time the next morning.
As he entered the office the bookkeeper
approached him pale and excited.
"Mr. Jennings," he said, hurriedly, "I have
bad news for you."
"What is it, Mr. Gibbon?"
"When I opened the safe this morning, I
discovered that the tin box had been stolen."
Mr. Jennings took the news quietly.
"Have you any suspicion who took it?" he asked.
"No, sir. I--I hope the loss is not a heavy one."
"I do not care to make the extent of the loss public.
Were there any marks of violence? Was the safe broken open?"
"No, sir."
"Singular; is it not?"
"If you will allow me I will join in offering
a reward for the discovery of the thief. I
feel in a measure responsible."
"I will think of your offer, Mr. Gibbon."
"He suspects nothing," thought Gibbon,
with a sigh of relief.
CHAPTER XXV.
STARK'S DISAPPOINTMENT.
Philip Stark went back to the hotel with
the tin box under his arm. He would like to
have entered the hotel without notice, but this
was impossible, for the landlord's nephew was
just closing up. Though not late for the city,
it was very late for the country, and he looked
surprised when Stark came in.
"I am out late," said Stark, with a smile.
"Yes."
"That is, late for Milford. In the city
I never go to bed before midnight."
"Have you been out walking?"
"Yes."
"You found it rather dark, did you not?"
"It is dark as a pocket."
"You couldn't have found the walk a very
pleasant one."
"You are right, my friend; but I didn't walk
for pleasure. The fact is, I am rather worried
about a business matter. I have learned
that I am threatened with a heavy loss--an
unwise investment in the West--and I wanted
time to think it over and decide how to act."
"I see," answered the clerk, respectfully, for
Stark's words led him to think that his guest
was a man of wealth.
"I wish I was rich enough to be worried by
such a cause," he said, jokingly.
"I wish you were. Some time I may be able
to throw something in your way."
"Do you think it would pay me to go to the West?"
asked the clerk, eagerly.
"I think it quite likely--if you know some one
out in that section."
"But I don't know anyone."
"You know me," said Stark, significantly.
"Do you think you could help me to a place,
Mr. Stark?"
"I think I could. A month from now write
to me Col. Philip Stark, at Denver, Colorado,
and I will see if I can find an opening for you."
"You are very kind, Mr.--I mean Col.
Stark," said the clerk, gratefully.
"Oh, never mind about the title," returned
Stark, smiling good-naturedly. "I only gave
it to you just now, because everybody in Denver
knows me as a colonel, and I am afraid a
letter otherwise addressed would not reach me.
By the way, I am sorry that I shall probably
have to leave you to-morrow."
- supposed [sə´pəuzd]
a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词) - worthy [´wə:ði] a.有价值的；值得的 (初中英语单词)
- employer [im´plɔiə] n.雇佣者，雇主 (初中英语单词)
- reward [ri´wɔ:d] n.&v.报答；报酬；奖赏 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- thrust [θrʌst] v.&n.猛推；冲；刺；挤进 (初中英语单词)
- eagerly [´i:gəli] ad.渴望地，急切地 (初中英语单词)
- weekly [´wi:kli] a.&ad.每周一次(的) (初中英语单词)
- safely [´seifli] ad.安全地；平安地 (初中英语单词)
- manufacturer [,mænju´fæktʃərə] n.制造人；工厂主 (初中英语单词)
- advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.优势；利益 (初中英语单词)
- suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)
- extent [ik´stent] n.长度；程度；范围 (初中英语单词)
- violence [´vaiələns] n.猛烈；暴力(行) (初中英语单词)
- measure [´meʒə] n.量度；范围 vt.测量 (初中英语单词)
- nephew [´nevju:, ´nɛfju] n.侄子；外甥 (初中英语单词)
- investment [in´vestmənt] n.投资；(时间等)投入 (初中英语单词)
- otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz] ad.另外 conj.否则 (初中英语单词)
- thunderstruck [´θʌndəstrʌk] a.遭雷击的；吓坏了的 (高中英语单词)
- hearing [´hiəriŋ] n.听力；听证会；审讯 (高中英语单词)
- lantern [´læntən] n.灯笼；提灯 (高中英语单词)
- suspicious [sə´spiʃəs] a.可疑的，多疑的 (高中英语单词)
- testify [´testifai] v.证明；证实；表明 (高中英语单词)
- unpleasant [ʌn´plezənt] a.不愉快的；不合意的 (高中英语单词)
- remembrance [ri´membrəns] n.记忆(力)；回忆 (高中英语单词)
- colonel [´kə:nəl] n.海(陆)军上校 (高中英语单词)
- virtuous [´və:tjuəs] a.道德的；善良的 (英语四级单词)
- appalling [ə´pɔ:liŋ] a.令人震惊的 (英语四级单词)
- abstract [´æbstrækt] a.抽象的 n.提要 (英语四级单词)
- hurriedly [´hʌridli] ad.仓促地，忙乱地 (英语四级单词)
- respectfully [ris´pektfuli] ad.恭敬地 (英语四级单词)
- denver [´denvə] n.丹佛(市) (英语四级单词)
- timidly [´timidli] ad.胆怯地 (英语六级单词)
- bookkeeper [´buk,ki:pə] n.记帐员，簿记员 (英语六级单词)
- privileged [´privilidʒd] a.有特权的；特许的 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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