章节正文
"He admits it!" said Stark, triumphantly.
"But this man forced me to it. He threatened
to write you some particulars of my past
history which would probably have lost me my
position if I did not agree to join him in the
conspiracy. I was weak, and yielded. Now
he is ready to betray me to save himself."
"Mr. Jennings," said Stark, coldly, "you
will know what importance to attach to the
story of a self-confessed burglar. Gibbon, I
hope you will see the error of your ways, and
restore to your worthyemployer the box of
valuable property which you stole from his safe."
"This is insufferable!" cried the bookkeeper
"You are a double-dyed traitor, Phil Stark.
You were not only my accomplice, but you
instigated the crime."
"You will find it hard to prove this," sneered Stark.
"Mr. Jennings, I demand my liberty.
If you have any humanity you will not keep
me from the bedside of my dying mother."
"I admire your audacity, Mr. Stark,"
observed the manufacturer, quietly.
"Don't suppose for a moment that I give
the least credit to your statements."
"Thank you, sir," said Gibbon. "I'm ready to
accept the consequences of my act, but I don't
want that scoundrel and traitor to go free."
"You can't prove anything against me," said
Stark, doggedly, "unless you accept the word
of a self-confessed burglar, who is angry with
me because I would not join him."
"All these protestations it would be better
for you to keep till your trial begins, Mr.
Stark," said the manufacturer. "However, I
think it only fair to tell you that I am better
informed about you and your conspiracy than
you imagine. Will you tell me where you were
at eleven o'clock last evening?"
"I was in my room at the hotel--no, I was
taking a walk. I had received news of my
mother's illness, and I was so much disturbed
and grieved that I could not remain indoors."
"You were seen to enter the office of this
factory with Mr. Gibbon, and after ten minutes
came out with the tin box under your arm."
"Who saw me?" demanded Stark, uneasily.
Carl Crawford came forward and answered this question.
"I did!" he said.
"A likely story! You were in bed and asleep."
"You are mistaken. I was on watch behind
the stone wall just opposite. If you want
proof, I can repeat some of the conversation
that passed between you and Mr. Gibbon."
Without waiting for the request, Carl rehearsed
some of the talk already recorded in a previous chapter.
Phil Stark began to see that things were getting serious
for him, but he was game to the last.
"I deny it," he said, in a loud voice.
"Do you also deny it, Mr. Gibbon?" asked Mr. Jennings.
"No, sir; I admit it," replied Gibbon, with
a triumphant glance at his foiled confederate.
"This is a conspiracy against an innocent man,"
said Stark, scowling. "You want to screen
your bookkeeper, if possible. No one has
ever before charged me with crime."
"Then how does it happen, Mr. Stark, that
you were confined at the Joliet penitentiary
for a term of years?"
"Did he tell you this?" snarled Stark,
pointing to Gibbon.
"No."
"Who then?"
"A customer of mine from Chicago. He saw
you at the hotel, and informed Carl last evening
of your character. Carl, of course, brought
the news to me. It was in consequence of this
information that I myself removed the bonds
from the box, early in the evening, and
substituted strips of paper. Your enterprise,
therefore, would have availed you little even
if you had succeeded in getting off scot-free."
"I see the game is up," said Stark,
throwing off the mask. "It's true that I have been
in the Joliet penitentiary. It was there that
I became acquainted with your bookkeeper,"
he added, maliciously. "Let him deny it if he dare."
"I shall not deny it. It is true," said Gibbon.
"But I had resolved to live an honest life
in future, and would have done so if this man
had not pressed me into crime by his threats."
"I believe you, Mr. Gibbon," said the
manufacturer, gently, "and I will see that this is
counted in your favor. And now, gentlemen,
I think there is no occasion for further delay."
The two men were carried to the lockup and
in due time were tried. Stark was sentenced
to ten years' imprisonment, Gibbon to five. At
the end of two years, at the intercession of Mr.
Jennings, he was pardoned, and furnished with
money enough to go to Australia, where, his
past character unknown, he was able to make
an honest living, and gain a creditable position.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AFTER A YEAR.
Twelve months passed without any special
incident. With Carl it was a period of steady
and intelligent labor and progress. He had
excellent mechanicaltalent, and made remarkable
advancement. He was not content with
attention to his own work, but was a careful
observer of the work of others, so that in one
year he learned as much of the business as
most boys would have done in three.
When the year was up, Mr. Jennings
detained him after supper.
"Do you remember what anniversary this is, Carl?"
he asked, pleasantly.
"Yes, sir; it is the anniversary of my going
into the factory."
"Exactly. How are you satisfied with the year and its work?"
"I have been contented and happy, Mr. Jennings;
and I feel that I owe my happiness and content to you."
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"I am glad you say so," he said, "but it is
only fair to add that your own industry and
intelligence have much to do with the satisfactory
results of the year."
"Thank you, sir."
"The superintendent tells me that outside
of your own work you have a general knowledge
of the business which would make you
a valuableassistant to himself in case he
needed one."
Carl's face glowed with pleasure.
"I believe in being thorough," he said, "and I
am interested in every department of the business."
"Before you went into the factory you had
not done any work."
"No, sir; I had attended school."
"It was not a bad preparation for business,
but in some cases it gives a boy disinclination
for manual labor."
"Yes; I wouldn't care to work with my hands all my life."
"I don't blame you for that. You have qualified yourself
for something better. How much do I pay you?"
"I began on two dollars a week and my board.
At the end of six months you kindly advanced me
to four dollars."
"I dare say you have found it none too much for your wants."
Carl smiled.
"I have saved forty dollars out of it," he answered.
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"You have done admirably," he said, warmly.
"Forty dollars is not a large sum,
but in laying it by you have formed a habit
that will be of great service to you in after years.
I propose to raise you to ten dollars a week."
"But, sir, shall I earn so much? You are very kind,
but I am afraid you will be a loser by your liberality."
Mr. Jennings smiled.
"You are partly right," he said. "Your services
at present are hardly worth the sum
I have agreed to pay, that is, in the factory,
but I shall probably impose upon you other
duties of an important nature soon."
"If you do, sir, I will endeavor to meet your expectations."
"How would you like to take a journey Carl?"
"Very much, sir."
"I think of sending you--to Chicago."
Carl, who had thought perhaps of a fifty-
mile trip, looked amazed, but his delight was
equal to his surprise. He had always wished
to see the West, though Chicago can hardly
be called a Western city now, since between
it and the Pacific there is a broad belt of land
two thousand miles in extent.
"Do you think I am competent?" he asked, modestly.
"I cannot say positively, but I think so," answered Mr. Jennings.
"Then I shall be delighted to go. Will it be very soon?"
"Yes, very soon. I shall want you to start next Monday."
"I will be ready, sir."
"And I may as well explain what are to
be your duties. I am, as you know, manufacturing
a special line of chairs which I am
desirous of introducing to the trade. I shall
give you the names of men in my line in Albany,
Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago, and
it will be your duty to call upon them, explain
the merits of the chair, and solicit orders.
In other words, you will be a traveling salesman
or drummer. I shall pay your traveling
expenses, ten dollars a week, and, if your
orders exceed a certain limit, I shall give you
a commission on the surplus."
"Suppose I don't reach that limit?"
"I shall at all events feel that you have
done your best. I will instruct you a little
in your duties between now and the time of
your departure. I should myself like to go
in your stead, but I am needed here. There
"But this man forced me to it. He threatened
to write you some particulars of my past
history which would probably have lost me my
position if I did not agree to join him in the
conspiracy. I was weak, and yielded. Now
he is ready to betray me to save himself."
"Mr. Jennings," said Stark, coldly, "you
will know what importance to attach to the
story of a self-confessed burglar. Gibbon, I
hope you will see the error of your ways, and
restore to your worthyemployer the box of
valuable property which you stole from his safe."
"This is insufferable!" cried the bookkeeper
"You are a double-dyed traitor, Phil Stark.
You were not only my accomplice, but you
instigated the crime."
"You will find it hard to prove this," sneered Stark.
"Mr. Jennings, I demand my liberty.
If you have any humanity you will not keep
me from the bedside of my dying mother."
"I admire your audacity, Mr. Stark,"
observed the manufacturer, quietly.
"Don't suppose for a moment that I give
the least credit to your statements."
"Thank you, sir," said Gibbon. "I'm ready to
accept the consequences of my act, but I don't
want that scoundrel and traitor to go free."
"You can't prove anything against me," said
Stark, doggedly, "unless you accept the word
of a self-confessed burglar, who is angry with
me because I would not join him."
"All these protestations it would be better
for you to keep till your trial begins, Mr.
Stark," said the manufacturer. "However, I
think it only fair to tell you that I am better
informed about you and your conspiracy than
you imagine. Will you tell me where you were
at eleven o'clock last evening?"
"I was in my room at the hotel--no, I was
taking a walk. I had received news of my
mother's illness, and I was so much disturbed
and grieved that I could not remain indoors."
"You were seen to enter the office of this
factory with Mr. Gibbon, and after ten minutes
came out with the tin box under your arm."
"Who saw me?" demanded Stark, uneasily.
Carl Crawford came forward and answered this question.
"I did!" he said.
"A likely story! You were in bed and asleep."
"You are mistaken. I was on watch behind
the stone wall just opposite. If you want
proof, I can repeat some of the conversation
that passed between you and Mr. Gibbon."
Without waiting for the request, Carl rehearsed
some of the talk already recorded in a previous chapter.
Phil Stark began to see that things were getting serious
for him, but he was game to the last.
"I deny it," he said, in a loud voice.
"Do you also deny it, Mr. Gibbon?" asked Mr. Jennings.
"No, sir; I admit it," replied Gibbon, with
a triumphant glance at his foiled confederate.
"This is a conspiracy against an innocent man,"
said Stark, scowling. "You want to screen
your bookkeeper, if possible. No one has
ever before charged me with crime."
"Then how does it happen, Mr. Stark, that
you were confined at the Joliet penitentiary
for a term of years?"
"Did he tell you this?" snarled Stark,
pointing to Gibbon.
"No."
"Who then?"
"A customer of mine from Chicago. He saw
you at the hotel, and informed Carl last evening
of your character. Carl, of course, brought
the news to me. It was in consequence of this
information that I myself removed the bonds
from the box, early in the evening, and
substituted strips of paper. Your enterprise,
therefore, would have availed you little even
if you had succeeded in getting off scot-free."
"I see the game is up," said Stark,
throwing off the mask. "It's true that I have been
in the Joliet penitentiary. It was there that
I became acquainted with your bookkeeper,"
he added, maliciously. "Let him deny it if he dare."
"I shall not deny it. It is true," said Gibbon.
"But I had resolved to live an honest life
in future, and would have done so if this man
had not pressed me into crime by his threats."
"I believe you, Mr. Gibbon," said the
manufacturer, gently, "and I will see that this is
counted in your favor. And now, gentlemen,
I think there is no occasion for further delay."
The two men were carried to the lockup and
in due time were tried. Stark was sentenced
to ten years' imprisonment, Gibbon to five. At
the end of two years, at the intercession of Mr.
Jennings, he was pardoned, and furnished with
money enough to go to Australia, where, his
past character unknown, he was able to make
an honest living, and gain a creditable position.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AFTER A YEAR.
Twelve months passed without any special
incident. With Carl it was a period of steady
and intelligent labor and progress. He had
excellent mechanicaltalent, and made remarkable
advancement. He was not content with
attention to his own work, but was a careful
observer of the work of others, so that in one
year he learned as much of the business as
most boys would have done in three.
When the year was up, Mr. Jennings
detained him after supper.
"Do you remember what anniversary this is, Carl?"
he asked, pleasantly.
"Yes, sir; it is the anniversary of my going
into the factory."
"Exactly. How are you satisfied with the year and its work?"
"I have been contented and happy, Mr. Jennings;
and I feel that I owe my happiness and content to you."
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"I am glad you say so," he said, "but it is
only fair to add that your own industry and
intelligence have much to do with the satisfactory
results of the year."
"Thank you, sir."
"The superintendent tells me that outside
of your own work you have a general knowledge
of the business which would make you
a valuableassistant to himself in case he
needed one."
Carl's face glowed with pleasure.
"I believe in being thorough," he said, "and I
am interested in every department of the business."
"Before you went into the factory you had
not done any work."
"No, sir; I had attended school."
"It was not a bad preparation for business,
but in some cases it gives a boy disinclination
for manual labor."
"Yes; I wouldn't care to work with my hands all my life."
"I don't blame you for that. You have qualified yourself
for something better. How much do I pay you?"
"I began on two dollars a week and my board.
At the end of six months you kindly advanced me
to four dollars."
"I dare say you have found it none too much for your wants."
Carl smiled.
"I have saved forty dollars out of it," he answered.
Mr. Jennings looked pleased.
"You have done admirably," he said, warmly.
"Forty dollars is not a large sum,
but in laying it by you have formed a habit
that will be of great service to you in after years.
I propose to raise you to ten dollars a week."
"But, sir, shall I earn so much? You are very kind,
but I am afraid you will be a loser by your liberality."
Mr. Jennings smiled.
"You are partly right," he said. "Your services
at present are hardly worth the sum
I have agreed to pay, that is, in the factory,
but I shall probably impose upon you other
duties of an important nature soon."
"If you do, sir, I will endeavor to meet your expectations."
"How would you like to take a journey Carl?"
"Very much, sir."
"I think of sending you--to Chicago."
Carl, who had thought perhaps of a fifty-
mile trip, looked amazed, but his delight was
equal to his surprise. He had always wished
to see the West, though Chicago can hardly
be called a Western city now, since between
it and the Pacific there is a broad belt of land
two thousand miles in extent.
"Do you think I am competent?" he asked, modestly.
"I cannot say positively, but I think so," answered Mr. Jennings.
"Then I shall be delighted to go. Will it be very soon?"
"Yes, very soon. I shall want you to start next Monday."
"I will be ready, sir."
"And I may as well explain what are to
be your duties. I am, as you know, manufacturing
a special line of chairs which I am
desirous of introducing to the trade. I shall
give you the names of men in my line in Albany,
Buffalo, Cleveland and Chicago, and
it will be your duty to call upon them, explain
the merits of the chair, and solicit orders.
In other words, you will be a traveling salesman
or drummer. I shall pay your traveling
expenses, ten dollars a week, and, if your
orders exceed a certain limit, I shall give you
a commission on the surplus."
"Suppose I don't reach that limit?"
"I shall at all events feel that you have
done your best. I will instruct you a little
in your duties between now and the time of
your departure. I should myself like to go
in your stead, but I am needed here. There
- betray [bi´trei]
vt.背叛；辜负；暴露 (初中英语单词) - coldly [´kəuldli] ad.冷淡地 (初中英语单词)
- attach [ə´tætʃ] v.附；使隶属；使依恋 (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)
- traitor [´treitə] n.叛徒，卖国贼 (初中英语单词)
- humanity [hju:´mæniti] n.人类；人性；仁慈 (初中英语单词)
- manufacturer [,mænju´fæktʃərə] n.制造人；工厂主 (初中英语单词)
- illness [´ilnis] n.生病，不健康，疾病 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- previous [´pri:viəs] a.先，前，以前的 (初中英语单词)
- innocent [´inəsənt] a.无罪的；单纯的 (初中英语单词)
- customer [´kʌstəmə] n.顾客，买主，主顾 (初中英语单词)
- character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)
- consequence [´kɔnsikwəns] n.结果；后果；推断 (初中英语单词)
- gently [´dʒentli] ad.温和地；静静地 (初中英语单词)
- intelligent [in´telidʒənt] a.聪明的；理智的 (初中英语单词)
- mechanical [mi´kænikəl] a.机械的；力学的 (初中英语单词)
- talent [´tælənt] n.天才；才干；天资 (初中英语单词)
- valuable [´væljuəbəl, -jubəl] a.有价值的，贵重的 (初中英语单词)
- assistant [ə´sistənt] n.助手；助理；助教 (初中英语单词)
- preparation [,prepə´reiʃən] n.准备；预习(时间) (初中英语单词)
- advanced [əd´vɑ:nst] a.先进的；高级的 (初中英语单词)
- partly [´pɑ:tli] ad.部分地；不完全地 (初中英语单词)
- impose [im´pəuz] v.课税；强加；利用 (初中英语单词)
- western [´westən] a.西的；西方的 (初中英语单词)
- exceed [ik´si:d] v.超(胜)过；凌驾 (初中英语单词)
- instruct [in´strʌkt] vt.教育；指导；通知 (初中英语单词)
- departure [di´pɑ:tʃə] n.离开，出发 (初中英语单词)
- conspiracy [kən´spirəsi] n.密谋；协同作用 (高中英语单词)
- mistaken [mis´teikən] mistake的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- imprisonment [im´priznmənt] n.监禁，下狱 (高中英语单词)
- learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
- contented [kən´tentid] a.满足的；心满意足的 (高中英语单词)
- superintendent [,su:pərin´tendənt, ,sju:-] n.管理人，负责人 (高中英语单词)
- pacific [pə´sifik] a.和平的；温和的 (高中英语单词)
- positively [´pɔzətivli] ad.确实；断然；绝对 (高中英语单词)
- commission [kə´miʃən] n.委任(状) vt.委任 (高中英语单词)
- burglar [´bə:glə] n.(入室行窃的)盗贼 (英语四级单词)
- bedside [´bedsaid] n.床边 a.护理的 (英语四级单词)
- audacity [ɔ:´dæsiti] n.大胆；卤莽；无礼 (英语四级单词)
- triumphant [trai´ʌmfənt] a.胜利的；洋洋得意的 (英语四级单词)
- chicago [ʃi´kɑ:gəu] n.芝加哥 (英语四级单词)
- resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)
- anniversary [,æni´və:səri] n.周年纪念(日) (英语四级单词)
- manual [´mænjuəl] a.用手(操作)的 n.手册 (英语四级单词)
- delighted [di´laitid] a.高兴的；喜欢的 (英语四级单词)
- solicit [sə´lisit] v.恳求，请求 (英语四级单词)
- scoundrel [´skaundrəl] n.&a.无赖(的) (英语六级单词)
- doggedly [´dɔgidli] ad.顽强地，固执地 (英语六级单词)
- bookkeeper [´buk,ki:pə] n.记帐员，簿记员 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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