Part 2 (1/2)
”I suppose, now, you've always done it, Mark?” continued the gentleman, watching the boy's face.
”For several years, yes, sir. I've had as many as five sets of initials in that time. And the habit has saved me a lot of caps, too. If a fellow claims mine, all I have to do is to point at the three initials inside, and he gives up.”
”H'm! like this, for instance,” remarked the colonel, picking something up from behind a pile of books on his table and holding it out.
It was a fairly well-worn cap, and had evidently belonged to a boy.
Elmer immediately sat up and began to take notice. He realized that the colonel must indeed have an object in asking Mark to drop in and see him.
For unless he was very much mistaken Elmer had seen that same cap before, many times, and on the head of his chum!
As for Mark, his eyes had opened very wide as they fastened on the article the gentleman was holding out before him.
”Will you kindly take this cap in your hands, my boy?” said the colonel, and almost mechanically Mark did so, for as yet he could not find his voice to express his mingled feelings.
”Please examine it, now, and tell me if you have ever seen it before,”
continued the colonel, whose heavy brows were lowered, as though under their shelter he were trying to a.n.a.lyze the emotions that chased each other across the face of the boy.
Mark made a pretense of looking inside and out, but it was not necessary, for the fellow who cannot instantly recognize a cap he has worn for some months must be pretty dense indeed.
”Well?” said the gentleman, with an interrogation point in the one word.
”I know it is mine, sir, because--well, every little mark about it is familiar, even to this little triangular tear. Besides, here are my initials inside--just as they are in this other cap I own--M. A. C., which stand for Mark Anthony c.u.mmings.”
The gentleman moved uneasily. It seemed as though he might be both surprised and annoyed because of this frank acceptance of the owners.h.i.+p of the cap.
”You're quite positive there can be no mistake--that some other boy may not have the same initials?” he asked.
”I don't know of a single one, do you, Elmer?” replied Mark, steadily.
”Not that I can recall just now; and besides, Mark, I ought to know that cap as well as you, and I'm ready to declare it's your property. I'm only wondering how it happens to be in the possession of Colonel Hitchins after you lost it,” Elmer remarked, watching the face of the gentleman and wondering why he looked so downcast over such a little thing.
”I'm sorry to hear you say it belongs to you, Mark, because you are one of the last boys I'd dream of accusing of such a thing as robbery.”
”Robbery!” gasped Mark, his face turning a trifle white with the shock.
”It is just that, for my premises were invaded last night by some bold thieves, who raided my choice peach trees, and almost cleaned them of the prize fruit that I would not have taken its weight in silver for.
And I regret to say that this morning I found this self-same cap under those trees, where it would appear it had been accidentally dropped by one of the fruit thieves.”
CHAPTER III.
WHEN THE CHALLENGE CAME.
A SILENCE so dense that, as Elmer afterward said, it could almost be felt gripped that library when the colonel made his astonis.h.i.+ng declaration.
The two boys stared at each other in dismay. Then Mark once more looked down at the cap he held in his hand, as though he expected it to be given speech in order to indignantly deny the accusation. Twice he opened his mouth to say something, but no sound followed.
”Please remember, Mark, that I am not accusing you of having done this miserable thing,” continued the gentleman in a softer tone; ”I cannot find it in my heart to believe that you would be guilty of doing an old friend such an unkindness. But I found the cap just where I stated; it bore those initials, and I sent for you to see if you claimed it. And now, could you tell me how it chanced to come there under my prize peach trees that were robbed last night?”