Part 24 (2/2)
The newspaper was cast aside, and the box opened. Out came a pair of cuff-b.u.t.tons, a gold watch-chain, a flat pocket-book, two inkstands, and several boxes of pens.
The instant Hal saw the articles he understood the trick that had been practiced upon him.
Saunders gave a cry.
”Those are mine! Let me see if the money is safe.” He opened the pocket-book. ”Gone, every dollar of it!”
He turned upon Hal.
”Give me that fourteen dollars, or I will have you locked up at once!”
”Mr. Saunders, I never took these things,” replied Hal, as calmly as he could.
”Yes, but----” the dry-goods clerk was so angry he could hardly speak.
”I know it looks black against me, but perhaps I can clear myself,” went on the youth.
”Yes, you can,” sneered Ferris. ”Look here,” he pointed to the inkstands and the pens. ”Aunt Amanda, do you know who those things belong to?”
”Who?”
”They belong to Sumner, Allen & Co.,” replied Ferris, triumphantly.
”You are sure?” asked Saunders.
”I am, unless Carson will stick out for it that the firm gave them to him,” returned Ferris.
”Is that so?” questioned Mrs. Ricket.
”They were not given to me,” replied Hal, promptly. ”But I know who brought them into the house.”
”Who?”
”Your nephew, Mrs. Ricket. I am sorry for you, but I am telling the truth.”
”d.i.c.k a thief!”
”See here, do you know what you are saying?” bl.u.s.tered Ferris, taken aback by this statement.
”I do.”
”I won't have you talking to me in this fas.h.i.+on.”
”Then you had better own up to what you have done,” replied Hal, calmly.
”How could I get the things?” demanded Ferris. ”The firm knows they were there after I left.”
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