“Is Mr. Powers in?” inquired a lady’s voice, at North 10th street, No.
1,485.
“Not at present,” was the reply. “But we expect him every minute. He
does not leave the store till after five o’clock.”
“In what store is he engaged?” asked the lady.
“At Brown & Felger’s, in Market street.”
“I will wait for him.”
“Please step into the parlor, miss. He will soon be here.”
The visitor seated herself in the small, but neatly-furnished parlor.
“Brown & Felger. That is next door to Mr. Leonard’s,” she said, in an
undertone. “Does that indicate anything?”
Her soliloquy was interrupted by the opening of the front door, and
after several minutes by the entrance of a gentleman to the parlor.
He was a tall, rather portly man, with black whiskers, and a restless,
shifting look in his eyes that impressed his visitor unpleasantly.
“Mr. Powers?” she asked.
“That is my name,” he replied. “Whom have I the honor to meet?”
“My name is Arlington,” she replied.
“Miss Jennie Arlington?”
“Yes, sir. May I ask how you have learned my name?”
“I have heard of you,” he said, with some hesitation. “You are engaged
to Mr. Elkton.”
“Have you known him long?”
“For several years.”
“You have not been to see him in his present misfortune. He wrote to
you, but his letter failed to reach you. I thought I would call and
request you to visit him.”
“Why, Miss Arlington,” he said, confusedly. “I have really been too
busy. I have felt for him in his misfortune, for John is really an
excellent man. I am sorry for him.”
“On what account, sir?”
“Of this unpleasant difficulty. I cannot believe that he is guilty of
the charge against him.”
“You should take the time to call on him, sir, if you have not lost
your friendship for him.”
“The fact is,” said Mr. Powers, “the visiting hours at the prison come
in my busiest time.”
“Mr. Elkton and you were close friends?”
“Oh, yes! In a measure. I had much respect for John. For his part he
would persist in feeling grateful to me.”
“Yes. You had rendered him a service,” she said, assuming a knowledge
which she did not possess.
“Not much,” he said quietly. “No doubt, though, he had reason to view
it strongly. I saved his life by pulling him from the river. It was
easy enough for me to do, but he seemed to think it the greatest favor.”
“He had reason,” she replied.
“I begin to see through John’s action now,” she said to herself. “The
gratitude of an honorable man is a strong feeling. Has he allowed it to
make him take the place of a guilty man?”
“I would very much like to call on John,” he said. “And will if I can
spare the time.”
“You know, I presume, the cause of his imprisonment?” she asked,
shifting her chair so that she could look him more directly in the face.
“Not fully. It is on suspicion of being concerned in a robbery at Mr.
Leonard’s.”
“It is on account of his having a small piece of the stolen goods,” she
said. “I have learned where he got the silk. You have seen this before,
Mr. Powers?” She displayed the fatal bow, which again had fallen into
her possession.
“I can’t say that I have,” he replied, looking at it very closely.
She rose to her feet, her large eyes scanning him from head to foot. He
sat unmoved, with no trace of feeling or confusion in his face.
“You know better,” she cried, indignantly. “You gave it to John Elkton,
as I happen to know. You will permit that man to languish in prison,
rather than come up and acknowledge the truth. You must be seriously
afraid of the truth in this matter, Mr. Powers. But there is nothing
hinders me from speaking. I owe you no gratitude.”
“There is one thing that should hinder you,” he quietly replied.
“What is that?” she quickly asked.
“The fact that all you are saying now is pure guesswork. Your lover
has told you nothing of the kind; and cannot, for it is not the truth.
Let me advise you, Miss Arlington, not to be too ready to jump to
conclusions in the future.”
“I will bid you good-evening, Mr. Powers,” she replied, with dignity.
“I see that there is no use to prolong our conversation. I have learned
all I desired.”
He smiled derisively as she left the room. In a moment more she was on
the street.
She walked slowly down toward her present home. She was staying with a
friend in the city now, having left her home after her stormy interview
with her guardian.
A familiar voice at her elbow caused her to turn.
There stood Willful Will, a smile of welcome on his face.
“Glad to see you,” he said. “Late in the city to-night.”
“Yes. I am on a visit here,” she replied.
They walked along together, engaged in conversation. Will was
insensibly drawn into a description of his late discovery of a father
and of his hopes of yet finding his lost sister. Jennie was greatly
interested in his romantic story, and joined earnestly with him in the
hope that he would yet succeed in finding his sister.
“Did she look like you?” she asked.
“Yes. Something your color hair and eyes. And then you look something
like me. I wish it would only turn out that you were my lost Jennie.”
She laughed in great amusement at the idea.
“I suppose your new position, as the son and heir of a wealthy man,
have changed your plans. You will be leaving the store and going to
school.”
“Dunno yet,” said Will, indifferently. “Ain’t laid any plans. Bound to
find my sister, if she’s living; that’s one job. But I’ve got another
job to put through first. I’m on the track of the burglars that have
gone through Mr. Leonard’s store.”
“Ah!” she said, with sudden interest. “Have you learned anything about
them?”
“On their trail. Bound to bring them up standing,” said Will,
positively. “Keep mum. Ain’t told Mr. Leonard yet.”
“Do you know a man named Jesse Powers?” she asked, eagerly. “He is
engaged in the store next to Mr. Leonard’s.”
“Never heerd the name afore,” said Will. “What sort of a chap?”
“A large man, with dark complexion, and black hair and whiskers. Rather
full-faced, and with prominent nose.”
“My stars!” cried Will, clapping his hand on his knee, with a burst of
laughter. “That’s his photograph to a hair. Do I know him? Don’t I?
What do you say’s his name?”
“Jesse Powers.”
“J. P., or I don’t know my own name. That’s the identical chap that
wrote the letter. Don’t happen to have a scrap of his handwriting?”
“No. For what purpose do you want it?”
“To nail a thief, that’s all. Didn’t I see the very chap in a nest of
burglars? What do you know about him?”
“I know that he gave Mr. Elkton the piece of silk which has been the
cause of his imprisonment.”
“Better and better. Mr. Elkton won’t blow on him?”
“No. He is under obligation to him.”
“You and me ain’t under no obligation. Don’t you be worried about
Elkton. Bet I fetch him out of quod inside of two days. Could you get a
specimen of that chap’s handwriting?”
“Very probably. I might get a note from him to Mr. Elkton.”
“The very dodge!” cried Will, in enthusiasm. “You’re quick at a hint.
Work it on him and I’ll do the rest. Bring it down to the store as soon
as you nail it, and hand it to me. Ask for Mr. William Somers, and
anybody will go for me.”
“I will try,” she answered, laughingly. “And now I must bid you
good-day, Will. I believe you will find your little lost sister. Your
love will bring you to her.”
“You can bet I will love her amazing when I find her,” said Will, as he
hastened away to hide an unwonted softening at the eyes.