_A DISCOVERY._
With feelings of mingled anger, vexation and disappointment, Teddy stood
silent and motionless for several moments after Long Jim disappeared,
striving to keep the tears from his eyes.
It seemed hard enough to be swindled out of fifteen dollars, but to be
held up as a thief by the very man who had done him the wrong, and to be
stared at as a criminal by the curious, was an aggravation of
misfortune.
Just for one instant he made up his mind to tell the whole story to the
bystanders, but before there was time for him to speak he realized that
many of them would think he was trying to shield himself by an untruth
against just accusations, therefore he remained quiet, not making the
slightest effort to influence trade.
Fortunately he was soon aroused from this very disagreeable frame of
mind by a very pleasing incident.
The band from the Run arrived, and to the young fakir's surprise marched
directly to his booth, the leader saying, in a tone sufficiently loud to
be heard by every one in the immediate vicinity as the musicians halted
about ten feet away:
"We have been hired to play on the grounds to-day, Teddy, and left home
half an hour earlier than the specified time for the sole purpose of
giving you a serenade to show that, whatever your uncle may say, the
folks at the Run are positive there isn't a shadow of truth in his
ridiculous story. We know what you are working for, and intend to help
you along as much as possible."
Then the musicians began to play, while, as a matter of course, every
one who came up wanted to know why the band was there instead of on the
stand built for its especial accommodation, and there were people enough
who had heard the leader's remarks to explain matters to the newcomers.
The immediate result was that instead of believing him to be a burglar,
the same ones who fancied a few moments previous that he looked guilty,
were now quite positive he was a victim.
Tim arrived while the serenade was in progress, and when Teddy explained
the situation, he exclaimed, gleefully:
"Well, by jinks! This jest knocks the spots outer everything! Trade will
hum after this, or I'm a duffer."
And the clerk's prediction was verified in a very short time.
When the musicians had concluded the concert they laid aside their
instruments, and during the next ten minutes every man of them threw
rings at the canes or knives so rapidly that both Teddy and his
assistant had all they could do to wait upon the throng.
Then, giving the signal for the march to be resumed, the leader said to
the young fakir:
"Don't get discouraged, my boy, no matter what happens. If you have any
trouble it can't last long, for you've plenty of friends at the Run, and
after what happened here yesterday there should be a good many on the
grounds."
The kind-hearted musicians marched away without giving Teddy an
opportunity to thank them, and as if to atone for their previously
spoken harsh words the bystanders devoted themselves with unusual zest
to the task of winning a cane worth a dollar by an outlay of five cents.
It was nearly an hour before trade began to grow dull again, and both
the boys were quite willing to rest a few moments.
"At this rate we stand a chance of getting rich before the fair closes,"
Teddy exclaimed, in a tone of satisfaction. "I wonder what Uncle Nathan
would have said if he'd been here to hear the leader?"
"I'll tell you," a disagreeable but familiar sounding voice replied from
the rear of the stand where its owner had been concealed by an adjoining
booth, and Nathan Hargreaves stalked into view with a comically tragic
air. "Things have come to a pretty pass when a man's own relations, an'
them as he has set up in business with his own hard-earned money, try to
bring scorn and reproach upon him. You are a snake in the grass, Teddy
Hargreaves, an' not content with helpin' rob me, concoct such a
disgraceful scene as I have jest witnessed."
"What could I have had to do with it?" Teddy cried, in surprise. "I
didn't know they were going to give me a lift."
"Of course you did; I ain't blind if I am such a fool as to put you in
the way of makin' so much money. There wasn't a man in that band who'd
have countenanced the speech the leader made if you hadn't been workin'
on their sympathies. But your race won't be much longer. Don't think
that I've stopped all proceedings, for it may be that you're shoved into
jail this very day unless you make a clean breast of the whole thing."
"I've got nothing to tell simply because I don't know anything; but I
believe the same man who took my fifteen dollars robbed your store. Dan
and I heard him and another fellow talking, and in trying to find out
something for your benefit got knocked down."
"What did they say? Who are they?" the old man asked, eagerly, his
bearing toward Teddy changing very suddenly. "Tell me! Tell your poor,
old uncle, who'll be mighty near the poor-house, if he don't get his own
again."
This appeal touched Teddy's heart immediately, but Tim said, half to
himself, taking good care Uncle Nathan should hear him, however:
"More'n a hundred robberies like that wouldn't make him poor. Why, down
at the Run folks say you'd hardly miss what's been taken."
"Those who make that kind of talk are only shiftless people with never a
dollar of their own, consequently they don't know the value of one," the
old man cried, angrily. "It's all very well for a set of loafers who are
mad with me because I wouldn't give them credit to say such things. Do
you suppose I'd spend my time runnin' around the country huntin' for the
thieves if I hadn't lost a power of money?"
"You'd be willin' to run pretty far if there was a nickel at the end of
the road," Tim retorted, but before he could say anything more Teddy
motioned for him to be silent.
"Are you goin' to tell me who the robbers are?" Uncle Nathan asked, in a
wheedling tone, as he turned once more toward his nephew.
"I don't know the men whom I suspect, except by sight, but it's more
than possible we may find out enough to warrant their arrest before the
fair closes."
The old man insisted on knowing at once, and alternately coaxed and
threatened, but all to no purpose.
Teddy positively refused to make a statement until he had more proof,
and recognizing the fact that he might hurt his own cause by insisting,
Uncle Nathan said, in a most affectionate tone:
"I must go now, Teddy, but I'll see you again before night. If you'll do
all you can to help find them scoundrels I'll never say that you had
anything to do with the crime."
"You'd no business to make any such talk, for you knew it was impossible
for me to take any hand in it, even if I'd wanted to be a thief."
"There's a good deal of circumstantial evidence," the old man said,
solemnly, as he turned to leave, "an' it stands you in hand to do all a
boy can to clear your own skirts. I'm goin' to give you a chance, an'
promise there won't be any arrest made to-day at all events."
"There's a good reason why you promise that," Tim cried, angrily, as
Uncle Nathan walked away. "You tried mighty hard, but couldn't get a
warrant, an' there ain't a justice of the peace between here an'
Waterville as would grant one without any other evidence than what you
can say."
"Don't make him angry, Tim. He's feeling bad about his money, an' you
can't blame him for trying to find out who has got it."
"I don't blame him for that, but what I'm kickin' about is that he
keeps naggin' at you when there's no reason for it."
"Most likely he thinks there is."
"He can't; it's only the wretched old skinflint's way of gettin' even
with the world, an' so he picks on a feller what he believes can't
strike back."
"I wish I could find out who the robbers are, and where the goods have
been hidden."
"Well, I don't. It serves him right to lose 'em, an'---- Hello! here
comes that feller what helps exhibit the rifles! I wonder what he wants
at this time of day, jest when business is beginnin' to be rushin'."
Dan was evidently in a high state of excitement, for he forced his way
through the crowds, regardless of possible injury to himself or others,
and did not slacken speed until he stood in front of the cane-board,
breathless and panting.
"What's up?" Teddy asked, in surprise.
"The fakir who got your money, an' another man, who I think is the same
one we heard talkin' outside the tent, have jest bought a boat from the
Davis Company. Sam saw 'em, an' ran over to tell me while the bargain
was bein' made. He's watchin' down there till we can get back."
"I don't believe it would do any good for me to say another word to Long
Jim. He went past here this mornin', an' I only made a bad matter worse
by trying to make him give back what he stole."
"We ain't countin' on doin' that, but I believe they're gettin' ready to
cart away the goods what were stole from your Uncle Nathan. Perhaps we
can foller without bein' seen, an' get on to the whole snap. Could you
get off for the balance of the day?"
And now Teddy was quite as excited as Dan.
"Yes, an' so can Sam."
"Are you goin' to help find his goods after all that old duffer has
threatened?" Tim asked, impatiently.
"I'll do what I can," was the decided reply. "Do you think you will be
able to get along alone to-day?"
"I could do it easy enough by hirin' a boy to pick up the rings, but I
hate to see you make a fool of yourself, Teddy."
"You'll think different later. Come on, Dan. I'll be back as soon as I
can, Tim," and then the young fakir urged his friend in the direction of
the creek.
"It won't do to go anywhere near the boat-house," Dan said. "Sam is up
the bank a long piece where the willows hide him. He's keepin' his eye
on the craft they bought, so it can't be taken away without his seein'
it."
By mingling with the crowd it was possible to make their way to the
desired spot without being seen, save by those with whom they came into
immediate contact, and in a few moments the watcher was joined by his
friends.
"Now I want you fellers to let me manage this case," Sam said,
pompously. "I know more 'bout detective business than both of you put
together, an' if you'd only told me what was up the other night we'd had
the whole thing settled."
"Have you seen the men?" Dan asked, impatiently.
"Lots of times. The old fakir is loafin' around close by the landin',
an' the other one must 'a gone off for somethin'. The Davis Company told
me I could take any of the boats, an' the minute the thieves start we'll
jump right on their trail."