_A PROPOSITION._
Teddy had the most decided objections to taking charge of Hazelton's
money, and for several reasons. In the first place he did not want to
have the responsibility, and again, the fact of its being in his
possession seemed to make him a partner in the business.
Mr. Sweet was determined, however. He insisted that Hazelton had stated
this as plainly as was possible under the circumstances, and, despite
the boy's protests, immediately began the transfer.
"It shall be done in such a way that he can't accuse you of having taken
any," the proprietor said, as he pulled the satchel from its
hiding-place and broke the lock open with a hatchet. "We'll count it in
the presence of all hands, and each one shall give Teddy a written
statement of how much was found."
An exclamation of surprise burst from Tim's lips as the receptacle was
spread out on the ground, for it appeared to be literally crammed with
money.
Mr. Sweet separated the silver from the bank notes, spreading both on
the ground where they could be seen by every person present, and then he
counted them slowly, taking care that the spectators were following his
every movement.
"I make it three hundred an' forty-eight dollars," he announced. "If
there's anybody here who ain't sure that's right, say so now."
Each member of the party had seen the amount counted, and agreed with
the result as declared by Mr. Sweet, who forthwith wrote the following:
We, the undersigned, have seen a valise belonging to Frank
Hazelton broken open, and certify that three hundred and
forty-eight dollars, the only money found therein, was handed
by Jacob Sweet to Edward Hargreaves in conformance with the
orders, as we understood them, from the said Frank Hazelton.
"Now I want every one to sign that," Mr. Sweet said, as he handed his
lead-pencil first to the barker, "and then Teddy and I will have some
proof of the amount."
It required quite a while for all to conform with the wishes of the
proprietor of the museum, owing to the fact that several of the party
were far from being skillful penmen, but the task was finally
accomplished, and as the money was handed to Teddy, the latter asked,
ruefully:
"What shall I do with it? I'm afraid of losing so much."
"That's a risk Hazelton is bound to take. Fasten it in your clothes
somehow, an' be sure you don't get into any row where it can be stolen."
By the aid of many pins, and with the assistance of both Dan and Tim,
Teddy finally succeeded in disposing of the money about his person in
such a way that it was not an unusual burden, and then Mr. Sweet
insisted that all hands should try to get some rest in order to be fresh
for the supposedly enormous amount of work to be done on the following
day.
Teddy lay down on the ground with the others, but it was many hours
before his eyes were closed in slumber. Sam's untimely death, the
guardianship of so much money, and his own business affairs all served
to keep his eyes open until nearly midnight, when he fell into a sleep
so troubled by frightful dreams that it was far from being restful.
It seemed as if he had but just lost consciousness when Mr. Sweet
aroused him with the information that the "big" day of the fair was
breaking.
"Turn out an' get your breakfast before sunrise, for on this morning the
early bird will pick up many a penny while the lazy ones are yet in bed,
an' fakirs must make hay when the sun shines."
Teddy was on his feet in an instant, and half an hour later, having
broken his fast, he was at the booth with his clerk and Dan, the latter
volunteering his assistance until the exhibition buildings should be
opened.
The proprietor of the museum had advised him well; the receipts of the
cane and knife boards were nearly five dollars before more than half of
the booths were in condition for trade, because the trains were running
unusually early in order to accommodate the crowds, and when Dan felt
obliged to leave, business was so good that the proprietor, clerk, and
assistant were all working industriously.
"If I can get off I'll see you about noon," Dan said, as he walked away,
and Teddy replied:
"Be sure to come, for mother will be here, and I want you to meet her."
From that time until nine o'clock the crowd increased in numbers, and as
Teddy said during a lull in business, "it seemed as if the grounds were
so full that no more could get in."
When Mrs. Hargreaves arrived her son could pay little attention to her,
but he proposed that she should amuse herself by looking at the
different exhibits until nearly noon, when he stated that he would take
an hour off, no matter how great a rush of customers might be around his
booth.
"I earned sixty dollars yesterday, an' before night I'll have a hundred
more, so there's little doubt that this week's work as a fakir will
enable me to pay all you owe on the house," he whispered, triumphantly,
and his mother walked away, hardly daring to believe what Teddy had told
her.
During the next hour it seemed as if a steady stream of money was
flowing into the box, and Teddy was feeling confident that Mr. Sweet's
prediction would prove to be correct, when the one especial man he
wanted to see came up with a folded paper in his hand.
It was the merchant from Waterville, and he said, as he handed the
document to the boy:
"Here is the receipted bill, and I am more than glad to see you doing so
well."
"Can I talk with you for five minutes?" Teddy asked, hardly noticing the
paper as he put it in his pocket.
"As long as you want to. What is the matter? Running out of stock?"
"Oh, no, your clerk made such a good selection for me that I've got all
I shall need. This is something more important."
Then Teddy hurriedly told the merchant how and where he had first met
Hazelton; explained fully what the latter's business was; of the
accusations made by Uncle Nathan; what he and Dan had heard and seen,
and concluded by repeating the request made by the fakir as he was led
away to jail.
"Are you willing to do anything for him?" the boy asked, as his story
was finished.
"I can't say it is a matter which appeals very strongly to my
sympathies, because of the swindles he perpetrated, but if it is an
unjust accusation something should be done to help him. The one lawyer
above all others who can be of assistance came over with me this
morning. I will see him, and later in the day you shall have a call from
us."
"Before you go I wish you would take this money," Teddy said, earnestly.
"It is too large an amount for me to carry around, and it will be safe
with you."
The merchant consented to take charge of Hazelton's ill-gotten gains,
and Teddy felt decidedly relieved when the cash was in another's
keeping, and he had nothing of more value than an acknowledgment of the
same to look after.
"In this matter I shall recognize no other order than yours," the
merchant said when the transaction was concluded, "and if the fakir
should succeed in regaining his liberty he must come to you for the
necessary document.
"I don't care how it is fixed so long as the money is not in my hands,"
Teddy replied, in a tone of satisfaction, and then he was called upon to
attend to another rush of customers, every one of whom was eager to be
waited upon first.
Another hour passed, and it was more evident than before that Mr. Sweet
had been correct when he stated the sum which should be taken in at the
cane-board.
Teddy, having breakfasted early, was so hungry that he was on the point
of going out to buy a supply of sandwiches, when another visitor
arrived.
This was no less a personage than Uncle Nathan, and he greeted his
nephew with the utmost cordiality, as he said:
"It looks to me as if you were makin' a power of money here, Teddy. I
had no idea these triflin' games would so attract the people."
Glad to be on pleasant terms with the old man once more, Teddy stated
that they had been at work very hard since the first train arrived, and
concluded by saying:
"I took over sixty dollars yesterday, and Mr. Sweet says it'll come near
to a hundred to-day."
"Sixty dollars!" the old man cried. "Are you telling me the truth, Teddy
Hargreaves?"
"Of course I am, an' I've got the money in my pocket to prove it."
"Why, at this rate you'll soon be a rich man, for you don't seem to lose
much of the stock."
"We buy a good many canes or knives back. When a man puts a ring over
one that he don't want we take it in, and give him five more chances. In
that way there is very little goes out compared to the amount of money
received."
Uncle Nathan looked around at the players for a moment, and then in a
very confidential tone he whispered:
"See here, Teddy, don't you want a partner? I'll pay for the stock you
bought, an'----"
"I've already done that out of yesterday's receipts," Teddy cried. "All
the bills are settled, an' what comes in now is clear profit."
"But suppose I stood here an' called up the people I know, don't you
think it would make business better?"
"And if it should, do you think we could attend to more customers? Every
minute I talk with you is so much money lost, for the other fellers
can't pick up rings an' make change fast enough."
"Does that mean you don't want to go into business with me?" the old man
asked, angrily.
"No; but it means that there would be no reason for doing such a thing.
I've got no debts, an' there are more customers than can be attended to
on so small a board. If you'd made the proposition last Monday it would
have been different, but now you can't expect me, after taking all the
risk, to divide after the work has been done."
"Who lent you the money to start, Teddy Hargreaves?" Uncle Nathan cried,
his face growing purple with rage.
"You did."
"And how have you repaid such generosity? How----"
"I gave you three dollars for the use of fifteen two days," was the
prompt reply.
"But how have you repaid me for remaining inactive after my money was
stolen?"
"That was something which did not concern me, therefore I had nothing to
repay."
"It has a great deal to do with you, as shall be shown before this day
is ended, unless you consent to take me as an equal partner in this
enterprise. Your friend in crime has been arrested, and I can swear that
he turned over to you his ill-gotten gains. One word from me at this
time and you will be in the same prison."
The fact of his having been threatened before made Teddy bold, and he
said, quietly:
"I won't pay you for holding your tongue, Uncle Nathan, so do whatever
you choose."
"I will inform the authorities of all I have learned this morning, and
we shall see what the result will be," the old man cried, in a fury, as
he walked away, and despite the bold bearing he had assumed Teddy firmly
believed that if the magistrate who issued the warrant for Hazelton's
arrest should know he was in possession of the fakir's money, he would
be brought before a bar of justice to explain matters.