_A THIRD ARREST._
When the boys returned to the museum tent from supper they had a long
and interesting story to tell Mr. Sweet; but to their surprise, after
the recital was concluded, he said calmly:
"I knew all of that except about the burglar's arrest."
"Why, how did you hear it?" Dan asked.
"The lawyer an' the merchant have been over here twice since noon,
pumpin' me about Hazelton, an' tryin' to find out how you boys have
behaved yourselves."
"Why did they want to know anything about us?" Teddy asked, in surprise.
"So's to make sure your stories were straight. When men like them take
hold of a thing they don't want to run any chances of bein' fooled. What
has been done about Sam?"
Dan could best answer this question, and he replied:
"The body hasn't been found; but I heard the manager of the Davis Boat
Company's exhibit say that he should keep men at the work of draggin'
the creek till the work was finished. I can't get through my head how he
happened to capsize the craft, for she didn't seem to be cranky."
"That is something none of us will ever know," Mr. Sweet replied,
solemnly, and then, as if to change the mournful subject, he asked: "How
did business pan out to-day, Teddy?"
"I'll count up. We must have come pretty near to what you predicted; but
we would have done a great deal better if it hadn't been for the big
row. That made us lose at least an hour, to say nothin' of havin' six
canes broken just when we needed every one in order to make a good
show."
Then Teddy and Tim emptied the contents of their pockets on a piece of
canvas, and the other occupants of the tent waited patiently for the
result to be announced.
"It's ninety-four dollars and forty-five cents," the former said, after
counting the money twice as if doubtful of the first result. "That's a
big sum of money, but there's no chance of a mistake."
"You can figure that the row cost you six dollars," Mr. Sweet replied,
puffing vigorously at his pipe. "I haven't been 'tendin' out on fairs
these eight years without bein' able to name the amount of such a
business as yours."
"We'd have had twenty-five more but for that row," Tim said, decidedly.
"You're wrong there, my boy," and the proprietor of the museum wore an
air of one who "knows it all." "That is about as much as two boys can
take in, an' you don't want to kick, for I've seen lots of fakirs come
on to a fair ground with a better cane-board than yours an' not get
expenses. Be thankful for what you've earned, an' hope that you can pay
expenses to-morrow, for there won't be any too much money floatin'
around after such a business as we've had to-day."
"I'm more than satisfied," Teddy replied, as he set aside the amount due
Tim, and the latter appeared to be more than contented with having
earned nine dollars and forty-four cents so easily.
"You can suck your thumbs from now out," the barker said,
philosophically, "for the backbone of trade has been broken, an' the
Peach Bottom fair is already numbered with the things of the past."
"Don't you think we'll do anything more?" Teddy asked.
"Oh, yes, there'll be a little to pick up until to-morrow night, but it
won't amount to anything near like what has already been done, although
it'll be clear profit."
"Since I am more than satisfied, there's no chance of being
disappointed," Teddy replied, and at that moment the head of a stranger
appeared between the flaps of canvas.
"Is there a boy named Teddy here?" the newcomer asked.
"Well, what do you want of him?" and Mr. Sweet sprang to his feet as if
anticipating trouble.
"Nothing more than what Hazelton wanted me to say," was the reply, as
the stranger entered, evidently thinking his search was at an end.
"And what is that?" the proprietor of the museum asked, motioning Teddy
to remain silent.
"There's no need of all this secrecy with me, for I'm Hazelton's partner
in everything except the give-away game," the stranger said, with a
laugh. "It appears a man has been arrested by a party whom this boy
Teddy knows, and I'm to say that he is to come to jail very early
to-morrow morning."
Even now Mr. Sweet's suspicions were not allayed, and he asked,
cautiously:
"Could you tell me what he's wanted for?"
"Lawyer Harvey will be there, and is going to talk with him where
Hazelton can hear what is said."
"Is that all?"
"Everything; and if you see the boy, can I depend on your repeating the
message?"
"Under the circumstances there can be no harm in taking every
precaution," the proprietor of the museum replied, "and if your errand
is finished, I may as well say that this is the boy Teddy whom Hazelton
sent you to see."
"That's all right; there was no need of pointing him out; but since you
have done so, I simply want to ask if he can spare the time to do as
Hazelton and the lawyer wish?"
"Of course I can," and now Teddy spoke for himself. "Say that if nothing
happens I'll be there."
"Have you heard whether your uncle has succeeded in getting a warrant?"
the stranger asked.
"No; but Mr. Harvey seemed to think he might be able to do so, and I
don't want to make any promises that can't be carried out."
"Then I'll count on your being there, but since leaving the jail I've
heard enough to warrant my advising you to remain under cover to-night."
"Why?"
"Those fellows who started the fight when you got away with the money
are swearing vengeance. I don't think it's likely they'll attack the
tent, for, owing to the representations made by the lawyer, there'll be
a big force of constables on duty to-night; but if you should venture
outside the grounds it might be impossible to keep any engagement in the
future."
"I wasn't thinkin' of leaving here," Teddy replied; but the mere fact
that he ought not do so made him feel very uncomfortable.
"I couldn't be in any worse fix if I had committed some big crime," he
said, bitterly, "and it is tough to feel like a criminal when a fellow
is only trying to earn honest money."
"It isn't the rule that honest people fare the best," the stranger
replied, with a laugh; "but I hope you'll come out on the top of the
heap. At all events, my business here is finished and I'll go."
The folds of canvas dropped behind him, and Mr. Sweet said, musingly:
"It beats all how you boys have succeeded in getting yourselves mixed up
in this affair. If I didn't know all the circumstances I'd say there
must be some fire where there is so much smoke."
"The smoke isn't of our makin', an' Teddy's uncle can be blamed for the
most of it," Dan said, angrily. "I only wish he was here to know my
opinion of him."
"Are you talkin' about me?" Uncle Nathan asked, as he pushed aside the
canvas and entered without so much as asking permission.
"That's exactly what I was doing," Dan replied, without any show of
fear, "an' if you've been sneakin' 'round to listen, there's no need of
my tellin' over ag'in jest what I think of a man who tries to frighten
an honest boy into givin' up half of what he has made."
"An honest boy?" the old man repeated, with a sneer, and Teddy whispered
to his friend:
"Don't say anything to make him angry, for I'll only get the worst of
it."
"Of course you will," Uncle Nathan replied, having overheard the words.
"When an ungrateful wretch like you conspires to rob the hand that has
fed him he must expect to get the worst of it."
"I never took from you the value of a cent," Teddy said, stoutly, and
Dan cried as he sprang to his feet:
"If there has been any attempt at robbery, you're the guilty one, for
you've tried to steal half the money he made by threatening to have him
arrested if he didn't divide his profits."
"That was only a business proposition," the old man replied, not in the
least abashed, "and he has aided others in stealing from me."
"What do you want here?" Mr. Sweet cried, angrily. "This is my tent; I
have paid for the privilege of putting it upon these grounds, and have
the right to prevent such old hypocrites as you from entering without
paying an admission."
"Look out that you do not come within reach of the law," Uncle Nathan
replied, threateningly, stepping back quickly, as if expecting an
attack. "I am here armed with the right to take this boy, and shall
exercise it despite all that may be said. Come in, Mr. Officer."
In response to this call a constable entered, and Teddy's heart sank
within him, for he understood that the long-deferred arrest was about to
be made.
"There is your prisoner," the old man said, vindictively, as he
pointed to the boy, "and the sooner you take him to jail where he
belongs the sooner we shall be rid of a viper."
[Illustration: As the constable approached him, Teddy said, "I demand to
be first taken to Deacon Jones!"]
Teddy's grief and fear were so great that he could not speak, and even
Dan appeared to have been made dumb by this show of authority; but Mr.
Sweet was somewhat accustomed to such scenes, and he demanded:
"Show me the warrant. I do not propose to let any one be taken out of my
tent by such an old reprobate as that until I am satisfied it is done
under the sanction of the law."
"Convince yourself," Uncle Nathan replied, as the constable held out a
folded document. "That will show under what authority we act."
Sweet read it carefully, and handed it to the officer as he said to the
old man:
"This shows that the constable has the right to take Teddy to prison;
but as certain as there will be a sun in the sky to-morrow so certain
will I aid him in making you suffer for doing this thing. You know he
had nothing to do with the burglary committed at your store, and have
only had this issued in the hope of defrauding him of what he has earned
honestly."
"Talk is cheap," Uncle Nathan said, impatiently. "Officer, take your
prisoner away unless you count on stayin' here all night."
The short parley between the proprietor of the museum and the accuser
gave Teddy time to think of what the lawyer had said, and he added, as
the constable approached him:
"I demand to be first carried to Deacon Jones'."
"Now what kind of a bee have you got in your bonnet?" the old man cried,
displaying both surprise and fear. "I say you are to go to jail, an'
that settles it."
"If he wants to see the deacon I'm bound to take him there," the
constable said.
"Who's been makin' sich foolish talk to you?" Uncle Nathan screamed.
"Lawyer Harvey told me what the law was, an' I don't intend to get into
any fuss by deprivin' a prisoner of his rights," was the stolid reply.