_IN CONCLUSION._
Sam was led away before either Teddy or Dan could speak privately with
him; but they went at once to congratulate Hazelton on his apparently
happy escape, and, in response to Mr. Harvey's request, the 'Squire
said:
"The prisoner can remain here, or in your custody, until the party
returns. If the boy has told the truth there is nothing for me to do but
discharge him, and I am really glad that he has come out so
fortunately."
"Don't think I'll ever forget what you've done for me," Hazelton
whispered to Teddy.
"But it isn't me at all. Sam seems to have fixed everything."
"I've got an idea that I know pretty near the truth of the whole story,
never mind how he tells it. At all events, we've no reason to complain,
for if the goods and the other burglar are found, we are out of our
trouble. Your uncle's charges can't hold after that."
It was, as Teddy now realized for the first time, a happy conclusion to
the troubles of both, and his heart was lighter than it had been at any
time since the accusation was made.
There was no question that those who had gone with Sam would be absent
several hours, and the little party in the court-room had more time at
their disposal than could well be occupied by the discussion of their
affairs.
After the different phases of the case had been gone over in detail,
Hazelton asked Teddy:
"How did you come out at the fair?"
"I haven't figured up; but I know I've made a good deal, an' it must be
almost enough, countin' the money Deacon Jones gave us, to pay the debt
on the place."
Until this moment Teddy had had so much on his mind that the principal
cause of his turning fakir was absent from his mind; but now, with
nothing better to do, he began to count up the week's work, announcing
the result a few moments later by saying:
"I took in two hundred an' fifty-two dollars an' fifty cents during the
week. Out of that must come the money I lost at Waterville, what I paid
Uncle Nathan, the privilege, the money I paid Mr. Reaves for the stock,
Tim's wages, an' my board. That leaves one hundred an' forty-five
dollars an' ninety-eight cents. With what came in from the testimonial
I'll have enough to pay off the debt on the house, an' pretty near
eight dollars for myself, which is what I call a big week's work."
"I'm glad you have made it," Hazelton replied, heartily. "There is a
little matter between you an' I which yet remains to be settled, and
when that has been done you should be considerably better off."
"I don't want you to do a thing," Teddy said, quickly. "So many people
have helped me since the fair opened that it seems as if I was nothing
more or less than a beggar."
"You come very far from deserving that title," the fakir replied, and
then the entrance of Mr. Reaves interrupted the conversation. After
talking with the lawyer, the merchant said to Teddy:
"I am more than pleased to learn that you will be freed from all your
troubles in a short time. Next week I shall be in need of a clerk, and
if you wish to take the situation it shall be left open until you are
ready to go to work. The wages are six dollars a week for the first
year, with an increase as soon as you can earn it, and I will really be
pleased to have you in my employ."
"I'd like to come," Teddy replied; "but it don't seem just right to
leave mother."
"There is no necessity of doing so. You can ride back and forth on the
stage, unless your mother should decide, as I think she will eventually,
to make her home in Waterville."
"If she approves of the plan I'll come to work next week."
"Make it two weeks, so that there'll be plenty of time to arrange
matters, and I will expect you," the merchant replied in a tone which
showed that he was more than satisfied with the arrangement. "I only
came over to see if you needed any assistance; but Mr. Harvey says
you'll soon be free from the charge your uncle made, therefore I will go
back at once."
About an hour after the merchant departed Sam and the constables
returned with Phil and the stolen goods.
The amateur detective was in the best possible spirits, and now that the
burglar had been apprehended through his assistance the boy felt
absolutely certain he was the greatest detective in the country.
As a matter of course, there was nothing the 'Squire could do save
discharge Hazelton from custody, and after Mr. Harvey had given his word
that he would take care Sam should appear when wanted as a witness, the
boy rejoined his friends, saying as he did so:
"If you fellers had done as I wanted you'd be way up now, the same as I
am. Of course, I don't blame you for being afraid; but when you go out
on such work the only way is to hold on."
"I wonder how long you'd have held on if the men hadn't made you stay
with them?" Dan asked.
"Who told you that?" Sam said. "If I staid, it was because I knowed it
wouldn't be long until I got the upper hand of the gang, an I've done
it."
Before the party separated, and while Uncle Nathan was identifying the
goods which had been stolen from him, Mr. Harvey insisted that the
reward should be paid, and although it was very much like drawing a
tooth, the old man was finally induced to make his word good.
"It's a pile of money, but I earned it," Sam said, as he tucked Uncle
Nathan's grudgingly bestowed cash in his trousers pocket. "There ain't
many 'round this part of the country who could have done what I did, an'
it's only right detectives should be well paid."
Then, with many protestations of friendship, the lawyer started for
home, after returning to Hazelton the money which Teddy had given Mr.
Reaves for safekeeping, and the fakir said as he walked out of the
court-room with the four boys:
"Now, I want you to come with me, until my business is settled, and then
I'll shake the dust of Peach Bottom from my feet in the shortest
possible time."
Not understanding what he meant, the boys accompanied him to the nearest
jewelry store, and there he bought two silver watches, which he
presented to Teddy and Dan, as he said:
"These are only to remind you that I am grateful for what has been done.
It isn't much of a present; but it will suffice to show I'm not
ungrateful. Some time in the future I may meet you again, and then the
full debt shall be paid if I'm solid enough to do it."
He was gone almost before the astonished boys could thank him, and with
his departure this story should properly be concluded, since Teddy has
made his last appearance as a fakir.
A few more words, and "the end" shall be written.
Sam, still believing himself especially designed for a detective, is yet
displaying his "style" as an oarsman in the employ of the Davis Boat and
Oar Company, and he believes he has guessed the weight of the yacht
which is so soon to be given away.
Dan accepted an offer from Mr. Reaves last week, and he and Teddy are
learning the same business, both looking forward to the time when they
shall own a store equally as large.
Uncle Nathan is still at the Run, but his trade has decreased very
materially, and Hazelton has not been seen since the day he left Peach
Bottom; but it is quite possible that when the fair opens this season
all the fakirs may again meet the country boy who made such a successful
venture at the country fair.
[THE END.]
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Transcriber's Note:
[----] denotes a word missing in the original text.