CONCLUSION.
Bert arrived in New York in due time, accompanied by Ralph Harding. They
received a cordial welcome from Uncle Jacob.
"You shall not regret your testimony in behalf of John Barton," he said
to Harding. "I will see that you are protected."
"Uncle Jacob," said Bert, "I have twenty dollars left of the amount you
gave me for expenses. Here it is."
"Keep it, Bert. You will need it."
"But, Uncle Jacob, I have already put you to too great expense. If you
were a rich man----"
Jacob Marlowe smiled.
"I can spare the money," he said. "Don't trouble yourself on that score.
You have done yourself great credit, Bert, and shown great shrewdness in
your expedition in search of Mr. Harding. I am not sure that you would
not make a good detective."
"I have no ambition in that direction, Uncle Jacob. I hope to get a
little better education, and then to devote myself to business."
"I think you will have an opportunity to do both, Bert."
"Do you think you can get me a place of some kind in New York? I know,
of course, that I must work before I can afford to study."
"We will speak of that later. Now I have to propose that we all go down
to Lakeville to meet your father and mother, and incidentally to have an
interview with Albert Marlowe."
"Do you wish me to go, too?" asked Ralph Harding.
"By all means! You are the most important member of the party."
Toward noon of the next day the three reached Lakeville. Uncle Jacob and
Ralph Harding secured rooms at the hotel, and then repaired to the
little cottage.
We will precede them.
It was in the spirit of revenge that the squire had telegraphed to
Brooklyn, and after he had done so he half regretted it. If John Barton
were re-arrested, he would undoubtedly try to incriminate the squire
himself, and the mere accusation would do him harm. It would be best if
Barton could be frightened into making his escape, and this very act
would seem like a confession of guilt.
"Yes, that will be best," thought the squire. "Barton will never dare to
come back, and we shall be spared the scandal of a trial."
He took his hat and cane, and set out for the Barton cottage.
Mrs. Barton opened the door.
"Is your husband in?" asked the squire.
"Yes."
"I would like to see him on very important business."
"I will see you," said John Barton, who had overheard the squire's
words.
"Well?" he said, as Marlowe entered the sitting-room.
"I have come to urge you to leave Lakeville," began the squire,
abruptly. "There is no time to be lost."
"Why should I leave Lakeville?"
"You don't want to be arrested, I take it?"
"Is there any danger of it?"
"Yes; I telegraphed yesterday to Robert Manning that you were here.
Officers of the law may arrive at any time."
"Why did you betray me?" asked Barton, quietly.
"Because I thought it my duty. I had no right to shield a criminal."
"Then why have you put me on my guard?"
"For your wife's sake."
"I am surprised at your consideration. You showed very little when you
discharged my boy from your factory."
"That was a matter of business. But there is no time to waste in
discussion. I advise you to go to the station at once. A train will
leave for New York in half an hour, and you may be able to escape before
the arrival of the officers."
"But I don't want to escape."
"Are you mad?" demanded the squire, impatiently. "Do you want to spend a
term of years in prison?"
"Heaven forbid!"
"Then profit by my warning, and escape while there is time."
"No. If I am arrested I will stand trial."
"Have you taken leave of your senses?"
"No; I wish to prove my innocence."
"What chance have you of that?"
"The testimony of Ralph Harding----"
"What!" exclaimed Squire Marlowe, rising in great agitation. "Where is
Ralph Harding?"
"Here!" was the unexpected reply, and Uncle Jacob entered the room,
accompanied by Bert and Mr. Harding.
Albert Marlowe turned his gaze from one to another in ill-concealed
dismay.
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, hoarsely. "Have you been
hatching up a plot against me?"
"No," answered Uncle Jacob with dignity. "It is our object to relieve
John Barton from the stigma upon his fair name. In doing so it may be
necessary to fasten the crime upon the guilty party. Who that is, you
know as well as I do."
"No one will credit the testimony of that man!" said the squire,
pointing scornfully at Ralph Harding.
"Don't be too sure of that! His story is plain and straightforward, and
I think it will impress the court that way."
"Albert has been urging me to escape," said John Barton. "He has set the
officers on my track."
"Has he done this?" asked Uncle Jacob, sharply.
"So he says."
At this moment a knock was heard at the door, and there was a new and
unexpected arrival, which produced a sensation.
It was Robert Manning, of Brooklyn.
"You telegraphed to me, Mr. Marlowe," he said. "This man, I believe, is
John Barton."
"You are right, sir," responded Barton, calmly.
"I might have brought with me an officer and an order of arrest, but I
have chosen instead to offer to drop all action against you if you will
restore the bonds or their equivalent. I have no wish to be revenged,
but I want reparation."
"As I never took your bonds, I am not the person to apply to," replied
Barton.
"Then perhaps you will have the kindness to tell me who did take the
bonds," said Manning, incredulously.
"I will do that," responded Ralph Harding, coming forward. "There he
stands!"
"It is a lie!" interposed the squire, hoarsely.
"It is true. You hired me to put a five-hundred dollar bond into John
Barton's pocket while you appropriated the remainder. It was this that
enabled you to go into business for yourself in Lakeville. It was in
this way that you got together your wealth."
Albert Marlowe was overwhelmed, and did not immediately reply.
"I think I remember you," said Robert Manning. "It was your testimony
that weighed so heavily against Mr. Barton."
"And it has weighed heavily upon my conscience ever since. I have at
last determined to tell the truth."
"What have you to say to this, Mr. Marlowe?" asked Manning pointedly.
"It is a lie," answered the squire, feebly.
"You are willing to have the matter go to trial?"
"Albert," put in Uncle Jacob, "it appears to me that you are in a bad
box. Ralph Harding's testimony is sure to convict you. Will you take my
advice?"
"What is it?" asked the squire, sullenly.
"Accept the offer made to John Barton under a misapprehension. Repay to
Mr. Manning the value of the stolen bonds----"
"With interest attached," interposed Manning.
"And he will drop the matter. Am I right, Mr. Manning?"
"Yes, sir."
"It will amount to about double the original sum--say twelve thousand
dollars."
"I can't raise so large an amount in cash."
"You are worth more?"
"Yes; but not in ready money."
"I will advance it to you, and take a bill of sale of the factory and
your house," said Uncle Jacob.
All eyes were turned upon the old man in amazement.
"But where will you get the money?" gasped the squire.
"I can raise ten times that sum, if necessary."
"But I thought you were a poor man?"
"I never told you so. I said I had five hundred dollars; but I didn't
add that I am worth at least two hundred thousand dollars more. That was
my secret!"
"You said that you invested all your money in some mining shares that
depreciated to nothing."
"I foresaw the decline, and sold out at a small loss."
"Why did you deceive us?" asked the squire, irritably.
"I wanted to test you all. When you thought me poor, you gave me my
walking ticket; but Mary here," and Uncle Jacob glanced affectionately
at Mrs. Barton, "gave me a warm welcome, though she thought me nearly as
poor as herself. I shall not forget it. Bert also did not look down upon
his old uncle, even though he had little to expect from him."
"But, Uncle Jacob," said Bert, "why, if you are so rich, do you work for
twelve dollars a week?"
"It was a harmless deception, Bert," he replied. "I am at the head of
the office where you think me employed, and president of one of the
richest mines on the Pacific Coast."
"Mr. Marlowe," said the squire, not venturing upon the familiar name of
Uncle Jacob, "instead of advancing money on my house, factory, and
stock, are you willing to buy them outright?"
"At what sum do you value them?"
"Fifteen thousand dollars."
"It is a bargain," said Uncle Jacob promptly.
"You may feel disposed to run the business yourself."
"It is out of my line. I shall make a free gift of the whole to John
Barton, who, I suppose, is quite capable of taking your place."
"How can I thank you?" said Mr. Barton, much moved.
"By making Mary happy. Now, Mr. Manning, if you and Albert Marlowe will
call to-morrow at my office in New York we will complete the business.
John, I shall not need you; but Bert will go with me and bring you back
the deeds of the property I propose to transfer to you."
That evening was a happy one in the Barton cottage, but there was vain
regret and dissatisfaction at the home of Albert Marlowe. Too late they
all regretted that they had received Uncle Jacob so coldly, and so
forfeited, in all probability, their chances of sharing his wealth.
Percy's great regret was that that Barton boy should be lifted above
him.
A month later, and the changes had taken place. The Bartons moved to
Squire Marlowe's handsome house, and John Barton was installed as owner
and head of the shoe factory. Bert was placed at an academy, where he
will remain till he has acquired a good education, and then will enter
Uncle Jacob's office in the city. He bids fair to redeem the promise of
his boyhood, and become an upright and manly man. Ralph Harding has been
made superintendent of the factory, and enjoys the confidence of John
Barton, who is happy in the society of his wife, of which he was
deprived for so many years.
Albert Marlowe, with the remainder of his money, went to Illinois, and
has established a small shoe factory out there. He is a discontented and
unhappy man, and his wife is peevish and discontented also. They can no
longer afford the expensive establishment they maintained in Lakeville.
Percy has not lost all hopes of being remembered in the will of his
wealthy relative, but whether he will or not is Jacob Marlowe's Secret.
THE END.
* * * * *
ALGER SERIES FOR BOYS.
UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME. BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.
Adrift in New York.
A Cousin's Conspiracy.
Andy Gordon.
Andy Grant's Pluck.
Bob Burton.
Bound to Rise.
Brave and Bold.
Cash Boy.
Chester Rand.
Do and Dare.
Driven from Home.
Erie Train Boy.
Facing the World.
Five Hundred Dollars.
Frank's Campaign.
Grit.
Hector's Inheritance.
Helping Himself.
Herbert Carter's Legacy.
In a New World.
Jack's Ward.
Jed, the Poor House Boy.
Joe's Luck.
Julius, the Street Boy.
Luke Walton.
Making His Way.
Mark Mason.
Only an Irish Boy.
Paul, the Peddler.
Phil, the Fiddler.
Ralph Raymond's Heir.
Risen from the Ranks.
Sam's Chance.
Shifting for Himself.
Sink or Swim.
Slow and Sure.
Store Boy.
Strive and Succeed.
Strong and Steady.
Struggling Upward.
Tin Box.
Tom, the Bootblack.
Tony, the Tramp.
Try and Trust.
Wait and Hope.
Walter Sherwood's Probation.
Young Acrobat.
Young Adventurer.
Young Outlaw.
Young Salesman.
_Price, Post-Paid, 35c. each, or any three books for $1.00._
HURST & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.