BOB MISSES A FRIEND
Never stopping to notice in what direction he was going, Bob dashed
along the street, fearful only lest his guardian would pursue him, and
expecting every moment to hear his voice shouting at him to stop. But as
the moments wore by without any sign of excitement or alarm, Bob gained
confidence, finally slackening his pace to a walk, and began to think of
what he should do, now that he had taken matters into his own hands, and
severed the ties of years that had bound him to his guardian.
Back in the store the grocer had stood undecided what to do. The
knowledge that his ward had been informed of the bequest, a fact which
he supposed was known only to himself, had unnerved him. And the failure
of his attempt to get the letter and thus destroy all evidence of the
trust fund, had caused him to be seized with a great fear lest
retribution should be visited upon him.
Instead, therefore, of going in pursuit of Bob, his one idea was to
conceal himself. Going to the front door of the shop, he closed it and
locked it and then betook himself to his private office, the door of
which he also shut, and sitting down in the chair buried his head in his
hands and tried to think what was best for him to do.
But his sense of guilt would not let him rest, and in the thought that
Bob might seek some lawyer and place the matter in his hands, which
would mean a visit to the grocery store and the necessity of making
embarrassing explanations, the dishonest guardian determined to go away
for a few hours at least. No sooner had he made up his mind upon this
course of action than he seized his hat, stole from his room, glided
across the floor to the front door, listened a moment for the sound of
voices, or any other indication that people were passing, then hurriedly
turned the key in the door, stepped outside, locked the door again, and
after a furtive glance up and down the street, slunk away, keeping close
to the buildings, for all the world like a dog that was hounded, rather
than a man.
It was because of this action on the part of Mr. Dardus in closing his
store that Foster was unable to gain admittance when he arrived half an
hour later, having come for the purpose of seeing the boy he had
championed so effectively, and of assisting in a reconciliation between
the ward and the guardian, in case it had not already been accomplished.
On his way, his mind had pictured many scenes in which the boy and the
grocer were participants, but none of them had contained the possibility
of the store being closed. And it was with distinct surprise that he
found the door locked, and was unable to arouse any one by his vigorous
pounding upon the weather-worn panels.
"I wonder what it means," said the reporter to himself. "Perhaps Bob
didn't come back, and the old man, repenting of his refusing to go to
his ward's assistance, is on his way either to the police station or to
the court."
His occupation, however, necessitated his being resourceful, and, seeing
an elderly woman peering at him closely from a window of the neighboring
house, Foster hastened toward her.
Bowing politely, he asked:
"Have you seen anything of Mr. Dardus, or Bob Chester?"
"Uhuh! I seen 'em both," replied the woman, nodding her head, as though
to confirm her words. But though Foster remained silent in the hope that
she would add to this information, he was at length obliged to renew his
questions, as she vouchsafed nothing more.
"Were they together?"
"No."
"Which way were they going--in the same direction?"
"No. Bob ran up the street as though the police were after him."
"Then Mr. Dardus was chasing him," suggested Foster, jumping at the
conclusion that Bob and his guardian had had angry words, that the boy
had run away, and that his guardian had gone in pursuit.
"No, he wasn't. He came out about twenty minutes after Bob had gone, and
went in the opposite direction."
This response puzzled the reporter, as he could think of no plausible
explanation, but his thoughts were diverted by the old woman, who
demanded:
"What's wrong, mister?"
"What makes you think there is anything wrong?" parried Foster,
determined, if possible, to keep the knowledge of Bob's arrest from so
evident a neighborhood gossip.
"Because Len Dardus closed his store on a Saturday. I've been living
here thirty years, and he has never done such a thing before, but once,
and that was twelve years ago, the day he brought Bob back with him. So
I know that it must be something important, or the old man wouldn't lose
the opportunity to make a few cents in his store."
Struck by the coincidence that it was because of Bob the grocer had at
both times shut up his store, Foster considered for a few moments what
it was best to do, and then said with ever so faint a smile:
"I suppose you will see Bob when he comes back?"
"I reckon I will. I see most everything going on around here that's to
be seen."
"Then I will be obliged if you will give him this," and he handed her
one of his calling cards. "Tell him, please, that I am at home any
evening after seven o'clock, and should like to have him call on me."
"I'll be glad to. I suppose you may be some friend of Bob's who knew his
father? I've often wondered why no one came to see the boy and take him
from that man Dardus."
These words suggested a new train of thought to the reporter, and,
judging from the remark that his informant had some knowledge of the
boy's antecedents, he determined to learn what he could about them.
"Then you knew Bob's father?" asked Foster.
"No. I can't say as I knew him, but I do know that I wouldn't treat a
dog the way Dardus has treated Bob, and I have often wondered why none
of the friends of the lad's father came to find out about him, or to
take him away. And I made up my mind, as soon as I saw you, that you
were one of them. Anyway, I hope so, for Bob is a real bright boy; too
bright to be working for that old miser. He's fond of book reading, and
I've told old man Dardus, every time I saw him, that he ought to have
the boy educated."
"Well, I _am_ Bob's friend," said the reporter, "and if you think it's a
wise thing, I'll see what I can do about getting him into a different
place. You just tell him to come and see me the first opportunity he
has."
And again lifting his hat, Foster bowed and took his departure.