The gentleman took Dick into the house by a side door and up a back
stairs to his own room. Here he provided the boy with a pair of long
stockings and his own slippers. Then he showed him where he could
wash his hands and face and brush his hair. While Dick was thus
employed, his host took his shoes and stockings down to the kitchen,
and instructed the cook to start up the fire and dry them as soon as
possible. He returned to his room and found that Dick had made a great
improvement in his personal appearance.
"Now we will go into the sitting room, and I will make you acquainted
with my family," he said. "They are greatly exercised over the robbery,
for the thieves made a clean sweep of this floor, and took all the
jewelry and other personal belongings of value, including a much-prized
set of silverware which my wife inherited from her mother. The loss
of the latter has made her quite ill, but when I tell her that we are
likely to recover all our property through the information furnished
by you, it will make her feel much better, and you will receive her
thanks."
Mrs. Mason, her unmarried sister, and Miss Madge were seated in a bunch
in the sitting room, looking very much dejected.
"Let me make you acquainted with Richard Darling, of New York," said
Mr. Mason.
Dick bowed and the ladies acknowledged the introduction in a solemn
way, expressive of the state of their feelings.
"You will be glad to learn that this young man has brought us a clue
to the rascals who robbed the house, and the constables have gone off
quite confident of capturing them and recovering our property," said
the gentleman.
His words produced a considerable change in the ladies.
"Do you really think, John, that they will be caught, and that we shall
get our things back?" asked his wife.
"I have strong hopes for it, for this lad's story confirms William's
statement that Samuel Parker is one of the men. According to his
account, the two rascals went over to Parker's house, where they
proposed to hide the plunder in a dry well on his grounds until it
could be safely taken away and disposed of."
Mr. Mason asked Dick to tell his story to the ladies, and he did so.
They expressed their astonishment that circumstances should have
brought him into the business, and declared that he was a fine, plucky
boy. They said they were sorry that his mother and sisters would
necessarily be worried about him, but he was sure to get home early in
the morning, probably about half-past two, and then their anxiety would
be allayed.
"In the meanwhile we will try and make your short stay with us as
pleasant as possible," said Mr. Mason, "and I assure you that you are
entitled to our grateful appreciation. We won't forget what we owe
you for the clue you have furnished us, even if those rascals are not
caught as soon as we expect. And now as you have missed your dinner, I
will see that a meal is prepared for you at once."
The gentleman left the room and the ladies continued conversing with
Dick. He was such a nice, polite boy, and gentle in his ways, as
lads brought up in a family of girls usually are, that they took a
great fancy to him. After a while Mr. Mason returned and told him to
accompany him downstairs. Dick found a nice meal waiting for him, and
as he was very hungry, he did full justice to it. While he was eating,
the constables returned, bringing their prisoners with them and also
the stolen goods. The ladies were pleased to death to learn that their
property had been recovered and, of course, gave all the credit for
it to Dick. After the office boy had finished eating he was taken
outside to identify the rascals, which he did. The servant William also
recognized them as the thieves. Bulger favored Dick with an unpleasant
look and told him he hoped to get even with him some day.
The rascals were then put in a wagon and carried to the lock-up of the
near-by village to be removed next morning to Carlin. Mr. Mason had his
auto brought out of the garage.
"I am ready to take you to the station at Carlin," he said.
Dick was quite ready to go with him. He bade the ladies and Miss Madge,
who had taken a decided liking to him, good-night, and he and his host
were presently en route for that town, which they reached in ample time
for Dick to connect with the midnight express. Thirty minutes later
he reached Jersey City, crossed the river and took an elevated train
for Harlem. He reached the flat where the family lived a few minutes
before two and found his mother and sisters all up and in a great stew
about him. He explained everything to them, and then the family retired
to make the most of the few hours before morning called them to arise
as usual, for the girls all worked in offices downtown and had to get
away about eight o'clock. Dick reached the store on time next morning,
in spite of the fact that his usual hours of sleep had been curtailed,
and he turned the change of the $5 bill over to the cashier; also
the receipt Mr. Goodrich had signed for the package. The office boy
attended to his duties until Mr. Bacon appeared about ten o'clock, when
he followed him into his office.
"You delivered the package to Mr. Goodrich all right, I suppose?" said
his employer.
"Yes, sir. I handed the receipt to the cashier."
Then Dick surprised Mr. Bacon with the story of his adventures with the
two thieves in New Jersey.
"You didn't have much sleep," said Mr. Bacon. "If you feel tired this
afternoon you can go home at four o'clock."
"Thank you, sir, but I don't think that will be necessary. I'll have
plenty of time to make up my lost rest by going to bed directly after
supper. Mr. Mason told me that I will be required to appear in court
at Carlin this afternoon when the men are brought up before the
magistrate. He told me I should take the half-past twelve train down,
and that he would meet me at the station. Can I go?"
"Certainly. I have no right to prevent you giving your testimony in
court."
That ended the interview. Dick went to Carlin that afternoon, was taken
to the court by Mason, and identified the men as the two thieves,
telling his story in a straightforward way. The rascals were held for
trial. Dick returned to New York by an express, reaching Jersey City at
half-past five, and within an hour got home, just in time to sit down
to supper.