THE AMATEUR DETECTIVES.
When it was found that Robert was not seriously hurt there was a
general feeling of relief among his circus friends, for the boy
rider was a great favorite. Though he was somewhat reserved he was
always polite, affable, and ready to be of assistance to any of his
associates. He was sometimes called "the little gentleman," and was
generally supposed to have sprung from a good family, though even to
himself his birth was a secret.
Among those who inquired anxiously for him were Charlie Davis and the
Norwegian giant.
"He has sprained his ankle slightly," said Dr. Grey. "It will require
a week or two of perfect rest, perhaps more. Indeed it will not do for
him to ride again this season."
"Are you sure of that, doctor?" asked the manager.
"I am positive that it would be most imprudent."
"I asked because it cuts off the boy from earning money."
"There need be no trouble on that score. He can stay at my house as
long as he likes, and it will cost him nothing."
"You are very kind, Dr. Grey. However, the boy is not without funds. I
have two hundred dollars of his in my possession, and before I leave
town I will hand it to him or you, as this accident will part us for
the remainder of the season."
"Give it to him, then. I am glad he has been so provident."
Dr. Grey and Sidney obtained a carriage, and Robert was taken home to
the doctor's comfortable and even luxurious dwelling, for, besides
having had an extensive practice for years, he had married a lady with
a fortune. Leaving Robert there in good hands, we return to the circus.
As soon as the entertainment was over, Charlie and Anak, remembering
their engagement, bent their steps towards the house of Mr. Tarbox.
They were detained, however, for fifteen minutes or more before being
able to depart, and this gave Carden an opportunity to get at work.
"Have you seen Carden this evening, Charlie?" asked Anak.
"Yes; he was at the circus."
"I wonder whether it was he that threw the rock?" said Anak, suddenly.
"I shouldn't wonder. I didn't think of it before."
"He could have no other object in coming to the show. He had seen it
plenty of times. Besides, his money must have been low."
"Perhaps he got in for nothing," suggested Charlie.
"Go and ask."
Charlie, upon inquiring at the ticket-office, found that Carden had
tried to obtain a pass on the score of his former connection with the
circus, but without success, as the manager had left orders that he was
not to be admitted, except on the same footing with others.
"He grumbled some, but finally bought a ticket," added the
ticket-seller. "I wondered at it, for there was nothing new to him."
"He must have been the one who fired the rock at poor Robert's
horse—the villain!" said Anak, gravely. "We know he had a spite
against the boy."
"I'd like to fire a rock at him!" said Charlie, impetuously.
"He may get into trouble yet," said Anak. "Let us go along."
"Shall we go to the house and speak to Mr. Tarbox?" asked Charlie.
"Yes, for he will know where to look for him."
"I wonder what he will say when he sees you? Bet he'll be scared."
"We'll soon let him understand that we came for his good."
Mr. Tarbox was just about retiring, or rather he was making the usual
preparations—bringing in kindling wood from the shed, raking out the
fire, etc.—when a knock was heard at the outer door.
In the Tarbox household such a thing as a visitor at half-past 10
o'clock in the evening was absolutely unknown.
"Who can it be, Nathan?" asked Mrs. Tarbox, in a flutter.
"How do I know?" returned her husband in the usual polite tone in which
he was accustomed to address his wife.
"Suppose it should be burglars?" suggested Mrs. Tarbox, nervously.
"They'd be very likely to knock at the door, wouldn't they, you goose!"
said her husband. "That's exactly what they always do, isn't it?"
The knock was repeated.
"Go to the door, Mrs. Tarbox."
"Oh mercy, Nathan, I couldn't. I might be killed."
"Give me the lamp, then, you fool!"
Mrs. Tarbox readily gave her husband the lamp, and he strode to the
door.
When he opened it, and his inquiring glance fell on the towering form
of Anak, it must be admitted that Mr. Tarbox himself felt nervous. He
made a movement to close the door, but Anak thrust in his huge foot,
and this made the effort impossible.
"What do you want?" demanded Tarbox, his calmness not quite undisturbed.
"We come on important business," said Anak, in his deep voice.
"Then you might have come at a better time," said Tarbox, his fears
dissipated and his ill-temper returning. "It is time all honest persons
were abed."
"So it is, Mr. Tarbox," answered Anak, "but I am afraid there is one
dishonest person that is wide awake."
"What do you mean?" demanded Tarbox, with a vague suspicion that the
remark might be made at his expense.
"Is there anything of value concealed under the barn yonder?" asked
Anak, pointing to the one already referred to in a former chapter.
"Why do you ask?" queried the farmer, turning pale, and eying the
questioner with suspicion.
"Because a man who has been discharged from our show—a canvas man,
named Carden—was seen by Charlie here prowling about the barn this
afternoon, and trying to look under it through a crack."
Now Tarbox turned pale in earnest.
"It must have been when I was there," he said.
"Very likely; were you under it?"
"Ye-es," answered the farmer.
"Then he was watching you. You know best whether he was likely to see
anything that could be of service to him."
"Is he there now?" asked Tarbox, agitated.
"I should not be at all surprised."
"He may be robbing me at this moment," said Tarbox, wildly.
"Then there is something hidden under the barn?"
"Ye-es. What shall I do? Is he armed? Is he a strong man?"
"No matter whether he is or not. I'm middling strong myself," said the
giant, with a laugh. "Get your hat, and I'll go with you, and we'll see
if we can't defeat him and his plans."
"I'll go, too," added Charlie, in an important tone.
"You alone are able to frighten him, Charlie," said Anak, aroused.
Tarbox got his hat and led the way hurriedly towards the barn. Before
they reached there a sudden suspicion entered his mind and he stopped
short.
"How do I know but this is a trick?" he said, nervously. "You may be
intending to rob me yourself."
"Make your mind easy, Mr. Tarbox!" said Anak. "We don't do business in
that way."
"You are my enemy," said Tarbox.
"Not at all. You have done me no harm. You were meaning to arrest me,
to be sure, but you didn't, and I have no hard feelings against you. I
will do you a good turn if you will let me, especially as this Carden
is a bad fellow. He tried to kill Robert Rudd, to-night."
"What, the boy rider?"
"Yes. Robert caught him stealing, or trying to steal, from his locker,
and this led to his discharge. He threw a rock at the boy's horse, and
he was thrown."
At another time Tarbox might possibly have felt rejoiced that the boy
against whom he himself felt a spite had met with an accident, but now
he felt too anxious about his own property to concern himself about
other matters.
By this time they had reached the solitary barn.
Charlie got down on his knees and peered through the same crevice which
Carden had used in the afternoon.
"He's there!" he exclaimed in excitement, "and he's got a lighted
candle."
"What is he doing?" asked Tarbox in agitation.
"He's digging."
"He will steal my money!" ejaculated Tarbox in dismay. "There's between
three and four hundred dollars hidden there."
"Rather a queer savings bank, Mr. Tarbox!" said Anak, dryly.