TONY DENTON'S CALL
Leaving Luke on his way to the Black Hills, we will go back to
Groveton, to see how matters are moving on there.
Tony Denton had now the excuse he sought for calling upon Prince
Duncan. Ostensibly, his errand related to the debt which Randolph
had incurred at his saloon, but really he had something more
important to speak of. It may be remarked that Squire Duncan, who
had a high idea of his own personal importance, looked upon Denton
as a low and insignificant person, and never noticed him when they
met casually in the street. It is difficult to play the part of an
aristocrat in a country village, but that is the role which Prince
Duncan assumed. Had he been a prince in reality, as he was by name,
he could not have borne himself more loftily when he came face to
face with those whom he considered his inferiors.
When, in answer to the bell, the servant at Squire Duncan's
found Tony Denton standing on the doorstep, she looked at him
in surprise.
"Is the squire at home?" asked the saloon keeper.
"I believe so," said the girl, doubtfully.
"I would like to see him. Say Mr. Denton wishes to see him on
important business."
The message was delivered.
"Mr. Denton!" repeated the squire, in surprise. "Is it Tony Denton?"
"Yes, sir."
"What can he wish to see me about?"
"He says it's business of importance, sir."
"Well, bring him in."
Prince Duncan assumed his most important attitude and bearing when
his visitor entered his presence.
"Mr.--ahem!--Denton, I believe?" he said, as if he found difficulty
in recognizing Tony.
"The same."
"I am--ahem!--surprised to hear that you have any business with me."
"Yet so it is, Squire Duncan," said Tony, not perceptibly overawed
by the squire's grand manner.
"Elucidate it!" said Prince Duncan, stiffly.
"You may not be aware, Squire Duncan, that your son Randolph has
for some time frequented my billiard saloon and has run up a sum of
twenty-seven dollars."
"I was certainly not aware of it. Had I been, I should have
forbidden his going there. It is no proper place for my son
to frequent."
"Well, I don't know about that. It's respectable enough, I guess.
At any rate, he seemed to like it, and at his request, for he was
not always provided with money, I trusted him till his bill comes
to twenty-seven dollars--"
"You surely don't expect me to pay it!" said the squire, coldly.
"He is a minor, as you very well know, and when you trusted him
you knew you couldn't legally collect your claim."
"Well, squire, I thought I'd take my chances," said Tony,
carelessly. "I didn't think you'd be willing to have him owing
bills around the village. You're a gentleman, and I was sure
you'd settle the debt."
"Then, sir, you made a very great mistake. Such bills as that I do
not feel called upon to pay. Was it all incurred for billiards?"
"No; a part of it was for drinks."
"Worse and worse! How can you have the face to come here, Mr.
Denton, and tell me that?"
"I don't think it needs any face, squire. It's an honest debt."
"You deliberately entrapped my son, and lured him into your saloon,
where he met low companions, and squandered his money and time in
drinking and low amusements."
"Come, squire, you're a little too fast. Billiards ain't low. Did
you ever see Schaefer and Vignaux play?"
"No, sir; I take no interest in the game. In coming here you
have simply wasted your time. You will get no money from me."
"Then you won't pay your son's debt?" asked Tony Denton.
"No."
Instead of rising to go, Tony Denton kept his seat. He regarded
Squire Duncan attentively.
"I am sorry, sir," said Prince Duncan, impatiently. "I shall have
to cut short this interview."
"I will detain you only five minutes, sir. Have you ascertained
who robbed the bank?"
"I have no time for gossip. No, sir."
"I suppose you would welcome any information on the subject?"
Duncan looked at his visitor now with sharp attention.
"Do you know anything about it?" he asked.
"Well, perhaps I do."
"Were you implicated in it?" was the next question.
Tony Denton smiled a peculiar smile.
"No, I wasn't," he answered. "If I had been, I don't think I
should have called upon you about the matter. But--I think I know
who robbed the bank."
"Who, then?" demanded the squire, with an uneasy look.
Tony Denton rose from his chair, advanced to the door, which
was a little ajar, and closed it. Then he resumed.
"One night late--it was after midnight--I was taking a walk, having
just closed my saloon, when it happened that my steps led by the
bank. It was dark--not a soul probably in the village was awake
save myself, when I saw the door of the bank open and a muffled
figure came out with a tin box under his arm. I came closer, yet
unobserved, and peered at the person. I recognized him."
"You recognized him?" repeated the squire, mechanically, his face
pale and drawn.
"Yes; do you want to know who it was?"
Prince Duncan stared at him, but did not utter a word.
"It was you, the president of the bank!" continued Denton.
"Nonsense, man!" said Duncan, trying to regain his self-control.
"It is not nonsense. I can swear to it."
"I mean that it is nonsense about the robbery. I visited the bank
to withdraw a box of my own."
"Of course you can make that statement before the court?" said Tony
Denton, coolly.
"But--but--you won't think of mentioning this circumstance?"
muttered the squire.
"Will you pay Randolph's bill?"
"Yes--yes; I'll draw a check at once."
"So far, so good; but it isn't far enough. I want more."
"You want more?" ejaculated the squire.
"Yes; I want a thousand-dollar government bond. It's cheap enough
for such a secret."
"But I haven't any bonds."
"You can find me one," said Tony, emphatically, "or I'll tell what I
know to the directors. You see, I know more than that."
"What do you know?" asked Duncan, terrified.
"I know that you disposed of a part of the bonds on Wall Street, to
Sharp & Ketchum. I stood outside when you were up in their office."
Great beads of perspiration gathered upon the banker's brow. This
blow was wholly unexpected, and he was wholly unprepared for it.
He made a feeble resistance, but in the end, when Tony Denton left
the house he had a thousand-dollar bond carefully stowed away in
an inside pocket, and Squire Duncan was in such a state of mental
collapse that he left his supper untasted.
Randolph was very much surprised when he learned that his father had
paid his bill at the billiard saloon, and still more surprised that
the squire made very little fuss about it.