GRIT IS BETRAYED.
In sending Grit to Boston instead of the regular messenger, President
Graves had acted on his own responsibility, as he had a right to do,
since it was a matter to be decided by the executive. He might, indeed,
have consulted the directors, but that would have created delay, and
might have endangered the needful secrecy. When, however, Grit returned
and reported to him that his mission had been satisfactorily
accomplished, he informed the directors of what had been done at a
special meeting summoned at his own house. All approved the action
except Mr. Courtney, who was prejudiced against Grit, and, moreover,
felt offended because his own counsel had not been asked or regarded.
"It seems to me," he said, with some heat, "that our president has acted
in a very rash manner."
"How do you make that out, Mr. Courtney?" interrogated that official.
"It was actually foolhardy to trust a boy like Grit Morris with a
package of such value."
"Why?" inquired Graves.
"Why? He is only a common boy, who makes a living by ferrying passengers
across the river."
"Does that prevent his being honest?"
"A valuable package like that would be a powerful temptation to a boy
like that," asserted Courtney.
"The package was promptly delivered," said Mr. Graves dryly.
"He says so," sneered Courtney.
"Pardon me, Mr. Courtney, I have had advice to that effect from the
Boston bank," said the president blandly.
"Well, I'm glad the danger has been averted," said Courtney, rather
discomfited. "All the same, I blame your course as hazardous and
injudicious. I suppose the boy was afraid to appropriate property of so
much value."
"I think, Mr. Courtney, you do injustice to Grit," said Mr. Saunders,
another director. "I am satisfied that he is strictly honest."
"Perhaps you'd be in favor of appointing him regular bank messenger,"
said Courtney, with a sneer.
"I should certainly prefer him to Ephraim Carver."
"I consider Carver an honest man."
"And I have positive proof that he is not honest," said the president.
"I have proof, moreover, that he was actually in league with the man who
plotted to rob the bank."
This statement made a sensation, and the president proceeded:
"Indeed, I have called this extra meeting partly to suggest the
necessity of appointing in Carver's place a man in whom we can repose
confidence."
Here he detailed briefly the conversation which Grit overheard between
the bank messenger and Colonel Johnson. It impressed all, except Mr.
Courtney.
"All a fabrication of that boy, I'll be bound," he declared. "I am
surprised, Mr. Graves, that you should have been humbugged by such a
palpable invention."
"What could have been the boy's object in inventing such a story, allow
me to ask, Mr. Courtney?"
"Oh, he wanted to worm himself into our confidence," said Courtney.
"Very likely he wished to be appointed bank messenger, though that
would, of course, be preposterous."
"Gentlemen," said President Graves, "as my course does not seem to
command entire approval, I will ask those of you who think I acted with
discretion to signify it."
All voted in the affirmative except Mr. Courtney.
"I regret, Mr. Courtney, that you disapprove my course," said the
president; "but I continue to think it wise, and am glad that your
fellow directors side with me."
Soon after the meeting dissolved, and Mr. Courtney went home very much
dissatisfied.
Nothing was done about the appointment of a new messenger, the matter
being postponed for three days.
When Mr. Courtney went home he did a very unwise thing. He inveighed in
the presence of his family against the course of President Graves,
though it was a matter that should have been kept secret. He found one
to sympathize with him--his son Phil.
"You don't mean to say," exclaimed that young man, "that Grit Morris
was sent to Boston in charge of thirty thousand dollars in bonds?"
"Yes, I do. That is just what was done."
"It's a wonder he didn't steal them and make himself scarce."
"That is in substance what I said at the meeting of the directors, my
son."
"I wish they'd sent me," said Phil. "I should have enjoyed the trip."
"It would certainly have been more appropriate," said Mr. Courtney, "as
you are the son of one of the directors, and not the least influential
or prominent, I flatter myself."
"To take a common boatman!" said Phil scornfully. "Why, Mr. Graves must
be crazy!"
"He is certainly a very injudicious man," said his father.
"Do you believe Carver to be dishonest, father?"
"No, I don't, though Graves does, on some evidence trumped up by the boy
Grit. He wants to supersede him, and it would not at all surprise me if
he should be in favor of appointing Grit."
"How ridiculous! What is the pay?" asked Phil.
"Six hundred dollars a year, I believe," said Courtney.
"Can't you get it for me?" asked Phil eagerly.
"I don't think it would be suitable to appoint a boy," returned
Courtney. "That is my objection to Grit."
"Surely I would be a better messenger than a common boy like that."
"Of course, you come of a very different family. Still, I prefer a man,
and indeed I am in favor of retaining Ephraim Carver."
Phil would really have liked the office of bank messenger. He was tired
of studying, and would have found it very agreeable to have an income of
his own. He got considerable sums from his father, but not sufficient
for his needs, or, rather, his wishes. Besides, like most boys of his
age, he enjoyed traveling about, and considered the office a light and
pleasant one.
"What a fool Graves must be," he said to himself, "to think of a common
boatman for such a place! He'd better stick to his boat, it's all he's
qualified for. I'd like to put a spoke in his wheel."
He left the house, and a short distance up the street he met Ephraim
Carver, who had come back to town in obedience to Colonel Johnson's
suggestion, to learn what he could about the mysterious package.
"I'll see what I can learn from him," thought Phil.
"Good morning, Mr. Carver," he said.
"Good morning, Philip."
"You've been to Boston lately, haven't you?"
"I wonder whether he has heard anything about the matter from his
father," thought Carver.
"Yes," he answered.
"You didn't happen to meet Grit Morris there, did you?" asked Phil.
"Grit Morris!" exclaimed Carver, in genuine surprise.
"Yes, didn't you know he had been to Boston?"
"No; what business had he in Boston?" asked the messenger.
"None of his own," answered Phil significantly.
"Did any one send him?"
"You had better ask Mr. Graves," said Phil, telling more than he
intended to.
"Why didn't Mr. Graves get me to attend to his business?" asked Carver,
still in the dark.
"I didn't say Graves had any business of his own. He is president of the
bank, you know."
"But I attend to the bank business. I am the messenger."
"Perhaps you don't attend to all of it," said Phil, telling considerably
more than he intended when the conversation commenced.
"Tell me what you know, Phil, about this matter. It is important for me
to know," said Carver coaxingly. "I know you don't like Grit, neither do
I. If he is trying to curry favor with Mr. Graves, I want to know it, so
as to circumvent him."
Before Phil quite knew what he was saying, he had revealed everything to
Carver, adding that Grit was after his place.
The bank messenger now understood why the package entrusted to him was a
dummy, and who carried the real package. He lost no time in sending
information to Colonel Johnson, in Portland.
The gentleman was very much excited when he learned in what way he had
been circumvented.
"So it was a boy, was it?" he said savagely. "That boy must be looked
after. He may find that he has made a mistake in meddling with affairs
that don't concern him."