EXCITEMENT IN TOWN
The constable liked nothing better than a chance to talk about
something he was concerned in. He sat down on a pile of lumber and
leisurely related the story of the robbery. As he took quite a long
time at it, perhaps it will be better if I condense his story into a
few words.
In brief, then, Mr. Lee had come down as usual that morning to open
his store. He noticed nothing strange until he reached the cigar
case, which he found almost emptied of its contents. That made him
suspicious, and he hurried to the money drawer where he had left about
fifty dollars. It was all gone. Next an opened window attracted his
attention, and he saw that it had been pried up with some instrument,
allowing the thieves to enter.
“But I thought you said Dr. Maxwell saw the two thieves,” spoke Dan,
when the constable had told that much, and had not mentioned the more
important part of the story.
“So I did. I’m comin’ t’ that ef ye give me time. It was this way. Th’
Doc was out on a late call--I think it was t’ Mrs. Tillman’s daughter,
Nancy; she’s quite sick. He was comin’ back along th’ road about one
o’clock this mornin’, all alone, fer Si Martin run a rusty nail in his
hand, an’ can’t drive.
“Wa’al, th’ way Doc tells it, jest as he got near Hank’s store he seen
a light in it. He thought it was sort of queer fer Hank t’ be keepin’
open, but he figered that mebby he were balancin’ his books. Anyhow th’
Doc got a notion he’d like a cigar, an’ he saw a chance t’ go in an’
buy one. So he stopped his hoss in front of th’ store an’ started up
th’ steps.
“He must a’ scared th’ burglars, fer, th’ next minute two men
jumped out of th’ side winder they’d busted open, an’ they set off
lickity-split down th’ road. ’Fore he knowed what were goin’ on, Doc
he seen ’em jump in a carriage, that was hitched t’ a tree, in a dark
place, an’ they druv off.”
“Didn’t he give an alarm?” asked Mr. Harrison.
“No, he didn’t,” replied the constable, “an’ that’s what he’d oughter
done. I live near Hank’s store, an’ if I’d a heard Doc yell fer help
I’d a come on th’ run, and we’d had th’ burglars now. As it was, Doc
thought mebby it might be boys playin’ a trick on Hank, and he didn’t
say nothin’. He got back in his carriage an’ druv home.”
“Then how did you know he saw the robbers?” asked Dan.
“Soon as Hank discovered he’d been robbed, it become known all over
town. Si Martin come in fer some groceries, an’ he heard it. Then he
told Doc when he got back, an’ Doc, puttin’ two an’ two together,
knowed them fellers he seen were th’ burglars. He come right over an’
told me, an’ I’m workin’ on th’ case now.” And then the constable
departed.
“I wonder if they can be the same two thieves who got into the doctor’s
house?” said Dan.
“Perhaps,” spoke Mr. Harrison. “At any rate, I think this will be in
your favor. A second robbery, much like the first, will show that you
are not the only burglar in town, Dan,” and the old soldier laughed.
“And I think I can prove a good alibi in this case,” said Dan, joining
in the merriment. “I was with you all last night.”
As the construction of the machine shop was at a point where it needed
much attention from Mr. Harrison, he wasted no more time thinking
of the robbery of Hank Lee’s store. Nor did Dan, though he vaguely
wondered who the burglars might be, and if they were the same ones who
had stolen the doctor’s silver.
When Mr. Harrison and Dan went home for dinner that noon, they received
an unpleasant surprise. They met Truem Mellock near their cottage.
Truem was a sort of village gossip, being a lazy, shiftless man, who
did odd jobs enough to make a bare living, but who would stick at
nothing long.
“I s’pose ye heard all about th’ robbery?” he said.
“I think we have, unless they have caught the burglars,” replied Mr.
Harrison.
“No, they ain’t yet, but if Hank had his way, theer’d be an arrest
made.”
“An arrest? What do you mean?”
“Wa’al, I ain’t tellin’ no secret when I say he suspects some one.”
“Who is it?” inquired Dan, with a sinking feeling at his heart.
“He’s splutterin’ around, sayin’ you could tell suthin’ about it, ef ye
wanted t’.”
“Me?” exclaimed Dan.
“Yep,” and Truem nodded vigorously. “He ain’t exactly sayin’ ye done
it, but he thinks ye might be in with th’ gang, same as ye was--I mean
he says ye was--with th’ fellers that got Dr. Maxwell’s silver.”
“Truem, do you mean to say that Hank is accusing Dan of robbing his
store?” asked Mr. Harrison sternly, for Truem was sometimes given to
“stretching” things when retailing a bit of village gossip.
“That’s what he’s practically doin’, Mr. Harrison. I heard him myself.”
“Come, Dan,” said the old soldier quietly.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to make Hank Lee apologize to you, or else make him prove
his charge. This is outrageous! Truem, you come with us.”
“I’d--I’d ruther not. Hank might not like--”
“Very well then. I suppose if he told you he told other persons. But
I’ll stop him from uttering such slanders against an innocent lad. Come
along, Dan.”
The two started for the heart of the village, where Hank’s store was
situated. On the way they were made aware that the robbery had created
much excitement, for there was quite a throng in the main street.
Everyone seemed to be headed for the store, as it was not often the
villagers got a chance to look at a place where burglars had been at
work.