AN ARTFUL TRICK
IT was a difficult matter to decide. Gerald had a natural dislike to
become an informer or expose his fellow-clerk, though he felt that Mr.
Tubbs ought to know how he was being robbed. So he let the day pass
without speaking of what he had seen. He was no longer surprised that
Brandon could spend so much money on billiards, since it did not come
out of his salary, but out of his employer's till.
In the evening he called upon Mr. Nugent and asked his advice.
"Have you told Mr. Tubbs what you discovered?" asked the old gentleman.
"No, sir."
"You should do so."
"I don't like to expose Brandon."
"I can understand your objection, but nevertheless it is your duty to do
so."
"I wish he would discover it in some other way."
"He is not likely to do so."
"He may not believe me."
"At any rate you will have done your duty."
"I will think it over, Mr. Nugent. In the meantime I am obliged to you
for your advice."
"I shall always be glad to advise you," said Mr. Nugent, kindly. "You
are a straightforward and honorable boy, and I have all confidence in
you."
"Thank you, sir. I am glad to have you say that. Suppose Brandon denies
it?"
"You can suggest to Mr. Tubbs to put a marked bill in the drawer, and
then try to trace it in case it is taken."
"I will do so."
But Gerald did not have an opportunity to make use of Mr. Nugent's
advice. During the day he had shown a degree of perturbation occasioned
by his discovery of Brandon's treachery that had excited the notice of
his fellow-clerk. Guilt is always suspicious, and Brandon, knowing his
own dishonesty, was constantly on the watch for the detection which he
dreaded.
"The kid suspects me," he said to himself. "I must forestall him."
Accordingly, when the store closed, he did not offer to go out with
Gerald, but said: "I am not quite ready to go yet."
This suited Gerald, who had intended to call on Mr. Nugent to ask his
advice. He therefore said "Good night!" and walked away.
Brandon watched him go up the road, and then reentering the store just
as his employer was ready to leave, said:
"Can you stop a minute, Mr. Tubbs?"
"Certainly. What is it?"
"I have something to say to you—something important."
"Indeed!" said the grocer, surprised.
"Have you—missed any money within a few days?"
"I can't say. Why do you ask?"
"Because I saw something to-day that startled me. Do you think Gerald is
honest?"
"Bless my soul, of course! He comes of a good family. His father was
highly respected."
"That may be; but there are plenty of boys and men belonging to
respectable families who cannot be relied upon."
"What did you see? What makes you suspect the boy?"
"I saw him take a bill from the drawer this afternoon. Suppose you
examine it, and see if you miss anything."
The grocer opened the drawer hastily.
"I can't tell," he said, slowly. "I didn't keep track of the bills in
the drawer."
"I did. There was a five-dollar bill paid by Mr. Bacon for a barrel of
flour."
"So there was, Brandon—so there was."
"See if you can find the five-dollar bill in the drawer."
"No, I can't," returned Mr. Tubbs, after a brief examination.
"Then that was the bill the boy took."
"I can't believe it; so young, too, and so honest-looking!"
"He is evidently very artful," said Brandon. "I am sorry, Mr. Tubbs, I
am really sorry to be obliged to inform against him, but I felt it to be
my duty."
"You are a good fellow, Brandon," said the grocer, grasping his hand.
"You have done what you ought to do. I feel that you are a true friend."
"I try to be, sir; but I will own that I had a selfish motive."
"What is it?"
"I thought if you missed the bill you might suspect me."
"No, Brandon; I could hardly do that, after the long time you have been
with me."
"Yes, sir, I have been in your employ five years, and I humbly hope that
you have found me faithful, sir."
"Yes, Brandon," said the deceived grocer, "I have always found you
faithful."
Brandon laughed in his sleeve. He found his task easier than he had
supposed it would be. Mr. Tubbs was a ready dupe.
"It seems terrible," said the grocer. "What would his poor father have
said if he had lived to know of the boy's dishonesty?"
"Perhaps if his father had lived he would not have stolen."
"What do you think I ought to do, Brandon? Would you advise me to have
him arrested?"
"No, sir. Ask him to return the bill he took from the drawer. If he
denies having taken it, you will know what to think."
"True; your advice is good. I will speak to him to-morrow morning. Thank
you, for telling me what you saw."
The store was closed, and the two went in different directions—Mr. Tubbs
towards his home, Brandon to the billiard-room.
The latter smiled as he pushed on his way.
"What would the old man have thought," he said to himself, "if he knew
that I had the parson's bill in my own pocket? My friend Gerald, I have
spiked your guns, as you will find if you undertake to make trouble for
me. You are altogether too innocent. You are too good to play billiards,
but you will find yourself in something worse.
The next morning Gerald came to the store earlier than usual, for he
wanted an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Tubbs. The grocer, unlike most
men in business for themselves, generally was first on the ground and
opened the store himself. It was a habit he had formed when a
subordinate. He always rose early and had an early breakfast, so that
this involved no self-denial on his part.
Brandon, to give Mr. Tubbs an opportunity of speaking to Gerald, didn't
come round till twenty minutes after his usual time.
Gerald noticed that the grocer looked unusually grave, but was quite
unprepared for what was to come.
"Good morning, Mr. Tubbs," he said, in a pleasant tone.
The grocer did not return his greeting, but said:
"Gerald, there is something I wish to speak to you about."
"Yes, sir. I wished also to speak to you."
"I wonder whether he is going to confess," thought Mr. Tubbs.
"What have you to say to me?"
"I think a bank bill was taken from your money-drawer yesterday."
Mr. Tubbs was amazed. What did it mean? Was it possible that the boy was
going to make a clean breast of his dishonesty?
"A bank bill was taken from the drawer yesterday," he said—"a
five-dollar note."
"I didn't know that it was a five," said Gerald. "I didn't suppose you
had discovered it."
"I am glad, however, that you have confessed the theft to me. Return the
bill, and I will overlook your fault."
"What on earth do you mean, Mr. Tubbs?" ejaculated Gerald. "You surely
do not think that I took the money?"
"Certainly I do."
"Then, sir, you are very much mistaken," said Gerald, indignantly. "I
was never dishonest in all my life."
"Some one must have taken the money."
"Some one did."
"Who, may I ask?"
"Brandon! I saw him take it from the drawer when he was putting in a
smaller sum, which he had been paid for groceries."
"This is shameful, Gerald Lane," said Mr. Tubbs, angrily. "It is not
enough that you take my money, but you seek to place the crime upon an
innocent man."
"You are very much mistaken, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, pale but resolute.
"I saw Brandon take the money with my own eyes, but I did not know that
it was a five-dollar bill. How did you discover your loss?"
"It was called to my attention last evening by Brandon himself."
"He told you the drawer had been robbed!" exclaimed Gerald, in
amazement.
"Yes."
"Then he must have done it to divert suspicion from himself. Probably he
had the note in his pocket when he was speaking to you."
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