A CRISIS
AT this moment Brandon entered the store. He took in at a glance what
was going on. He noticed Gerald's flushed face and he smiled inwardly.
"I reckon the kid finds himself in hot water," he said to himself.
"Come here, Mr. Brandon," said the grocer.
"Yes, sir," returned Brandon, innocently.
"Do you remember telling me that you saw Gerald take money from the
drawer?"
"Yes, sir; I thought it my duty to tell you. At the same time, as it is
probably a first offence, I hope you will forgive him."
"You see how considerate Brandon is," said Mr. Tubbs, turning to Gerald.
"What do you think the boy says?"
This was, of course, addressed to Brandon.
"I don't know, sir. Does he deny taking the money?"
"Yes. He says he saw you take it!"
"Is it possible?" exclaimed Brandon. "I hope you don't believe the
charge, Mr. Tubbs."
"Certainly not."
"You may search me if you like."
"Perhaps it will be well to search you both, though, of course, the note
may have been spent."
"I am at your command, Mr. Tubbs. Stay, I will turn my pockets inside
out!"
He proceeded to do so, but only a few silver coins were found. The fact
was that the note had been paid away in the billiard-room the previous
evening.
"Now, Gerald, it is your turn."
Gerald looked embarrassed. Though he was perfectly innocent, he knew
that there was a five-dollar bill in his pocketbook—part of the money
drawn from the savings bank. Mr. Barton had handed it to him only two
days previous.
Brandon had no knowledge of this. His only idea was to subject Gerald to
humiliation. But when he saw the boy's confusion, he began to think that
things were turning out unexpectedly in his favor.
"I don't think he wants to be searched, Mr. Tubbs," he said, pointedly.
"I am willing to follow the example of Mr. Brandon," said Gerald.
He took out his pocketbook and handed it to the grocer.
The latter opened it, and drew out a five-dollar bill.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, in excitement, as he held it up to view. "This tells
the story, Gerald Lane! You are a thief!"
"That's false, Mr. Tubbs!" said Gerald, hotly. "That bill is mine."
"That's a likely story. Of course a boy that will steal will lie."
"It is true," said Gerald, firmly.
"Then where did you get this money?" demanded the grocer, sternly.
"From Mr. Barton, in the savings bank."
"Gerald Lane, you may think I am an idiot, but you are mistaken. I will
keep this bill."
"Then it is you who are the thief. You can ask Mr. Barton if I do not
tell the truth."
Brandon smiled gleefully. He was very much surprised to learn that
Gerald had a five-dollar bill in his possession. He knew, of course,
that it was not the bill taken from the drawer; but the grocer did not
know, and he saw that it would clear him from suspicion.
"What do you think of this boy, Brandon?" asked Mr. Tubbs.
"I think he yielded to temptation, and that he won't do it again. Will
you do me a favor, Mr. Tubbs, and overlook his offense?"
"You are very kind to him, Brandon, especially when he has charged you
with robbing the money-drawer; but I cannot retain a thief in my
employ."
"I don't wish you to keep me at Mr. Brandon's request," said Gerald,
with spirit. "I do not take back my charge against him."
"Then, Mr. Tubbs," said Brandon, "I have no more to say," and he moved
to another part of the store.
Things certainly looked dark for Gerald. The circumstantial evidence
against him was of a serious and convincing character. But there was an
unexpected witness in his favor just entering the store.
It was Mr. Barton.
Gerald's face lighted up when he saw the entrance of his friend. So did
that of Mr. Tubbs.
"Now I shall be able to show that you were lying," said the grocer,
triumphantly.
"What is the matter?" asked the bank teller, turning from one to the
other.
"Mr. Barton," said the grocer, "you come just in good time; This boy has
robbed me of a five-dollar bill."
"Impossible!" exclaimed the bank teller. "Gerald Lane is an honest boy."
"So I thought myself; but you are liable to be deceived in boys. Mr.
Brandon saw him take the bill from the drawer, and told me. I have
searched him and found the bill in his possession. Now he has the
assurance to say that he got the bill from you."
"Probably he did."
"What!" ejaculated the grocer, starting back in amazement.
"It is true. I gave Gerald a five-dollar bill."
"That is just what I told you, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, triumphantly.
"But," said the grocer, "Brandon says he saw him take a bill from the
drawer, and I miss a five-dollar note."
"Then all I can say is that Mr. Brandon has probably told you what is
not true."
"Sir!" exclaimed Brandon, nervously.
"I mean what I say," said Mr. Barton, sternly.
"I know Gerald Lane, and I would trust him implicitly."
"But a bill has been taken from my drawer," said the grocer.
"I am sure Gerald did not take it."
"Mr. Tubbs, I will thank you to give me back my money," said Gerald.
"I don't know that I ought to do it, after what I have heard about you,"
said Mr. Tubbs, hesitating. "The bill could not have gone away by
itself."
"That is true enough, but I am not the only one employed in the store."
The grocer was badly confused. He had decided beyond a doubt that Gerald
was a thief; but then Mr. Barton vouched for him, and Mr. Barton was a
man of consideration.
He gave back the bill to Gerald, but with reluctance.
"It seems, then," he said, "that I am to bear the loss."
"Yes," said Mr. Barton, "unless you discover who took your money."
"I shall feel uncomfortable to think I have a thief in the store."
"So far as I am concerned," Gerald said, proudly, "you will have no
trouble. I resign my position."
"I guess you'd better stay till the end of the week," said Mr. Tubbs. "I
can't fill your place right off."
"I will do so to oblige you. If another such charge is brought against
me I shall leave you at once."
Here Mr. Barton made his purchase. As he left the store he said:
"Call and see me, Gerald; we can talk this matter over."
When the bank officer had left the store Mr. Tubbs said:
"There seems to be a great mystery about this robbery."
"Yes, sir," answered Brandon.
"Mr. Barton seems to vouch for Gerald."
"He is a good man, but not very sharp. He is surely taken in."
That evening when Gerald went home he said to his stepmother:
"Mrs. Lane, I have something to tell you."
"Well?" she responded, coldly.
"I am going to leave the grocery store," Gerald announced quietly.
"What? without my permission?" she demanded, in displeasure.
"Yes, Mrs. Lane."
"What's your reason? Are you getting lazy? Are you tired of work?"
"No."
"Then let me know the cause of your determination. Not that I shall
consent to it."
"Mr. Tubbs charged me with taking money from the drawer."
"Oh-o!" said Abel. "So that's what you have been up to. I suppose he has
bounced you!"
"Of course no one will believe it that knows me," returned Gerald,
contemptuously.
"I'm not so sure of that."
"If your mother were not here I would give you a thrashing!" said
Gerald, hotly.
"Ma wouldn't let you."
"All this is very discreditable, Gerald," said his stepmother. "I
certainly did not think that you would descend to theft. Mr. Tubbs might
have had you arrested."
"I found a friend to speak up for me—Mr. Barton."
"Has Mr. Tubbs discharged you, or is he willing to keep you?"
"I presume he is."
"Then you will go back," said Mrs. Lane, decisively.
"I shall remain till the end of the week to oblige Mr. Tubbs, but I will
stay no longer."
"We will see about that. Now it is time to go to bed."
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