FELIX MORTIMER DISCOMFITED.
Felix Mortimer sat at a desk facing the door, and was writing when
the banker and the two boys entered the room. He did not look up till
Herbert and Bob had advanced several steps toward him, and stopped. But
his eyes now met theirs, and he sprang to his feet like one suddenly
surprised by a lurking enemy. Herbert and Bob stood there for a moment,
boldly facing him. Not a word was spoken on either side.
The banker took a position where he could watch the effect of this
strange meeting upon both parties. He saw the color fade from young
Mortimer's face, and a look of unmistakable fear spread over it. In
fact, his whole manner betrayed the alarm that now possessed him.
In strong contrast to the appearance of this young villain was Herbert
Randolph's frank, truthful look. He had no cause for fear. The peculiar
fire that shone in his eyes revealed a meaning that was at once
impressive and determined. Before him stood one who had wronged him
outrageously, stolen his position away from him, and blackened his
character with ingenious falsehood.
Our hero thought of all this, and his blood boiled with manly
indignation. Had he been alone with Mortimer, I fear the latter
would have suffered then and there the penalty for his villainy. But
discretion was now the sensible course for Herbert, and he wisely
restrained himself from an unbecoming demonstration of hostility.
"Do you know these young men?" asked the banker, sharply, addressing
young Mortimer.
"I know one of them, sir--that is, I saw him here the morning you
advertised for a boy," replied Felix, commencing to rally.
"I recollect the fact. You refer to Herbert Randolph, I presume?"
"Yes, sir."
"I think you told me something about his getting another position, and
this, you said, was probably the reason why he failed to continue
working at this bank."
"Yes, sir," replied Mortimer, with bold effrontery.
"What have you to say to this young man's statement, Mr. Randolph?" said
the banker.
Felix Mortimer's manner had already raised Mr. Goldwin's suspicions, but
he wished to be doubly sure, and thus he proceeded carefully with the
investigation.
"His statement is wholly false," was our hero's reply. "It was his
miserable villainy that deprived me of my liberty, and kept me away from
my work."
Mr. Goldwin looked puzzled.
"The plot thickens," said he. "Give me your story."
Herbert related how he had been victimized, telling the facts much as I
have given them in the preceding chapters of this narrative.
"Tell him about the knock out," put in Bob, who evidently thought this
one of the best parts of the story.
"What was that?" asked the banker.
Herbert explained.
"So that was what gave you the swollen jaw, was it?" said Mr. Goldwin,
addressing Felix Mortimer in a severe tone.
"No, it was not," said he. "I told you what did it, and I don't propose
to hear any more lies from street fellows like these," added Mortimer,
contemptuously, and at the same time moving towards the door.
"Stop!" said the banker, firmly. "You will not leave this room till this
matter is cleared up."
Young Mortimer winced, and Bob Hunter looked up at Herbert, and smiled
suggestively.
"Mr. Randolph, this fellow stated to me yesterday that you were not from
Vermont, that you are an impostor. What have you to say to this?"
"I can only say that I told you the truth."
"Have you any way of proving your statement?"
"Here is a letter that I received this morning from my mother," said
Herbert, handing it to the banker. "This, I think, will sustain my
word."
"The envelope is postmarked Fairbury, Vermont," replied Mr. Goldwin,
scrutinizing it closely.
"You may read the letter," said our hero. "It will doubtless convince
you of my truthfulness."
It ran as follows:
FAIRBURY, Vt., Thursday, November 12th.
MY DEAR SON:
Your letter reached us this evening, and it lifted a great load
of anxiety from our hearts, for we could not help fearing some
ill luck might have overtaken you--a stranger and an
inexperienced boy in so great a city as New York.
Your father and I rejoice at your good fortune, and feel proud
that our boy should be chosen by the banker from among so large
a number of applicants for the same position. Your excellent
start gives us fresh courage to fight the battle of life over
again, and to try and regain our property, or so much of it as
will be necessary to support us comfortably in our old age.
Your father's eyes filled with tears of joy when I read your
letter to him, and he said I might tell you that he feels rich
in the possession of a son who has health, energy, and good
principles, and who has shown himself able to make his way
in the world unaided. He thinks you now have an excellent
opportunity for commencing a prosperous career. From what you
wrote of Mr. Goldwin, the banker, we think he must be a very
nice man, and we are heartily glad that you can have his
influence thrown about you to strengthen you against the evils
you should shun.
We were greatly amused at the picture you gave of Bob Hunter
the newsboy. You must find him very entertaining. Write us some
more about him. His droll talk reads like a novel. Your father
laughed heartily at it.
Be sure and write us two or three times a week, for you know we
are entirely alone now you are away. With love from your father
and myself, I will say good by for today.
YOUR MOTHER.
Mr. Goldwin commenced to read this letter aloud, but before he had
finished it his voice choked, and he reached for his handkerchief with
which to dry his moist eyes.
The picture it presented of the Vermont father and mother, so deeply
interested in their only boy, brought fresh to the banker's mind his
own parental home, and he saw himself once more bidding good by to his
father and mother, as he left them and the old farm, a mere boy, to seek
a livelihood in the great metropolis.
Presently he overcame this emotion, and turning to young Randolph[TN:
should be Mortimer], said, sternly:
"This letter, which I hold in my hand, not only proves Mr. Randolph's
truthfulness, but it convicts you of a base falsehood. You deceived me
by your artful lying, and now you have the effrontery to stand up before
me and before this young man, whom you have so cruelly wronged, and
boldly deny everything. You are the most polished young villain I ever
knew.
"Young man," continued the banker, addressing Bob, and without waiting
for Mortimer to reply, "what do you know about this matter?"
"I guess I know 'bout everything," said the young detective, glad of a
chance to have his say.
"You remarked that it was lucky that you found out something before it
was too late for us here at the bank, I believe?"
"Yes, sir, you are right."
"Will you please tell us the facts?"
Bob related the conversation he had heard between old Gunwagner and
Felix Mortimer, relative to bank robbing.
"So that was your scheme in getting in here, was it? you young villain!"
said Mr. Goldwin, angrily addressing Felix Mortimer.
"I refuse to answer the charges made by these confederates. They are
telling what has no truth in it, and are deceiving you, as you will
learn to your sorrow," replied Felix, still maintaining a good degree of
boldness.
Richard Goldwin, however, was too good a judge of human nature to be
further imposed upon by the tricks of young Mortimer.
"But you will be forced to answer to the charges sooner or later, sir,"
said the banker. "The court will compel you to do so."
The court!
These words made young Mortimer wince, and his nerve palpably weakened.
He muttered some unintelligible reply--whether a threat or not none
present knew.
"How came you to overhear this conversation between the old fence and
this fellow?" asked Mr. Goldwin of Bob Hunter.
[Illustration: YOUNG RANDOLPH AND BOB HUNTER CONFRONT FELIX MORTIMER AND
CHARGE HIM WITH HIS VILLAINY.]
The young detective here related the whole story, telling why he
suspected Mortimer, how he saw him at the bank in Herbert's place, how
he shadowed him up Broadway--told of the bootblacking scene, in which
he got the essential facts from Peter Smartweed and Mortimer; related
his manner of gaining admittance to the fence, and told of the trick he
played upon the old man and Felix--the trick that enabled him to carry
out to success his scheme for liberating Herbert Randolph.
"And you did all of this alone?" asked the banker, with genuine
astonishment.
"Yes, sir," replied Bob, carelessly, as if it didn't amount to much.
"I cannot realize it," said Mr. Goldwin, admiringly. "A professional
detective could not have done better, and probably would have fallen far
short of doing as well."
"I didn't think nothin' of it," returned Bob. "'Twas easy enough, and
'twas kinder of excitin', too."
"And you liked the excitement?"
Bob admitted that he did, but was very modest about his triumph, and was
not disposed to look upon it as any great feat now it was all over. But
Mr. Goldwin assured him, in most complimentary terms, that great credit
was due to him for the skill and bravery he had displayed.
Meanwhile Felix Mortimer had been slyly inching towards a door that was
a little to his left; and now that Mr. Goldwin's attention was centered
upon young Bob Hunter, he seized the opportunity, and made a mad plunge
for liberty. His movements, however, had been detected by Herbert
Randolph, and he no sooner reached the door than the young Vermonter
grasped him firmly by the collar, and jerked him back.
Mortimer's effort to escape prompted Mr. Goldwin to sound the alarm for
a policeman. An officer responded promptly, and immediately arrested the
young criminal, and took him to the station house, where he was locked
into a cell.
"I was never so deceived in a boy in my life," remarked the banker, with
a troubled look, when the officer had gone with his prisoner. "He has a
remarkably strong character, and had he taken the right course in life,
would have made an able man. It always makes me sad to see a bright boy,
just entering upon his career, start in a way that is sure to result in
disgrace and ruin."
"His associates have doubtless had a bad influence over him," said
Herbert, as if trying to soften the boy's offense.
"It is certainly praiseworthy in you, Mr. Randolph, to speak so kindly
of one who caused you so much suffering as that boy did," returned Mr.
Goldwin.
"Well, since his evil purpose has recoiled upon himself, he is now the
chief sufferer; and besides, I do not think he wanted to injure me
farther than to get me out of his way. And he knew no other plan, I
suppose, than to keep me a prisoner."
"I am glad to see you view the matter so charitably," said the banker,
warmly, for he appreciated highly this glimpse of Herbert's character.
"But what do you say to old Gunwagner?" put in Bob.
"I think he is a heartless old wretch," answered young Randolph, with
fire in his eyes. "It is he who abused me so cruelly."
"You say he, too, is locked up now?" asked Mr. Goldwin.
"Yes."
"Do you think he has any property?"
"I should judge so. In fact, he tried to buy us off when he found we had
him cornered."
"It is possible that you may be able to get damages for false
imprisonment," said the banker, thoughtfully.
"I had not thought of that," returned Herbert.
"Mind you, I said it was possible only, so do not have too great hopes
of such a result."
"No, I will not, and the damage was not much, unless I lost my situation
with you," replied Herbert, somewhat anxiously.
"No, you have not lost that, for I shall reinstate you at once. You have
proved yourself to be the sort of young man I desire in my business."
"Thank you, sir, for your compliment, and especially for reinstating me.
I should be very sorry to lose this position, and I know my father and
mother would feel badly, too."
"Do not worry about that, my boy. Employers are as anxious to get
desirable clerks as clerks are eager to be employed. But to return to
the matter of false imprisonment, I will state the case to my lawyer,
and see what there is in it. Of course it would be no use to fight him
if he is worth nothing."
"He said he had plenty of money--enough to make us all rich," put in
Bob, with some enthusiasm. "It would be a great act to make him come
down handsome. I'd like to see it done."
"Those fellows usually have a lot of money," said Mr. Goldwin, "and I
agree with Bob--I will call you by that name hereafter--that it would be
gratifying to recover damages."
"That's right, I like to be called Bob--everybody calls me that."
"Well, Bob, you are a character. I shall take a great interest in your
development, for I think you have done the smartest thing, in getting
your friend out of old Gunwagner's clutches, that I ever knew a boy of
your age to do."
Bob's cheeks became highly colored. He had not been accustomed to
praise, and such compliments as these from a rich banker were unwieldy
for him.
"Tom Flannery helped me," said the young detective, generously trying to
throw some of the glory upon Tom.
"Tom Flannery! Who is he?"
"He is a fellow what sells papers too. Me and him worked this case up
together."
"What sort of a boy is he--sharp, like yourself, I suppose?"
"Well, he done some good work helpin' me," replied Bob, evading the
question as to Tom's keenness.
The fact is that young Flannery was not wonderfully sharp; but Bob liked
him for his honest, good natured self, and, therefore, would only speak
in praise of him.
The banker drew Bob out, and learned of the fire act that Tom performed
so satisfactorily. But his keen sense detected the truth of the matter,
and he was satisfied as to where the real merit lay.
"Bob," said he, "your modesty and your efforts to throw much of the
credit on Tom Flannery are certainly becoming to you. I like you for the
spirit you show in the matter. But, nevertheless, I recognize in you the
chief of the undertaking--the one who planned and carried out the entire
scheme. Now, here is a little present for you; I want you to take it and
buy you a good suit of clothes, so that you will be as well dressed as
Herbert. I believe you room together?"
"Yes, we do," said Bob. "But I don't want no present. I can earn some
money to buy clothes with."
"But I want you to take it," replied Mr. Goldwin. "You have done a great
act of kindness to Herbert, and to me as well, for sooner or later we
would doubtless have suffered a loss by Felix Mortimer."
Bob took the crisp new bills reluctantly--four of them, five dollars
each--twenty dollars--he had never held so much money in his hands at
any one time before, and this was all his own.
He felt bewildered. After a moment's pause, however, he said, "Mayn't I
give some of this to Tom Flannery?"
"I expected you would say that," replied the banker, enjoying Bob's
surprise, "so I retained a five dollar bill for Tom. Here it is; give it
to him with my regards. He, too, did us a service in aiding you as he
did."
Bob's joy was now beyond expression. He looked, however, the
thankfulness that he could not find words to express.
"You may go now," said Mr. Goldwin, kindly. "I will keep you in mind,
and see what I can do for you. Come and see me within a few days."
Bob thanked Mr. Goldwin heartily, and left the bank, overflowing with
happiness. When the young detective had gone, Mr. Goldwin asked Herbert
many questions about him.
"I think he is a promising lad," said the banker. "I have taken a great
liking to him. He has a droll, comical way that is very pleasing."