WALTER FINDS HIMSELF IN HOT WATER.
Two days later two women entered Mr. Drummond's store. One was Joshua's
customer, and she wore the same shawl which she had purchased of him.
It happened that Walter was out, but Mr. Drummond and Nichols were both
behind the counter.
"Have you got any more shawls like this?" asked the first lady, whom we
will call Mrs. Blake. "Mrs. Spicer, who is a neighbor of mine, liked it
so well that she wants to get another just like it."
This was addressed to Mr. Drummond, who happened to be nearest the door.
"Did you buy this shawl of us?" asked Mr. Drummond.
"Yes, sir. I bought it about a fortnight ago, and paid five dollars for
it."
"Five dollars! There must be some mistake. We never sell such a shawl
as that for less than ten dollars."
"I can't help it," said Mrs. Blake, positively. "I bought it here, and
paid five dollars for it."
"Why, those shawls cost me seven dollars and a half at wholesale. It is
not likely I would sell them for five."
"I didn't buy it of you."
"Mr. Nichols," said Mr. Drummond, "did you sell this lady the shawl she
is wearing, for five dollars?"
"No, sir; have not sold a shawl like that for two months. I know the
price well enough, and I wouldn't sell it for less than ten dollars."
"I didn't buy it of him, I bought it of a boy," said Mrs. Blake.
"It must have been that stupid Conrad," exclaimed Mr. Drummond, angrily.
"Wait till he comes in, and I'll haul him over the coals."
"Then you won't let my friend have another like it for five dollars?"
"No," said Mr. Drummond, provoked. "I don't do business that way. I've
lost nearly three dollars by that shawl of yours. You ought to make up
the wholesale price to me."
"I shan't do it," said Mrs. Blake. "If you've made a mistake, it's your
lookout. I wasn't willing to pay more than five dollars."
The two ladies were about to leave the store when Mr. Drummond said,
"The boy will be back directly. I wish you would wait a few minutes, so
that if he denies it you can prove it upon him."
"I've got a call to make," said Mrs. Blake, "but I'll come in again in
about an hour."
They left the store, and Mr. Drummond began to berate the absent Walter.
He was provoked to find that he had lost two dollars and a half, and, if
Walter had been in receipt of any wages, would have stopped the amount
out of his salary. But, unfortunately for this plan of reprisal, our
hero received his board only, and that could not very well be levied
upon. However, he might have some money in his possession, and Mr.
Drummond decided to require him to make up the loss.
"When did she say she bought the shawl, Mr. Nichols?" asked his
employer.
"About a fortnight ago."
"Will you look on the books, and see if you find the sale recorded? I am
surprised that it escaped my attention."
Nichols looked over the book of sales, and announced that no such entry
could be found.
Mr. Drummond was surprised. Though not inclined to judge others any too
charitably, he had never suspected Walter of dishonesty.
"Are you sure you looked back far enough?" he asked.
"Yes," said Nichols; "to make sure, I looked back four weeks. The woman
said only a fortnight, you know."
"I know. Then it seems Conrad has concealed the sale and kept the
money."
"Perhaps," suggested Nichols, who rather liked Walter, "he forgot to put
it down."
"If he did, he forgot to put the money in the drawer, for the cash and
the sales have always balanced. He's an ungrateful young rascal,"
continued Mr. Drummond, harshly. "After I took him into my house and
treated him as a son (this was not saying much, if Joshua may be
believed), he has robbed me in the most cold-blooded manner."
Why there should be anything cold-blooded in appropriating the price of
the shawl, even had the charge been true, I cannot say, nor could Mr.
Drummond probably, but he thought that the use of this term would make
the offence seem more aggravated.
Even Nichols was a little staggered by the evidence against our hero. He
did not like to think him guilty, but it certainly seemed as if he must
be.
"What are you going to do about it, Mr. Drummond?" he asked.
"I suppose I ought to have him arrested. He deserves it."
"I hope you won't do that. He may be able to explain it."
"If I do not proceed to extremities, it will be on account of his
relationship, which I blush to acknowledge."
The time had been, and that not long since, when Mr. Drummond felt proud
of his relationship to the rich Squire Conrad of Willoughby; but that
was before his loss of property. Circumstances alter cases.
Quite unconscious of the storm that was gathering, Walter at this
moment entered the store.
"So you've got back!" said Mr. Drummond, harshly.
"Yes, sir."
"You haven't been in any particular hurry. However, that was not what I
wished to speak to you about. We have made a discovery since you went
out."
"Have you, sir?" asked Walter, rather surprised by the peculiar tone
which Mr. Drummond saw fit to adopt.
"Yes, and not a very agreeable one."
"I am sorry for that," said Walter, not knowing what else was expected
of him.
"No doubt you are sorry," sneered Mr. Drummond. "I should think he would
be, eh, Mr. Nichols?"
"I am sorry also," said Nichols, who, though rather weak-minded, was a
good-hearted young man.
"So am I sorry," said Mr. Drummond. "It strikes me I have most reason to
be sorry, considering that the loss has fallen on me."
All this was an enigma to Walter, and he had not the faintest idea of
what his employer meant. He inferred, however, that some blame was about
to be laid upon him.
"If you have no objection, Mr. Drummond," he said quietly, "perhaps you
will tell me what has happened."
"I have found out your ingratitude, Conrad," said Mr. Drummond,
preparing for a lecture, which he rather liked to indulge in, as his
wife could have testified. "I have discovered how like a viper you have
repaid me for my kindness. You didn't think I would find out, but your
iniquity has providentially come to light. While I was loading you with
benefits, you prepared to sting the hand of your benefactor."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Mr. Drummond," said Walter,
impatiently. "I wish you would stop talking in riddles, and let me know
in what way I resemble a viper."
"Did you ever witness such brazen effrontery, Mr. Nichols?" demanded Mr.
Drummond, turning to his head salesman; "even when he is found out, he
brazens it out."
"Wouldn't it be as well to tell him what is the matter, Mr. Drummond?"
asked Nichols, who was in hopes our hero would be able to prove his
innocence.
"Won't you tell me, Mr. Nichols?" asked Walter.
"No," said Mr. Drummond, waving his hand; "it is my duty to tell him
myself. I will do so briefly. Walter Conrad, when I admitted you into my
house I little dreamed that I was harboring a thief."
"A thief!" exclaimed Walter, his eyes flashing with anger, and elevating
his fist involuntarily. "Who dares to call me a thief?"
"No violence, Conrad," said Mr. Drummond. "Such a theatrical display of
indignation and surprise won't help you any. We are not to be imposed
upon by your artful demonstrations."
"Mr. Drummond," burst forth Walter, fairly aroused, "you are insulting
me by every word you speak. I am no more a thief than you are."
"Do you call me a thief?" exclaimed Mr. Drummond, turning white about
the lips.
"No, I don't; but I have as much right to call you one as you have to
charge such a thing upon me."
"I can prove what I say," said his employer. "I have got you in a net."
"It won't take me long to get out of any net you may set for me. I
insist upon your telling me at once what you mean."
"This language is rather extraordinary for a boy convicted of dishonesty
to use towards his employer."
"I am not convicted of dishonesty. Mr. Nichols, I appeal to you to tell
me, what Mr. Drummond does not seem disposed to do, what is the meaning
of this false charge which he has trumped up against me."
"I am sure you can prove your innocence, Conrad," said Nichols,
soothingly.
"Mr. Nichols, will you do me the favor to be silent?" said his employer,
sharply. "The matter concerns Conrad and myself, and I don't choose that
any one should communicate with him except myself. To come to the point,
did you, or did you not, a fortnight since, sell one of those shawls,
such as you see on the counter, for five dollars?"
"I did not," said Walter, promptly.
"It might not have been exactly a fortnight. Have you sold such a shawl
within four weeks?"
"I have not sold such a shawl since I have been in your employ, Mr.
Drummond."
"You hear what he says, Mr. Nichols," said Mr. Drummond. "You see how he
adds falsehood to dishonesty. But that is not uncommon. It is only what
I expected. Do you mean to say, Walter Conrad, that you didn't sell such
a shawl for five dollars (only half price), and, instead of entering the
sale, put the money into your own pocket?"
"I do deny it most emphatically, Mr. Drummond," said Walter,
impetuously, "and I challenge you to prove it."