"And though on Life's uncertain sea,
We veer and tack in stormy stress,
I doubt not in the years to be
The generations will agree,
We sailed direct to blessedness!"
Gardiner was the first witness for the prosecution. He told briefly
facts with which the reader is already acquainted. He had left a package
of two thousand dollars in the safe Saturday night; on Monday morning
the money was gone, and Burton's keys were hanging in the lock of the
cash drawer. No one but Burton and himself knew the combination of the
safe; no one but Burton and himself had keys to the cash drawer. On
making the discovery he had placed the matter in the hands of the
police. He had always thought Burton to be honest; he believed he lived
inside his salary and that he was free from any extravagant vice.
The next witness was Graves. He gave his profession as that of a
detective, and said he had been detailed to cover the theft from Mr.
Gardiner's safe. He had obtained employment in Gardiner's store in the
capacity of clerk, and had made a point to cultivate Burton's
acquaintance. He had found the prisoner to be a young man of apparent
honesty and good habits. Nothing that could be learned at the store
added any light to the subject, so he had decided to search Burton's
rooms. At the very bottom of Burton's trunk he had found the package
stolen from Gardiner's safe. The package had been broken and a ten
dollar bill removed. Otherwise it was intact. The envelope and money
were produced in evidence.
Burton listened to the evidence of these witnesses without
emotion--almost without interest. But when the next name was called he
looked up with surprised interest. Hiram Riles entered the box.
Riles testified that he was in Plainville late on the Sunday night
preceding the discovery of the robbery. As he was walking down town to
get his team before leaving for home he fancied he saw a glimmer of
light in Gardiner's store. Peering in through the window he could see
Burton in the little office at the back, working at the combination of
the safe by match-light. He knew that Burton was connected with the
store and at the time did not suspect anything wrong.
Burton fidgeted in his chair. The mystery of the broken bottle was now
clear to him, and he longed to charge Riles with the deed.
A hardware clerk testified to selling Burton a revolver on the morning
the theft was discovered.
Polly Lester was next called. She took the usual oath, and Lawyer
Perkins rose to question her.
"What is your name?"
"Doris Landin."
"Your profession?"
"I am a private detective."
At these words a buzz of astonishment ran about the crowded room. To
many present the girl was a stranger, but others knew her as a domestic
at Mrs. Goode's boarding-house.
"And you, too, were watching Burton?"
"Yes, sir."
"What did you learn of him."
"I found nothing to reflect upon his character."
"Exactly; but you made--that is, you were present at a certain
discovery?"
"I watched from behind the door when the prisoner's trunk was searched.
I saw the package taken out of his trunk."
"And you identify the package?"
"I do."
"Thank you. That will do, Miss Landin."
"But that is not all I saw."
"That will do----"
"But I am under oath to tell the whole truth----"
"If the witness has anything to add relative to this charge the Court
will hear it," said the judge. "Please tell us, as concisely as you can,
what you know of this matter."
The girl turned and faced the judge, while all ears were strained to
catch her next utterance. The auditors felt that at last some new light
would break on this mystery. Perkins seemed little pleased with the turn
events had taken; Bradshaw evidently enjoyed the situation, although
apparently quite at sea himself, and Burton betrayed his eagerness by
leaning forward and clasping his hands nervously. The fact that the girl
was a detective was a relevation to him, and he wondered what new bolt
would come from a sky so long overcast.
"May it please your lordship," said the girl, "all I have said is true,
but it is not half the truth. I watched the prisoner closely and
searched his room and his effects daily for any clue that would throw
light on this case, but without result. On the morning of the first of
July, I searched his clothing and his trunk from top to bottom, but made
no discoveries. Shortly before noon, while I was engaged in my work in
one of the other rooms, I fancied I heard stealthy footsteps in the
hall. I looked out, and was astonished to see Mr. Gardiner making his
way silently toward Mr. Burton's room. I followed, unobserved. I saw Mr.
Gardiner open Mr. Burton's trunk, which was always left unlocked, and
thrust a package far down into the trunk. Mr. Gardiner then stole away
as quietly as he had come. I immediately entered Mr. Burton's room and
took the package out of the trunk. I identify it as the package already
placed in evidence. I then----"
But Perkins had sprung to his feet. "Your lordship," he exclaimed, "I
submit that this is very remarkable evidence. The Crown has built up a
complete and logical case, entirely free from dime novel effects, but if
this testimony is to be credited the structure so carefully built by the
prosecution falls to the ground. It is easy for the witness to make
these statements, absurd as they are on the face of it, but it is
impossible for the Crown to disprove them. I ask that the evidence be
not admitted."
"Unless supported by confirmatory evidence," added the judge.
"Unless supported by confirmatory evidence," agreed Mr. Perkins.
Excitement was now intense. All eyes, by one accord, had turned to
Gardiner. He sat in his chair as white as chalk, and apparently on the
verge of nervous collapse.
"I have provided for the point raised by the Crown prosecutor,"
continued Miss Landin, quite unruffled by the remarks of Mr. Perkins. "I
examined the package, which I have identified. I then broke the two wax
seals and opened the envelope. I counted the money. There were two
hundred ten dollar bills, all on the same bank, new and apparently
unused. The serial numbers began with B-323001 and ran to B-323200. It
will be found that the package now exhibited is one bill short, and that
the missing bill is B-323005. I now produce the missing bill, which I
took from the package at that time, and place it in evidence." So saying
she drew from her purse a bright new ten dollar bill, which she handed
to the clerk. "Number B-323005," she said.
"Correct," said the clerk, when he had examined the bill.
"I then," continued Miss Landin, "replaced the package in the trunk and
awaited developments. I had not long to wait. Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Graves
and Mr. Burton appeared in the hall in a few minutes. They entered Mr.
Burton's room, and Mr. Graves found the package in the trunk. I watched
them through the crack of the door, and did not fail to notice Mr.
Gardiner's agitation when he discovered the package had been opened. I
subsequently told Mr. Graves that I had been a witness to what occurred
in the room, and he thought it would be a good thing to have me appear
here and give evidence. This I have done."
"Your lordship," said Mr. Perkins, meanwhile glowering at Gardiner and
Graves, "these developments were entirely unexpected by the Crown, and
place the case in an absolutely new light. I can only ask permission to
withdraw the charge."
"I think it better to proceed with it," said the judge. "Do you wish to
call any witnesses for the defence, Mr. Bradshaw?"
"I had intended calling witnesses to establish the previous good
character of the prisoner," said Bradshaw; "but this has already been
testified to by three Crown witnesses, and I now consider that
unnecessary."
"And very remarkable evidence it is," said the judge. "Where testimony,
even when amply supported, appears unreasonable on its face, the law
naturally looks for a motive. Can you supply that in this instance?"
"_I_ can," continued Miss Landin. "Owing to--to a love affair, in which
Mr. Gardiner found the prisoner here a dangerous rival, he determined to
bring Mr. Burton into disgrace which would cause him to leave the
country. It was a simple matter for Mr. Gardiner to remove the package
from his safe and cast the suspicion upon his clerk. When this failed to
have the desired effect it was another simple matter to conceal the
package in Mr. Burton's trunk and drop a hint to the detective who was
employed on the case."
"Then the case is closed. We will not reflect upon the intelligence of
the jury by any remarks. Can the jury find a verdict without leaving the
room?"
"We can," said the foreman. "All who say 'Not guilty' stand up."
Every juror rose to his feet.
"Discharge the prisoner," said the judge. "It will, of course, rest with
him whether an action is taken against his traducer. But I should like
to sit on the case."
Burton rose to say something, but immediately the air became alive with
hands. They were thrust at him out of space--from above, from below, from
every side--and he found himself seized and carried bodily out of the
building.
At the door he saw Miss Landin. There was a room there used for office
purposes. At the moment it was unoccupied. Breaking away from his
enthusiastic friends he seized the girl by the arm, drew her into the
room and locked the door.
"Now tell me all," he demanded. "Tell me why you did it, how you did it,
and why you kept your discovery a secret, even from the officers of the
law. But first of all accept an apology for the one-time bad opinion of
a boy who has been very much of a fool, and who has been saved by a
miracle. You are the miracle, Polly--I mean, Miss Landin."
"Hardly that," said the girl, laughing. "And I am not sure how much I
should tell you. You see, it wasn't you that engaged me."
"That's the biggest part of the mystery. Don't keep me in suspense. I
haven't seen my way for the last five months; let me see it clearly
now."
"I should say that your way is as clear as day. It lies straight to Mrs.
Goode's little private parlour, where somebody is waiting for you," she
said, with a knowing smile. "But I suppose I owe you an explanation.
Your friends are clamouring for you at the door, so I will make it
brief. Listen.
"Myrtle Vane loves you. You couldn't see it, of course, being a man, and
she, being a woman, couldn't tell you. When you got into trouble there
was only one person in whom she could confide, and that person was her
brother Harry. She wrote him a letter--such a letter as raises the
relation of brother and sister from the human to the divine. He called
me to his office, as I had given him service before in other matters. He
read me his sister's letter and talked with me frankly. 'I want you to
go to Plainville,' he said, 'and find out all about this case. Learn the
character of this young man who has gained such a hold on the affections
of my sister. If he is guilty help to convict him; if he is innocent
establish his innocence beyond the shadow of doubt or question. But
above all, learn whether or not he is a man. See whether he can stand up
under adversity--whether he can face the inevitable with clear eye and
set chin. And when your investigation is complete report to my sister.'"
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Burton. "And you have reported?"
"Yes, by messenger, an hour ago. I couldn't report until you came back,
you know."
"Why?"
"Why? Stupid! With all your masculine assurance, you will hardly claim
that your conduct, up to an hour ago, had a very heroic ring. But your
return--in the nick of time--your explanations, and the course of to-day's
events establish everything. I had to let you return thinking you were
guilty, otherwise I should have been in doubt what to report. Now while
many believed in you, only you and I and Gardiner in all this world knew
you were innocent. You couldn't prove it, Gardiner wouldn't prove it, so
the secret rested with me. And, in spite of my sex, I have learned that
there is just one way to keep a secret. I kept it."
"Even from Miss Vane?"
"Even from Miss Vane."
"Polly, you're a wonder--you're a brick." There were tears in his eyes as
he spoke. "I won't forget you--I won't forget." For a moment he held her
hand in his. And there were tears in her eyes, too, when she turned
away.
The Grant boys almost ate him when he reappeared from the little office,
but a clerk from the Sempter Trading Company forced his way to Burton.
"Mr. Sempter would like to see you in his office at once, Burton," he
said.
"I will be there in ten minutes," was the answer.
Burton found Mr. Sempter in his private office at the back of the store.
The merchant received him cordially and placed a chair for him. "You
might step down and get the mail for us, Miss Jones," he said to his
stenographer, and as soon as the young woman had left the room he
plunged into his business with Burton.
"I have no doubt, Mr. Burton, your time is limited to-day. Your friends,
quite naturally, will demand the privilege of showing their elation at
the happy outcome of the miserable affair with which your name was so
unjustly associated. So I will be brief and to the point. When I
established this business here I was the first general merchant in
Plainville. As the town grew I realised that another store was
inevitable. The farmers demand competition, and no matter how well you
may use them they prefer to deal where they have a choice of stores. To
meet that situation it occurred to me to start another store under
another name. Gardiner was recommended to me by an Eastern business
connection. I got into touch with him, and the outcome was the
establishment of a store under his name, although I furnished all the
capital."
Burton raised his eyebrows a trifle. "Then Gardiner was your employee?"
he interrupted.
"Nothing more or less. But the secret was well kept. Gardiner was a
shrewd businessman, and not even my head clerks ever suspected my
connection with the store that bore his name. Now, to arrive at the
point: I paid Gardiner two thousand dollars a year and twenty per cent.
of the profits. That gave him a net income from the business of between
three and four thousand yearly. His resignation is now in my hands, and
the position is open to you on the same terms. What do you say?"
Burton was so much surprised by the revelation made, and by Mr.
Sempter's liberal offer, that he found it difficult to answer. But at
last he managed to say something about his inexperience in mercantile
business.
"It is not experience I am hiring," said Mr. Sempter. "I can hire twenty
years' experience for twenty dollars a week. It's character I am bidding
for now. I am an old hand on the market, and I seldom pay more than an
article is worth. Can you assume your new duties to-morrow morning?"
"I can," said Burton, rising from his chair in his sudden resolve.
The old merchant and the young one clasped hands together, and at that
moment Miss Jones entered with the mail.
"The clerk in the post office said there was a letter for Mr. Burton,"
she explained, "and wondered where to find him, so I brought it with
me." So saying she placed an envelope in Burton's hands.
As he left the store he glanced at the post mark, and his heart jumped
as he found it was that of a far western town. He nervously tore open
the enclosure, and read:
"Dear Ray.--Of course I have found out all about you. Why
couldn't you tell me and save all this investigation on my part?
I am addressing this letter to reach you at Plainville on the
first day of the assizes. I expect you will be there to lift it;
if it comes back to me undelivered another pillar of my faith in
humanity will be gone. But it won't come back. And in some way
justice will prevail, even if we do not see it clearly just now.
The fact that the lady with the scales may sometimes be caught
napping is no fault of her customer.
"I have invited myself to visit you and Myrtle when you get
settled down. Meanwhile--good luck!
"Kate McKay."
"Dear old Kid," said Burton, as he pressed the letter fervently to his
lips. "It's wonderful how many people there are in this world who ring
true, after all, isn't it?"
As he entered the hall of the Goode boarding-house he was overwhelmed by
a pair of arms about his neck and a resounding kiss on his cheek. When
he could disengage himself he was looking into the laughing face of
Alice Goode.
"That's a horse to me," she exclaimed, gleefully. "I knew it was now or
never. In fifteen minutes you'll be tagged and labelled, and I never
trespass on other people's property. But until the 'Keep off' sign is up
I don't mind stamping around on the lawn a little."
"There'll always be a corner in the lawn for you, Alice," he said
earnestly.
"More likely in the root garden," she sallied. "But hist----"--this with
her finger to her lips--"the great moment is at hand." She led him softly
to the parlour door, and as it swung open to her touch his eyes fell on
that wonderful face which he had seen in every dawn and every sunset,
every shadow and every sunbeam, since that glorious day, ages ago, when
their mirrored images had blended in the glassy water at their feet.
With a spirit flooded with humility and tenderness he stepped into the
presence that to him was nothing less than sacred.
And Alice Goode gently closed the door and tip-toed down the hall.
BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO. LD., PRINTERS, LONDON AND TONBRIDGE.