WHO STOLE THE MONEY?
Did Mrs. Merton suspect anyone of the theft? This is the question
which will naturally suggest itself to the reader.
No thought of the real thief entered her mind. Though she was fully
sensible of Harold's faults, though she knew him to be selfish,
bad-tempered, and envious, she did not suppose him capable of theft.
The one who occurred to her as most likely to have robbed her was her
recently returned nephew, Warner Powell, who had been compelled to
leave Chicago years before on account of having yielded to a similar
temptation. She knew that he was hard up for money, and it was
possible that he had opened the table drawer and abstracted the
pocketbook. As to Luke Walton, she was not at all affected by the
insinuations of her niece. She knew that Mrs. Tracy and Harold had a
prejudice against Luke, and that this would make them ready to believe
anything against him.
She was curious, however, to hear what Warner had to say about the
robbery. Would he, too, try to throw suspicion upon Luke in order to
screen himself, if he were the real thief? This remained to be
proved.
Warner Powell did not return to the house till five o'clock in the
afternoon. His sister and Harold hastened to inform him of what had
happened, and to communicate their conviction that Luke was the thief.
Warner said little, but his own suspicions were different. He went up
stairs, and made his aunt a call.
"Well, aunt," he said, "I hear that you have been robbed."
"Yes, Warner, I have lost some money," answered the old lady,
composedly.
"Louisa told me."
"Yes; she suspects Luke of being the thief. Do you agree with her?"
"No, I don't," answered Warner.
Mrs. Merton's face brightened, and she looked kindly at Warner.
"Then you don't share Louisa's prejudice against Luke?" she said.
"No; I like the boy. I would sooner suspect myself of stealing the
money, for, you know, Aunt Eliza, that my record is not a good one,
and I am sure Luke is an honest boy."
Mrs. Merton's face fairly beamed with delight. She understood very
well the low and unworthy motives which influenced her niece and
Harold, and it was a gratifying surprise to find that her nephew was
free from envy and jealousy.
"Warner," she said, "what you say does you credit. In this particular
case I happen to know that Luke is innocent."
"You don't, know the real thief?" asked Warner.
"No; but my reason for knowing that Luke is innocent I will tell you.
The money was safe in my drawer when I went out this morning. It was
taken during my absence from the house. Luke was with me during this
whole time. Of course, it is impossible that he should be the thief."
"I see. Did you tell Louisa this?"
"No; I am biding my time. Besides, I am more likely to find the real
thief if it is supposed that Luke is under suspicion."
"Tell me truly, Aunt Eliza, didn't you suspect me?"
"Since you ask me, Warner, I will tell you frankly that it occurred to
me as possible that you might have yielded to temptation."
"It would have been a temptation, for I have but twenty-five cents.
But even if I had known where you kept your money (which I didn't), I
would have risked applying to you for a loan, or gift, as it would
have turned out to be, rather than fall back into my old disreputable
ways."
"I am very much encouraged by what you say, Warner. Here are ten
dollars. Use it judiciously; try to obtain employment, and when it is
gone, you may let me know."
"Aunt Eliza, you are kinder to me than I deserve. I will make a real
effort to secure employment, and will not abuse your confidence."
"Keep that promise, Warner, and I will be your friend. One thing more:
don't tell Louisa what has passed between us. I can, at any time,
clear Luke, but for the present I will let her think I am uncertain on
that point. I shall not forget that you took the boy's part where your
sister condemned him."
"Louisa and Harold can see no good in the boy; but I have observed him
carefully, and formed my own opinion."
Warner could have done nothing better calculated to win his aunt's
favor than to express a favorable opinion of Luke. It must be said,
however, in justice to him, that this had not entered into his
calculations. He really felt kindly towards the boy whom his sister
denounced as "sly and artful," and liked him much better than his own
nephew, Harold, who, looking upon Warner as a poor relation, had not
thought it necessary to treat him with much respect or attention. He
had a better heart and a better disposition than Mrs. Tracy or Harold,
notwithstanding his early shortcomings.
"Who could have been the thief?" Warner asked himself, as he left his
aunt's sitting room. "Could it have been Harold?"
He resolved to watch his nephew carefully and seek some clew that
would lead to a solution of the mystery.
"I hope it isn't my nephew," he said to himself. "I don't want him to
follow in the steps of his scapegrace uncle. But I would sooner
suspect him than Luke Walton. They say blood is thicker than water,
but I confess that I like the newsboy better than I do my high-toned
nephew."
"Have you made any discovery of the thief, Aunt Eliza?" asked Mrs.
Tracy, as her aunt seated herself at the evening repast.
"Nothing positive," answered the old lady, significantly.
"Have you discovered anything at all?"
"I have discovered who is not the thief," said Mrs. Merton.
"Then you had suspicions?"
"No definite suspicions."
"Wouldn't it be well to talk the matter freely over with me? Something
might be suggested."
"I beg your pardon, Louisa, but I think it would be well to banish
this disagreeable matter from our table talk. If I should stand in
need of advice, I will consult you."
"I don't want to obtrude my advice, but I will venture to suggest that
you call in a private detective."
Harold looked alarmed.
"I wouldn't bother with a detective," he said. "They don't know half
as much as they pretend."
"I am inclined to agree with Harold," said Mrs. Merton. "I will act as
my own detective."
Save for the compliment to Harold, Mrs. Tracy was not pleased with
this speech of her aunt.
"At any rate," she said, "you would do well to keep a strict watch
over that boy, Luke Walton."
"I shall," answered the old lady, simply.
Mrs. Tracy looked triumphant.
Warner kept silent, but a transient smile passed over his face as he
saw how neatly Aunt Eliza had deceived his astute sister.
"What do you think, Warner?" asked Mrs. Tracy, desirous of additional
support.
"I think Aunt Eliza will get at the truth sooner or later. Of course I
will do anything to help her, but I don't want to interfere."
"Don't you think she ought to discharge Luke?"
"If she did, she would have no chance of finding out whether he was
guilty or not."
"That is true. I did not think of that."
"Warner is more sensible than any of you," said Mrs. Merton.
"I am glad you have changed your opinion of him," said Mrs. Tracy,
sharply.
She was now beginning to be jealous of her scapegrace brother.
"So am I," said Warner, smiling. "At the same time I don't blame aunt
for her former opinion."
The next morning Harold was about leaving the house, when Felicie, the
French maid, came up softly, and said: "Master Harold, may I have a
word with you?"
"I am in a hurry," said Harold, impatiently.
"It is about the stolen money," continued Felicie, in her soft voice.
"You had better listen to what I have to say. I have found out who
took it."
Harold's heart gave a sudden thump, and his face indicated dismay.