登陆注册
4609200000017

第17章 A DENIAL.

``You seem to be in an awful hurry to see me,'' said Luke, grumbling. ``I was just getting to sleep.''

``I've lost my pocketbook,'' said Harry. ``Have you seen it?''

``Do you mean to charge me with taking it?'' demanded Luke.

``I

haven't said anything of the sort,'' said Harry; ``but you were with me, and Ithought you might have seen it drop out of my pocket.''

``Of course I haven't seen it. Was that all you woke me up about?''

``Is that all? You talk as if it was a little thing losing thirty-three dollars.''

``Thirty-three dollars!'' repeated Luke, pretending to be surprised.

``You'd better look in the road, or you might have left it in the store.''

``No, I

didn't. I bought something there, but I remember distinctly putting back my pocketbook before I went out.''

``Well,'' said Luke, yawning, ``I wish I could help you; but I can't.

Good-night.''

``What success, Harry?'' inquired Mr. Leavitt, who had deferred going to bed in order to hear his report.

``None at all,'' answered Harry, and related his interview with Luke.

``Is there anything by which you can identify any of the bills?''

``Yes,'' answered Harry, with sudden recollection, ``Idropped a penful of ink on one of the bills -- a two-dollar note -- just in the center. I had been writing a letter, and the bill lay on the table nearby.''

``Good!'' said Mr. Leavitt. ``Now, supposing Luke has taken this money, how is he likely to spend it?''

``At the tailor's, most likely. He is always talking about new clothes; but lately he hasn't had any because Merrill shut down on him on account of an unpaid bill.''

``Then you had better see Merrill privately, and ask him to take particular notice of any bills that Luke pays him.''

``If Luke is innocent, I shall feel ashamed of having suspected him.''

``Innocence must often be suspected, or guilt would never be detected. It is the only way to get on the track of the missing bills.''

Harry saw that this was reasonable, and decided to call on Merrill the next day. In a few words he communicated his loss, and the fact that the only person with him at the time was Luke Harrison.

``I

haven't much opinion of Luke. He owes me a considerable bill.''

``He prefers your clothes to Hayden's, and if he has the money, he will probably come here and spend some of it.''

``Suppose he does, what do you want me to do?''

``To examine the bills he pays you, and if you find an ink spot in the center of one, let me know.''

``I

understand. I think I can manage it.''

``My money was mostly in ones and twos.''

``That may help you a little. I will bear it in mind.''

Two days later Luke Harrison met Harry.

``Have you found your money, Walton?'' he asked.

``No, and I am afraid I never shall,'' said our hero, shaking his head.

``What do you think has become of it?''

``That's just what I would like to find out,'' said Harry. ``I suppose that Imust have been very careless.''

``Of course you were. I never lose any money. Are you going to do anything about it?''

``What can I do about it?''

``He's given it up,'' said Luke to himself. ``I think I can venture to use some of it now. I'll go round to Merrill's this evening, and see what he's got in the way of pants.''

Accordingly he strolled into Merrill's that evening ``Got any new cloths in, Merrill?'' asked Luke.

``You're owing me a bill.''

``How much is it?''

``Some over thirty dollars.''

``I

can't pay it all, but I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll pay you fifteen dollars on account, and you can make me a new pair of pants. Will that answer?''

``All right. Of course, I'd rather you'd pay the whole bill. Still I want to be accommodating.''

``Let me look at your cloths.''

The tailor displayed a variety of cloths, one of which suited Luke's fancy.

``I

like that,'' he said. ``Make me a pair off of that.''

Luke gave directions, and then took a roll of bills from his pocket.

``Here's fifteen dollars,'' he said. ``Just credit me with that on the bill.''

Merrill proceeded to count the money, which consisted of ones and twos, and instantly came to the conclusion that it was from Harry's missing pocketbook, particularly as he came upon the identical note with the blot in the center.

``When will you have the pants done?''

``You may call round in two or three days.''

``Just make 'em in style, Merrill, and I'll send all my friends here.''

``My young friend,'' soliloquized the tailor, watching his exit, ``you have walked into my trap neatly. Coleman'' -- turning to a young man present at the time --``did you see Luke Harrison pay me this money?''

``Yes;

to be sure.''

``Do you see this blot on one of the bills a two?''

``I

don't see what there is strange about that. Anybody might get ink on a bill, mightn't he?''

``Of course.''

``The bill's just as good, isn't it?''

``Of course it is.''

Coleman was puzzled. He could not understand why he should have been called upon to notice such a trifle; but the tailor had his reasons, though he did not choose to divulge them just at present.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 送边补阙东归省觐

    送边补阙东归省觐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 狼王洛玻

    狼王洛玻

    洛玻是狼群中的佼佼者,不仅长得高大,还非常聪明诡诈,是个卓越的首领,称霸喀伦坡山谷数年。可威风凛凛的它只有几名随从,但都很有名望。它们在喀伦坡地区横行霸道,肆无忌惮。农场主们对狼群的随意破坏愤恨不已,捉拿狼王的悬赏奖金一度高到可怕的程度,他们想尽各种办法抓捕洛玻,但均以失败告终。狼群中的布兰卡不听洛玻叮嘱,肆意妄为,陷入敌人特别设置的陷阱中被猎人捕捉,洛玻为了拯救它也陷入了陷阱中……
  • Desire

    Desire

    Wealthy, handsome Vidas Christou hasn't exactly been a model husband. Arrogant and distant, he has driven away his beautiful wife, Kim. But when he believes she is carrying his child, he is insistent that it carry his name--no matter how her feelings for him may have changed.Beautiful Kim Rosswell can't bear to tell Vidas the truth: there is no child. When he discovers her deception, can Vidas forgive her--or is it truly too late for love?
  • 佛说十号经

    佛说十号经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 战道成圣

    战道成圣

    盖世至尊叶东风距离缥缈天道不过寸步距离,却在关键时刻被人暗算重生在了一切开始的起点。这一世,叶东风打造完美道心,他微末起身,以凛然之资横推天下,翻手为云,覆手雨,以一己之力脚踏四方,镇压当代。上一世的遗憾和不甘尽数抹平,名震太古,以战为道,终成圣主。
  • 世上云川

    世上云川

    阔别重逢,魏如云发现昔日喜欢的少年廖建川已经成为当红男星,光芒四射。她为了追随他吃尽苦头,他的事业反而被她的痴情影响,两个人的感情出现危机。在此关头,廖建川事业上的对手寇世军故意接近魏如云,三个人开始了一场真真假假的爱情追逐战。
  • 快穿之一不小心成反派

    快穿之一不小心成反派

    人在江湖飘,哪能不挨刀。生活的无奈令夕染无限感叹,一不小心就被系统选中。被抓着做任务?不存在的。她只是来玩游戏的。有个男神要攻略我?那肯定是疯了,这么想不开,姐姐没有心的。“娘子,喜欢我一下不行吗?”“(冷漠脸)要叫我女王大人”“老婆,等等我。”“……”并不认识这个傻蛋。
  • 天价豪门:老婆,你好

    天价豪门:老婆,你好

    【推荐新书:蜜宠甜妻:傲娇总裁要出逃】“今天,谁给我买下那双钻石鞋,,我就嫁给谁”她指着鞋店里的一双鞋,眼睛不停的冒着光。“结账”他将鞋子买下,对她说道:“未来老婆,你好,请多关照”。——————————————————————“这是五百万支票,离开他”对面的女人动作十分熟练。“这年头帅的难找,疼爱自己的还帅的更难找”她总是振振有词———————————————————————“老婆,卖老公的钱花着很开心吗?”他看着在自己怀中拿着支票乐的开心的她
  • 炼宝专家

    炼宝专家

    从浮上岸的那一刻,萧易已死,死在滔滔江水之中,而炼宝阁第十六代宗主楚御在历经大劫之后终于夺舍重生了。
  • 平汉录

    平汉录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。