“I don’t understand.”
“Then I will try to make things clear to you.
You have, doubtless by accident” he emphasized
the last word, “taken from the car a casket
belonging to my young friend here.”
“You are mistaken, sir,” said Wheeler
with brazen hardihood. “That casket belongs
to me.”
“Indeed. What does it contain?”
“I fail to see how that is any of your business,”
returned Wheeler, determined, if possible, to bluff
off his visitors.
“I admire your cheek, sir. I really do.
But I am too old a traveler to be taken in by such
tricks. I propose to have that casket.”
“Well, sir, you are the most impudent thief
and burglar I ever met. You break into a gentleman’s
room, and undertake to carry off his private property.
Unless you go out at once, I will have you arrested.”
“That you can do very readily, for I have an
officer within call.”
Louis Wheeler changed color. He began to see
that the situation was getting serious.
“There is a great mistake here,” he said.
“I agree with you.”
The agent went to the door, and called “Constable
Barlow.”
The constable promptly presented himself.
“Do you want me, sir?” he asked.
“That depends on this gentleman here. If
he will peacefully restore to my young friend here
yonder jewel casket I am willing to let him go.
Otherwise—” and he glanced at Wheeler
significantly.
“Perhaps I have made a mistake,” admitted
the thief. “I had a casket exactly like
this. Possibly I have taken the wrong one.”
“I have the key to the casket here,” said
Rodney, “and I can tell you without opening
it what it contains.”
“What did yours contain?” asked the agent.
“Jewelry,” answered Wheeler shortly.
“What articles?”
“Never mind. I am inclined to think this
casket belongs to the boy.”
“Rodney, you can take it and Mr. Wheeler will
probably find his where he left it.”
No objection was made, and the discomfited thief was
left a prey to mortification and disappointment.
Rodney handed a dollar to the constable which that
worthy official received with thanks, and he and the
agent resumed their journey by an afternoon train.
They saw nothing further of Louis Wheeler who sent
for dinner to be served in his room.
A YOUNG FINANCIAL WRECK.
“You have been very fortunate in recovering
your jewels,” said the agent.
“I owe it to you,” replied Rodney gratefully.
“Well, perhaps so. If I have rendered you
a service I am very glad.”
“And I am very glad to have found so good a
friend. I hope you will let me pay for your ticket
to New York.”
“It won’t be necessary. The interruption
of our journey won’t invalidate the ticket we
have.”
