Dan The Newsboy 28

Dan The Newsboy 28

CHAPTER XXV.

 

THE BURGLARY.

 

 

The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Bill, powerful as he was,

was prostrated, and for an instant interposed no resistance. But this

was not for long.

 

"You'll repent this, you old idiot!" he hissed between his closed teeth,

and, in spite of old Jack's efforts to keep him down, he forced his way

up.

 

At the same moment Mike, who had been momentarily dazed by the sudden

attack, seized the janitor, and, between them both, old Jack's life was

likely to be of a very brief tenure. But here the reinforcements

appeared, and changed the aspect of the battle.

 

One burly policeman seized Bill by the collar, while Mike was taken in

hand by another, and their heavy clubs fell with merciless force on the

heads of the two captives.

 

In the new surprise Jack found himself a free man, and, holding up the

lantern, cried, exultingly:

 

"If I am an old idiot, I've got the better of you, you scoundrels!

You'll open the safe, will you?"

 

Bill looked about him doggedly. It was hard for him to give in, but the

fight was too unequal.

 

"Mike," said he, "this is a plant. I wish I had that cursed book-keeper

here; he led us into this."

 

"Is it Mr. Talbot you mean?" asked the janitor.

 

"Yes," answered Bill; "he put us up to this. Curse him!"

 

"No need to curse him," said Jack, dryly; "he meant you to succeed."

 

"Didn't he tell you we were coming to-night?"

 

"Not he."

 

"How did you find it out, then?" asked Bill, quickly.

 

"Not through him. He was watched, for we suspected him. What did he

promise you?"

 

"Five hundred dollars apiece."

 

"Was that all?"

 

"It wasn't enough; but we should have got more out of him."

 

"Before you go away with your prisoners," said Jack to the policeman, "I

wish to open the safe before you, to see if I am right in my suspicions.

Mr. Talbot drew over ten thousand dollars from the bank to-day, and led

us to think that he deposited it in the safe. I wish to ascertain, in

the presence of witnesses, how much he placed there, and how much he

carried away."

 

"Go ahead," said the oldest policeman.

 

The janitor proceeded to open the safe.

 

"Did we have the right combination?" asked Bill.

 

"No."

 

"That cursed book-keeper deceived us, then."

 

"You are mistaken. He was himself deceived. I gave him the wrong word."

 

"Curse you, then!" said Bill, savagely.

 

"Suit yourself, Mr. Burglar," said old Jack, indifferently. "There's an

old saying, 'Curses, like chickens, still come home to roost.' Your

cursing won't hurt me any."

 

"If my curses don't my fists may!" retorted Bill, with a malignant look.

 

"You won't have a chance to carry out your threats for some years to

come, if you get your deserts," said Jack, by no means terrified. "I've

only done my duty, and I'm ready to do it again whenever needed."

 

By this time the safe was open; all present saw the envelope of money

labeled "$12,000."

 

The two burglars saw the prize which was to have rewarded their efforts

and risk with a tantalizing sense of defeat. They had been so near

success, only to be foiled at last, and consigned to a jail for a term

of years.

 

"Curse the luck!" muttered Bill, bitterly, and in his heart Mike said

amen.

 

"Gentlemen, I will count this money before you," said the janitor, as he

opened the parcel.

 

The count was quickly accomplished. It resulted, as my readers already

know, in the discovery that, in place of twelve thousand, the parcel

contained but one thousand dollars.

 

"Eleven thousand dollars short!" said Jack. "Gentlemen, will you take

notice of this? Of course it is clear where the rest is gone--Talbot

carried it away with him."

 

"Where is he?" inquired one of the policemen. "He ought to be pursued."

 

"By this time he is in custody," said Jack.

 

"Look here, old man, who engineered this thing?" demanded Bill.

 

"Come here, Dan," said Jack, summoning our hero, who modestly stood in

the background. "Mr. Burglar, this boy is entitled to the credit of

defeating you. We should have known nothing of your intentions but for

Dan, the Detective."

 

"He!" said Bill, scornfully. "Why, I could crush him with one hand."

 

"Force is a good thing, but brains are better," said Jack. "Dan here has

got a better head-piece than any of us."

 

"You've done yourself credit, boy," said the chief policeman. "When I

have a difficult case I'll send for you."

 

"You are giving me more credit than I deserve," said Dan, modestly.

 

"If I ever get out of jail, I'll remember you," said Bill, scowling. "I

wouldn't have minded so much if it had been a man, but to be laid by the

heels by a boy like you--that's enough to make me sick."

 

"You've said enough, my man," said the policeman who had him in charge.

"Come along, will you?"

 

The two prisoners, escorted by their captors, made their unwilling way

to the station-house. They were duly tried, and were sentenced to a ten

years' term of imprisonment.

 

As for Talbot, he tried to have it believed that he took the money found

on him because he distrusted the honesty of the janitor; but this

statement fell to the ground before Dan's testimony and that of Bill's

wife.

 

He, too, received a heavy sentence, and it was felt that he only got his

just deserts.

 

* * * * * * *

 

On the morning after the events recorded above, Mr. Rogers called Dan

into the counting-room.

 

"Dan," he said, "I wish to express to you my personal obligations for

the admirable manner in which you have managed the affair of this

burglary."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Dan.

 

"I am convinced that but for you I should have lost twelve thousand

dollars. It would not have ruined me, to be sure, but it would have been

a heavy loss."

 

"Such a loss as that would have ruined me," said Dan, smiling.

 

"So I should suppose," assented his employer. "I predict, however, that

the time will come when you can stand such a loss, and have something

left."

 

"I hope so, sir."

 

"As there must always be a beginning, suppose you begin with that."

 

Mr. Rogers had turned to his desk and written a check, which he handed

to Dan.

 

This was the way it read:

 

 

No. 375.

 

PARK NATIONAL BANK.

Pay to Dan Mordaunt or order One Thousand Dollars.

($1,000.) BARTON & ROGERS.

 

 

Dan took the check, supposing it might be for twenty dollars or so. When

he saw the amount, he started in excitement and incredulity.

 

"One thousand dollars!" he repeated, in bewilderment.

 

"Yes," said Mr. Rogers, smiling. "It is a large sum for a boy like you,

Dan. I hope you will invest it wisely."

 

"But, sir, you don't mean all this for me?" said Dan.

 

"Indeed I do. It is less than ten per cent on the money you have saved

for us."

 

"How can I thank you for your kindness, sir?" said Dan, gratefully.

 

"By continuing to serve us faithfully. By the way, what wages do we pay

you?"

 

"Six dollars a week."

 

"It is too little. From this time you will draw ten dollars."