Chapter XXVI. A Disagreeable Surprise.

Driven From Home

by Horatio Alger

Philip Stark sat down to breakfast in a savage frame of mind. He
wanted to be revenged upon Gibbon, whom he suspected of having
deceived him by opening and appropriating the bonds, and then
arranged to have him carry off the box filled with waste paper.

He sat at the table but five minutes, for he had little or no
appetite.

From the breakfast room he went out on the piazza, and with
corrugated brows smoked a cigar, but it failed to have the usual
soothing effect.

If he had known the truth he would have left Milford without
delay, but he was far from suspecting that the deception practiced
upon him had been arranged by the man whom he wanted to rob. While
there seemed little inducement for him to stay in Milford, he was
determined to seek the bookkeeper, and ascertain whether, as he
suspected, his confederate had in his possession the bonds which he
had been scheming for. If so, he would compel him by threats to
disgorge the larger portion, and then leave town at once.

But the problem was, how to see him. He felt that it would be
venturesome to go round to the factory, as by this time the loss
might have been discovered. If only the box had been left, the
discovery might be deferred. Then a bright idea occurred to him. He
must get the box out of his own possession, as its discovery would
compromise him. Why could he not arrange to leave it somewhere on
the premises of his confederate?

He resolved upon the instant to carry out the idea. He went up
to his room, wrapped the tin box in a paper, and walked round to the
house of the bookkeeper. The coast seemed to be clear, as he
supposed it would be. He slipped into the yard, and swiftly entered
an outhouse. There was a large wooden chest, or box, which had once
been used to store grain. Stark lifted the cover, dropped the box
inside, and then, with a feeling of relief, walked out of the yard.
But he had been observed. Mrs. Gibbon chanced to be looking out of a
side window and saw him. She recognized him as the stranger who had
been in the habit of spending recent evenings with her husband.

"What can he want here at this time?" she asked herself.

She deliberated whether she should go to the door and speak to
Stark, but decided not to do so.

"He will call at the door if he has anything to say," she
reflected.

Phil Stark walked on till he reached the factory. He felt that
he must see Julius Gibbon, and satisfy himself as to the meaning of
the mysterious substitution of waste paper for bonds.

When he reached a point where he could see into the office, he
caught the eye of Leonard, who was sitting at the window. He
beckoned for him to come out, and Leonard was glad to do so.

"Where are you going?" asked the bookkeeper, observing the boy's
movement.

"Mr. Stark is just across the street, and he beckoned for
me."

Julius Gibbon flushed painfully, and he trembled with nervous
agitation, for he feared something had happened.

"Very well, go out, but don't stay long."

Leonard crossed the street and walked up to Stark, who awaited
him, looking grim and stern.

"Your uncle is inside?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Tell him I wish to see him at once-- on business of
importance."

"He's busy," said Leonard. "'He doesn't leave the office in
business hours."

"Tell him I must see him--do you hear? He'll come fast
enough."

"I wonder what it's all about," thought Leonard, whose curiosity
was naturally excited.

"Wait a minute!" said Stark, as he turned to go. "Is Jennings
in?"

"No, sir, he has gone over to the next town."

"Probably the box has not been missed, then," thought Stark.
"So much the better! I can find out how matters stand, and then
leave town."

"Very well!" he said, aloud, "let your uncle understand that I
must see him."

Leonard carried in the message. Gibbon made no objection, but
took his hat and went out, leaving Leonard in charge of the
office.

"Well, what is it?" he asked, hurriedly, as he reached Stark.
"Is--is the box all right?"

"Look here, Gibbon," said Stark, harshly, "have you been playing
any of your infernal tricks upon me?"

"I don't know what you mean," responded Gibbon, bewildered.

Stark eyed him sharply, but the bookkeeper was evidently
sincere.

"Is there anything wrong?" continued the latter.

"Do you mean to tell me you didn't know that wretched box was
filled with waste paper?"

"You don't mean it?" exclaimed Gibbon, in dismay.

"Yes, I do. I didn't open it till this morning, and in place of
government bonds, I found only folded slips of newspaper."

By this time Gibbon was suspicious. Having no confidence in
Stark, it occurred to him that it was a ruse to deprive him of his
share of the bonds.

"I don't believe you," he said. "You want to keep all the bonds
for yourself, and cheat me out of my share."

"I wish to Heaven you were right. If there had been any bonds,
I would have acted on the square. But somebody had removed them, and
substituted paper. I suspected you."

"I am ready to swear that this has happened without my
knowledge," said Gibbon, earnestly.

"How, then, could it have occurred?" asked Stark.

"I don't know, upon my honor. Where is the box?"

"I--have disposed of it."

"You should have waited and opened it before me."

"I asked you if you had a key that would open it. I wanted to
open it last evening in the office."

"True."

"You will see after a while that I was acting on the square.
You can open it for yourself at your leisure."

"How can I? I don't know where it is."

"Then I can enlighten you," said Stark, maliciously. "When you
go home, you will find it in a chest in your woodshed."

Gibbon turned pale.

"You don't mean to say you have carried it to my house?" he
exclaimed, in dismay.

"Yes, I do. I had no further use for it, and thought you had
the best claim to it."

"But, good heavens! if it is found there I shall be
suspected."

"Very probably," answered Stark, coolly. "Take my advice and put
it out of the way."

"How could you be so inconsiderate?"

"Because I suspected you of playing me a trick."

"I swear to you, I didn't."

"Then somebody has tricked both of us. Has Mr. Jennings
discovered the disappearance of the box?"

"Yes, I told him."

"When?"

"When he came to the office."

"What did he say?"

"He took the matter coolly. He didn't say much."

"Where is he?"

"Gone to Winchester on business."

"Look here! Do you think he suspects you?"

"I am quite sure not. That is why I told him about the
robbery."

"He might suspect me."

"He said nothing about suspecting anybody."

"Do you think he removed the bonds and substituted paper?"

"I don't think so."

"If this were the case we should both be in a serious plight. I
think I had better get out of town. You will have to lend me ten
dollars."

"I don't see how I can, Stark."

"You must!" said Stark, sternly, "or I will reveal the whole
thing. Remember, the box is on your premises."

"Heavens! what a quandary I am in," said the bookkeeper,
miserably. "That must be attended to at once. Why couldn't you put
it anywhere else?"

"I told you that I wanted to be revenged upon you."

"I wish you had never come to Milford," groaned the
bookkeeper.

"I wish I hadn't myself, as things have turned out."

They prepared to start for Gibbon's house, when Mr. Jennings
drove up. With him were two tall muscular men, whom Stark and Gibbon
eyed uneasily. The two strangers jumped out of the carriage and
advanced toward the two confederates.

"Arrest those men!" said Jennings, in a quiet tone. "I charge
them with opening and robbing my safe last night about eleven
o'clock."