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diff --git a/37647.txt b/37647.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb9a0b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/37647.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8365 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Adventures of a Country Boy at a Country +Fair, by James Otis + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Adventures of a Country Boy at a Country Fair + + +Author: James Otis + + + +Release Date: October 6, 2011 [eBook #37647] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF A COUNTRY BOY AT +A COUNTRY FAIR*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 37647-h.htm or 37647-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37647/37647-h/37647-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/37647/37647-h.zip) + + + + + +[Illustration: In an instant Sam was off at full speed, crying, "Stop +thief!" at the full strength of his lungs.] + + +THE ADVENTURES OF A COUNTRY BOY AT A COUNTRY FAIR + +by + +James Otis + +Author of Toby Tyler Etc. + +Illustrated + + + + + + + +Boston +Charles E. Brown & Co. + +Copyright, 1893, +By Charles E. Brown & Co. + +S. J. Parkhill & Co., Printers +Boston + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER. + I.--A Young Fakir + II.--An Old Fakir + III.--A Friend + IV.--Uncle Nathan + V.--The Fair + VI.--A Clue + VII.--The Clerk + VIII.--The Jewelry Fakir + IX.--A Brave Rescue + X.--An Encounter + XI.--Long Jim + XII.--A Discovery + XIII.--Amateur Detectives + XIV.--The Rendezvous + XV.--Sam's Adventures + XVI.--Missing + XVII.--A Terrible Night + XVIII.--A Narrow Escape + XIX.--The Arrest + XX.--A Proposition + XXI.--With the Burglars + XXII.--A Disaster + XXIII.--A Second Arrest + XXIV.--A Third Arrest + XXV.--On Bail + XXVI.--The Fakirs' Party + XXVII.--In Hiding + XXVIII.--A Failure + XXIX.--The Testimonial + XXX.--The Trial + XXXI.--An Arrival + XXXII.--In Conclusion + + + + +_THE ADVENTURES OF A COUNTRY BOY AT A COUNTRY FAIR._ + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_A YOUNG FAKIR._ + + +"I'm going to try it. Deacon Jones says I can have the right to run both +things for ten dollars, and Uncle Nathan is going to lend me money +enough to get the stock." + +"What scheme have you got in your head now, Teddy Hargreaves?" and Mrs. +Fernald looked over her spectacles at the son of her widowed sister, who +was literally breathless in his excitement. + +"I'm going to run a cane an' knife board at the Peach Bottom fair, and +try to make money enough to pay the debt mother owes on the place." + +"You're crazy--mad as a March hare! The idea of a child like you setting +yourself up to earn three or four hundred dollars, when your father +worked all his life and couldn't get so much together." + +Mrs. Fernald really appeared to be angry, and she really believed there +was good cause why she should lose her temper. The thought that little +Teddy--a "whiflet" she called him--should set up his opinion in such +matters against his elders, and attempt to earn in one season an amount +which Seth Hargreaves had never been able to repay during his thirty-six +years of life, was so preposterous that the good lady looked upon the +boy's assertion as positive proof that he was not only ready but willing +to "fly in the face of Providence." + +"I shall try it all the same," Teddy replied in a most provokingly +matter-of-fact tone, "an' I'm going down to see Uncle Nathan this very +minute." + +"Very well, and I consider it my bounden duty to advise your mother to +keep you in the house until the fair is ended," Aunt Sarah said, as she +took from its peg the well-worn gingham sun-bonnet. + +Teddy had no desire to prolong the conversation, which had been begun +simply because his aunt insisted on knowing where he had been, but +hurried away from the gate on which he had been swinging while Mrs. +Fernald questioned him, as if fearful lest she might try to detain him +until the matter could be settled according to her own ideas of +propriety. + +"I can have the right to run what I want to, every day the fair lasts, +for ten dollars, an' now, if you lend me fifteen, I'll be all right," +the boy cried as he burst into Nathan Hargreaves' store, just as the old +gentleman was adding a trifle more sand to the sugar, in order to +compensate for what might possibly have been spilled by the careless +clerk. + +"Oh, it's fixed, eh? And you're really goin' to turn fakir?" Uncle +Nathan asked, wrinkling his face into the semblance of a laugh, but +remaining silent, as if fearing to waste even such a cheap thing as +mirth. + +"What's a fakir?" + +"A man, or a boy, for that matter, who goes out to sell things as you +count on doin', if I'm fool enough to let you throw away fifteen good +dollars of mine." + +"But you promised to lend me the money." + +"An' I'm going to do it; but that don't make me any less a fool jest +because I'm holdin' to my word. Tell me what you count on doin', an' +then we'll come down to the business end of the scheme." + +"I'll pay the ten dollars I've got to Deacon Jones for the right to run +the games, an' with what you lend me I'm goin' to Waterville an' buy a +whole lot of knives an' canes. There's a storekeeper over there who +promises to sell that kind of goods for less than they cost him." + +"An' he's lyin' when he says it. People don't do business for the fun of +it; but that's neither here nor there so far as our trade is concerned. +I'm goin' to give you the fifteen dollars now--it's a power of money for +a boy of your size, Teddy--, an' if you make anything, as I allow you +will, I'm to have eighteen dollars back; don't forget that part of the +trade." + +"I'll stand to what I agreed, Uncle Nathan, and you shall be paid the +very day the fair closes." + +"Here it is," and with a sigh which was almost a groan Uncle Nathan took +from a fat calfskin wallet three five-dollar bills, adding, as he handed +them to Teddy: "Be careful of it, my boy, for I'm puttin' almost too +much confidence in a child of your size, an' nobody knows how distressed +I'd be if anything happened to prevent your paying it back." + +Teddy placed the money carefully in the inside pocket of his vest, and, +after promising for at least the hundredth time that it should be repaid +by the close of the following week, hurried home confident in the belief +that he was on an extremely short road to wealth. + +Mrs. Hargreaves was by no means as sanguine as her son concerning the +success of the scheme, and actually appeared frightened when Teddy +showed her the money he had received from his Uncle Nathan, who was +reputed to be the "closest-fisted" merchant to be found within a day's +ride of Peach Bottom Run. + +"If you should lose it, Teddy, and be unable to pay him back at the +exact time you promised, it would be the undoing of us, for we could +never expect to get another dollar. I know he is not generous, but have +always believed that if we should be in yet more straitened +circumstances he would give us some assistance. He has neither charity +nor mercy for any one who does not pay a little more than his just +debts--" + +"But I shall give back every cent of this, mother, so don't look as if +you were in such distress. I want to go to Waterville to buy my stock in +the morning, an' am counting on walking. It's only seven miles, an' I'll +save fifty cents by traveling on shanks' mare." + +"I will have breakfast ready by four o'clock; but you must come back on +the stage, Teddy." + +"Yes, if I feel very tired; but I don't know of any easier way to earn a +dollar than by walking both ways." + +The young "fakir" believed he knew exactly what kind and amount of stock +he wished to purchase on the following day, therefore he had no +preparations to make for the journey save to get his limbs in the best +possible condition for the tramp by retiring very early, in order to +"scoop in" plenty of sleep. + +The thought of the success which should attend him in his new venture +kept his eyes open a long while after getting into bed, and when he +finally succeeded in crossing over to the land of Nod, dreams of the +fortune to be made during the coming week visited his brain, and +remained there until his mother's voice summoned him to breakfast. + +The sun had not yet come up from behind the hills when he was trudging +sturdily along over the dusty road, carrying a generous luncheon tied in +a snowy-white napkin, and with his money secured by many pins in the +lining of his cap. + +"Be careful not to lose it, for your Uncle Nathan would never forgive +you," his mother had said, and he cried cheerily, as he walked swiftly +down the lane to the highway: + +"There's no fear of anything like that happening; the bills can't get +away without my knowing it so long as they stay here," and Teddy pulled +his cap yet more closely down on his head. + +In a trifle more than two hours he was at Waterville, wondering why the +stores were not open, no matter how early it was, when such an important +customer as himself came to town. + +Since the merchants were evidently ignorant of his arrival, as was +evidenced by the fact that their places of business yet remained closed, +there was no more profitable occupation for him than to eat a second +breakfast, which he proceeded to do, using a hand-truck on the +depot-platform as a seat. + +The train which left New York on the evening before had arrived some +time previous, and the station was temporarily deserted by all save a +boy of about Teddy's age, who was walking to and fro in an aimless +manner. + +By the time the young "fakir" had finished his second biscuit he noticed +that the stranger was watching him narrowly, and, holding forth the +napkin with its generous store, he asked: + +"Have one?" + +"I don't care if I do," said the boy, carelessly, and he continued: + +"I reckon you live 'round here?" + +"No, I jest come up from Peach Bottom Run, an' am waiting for the stores +to be opened." + +"Why, you're from the same place where the fair is goin' to be held." + +"No; I live at the Run, an' the fair is over to Peach Bottom, most five +miles from my house. Are you goin' there?" + +"I should reckon I was. Why, I'm goin' to help run it." + +"You are?" and Teddy's mouth opened wide in astonishment. + +"Yes, sir-ree, an' you fellers will be jest about crazy when I tell you +what I've come to do." + +"Don't flash it upon us too quick, for we wanter kind of keep our wits +about us till the fun is over." + +The tone of sarcasm in Teddy's voice appeared to nettle the stranger. + +"I've come down here to give away a steamboat what's worth five hundred +dollars." + +"Then there ain't any need for you to go any farther, 'cause I'm willin' +to take it now." + +"If you won't be so smart I'll tell you about it," was the dignified +reply. "There's a firm out in Detroit what's goin' to do that very thing +to the feller that can guess how much she weighs, an' I've been hired to +help the man who is comin' down to Peach Bottom to show off a lot of +boats." + +"What are you goin' to do?" and now Teddy was interested. + +"Row around in the creek while he looks out for the stuff in the fair. +It won't be any more'n fun, an' if you'll come over I'll take you out." + +"I don't s'pose you could help me guess how much the steamer weighs, +could you?" + +"There ain't anybody as can do that, 'cause you see she ain't built yet; +but you can find out all about it by lookin' on the fair grounds for the +circulars what the Davis Boat and Oar Company of Detroit will throw +around, an' if there's somethin' else you wanter know jest ask for Sam +Balderston; all the folks will know me before I've been there very +long." + +"I'm going to work at the fair myself," Teddy replied, and then, in +response to his new friend's questions, he gave him all the particulars +of his proposed venture. + +"I reckon you'll get along all right, an' come out way ahead, if some of +these smart fakirs don't try to get the best of you. Say, why can't I go +to your house, an' stay till it's time to go over to the fair? I'll pay +my way." + +"If mother's willin', I'd like to have you, an' I don't believe she'll +care. Now, I've got to buy my stuff. Where'll I meet you afterward?" + +"I'm goin' with you," Sam said, in a matter-of-fact tone. "I know a good +deal about such things, an' won't see you cheated." + +Teddy hardly thought he was in need of any assistance; but since he did +not want to offend this fellow who was concerned in giving away a +steamboat, he could not well refuse, therefore the two started up the +street together. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_AN OLD FAKIR._ + + +Sam had very much advice to give during the short walk, and while the +greater portion of it was worthless, there were bits which might be of +value to the young "fakir." + +"Don't buy anything till you have seen all there is in town, an' then +you'll know which is the cheapest," Sam repeated several times, with an +air of wisdom, and Teddy believed this to be a good idea. + +With this object in view the two boys walked from store to store, +examining that particular quality of canes and knives which Teddy +thought would be best suited to his purpose, and Sam had no hesitation +in criticising the goods boldly, until more than one of the clerks lost +his temper entirely and refused to show the full stock. + +"If you go on this way, Sam, we won't get the business done to day, an' +I want to send the stuff down in the stage, which leaves here at three +o'clock." + +"There'll be plenty of time for that; I know what I'm about. Now, if you +had sent your money to me, I'd got you a dandy lot in New York for +almost nothing." + +"Seein's how I didn't even know your name till a couple of hours ago, +there wasn't much chance for me to do that, an' I guess I'll make out +well enough here if you don't keep on raisin' a fuss with the clerks." + +"I won't so much as yip ag'in, if that's the way you look at it. The +question is, which store you're goin' to buy from?" + +"There's a place near the depot that wasn't open when we came past. +Let's go there, an' then I'll make up my mind." + +Sam, feeling a trifle injured because his advice had not been fully +appreciated, said nothing more until they were near the station, and +then, seeing a train approaching, he proposed that they stop for a few +minutes. + +"Jest as likely as not there'll be people on it whom I know goin' to the +fair, an' you want to get acquainted with all the fakirs, so's they'll +help you along now an' then." + +"The stage goes at three." + +"An' it ain't more'n ten now. Come on!" Sam cried, triumphantly, as he +motioned for Teddy to come nearer. + +Sam had already quickened his pace, and Teddy was forced to follow, or +injure the feelings of one whom he believed held a responsible position +in the Peach Bottom exhibition. Among the passengers alighting from the +train as the boys arrived was a man who carried a large package +enveloped in green cloth, and Sam whispered, excitedly: + +"I'll bet that's an old fakir, and if he is we want to let him know who +we are." + +Teddy failed to understand exactly why this was necessary; but his +companion seemed so positive on the point that he remained silent. + +This particular passenger appeared to have plenty of time at his +disposal. He placed his package at one end of the platform, lighted a +pipe, and then walked to and fro as the remainder of the travelers +dispersed. + +"You foller me, an' we'll find out who he is," Sam whispered, when he +thought a fitting opportunity had come, and then advanced boldly toward +the stranger. "Goin' to the fair?" he asked. + +"Yes; what of it?" + +"Nothin', only I s'pose you know you've got to take another train here." + +"If I didn't why would I be loafin' around this dead place?" + +"I jest spoke of it 'cause this feller an' I are goin' there, too," and +Sam waved his hand in the direction where Teddy was standing. + +"I s'pose there'll be other boys besides you at the fair, eh?" + +"But we belong to it. I'm to give a steamboat away, an' he's goin' to +run a cane an' knife board. We're waiting here to buy the stock." + +[Illustration: THE THREE NOTES WERE HANDED TO THE GENEROUS STRANGER.] + +"Oh, you are, eh?" and now the man appeared to be interested. "I reckon +you're goin' to spend as much as a dollar?" + +"One? Why, he's got fifteen, an' the whole of it will be spent before +the stage leaves. We know something about the business an' don't count +on gettin' an outfit for nothing." + +"I thought you was a fakir," the man said, in a more friendly tone, as, +unobserved by the worldly-wise Sam, he made a peculiar gesture to a +stranger immediately in the rear. + +"That's what I am," was the proud reply, "an' I'll make things hum over +at Peach Bottom before I leave the town. You see I thought I'd speak to +you, 'cause all of us fellers should know each other." + +"You're right, an' it's mighty lucky you did strike up an acquaintance, +for I can give you a big lift. I've helped many a boy into the business +when they had money enough to help themselves." + +The last dozen words were spoken in a loud tone, as if for the benefit +of the stranger in the rear; but instead of waiting to hear more the +latter turned abruptly and walked toward the package with a green +covering at the end of the platform. + +"I knew we oughter talk with you." + +"Did you count on buying your stuff in this one-horse town?" the man +asked as Teddy approached, and the latter replied: + +"There wasn't any other place I could go to, 'cause it costs too much +for a ticket to New York." + +"How big a stock do you want?" + +"All I can get for fifteen dollars. Don't you think that will be +enough?" + +"It depends," the stranger replied, reflectively. "If you buy the goods +here you'll have to pay such a big price that it won't be much of a +pile. Now, if--I've got the very thing in mind! You'll remember the day +you saw me if my plan works. I know a fakir here who has a fine layout +that he wants to sell. You can get fifty dollars' worth of stuff +for--well, he asks twenty; but I'll say you are friends of mine, an' the +chances are you can make a trade." + +"That would be a regular snap!" Sam cried, and Teddy's eyes glistened at +the thought of thus procuring a full outfit so cheaply. + +"I'll do what I can for you," the man said, in a patronizing tone. "At +any rate, I'll make him come down in his price, and if there's any +balance it can be paid after the fair has been opened long enough for +you to take in some money." + +"If business is good, I'm willing to do what is right," Teddy replied; +"but I must pay Uncle Nathan first." + +"How much do you owe him?" + +"Fifteen dollars." + +"Why, bless my soul, it'll be a pretty poor fair if you can't make five +times that amount in the first two days." + +"Where can we see the man?" Sam asked, eager that his wonderfully good +trade should be consummated at the earliest possible opportunity. + +"I don't know; but he's somewhere in the town. Give me your cash, an' +I'll hunt him up inside of half an hour. The stuff is right here in the +baggage-room, and you can ship it on the stage without any trouble." + +Just for an instant Teddy hesitated to part with what seemed to him like +an enormous amount of money; but then came the thought that an old fakir +would not wrong a young one--and he considered himself such. After some +little difficulty he succeeded in extracting all the pins, and the three +notes were handed to the generous stranger almost at the same moment +that the green-covered package disappeared from the edge of the platform +simultaneously with the departure of the second stranger. + +"Wait right here for me," the man said, as he put the money in his +pocket. "I've got too much work to do to spend any very great amount of +time hunting you fellows up in case you don't stay in one place." + +After thus cautioning them, the old fakir walked slowly away, and Sam +said: + +"It was lucky you fell in with me, Teddy, for I know how these things +are worked, an' can give you a good many pointers before the fair is +over. Why, you'll have a first-class outfit for about half what it's +worth." + +"Yes, it's a good chance; but I can't see why he didn't take us with him +if he was in a hurry, an' then he wouldn't have had to come back." + +"He's got to do that anyway, for his stuff is here," Sam replied, +pointing toward where he had last seen the man's package; but it was no +longer there. "I guess the baggage-master has taken it in," he added; +"but you needn't be afraid of losin' your money while I'm with you." + +Then Sam occupied his companion's attention by telling of his many +alleged wonderful exploits, and an hour passed before his story was +concluded. + +In the meantime one train had arrived and departed; another was on the +point of leaving the depot, bound for Peach Bottom, when Teddy cried as +he leaped to his feet: + +"See! I'm certain that's the man who has got my money!" + +"Where?" + +"On the platform of the front car!" + +Before he could say anything more the train steamed out, leaving the +would-be young fakir staring at it in distress and consternation. + +"Of course it wasn't him," Sam said, confidently, when the last car +had disappeared from view. "The stuff he was goin'to buy for you is here +in the baggage-room, 'cause he said so, an' we'll see him before long." + +[Illustration: "See! I'm certain that's the man who has got my money."] + +Teddy's suspicions had been aroused, and he was not easily quieted. The +thought that it was possible he might have lost the money loaned him by +Uncle Nathan was sufficient to cause the liveliest fear, and he said, +decidedly: + +"I'm going to know where that man's baggage went to." + +"How'll you find out?" + +"Ask the baggage-master." + +"Don't make a fool of yourself. It would be nice for an old fakir like +that man to know you thought he'd steal your money." + +"I don't care what he knows, so long as I get my fifteen dollars back." + +Teddy, trembling with apprehension and excitement, went into the +baggage-room and asked there if a green-covered package had been taken +in by any of the attendants. + +No one had seen such an article, and all were positive there was nothing +of the kind remaining in their charge. + +Then he asked if a bundle of canes had been left there, and to this +question there was a most decided negative. + +"The hangers-on at the fairs haven't begun to come yet," the +baggage-master said, "and when they do come, we sha'n't have any of +their stuff to handle, for it will all be transferred across the +platform without being brought in here. What is the matter? Anything +gone wrong?" + +The lump which had been rising in Teddy's throat was now so large that +it was with difficulty he could say: + +"A man has run off with fifteen dollars of mine, an' Uncle Nathan will +jest about kill me!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A FRIEND._ + + +The baggage-master immediately displayed the utmost sympathy for the +victim of the old fakir's seductive scheme, and Sam was loud in his +denunciations of a brother in the craft who would serve them in such a +shabby manner. + +"You leave him to me, an' I'll show you what can be done," that young +gentleman said, and Teddy replied, reproachfully: + +"I've left too much to you already. If you hadn't thought it was +necessary to make the acquaintance of every fellow who was going to the +fair I'd have my fifteen dollars in my cap now." + +"I'll get them back for you." + +"How?" + +"I can't say jest now; but you wait an' see what I can do." + +Inasmuch as Teddy must account first to his mother and afterward to +Uncle Nathan for that amount, the confident assertion of his friend +failed to give him any mental relief, and he said, quite sharply: + +"You thought it was all right to give the money to him, an' if you +didn't know any more than a country boy who'd never even heard of such +fellows, I can't see how you can do much toward helping." + +At this point the baggage-master, who had been listening to the +conversation, broke in with the sage remark: + +"It's no use for you fellows to fight over what has been done. The money +is gone; there's no doubt about that; but it may be you can get it +back." + +"How?" Teddy asked, eagerly. + +"By notifying the police, and it is possible that they may find your man +long before the fair is ended." + +"But even if they should, how can I pay Uncle Nathan the eighteen +dollars he wants, after givin' Deacon Jones the ten which I promised?" + +"That, of course, is a question I cannot answer," the officer of the +company replied, not unkindly; "but it will certainly be better to get +some of the money back than to lose the whole." + +"Of course it will," Sam said, promptly, after waiting a few seconds +without hearing any reply from Teddy. "Tell us what to do, an' I'll see +to the whole thing." + +"Hello! What kind of a meeting are you holding here?" a cheery voice +cried, and, looking up, the disconsolate Teddy saw a merchant whose +stock he had been examining a short time previous. + +In a few words the baggage-master explained the condition of affairs. + +"Can nothing be done?" the merchant asked. + +"It is barely possible. The fact of the matter is that the two swindlers +left on the last train, and this boy's money has gone with them beyond a +doubt." + +Then the merchant turned to the would-be fakir and asked for further +particulars, which were readily given, the latter saying, as he finished +the sad story: + +"Uncle Nathan is bound to raise a big row, an' I won't be able to help +mother, as I counted on doing; but I s'pose it serves me right." + +"I'm not so sure of that, lad, for all of us are liable to be taken in +at some time or another. It is possible you may make money at the fair, +and I will give you credit to the amount you lost. Go to the store, show +this slip, and get what you think may be needed." + +While speaking the merchant had been writing on a piece of paper torn +from his memorandum book, and when he handed it to Teddy the almost +heartbroken boy read the following words: + + The bearer, Edward Hargreaves, is entitled to credit, thirty + days' time, on all he may need, to the extent of thirty + dollars. + + JOHN REAVES. + +"But I only lost fifteen dollars," Teddy said, as he read the order. + +"I so understood; but you may need more, therefore I have made the +amount sufficiently large. Don't hesitate to buy what is wanted, and +whether you ever find the swindler or not, I feel very positive my bill +will be paid." + +Teddy tried to thank the merchant, but that lump in his throat was still +too near his mouth to admit of many words, and Sam whispered: + +"Don't say anything more about it. You've struck the biggest kind of +luck, and the safest way is to hold your tongue." + +Even had it been possible to speak, Teddy could not have said all that +was in his heart, and before Sam had time to give any further advice the +merchant boarded a train which was just starting for New York, leaving +the young fakir and his newly-made friend to settle matters among +themselves. + +"You're in big luck," the latter said, consolingly. "What's the +difference if you have lost fifteen dollars so long as you know how to +get thirty dollars' worth of goods to start in business?" + +"But this bill will have to be paid, and Uncle Nathan must have his +money; that leaves me forty-five dollars in debt." + +"S'pose'n it does? You're bound to make a good deal more'n that, an' I'm +here to help you through." + +Teddy came very near saying that if Sam had not been there the fifteen +dollars would still be reposing beneath the lining of his cap; but he +succeeded in checking himself, and the reproachful words remained +unspoken. + +At this point in the conversation the baggage-master insisted that +information of the swindler should be given to the police, and, whether +they desired to do so or not, the boys were forced to accompany him to +headquarters. + +Here it is possible their story might have been told without exciting +more than ordinary interest if the name of the kindly-disposed merchant +had not been used; but that was sufficient to awaken a decided interest, +and every detail was written down carefully. + +"We will try to get the money for you," the chief said. "Several of my +men will be at the fair, and if you see this fellow again, information +must be given to them immediately." + +Teddy had but little hope that any good would result by this means, but +he promised faithfully to do as requested, and then the boys were at +liberty to finish the business which had been interrupted so +disastrously. + +So much time had been wasted that it was necessary to move around very +lively in order to have the goods ready before the stage should leave, +and Teddy did a great deal toward expediting matters by explaining to +the clerk at the store on which he had the order for credit exactly +what he proposed to do. + +The young man understood at once the kind of goods which would be +needed, and without listening to the many suggestions made by Sam +selected a good assortment of both knives and canes. + +"Ain't you getting more than thirty dollars' worth?" Teddy asked, as the +clerk continued to add to the pile. + +"I think not. These are all cheap goods, you know, and make a big show +without amounting to any very great value. I will put in cotton cloth +enough for the cane board, and as many rings as you will need unless +business should be very brisk." + +The clerk was bent on making the bill exactly the size of the order, and +when the prices had been figured out Teddy had invested just thirty +dollars in a stock which must bring in a profit of at least fifty per +cent. in order to admit of his paying the debts already contracted. + +The goods were to be put on the stage by the salesman, and there was +nothing further for the boys to do but decide on their manner of +traveling to the Run. + +"After losin' fifteen dollars, I reckon there's only one thing for me to +do," Teddy said, as they left the store. "I'm goin'to walk; but you can +do as you please." + +"S'pose'n we both ride? You're bound to make a pile of money before the +fair is over, an' can afford---- By jinks! There's that fakir now!" + +In an instant Sam was off at full speed, crying: "Stop thief!" with the +full strength of his lungs, as he pursued a man carrying a bundle +covered with green cloth. + +Such an appeal was well calculated to arouse every idler in the +immediate vicinity, and before Teddy fully understood what had happened +not less than twenty men and boys were in chase of the stranger, who, +strange to say, had not quickened his pace. + +The thought that it might yet be possible to regain his money lent +unusual speed to the would-be fakir's heels, and he was among the +foremost when the man suddenly halted, turned squarely around, and +asked: + +"What is the matter with you people? Do you want me?" + +"I guess we do," a policeman replied, as he seized the stranger by the +collar. "Somebody yelled for us to stop the thief, and you must be the +man." + +"Who says I am?" was the angry question. + +By this time both Teddy and Sam had discovered the latter's mistake. The +only point of resemblance between this stranger and the one who stole +the money was that both carried packages covered with green cloth; but +while the first bundle was bulky and apparently heavy, this was small +and readily held under the man's arm. + +Sam did not wait to explain matters. Fearing lest he might get into +serious trouble because of the mistake, he slipped quietly away, leaving +Teddy to bear the brunt of the accused's wrath. + +The latter realized that something must be done at once, for the greater +portion of the crowd was looking inquiringly at him, and he said, in a +voice which was far from steady: + +"I didn't do the hollerin'; but a feller who was with me when a man +stole my money thought you must be the one." + +"Where is he?" the stranger asked, advancing threateningly. + +"I don't know. He ran away when he saw it was a mistake." + +The crowd immediately began to disperse. The policeman called down quite +the reverse of blessings on Sam's head, and then walked away, leaving +Teddy and the stranger comparatively alone. + +"I don't know as it does any harm to have a lot of fools chasing a man," +the latter said, "but it might give him a bad name in his work." + +"I'm very sorry, sir, but you see----" + +"I'm not blaming you, my boy, since it was the other fellow who did the +mischief. Tell me how you lost your stuff." + +"My what?" + +"Your stuff--money." + +"Oh!" and Teddy at once gave the stranger a detailed account of all that +had happened, the latter saying, as the story was concluded: + +"I wouldn't be afraid to bet my head that Long Jim was the duck who +played the trick. I know he came here, headed for the fair grounds, and +it's jest about his style of working." + +"Do you think there's any chance I'll get it back?" + +"He shall give up if I see him. I'll be at the fair myself, working a +neat little game, and will see you there." + +With this remark the stranger walked away, and Teddy went toward the +depot once more, feeling quite certain he had made a friend who would +aid him in his new venture. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_UNCLE NATHAN._ + + +When Teddy reached the depot he was not obliged to hunt very long for +Sam, for that young gentleman crept out from behind a pile of baggage on +seeing his friend was alone, and asked, in a hoarse whisper: + +"What did that feller do to you?" + +"Nothing; but that don't prove we should get out of another scrape so +easily, and you must be careful, or we'll be in no end of trouble before +the fair is ended." + +"I was only tryin' to catch your money." + +"It surely wouldn't have done any harm if you had found out whether that +was the man or not before you started the whole crowd after him." + +"That's right, rub it into a feller when he tries to do you a good +turn," Sam said, sarcastically, and then remembering an instant later +that he proposed to be this boy's guest, he added, "I was only lookin' +out for you, an' so long as there's been no harm done we needn't talk +about it. Do you still mean to walk home?" + +"There's nothing else to be done, if we want to get to the Run to-night, +for the stage left while we were chasing that man." + +This was exactly what he did not want to do; but, under the +circumstances, there was no help for it, and the young gentleman who +expected to form such a prominent portion of the fair set out by the +side of the friend whom he had injured while thinking to do him a favor. + +At the end of a trifle less than three hours, when both were footsore, +hungry, and weary, the boys arrived at Teddy's home, and Mrs. Hargreaves +made the stranger welcome despite the inconvenience caused by his +coming. + +Not until after Sam had retired did Teddy tell his mother of the theft, +and for several moments the widow was in great mental distress; but +finally she viewed the matter in a more cheerful light, and it was +resolved that Uncle Nathan should not be told of the mishap. + +"It would only make him angry," Mrs. Hargreaves said, "and you must pay +him before the merchant who was so kind to you gets his money; but I am +terribly afraid, Teddy, that the whole scheme will be a failure." + +The amateur fakir assured her as best he could, and when they retired +that night both Teddy and his mother were in a comparatively contented +frame of mind. + +The following day was Sunday, on which not even the all engrossing topic +of cane-boards and knives was to be discussed; but before the family had +finished breakfast the arrival of a stranger forced them into worldly +topics. + +The newcomer was none other than the man whom Sam had accused of being +the thief, and he explained the cause of his visit by saying: + +"I have reason to believe that Long Jim, the fakir who got away with +your son's money, will be over here to-night, because the hotels at +Peach Bottom are crowded, and it is possible he may be forced to give up +the stuff." Although not exactly understanding what he meant, the widow +insisted on his coming into the house, and he laid the details of his +plan before Teddy and Sam. + +"I'll hang around here for him," the stranger said, "and you shall say +if he is the man who did you up; after that I'll take a hand in the +business, and it'll be queer if between us all we can't make him do the +square thing, more especially since the rest of his gang haven't come +yet." + +As might be expected, Teddy was excited by the prospect of recovering +the money which he had believed was lost beyond reclaim, and plans were +at once laid to trap the dishonest fakir. + +While this conversation was being carried on Uncle Nathan came in to +learn how his nephew had succeeded in town, and the stranger introduced +himself as Frank Hazelton, a dealer in jewelry, which was to be on +exhibition during the coming week at the fair. + +The old man was delighted to make the stranger's acquaintance, for he +fancied there would be an opportunity for him to take the agency of a +valuable line of goods without the outlay of any money, and in a very +few moments the two were fast friends. + +Uncle Nathan not only monopolized nearly all the conversation, but +insisted on showing Mr. Hazelton around the village, and actually forced +the latter to accompany him, despite the fact that it was Sunday, when +an honest merchant is not supposed to so much as think of business. + +On the following day it would be necessary for those who had purchased +the privilege of doing business on the fair grounds to be present, ready +to select their different sites for working, and very shortly after the +sun sank behind the hills Sam and Teddy retired in order to be ready for +an early start next morning, since the first stage left the Run at +half-past five. + +It lacked fully an hour of that time when the boys were called to +breakfast by Mrs. Hargreaves, and in less than fifteen minutes they were +at the table eating a hearty breakfast, which was interrupted by the +appearance of Uncle Nathan, who looked as if he had not been in bed +since the evening previous. + +"I've been robbed!" he cried, passionately, "and this is what comes of +trying to help my nephew enter a disreputable line of business. I +believe you induced that man to come here, explaining all about my +store, simply that he might act the burglar. And it wouldn't take much +to make me think you had agreed to divide with him the ill-gotten +gains," he added, shaking his fist in the direction of Teddy, who was so +astounded by the news as to be literally incapable of movement. + +"What do you mean, Nathan?" Mrs. Hargreaves cried. + +"Just what I said! My store was robbed last night, and your precious son +knows the thief better than I do!" + +"You mean the man who came here yesterday?" the widow asked, while Teddy +and Sam gazed at the old man in open-mouthed astonishment. + +"Of course I do; who else could it be? Didn't I take him over there +yesterday, and didn't I explain just how difficult it was to deposit +money in a bank, because a man would have to pay a dollar to go to +Waterville an' back, or trust the stage driver to do the business?" + +By this time Teddy had recovered something like composure, and he said, +gravely: + +"We have no means of knowing what you said to Mr. Hazelton, but if you +told him all your business, that is no concern of ours. You insisted on +his going away with you, and we haven't seen him since." + +"But you lied to me about my money." + +"In what way?" + +"You never said a word about its being stolen." + +"If I never said a word I couldn't have told a lie. He has evidently +given the whole story; but what happened in Waterville has nothing to do +with the robbery of your store." + +"Oh, it hasn't, eh? Well, I'm beginning to think it was a job cooked up +by all hands to get the best of me." + +"If it had been," and now Teddy was on his feet, looking the angry old +man squarely in the face, "why wouldn't I have said something about it +in order to make the story seem straighter? A merchant in Waterville +trusted me for the goods I wanted after he heard the money was gone, and +I count on paying you before I do him." + +"Oh, you do, eh? Well, it's mighty doubtful whether you or this precious +friend of yours will ever see the fair, for I'm going to get out a +warrant for the whole lot before I'm done with this thing." + +"Would you arrest Teddy when he has been in this house ever since you +left here yesterday morning?" Mrs. Hargreaves cried. + +"I'll have my money back, and the sooner your smart son tells me where +it is, the sooner he can go about his business; but he must first pay me +back my eighteen dollars." + +"I only borrowed fifteen, Uncle Nathan, and that you will get before +next Wednesday. If you want to arrest me, go ahead; but I promise that +you'll be sorry for it." + +"So you threaten, do you? That's what comes of trying to help an +ungrateful boy! I knew he was going to the bad from the first minute he +talked about having a cane-board," the old man added, as he turned to +the widow, "and I predict that he'll come to no good even if he manages +to get out of this scrape." + +"You thought it was a good idea for me to do as I proposed," Teddy +replied, standing his ground bravely, "and was willing to loan me the +money, provided I would pay you three dollars for the use of fifteen for +one week." + +"That's right; throw in my teeth what I wanted to do in order to help +you along, and call me an old skinflint. I am old enough to expect such +things from such as you." + +"I haven't called you any names, nor do I intend to do so; I only wanted +mother to know the truth of the business between us. Do you really +believe I had any hand in breaking into your store?" + +"If you didn't your friends did, and that amounts to the same thing, as +you'll soon find out. I'll have a warrant issued for the arrest of the +whole crowd, if you don't tell me the truth this very minute." + +"But I don't know anything, Uncle Nathan." + +"I'll have the truth out of you before the day is ended," the old man +cried, angrily, and without saying or doing anything save to shake his +fist in the direction of his nephew and Sam he left the house. + +As yet none of the little party knew the full extent of what had +happened, but before Uncle Nathan was fairly out of the yard a neighbor +came around to tell Mrs. Hargreaves that the old man's store had been +entered by burglars on the night previous, and a large amount of money, +together with the most valuable goods, had been carried away. + +It is not difficult to imagine the consternation which seized upon the +little party after Uncle Nathan's departure. Teddy was so overwhelmed +that it was literally impossible for him to say a word, and Sam shook +like one in an ague fit at the thought that he might be carried off to +jail before it was possible for him to astonish the people by his skill +as an oarsman. + +"You must not think of leaving here until we know what your uncle +proposes to do," Mrs. Hargreaves said, as she returned to the +dining-room after talking with the neighbor. "Of course I know that +neither of you two boys had anything to do with the robbery; but you +must not run away." + +"I've got to leave, no matter what the old fool says," Sam replied. "I +don't know how the folks would get along if I didn't show up, an' it +won't do to disappoint them." + +"Are you going?" Teddy asked, and Sam replied in a voice which trembled +despite all his efforts to make it sound firm: + +"Of course I am. You don't allow I'm such an idiot as to stay till he +can have me arrested, an' if you're sensible, both of us will go." + +"I must stay here, an' lose all my chances of making money," Teddy said, +gloomily. + +"All right, then I'm off, an' after I once get on the fair grounds I'll +bet that old duffer won't get hold of me." + +Sam did not propose to lose any time. He had no baggage, and in a very +few moments after so deciding he was walking up the road over which the +stage would pass, while Teddy, with a heavier heart than he had ever +known before, waited for his uncle to send the officers of the law to +carry him to prison. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_THE FAIR._ + + +It seemed to Teddy as if everything pleasant in life had departed from +him as he waited for the return of Uncle Nathan accompanied by the +officers of the law, and neither he nor his mother had any idea that the +visit would be long delayed. + +The widow had every proof, even if her heart had not told the truth, +that her son was innocent of the charge which the angry old man made. +She knew both he and Sam remained in the house during the entire day +previous to the robbery, and it would have been almost impossible for +them to have left during the night without her knowledge; but at the +same time it was only reasonable she should be distressed in mind as to +the final outcome of the matter. + +One, two, three hours passed, and yet no arrest had been made. + +Teddy no longer hoped to play the part of fakir at the fair; but yet he +fancied it might be possible to sell his stock, which had already been +forwarded by the stage, to some more fortunate fellow, and in order to +do this it was necessary he should be on the grounds at the earliest +possible hour; but the charge made by his uncle held him a voluntary +prisoner. + +At eight o'clock a neighbor, whose love of gossip was greater than her +desire for housework, came to the garden gate to say that she had just +heard the justice of the peace refuse to issue a warrant for either of +the boys, and she added to this information her belief that it, the +burglary, was a judgment upon Uncle Nathan for presuming to talk +business on the Sabbath. + +When this busybody had departed, Mrs. Hargreaves said, as she re-entered +the house: + +"There is no longer any reason, Teddy, why you shouldn't carry out your +plans. Every one in this village knows where to find you in case a +warrant is granted, which doesn't now seem possible, and it is better to +go ahead as you proposed, knowing that your mother is certain you are +innocent of any wrongdoing." + +Teddy's one desire had been to be on the fair grounds, and when this +advice was given from "a fellow's best friend," he started at once, +saying as he left the house: + +"I'll come back if there's nothing to do; but there's no reason to worry +if you don't see me until Saturday, for I shall stay jest as long as +things run smooth." + +Ten minutes later, while he was trudging along the dusty road with no +other idea than that he would be forced to walk the entire distance, a +friend in a wagon overtook him, proposed that he ride, and before the +fair grounds were reached he had heard all the particulars of the +robbery. + +It appeared that the burglars must have effected an entrance to Uncle +Nathan's store after midnight Saturday, and when the proprietor arrived +on the following morning there was absolutely no clue to the thieves. + +"They must have had a wagon to take away all the old man says he has +lost," Teddy's informant added, as the story was concluded, "and because +of that the justice refused to issue a warrant for the man who slept at +the hotel last night. Of course the idea that you knew anything about it +was all in that old fool's eye." + +"Then nobody has been arrested?" Teddy exclaimed, in surprise. + +"Of course not, an' more than one in town hopes he'll never see hide nor +hair of his goods or money; but between you an' me I don't believe he's +lost half as much as he tries to make out." + +To this last assertion Teddy gave but little heed; the all absorbing +thought in his mind was as to whether he would actually be arrested for +the crime, and this was sufficient to prevent any speculations as to +the amount of loss, or his former dreams of the future. + +Arriving at the fair grounds, he found everything in a state of +confusion. Goods were arriving and being put in place; men were +quarreling for this or that vantage ground, and carpenters were busy in +every direction. + +As a matter of course, he knew that all this would be changed on the +following day when the visitors began to arrive; but, nevertheless, it +gave him a homesick feeling which he could not suppress, and, for a +time, prevented him from attending to his own interests. + +"Hello! What are you sittin' there for?" a voice cried, after he had +remained inactive near the entrance nearly an hour, debating in his own +mind whether or not it would be worth the while to unpack the goods +which he knew were awaiting his call somewhere on the grounds. + +Looking up quickly he saw Sam, self-possessed and jaunty as at the first +moment he met him in Waterville, but wearing an air of considerably more +importance. + +"Have you gone to work yet?" he asked, listlessly. + +"Of course not; there's nothin' for me to do till the folks begin to +come in to see how well I can row a boat. What did the old duffer do?" + +"Do you mean Uncle Nathan?" + +"Of course." + +"He hasn't had anybody arrested yet; but there's no knowin' how soon +he'll begin." + +"He'd better not try it on me," Sam said, with an assumption of +boldness. "I've found a feller here that's goin' to show off rifles, an' +I can borrow as many as I want if he does any funny business." + +"Would you shoot anybody?" + +"You jest stay till an old lunatic comes along sayin' I've helped to rob +him when your mother knows where I was, an' see what I'll do," Sam +replied, in a really bloodthirsty tone as he turned to walk away, and +then, as if reconsidering the matter, he stopped long enough to say, +"Wait here a minute, an' I'll show you a feller what knows a thing or +two." + +Inasmuch as Teddy had no idea of moving from the position he had taken +up near the gate it was not irksome to do as the exhibitor of boats +requested, and without troubling his head as to who this very important +person might be, he remained at the precise spot until Sam returned with +a boy who appeared to be a year or two older than himself. + +"This is Dan Summers, an' he's here to help show off a dandy rifle made +in Chicopee Falls down in Massachusetts, or some such place. He'll help +us out of the scrape if anybody can." + +Dan looked as if this introduction was disagreeable to him rather than +otherwise, and after nodding to Teddy, he said, in an explanatory tone: + +"I'm here to help the man what exhibits goods from the Stevens Arms +Company, that's all; but I don't see how I could be of any help if you +fellers have got in a fuss." + +"Neither do I," Teddy replied, and then to show that no one could aid +him, he told the whole story, including all that Uncle Nathan had said. + +"I wouldn't let that worry me," Dan said, philosophically, when the tale +was ended. "If you want to make any money out of this fair it is time +you was lookin' out for a stand, an' I know of the best place on the +grounds. Come with me now, an' you can get it before the crowd of fakirs +have a chance to take it up." + +Teddy, rather liking the appearance of this boy, resolved to follow his +advice, and signified the same by slipping down from the stack of +exhibits, as he said: + +"Show it to me an' I'll get right to work, for there's forty-five +dollars I've got to pay back, no matter what Uncle Nathan makes up his +mind to do." + +"That's the way to talk," Sam cried, approvingly, and forthwith he +proceeded to take charge of his two acquaintances, resolved that lack of +energy should not prevent him from sharing in their triumphs, if indeed, +they had any. + +Dan professed to have had considerable experience with fairs, and the +manner in which he proceeded to work showed that there had been no +boasting on his part. He selected a spot where nearly all of the +visitors would be forced to pass in order to see the cattle or the +racing, and set about putting up a stand for Teddy in the most approved +manner. + +He ordered Sam here and there to such places as he had seen an +accumulation of lumber, and so well did he work, after borrowing an ax +and a hatchet from a "candy butcher," that it was not yet noon when +Teddy had an inclosure sufficiently large for his purpose; the cloth was +in place and the holes cut for the canes, so that it would be but the +work of a few moments to make everything ready when business should +begin. + +"You can't do the whole thing yourself if there is anything like the +crowd that ought to come," Dan said, "and I advise you to hire a clerk." + +"Where'll I find one?" Teddy asked, helplessly. + +"Take some of the fellers from your own village; but be sure they're +honest, for after business begins there won't be any chance to watch +'em." + +Teddy thought he could find the proper party before the following day, +and then came the question of where they were to sleep. + +"I've got that all fixed," Sam said, confidently. + +"The man what runs the museum in that big tent is a friend of mine, an' +he won't say a word if we stay under the canvas to-night." + +"How long have you known him?" Teddy asked, warned by previous +experience that Sam's statements were not always to be depended upon. + +"I never saw him till this morning; but that don't make no difference so +long as he's willin' for us to stay there." + +"We'll go over an' look around," Dan said, leading the way, and to the +surprise of at least one of the party it was found that Master Sam's +statement was absolutely correct. + +The proprietor of the museum was more than willing to allow the boys to +sleep under his canvas, for the very good reason that they would act as +sentinels in lieu of those he had neglected to hire, and all three went +away in search of a place where they could obtain meals during the +expected five days of excitement and money-making. + +This was even a more simple matter than the first. At a boarding-house +nearly opposite the main entrance to the grounds they could be +accommodated at a reasonable rate, and the preliminaries had been +settled. It only remained now to welcome the visitors, and get from them +as much money as possible. + +Teddy almost forgot the terrible fact that his Uncle Nathan might yet +have him arrested, and Sam acted as if such a thing had never been +possible. + +It is true all three of the boys discussed the possibility of finding +the money which had been stolen from Teddy; but neither thought of +connecting the two crimes as the work of one person. + +During the afternoon Teddy looked around in the hope of seeing the man, +unjustly accused of the theft, who had promised to aid him; but as yet +he had not put in an appearance, and it seemed as if all the choice +places would be taken before he arrived. + +It was anything rather than sport to wander around the almost deserted +grounds, and at an early hour, after partaking of a remarkably poor +supper, the three boys sought the seclusion granted by the mildewed +canvas of the alleged museum of the "world's wonders." + +A goat, a wax baby, two or three snakes, an alligator, and a +contortionist, who was none other than the proprietor of this +magnificent array of "marvels," made up the entire list of curiosities; +but the tent would shelter the young fakirs from the wind and dew, and +it was possible they might sleep as soundly as at home. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A CLUE._ + + +Sam and Dan, who had worked at many fairs and been forced to sleep in +far less desirable places, thought it was a rare piece of good fortune +to get such comfortable quarters free; but the prospect of lying on the +ground all night was far from pleasing to Teddy. + +He looked around for some spot softer than another; but there was no +choice, and he said to himself: + +"There's one satisfaction about it, I'm better off on the ground than I +would have been if Uncle Nathan had succeeded in having me arrested and +put in jail." + +This thought caused the interior of the tent to seem less disagreeable, +and he almost persuaded himself that it would be sport to stay all night +in a museum with a real contortionist as host. + +Dan had thrown himself at full length on the ground where he could watch +the proprietor of this "enormous exhibition" cook his supper on an +oil-stove, and Sam, anxious about other people's affairs as usual, +devoted his entire time to asking questions regarding the business. + +"How do you count on gettin' along when the crowds get here? You can't +sell tickets an' act too." + +"I've got a barker an' a clown coming to-morrow; it was no use to pay +'em wages for layin' around when there was nothing to be done but put up +the tent." + +"What's a 'barker?'" Sam asked, in surprise. + +"Why, the man who stands outside an' does the talking, of course." + +Then, his supper having been cooked and eaten, the host amused himself +and his guests by telling of his experience in the show business; +relating stories and talking of the different fakirs he had met. + +"When I started out," he said, "I made up my mind that a fortune could +be made in one season. I bought a fine tent; had lots of performers, +about twenty animals, and a dozen cases of stuffed birds and other +curiosities. We struck hard luck from the sendoff, an' first the woman +with an iron jaw gave me the shake because she got tired of waiting for +the salary that never came. Two of the bears grew so disgusted with the +bad business that they died, and one after another of the people +skipped, till I was pretty nigh alone. A sheriff in Harmer seized the +cases, another levied on my live stock, and it has only taken two +seasons to bring the show down to where you see it." + +This was not pleasing information for Teddy, who was obliged to make +such a large amount of money in order to free himself from debt, and he +asked: + +"Isn't it possible to make money at every fair? I thought the fakirs got +rich in a little while." + +"So did I before I went into the business. A fellow may make a big stake +this week and lose it all at the next stand. If you strike bad weather, +or a crowd that hasn't got any money, it's up-hill work to pull in the +entrance fee. Now, I have to pay a hundred dollars for this privilege, +because I've got a big tent, and it wouldn't be any more if I had a show +to compare with it in size. It'll take a good many ten-cent pieces to +make that up." + +This plain statement of facts caused Teddy to figure how many nickels he +must receive before the capital invested and stolen would be returned, +and the result was far from gratifying. + +"The eighteen dollars which must be given to Uncle Nathan, the thirty I +owe in Waterville, and ten I paid for the privilege of running the +boards makes eleven hundred and sixty five-cent pieces. I'll never see +so many customers as that, and Aunt Sarah was right when she called me a +fool for thinking of going into the business," he said to himself, as +his companions began to make their preparations for the night. + +It is useless to "cry over spilled milk," however, and this he realized +in time to prevent himself from being plunged into the lowest depths of +despondency. It was barely possible business would be exceptionally +good, he argued mentally, and if hard work could accomplish the desired +result he must be successful. + +Dan was already lying down with his head toward the side of the tent and +his feet near the oil-stove, which had been left burning because of the +dampness, and Teddy crawled over by the side of him. Sam had decided to +sleep by the side of his host, probably with the idea that he might +appear to be on terms of greater intimacy, and all hands gave themselves +up to slumber. + +The excitement of the morning and subsequent labor had so tried Teddy +that, despite the hardness of his bed, he fell asleep in a very few +moments, and it was not yet nine o'clock when all the inmates of the +tent, save the goat, and possibly the alligator and snakes, were wrapped +in blissful unconsciousness. + +Half an hour later a terrific yell from Sam caused the remainder of the +party to spring to their feet in alarm. + +"What's the matter?" Dan cried. + +"Somebody has got into the tent and been poundin' me with a club! I'm +pretty near killed." + +The faint glow cast by the oil-stove was not sufficient to illumine any +portion of the tent, and the host made all haste to light a lantern, +after which Dan proceeded to search for the supposed intruder; but +before he had taken a dozen steps the proprietor of the museum burst +into a hearty laugh. + +"Funny, ain't it?" Sam cried, angrily. "I s'pose you'd laugh if I'd been +killed in your old tent!" + +This savage remark appeared to excite the man's mirth rather than check +it, and while he was thus enjoying himself Teddy and Dan stood gazing at +him in surprise. + +It was several minutes before the man could speak, and then he said, as +he pointed to the goat who stood a short distance away calmly munching +some potato parings: + +"That's the fellow who has been beating your friend with a club. I +always let him loose at night, and he has walked over our dying boy." + +Sam insisted that he had been beaten with a club; but on examining his +clothing two spots of fresh earth were found, showing where the animal +had stepped. A hoof-print on the sleeve and another directly on the +breast of his coat comprised the full amount of damage done. + +The boy who had believed himself so dangerously wounded now grew angry, +and, leaping to his feet, declared he would not remain in the tent +another minute unless the goat was tied. + +"There's nothing to prevent your bunking somewhere else," the owner of +the animal replied, quite sharply. + +"Billy always has had the liberty of the tent at night, and I reckon he +won't lose it now." + +Sam started toward the entrance; but before reaching it he realized that +he would be punishing no one but himself, and slowly turned back, saying +as he approached the stove: + +"It's too late to hunt for lodgings now, an' I s'pose I'll have to make +the best of it." + +"I guess you will," the host replied, quietly, and the angry Sam lay +down on the seat of the baggage wagon, to insure himself against another +visit from "Billy." + +This incident had driven the desire for sleep from the eyelids of Teddy +and Dan, and they remained awake some time after the loud breathing of +their companions told that the visit from the goat had been temporarily +effaced from their minds. + +Now Teddy discovered what a hard, uncomfortable bed the bare earth was, +and after tossing about for half an hour, he whispered to Dan: + +"Do you suppose it would be any better in the wagon?" + +"No; you'll get used to it in a little while, and the ground is softer +than a board." + +Teddy was about to reply when the sound of voices from the outside +attracted his attention, and then came the crackle as of a match being +lighted. + +Two or more men had halted near the canvas within a few feet of where +the boys were lying, evidently that they might be sheltered from the +wind while getting their pipes or cigars in working order. + +A moment later both the listeners heard one of the newcomers say: + +"I don't think it will be safe for you to show up very much while we +stay here." + +"Why not? If them boys recognize me it will be an easy matter to +frighten 'em into holdin' their tongues, and there's goin' to be good +pickin's this week." + +"But what's the use of runnin' any risk? We've made a fairly good haul +already, an' it's better to get safe off with that than stick our noses +where it'll be hard work to pull them back." + +Teddy was in the highest possible excitement. In the tone of the second +speaker's voice he recognized the man who had stolen his money, and he +punched Dan with his elbow to assure himself that the latter was +listening. + +"Keep quiet," Dan whispered, and then the conversation on the outside +was continued. + +"I'll take good care to keep shady, an' you see what can be done +to-morrow." + +[Illustration: The boys crept through the flap of the tent and followed +the two men.] + +"Will you promise not to leave the house till after dark?" + +"I thought you had more nerve; but so long as you haven't I reckon I'll +promise, for this is bound to be a fat thing, and I don't want to lose +the whole of it. + +"When these country jays begin to send their stuff home I'll have ours +shipped, an' there's little danger it'll be overhauled, more especially +since the old man couldn't get a warrant for the only one he suspects. +It's a safe bet that Hazelton has a pretty good idea who did the job, +an' if they make trouble for him he'll most likely tell what he thinks." + +"There's no call to be afraid of him after he has worked a couple of +days, for those he ropes in would do all they could to have him +arrested." + +The last portion of this remark was almost indistinguishable, owing to +the fact that the men were walking away, and when the sound of their +footsteps could no longer be heard Teddy said: + +"Those are the men who robbed Uncle Nathan's store, an' I'm certain one +of them got my money." + +"Would you know their voices if you heard them again?" + +"Sure; but why don't we find out where they are going? It wouldn't be a +hard job." + +"Are you willin' to sneak after them?" + +"Of course I am. Come on!" + +The boys arose softly and crept through the flap of the tent without +awakening the sleepers. + +The night was dark and cloudy, and it was impossible to see any very +great distance in either direction; but Dan had taken especial heed to +the course taken by the men, and he started off without hesitation. + +"We ought to have a club or something to protect ourselves in case they +should see us," Teddy whispered. + +"We won't get near enough to let them do much mischief. Do you see two +sparks over there? They are the lighted ends of cigars, an' our men are +behind them." + +Dan quickened his pace; but he had failed to calculate the distance +correctly, and was much nearer the game than he had suspected. + +"Be careful they don't see us," he said, in a low tone, and in another +instant the boys were directly in front of the men. + +Teddy started back in alarm; but he was too late. In an instant the +sparks flashed before his eyes, and he fell to the ground unconscious +just as Dan succeeded in warding off the blow of a fist which was aimed +at him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_THE CLERK._ + + +When Teddy recovered from the vicious blow which had rendered him +unconscious he saw Dan lying on the ground beside him, but no one else +was near. + +It was as if they had been fighting with phantoms of the brain, save for +the fact that both bore the most indisputable signs of having been +assaulted by beings of true flesh and blood. + +One of Dan's eyes was closed as if by a violent blow, and Teddy bled +freely from the ear, the crimson fluid telling eloquently of the exact +location of that superior force which had caused so many stars to dance +before his mental vision. + +"We got through with that part of it mighty quick," Dan said, ruefully, +as he rose to his feet. "There wasn't anything slow about the way they +struck out after we made fools of ourselves by running into them, eh?" + +"I don't understand how it all happened. It wasn't more than three +seconds from the time I first saw them before there was a regular set +of fireworks dancing in front of my eyes." + +"It so happens that they saw us first," Dan replied, as he rubbed his +head. "Those men were the thieves, and what I said showed them that we +were on the scent." + +"Where are they now?" + +"You'll have to ask that question of someone else," Dan said, with a +grimace of pain. "The last thing I know was when the tall fellow landed +one square on my nose, and before I recovered both were out of sight. We +have done harm rather than good, for now they know we overheard the +conversation, an' we'll be mighty lucky if this is all we get before the +fair comes to an end." + +"Suppose we tell the police now?" + +"What can you say to them? We heard those men talking about something +which may have had nothing to do with the robbery, and want to have them +arrested. On what grounds will we ask for a warrant? Besides, if Nathan +Hargreaves was my uncle, I would let him fight his own battles." + +"But I owe him eighteen dollars." + +"What of that? He wouldn't take a penny off if you got your head broke +while trying to find his money, and after all that has happened I think +we have good reason to let him severely alone." + +"I'm willing to go back to the tent," Teddy said, as he began to feel +faint, and Dan aided him during the short walk, both staggering as they +came through the flap, meeting their host near the entrance, who asked, +sharply: + +"What has been going on? I counted on helping a party of boys, rather +than giving my tent up to a lot of roughs, as you appear to be." + +In the fewest possible words Dan explained what had happened, and in +addition told all the story of Teddy's losing his money, together with +the accusation made by Uncle Nathan. + +"I'm sorry I said a word," and the proprietor of the museum did really +appear to be grieved. "It makes no difference whether you got a whipping +or not, the guilty parties are here, and you can count on my help in +turning them up." + +"That's what I'm afraid we sha'n't be able to do," Teddy replied; "we +tried our best to-night, and got the worst of it." + +"There is plenty of time between now and Saturday. I'll do all any man +can, an' it'll be strange if we don't get some proof before the fair +closes." + +"How did you know we were out?" Dan asked. + +"I saw you go, and there was no reason why I should kick; but I began to +be afraid you were up to something crooked. Now I know the whole story, +I'll do my best to help you out of the scrape. Go to sleep, and we'll +talk the whole matter over in the morning." + +This was good advice, but not easily followed. Both the boys began to +feel the effects of the blows received from the thieves, and the pain +resulting therefrom was not conducive to repose. + +They did manage to close their eyes in slumber now and then, however, +and when the day broke Mr. Sweet, the proprietor of the museum, was +standing ready to minister to their necessities. + +"You haven't got exactly the right kind of faces to bring very big +business," he said, cheerily; "but I reckon we can make a change in the +general appearance. Use this plentifully as a bath, and before business +opens you'll be respectable members of society." + +It was certainly necessary for them to do something toward improving +their appearance. Teddy's ear was swollen to nearly twice its natural +size, and Dan had an eye which was rapidly blackening. + +Thanks to the application provided by the owner of the museum, these +evidences of a fight were rapidly reduced, and when Sam awoke they +looked little the worse for wear, although he readily discovered that +something serious had happened while he was wrapped in slumber. + +"What has been goin' on?" he asked, suspiciously. + +"Nothing much," Dan replied, with a forced laugh. "The goat walked over +us, and we're kinder used up, that's all. Are you ready to go to +breakfast?" + +It was evident that Sam did not believe this explanation, but since he +said nothing more about it, the two actors in the previous night's +adventures held their peace; therefore it would not be in his power to +betray any secrets. + +Breakfast was eaten at an early hour, and the young fakirs returned to +the grounds in time for Teddy to meet the first visitors. + +Under Dan's instructions he continued to cry out: + +"Here's where you can get a cane or a knife for nothing! Three rings for +five cents, and every time you throw it over the mark you get what you +ring! Three for five, and every cane or knife you ring is yours!" + +It was yet too early for the exhibits to be opened, therefore Teddy had +the assistance of his friends in reclaiming the rings thrown, and after +nearly four dollars had been taken in with a loss only of a ten cent +cane, the amateur fakir began to understand that it would be necessary +for him to have a clerk. + +"You're bound to do a good business this week," Dan said, at about eight +o'clock. "Sam and I must go now to attend to our own work, an' if you +see some fellow who can be trusted, I advise you to hire him, or +there'll be considerable trade lost, for when these people want to spend +their money they won't wait for you to hunt up assistants." + +"Yes, I reckon there's more'n a thousand who are jest aching to see how +I can row in one of them dandy boats," Master Sam added; "but if you get +into any kind of a scrape, an' don't know how to get out, come to me. +I'll see you through, no matter how good business is." + +These two friends and advisers had hardly left him when a particular +chum from the Run came up, and knowing he could be trusted, Teddy +immediately made a trade for his services. + +Tim Jones accepted the offer of ten cents on each dollar which might be +taken in, and straightway engaged himself as Teddy's clerk, promising +faithfully to account for every penny he should receive. + +"I know you are honest," the proprietor of the board said to his friend, +"and I want you to help me on the square, so I'm willing to give a fair +price, for I may have to be away a good deal of the time." + +"You mean that Nathan Hargreaves is goin' to have you arrested?" + +"Why do you say that?" + +"Because he's tellin' around town at the Run that you know who robbed +his store, an' says he'll have a warrant out, if he has to go to +Waterville for it." + +"That is where he's making a great big mistake, Tim; but if he should do +anything of the kind I expect you to do your best here," and Teddy spoke +very solemnly, for he really believed his uncle would succeed in having +him arrested. "I don't know positively who broke into his store; but Dan +an' I heard enough last night to make us believe we can find the thieves +if we have time to work it out." + +"I'd let him hustle to get the stuff, if it was my pudding," Tim replied +with emphasis, and then as a party of young fellows bent on spending +money approached the board he began to cry, as lustily as might have +been expected from any old fakir: + +"Here's where you get 'em, three rings for a nickel, and every cane or +knife you ring is yours; all for the small sum of five cents!" + +Convinced that he had a capable clerk, who was willing to work hard in +order to earn an additional percentage, Teddy contented himself with +making change for the rush of customers, which continued unabated until +nearly ten o'clock and then came a lull, when he was able to watch the +other fakirs around him. + +Up to this point business had continued in the most promising manner, +and if it held out as well there would be no difficulty in his paying +all the money he owed, even although there might be no very large +profit. + +"I only want to get out square," he said to himself, while nursing his +injured ear; but this experience led him to believe it was possible to +do very much toward helping his mother, and already had he begun to +dream of large returns, despite the fifteen dollars out of which he had +been swindled. + +It was just when his customers had gone to other parts of the ground, +and after Teddy had figured up the amount of money taken in, showing +that there was nearly eight dollars in the treasury with an offset only +of one twenty-cent knife and two ten-cent canes lost, that the young +fakir saw Hazelton standing some distance away beckoning to him. + +"Look out sharp for things, Tim," he cried, as he vaulted over the +railing and ran to the side of the man whom he believed to be a friend. + +"Did anything happen last night?" the latter asked. + +Teddy told him the whole story, keeping back not one incident. + +"I heard quite so much in the hotel where I board. It is Long Jim and +his partner who have done the job of which both you and I are accused. +As for your uncle, he isn't worth a minute's thought; but I'm going to +get to work, an' what he says may go against me, so you and I must turn +those fellows up if we can." + +"Ain't your business honest?" Teddy asked, in surprise. + +"Well, when we come right down to dots, I don't suppose it is. Watch me +when I leave here, and you'll have a chance to judge for yourself. I +may want to leave my satchel with you for a while, and I reckon you're +willing to take care of it?" + +"Of course I am. I'll do anything you ask." + +"Better wait and see the game first, but don't forget that we've got to +turn up the two men who whipped you and your friend last night, or stand +the chance of being hauled up for the robbery ourselves." + +"Did you say anything to Uncle Nathan to make him think you would break +into his store?" + +"No; I only played him for a jay, as you shall see me do with two or +three hundred of these smart fellows here, and he jumped down on me +because there was no one else on whom to fasten the crime. I've got to +go, now. Don't forget to hurry back to your cane-board when you see I'm +getting through with my first stand, for I want to leave my stuff with +somebody whom I can trust." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_THE JEWELRY FAKIR._ + + +Teddy's curiosity regarding the kind of business which Hazelton proposed +to do was so great that, for the time being, he forgot his own venture +in watching this supposed friend. + +The jewelry fakir disappeared amid the crowd for a few moments, +reappearing in a carriage drawn by a fancifully decorated horse, and the +gaudy trappings caused the sightseers to stop, believing something +interesting or curious was to be seen. + +Hazelton introduced himself as an agent for a large manufacturing +company, and proposed to dispose of "samples" of their goods in a manner +which would be satisfactory to all. He began by throwing away great +numbers of cheap rings made to imitate gold, and as the boys scrambled +for them he complained that the older members of the throng--those +people whom he particularly wished should test the merits of his +wares--were getting nothing. + +"I can change that," he said, after hesitating a moment, as if to devise +some plan. Then holding up half a dozen pairs of cuff-buttons, he +continued: "I am allowed to give away only six of these. What gentleman +will advance twenty-five cents for one of these sets, knowing the money +will be returned to him? By that means I shall place the goods where +they will do the most good." + +In a short time the necessary number of purchasers was found, each +having paid a quarter of a dollar, and then, with great ostentation, the +fakir returned to every one the money he had given. + +A similar performance was gone through with in the case of ten seal +rings, and by that time the crowd were in a state of high excitement, +for they were getting supposedly valuable goods by simply loaning this +agent their money for a short time. + +The fakir then held up a lot of watch-chains, asking who would give him +a dollar for one, but in this instance he made no mention of returning +the money. + +Believing these also were to be given away, every man scrambled to pass +up his dollar before the supply should be exhausted, and fully two +hundred dollars was taken in by the generous "agent." Then, as the +demand ceased, Hazelton produced from his valise what appeared to be a +heavy gold watch. + +Wrapping it in paper, and attaching it to a chain, he cried: + +"Who wants to take another, and receive as a present what I have +fastened to the end of it; but on the condition that this paper shall +not be removed until I give permission?" + +A young fellow standing near Teddy made all possible haste to pass the +fakir a dollar and receive the prize. + +Then the remainder of the crowd clamored for more to be put up in the +same manner, and Hazelton disposed of at least a hundred before the +clamorous throng could be appeased. + +While this was being done Teddy saw the young fellow slyly remove the +paper and examine his goods. A look of anger and disappointment +overspread his face as a cheap, empty locket, fashioned on the outside +something like the case of a watch, was revealed to view. Twenty cents +would have been an extravagantly high price for what he had paid a +dollar; but it was possible the agent would return the money as he had +done in the previous cases, and the victimized fellow held his peace. + +Hazelton was now ready to take a hurried departure. No more dollars were +passed up, and quickly seizing the reins, he said: + +"I have not represented these goods to be gold; but they are a fine +imitation, and Mr. Nathan Hargreaves, of Peach Bottom Run, will probably +act as my agent for the sale of them. You can get what may be wanted +from him if you need any more." + +The last words were hardly spoken before he drove quickly through the +throng, leaving his dupes in a daze, from which they did not recover +until he was lost to view. + +Now Teddy understood what the "Give-Away" game was, and he also knew +that it was far from being honest, although Hazelton had really made no +promises which he did not fulfill. + +Some of the victims were angry, and vowed to flog "that feller within an +inch of his life" before sunset; others bore their loss philosophically, +and turned away with the remark that the fakir was "a cute one," while +the majority hastened off lest they should be suspected of being +victims. + +Teddy returned to his cane-board feeling sad because he had been so +mistaken in this particular man, and had hardly reached there when +Hazelton, on foot, came from the side of the fair grounds opposite where +he had disappeared, saying hurriedly, as he handed the boy a black +satchel somewhat resembling a sample case: + +"Look out for this! All my money is in it." + +Without waiting for an answer the man was gone, and the young fakir was +in no slight distress at being the custodian of so much wealth. + +After considerable discussion with Tim he decided to leave it behind the +cane-board where it would be screened from view, and then a crowd of +customers suddenly appearing, he was so busy during the next half hour +that he hardly had time to think of that which had been intrusted to his +keeping. + +Not until trade grew dull once more did Hazelton appear, looking +decidedly well pleased with himself, and, standing where the passers-by +could not hear, he asked: + +"Well, what do you think of the give-away game now?" + +"It looks to me like a swindle," Teddy replied, bluntly. "The things you +sold were not worth half what you got for them." + +"Six cents apiece for the chains, and five for the lockets is what I pay +by the quantity," the fakir said, with a laugh. + +"But you made the people think they were getting real watches." + +"I was mighty careful to say nothing of the kind. They thought they saw +a watch, and I told them I would make each purchaser a present of what +was on the chain. Their idea was to get the best of me, and in that I +didn't lose very much. It's a case of setting a thief to catch a thief, +and the smartest man comes out ahead." + +"But why did you leave all the money with me?" + +"Because it sometimes happens that my customers make a kick, and try to +get back their stuff by force, so I don't carry much cash in my pockets +while I am on the fair grounds." + +"Of course you are all through now. You can't expect to do the same +thing over again." + +"That's exactly what I shall do in about an hour, only in a different +portion of the inclosure, and you'll see that I can catch just as many +suckers as before." + +Then, in order to be rid of the satchel, for it seemed as if he was +really concerned in the swindle so long as it remained in his keeping, +Teddy said he wanted to see what Dan and Sam were doing. + +"Go ahead; I'll stay near by where I can keep an eye on the stuff, so +you needn't let that worry you." + +As a matter of fact, the boy was not eager to leave his place of +business; but having said so, it was necessary to go, or let Hazelton +understand exactly why the remark had been made. + +Cautioning Tim to "keep his eyes open for trade," he walked across the +grounds to the building where Dan was employed, and found that young +gentleman displaying the good qualities of a peculiar-looking weapon. + +"This is the Model Pocket Rifle," Dan was saying to a party of +gentlemen. "The shoulder-rest is detachable, and you can buy an +effective weapon for a trifle over fifteen dollars, as---- Hello, Teddy, +how's business?" he added, suddenly, on observing his friend, and the +two had an opportunity for conversation, while the curious ones were +examining the rifle. + +Teddy gave a brief account of what had already been done, and then +asked: + +"Can't you get off a few minutes and go with me to see what Sam is +doing?" + +It was not difficult for Dan to get a short leave of absence, and the +two went directly to the creek where their acquaintance, who proposed to +make himself the central figure of the fair, was rowing around in a +jaunty looking craft. + +Sam wore a sailor's shirt, turned away at the throat, and tied with a +black silk handkerchief, while on the breast of the garment was worked +the name "Davis Boat and Oar Co., Detroit, Mich." The same legend being +printed in gold on the band of his straw hat. + +Sam had evidently been expecting his friends, for he espied them before +they reached the shore, and, rowing to the bank, insisted they should +take a sail. + +"Come on, it's all right," he said. "It don't make any difference +whether I carry passengers or not so long as the boat is kept goin', an' +I want to show you somethin' fine in the way of rowin'." + +Neither of the boys cared very much about accepting the invitation; but +he was so persistent that they finally stepped on board as the easiest +manner of settling the matter. + +"I tell you what it is, fellers," he said, as he pulled out into the +stream, "I'm jest makin' things hum around here. These folks have never +seen any kind of style put into rowin', an' I'm knockin' their eyes +out." + +"Don't give it to them too strong, or they may want to keep you here as +an ornament after the fair closes, and then the rest of the world would +suffer," Dan said, with a laugh, and Sam replied: + +"You fellers can make fun; but what I say is straight," and then he made +preparations for giving an exhibition. "Watch me now, an' you'll learn a +thing or two about boats." + +During the next ten minutes he pulled as if in a race, first up and then +down the stream, until sheer lack of breath forced him to stop. + +"I hope you haven't set the keel on fire," Dan said, solicitously. +"There's no question but that you made good time, though I'm inclined to +think the build of the boat had considerable to do with the speed. This +one looks as if she would row herself." + +"That's all you know about it. If I hadn't been a first-class hand +at----" + +"See there!" Teddy cried, excitedly, as he pointed toward the shore. +"That's the man who got my fifteen dollars. Pull in, Sam, an' pull for +all you are worth!" + +The oarsman delayed only long enough to gaze in the direction indicated, +where he saw the old fakir whom they had met with such great loss at +Waterville, and then he bent himself to the task. + +"Do you believe it will be safe to tackle him after last night?" Dan +asked. + +"I'm going to, and if he don't get away from me I'll ask some of the +crowd to help me have him arrested," Teddy replied, grimly. + +The little craft was a considerable distance from the shore. Sam was so +excited that he only thought of landing in the shortest possible space +of time, and instead of keeping a lookout for other boats, rowed +vigorously, as if he were the only oarsman on the stream. + +Teddy and Dan sat motionless, with their eyes fixed on the man, and thus +it happened that no one on board saw a double ender, in which were three +ladies and two gentlemen, come around a bend in the creek directly in +Sam's course. + +There was a shout from the bank, three shrill screams of terror, and +then a crash as the two craft came together with terrific force. + +The occupants of both boats were thrown into the water as the frail +timbers were splintered, and the spectators on the bank acted as if +panic-stricken. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A BRAVE RESCUE._ + + +Sam was a fairly good swimmer, and as soon as he found himself in the +water he struck out for the shore, paying no attention to any one else +until he had assured his own safety. + +One of the gentlemen in the other craft did the same selfish thing, +while the other, unable to help even himself, was trying to keep his +head above water by resting his chin on an oar and piece of planking. + +The women were in imminent danger of being drowned, for there was no +other boat near at hand which could be sent to the rescue, and the +throng of spectators was in that unreasoning state of fear and +excitement which prevents people from being of any service at such a +time. + +When Teddy and Dan came to the surface after having been thrown from +their seats, they were within a few feet of each other, and the latter +asked: + +"Can you swim?" + +"Yes; don't pay any attention to me, but do what you can toward saving +those women." + +"Will you help me?" + +"Of course; but I can't take care of more than one." + +Both boats had disappeared, and nothing save a few fragments showed +where they had gone down. + +Teddy thought only of aiding the struggling women, for there was no +question that the man with the oar could take care of himself, at least +until those on the bank should be sufficiently composed to do something +effective, and he swam to the nearest struggling being, clasping her +firmly under one arm as he said: + +"Don't make a row; but keep perfectly quiet, an' I'll take you ashore." + +Half-unconscious as she was, the woman attempted to grasp him by the +neck, and for several seconds he had all he could do to prevent her from +choking him to death; but after two or three kicks judiciously +administered, he succeeded in making her understand that her life as +well as his own depended upon her remaining passive, and from that +moment all went well. + +The employees of the company which had the boats on exhibition flung +into the water several life-saving arrangements of cork and canvas, and +by dint of much persuading he induced her to trust to one of these while +he went to the assistance of Dan, who had been carried beneath the +surface more than once by the struggles of the woman whom he was trying +to save. + +By this time a boat was brought up from around the point, and as these +two helpless ones were taken on board both the boys swam to the rescue +of the last of the party who had sunk beneath the surface for the third +time. + +Teddy, now nearly exhausted by his efforts, was the first to grasp her; +but if it had not been for Dan the struggle would have been useless, +since his strength was so far spent that he could not have brought her +above the water unaided. + +By their united efforts, however, she was taken on board the boat in a +state of unconsciousness, and they made their way to the shore cheered +by the shouts of the assembled multitude. + +Weak, almost exhausted beyond the power to stand upright, they landed a +few seconds in advance of the craft, and the reception received was +enough to have nerved stronger men to a semblance of strength. + +It was not until they were in the private apartments allotted to the +Davis Company that either fully understood how weak he was, and then +willing hands aided them to recuperate. + +Hot flannels, warm drinks, and dry clothes were contributed by the +different exhibitors, until, as Teddy said, they looked like "circus +clowns;" but they were in fairly good bodily condition, and it appeared +as if the involuntary bath had done them no real injury. + +Outside the building the people were shouting themselves hoarse in +praise of the two boys who had saved three lives, and Sam stood bowing +acknowledgments as if he had been the chief actor in the thrilling +scene. + +The difference between the real and the pretended life-savers was +readily understood, however, when Dan and Teddy made their appearance, +looking decidedly the worse for their struggles, and the cheers which +went up would have been ample reward for the most praise-loving person +in the world. + +They looked like anything rather than reputable employees as they +appeared in the borrowed garments; but as Teddy said, they couldn't stay +in the building until their clothes were dried, and it was absolutely +necessary he should attend to his business. + +Dan's duties necessitated his remaining near the creek; but Teddy was +forced to go back to his cane-board, and the crowd which followed him +was good evidence of the money he would make. + +During two hours after he returned from this thrilling adventure the +cane-board had more customers than could conveniently be attended to, +and it is safe to say that he then handled a larger amount than he had +ever before seen. + +"At this rate it won't take long to square up things, and you shall have +a fair portion of the profits, Tim," he said, when there was an +opportunity for him to speak with his clerk without being overheard by +the customers. + +"It's a lucky thing for us that them boats were smashed," Tim said, +devoutly, as he handed his employer half a dollar to change. "We might +have stood here with our tongues hangin' out all day an' never seen a +quarter of this money if you hadn't known how to swim." + +"You are right to a certain extent; but I can't take all the credit of +this spurt, because more than half the people are trying to get a cane +for nothing." + +"In the same way they thought to swindle Mr. Hazelton out of a watch," Tim +replied, with a smile; "but we won't fight about what brings trade so +long as it comes with the cash." + +Up to this time Teddy had no very definite idea of how much money had +been taken in, and he was thinking it would be a good idea to ascertain, +when a gruff, familiar voice from the rear asked: + +"Are the wages of sin as much as they should be?" + +Turning quickly he saw Uncle Nathan, and replied: + +"I don't know exactly what they should be; but, perhaps, you do." + +"Whatever I may know now, I remember that it was not allowed I should +insult my elders either by plainly spoken words or insinuations," the +old man said, sternly. + +"Neither would I have done such a thing if you had not given me the +provocation; but when I promised to pay three dollars for the use of +fifteen one week, you did not seem to think that amount would be the +wages of sin." + +"At the time I had no idea you would conspire with others to rob me of +my hard-earned savings." + +"You know very well, Uncle Nathan, that I haven't done any such thing. +On the night your store was robbed I staid in the house, and hadn't left +it when you came to tell us the news." + +"Every person of your class has some such excuse ready in case of an +emergency; but that kind of talk will not do with me. If you meant to do +the square thing, why was I not told you lost the money I lent you?" + +"Because I knew you would raise an awful row, thinking possibly it would +not be paid back." + +"Have I yet any assurance that it will be?" the old man asked, in a +fury. + +"Do you need it now?" + +"I always need my own." + +"And in this case, if I pay you at once, do you think it right to charge +me three dollars for the use of fifteen lent two days ago?" + +"That was what you promised, and the world gauges a man by the way he +keeps his word." + +"I owe the storekeeper in Waterville thirty dollars; but I told him you +must be paid first, and so you shall." + +"Then give me the money now," Uncle Nathan snarled. + +"That is exactly what I am willing to do," Teddy replied, calmly; "but +if you can't trust me I have reason to be suspicious of you, so give me +a receipt for the amount, and the matter can be settled." + +The old man literally glared at his nephew for an instant, and then, +eager to have the cash in his possession, he wrote a receipt, handing it +to the young fakir, as he said, angrily: + +"Now, let me see if you can settle the bill." + +Since the mishap on the creek, where Teddy had covered himself with +glory, business had been so good that he had more than twice that +amount, and, emptying the contents of his money bag on a board, he +proceeded to select the required sum. + +Uncle Nathan watched him jealously, his eyes twinkling enviously, and +when the money was placed in his hand he counted it twice over before +delivering up the written acknowledgment. + +"Are you certain all this has been honestly earned, Teddy?" he asked, +gravely. + +"How else could I have got it?" + +"There are many ways. While I would not be willing to take my oath to +it, several of these ten-cent pieces look very much like those I lost +night before last." + +"Do you mean to say I had anything to do with robbing your store?" and +now that this particular debt had been canceled Teddy felt very brave. + +"I know that such an amount of money has not been earned honestly, and, +what is more, my eyes have been opened to the character of your +friends." + +"If you mean Mr. Hazelton, he is as much your friend as mine, for you +were with him all day Sunday." + +"That is exactly who I do mean," Uncle Nathan replied, with provoking +deliberation. "I have seen his method of doing business since I came +into this fair, and know he is nothing more than a deliberate swindler." + +"But one with whom you were perfectly willing to go into partnership," a +voice in the rear of Teddy cried sharply, and the jewelry fakir stepped +directly in front of Uncle Nathan. "I told you exactly how I worked, and +you offered to put up even money with me, growing angry when I said you +would be of no use in the business. If it is swindling, you were mighty +eager to have a hand in the same business." + +"I don't want to talk with you," Uncle Nathan said, as he put Teddy's +eighteen dollars carefully in his pocket. + +"Then why do you come around here trying to bully this boy? He had no +idea of what I was going to do until he saw me work, while you +understood the whole plan. Make any trouble for him, and I will get up +here and tell every person who comes along that you wanted to be my +partner." + +"Do it," the old man said, angrily. "After having cheated so many people +out of their money, who will believe a word you say?" + +At the same time, however, Uncle Nathan took good care to leave this +particular spot, and Hazelton stepped to the rear of the board where he +could talk privately with Teddy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_AN ENCOUNTER._ + + +First of all, the jewelry fakir wanted to hear the particulars of the +accident on the lake, and Teddy began by telling him the primary cause +of the trouble. + +"I reckon all three of us lost our heads when we saw that man; I know I +did and we were so eager to get on shore that we paid no attention to +anything else. Have you seen him?" + +"Who? Long Jim? No; but the boys say he is here somewhere running the +swinging ball game." + +"What is that?" + +"A wooden ball is swung on two short uprights about eight inches apart, +and between them, in the center, stands a small peg. You pay ten cents +for the privilege of swinging the ball, and if it hits the peg when it +comes back after leaving your hand, you get a dollar." + +"I should think that would be easy enough to do." + +"Well, don't try it with such an idea or you'll go broke mighty quick. +It looks simple; but it isn't accomplished very often." + +"Have you done anything since I left here?" + +"Yes, and scooped in as much as I had any right to expect. I don't want +to spoil to-morrow's business, so sha'n't make another pitch, but will +spend my time trying to find Jim." + +"What good can that do?" + +"I still count on making him give back your fifteen dollars, if nothing +more. I reckon your Uncle Nathan won't try again to get a warrant out +for us, and so I sha'n't bother my head about learning anything +regarding the robbery." + +"He'll make things just as disagreeable as he can; there's no question +about that." + +"Well, let him, and we'll see who comes out ahead. Trade is beginning to +pick up, and you'd better attend to your customers." + +Hazelton walked away, and from that moment until nearly nightfall Teddy +had all the business both he and his clerk could attend to. + +Nearly every one had something to say about the accident on the creek, +and the young fakir was forced to tell the story over and over again, +until he really got tired of repeating the details. + +When nearly all of the visitors had left the grounds Teddy made up his +cash account, and the sum total surprised both himself and Tim. + +Including the amount paid Uncle Nathan he had taken in fifty-five +dollars and twenty cents. Ten per cent. of this was paid to the clerk, +and he found himself possessed of the magnificent sum of thirty-one +dollars and seventy cents. + +"At this rate we shall be rich before the end of the week," he said, in +a tone of satisfaction. + +"That's a fact; but it don't seem right for me to take so much," Tim +replied, as he wrapped the five dollars and a half which had been given +him in his handkerchief. + +"That was the agreement, an' we'll stick to it." + +"But when you promised ten cents on every dollar neither of us believed +trade would be half so good." + +"You're right; I thought if we got one-third as much business would be +booming; but that has nothing to do with our bargain. You've hung right +on here, without even stopping for anything to eat, an' are entitled to +what you've been paid. Everybody says there'll be a bigger crowd +to-morrow, an' so we stand a chance to make considerable more. Are you +going home to-night, or do you count on staying here?" + +"I've got to let the folks know where I am, for when I left it was +allowed I'd be back by sunset. To-morrow I'll come prepared to stay the +rest of the week." + +"There'll be plenty of stages running, an' you can afford to ride both +ways after this day's work. I want to send some of this money home to +mother, for it ain't safe to carry so much around with me." + +"Am I to take it?" + +"Yes, an' you can tell her all that has happened. Ask her to come over +Thursday, an' see for herself that we're getting rich." + +Twenty-five dollars was tied in a bundle with many wrappings of paper, +and Tim started off, looking almost afraid at being the custodian of so +much wealth. + +It was necessary Teddy should pack up his entire stock until next +morning, and this he proceeded to do as soon as he was alone. Mr. Sweet +had given him permission to bring his goods into the museum tent, and +his only trouble was how everything could be carried without assistance. +Before he was ready for departure, however, Sam came up, and the +question of transportation was settled. + +"Well, how do you feel now?" Teddy asked, cheerily, for the knowledge +that he had already taken in nearly enough to pay his debts caused him +to feel very jolly. + +"I allers get the worst of everything," Sam replied, disconsolately. +"You an' Dan made a big strike when you tumbled into the water, an' I've +had a blowin' up; come mighty near losin' my job into the bargain." + +"Why?" + +"'Cause the boss says that I was careless an' reckless, an' that I +couldn't earn enough in a month to pay for the two boats I've smashed." + +"Are they lost entirely?" + +"No, of course not. We pulled 'em out a little while ago, an' it cost so +very much to fix both. The folks in the other boat were as much to blame +as me." + +"They certainly were not keeping any better lookout, and, as a matter of +fact, I suppose I'm more at fault than any one else, for if I hadn't +sung out about the fakir it wouldn't have happened." + +"That's what I told the boss; but he's chuck full of foolish talk about +the bravery he says you an' Dan showed, an' is tryin' to get up what he +calls a testimonial for you." + +"A what?" Teddy cried, in surprise. + +"I heard him say testimonial; but if you know what that means you can go +to the head." + +"I don't, and I hope it won't amount to anything. I've been paid enough +for what was done by the boom it gave my business." + +"Of course, you an' Dan are bound to have the best end of it." + +"Why didn't you stop an' do the same thing?" + +"'Cause I had sense enough to look out for myself first." + +"But you know how to swim." + +"What of that? It's mighty risky catchin' hold of people in the water, +an' I don't mean to take any chances. How much have you made to-day?" + +When Teddy told him, the expert in rowing looked decidedly envious. + +"You've got all that money in one day?" + +"Yes; but I sent the most of it home to mother." + +"It's funny what luck some folks have, when them as knows the business +twice as well don't much more'n earn their salt," Sam said, as if to +himself, and before he could continue Dan arrived. + +He wore his own clothes, and carried those Teddy had left in the +boat-house. + +"These were dry, so I brought 'em up. You needn't carry back the ones +you borrowed till to-morrow, so Sam's boss says." + +Then Dan asked concerning business, and by the time all three had +finished discussing this very important matter the knives and canes were +packed ready for removal. + +Each boy took a load, carried it to the tent where Mr. Sweet was +figuring up his receipts for the day, and then went to supper, returning +half an hour later so tired that there was no desire on the part of +either to do anything other than sleep. + +The proprietor of the museum was in very good spirits. He had taken in +one hundred and six dollars and eighty cents, and said, in a tone of +satisfaction: + +"I reckon this fair will pan out all right. Trade is bound to be better +to-morrow, and Thursday is always the biggest of the week. I hear you +boys have been distinguishing yourselves. Tell me about it." + +Dan related the incident of the day very modestly, interrupted now and +then by Sam, who was eager to pose as a hero also, and Mr. Sweet +expressed himself as being well satisfied with their behavior. + +"Chasing a thief and getting a whipping in the night, and then saving +the lives of three people the next day is record enough for one week, so +you'd better not try for any more adventures," he said, with a laugh. + +Now that the incident of the previous night had been spoken of so +openly, it was necessary Sam's curiosity should be satisfied, and Dan +was forced to tell the story. + +While he was doing so, and listening to the oarsman's comments, Teddy +had an opportunity to see the "barker" and clown who arrived that +morning. Neither was a very prepossessing-looking man. They were lying +on the ground some distance from the boys, as if bent on minding their +own business, and there was no real reason for an unfavorable opinion +concerning them. + +But little time was spent in conversation on this evening. Every one was +thoroughly tired, and each sought for a soft spot on which to pass the +night. + +As before, Sam crawled up on the wagon to be out of harm's way when the +goat should be unfastened, while Dan and Teddy lay down in very nearly +the same place as before. + +"I don't fancy we shall hear many secrets between now and morning, no +matter how many men come around here to talk," the former said, +laughingly. "It won't take me two minutes to fall asleep, and the noise +that can awaken me then will have to be very great." + +Teddy's only reply was a yawn, and in even less time than Dan had +mentioned he was wrapped in slumber. + +Shortly after the proprietor of the exhibition began to make his +preparations for retiring, and the clown asked: + +"How did that row start this afternoon?" + +"Half a dozen of the village toughs tried to get in without paying, and +I had to polish one of 'em off," the barker replied. + +"You must have done it pretty quick, for when I got out there the thing +was over," Mr. Sweet said. + +"The fellow was more than half-drunk, an' it wasn't a very big job. They +threaten to come back and clean the whole show out." + +"Yes, I've heard such threats made before; but never lost much sleep +worrying about it." + +Ten minutes later all the human occupants of the tent were enjoying a +well-earned rest, and the goat had about concluded it would be a +profitless job to prospect for anything more to eat, when the sound of +footsteps could have been heard from the outside. + +Had Mr. Sweet been awake he would have decided that these late visitors +were trying to find the flap of the tent, for they walked cautiously +around the canvas twice, and then a sharp knife was thrust through the +fabric. + +An instant later Sam awoke his companion with a yell that would have +done credit to any Indian. + +Some one had given him such a blow as sent him from the seat to the +ground, and the remainder of the party leaped to their feet only to be +confronted by a large party of half-drunken toughs who had come to +avenge the insult received during the afternoon. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +_LONG JIM_. + + +Teddy's first thought when he was awakened by Sam's yells was that the +officers of the law were coming to arrest him for the robbery committed +at Uncle Nathan's store; but in a very few seconds he understood that +this was not the case. + +He and Dan had been sleeping some distance from the remainder of the +company; therefore, when the hand-to-hand struggle began they were out +of it entirely, and owing to the darkness could not be seen by the +assailants; but Sam's cries served to show the mob where he was, and one +after another pounded him when they failed to find any of the other +occupants. + +While one might have counted twenty Teddy and Dan stood motionless, +undecided as to what should be done, while the din caused by the +combatants and the screaming boy were almost deafening, and then the +latter said: + +"We've got to take a hand in this row, Teddy. Mr. Sweet has given us the +chance to sleep here, and the least we can do is to help as much as +possible, for it appears to me that his men are getting the worst of +it." + +A broken tent-peg was lying on the ground near at hand, and Dan added, +as he seized it: + +"Try to light one of the lanterns so we can see which is an enemy, and +then sail in." + +It seemed to Teddy as if he would never be able to follow these +instructions. He had plenty of matches; but in his excitement one after +another was extinguished until he fancied half an hour must have elapsed +before the wick was ignited. + +The faint glow of light served to show one of the intruders Teddy's +form, and the latter had but just succeeded in hanging the lantern on +the center-pole when it became necessary to defend himself. + +The drunken bully made a lunge at him, which he managed to avoid by +jumping aside, and in another instant he had seized the man by the +waist, doing his best to throw him. + +From this moment Teddy knew nothing more of the row than that portion in +which he was immediately concerned. He was able to prevent the man from +striking by hugging close to his body, and the two swayed here and there +in the effort to gain the mastery. Now and then they came in contact +with the other combatants, one or both receiving a chance blow, but no +especial injury was done to either. + +Had the man been sober, Teddy must have been overcome in a very short +time; but as he was far from being steady on his feet the odds were +about even, and the boy succeeded in holding his own until the others +had retreated or been so disabled that it was no longer possible for +them to continue the assault. + +Fully thirty minutes had elapsed from the time Sam first sounded the +alarm before the occupants of the tent could count themselves as +victors, and then Mr. Sweet and the clown pulled Teddy's adversary away, +throwing him bodily out of the tent after administering summary +punishment. + +During all this time the other exhibitors who intended to sleep on the +grounds had been gathering around the canvas, but no one cared to risk +his precious body by entering until it was certain the battle had been +ended. + +Then the tent was filled with sympathizing friends, who endeavored to +ascertain the amount of injury done, but were interrupted in the work by +the proprietor, who cried, angrily: + +"Clear out of here, every mother's son! You didn't dare to come in when +it would have been possible to help us, and there's no need of you now. +We were attacked by a crowd of men from the town, who proposed to clean +the show out because we wouldn't let them in free, and that's all there +is to it." + +Not until the last visitor had unwillingly departed did the little +party pay any attention to their wounds, and then the result of the +engagement was ascertained. + +The barker had a broken nose, but it would not prevent him from doing a +full share of talking on the following day. The clown's eye looked +rather bad, and Mr. Sweet's cheek had been cut, but these were only +trifling mishaps. Teddy had come out of the affray comparatively +uninjured; Dan showed nothing worse than a bruise under the left ear, +and while Sam appeared to be unscathed, he declared that he had been +pounded until every inch of his body felt like jelly. + +"You squealed fairly well for a fellow who was so badly done up," Mr. +Sweet said, with a laugh, as he proceeded to dress the barker's wounded +nose, "and I reckon you'll be all right by morning. Light some of the +other lanterns so I can see what I'm about, and during the remainder of +the night we'll stand guard, for no one can say how soon those +scoundrels may attempt to pay us a second visit, although I think they +had a full dose this time." + +How the assailants had fared no one was able to form a very good +opinion. The general belief among the occupants of the tent, however, +was that they had received such severe punishment that there would be no +further attack on this night, at least. + +When the wounds had been dressed, Mr. Sweet said, as he took up a +position near the flap: + +"You fellows had better try to go to sleep now. I'll keep awake for a +while, and then call some one to relieve me. Dan, can't you borrow one +of those queer-looking rifles you are exhibiting, and bring it with you +to-morrow night?" + +"I might get the one I use for shooting at a target; but you wouldn't +think of trying to kill a man, would you, Mr. Sweet?" + +"I could do a good deal toward scaring them, and if a crowd insisted on +forcing an entrance, I'd take mighty good care that one would carry away +a bullet to remember me by." + +"I'll bring the rifle," Dan replied, and Teddy whispered: + +"When I came here to run a cane-board I didn't count on being obliged to +do any fighting." + +"I don't reckon there'll be much more here. The managers of the fair +will see to it that those fellows are put where they can't do any +additional mischief, for the exhibitors must be protected, and we shall +be safe enough, except something else comes up to make a row." + +Then the sore, tired party lay down in search of slumber once more, and, +strange as it may seem after the exciting events, all save the sentinel +were soon wrapped again in slumber. + +Each in turn was aroused to do his share of guard duty before morning +came; but no enemy appeared, and at sunrise the three boys went across +the grounds to the boarding-house, where, as Dan said: "The price was +twice as big as the breakfast." + +Teddy had his place of business ready for the reception of customers +before the first stage-load of visitors arrived, and when Tim came he +had already taken in nearly a dollar. + +"What's the news?" he asked, as the clerk appeared, looking radiant and +happy at the thought of earning as much money as on the previous day. + +"Your mother was pretty nigh wild when I told her what we took in +yesterday, an' says she'll be here sure on Thursday. There's no more +news of your Uncle Nathan's goods, an' he's still tryin' to have you +arrested; but your mother says not to be afraid, 'cause she has talked +with a lawyer, an' don't think there'll be any trouble. I told the folks +at home that the old skinflint made you pay three dollars interest on +the money what was stole, an' everybody in town will know it before +night." + +Tim was forced to stop his story to wait upon a party of young gentlemen +who were eager to get dollar canes for five cents, and the booths +adjoining Teddy's place of business had not yet been opened when he +announced that there were four dollars in the money box. + +"We're bound to have a big day," Tim said, confidently. "The band from +the Run is comin' over this mornin', an' if the city people hear about +it you bet they'll jest crowd in to hear the music. There'll be [----] +of the boys to see you, but take my advice an' don't let 'em have any +rings on credit, for I wouldn't trust the best of the whole lot at fair +time. I'm goin' to stay till Friday; do you s'pose that man will let me +sleep in his tent with you fellers?" + +Teddy promised to inquire, and then advised Tim to have a look at the +grounds before business began to be rushing, and the clerk was glad to +take advantage of the proposition. + +He started off with the air of one who owned the entire inclosure, and +was hardly lost to view amid the fast-gathering throng when Teddy was +literally dazed by seeing Long Jim, the very man who had robbed him in +Waterville, lounging along toward his stand. + +Not until the fakir stood directly in front of the boy did he appear to +recognize him, and then he would have turned quickly away but for the +latter's cry: + +"Somebody hold that man till I get a constable! He stole my money." + +Realizing that a flight across the grounds with hundreds of men and boys +crying "Stop thief!" in full pursuit would be disastrous, Long Jim +turned to face his young accuser. + +"What do you mean by saying such a thing?" he asked, angrily. "If you +wasn't so small I'd make you eat the words." + +"I was big enough for you to steal from, and I want my money." + +It was only natural that a crowd should gather after such an accusation, +and Long Jim looked around for some means of escape, but, realizing that +he could not well get away while so many were near, he stepped close to +Teddy, as he whispered: + +"If you say another word I'll smash your face, you young whelp! Hold +your tongue if you want to leave here alive." + +"I'll say exactly what's true. Give me my money, or I'll find some one +to have you arrested!" + +"The boy is a liar, and, what is more, has just robbed his uncle's +store, if what they say over at the Run be true," the fakir said, +excitedly, as he turned to face the crowd. "I don't want to hurt him; +but I won't be insulted by a thief, so the best thing for me to do is to +leave." + +Saying this, he walked deliberately away, and the curious ones, who a +moment previous had been friendly to Teddy, began to sympathize with the +man. + +"Don't let him off!" the boy cried, starting to follow, and then +remembering that he would be forced to leave his wares at the mercy of +the crowd, turned back, while Long Jim continued straight across the +grounds unmolested. + +"It looks like it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black," an +old farmer said, and his immediate circle of friends laughed heartily, +while the younger portion of the crowd gazed earnestly at Teddy, +believing they saw before them a fullfledged burglar. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_A DISCOVERY._ + + +With feelings of mingled anger, vexation and disappointment, Teddy stood +silent and motionless for several moments after Long Jim disappeared, +striving to keep the tears from his eyes. + +It seemed hard enough to be swindled out of fifteen dollars, but to be +held up as a thief by the very man who had done him the wrong, and to be +stared at as a criminal by the curious, was an aggravation of +misfortune. + +Just for one instant he made up his mind to tell the whole story to the +bystanders, but before there was time for him to speak he realized that +many of them would think he was trying to shield himself by an untruth +against just accusations, therefore he remained quiet, not making the +slightest effort to influence trade. + +Fortunately he was soon aroused from this very disagreeable frame of +mind by a very pleasing incident. + +The band from the Run arrived, and to the young fakir's surprise marched +directly to his booth, the leader saying, in a tone sufficiently loud to +be heard by every one in the immediate vicinity as the musicians halted +about ten feet away: + +"We have been hired to play on the grounds to-day, Teddy, and left home +half an hour earlier than the specified time for the sole purpose of +giving you a serenade to show that, whatever your uncle may say, the +folks at the Run are positive there isn't a shadow of truth in his +ridiculous story. We know what you are working for, and intend to help +you along as much as possible." + +Then the musicians began to play, while, as a matter of course, every +one who came up wanted to know why the band was there instead of on the +stand built for its especial accommodation, and there were people enough +who had heard the leader's remarks to explain matters to the newcomers. + +The immediate result was that instead of believing him to be a burglar, +the same ones who fancied a few moments previous that he looked guilty, +were now quite positive he was a victim. + +Tim arrived while the serenade was in progress, and when Teddy explained +the situation, he exclaimed, gleefully: + +"Well, by jinks! This jest knocks the spots outer everything! Trade will +hum after this, or I'm a duffer." + +And the clerk's prediction was verified in a very short time. + +When the musicians had concluded the concert they laid aside their +instruments, and during the next ten minutes every man of them threw +rings at the canes or knives so rapidly that both Teddy and his +assistant had all they could do to wait upon the throng. + +Then, giving the signal for the march to be resumed, the leader said to +the young fakir: + +"Don't get discouraged, my boy, no matter what happens. If you have any +trouble it can't last long, for you've plenty of friends at the Run, and +after what happened here yesterday there should be a good many on the +grounds." + +The kind-hearted musicians marched away without giving Teddy an +opportunity to thank them, and as if to atone for their previously +spoken harsh words the bystanders devoted themselves with unusual zest +to the task of winning a cane worth a dollar by an outlay of five cents. + +It was nearly an hour before trade began to grow dull again, and both +the boys were quite willing to rest a few moments. + +"At this rate we stand a chance of getting rich before the fair closes," +Teddy exclaimed, in a tone of satisfaction. "I wonder what Uncle Nathan +would have said if he'd been here to hear the leader?" + +"I'll tell you," a disagreeable but familiar sounding voice replied from +the rear of the stand where its owner had been concealed by an adjoining +booth, and Nathan Hargreaves stalked into view with a comically tragic +air. "Things have come to a pretty pass when a man's own relations, an' +them as he has set up in business with his own hard-earned money, try to +bring scorn and reproach upon him. You are a snake in the grass, Teddy +Hargreaves, an' not content with helpin' rob me, concoct such a +disgraceful scene as I have jest witnessed." + +"What could I have had to do with it?" Teddy cried, in surprise. "I +didn't know they were going to give me a lift." + +"Of course you did; I ain't blind if I am such a fool as to put you in +the way of makin' so much money. There wasn't a man in that band who'd +have countenanced the speech the leader made if you hadn't been workin' +on their sympathies. But your race won't be much longer. Don't think +that I've stopped all proceedings, for it may be that you're shoved into +jail this very day unless you make a clean breast of the whole thing." + +"I've got nothing to tell simply because I don't know anything; but I +believe the same man who took my fifteen dollars robbed your store. Dan +and I heard him and another fellow talking, and in trying to find out +something for your benefit got knocked down." + +"What did they say? Who are they?" the old man asked, eagerly, his +bearing toward Teddy changing very suddenly. "Tell me! Tell your poor, +old uncle, who'll be mighty near the poor-house, if he don't get his own +again." + +This appeal touched Teddy's heart immediately, but Tim said, half to +himself, taking good care Uncle Nathan should hear him, however: + +"More'n a hundred robberies like that wouldn't make him poor. Why, down +at the Run folks say you'd hardly miss what's been taken." + +"Those who make that kind of talk are only shiftless people with never a +dollar of their own, consequently they don't know the value of one," the +old man cried, angrily. "It's all very well for a set of loafers who are +mad with me because I wouldn't give them credit to say such things. Do +you suppose I'd spend my time runnin' around the country huntin' for the +thieves if I hadn't lost a power of money?" + +"You'd be willin' to run pretty far if there was a nickel at the end of +the road," Tim retorted, but before he could say anything more Teddy +motioned for him to be silent. + +"Are you goin' to tell me who the robbers are?" Uncle Nathan asked, in a +wheedling tone, as he turned once more toward his nephew. + +"I don't know the men whom I suspect, except by sight, but it's more +than possible we may find out enough to warrant their arrest before the +fair closes." + +The old man insisted on knowing at once, and alternately coaxed and +threatened, but all to no purpose. + +Teddy positively refused to make a statement until he had more proof, +and recognizing the fact that he might hurt his own cause by insisting, +Uncle Nathan said, in a most affectionate tone: + +"I must go now, Teddy, but I'll see you again before night. If you'll do +all you can to help find them scoundrels I'll never say that you had +anything to do with the crime." + +"You'd no business to make any such talk, for you knew it was impossible +for me to take any hand in it, even if I'd wanted to be a thief." + +"There's a good deal of circumstantial evidence," the old man said, +solemnly, as he turned to leave, "an' it stands you in hand to do all a +boy can to clear your own skirts. I'm goin' to give you a chance, an' +promise there won't be any arrest made to-day at all events." + +"There's a good reason why you promise that," Tim cried, angrily, as +Uncle Nathan walked away. "You tried mighty hard, but couldn't get a +warrant, an' there ain't a justice of the peace between here an' +Waterville as would grant one without any other evidence than what you +can say." + +"Don't make him angry, Tim. He's feeling bad about his money, an' you +can't blame him for trying to find out who has got it." + +"I don't blame him for that, but what I'm kickin' about is that he +keeps naggin' at you when there's no reason for it." + +"Most likely he thinks there is." + +"He can't; it's only the wretched old skinflint's way of gettin' even +with the world, an' so he picks on a feller what he believes can't +strike back." + +"I wish I could find out who the robbers are, and where the goods have +been hidden." + +"Well, I don't. It serves him right to lose 'em, an'---- Hello! here +comes that feller what helps exhibit the rifles! I wonder what he wants +at this time of day, jest when business is beginnin' to be rushin'." + +Dan was evidently in a high state of excitement, for he forced his way +through the crowds, regardless of possible injury to himself or others, +and did not slacken speed until he stood in front of the cane-board, +breathless and panting. + +"What's up?" Teddy asked, in surprise. + +"The fakir who got your money, an' another man, who I think is the same +one we heard talkin' outside the tent, have jest bought a boat from the +Davis Company. Sam saw 'em, an' ran over to tell me while the bargain +was bein' made. He's watchin' down there till we can get back." + +"I don't believe it would do any good for me to say another word to Long +Jim. He went past here this mornin', an' I only made a bad matter worse +by trying to make him give back what he stole." + +"We ain't countin' on doin' that, but I believe they're gettin' ready to +cart away the goods what were stole from your Uncle Nathan. Perhaps we +can foller without bein' seen, an' get on to the whole snap. Could you +get off for the balance of the day?" + +And now Teddy was quite as excited as Dan. + +"Yes, an' so can Sam." + +"Are you goin' to help find his goods after all that old duffer has +threatened?" Tim asked, impatiently. + +"I'll do what I can," was the decided reply. "Do you think you will be +able to get along alone to-day?" + +"I could do it easy enough by hirin' a boy to pick up the rings, but I +hate to see you make a fool of yourself, Teddy." + +"You'll think different later. Come on, Dan. I'll be back as soon as I +can, Tim," and then the young fakir urged his friend in the direction of +the creek. + +"It won't do to go anywhere near the boat-house," Dan said. "Sam is up +the bank a long piece where the willows hide him. He's keepin' his eye +on the craft they bought, so it can't be taken away without his seein' +it." + +By mingling with the crowd it was possible to make their way to the +desired spot without being seen, save by those with whom they came into +immediate contact, and in a few moments the watcher was joined by his +friends. + +"Now I want you fellers to let me manage this case," Sam said, +pompously. "I know more 'bout detective business than both of you put +together, an' if you'd only told me what was up the other night we'd had +the whole thing settled." + +"Have you seen the men?" Dan asked, impatiently. + +"Lots of times. The old fakir is loafin' around close by the landin', +an' the other one must 'a gone off for somethin'. The Davis Company told +me I could take any of the boats, an' the minute the thieves start we'll +jump right on their trail." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_AMATEUR DETECTIVES._ + + +It was fated that the thrilling work of running down and capturing the +thieves should not be begun until after considerable delay. + +"Now, I wonder what he is up to?" Dan said, when it was no longer +possible to see the supposed burglar. + +"Why is it that you can't let me do this thing?" Sam asked, angrily. "If +you keep meddlin' we'll never fix matters." + +"I don't see that I'm interfering," Dan replied, in surprise. + +The three boys watched this one particular boat in silence for ten +minutes or more, seeing Long Jim now and then, and just as they believed +he was about to step on board the man walked toward the exhibition +buildings, and was soon lost to view amid the throng of people. + +"You was gettin' ready, too, I could tell that by your eye." + +"I'll have to give in that you're the smartest feller in this section of +the country, Sam, an' that's a fact." + +"Of course it is," the amateur detective replied, complacently, thinking +Dan's sarcasm was really praise. "If I have my own way I can turn up the +biggest thief that ever walked on two legs; but you mustn't bother me, +or things may go wrong." + +If the matter had not been so serious to him Teddy would have laughed +long and often at the dignity and superior knowledge assumed by this +fellow, who, since he made his acquaintance, had done nothing more +difficult than to get himself into trouble; but, under the +circumstances, he was so deeply interested in the outcome of the +business that there was no room in his mind for mirth. + +"Dan," he said, "let you and I walk around two or three minutes. We'll +stay close by so that Sam can give us the signal in case the men show +up, and we may find Hazelton." + +"Don't tell him what we're doin'," the amateur detective cried, sharply. + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause it's likely he'll want to meddle with our business, an' then my +work will be spoiled." + +"I won't say a word to him until after seeing you again," Teddy replied +as he led Dan away, and added when they were where it would be +impossible for Sam to hear them: "See here, it's foolish for us to think +of trying to follow those men if he's to be allowed to make a fool of +himself. With him believing he's the greatest detective in the country, +something wrong is sure to happen, an' we may never get another chance +of finding out about the burglary." + +"Don't fret about that," Dan replied, confidently. "It won't do any harm +to let him swell a little now while he's keeping watch; but when the +real work begins it won't take long to sit on him." + +"Then there will be a row." + +"I'll attend to his case; but I don't think there'll be anything for us +to do yet awhile. The men are evidently in no hurry to leave, and most +likely intend to wait till the crowd begins to go." + +"Then why should all three of us stay on watch?" + +"We won't. Go back to your cane-board, and I'll tell Sam to come for you +when the burglars put in an appearance. He'll have time to do that, an' +while he's gettin' a boat ready you can come for me." + +"Will it be safe to trust him?" + +"Yes, indeed," Dan replied, with a laugh. "He's havin' an awful good +time thinkin' he's the greatest detective in the world, and couldn't be +hired to leave that clump of willows so long as the men keep out of +sight." + +Teddy was not so confident, and insisted on going back with Dan while +the arrangement was made. + +When the matter was explained Sam appeared to be perfectly satisfied. + +"That's all right," he said, readily. "I can see to this thing alone; +but I'll let you fellers know the minute anything happens. Don't tell +any of the constables what I'm up to, or they'll want to have a finger +in the pie." + +Convinced that he would be informed of any change in the situation, +Teddy returned to the cane-board just in time to aid Tim in attending to +a rush of customers who were spending their money liberally. + +"What made you come back?" the clerk asked, in surprise. "I've hired a +feller for a quarter to pick up rings, an' am gettin' along first rate." + +Teddy briefly explained the condition of affairs, and then there was +little opportunity for conversation until considerably past noon, when +trade dropped off very decidedly for a while. + +In order that he might have a glimpse of the other fakirs and rest +himself at the same time, Tim was sent to see if Sam was yet at his +self-selected post of duty, and Teddy took advantage of the opportunity +to ascertain the amount of his receipts. + +To his great surprise he found nearly forty dollars in the money-box, +and from this he took thirty with which to pay the merchant in +Waterville who had given him credit for his stock. + +"It has turned out to be a mighty good venture, even if Aunt Sarah was +so sure I'd make a fool of myself by tryin' it. All the money I make now +will be clear profit, and it looks as if I'd be able to help mother +quite a bit." + +[Illustration: "They're getting ready to start!" he said, breathlessly.] + +"Well, how is business?" a voice asked, in a cheery tone, and, looking +up, Teddy saw his sole remaining creditor. + +"I'm glad you've come," he cried, bundling the thirty dollars up in a +piece of paper. "I'd jest counted this out for you, an' when you take it +I'll be free from debt." + +"But I don't want the money," the merchant replied. "I only came around +to see if you were successful." + +"I've already made more than I reckoned on, an' it'll be a favor if you +take this, 'cause I don't like to have so much around." + +Then Teddy explained the condition of his business affairs, not +forgetting to tell of the accusation made against him by his Uncle +Nathan, and the merchant said, as he concluded: + +"I heard the whole story, my boy, and have already talked with Mr. +Hargreaves, whom I met a few moments ago. I do not think he can do +anything to you, because you have made many friends here. The money I +will take, as it is not well to keep it where it might be stolen; but +can give you no receipt until I get home." + +"That'll be all right," Teddy replied, contentedly; "you trusted me with +the goods, an' it would be funny if I couldn't wait for a receipted +bill. It's through you that I've had the chance to make so much, an' I +want you to know I feel grateful." + +"I believe that, and am more than pleased to have put you in the way of +getting a start in the world. Come to see me when the fair closes, and +it is possible I may show you an opportunity of learning to be a +merchant on a large scale, rather than a fakir whose method of getting a +living is very precarious, regardless of the fact that he sometimes +makes very great profits." + +It can be readily understood that Teddy accepted the invitation, and +then, trade commencing once more, the gentleman walked away, leaving the +proprietor of the cane-board with the pleasing consciousness that he was +free from debt, and with quite a large amount of money in his mother's +keeping. + +Tim returned very shortly after the merchant's departure, and reported +that Sam was still on duty. + +"The boat hasn't been moved nor have the men showed up again," he said. +"That feller acts as if he thought he was bigger than the President. He +told me he could be the greatest detective that ever lived if it wasn't +that folks made him show off at rowin' 'cause he had so much style about +him. I don't think he's so very wonderful; but, of course, I never saw +many out an' out detectives." + +"And you don't see one when you met him. I'm sure he'll get Dan an' me +in trouble before this thing is ended." + +"Then why don't you let him go off alone? That's what I'd do with such a +chump." + +"I can't, because----" + +The sentence was not concluded, for at that moment Dan came up at full +speed. + +"They're gettin' ready to start!" he said, breathlessly. "I saw 'em go +by the buildin', an' run over to tell Sam that I'd fetch you. Our boat +is a long distance up the creek, an' we'll have to hurry, or run the +chance of missing their craft." + +There was no delay on Teddy's part, despite the misgivings he had +regarding Sam. + +One parting injunction to Tim on the subject of business, and then he +followed Dan at full speed toward the creek on such a course as would +bring them fully a quarter of a mile above the boat-house outside the +fair grounds. + +Sam had made everything ready for the journey by the time they arrived, +and was so excited that he could no longer speak of his own wonderful +powers as a thief-catcher. + +"One of you fellers had better row while I steer," he said, seating +himself in the stern sheets and taking the tiller-ropes. "If they see +the way I handle the oars they'll know exactly who's after them, an' +then the game'll be up." + +"Don't worry yourself about that," Dan replied, calmly. "Neither Teddy +nor I knows anything about a boat, except it may be to steer, so you'll +have to hump yourself." + +Sam grumbled considerably about taking so many risks; but he finally +moved over to the bow and his companions took their seats aft. + +"I won't put any style to it, an', perhaps, that'll keep 'em from +knowin' I'm on their trail," he said, and immediately began rowing in +such a bungling fashion that Dan said, sharply: + +"Look here, if you're goin' to pull this boat, do it, or we'll go back. +At this rate, you'll have everybody at the fair watching to see what +kind of chumps have been allowed to risk their lives. We've got no time +to spare, either; for we must get on the other side of the creek where +it will be possible to watch the men without getting too near." + +"I'll take care of that part of the business," Sam replied, loftily, and +Dan immediately put into operation his plan of "sitting" on the amateur +detective. + +"You do your share, and that will be enough. Teddy and I propose to take +a hand in this ourselves." + +"Then I might as well go back." + +"You can, if you want to." + +It so chanced that he had no such desire, and with the air of one whose +feelings have been deeply wounded he rowed steadily on, Dan steering, +until they were where it was possible to have a full view of a long +stretch of the creek. + +[Illustration: "There they are!" Teddy said.] + +"There they are!" Teddy said, pointing down stream to where a boat was +being pulled close to the left bank. "They have stopped, and it looks as +if something was being taken on board!" + +"It is a portion of the goods they stole!" Dan cried. "Stop rowing, Sam, +and if nothing happens we'll soon know where the whole lot is to be +hidden." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_THE RENDEZVOUS._ + + +That Dan's surmise was correct could be seen a few moments after, while +the boys, partially concealed by the overhanging bank, watched the +proceedings with but little danger of being discovered. + +On the shore were a number of packages in a cart, and these the supposed +burglars loaded into the boat with the utmost haste. + +If this lot comprised all that had been taken from Uncle Nathan his loss +must have been greater than he stated, and Teddy said, after watching +several moments in silence: + +"I reckon this is only part of what they took; but I'm puzzled to know +how it could have been brought so far. The idea of carting goods over +here to find a place in which to hide them is a queer one, when all the +thieves had to do was slip down the river in a skiff, an' before morning +they'd be beyond reach of the officers." + +It surely was strange that the men should have done so much useless +labor, and the only solution to the apparent mystery was offered by Sam, +who said, with an air of superior wisdom: + +"They've done it to throw me off the scent. That fakir we saw in +Waterville must have known who I was." + +"How does it happen he had the nerve to come here when he knew you +counted on showing the people who visited this fair your skill in +rowing?" Dan asked, with a laugh. + +"I reckon he didn't think I was tellin' the truth." + +It was useless to attempt to make Sam acquainted with himself. He had +such a remarkable idea of his own abilities, despite the scrapes he was +constantly getting into, that the most eloquent orator would have been +unable to convince him he was anything more than a very egotistical boy, +with little save his vanity to recommend him to the notice of the +general public. + +In five minutes the boat at the opposite bank had received as much of a +cargo as her owners wished to carry, and then the men began to row +leisurely down the river. + +"Now, go slow, Sam, and don't turn around to look, or they may suspect +we are following them," Dan said, warningly. "I'll keep you posted about +what they are doing, and you can tell us afterward what ought to have +been done. Pull moderately, for we don't want to get very near while it +is light enough for them to see us." + +The chase was not a long one. By keeping the boat's head to the bank and +moving leisurely as boys who were bent only on pleasure might have +done, the pursuers evidently caused no suspicions as to their purpose, +and after about a mile had been traversed the burglars turned up a +narrow waterway which led to a barn or shed built on the meadows for the +storing of marsh hay. + +There were plenty of ditches near at hand into which the amateur +detectives could run their craft unobserved, and as the pursued left the +creek Dan steered into one of these. + +Here their heads hardly came above the bank, and all three could see the +men carrying their cargo to the building. + +"We've got 'em now," said Sam, triumphantly, as the first of the +packages was taken on shore, "an' the sooner we nab both the better." + +"How do you intend to set about such a job?" Teddy asked. + +"Go right up an' tell 'em we've been on their track." + +"And in less than two minutes you would get a worse pounding than the +toughs gave you last night." + +Sam appeared to realize the truth of this statement, for he had no +further suggestions to offer, and Dan said, after some reflection: + +"I think the best thing we can do will be to go back to the fair. If +those fellows find us here the jig will be up; but it isn't likely +they've got the whole of their plunder with them, and intend to come +here again. We'll talk with some one and find out a good plan, or keep +our eyes peeled to learn what they mean to do with the goods. If they +propose simply to hide them until there is a chance to get the lot away +safely, we shall have the key to the situation an' can take plenty of +time deciding what should be done." + +Sam did not again propose to make any attempt at intimidating the men, +and Teddy thought Dan's scheme a wise one. + +"They'll come here more than once before the week is ended; you know +they spoke of moving the stuff when the exhibitors got ready to leave, +an' we'd better go back to the grounds before those fellows have +finished their work." + +Sam pulled out of the water-course into the creek without a murmur; but +when they were on the way back, and he felt at liberty to display his +true "style," courage returned. + +"I knew you fellers wasn't any good on detective work," he said, +scornfully. "If I'd had charge of the case we should have them men tied +hand an' foot in the bottom of this boat." + +"How would you have got 'em there?" Dan asked. + +"That's my business. Jest because I've let you into this thing there's +no reason why I should give all my secrets away, is there?" + +"Not a bit of it, an' you keep them locked up in your heart, for if +Teddy an' I knew the plans we might get into a bad scrape." + +"Well, what are you goin' to do now?" + +"Nothing until after we have talked with those who know more than we do +about such things." + +Sam immediately relapsed into silence. His superior knowledge had been +scorned, and he proposed to let his companions understand that he was +not pleased with them. + +By the time the boys reached the bend in the creek they could see the +boat in which were Long Jim and his companion, half a mile behind, and +Dan said: + +"Those fellows don't know me. When we land you and Sam had better keep +out of sight, while I try to find out where they go after striking the +fair ground." + +"All right. It's time I helped Tim, an' you'll come to the cane-board if +there is anything to tell." + +"So I don't amount to anything, eh?" Sam asked, sulkily. + +"Of course you do; but it would be foolish to make a show of yourself to +Long Jim, who would remember you. Keep rowing around in the boat as if +you were at work, and there'll be no chance for suspicion." + +By this time the little craft was at the landing stage of the +boat-house, and two of the party leaped out, leaving the third feeling +that he had been unjustly deprived of a very large portion of his +rights. + +"If them fellers think they're goin' to get the best of me they're +makin' a big mistake, an' I'll show 'em so before night. They don't know +any more about bein' detectives than a cat; but both will be mightily +surprised before mornin', or I'm mistaken." + +Then, instead of rowing around the creek as Dan had suggested, Sam +pulled out into the middle of the stream, looking wondrous wise and +determined as he awaited the coming of those whose secret he had +partially discovered. + +Meanwhile Teddy and Dan, without the slightest suspicion of what their +friend proposed to do, separated at the landing stage, the former making +all haste to reach his cane-board, where he found Tim doing a thriving +business, and standing near by was Hazelton. + +"Where have you been?" the jewelry fakir asked, solicitously. "I've come +here two or three times without finding you, and had almost begun to +believe old Nathan succeeded in getting a warrant." + +Teddy was undecided as to whether he should tell this acquaintance of +all he had seen or not; but, after some deliberation, and in view of the +fact that he also had been accused of the burglary, concluded to do so. + +"We've found out where Long Jim is hiding the stuff he stole from my +uncle," he said, and then explained what had been done during the last +hour. + +Hazelton was surprised that so much information had been gained; but he +was able to cause Teddy an equal amount of astonishment. + +"I don't believe the packages you saw came from the old man's store. I +heard, about two hours ago, that a store here in town was robbed last +night, and it isn't dead sure, after your uncle's accusations, and what +I have done on the fair grounds, that I sha'n't be arrested on +suspicion. Most likely the goods taken down the creek were stolen here; +but I don't understand why those fellows should work so boldly." + +"Probably they think, as one of them said the other night, while so many +articles are being carried to and fro." + +"Very likely that may be true, and now comes the question of what shall +be done regarding the information you have gained. I stand in a mighty +delicate position, and, quite naturally, want to save myself, if +possible, for even an arrest when there is little or no proof, ain't to +be contemplated calmly." + +"You ought to know better than I how we should go to work. Dan an' I +thought there would be plenty of time, for if those fellows were going +to skip very soon they wouldn't have taken the trouble to carry the +stuff down there, where it could not be gotten away quickly." + +"I'll think the matter over, Teddy, and come back here in a couple of +hours," Hazelton said, after a moment's thought. + +"Don't tell anyone what you found out until after seeing me again." + +This conversation had been carried on at the rear of the cane-board, +where the customers could not overhear it, and when the jewelry fakir +walked toward the exhibition building it was necessary to satisfy Tim's +curiosity regarding what had been accomplished. + +"I don't s'pose it's any of my business," the latter said, when Teddy +concluded the story; "but I wouldn't be afraid to bet all I shall earn +this week that you'll have trouble with that feller before the scrape is +over. He knows so awful much that somethin' tough is bound to happen." + +Teddy did not think there was any good cause for alarm, more especially +since he felt confident Dan would keep an eye on the oarsman, and during +the next two hours he thought of nothing save earning money, for +customers were plenty, and even with the assistance of the boy Tim had +engaged it was all he and his clerk could do to wait upon those who were +anxious to win a cane or knife. + +Now and then some of the other fakirs would visit him; but, as a rule, +all were so busy that there was little time for the exchange of +compliments, and even the cry of "Three rings for five cents, with the +chance to get a dollar cane or knife for nothing!" was not needed to +stimulate trade. + +It was two hours from the time of his return when Dan came up looking +decidedly uneasy, and Teddy did not stop to make change for the man who +had just patronized him, before he asked, hurriedly: + +"Now, what's up?" + +"Sam is missing." + +"What do you mean? How can that be?" + +"He was to row around the creek near the landing; but for the last hour +no one has seen him, and, what is more, the boat can't be found. Long +Jim an' his friend haven't come ashore, as near as I can make out, an' +it looks to me as if that foolish Sam has got into trouble through +trying to play detective." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_SAM'S ADVENTURES._ + + +In order to explain Sam's absence, and one or two other incidents in +their regular sequence, it is necessary to go back to the moment when, +his friends having landed, the amateur detective was left to his own +devices. + +His first impulse was to report his arrival to the manager of the boat +exhibit, and then go about his routine duties, but before this very +proper plan could be carried into effect he chanced to see Hazelton on +the shore. + +"Now, what's he layin' around there for?" Sam asked of himself. "I'll +bet Dan or Teddy has given the whole snap away, an' he's come to pull in +the burglars. It's a mighty mean trick for them to play after I've +worked the case so far that there's nothing to do but nab 'em. He'll get +all the praise, an' folks won't know the job was managed by me." + +The longer Sam thought of this apparent ingratitude and treachery on the +part of Teddy and Dan the more angry he grew, and it did not require +many moments' thought for him to succeed in convincing himself that he +had been very shabbily treated. + +Continuing to talk to himself, or rather at the tiller, on which his +eyes were fixed, he added: + +"Folks have said so much about their savin' them women from drownin', +when I mighter done the same thing if I'd been willin' to make a fool of +myself, that they want to scoop in everything; but I could stop this +little game by jest goin' ahead on my own hook. If I sneaked down the +creek an' brought back the stuff them men have been hidin' people would +begin to know how much I understand about detective work." + +This appeared in his mind as the most brilliant scheme he had ever +conceived, and in a very few seconds Sam decided that it should be +carried into effect. + +First, and with no very well-defined idea of why such a course was +necessary, he rowed cautiously to and fro past the landing stage, +scrutinizing closely every face he saw, and mentally hugging himself +because of the excitement which would be caused by his return with the +stolen property. + +Then he turned the boat, and began to row down the creek, stopping every +few seconds to gaze around in such a mysterious manner that the +suspicions of any one who observed him would have been instantly +aroused. + +In this manner, which he believed the only true way for a first-class +detective to approach his prey, Sam had rowed less than half a mile when +he saw Long Jim and his companion returning. + +Now the time had come when true cunning was necessary, and the amateur +detective began to display it by pulling the boat sharply around, +heading her for an indentation on the opposite shore. + +Here he ran her bow aground, and lying at full length in the bottom, +peered out at the men in the most stealthy manner. + +They had already taken notice of his erratic movements, and now regarded +him intently, but, without checking the headway of their own craft, in a +few minutes were beyond sight around the bend. + +"There," Sam said, with a long-drawn breath of relief, as he arose to a +sitting posture, "if Teddy an' Dan had been here them fellers would have +tumbled to the whole racket, but I've put 'em off the scent, an' will +have plenty of time to do my work." + +He pulled out from the shore once more, gazed long and earnestly up and +down the creek, and then, in the same ridiculous manner as before, +continued the journey. + +The trip which should have consumed no more than an hour even with the +most indolent oarsman, was not completed until twice that time had +elapsed, and then fully fifteen minutes were spent by this very cautious +boy in landing. + +He pulled his boat up high out of the water, and, in order to conceal +her, heaped such a pile of dry grass on top of her that it must have +attracted the attention of any one passing, more especially those who +were familiar with the creek. + +This done he went toward the barn after the fashion of an old-time stage +villain, halting at the slightest sound, and peering in every direction, +fancying himself surrounded by foes. + +Not until he had circled completely around the barn twice did he venture +to enter, and then, much to his disappointment, there was nothing to be +seen. The building appeared to be absolutely empty, and even his eagle +eye failed to discover any traces of recent occupancy. + +"Well, this is mighty funny," he said, with a sigh of disappointment. +"Them fellers surely brought a lot of stuff in here, but they must have +carried it out again." + +Having expended so much labor and time in reaching this place, he did +not intend to return until after making a thorough search, however, and +to this end he investigated one possible hiding-place after another, +pulling up the boards of the rude flooring, and peering into places +where nothing larger than a mouse could have been hidden. + +During this time the burglars were returning with all possible speed. +Sam's actions, both as he came down the creek, and also while screening +himself from view, were so suspicious that, guilty as the men were, they +immediately concluded what was very near the truth. + +Long Jim recognized the boy as having been with Teddy when the bargain +for the imaginary cane-board was made, and instead of returning to the +fair grounds the two watched, from a point of vantage on the bank, until +Master Sam had landed. + +His purpose was now evident, and it was necessary the burglars should +resort to desperate measures to prevent the loss of their ill-gotten +gains as well as to save themselves from imprisonment. + +When they arrived where it was possible to look into the barn, Sam was +on his knees scraping away the dirt which appeared to have been recently +disturbed, and they heard him say in a tone of exultation: + +"I've got to it at last, an' now we'll see what Teddy an' Dan have to +say when I flash the whole lot of stuff up with nobody to help me. I +reckon----" + +He did not finish the sentence, for at that moment Long Jim stepped +directly in front of him, as he asked: + +"Did you leave anything here, my son?" + +"No--I--I--that is--you see----" + +Sam was so frightened that he could not say another word. It seemed as +if his tongue was swollen to twice its natural size, while his throat +was parched and dry, and to make bad matters worse, he had entirely +neglected to invent a plausible excuse for his presence there in case of +an interruption. + +"I asked if you'd left anything here?" Long Jim repeated, very mildly. + +"Well--well---- You see I jest come down to--to---- I thought, perhaps, +I might find something, but it's time I was gettin' back to the fair, +'cause the folks will be needin' me." + +As he spoke he attempted to back toward the door, but before taking half +a dozen steps a cry of fear burst from his lips, for a heavy hand was +laid with no gentle force on his shirt collar, and he staggered forward +helplessly. + +"That's an invitation for you to hold on a bit, an' have a little +conversation with two gentlemen who are mighty curious to know why you +came here," Long Jim said, grimly. "You're goin' to tell us the whole +partic'lars, or there won't be enough left of you to be seen under a +microscope." + +Sam made no reply. He was literally dazed with fear, and just at that +moment he thought the life of a detective very disagreeable. + +"Come, speak up, an' be quick about it," the man cried, fiercely. "We've +got no time to waste on sich cubs as you, an' in about two minutes +you'll get worse'n we served out the other night." + +"That wasn't me follerin' you from the museum tent," Sam said, quickly, +thinking possibly this fact might work in his favor. + +"Who was it?" + +"Teddy an' Dan." + +"Who is Dan?" + +"A feller who works for the Stevens Arms Company up at the fair." + +"Why did they follow us?" + +"Teddy wanted to get back the money he gave you to buy a cane-board +with." + +"If he knows what's wise for him he'll stop any such rackets, or he may +get more'n he bargains for." + +Then the second man, who still held firmly to Sam's collar, asked, as he +shook his prisoner vigorously: + +"How did you know we had been here?" + +"Us fellers saw you come down in a boat." + +"So all three are in the secret, eh?" + +Sam's only thought was that he might possibly save his own skin, and he +replied in the affirmative, although he must have known that by such +answer he was destroying his friends' chances of recovering the goods. + +"Where are the fools now?" Long Jim asked, angrily. + +"Up at the fair." + +"What do they intend to do?" + +"Get somebody to arrest you." + +"Then we've got to skip mighty lively, Phil," and Long Jim looked up at +his companion. + +"Yes; but if my advice had been follered we wouldn't be in this scrape. +You was the only one the cubs knew, an' by keepin' out of sight we +mighter finished the work that's been laid out. You're so pig-headed +that a yoke of oxen couldn't keep you in hidin'." + +"There's no use fightin' about it now; for we've got to get a move on us +in short order. It won't do to let this boy have a chance to give the +alarm." + +"Of course not. Lash him up somewhere so he can't make a noise, an' his +chums will come before he starves to death." + +"Don't do that!" Sam cried, in an agony of terror. "I won't say a word +about your catchin' me here, an' I'll do anything you say." + +"Oh, you're a nice plum to make promises, ain't you. It didn't take much +persuadin' to make you go back on your friends, an' that's enough to +show whether you can be trusted. Get the rope out of the boat, Phil, an' +then we'll make ready for a long jump." + +Phil obeyed, grumbling as he went because his partner had refused to +take his advice, thus plunging both of them into danger, and Long Jim +turned his attention to the prisoner once more. + +"Before we leave this part of the country for good I'm goin' to give you +somethin' to remember us by so's you won't go 'round stickin' your nose +into other people's business agin." + +"What are you goin' to do?" Sam asked, his face growing even paler than +before. + +"Give you the worst floggin' a boy ever had. I'd do it now if there +wasn't so much work to be got through." + +Sam had sufficient sense to know that all his pleadings for mercy would +be in vain, and he held his peace until Phil returned with a long coil +of rope which had been used as a boat's painter. + +One of the beams at the end of the barn served as a post to which to +lash the prisoner, and here the amateur detective was made fast in such +a skillful manner that he could not so much as move his arms. + +"Shall we gag him now?" Phil asked, and Long Jim replied: + +"No, there's time enough. + +"He can't make any one hear if he yells his best, an' I've got a little +business to settle before he's trussed up for good." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_MISSING._ + + +When Dan informed Teddy that Sam was missing, and suggested the +possibility of the burglars having gotten him in their power, both the +boys were decidedly alarmed; but the matter ceased to appear as serious +after it had been discussed in all its bearings. + +"Long Jim wouldn't have dared to spirit him away when there are so many +people around," Teddy said, after a long silence, during which he was +trying to imagine what Sam might have done. "Besides, what would be the +good of taking him if we were left behind?" + +"Perhaps they count on hauling us in, too." + +"That isn't to be thought of for a moment. They don't want to burden +themselves with a lot of boys when every effort must be made to get the +stolen property out of this section of the country before they are +discovered." + +"I'll allow all that sounds reasonable, but where is Sam?" + +"Of course I don't know. Do you think he would dare to go down the +river again after we landed?" + +"No, indeed; he's too much of a coward for that. If there's been any +funny business it was done when the men got back." + +"Then we have no need to worry, for there are hundreds of people on the +bank of the creek all the time, an' Sam would know enough to yell if +anybody tried to steal him." + +The idea that the amateur detective might be stolen seemed so comical to +Dan that he gave way to mirth, and what had promised to be a most +sorrowful visit speedily became a merry one. + +"He had permission to remain away from the exhibition building during +the rest of the day," Teddy finally said, "an' most likely he's goin' to +take advantage of it by roaming around the grounds, exercising his +detective faculties. He'll turn up at the museum to-night all right, +with a big yarn to tell about his supposed adventures." + +"I reckon you're right; but I did get a little rattled when his boss +asked me where he was. I'll come back this way when it's time to go to +supper." + +"Wait a minute. I'm mighty hungry now, an' business has been so good +that I can afford to treat to sandwiches an' lemonade, if you'll go with +me over to the grand stand. I'll bring you back something, Tim," he +added, as he leaped over the railing. + +Dan said he could remain away half an hour from the rifle exhibit, and +Teddy was now so easy in mind concerning money matters that he resolved +to have thirty minutes of sport. + +The boys first made a tour of that portion of the grounds where the +fakirs were congregated, stopping a moment to see the whip dealer +lashing a pine stake to show the quality of his goods, and then watching +the "Great African Dodger," who thrust his woolly head through an +aperture in a canvas screen for all those to throw balls at who were +inclined to pay the price. + +Then they stopped at the "envelope game," where were spread on a stand a +large collection of cheap, gaudy goods, each bearing a printed number, +every one supposed to correspond with those contained in a box of +envelopes, and this fakir was doing a big business, as was shown by the +fact that he could afford to hire a barker, who cried continually at the +full strength of his lungs: + +"Come up now, and try your luck! Here's where we have all prizes and no +blanks! Ten cents buys an envelope, with the privilege of drawing for +yourself, so there can be no job put up against you, and every number +calls for some one of the many valuable articles in the layout. Here's a +gentleman who spends only ten cents and gets a pair of those beautiful, +triple-plated, double-expansion, fine pure metal cuff buttons, worth two +dollars at some stores!" + +"Come on!" Dan said, impatiently. "That fellow is almost as big a snide +as Hazelton." + +"How do you make that out? I can see a lot of things that cost more than +a dollar. Look at the silver watch, and the revolver." + +"That may be all very well; but no one except a fellow who is interested +in the business gets any of those articles." + +"You can select any envelope you choose." + +"That's right; but the ones with the numbers calling for the big prizes +are lying flat in the box where nobody can get them. If you should +accuse the man of cheating he would turn the whole thing upside down, +and then, of course, they could be found. Here comes a fellow who I know +is cappin' for that fakir. Watch how he does it." + +The apparent stranger approached the stand, and after some talk as to +how the game was run, invested ten cents. + +The man did not open the envelope he drew; but handed it to the fakir, +who, pretending to look at the card it contained, shouted: + +"Number fifty-four. The gentleman has drawn that beautiful solid silver +watch worth fifty dollars, and I will give him thirty for his bargain." + +The stranger showed his prize to the crowd that clustered around him, +and business was increased wonderfully, for it had apparently been +proven that the game was conducted fairly. + +"Now watch him," Dan said, as the stranger walked away with his prize +ostentatiously displayed, and the two boys followed a short distance +off, until they saw him halt behind a booth, where he turned the article +won over to a barker who had approached. + +"That's the way it is done," Dan said, "and when we come back you'll see +the same watch on the layout." + +Teddy was rapidly being initiated in the tricks of the fakirs, and the +more he saw the more firmly was he resolved not to follow the business +longer than the present week, although he believed his own game to be an +honest one. + +The cheap jewelry dealer; the man who had been selling the remnants of a +stock of knives made by a manufacturer who "had bankrupted himself by +putting into them too expensive material;" the fakir with the dolls +which were to be knocked down by balls thrown from a certain distance, +with a prize of one cigar if the customer could tumble two over, and the +peanut-candy dealer were visited in turn, and then the boys were +attracted by the sound of Hazelton's voice. + +He was plying his peculiar trade again, and by the appearance of the +crowd was meeting with great success. + +"Let's see how he gets out of it this time," Teddy suggested, and Dan +agreed. + +The fakir had arrived at that point where he was giving away the +supposed watches, and the boys listened until they saw his preparations +for departure. + +"What beats me is how he gets clear every time," Dan whispered. "I +should think after he had swindled four or five hundred, some of them +would lay for a chance to get even with him." + +"He says they do, an' that's why he left his satchel with me." + +Hazelton recognized the boys just as he was telling that Nathan +Hargreaves might possibly act as his agent after the close of the fair, +and nodded pleasantly, as he gathered up the reins; but this was one of +the occasions when he was not to be allowed to go scot free. + +Two stalwart-looking fellows were standing near the head of the horse, +and when the fakir would have driven off they seized the bridle, one of +them shouting: + +"Come down with that money! This is the second time I've seen you do us +countrymen up to-day, and now you've got to square things." + +Hazelton swung his whip around, striking the speaker full in the face, +and causing the horse to plunge and rear, but yet the fellows kept their +hold. + +The whip was pulled from the fakir's hand, and in an instant it appeared +as if a riot had begun. Those who had been content to keep secret the +fact of having been swindled now grew bold as they saw there was a +leader in the movement, and more than a hundred leaped forward to seize +the representative of the alleged jewelry manufacturers. + +"He'll be killed!" Teddy shouted, and would have attempted to go to the +assistance of the man who had been kind to him, despite the fact that he +could not have aided him in any way against so many; but for the fact +that Dan pulled him back, as he shouted: + +"Can't you see that it would be fifty to one if you should go in that +crowd? We couldn't help him, and what's the use of gettin' a big lickin' +for nothing? Besides, what would become of your business if the people +here thought you were his partner?" + +Before Dan ceased speaking Teddy realized how useless would be any +effort of his, and he remained passive, trying to get a glimpse of the +ill-fated fakir. + +The numbers who beset him completely hid Hazelton from view. The +carriage had been overturned by the first desperate rush of the victims, +and the horse was clearing a space around himself by the free use of his +heels. + +"They'll commit murder!" Teddy cried. + +"I don't believe it'll be quite as bad as that; but he won't be likely +to give away any more lockets while this fair lasts." + +As a matter of fact, Hazelton was not left to fight the battle alone. +Like every other fakir engaged in that peculiar business, he had several +partners whose duty it was to mingle with the crowd for the purpose of +intimidating any who might be disposed to make trouble, and these had +closed in upon him, while some of the more timid spectators shouted for +the constables. + +[Illustration: "Run as you never did before, Teddy, for if they get hold +of us it'll be a bad job all around!"] + +Once Teddy caught a glimpse of the unfortunate man; his glossy hat was +gone, his clothing torn, and his face covered with blood. + +"I can see him now!" he cried, "and it looks as if they had about used +him up, for----" + +Before he could finish the sentence a stranger rushed toward him, and +showing the familiar black satchel in his hand, said hurriedly: + +"Get out of here with that. Hazelton will see you some time this +evening. Don't stop a minute!" + +Before the boy could reply the stranger was forcing his way through the +struggling, yelling crowd, in order to aid his partner, and Teddy said +in dismay: + +"Now we are in a muss. Here is all his money, an' if anybody sees us +with it we'll have a tough time." + +"You can't throw it away, an' we must sneak off," Dan said, and the +expression on his face told how distressed he was that such a +responsibility had been thrust upon them. + +"Shall we go back to the stand?" + +"No, that would never do, for then they would be sure to vent their +anger on you. Go up to the museum; Mr. Sweet knows Hazelton, an' may be +willin' to help him by keeping the satchel till the row is over." + +These words had been spoken as the boys were trying to make their way +through the fringe of spectators which had hemmed them in since the +fight began, and after some difficulty they succeeded; but at the same +moment one of the combatants, who had received more than his share of +punishment, emerged close by their side. + +He saw Hazelton's satchel, and recognized it. + +"Come here, fellows! two little villains are making off with the money! +That's what we want!" + +He at once started in pursuit, as did several others, and Dan cried, as +he helped carry the burden: + +"Run as you never did before, Teddy, for if they get hold of us it'll be +a bad job all around!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_A TERRIBLE NIGHT._ + + +At just about the same moment when Teddy and Dan were running with +Hazelton's money at full speed toward the museum tent, with the chance +of escape very much against them, Sam was in a decidedly painful frame +of mind. + +After he had been securely tied the two men conversed in low tones for +several minutes, and then, as if having arrived at some definite +conclusion, began to make preparations for leaving the place. + +At the same spot where Sam had been interrupted while scraping away the +dirt they proceeded to dig with a shovel which Phil procured from +somewhere outside the building, and during this labor the prisoner could +hear fragments of the conversation. + +Once Long Jim ceased his work long enough to say: + +"When you come to look at the matter quietly it doesn't seem as if we'd +got into sich a very bad scrape. You can manage to bring the rest of +the stuff down the creek between now an' Friday mornin' and I've got a +plan for givin' anybody who may come after us a good clue to the boy's +disappearance." + +Phil made some remark which Sam could not hear, and his companion +replied in a louder tone: + +"It can all be done so's to make folks think we've gone up the creek, +an' we've got to lay low for a while, which won't be a hard job while +the weather is warm." + +"But I don't like the idea of totin' that cub with us so long." + +"I'll take care of him, an' will make him earn his board, or somethin's +bound to break." + +From this time until several packages were unearthed Sam could hear +nothing; but what had already been said was sufficient to convince him +that he was to have a very unpleasant experience, and for at least the +hundredth time he fervently wished he had never so much as heard of +detective work. + +After the goods had been brought to light the earth was replaced in the +excavation and pounded down carefully. Then fully half an hour was spent +digging in different places, probably for the purpose of misleading any +one who might come there in search of plunder, for Phil said in a tone +of satisfaction as he ceased the apparently aimless labor: + +"It'll take at least a day before all of these suspicious looking spots +have been investigated, an' in the meanwhile, unless we're chumps, we +shall know what's goin' on. I'll take one load to the boat; make sure +the coast is clear, an' then the three of us can carry the balance. Have +the boy ready for a quick move, an' see to it that he can't give an +alarm." + +"I'll knock his head off if he so much as thinks of such a thing," and +as Phil disappeared with a portion of the plunder Long Jim began to +unfasten Sam's bonds, saying as he did so: + +"We've made up our minds to hold you with us a few days 'cause you're +sich jolly company. If you obey orders an' keep your mouth shut there's +a chance of gettin' outer this scrape mighty easy; but I'd slit your +throat in a jiffy if you tried to give us the slip or made any noise." + +Sam made no reply; but his captor could see very plainly that the boy +was nearly paralyzed with fright, and it was safe to infer he would +follow the instructions given to the letter. + +Phil returned in a very short time and reported: + +"The coast is clear. There's not a craft to be seen on the creek, an' we +can leave without danger." + +The rope had been removed from Sam's limbs, and Long Jim proceeded to +load him down with bundles until he staggered under the weight. + +"Now, see that you walk a chalk line," the burglar said, fiercely. +"Foller Phil, an' I'll keep behind to make sure there are no tricks +played. Remember what I promised!" + +The men could carry the remainder of the goods in one load, and the +three went out of the barn hurriedly, Sam not daring to so much as lift +his eyes from the ground lest Long Jim's threat should be carried into +execution. + +Arriving at the water's edge the boat was loaded, the prisoner ordered +to take his place at the oars, and then the final preparations were +made. + +Phil uncovered the boat in which Sam had come, launched and overturned +her. Then taking the hat from the unresisting boy's head, threw it far +out in the channel, afterward giving the little craft a shove which sent +her a long distance from the shore. Next the two oars were sent after +the hat, and Phil said with a laugh: + +"The current ain't very strong; but with the aid of the wind I reckon +that stuff will drift up to the fair grounds before dark." + +Sam's despair was already so great that it did not seem as if it could +be increased; but the last vestige of hope fled when he realized that +these things had been done in order to make it appear as if he were +dead. + +"Teddy and Dan won't think of huntin' for me after the boat is found," +he thought, "an' these men are sure to kill me before this scrape is +over!" + +The two burglars seated themselves comfortably in the stern-sheets, the +packages being placed at the bow to trim the craft properly, and Long +Jim said, sternly: + +"You've been showin' off your skill as an oarsman for two or three days, +an' we want you to do it now. Put in your best licks, for it'll be tough +if we don't get through the water mighty fast." + +Even Sam's worst enemy would have pitied him at this moment. No galley +slave chained to his seat could have been more utterly helpless, and he +exerted himself to the utmost in order to please those who professed to +be so willing to punish or kill. + +Every stroke of the oars took them farther away from the fair grounds, +and each puff of wind carried the evidences of the prisoner's death +nearer the only ones who might take the trouble to search for him. + +Not until fully an hour had passed did the burglars give any sign of a +desire to end the journey, and then Long Jim said: + +"We must be six miles from the fair grounds by this time, an' that is as +far as you'll want to pull to-night, Phil. There should be plenty of +good hidin'-places in this bit of woods, an' I think we'd better haul +up." + +"All right. Steer her into that ditch over there, an' we'll look +around." + +Thus far in his experience as a detective this was the only thing Sam +had had for which to be thankful. His arms were so tired that it seemed +as if he could not have pulled another stroke, and his clothes were +literally wet from the perspiration that came from his body. + +Phil went ashore, leaving his companion to watch the almost exhausted +prisoner, and in a few moments the former shouted: + +"Load that cub up, an' bring him over here. This is a capital place to +locate in for a couple of days." + +Staggering under the heavy burden Long Jim placed on his shoulders the +amateur detective was forced on through the underbrush in advance of his +captor until the two arrived at a perfect tangle of cedars. + +Phil returned to the boat for the remainder of the goods, and all the +plunder was placed inside the thicket where the foliage was so dense +that one might have passed within a few feet of the spot and not had any +suspicion men were hidden there. + +A tiny brook ran past one side of the hiding-place, and Sam took +advantage of the opportunity to check his raging thirst while the men +were laying plans for the future. + +"I'll go back soon after sunset," Phil said, as he lighted his pipe and +proceeded to make himself comfortable. "We can leave the boy here to +look out for the stuff, an' you'd better come with me up to the barn +so's to learn if any one visits the place. I shall be back before +morning, an' you can let me know if the coast is clear." + +"Shall you try to finish the job we were talkin' about?" + +"No; things are so hot jest now that it won't pay to take any more risks +than are absolutely necessary. What we want is to get out of this +portion of the country as soon as possible." + +"All right. I'll leave you to manage the rest of the business, an' +promise to follow orders." + +"I think it's about time you said that, Jim. If my plans had been +carried out in the first place we wouldn't be in sich a muss; but could +be havin' the cream of the pickin's at the fair." + +"Well, what's the use of harpin' on that all the time? The thing has +been done, an' we've got to make the best of it. Do you think it'll be +safe to leave this cub here alone while we're away?" + +"It will be when I get through with him," was the grim reply, and Sam, +terrified by the vagueness of this remark, more even than he had been by +the plain language previously used, cried, piteously: + +"Please don't leave me here alone to-night! I'll pull the boat, an' do +everything you say, without so much as yippin'." + +"Them as starts out in the detective business have to take what comes, +'specially when their own foolishness brings it about. You joined our +party of your own accord, my son, an' must put up with what we choose to +give." + +Sam said nothing more. He was reaping what he had sowed, and decided +that matters could not be much worse even if he was caught trying to +escape, therefore he resolved to take desperate chances in an effort to +give his captors the slip. + +There was no opportunity to make the attempt, on this night at least, +for when Phil had finished smoking he proceeded in a very methodical +manner to secure the prisoner. + +Sam was ordered to seat himself on the ground, with his back to the +trunk of a cedar-tree, and he was fastened skillfully, with his elbows +tied back in such a manner that he could not bring his hands together. +Both feet were bound, and then, with a sudden movement, Phil forced the +boy's mouth open, shoving into it a short piece of pine wood about an +inch and a half in diameter. + +This was secured in such a manner that the prisoner could not free +himself from the uncomfortable bridle, neither would it be possible for +him to make the slightest outcry. + +"Now, don't shout for help while we are gone, an' unless the bears eat +you up we shall meet again about daybreak," Phil said, with a coarse +laugh as he and Jim went out of the thicket toward the creek. + +Poor Sam had never thought of the possibility that there might be bears +in this section of the country until the burglar suggested it, and he +was so terrified as not to realize it was impossible there could be any +dangerous animals in such a thickly-settled portion of the State. + +Therefore, in addition to the danger to be apprehended from his captors, +he had constantly before his mind this new cause for fear. The rustling +of the leaves, the flight of a bird as it sought a perch for the night, +or the soughing of the wind among the branches were to him so many +proofs that a violent death would be his before morning. + +If the beginning of the hours of darkness was so terrible it can well be +fancied how he suffered before another day dawned. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_A NARROW ESCAPE._ + + +Neither Teddy nor Dan had any hope of reaching the museum tent before +their pursuers could overtake them, and although both knew what might be +the result if they were taken with the jewelry fakir's money and goods +in their possession, they did not for a moment think of abandoning the +property. + +The cries of those in the rear attracted the attention of the spectators +elsewhere on the grounds, and without waiting to learn the cause of the +trouble hundreds of men and boys joined in the chase, all shouting at +the full strength of their lungs: + +"Stop thief! Stop thief!" + +The distance to be traversed was nearly a quarter of a mile; but the +many turns the boys were forced to make in order to avoid those who were +ready to capture them doubled this, and they were yet very far from the +goal when a burly, red-faced man jumped in front of them. + +It seemed as if capture was inevitable; but Teddy resorted to the last +means of defense, and was successful. + +Letting go his hold of the satchel he lowered his head, leaped forward +with full force, striking the officious stranger full in the stomach. + +The man, not anticipating such an attack at a moment when he almost had +his hands upon the supposed thieves, was bowled over like a nine-pin, +and, jumping quickly aside, Teddy caught hold of the satchel once more. + +By this time both the boys were so nearly winded that speech was well +nigh impossible; but Dan managed to gasp admiringly: + +"You're a dandy, old fellow," and then, with one supreme effort, +increased his pace a trifle. + +It was fortunate that there were no spectators in front of Mr. Sweet's +tent when the boys came in sight of it. The barker was lounging in a +chair outside, and on catching a glimpse of the boys recognized them +immediately. + +The crowd in pursuit would have told a duller man than he professed to +be that there had been some serious trouble, and, running to meet the +boys as if to intercept them, he cried: + +"Circle around the canvas, an' crawl underneath, so's that gang won't +see where you've gone!" + +The fugitives understood the scheme at once, and making a short detour +as if to avoid him, dashed under the guy-ropes at one end, gaining the +interior of the tent before the pursuers arrived. + +Mr. Sweet had just started toward the flap to ascertain the cause of the +commotion when the boys entered, and, thinking himself about to be +attacked, leaped quickly back as he seized an ironbound stake. + +"Oh, it's you, eh?" he said, on recognizing the intruders. "What's up? +Are you the thieves they're yellin' for?" + +Teddy was hardly able to speak; but he held up the satchel, as he +panted: + +"Hazelton's--they're killin' him--he--wants--this--saved." + +"Yes, I understand it now. Jump into the wagon an' get under the stuff +there. I'll take the valise. Them kind of fakirs are bound to come to +grief sooner or later, an' honest people get into a muss tryin' to help +'em. I'd like to see the fair where them kinds of games wasn't allowed; +but don't s'pose I ever shall, although it's always promised." + +While Mr. Sweet had been grumbling, and at the same time concealing the +satchel under the box containing the snakes, the boys were doing their +best to hide themselves beneath the litter of ropes and canvas which had +been carelessly thrown into the wagon. + +In the meantime the pursuers came up, discovered the unpleasant fact +that the fugitives were no longer in sight, and began to parley with the +barker. + +"I tried to catch 'em," the boys heard the latter say; "but they got +around the tent before I had time to find out what the matter was." + +"They've gone inside!" one of the crowd shouted. "Don't let's allow +swindlers to get the best of us so easy!" + +"That's the way to talk!" another cried. "We'll have 'em out if the show +has to come down!" + +At this moment Mr. Sweet, looking calm and undisturbed, emerged from the +flap. + +"Bring out them boys, or down comes your tent!" a man yelled. + +"I reckon the wisest plan for you to pursue is to wait till I find out +what all this means," the proprietor of the museum said loudly, at the +same time beckoning the barker and the clown to his side. "It looks to +me as if this was the same gang who came here last night tryin' to clean +us out, an' warrants for their arrest are in the hands of the constables +now. I paid one hundred dollars for the privilege of exhibitin' here, +an' that means I'm to have all the protection the managers of this fair +and the authorities of the town can give me. I've warned you off; but if +you still want to finish up the work of last night, an' the constables +don't come in time, there are three of us here who are good for twice +that number of your gang, an' when a man gets a tap over the head with +one of these he's not in it any longer!" + +Mr. Sweet flourished the heavy stake as he spoke, and his employes +showed that they were armed in the same manner. + +"We didn't come to disturb you," one of the crowd said, in a milder +tone, as the greater number fell back before the threats made of +invoking the aid of the law. "All we want is a valise two boys brought +here, for in it is quite a pile of our money." + +"How did they get it from you?" the proprietor of the museum asked for +the purpose of gaining time in the hope the constables would put in an +appearance. + +"We were swindled by a jewelry agent, an' are goin' to get back our +own." + +"Oh, you are, eh? Well, I haven't got the stuff; but if you allow +yourselves to be swindled, will you help matters by turning thieves? You +can sue the man who has done you up; but there's a penalty for stealing, +as you will find out if you keep on in this way." + +The less impetuous among the pursuers understood that the showman was +speaking only the truth, and, now that they had an opportunity for +reflection, began to be ashamed of the part they were playing. One by +one walked away without making any further remonstrance, and in a short +time only a dozen or so remained in front of the tent. + +All these were young men, and several had been drinking, therefore the +danger was not yet past. + +"You stand here and brain the first man who attempts to enter," Mr. +Sweet said, as he disappeared inside the tent. Then hurrying to where +Teddy and Dan were hidden, he whispered: + +"It may be possible that in order to avoid a row I shall be obliged to +let this gang in. There is no one behind the canvas, and you can slip +out readily. Go directly back where you belong, an' if anybody accuses +you of being the boys who brought away the valise deny it. I'm goin' to +make a big bluff about lookin' for constables, an' the minute you hear +me talking, move lively." + +"What about Hazelton's money?" Teddy asked. + +"He'll find it here when he dares to come for it." + +An instant later the fugitives heard him say from the outside: + +"I propose to call for help in case you very respectable young gentleman +should take a notion to break in and steal." + +"All we ask is that you'll turn out them boys," one of the party +replied, angrily, "for, whether it's stealing or not, we're bound to +have that fakir's money." + +"That part of it is nothing to me. There are no boys inside, an' if you +want to go in one at a time, so there'll be no chance of gettin' the +best of me an' destroyin' my property, I don't think there'll be any +objection made." + +"Now's our time before they come?" Dan whispered, as he slipped softly +down from the wagon, and Teddy followed. + +It was but the work of a moment to raise the canvas and step out. There +was absolutely no one in sight. The tent had been erected near the edge +of the grounds, and there was nothing in the vicinity to attract the +sightseers. + +"We'll get over the fence, an' come in through the main gate. It's +better to pay for admission than to let people suspect we were the ones +who have been chased." + +"Go on; I'll stay close at your heels." + +Five minutes later they were walking along the dusty road looking as +innocent as possible, and feeling comparatively safe. + +"Do you suppose any one will know us?" Teddy asked after they had +trudged some distance in silence. + +"There can't be much danger of that. All the crowd saw were our backs, +and, besides, after those fellows cool off they'll be ashamed of +themselves. I don't reckon you'll have any trouble; but I may get it hot +from the boss because I've been away so long." + +"I guess there won't be much danger of that; but if anything should +happen come to my stand. After what has happened I reckon I can afford +to whack up with you on some of the profits, especially since every one +says to-morrow is to be such a big day. Where do you suppose Hazelton +is?" + +"He must have had a chance to get off when the men started for us; but +I'll bet he don't look as nice as he did this morning." + +By this time the boys were at the ticket-office, and, paying the price +of admission, they walked into the inclosure without attracting the +slightest attention. + +On the way to his place of business Teddy chanced to think of the errand +on which they had started out, and he bought a generous supply of +sandwiches for Dan, Tim, and himself. + +When the two arrived at the cane-board business was at its height, and +the clerk and his assistant were having quite as much as they could do +to attend to the customers. + +This saved Teddy the necessity of entering into any explanation while +strangers were near, and he immediately went to work, not having an idle +moment until nearly nightfall, when the greater portion of the visitors +had departed. + +"Where did you and Dan go that you staid away so long?" Tim asked as he +and Teddy began to pack up the stock of canes and knives. + +"Oh, it's a long story; I'll tell you all about it while we are eating +supper," Teddy replied, with a significant look in the direction of the +assistant. + +Tim understood that there was some secret regarding the matter, and he +at once proceeded to get rid of a possible eavesdropper by saying to the +assistant: + +"Here's the money I promised. There's no need of your stayin' any +longer." + +"Shall I come to work in the morning?" + +Tim looked toward his employer, and the latter said: + +"Yes, of course, if it is pleasant weather. Everybody says there'll be a +bigger crowd than ever, an' I reckon we shall have work enough for all +hands." + +The boy had but just taken his departure when Dan approached, looking +very mournful. + +"Have you been bounced?" Teddy cried, excitedly. + +"Not a bit of it; but look here," and Dan held up a straw hat. "That's +poor Sam's! His boat has been found bottom up, an' this, with one of the +oars, was fished out of the creek a few moments ago. While we were +talking rough about him the poor boy was drowning!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_THE ARREST._ + + +Teddy was dazed by the tidings and apparent proof of Sam's death. +Without being able to explain why, it seemed as if the amateur detective +was not the sort of a boy who might be expected to depart this life +suddenly, and the news saddened him wonderfully. + +"Just think," he said, "the poor fellow wouldn't try to save the women +because of the danger of approaching a drowning person, and in such a +short time he himself is at the bottom of the creek." + +"If he has got any folks some word ought to be sent to them." + +"I never heard him say whether he had or not. Will any one search for +the body?" + +"The man who represents the Davis Company says he will have men out in +the morning, if it is possible to hire any; if not, there will be plenty +wanting a job by Saturday, and he can then get all he wants. It's bound +to be a long search, for there's no telling where the boat capsized." + +Nothing save Sam's untimely fate was spoken of during the time they were +packing up the goods and carrying them to the tent, and then Mr. Sweet, +after having been told the sad news, said, without commenting upon it: + +"You boys had better go to supper now, an' get back before dark, for +there's no knowin' but that some of those fellows who called on me may +be waiting to take their revenge out on you." + +"How did you get rid of them?" Dan asked. + +"That part of it was as easy as rollin' off a log, after you boys were +out of sight. I let 'em in one at a time, an' the chumps never tumbled +to the fact that you had gone under the canvas. They came to the +conclusion you must have climbed over the fence, an' we didn't take the +trouble to show them the mistake. It was a close shave, though. At one +time, when I was talkin' so loud about stealing, I thought we'd have the +toughest kind of a row." + +"Is the money all right?" + +"It's jest where I left it, an' won't be touched till he comes to claim +it, unless you boys want to take charge of the property." + +"Indeed we don't," Teddy replied, quickly. "I've had all I want of such +caretaking." + +"Then go to supper, an' hurry back." + +The boys waited only long enough to stow their goods in the wagon, and +then Mr. Sweet's advice was acted upon. + +As a matter of course Tim wanted to know what the proprietor of the +museum had been talking about, and as they were walking across the +grounds Teddy told the whole story, concluding by saying: + +"It was a little the worst scrape I ever got into; but after the money +had been placed in our hands, and the man who left it went off, we +couldn't do different from what we did." + +"That Hazelton had no business to get you into such a row," Tim replied, +indignantly. "Why didn't he hang on to the stuff, an' take his lickin' +like a man?" + +"I don't think he knew it was to be given to us. The fellow who did it +had seen him leave the satchel with us once, most likely, an' when there +was danger of being robbed, believed we could look out for it again. +It's the last time such a thing will happen, for I'm going to tell +Hazelton that I don't want to be mixed up in his business." + +At this point Dan changed the subject of conversation by speculating +upon the way in which Sam met his death, and this topic was such a +mournful one that nothing else was thought of until the party returned +to the tent once more. + +Then came the question of how much money had been taken in during the +day, and after figuring up the amount he had spent, Teddy reckoned the +cash on hand, announcing the result as follows: + +"Countin' what I paid out, we've taken sixty-one dollars an' seventy +cents since morning. It don't seem reasonable, but a feller has to +believe it after seein' the money." + +"You'll have a much better trade to-morrow, if it is fair, and you're +not recognized as one of the boys who helped to get Hazelton's money +away," Mr. Sweet said, cheerily. "I predict that the receipts will +figure up hard on to a hundred dollars." + +Teddy gasped like a person who is suddenly submerged in cold water at +the thought of earning so much, and he realized that if such should be +the case he would be able to assist his mother very materially. + +"I'll pay you, Tim, before I get so dazzled as to forget it," he said, +with a laugh, and the clerk felt almost as rich as his employer when he +received six dollars and seventeen cents for a day's labor which came +very near being sport. + +"I only wish the fair held on for six months," he said gleefully. "It +seems too bad that there are only two days more, for Saturday never +counts." + +"You can go to the Holtown fair, and try it for yourself. I'll give you +what stock we have left on hand." + +"Then I'll do it," Tim replied, emphatically, and straightway he began +to speculate as to the enormous amount of money he would earn. + +Teddy tied his money in as compact a package as possible, intending to +give it to his mother when she should arrive on the morrow, and Mr. +Sweet had advised that all hands "turn in" early, when the flap was +raised, admitting a man who appeared to be covered with adhesive plaster +and bandages. + +Not until the newcomer had approached within the circle of light cast by +the lantern did the occupants of the tent recognize him as the jewelry +fakir, and Teddy cried in surprise: + +"Why, Mr. Hazelton! We didn't expect to see you to-night!" + +"Did you think I was dead?" + +"It looked as if you would be killed for a certainty, and you did get +pretty well done up." + +"Yes; as the reports of the prize fights put it, 'I'm badly disfigured, +but still in the ring.' Was the money taken away all right?" + +"Mr. Sweet has hidden it." + +"And how did you come out of the scrape?" + +"If it hadn't been for the folks here we should have fared about the +same as you did." + +"I'm sorry, my boy, that you were dragged into the matter, and it +wouldn't have happened if I'd understood what Kelly was going to do. He +knew you could be trusted, and so turned it over; but it was a mean +situation to put you in." + +"It wasn't pleasant for any of us," Mr. Sweet said; "but you can thank +the boys for hanging on to the bag as if it had been their own. Most +fellows of their age would have dropped it long before reaching here. +How did you get off?" + +"When the cry was raised that the money had gone the greater portion of +the crowd started in pursuit, an' my partners and I managed to hold our +own until a couple of constables came up. They took charge of the team, +and gave us a chance to slip through the gates." + +"What are you going to do now? Try it to-morrow?" + +"With this face? Well, I should say not. There is a fellow here who has +bought my right to the privilege, and I shall leave Peach Bottom early +in the morning." + +"That's about the best thing you can do, and I'd advise that you don't +spend much time out of doors until then." + +"I'm not intending to. It was necessary to come here, and, unless you +object, I'll stay a while so's they will have time to sober up a bit." + +"You're welcome to what we've got, even if I don't like your way of +doing business." + +"I want to straighten matters with the boys, and if they----" + +Hazelton did not finish the sentence, for at that moment the canvas flap +was pushed aside and a man entered with an unmistakable air of +authority. + +"Hold on there, friend," Mr. Sweet shouted. "We don't allow visitors at +this time of night." + +"I understand that, but reckon you won't make any very big kick when I +tell you that I'm one of the deputy sheriffs of this county, and have +come to serve a warrant." + +"On whom?" + +"Frank Hazelton, who claims to be an agent for a firm of jewelry +manufacturers. I believe you're the man," he added, approaching the +disfigured fakir. + +"You've got that part of it straight enough, but what am I to be +arrested for?" + +"You are suspected of being concerned in the burglary which was +committed in this town last night." + +Hazelton did not express nearly as much surprise as the boys, who were +really dazed by the announcement. + +"So Hargreaves has finally succeeded," the fakir said half to himself, +and the officer replied, quickly: + +"This has nothing to do with old Nathan's affair, although it does look +as if the two burglaries were committed by the same person." + +Hazelton remained silent several seconds, during which time the sheriff +waited patiently for him to say he was ready to go, and then he asked: + +"Can I speak to one of these boys in private. It has nothing to do with +the charge, but I want him to aid me in getting a good lawyer." + +"I am sorry to say I must hear all that is talked about, however +trifling it may be." + +"Well, I don't suppose it can make much difference," and without rising +from his seat, Hazelton continued, "Teddy, you believe I had nothing to +do with this thing?" + +"I can tell what I heard those----" + +"Don't tell anything yet a while; at least, not now. I want you to do +this for me: After the fair closes go to that merchant who was so kind +to you, and explain to him the whole affair, including your suspicions. +Ask him to direct you to the best attorney in the county; get all the +money from Mr. Sweet that may be needed, and pay the lawyer's fee. Send +him to me as soon afterward as possible. It is nothing more serious than +lying in jail a few days, and that won't be such a great hardship, now +I've got this face on me." + +"Shall I----" + +"There is no need of saying anything more," Hazelton interrupted, +fearing the boy was about to speak of the money the proprietor of the +museum had hidden. "The merchant will understand and advise if you tell +him everything--that is, I think he will; but in case he refuses, talk +with some one else whom you can trust." + +As he finished speaking the fakir arose to his feet, motioned to the +officer, and walked directly out of the tent without so much as bidding +the others goodby. + +No one spoke until after he had been absent several minutes, and then +Teddy asked, with a long-drawn sigh: + +"Do you think he will come out all right, Mr. Sweet?" + +"That's hard to say, for I don't know how much proof they may have +against him. It's his business that has done a great deal toward +inducing a magistrate to issue the warrant, for once a man shows himself +to be a swindler, anything else can readily be believed of him." + +"But what about his money?" Dan asked. + +"That is to be handed over to Teddy." + +"What have I got to do with it?" the boy asked, in amazement. + +"He told us that as plainly as he dared to talk before the officer, and +we'll count it out, after which his stock in trade shall be buried, for +I want nothing to do with it." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_A PROPOSITION._ + + +Teddy had the most decided objections to taking charge of Hazelton's +money, and for several reasons. In the first place he did not want to +have the responsibility, and again, the fact of its being in his +possession seemed to make him a partner in the business. + +Mr. Sweet was determined, however. He insisted that Hazelton had stated +this as plainly as was possible under the circumstances, and, despite +the boy's protests, immediately began the transfer. + +"It shall be done in such a way that he can't accuse you of having taken +any," the proprietor said, as he pulled the satchel from its +hiding-place and broke the lock open with a hatchet. "We'll count it in +the presence of all hands, and each one shall give Teddy a written +statement of how much was found." + +An exclamation of surprise burst from Tim's lips as the receptacle was +spread out on the ground, for it appeared to be literally crammed with +money. + +Mr. Sweet separated the silver from the bank notes, spreading both on +the ground where they could be seen by every person present, and then he +counted them slowly, taking care that the spectators were following his +every movement. + +"I make it three hundred an' forty-eight dollars," he announced. "If +there's anybody here who ain't sure that's right, say so now." + +Each member of the party had seen the amount counted, and agreed with +the result as declared by Mr. Sweet, who forthwith wrote the following: + + We, the undersigned, have seen a valise belonging to Frank + Hazelton broken open, and certify that three hundred and + forty-eight dollars, the only money found therein, was handed + by Jacob Sweet to Edward Hargreaves in conformance with the + orders, as we understood them, from the said Frank Hazelton. + +"Now I want every one to sign that," Mr. Sweet said, as he handed his +lead-pencil first to the barker, "and then Teddy and I will have some +proof of the amount." + +It required quite a while for all to conform with the wishes of the +proprietor of the museum, owing to the fact that several of the party +were far from being skillful penmen, but the task was finally +accomplished, and as the money was handed to Teddy, the latter asked, +ruefully: + +"What shall I do with it? I'm afraid of losing so much." + +"That's a risk Hazelton is bound to take. Fasten it in your clothes +somehow, an' be sure you don't get into any row where it can be stolen." + +By the aid of many pins, and with the assistance of both Dan and Tim, +Teddy finally succeeded in disposing of the money about his person in +such a way that it was not an unusual burden, and then Mr. Sweet +insisted that all hands should try to get some rest in order to be fresh +for the supposedly enormous amount of work to be done on the following +day. + +Teddy lay down on the ground with the others, but it was many hours +before his eyes were closed in slumber. Sam's untimely death, the +guardianship of so much money, and his own business affairs all served +to keep his eyes open until nearly midnight, when he fell into a sleep +so troubled by frightful dreams that it was far from being restful. + +It seemed as if he had but just lost consciousness when Mr. Sweet +aroused him with the information that the "big" day of the fair was +breaking. + +"Turn out an' get your breakfast before sunrise, for on this morning the +early bird will pick up many a penny while the lazy ones are yet in bed, +an' fakirs must make hay when the sun shines." + +Teddy was on his feet in an instant, and half an hour later, having +broken his fast, he was at the booth with his clerk and Dan, the latter +volunteering his assistance until the exhibition buildings should be +opened. + +The proprietor of the museum had advised him well; the receipts of the +cane and knife boards were nearly five dollars before more than half of +the booths were in condition for trade, because the trains were running +unusually early in order to accommodate the crowds, and when Dan felt +obliged to leave, business was so good that the proprietor, clerk, and +assistant were all working industriously. + +"If I can get off I'll see you about noon," Dan said, as he walked away, +and Teddy replied: + +"Be sure to come, for mother will be here, and I want you to meet her." + +From that time until nine o'clock the crowd increased in numbers, and as +Teddy said during a lull in business, "it seemed as if the grounds were +so full that no more could get in." + +When Mrs. Hargreaves arrived her son could pay little attention to her, +but he proposed that she should amuse herself by looking at the +different exhibits until nearly noon, when he stated that he would take +an hour off, no matter how great a rush of customers might be around his +booth. + +"I earned sixty dollars yesterday, an' before night I'll have a hundred +more, so there's little doubt that this week's work as a fakir will +enable me to pay all you owe on the house," he whispered, triumphantly, +and his mother walked away, hardly daring to believe what Teddy had told +her. + +During the next hour it seemed as if a steady stream of money was +flowing into the box, and Teddy was feeling confident that Mr. Sweet's +prediction would prove to be correct, when the one especial man he +wanted to see came up with a folded paper in his hand. + +It was the merchant from Waterville, and he said, as he handed the +document to the boy: + +"Here is the receipted bill, and I am more than glad to see you doing so +well." + +"Can I talk with you for five minutes?" Teddy asked, hardly noticing the +paper as he put it in his pocket. + +"As long as you want to. What is the matter? Running out of stock?" + +"Oh, no, your clerk made such a good selection for me that I've got all +I shall need. This is something more important." + +Then Teddy hurriedly told the merchant how and where he had first met +Hazelton; explained fully what the latter's business was; of the +accusations made by Uncle Nathan; what he and Dan had heard and seen, +and concluded by repeating the request made by the fakir as he was led +away to jail. + +"Are you willing to do anything for him?" the boy asked, as his story +was finished. + +"I can't say it is a matter which appeals very strongly to my +sympathies, because of the swindles he perpetrated, but if it is an +unjust accusation something should be done to help him. The one lawyer +above all others who can be of assistance came over with me this +morning. I will see him, and later in the day you shall have a call from +us." + +"Before you go I wish you would take this money," Teddy said, earnestly. +"It is too large an amount for me to carry around, and it will be safe +with you." + +The merchant consented to take charge of Hazelton's ill-gotten gains, +and Teddy felt decidedly relieved when the cash was in another's +keeping, and he had nothing of more value than an acknowledgment of the +same to look after. + +"In this matter I shall recognize no other order than yours," the +merchant said when the transaction was concluded, "and if the fakir +should succeed in regaining his liberty he must come to you for the +necessary document. + +"I don't care how it is fixed so long as the money is not in my hands," +Teddy replied, in a tone of satisfaction, and then he was called upon to +attend to another rush of customers, every one of whom was eager to be +waited upon first. + +Another hour passed, and it was more evident than before that Mr. Sweet +had been correct when he stated the sum which should be taken in at the +cane-board. + +Teddy, having breakfasted early, was so hungry that he was on the point +of going out to buy a supply of sandwiches, when another visitor +arrived. + +This was no less a personage than Uncle Nathan, and he greeted his +nephew with the utmost cordiality, as he said: + +"It looks to me as if you were makin' a power of money here, Teddy. I +had no idea these triflin' games would so attract the people." + +Glad to be on pleasant terms with the old man once more, Teddy stated +that they had been at work very hard since the first train arrived, and +concluded by saying: + +"I took over sixty dollars yesterday, and Mr. Sweet says it'll come near +to a hundred to-day." + +"Sixty dollars!" the old man cried. "Are you telling me the truth, Teddy +Hargreaves?" + +"Of course I am, an' I've got the money in my pocket to prove it." + +"Why, at this rate you'll soon be a rich man, for you don't seem to lose +much of the stock." + +"We buy a good many canes or knives back. When a man puts a ring over +one that he don't want we take it in, and give him five more chances. In +that way there is very little goes out compared to the amount of money +received." + +Uncle Nathan looked around at the players for a moment, and then in a +very confidential tone he whispered: + +"See here, Teddy, don't you want a partner? I'll pay for the stock you +bought, an'----" + +"I've already done that out of yesterday's receipts," Teddy cried. "All +the bills are settled, an' what comes in now is clear profit." + +"But suppose I stood here an' called up the people I know, don't you +think it would make business better?" + +"And if it should, do you think we could attend to more customers? Every +minute I talk with you is so much money lost, for the other fellers +can't pick up rings an' make change fast enough." + +"Does that mean you don't want to go into business with me?" the old man +asked, angrily. + +"No; but it means that there would be no reason for doing such a thing. +I've got no debts, an' there are more customers than can be attended to +on so small a board. If you'd made the proposition last Monday it would +have been different, but now you can't expect me, after taking all the +risk, to divide after the work has been done." + +"Who lent you the money to start, Teddy Hargreaves?" Uncle Nathan cried, +his face growing purple with rage. + +"You did." + +"And how have you repaid such generosity? How----" + +"I gave you three dollars for the use of fifteen two days," was the +prompt reply. + +"But how have you repaid me for remaining inactive after my money was +stolen?" + +"That was something which did not concern me, therefore I had nothing to +repay." + +"It has a great deal to do with you, as shall be shown before this day +is ended, unless you consent to take me as an equal partner in this +enterprise. Your friend in crime has been arrested, and I can swear that +he turned over to you his ill-gotten gains. One word from me at this +time and you will be in the same prison." + +The fact of his having been threatened before made Teddy bold, and he +said, quietly: + +"I won't pay you for holding your tongue, Uncle Nathan, so do whatever +you choose." + +"I will inform the authorities of all I have learned this morning, and +we shall see what the result will be," the old man cried, in a fury, as +he walked away, and despite the bold bearing he had assumed Teddy firmly +believed that if the magistrate who issued the warrant for Hazelton's +arrest should know he was in possession of the fakir's money, he would +be brought before a bar of justice to explain matters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +WITH THE BURGLARS. + + +It is well to look in upon Sam during his enforced vigil of Wednesday +night. + +For at least two hours after the burglars had departed he thought of +nothing save that he would soon be killed, and, perhaps, devoured by +wild animals. Then the pain in his jaw and limbs became so great, owing +to the tightly bound cords and his inability to move, that his +sufferings overcame the fear to a certain extent, and he had not even +the poor consolation of being able to give vent to an audible groan. + +Notwithstanding the mental and bodily torture he did sleep occasionally +during the night, which appeared to be of twenty-four hours' duration, +and never had he heard a sweeter sound than when his captors approached, +the hum of their voices reaching him before the noise of their +footsteps. + +The burglars were laden with packages of what appeared to be +merchandise, and by the faint light of the coming day Sam could see +that they looked heated and tired. + +"Well, how's our detective?" Long Jim asked, with a laugh, as he threw +himself on the ground by the boy's side. "Has he decided to arrest his +victims, or will he give them a little show of leaving the country?" + +As a matter of course Sam could not make any reply; but the expression +in his eyes must have told of the suffering which he was forced to +endure, for Phil said, as he began to untie the rope holding the gag in +place: + +"There's no need of keepin' him trussed up any longer, an' I reckon +it'll be a relief to have a chance to use his tongue once more." + +Even when he was free the prisoner was unable to do more than roll upon +his side. His limbs were so stiff and cramped that he had no power over +them, and he could not have risen to his feet just at that moment if his +life had depended upon it. + +Jim seemed to think all this was very comical, for he laughed loudly at +the prisoner's helplessness, and suggested that if he intended to follow +the business of a detective to practice remaining in one position in +order to avoid such a complete collapse when fortune should again be so +unkind to him as she had been in this particular case. + +When the burglar's mirth finally ceased the two men lighted their pipes, +and proceeded to enjoy a season of repose after so much fatiguing work, +while Sam was left to recover as best he might. + +Fully half an hour elapsed before he succeeded in crawling to the brook +where he quenched his thirst, and then his one desire was for sleep. + +Stretched out on the ground within a few feet of his captors the +blissful unconsciousness of slumber came upon him, and the sun was high +in the heavens before he awoke. + +Long Jim was seated on the turf, his back against a tree, and a quantity +of food spread out in front of him; but Phil was not in sight. + +"Well, it strikes me you've been takin' things mighty comfortable," the +man said, with a grunt. "Don't give yourself so far over to a life of +pleasure as to forget that I promised to give you the greatest floggin' +of your life before we part, for then you won't be so much surprised +when it comes." + +The sight of the food caused Sam to realize how very hungry he was, and, +regardless of the subject introduced by Jim, he asked, timidly: + +"Can't I have somethin' to eat?" + +"I don't think you can, my son. In the first place you haven't earned +it, an' then, again, my partner an' I may need all the grub we've got on +hand." + +Then, as if reconsidering his determination, the man selected two small +crackers, tossing them to Sam as he cut a slice of boiled ham for +himself. + +"That's more'n you deserve," he said, as the prisoner began to devour +them eagerly; "so don't count on gettin' another bite to-day." + +Sam literally devoured the food, and then went once more to the brook to +wash down the dry repast. + +It seemed as if the crackers increased rather than satisfied his hunger, +and he watched Jim eagerly as the latter finished a generous meal of +meat, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs. + +The burglar lighted his pipe, and paid no attention to the hungry boy, +who now had ample time for reflection. + +He remembered that this was the important day of the fair, and pictured +to himself Teddy and Dan at their work enjoying themselves at the same +time they were making money. Then he thought of what he might be doing +if the detective fever had not taken so firm a hold upon him, and, +despite all efforts to prevent it, the tears coursed down his cheeks, +plowing wide furrows in the dirt with which his face was encrusted. + +This painful revery was not prolonged. Shortly before noon Phil came +into the hiding-place, his face wearing an expression of entire +satisfaction. + +"I reckon we needn't be afraid any one will be here lookin' for us now +our detective has been drowned," he exclaimed. + +"What's up?" Jim asked. + +"Hazelton, the fakir, has been arrested for the burglary at Peach +Bottom, an' men are draggin' the creek to find the body of the boy who +worked for the Davis Boat Company." + +Sam actually shuddered at the thought that people were looking for his +corpse, and it gave him an "uncanny" feeling, this idea that he was +numbered with the dead. + +"When was the arrest made?" Jim asked. + +"Last night. Old Nathan from the Run says the fakir turned over a lot of +money to the boy who was goin' to buy your cane-board, an' it looks very +much as if he would be locked up with the man whom people believe is his +partner." + +"Nothin' said about what the cubs saw at the barn?" + +"Not a word." + +"Then we can count on havin' the balance of this week in which to leave +the country." + +"As much as that, if not more. Another load will get the stuff together; +but I've been thinkin' we'd better bury it here, an' not try to move a +thing for a month or two." + +"In that case we'd be obliged to take that specimen along," and Jim +pointed with a contemptuous gesture toward Sam. "It wouldn't do to let +go of him while there was a chance of his givin' the game away." + +"I'll 'tend to that part of it, an' guarantee he won't be in condition +to make us much trouble," Phil said so confidently that Sam began to +shake as with an ague fit, for it seemed positive to him this burglar +had decided upon his murder. + +"If things were so comfortable like why don't you try to make a dollar, +for I reckon there's a big crowd at the fair?" + +"The grounds are packed; but it ain't exactly safe to do much business," +and Phil told of the assault upon Hazelton. "The whole boilin' of 'em +now think everybody's tryin' to work some swindle," he added, "an' the +consequence is that it would go hard with any feller who should slip up. +We've done enough for one week, an' I'd rather not take chances till +this stuff is off our hands." + +"Do you count on goin' back agin to-day?" + +"What's the use?" + +"I only asked, for you're managin' this whole thing now." + +"My idea was to sneak up alone to-night; take on the balance of the +stuff, an' then lay low till Saturday evenin', when we'll make the big +break." + +"It's goin' to be mighty dull business sittin' here with nothin' to do," +Jim replied, in a tone of complaint. + +"I don't see how we can fix it much quicker, unless we go to-morrow, +while there are so many around." + +It was evident Jim did not relish the idea of leaving everything to his +companion, and the latter so understood the expression on his friend's +face, for he said, angrily: + +"You're cookin' up some foolish scheme now, an' in spite of all I can do +to prevent it we'll probably succeed in gettin' nabbed before matters +are arranged as they should be." + +"Oh, you're too smart, that's what ails you. Take all the soft snaps, +an' leave me here to suck my thumbs without even the chance of movin' +around." + +"If you think it's sich a snap to row up there an' back, why don't you +try your hand." + +"That's jest what I'm willin' to do. Anything's better'n stayin' here, +an' I'd like you to have a taste of it." + +Sam, who was expecting each moment to see the thieves come to blows, +understood at once that this arrangement did not please Phil; but he +made no further objection than to say: + +"If you wasn't so blamed careless I'd like to have you do a share of the +hard work; but it's ten to one you'll contrive to let everybody know you +are there." + +"I may not be so all-fired smart as you think you are, but I ain't quite +a fool. Why, I've managed bigger things than this when you was around +beggin' for something' to eat, 'cause you was too chicken-hearted to do +this kind of work." + +"You'd better not say too much; I've stuck by you when worse men would +have a' given you the cold shake, an' don't intend to take any guff, +especially since I've had sich hard work to get us out of the scrape you +jumped into." + +"I shall talk, an' if you don't want to listen, there are plenty of +places to lay off in outside of this." + +Then the two thieves glared at each other several moments in silence, +and finally Phil said, with a mirthless laugh: + +"We won't fight till this job is finished. Go an' get the balance of the +stuff, an' we'll make a break whenever you are ready; but after one pull +up an' back there'll be somebody besides me who'll think it hard work." + +Then, in order to heal the breach which had opened between them, Phil +produced a suspicious looking black bottle from his pocket, and handed +it without comment to his partner. + +"Why didn't you bring this out before, an' then, perhaps, the business +would 'a' looked different?" Jim growled, as he drank long and deep; +"but it won't make any difference about my goin' up the creek." + +"That's all right; I'm satisfied." + +As the two men began to drink a great hope sprang up in Sam's heart that +they would become so stupefied by the liquor that he might make his +escape. They had not thought it necessary to replace the bonds +which had cost him so much suffering, and at the first signs of +unconsciousness he resolved to make one dash for liberty, either by +taking to the boat, or attempting to make his way toward the fair +grounds on that side of the creek. + +There was no such good fortune in store for the prisoner, however. The +men drank themselves into the most friendly humor, and then the supply +of liquor was exhausted. + +After advising Jim not to start until sunset, Phil lay down to sleep, +and Sam thought it wise to feign slumber also, lest the wakeful burglar +should take it into his head to administer the promised flogging in +order to pass the time more agreeably. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_A DISASTER._ + + +Teddy was decidedly uncomfortable in mind after Uncle Nathan departed. +By a combination of circumstances which could not well have been +avoided, he had been made to appear as a confederate of Hazelton, and if +all the facts concerning his relations with the fakir should become +known public opinion would he against him. + +He did not allow these forebodings to interfere with business, however. +Customers were plenty; the nickels were coming in as rapidly as he could +make change, and Tim had no hesitancy in saying that Mr. Sweet had set +their receipts of one day considerably too low. + +"We've done twice as much as we did yesterday at this time, an' I'm +countin' on gettin' twelve or fifteen dollars as my share of this day's +work." + +"It looks as though you wouldn't be disappointed, and that's a fact. I +wish I knew where we could get a few more canes, for we've lost quite a +good many this morning." + +"There's no time to go to Waterville; but we can shorten the board by +putting the uprights closer together, an' that'll make the layout look +all right. Here comes your mother, an' if you want to go off with her +I'll promise to keep things goin' here." + +That was exactly what Teddy did want to do. He felt that it was +necessary she should know the true condition of affairs, and he could +not talk with her confidentially near the cane-board, therefore when she +came up he proposed that they walk toward the grand stand, where the +Waterville band was doing its best to put in the shade the performances +of the musicians from the Run. + +"You are looking worried, Teddy," Mrs. Hargreaves said, as they moved +away in the proposed direction. "What is the matter? Isn't business as +good as you expected?" + +"It is a great deal better; but Uncle Nathan has been here again, and +this time I'm afraid it is in his power to do me some harm." + +Then Teddy told his mother all that had happened, explaining in detail +the suspicions which might be aroused against him, and she was quite as +disturbed as he when the recital was finished. + +"I will talk with him myself," she said, after some thought. + +"Don't do anything of the kind, for then he will be worse than ever, +thinking he can frighten me into giving half of all I have made, and +that I won't do, no matter how many warrants he gets out." + +"But Teddy, don't you think----" + +Mrs. Hargreaves was interrupted by a cry from a half-intoxicated man who +halted directly in front of the young fakir, and shouted to some of his +companions in the rear: + +"Here he is! This is the sneak who helped take that jewelry swindler's +money away. I saw him then, an' can swear to his face." + +As a matter of course the tone as well as the words was sufficient to +attract a crowd in this place where the throng was so dense that one +could only make his way from one portion of the grounds to the other +with the greatest difficulty, and for a moment, while Teddy stood unable +to decide what should be said or done, every person looked at him +threateningly. + +"His partner has been arrested, an' we'll serve him in the same way," +the man continued, as he advanced toward the boy. + +"Why do you want to talk to me like that?" Teddy cried, looking around +in vain for a friend. "There are plenty of people here who know me, for +I live down at the Run, an' never swindled anybody." + +"That's a lie!" the man replied, fiercely, seizing the boy by the +collar. + +"It's the truth!" Mrs. Hargreaves cried. "I'm his mother, and we have +lived at the Run ever since he was born. Deacon Jones is our neighbor, +and he can answer for the truth of it." + +[Illustration: "I tell you to let go of him. He is an acquaintance"] + +"I'll see whether he can or not," and the bully was about to drag Teddy +away, aided by his half-intoxicated friend, when a familiar voice from +the outskirts of the crowd cried: + +"Hold on there! What are you about?" + +"I've caught the feller what sneaked away the jewelry swindler's money, +an' am goin' to put him with his partner." + +"You are going to take your hand off his collar this instant, or get +yourself into trouble," and the merchant from Waterville forced his way +through the throng until he stood by Teddy's side. + +"Is that you, Mr. Reaves?" the bully asked, in surprise. "Well, you +don't want to interfere in this business, for the boy is a bad one all +the way through. He was deep enough to get the best of us yesterday; but +he won't be so lucky now." + +"I tell you to let go of him. He is an acquaintance of mine whom I would +trust a good deal sooner than some whom I see now." + +"But you are makin' a big mistake, Mr. Reaves, for I saw him makin' off +with the valise where our money had been put." + +It was evident the bully had considerable respect for the merchant, for +he released his hold on Teddy; but was determined that the boy's +alleged character should be made known to all in the vicinity. + +"I happen to know all about that affair," Mr. Reaves replied, as he led +Teddy and his mother out of the throng, "and if you want the full +particulars of the affair come to my store when you are more sober than +now." + +A very large number of those present were acquainted with the merchant, +and for the majority his statement was sufficient to absolve Teddy of +wrongdoing; but a few, among whom were the intoxicated party and his +friends, vowed to sift the matter more thoroughly before the fair came +to an end. + +Mrs. Hargreaves was terribly excited, and at once insisted that Teddy +should go home with her immediately, regardless of how much money he was +making; but Mr. Reaves said in a matter-of-fact tone, as if such +incidents were of everyday occurrence: + +"It would be foolish for him to do that, more especially since it would +be a tacit acknowledgment of guilt, and, besides, his business here is +too valuable to be abandoned simply because a drunken rowdy chooses to +make trouble. I was on my way to see him; I have found a lawyer who will +under-take Hazelton's case, and he can at the same time give Teddy some +good advice." + +Then the merchant introduced Mr. Harvey as the most prominent attorney +in the county, and, offering Mrs. Hargreaves his arm, added: + +"We will go toward the cane-board, and give them an opportunity to talk. + +"There is a great deal to be said which cannot interest us, and when +they are done we shall be readily found." + +The widow could do no less than comply, and as soon as they were +comparatively alone the lawyer said to Teddy: + +"Now, I want you to begin and tell me the whole story from the time your +money was stolen until this minute. Don't omit any particulars because +you may chance to think they are not important; but give every detail, +and thus I shall be made acquainted with your own case as well as that +of Hazelton." + +Teddy obeyed this command to the letter. He dwelt upon the most minute +transaction or trifling movement at sufficient length to give the +listener a clear idea of all that had happened, and laid bare his own +business affairs, even to the extent of making the lawyer acquainted +with the amount of receipts each day. + +"I don't suppose it makes any difference what I think," he said, in +conclusion; "but I am almost certain Mr. Hazelton did not have anything +to do with the robbery, and even if I had suspected him, that which Dan +and I heard while we were in the museum tent would have convinced me +that the men whom we saw on the creek are the thieves." + +"I believe as you do, my boy, and will send a man to the barn you speak +of this very night, although so much time has now elapsed that I have no +hope of finding anything criminating. However, regardless of what may +happen, I believe we can show that the fakir was not the guilty party, +and, to guard against a possible attack by your uncle, it will be +necessary to know exactly where we can get bail in case you should be +arrested." + +"Then he can take me to jail?" Teddy asked, with quivering lips. + +"If he proves what he claims to know there is no question that he will +be able to cause your arrest; but whether he can send you to prison is +an entirely different matter. I would now like to have a talk with Mr. +Reaves, and shall see you before I leave the grounds. Do not be +frightened; but continue your business as usual, and in a few moments I +will give you full particulars as to what must be done in the event +anything happens." + +Teddy understood this to be an intimation that the interview was at an +end, and he started toward the cane-board, the lawyer asking as he +followed him: + +"How shall I find your friend Dan?" + +"Go down to the exhibit of the J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company in that +yellow-roofed building, and you will see him showing model pocket +rifles. I will go with you if you think there is any chance of missing +him." + +"I can find him without difficulty. Do not leave your place of business +until after I have seen you again." + +By this time they had arrived at the cane-board, where Mrs. Hargreaves, +looking decidedly relieved in mind, was talking with Mr. Reaves. + +The lawyer invited the merchant to accompany him, and as the two walked +away Mrs. Hargreaves said: + +"After talking with Mr. Reaves I will take back what I proposed +regarding taking you home. It is not possible that anything but the +right shall conquer in a case like this, and I believe you will come out +all right, as a boy should who has always been as obedient and loving as +you. It is time for me to be going now; but I will come back again in +the morning." + +"Then take this money with you, for I don't want any more in my pockets +than is absolutely necessary," and Teddy counted out the contents of the +box which served him as a "safe." + +There was but little time for any lengthy leave-taking. The customers +were plenty; Tim and his assistant had been working several hours +without cessation, and Teddy felt that it was his duty to relieve them. + +"You can trust Mr. Reaves, whatever happens," his mother said, as she +kissed him goodby, "and I shall be back to-morrow to learn if you are +all right." + +"Don't worry about me," Teddy replied, cheerily. "Uncle Nathan can't +have everything his own way, and he will soon discover that fact." + +It seemed to Teddy that his mother had but just left him, when a party +of young men who had been talking in an apparently friendly manner +directly in front of his place of business, suddenly began to quarrel, +and before he was aware of what had happened his booth was overturned, +and a fierce battle being waged upon the ground which he fancied +belonged temporarily to him because of the money paid to the managers of +the fair as rent. + +Canes, knives, rings, and timbers were thrown violently about, and, +while trying to save the property, Teddy and his clerk received several +severe blows intended for some of the combatants. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_A SECOND ARREST._ + + +When the fight began Teddy's first thought was that it had been +prearranged by some one who wanted to do him an injury without taking +the chances of being arrested on a charge of malicious mischief. + +Tim believed it to be a scheme for robbing the money box, and while the +combatants were struggling close around him he emptied the contents into +his trousers pockets, regardless of the chance blows received meanwhile. + +That both were wrong in their conjectures could be told later, as the +fight assumed the proportions of a small riot, and the battle ground was +soon shifted to an open space in front of the exhibition buildings. + +It was nothing more than a causeless row such as is often witnessed at +fairs where intoxicating beverages are sold, and which start from +comparatively nothing, illustrating the proverb: "See what a great fire +a little spark can kindle." + +"This is goin' to knock our hundred dollars in the head," Tim said, +ruefully, as he began to gather up the scattered stock when the +combatants had surged to and fro until they were some distance from the +wrecked cane-board. "It'll take an hour to straighten things out, an' +all that time will be the same as lost." + +"It might be worse," Teddy replied, philosophically, "and, besides, we +shouldn't be able to do any business while that row is going on. If you +hadn't thought of the money it might have been lost, for there were so +many close around me that I couldn't get at the box." + +"Oh, if you want to pick somethin' good out of the trouble, I'll help. +This will give us a chance to shorten the board so the stock won't look +quite so small." + +The young fakirs were ready for business in considerably less time than +they had fancied would be the case. Nearly every one on the grounds was +attracted by the riot, and among those who came to the scene of the +conflict was Dan. + +Instead of watching the struggling, yelling throng, he helped Teddy and +Tim restore the booth to order, and with such aid as the assistant could +give the work was done very quickly. + +Before the spectators had quieted down sufficiently to turn their +attention to sport once more everything was ready for business, and when +the constables had taken the ringleaders in the fight away, money began +once more to roll into Teddy's coffers. + +Before Dan returned to his own work he heard of all that had occurred +since morning, and his comments on Uncle Nathan's behavior were more +forcible than polite. + +"He's an old fool what oughter be rode on a rail till he can't see, an' +I'm goin' over to the Run before I start for home jest to give the +duffer a piece of my mind." + +"I don't believe that would do either you or him any good," Teddy +replied, laughingly. + +"I don't know what effect it'll have on him; but I'll feel a mighty +sight better. He shows himself to be the worst swindler on the grounds +when he tries to scare you into givin' him half you've made, for that's +what his talk means." + +"If he don't do any worse than threaten I won't say a word; but he's so +mad there's no knowin' what'll happen." + +"The lawyer will see that you pull through all right; but if trouble +should come, be sure to send for me. I'll manage to get off somehow." + +With this assurance Dan hurried back to the exhibition buildings, and +Teddy was free to assist Tim in waiting upon the customers. + +During the remainder of the afternoon the young fakirs had quite as much +as they could attend to, and then, just as trade had so fallen off that +Tim could wait upon the customers alone with the aid of the assistant, +Teddy received a call from Mr. Harvey, the lawyer. + +"Come here behind the booth where we can talk without being overheard," +he said, peremptorily, and the boy obeyed at once, asking before the +attorney had time to speak: + +"Do you know if Uncle Nathan is goin' to do anything?" + +"He is certainly trying very hard, and in case he should succeed in +getting a warrant, you will demand of the officer who serves it to be +taken directly to Deacon Jones. Mr. Reaves and I have just had a talk +with him, and in our absence he will render such assistance as you may +require." + +"That sounds as if you believed Uncle Nathan would be able to do as he +threatened." + +"It is well to be prepared for any emergency, since no man can say +exactly what may happen. During the night two constables will go to the +barn on the marshes where you saw the burglars carry some of the goods, +although I do not think any good is liable to result from the visit, for +the men have probably been frightened away by this time. Enough may be +found, however, to prove the truth of your story, and that will be +sufficient to give the thick-headed authorities an inkling that their +judgment as to who the burglars are is not infallible." + +"Have you seen Mr. Hazelton yet?" + +"No; but I shall call on him before going home. The best thing which +could happen now for all concerned would be the arrest of the man you +call Long Jim, and to that end both you and Dan must keep a sharp +lookout, for it is barely possible he may be bold enough to come on the +grounds again." + +"But what could we do in case we did see him?" + +"Follow him quietly until you meet a constable, and then insist that he +be arrested for swindling you out of fifteen dollars. There is not +sufficient proof to connect him with the robbery here or at the Run; but +I will take care that he is held long enough as a common swindler to +enable us to sift the other matter. Let me see, you said Dan was with +you at the time of the transaction in Waterville?" + +"No; it was poor Sam, and now that he is dead I'm the only one who saw +Long Jim there. Do you know if they have found Sam's body?" + +"I think not; men have been dragging the creek all day, and the +probabilities now are that some time will elapse before it can be +recovered. I want you to be very careful during the remainder of to-day +and to-night. Go to the tent where you sleep before dark, and do not +venture outside under any provocation, no matter what message may be +brought." + +"What do you mean?" Teddy asked, in surprise. + +"Nothing particular; I am only taking precautions, that is all. I shall +be here to-morrow, and will see you then." + +The lawyer turned to go, and had just passed out from behind the end of +the booth when Teddy seized his arm, pulling him back very suddenly. +"There's Long Jim now!" he whispered, excitedly. "See! That man over +there by the striking machine!" + +It was indeed the burglar whose partner had warned him against visiting +the fair, or even showing himself in the vicinity during the daytime. It +could be plainly seen that he was decidedly under the influence of +liquor, and he swaggered to and fro as if in his drunken brain was the +idea that no one would dare cause him trouble. + +"Are you certain there is no mistake?" the lawyer asked, as he watched +the man. + +"I'd be able to recognize him anywhere, no matter how he was dressed, +an' so would Dan, for Sam an' me pointed him out two or three times." + +"Then the hardest portion of our work is finished. I shall have him +arrested on the charge of swindling you, and can arrange it without the +formality of first getting a warrant. It is now more necessary than ever +that you should remain where I can find you readily at any hour of the +day or night." + +"Except when I go for supper, I'll be here or in the tent," Teddy +replied, and then there was no further opportunity for conversation. + +Long Jim had started leisurely, and on anything rather than a straight +course, toward the grand stand, and Mr. Harvey followed so near that he +could have placed his hand on the burglar's shoulder. + +Teddy watched until the two were lost to view amid the throng, and then +said to himself, with a sigh: + +"I'll bet the lawyer can't find a constable, an' that Long Jim gets +clear somehow. But what I don't understand is how he dares to come +here." + +He would have run down to tell Dan of the startling news had it not been +for Mr. Harvey's injunction to remain in the places designated, and he +was so nervous that only with the greatest difficulty could he wait upon +an impatient customer. + +An hour passed, and nothing had been heard from either the lawyer or the +burglar. + +The visitors remained later on this day than usual; but the tardy ones +were departing, and it was with a decided sense of relief that Teddy +began to pack up his stock for the night. Dan arrived before the work +was finished, and his excitement was great when he learned of what had +happened. + +"Can't we go somewhere to find out if the man was arrested?" he asked, +eagerly. + +"I promised to be on hand in case the lawyer should want me." + +"Then we'll get the stuff to the tent, go to supper, an' afterward I'll +snoop 'round to hear the news." + +All hands worked rapidly, and in ten minutes the three boys were at the +boarding-house, eating as if each moment were of the utmost importance, +when they overheard a conversation between two men at the next table +which caused them no slight degree of relief and pleasure: + +"Who was that drunken fellow Constable Ford lugged off this evening?" +one of the men asked, and the other replied: + +"A man who swindled a boy over at Waterville out of fifteen dollars." + +"I didn't see any boy in the crowd." + +"He wasn't there. Lawyer Harvey recognized the fellow, and insisted on +his arrest, sayin' that the 'Squire already knew about the case." + +"I thought at first it might be some one who had been robbing the stores +around here." + +"Oh, the burglar has been caught already, an' laid in jail since +yesterday." + +"But he was only arrested on suspicion." + +"There'll be proof enough to convict him, I reckon, an' if there isn't +he ought to be sent to jail for six months because of what he has done +on the grounds." + +Then the conversation was changed to a subject in which the boys had no +interest, and Dan whispered to Teddy: + +"That settles Long Jim, an' now if your lawyer is as smart as he appears +to be it won't take long to show that Hazelton didn't have anything to +do with the burglar tryin' to get me in jail," Teddy replied, with a +sigh. + +"Of course it will. Things are turning out all right after all, an' if +poor Sam hadn't been drowned we'd have a reg'lar celebration to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_A THIRD ARREST._ + + +When the boys returned to the museum tent from supper they had a long +and interesting story to tell Mr. Sweet; but to their surprise, after +the recital was concluded, he said calmly: + +"I knew all of that except about the burglar's arrest." + +"Why, how did you hear it?" Dan asked. + +"The lawyer an' the merchant have been over here twice since noon, +pumpin' me about Hazelton, an' tryin' to find out how you boys have +behaved yourselves." + +"Why did they want to know anything about us?" Teddy asked, in surprise. + +"So's to make sure your stories were straight. When men like them take +hold of a thing they don't want to run any chances of bein' fooled. What +has been done about Sam?" + +Dan could best answer this question, and he replied: + +"The body hasn't been found; but I heard the manager of the Davis Boat +Company's exhibit say that he should keep men at the work of draggin' +the creek till the work was finished. I can't get through my head how he +happened to capsize the craft, for she didn't seem to be cranky." + +"That is something none of us will ever know," Mr. Sweet replied, +solemnly, and then, as if to change the mournful subject, he asked: "How +did business pan out to-day, Teddy?" + +"I'll count up. We must have come pretty near to what you predicted; but +we would have done a great deal better if it hadn't been for the big +row. That made us lose at least an hour, to say nothin' of havin' six +canes broken just when we needed every one in order to make a good +show." + +Then Teddy and Tim emptied the contents of their pockets on a piece of +canvas, and the other occupants of the tent waited patiently for the +result to be announced. + +"It's ninety-four dollars and forty-five cents," the former said, after +counting the money twice as if doubtful of the first result. "That's a +big sum of money, but there's no chance of a mistake." + +"You can figure that the row cost you six dollars," Mr. Sweet replied, +puffing vigorously at his pipe. "I haven't been 'tendin' out on fairs +these eight years without bein' able to name the amount of such a +business as yours." + +"We'd have had twenty-five more but for that row," Tim said, decidedly. + +"You're wrong there, my boy," and the proprietor of the museum wore an +air of one who "knows it all." "That is about as much as two boys can +take in, an' you don't want to kick, for I've seen lots of fakirs come +on to a fair ground with a better cane-board than yours an' not get +expenses. Be thankful for what you've earned, an' hope that you can pay +expenses to-morrow, for there won't be any too much money floatin' +around after such a business as we've had to-day." + +"I'm more than satisfied," Teddy replied, as he set aside the amount due +Tim, and the latter appeared to be more than contented with having +earned nine dollars and forty-four cents so easily. + +"You can suck your thumbs from now out," the barker said, +philosophically, "for the backbone of trade has been broken, an' the +Peach Bottom fair is already numbered with the things of the past." + +"Don't you think we'll do anything more?" Teddy asked. + +"Oh, yes, there'll be a little to pick up until to-morrow night, but it +won't amount to anything near like what has already been done, although +it'll be clear profit." + +"Since I am more than satisfied, there's no chance of being +disappointed," Teddy replied, and at that moment the head of a stranger +appeared between the flaps of canvas. + +"Is there a boy named Teddy here?" the newcomer asked. + +"Well, what do you want of him?" and Mr. Sweet sprang to his feet as if +anticipating trouble. + +"Nothing more than what Hazelton wanted me to say," was the reply, as +the stranger entered, evidently thinking his search was at an end. + +"And what is that?" the proprietor of the museum asked, motioning Teddy +to remain silent. + +"There's no need of all this secrecy with me, for I'm Hazelton's partner +in everything except the give-away game," the stranger said, with a +laugh. "It appears a man has been arrested by a party whom this boy +Teddy knows, and I'm to say that he is to come to jail very early +to-morrow morning." + +Even now Mr. Sweet's suspicions were not allayed, and he asked, +cautiously: + +"Could you tell me what he's wanted for?" + +"Lawyer Harvey will be there, and is going to talk with him where +Hazelton can hear what is said." + +"Is that all?" + +"Everything; and if you see the boy, can I depend on your repeating the +message?" + +"Under the circumstances there can be no harm in taking every +precaution," the proprietor of the museum replied, "and if your errand +is finished, I may as well say that this is the boy Teddy whom Hazelton +sent you to see." + +"That's all right; there was no need of pointing him out; but since you +have done so, I simply want to ask if he can spare the time to do as +Hazelton and the lawyer wish?" + +"Of course I can," and now Teddy spoke for himself. "Say that if nothing +happens I'll be there." + +"Have you heard whether your uncle has succeeded in getting a warrant?" +the stranger asked. + +"No; but Mr. Harvey seemed to think he might be able to do so, and I +don't want to make any promises that can't be carried out." + +"Then I'll count on your being there, but since leaving the jail I've +heard enough to warrant my advising you to remain under cover to-night." + +"Why?" + +"Those fellows who started the fight when you got away with the money +are swearing vengeance. I don't think it's likely they'll attack the +tent, for, owing to the representations made by the lawyer, there'll be +a big force of constables on duty to-night; but if you should venture +outside the grounds it might be impossible to keep any engagement in the +future." + +"I wasn't thinkin' of leaving here," Teddy replied; but the mere fact +that he ought not do so made him feel very uncomfortable. + +"I couldn't be in any worse fix if I had committed some big crime," he +said, bitterly, "and it is tough to feel like a criminal when a fellow +is only trying to earn honest money." + +"It isn't the rule that honest people fare the best," the stranger +replied, with a laugh; "but I hope you'll come out on the top of the +heap. At all events, my business here is finished and I'll go." + +The folds of canvas dropped behind him, and Mr. Sweet said, musingly: + +"It beats all how you boys have succeeded in getting yourselves mixed up +in this affair. If I didn't know all the circumstances I'd say there +must be some fire where there is so much smoke." + +"The smoke isn't of our makin', an' Teddy's uncle can be blamed for the +most of it," Dan said, angrily. "I only wish he was here to know my +opinion of him." + +"Are you talkin' about me?" Uncle Nathan asked, as he pushed aside the +canvas and entered without so much as asking permission. + +"That's exactly what I was doing," Dan replied, without any show of +fear, "an' if you've been sneakin' 'round to listen, there's no need of +my tellin' over ag'in jest what I think of a man who tries to frighten +an honest boy into givin' up half of what he has made." + +"An honest boy?" the old man repeated, with a sneer, and Teddy whispered +to his friend: + +"Don't say anything to make him angry, for I'll only get the worst of +it." + +"Of course you will," Uncle Nathan replied, having overheard the words. +"When an ungrateful wretch like you conspires to rob the hand that has +fed him he must expect to get the worst of it." + +"I never took from you the value of a cent," Teddy said, stoutly, and +Dan cried as he sprang to his feet: + +"If there has been any attempt at robbery, you're the guilty one, for +you've tried to steal half the money he made by threatening to have him +arrested if he didn't divide his profits." + +"That was only a business proposition," the old man replied, not in the +least abashed, "and he has aided others in stealing from me." + +"What do you want here?" Mr. Sweet cried, angrily. "This is my tent; I +have paid for the privilege of putting it upon these grounds, and have +the right to prevent such old hypocrites as you from entering without +paying an admission." + +"Look out that you do not come within reach of the law," Uncle Nathan +replied, threateningly, stepping back quickly, as if expecting an +attack. "I am here armed with the right to take this boy, and shall +exercise it despite all that may be said. Come in, Mr. Officer." + +In response to this call a constable entered, and Teddy's heart sank +within him, for he understood that the long-deferred arrest was about to +be made. + +"There is your prisoner," the old man said, vindictively, as he +pointed to the boy, "and the sooner you take him to jail where he +belongs the sooner we shall be rid of a viper." + +[Illustration: As the constable approached him, Teddy said, "I demand to +be first taken to Deacon Jones!"] + +Teddy's grief and fear were so great that he could not speak, and even +Dan appeared to have been made dumb by this show of authority; but Mr. +Sweet was somewhat accustomed to such scenes, and he demanded: + +"Show me the warrant. I do not propose to let any one be taken out of my +tent by such an old reprobate as that until I am satisfied it is done +under the sanction of the law." + +"Convince yourself," Uncle Nathan replied, as the constable held out a +folded document. "That will show under what authority we act." + +Sweet read it carefully, and handed it to the officer as he said to the +old man: + +"This shows that the constable has the right to take Teddy to prison; +but as certain as there will be a sun in the sky to-morrow so certain +will I aid him in making you suffer for doing this thing. You know he +had nothing to do with the burglary committed at your store, and have +only had this issued in the hope of defrauding him of what he has earned +honestly." + +"Talk is cheap," Uncle Nathan said, impatiently. "Officer, take your +prisoner away unless you count on stayin' here all night." + +The short parley between the proprietor of the museum and the accuser +gave Teddy time to think of what the lawyer had said, and he added, as +the constable approached him: + +"I demand to be first carried to Deacon Jones'." + +"Now what kind of a bee have you got in your bonnet?" the old man cried, +displaying both surprise and fear. "I say you are to go to jail, an' +that settles it." + +"If he wants to see the deacon I'm bound to take him there," the +constable said. + +"Who's been makin' sich foolish talk to you?" Uncle Nathan screamed. + +"Lawyer Harvey told me what the law was, an' I don't intend to get into +any fuss by deprivin' a prisoner of his rights," was the stolid reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ON BAIL. + + +When Uncle Nathan learned that the celebrated lawyer had made +preparations for this move on his part he was literally beside himself +with rage, and vowed that the warrant should be served and the prisoner +taken to jail immediately, or he would see to it that the constable was +deprived of his commission without delay. + +"I've served the warrant," the man said, quietly, "an' now the prisoner +is in my custody. You have no more to say what shall be done with him +than that goat, so shut your mouth." + +"I'll shut yours so close it won't be opened again for a month!" the old +man screamed. "Do as I tell you, or take the consequences." + +"And I'm goin' to give you the same advice," Mr. Sweet cried, as he +advanced toward Uncle Nathan threateningly. "Now the boy has been +arrested, you are an intruder here, an' I'll give you thirty seconds in +which to get out; after that we'll make an example of such a reprobate." + +"I'll go when I get ready, an' not a minute before. Lay a hand on me +an' I'll have a warrant for you." + +"If you can get it, well and good. I now order you out for the last +time. In thirty seconds I'll guarantee you won't be in condition to +walk." + +While their employer had been speaking the barker and the clown silently +ranged themselves by his side, ready for any commands which might be +given, and the infuriated old man had sufficient sense left to let him +understand it would be unsafe to linger. + +"I'll serve you out before this thing is ended," he cried, shaking his +fist in impotent rage as he went toward the flap, and Dan, who could +control himself no longer, replied: + +"You'd better begin on me, for I'm goin' to tell this thing to everybody +who comes to the fair to-morrow, an' from what I've heard it wouldn't +take much coaxin' to get the band from the Run up here, so's I could +sing it. You're havin' a good time now; but there'll be a different side +to the matter to-morrow." + +Mr. Sweet had followed Uncle Nathan so closely, literally turning him +out, that he could not reply while inside the canvas; but once in the +open air, he made threats that would have frightened any one who did not +know the motive by which they had been inspired. + +Meanwhile the constable appeared disposed to take matters in the most +comfortable manner. He asked Teddy why he wished to see Deacon Jones, +and the boy said: + +"I don't know; but Mr. Harvey told me that if anything happened to-night +I was to see the deacon." + +"Then we'll go there. Are you ready?" + +Teddy thought of his money, and, fearing lest it might be taken from +him, asked if he could hand something to Mr. Sweet. + +"I think not," was the undecided reply. "The deacon will know, an' +whatever he says I'll stand by." + +"Don't bother about anything just now," the proprietor of the museum +said. "We'll all go with you, an' there'll be plenty of time to make +necessary arrangements before you're taken to jail." + +Although the lawyer had assured him he could be involved in no serious +trouble, the mere fact that he was under arrest sufficed to make Teddy +wretched, and like one under sentence of death, he prepared to accompany +the constable. + +Dan and Tim intended to join the party, as was shown by their remaining +very close to the prisoner, and only the barker and the clown were left +to care for the tent. + +Uncle Nathan was met on the outside, and he immediately began to insist +that the boy be taken to jail at once; but the officer paid no attention +to his ravings. + +"If you don't hold your tongue I'll knock the whole top of your head +off," Mr. Sweet whispered, brandishing his fists in the most threatening +manner, and the old man cried, excitedly: + +"Mr. Officer, I call upon you to bear witness that this man is +threatening my life, and insist that you protect me from insult." + +"I've nothing to do with you," the constable replied, with a laugh. "The +warrant has been served, an' all you've got to do is hold your horses +till the case is called up in court." + +"Wait till I get home once more, an' then we'll see that he's got a good +deal to do with the case," Tim cried. "I'll spend every minute from then +for a week tellin' the folks that he only did this to make Teddy give up +half of what he made, an' it'll be a pretty poor kind of a chump who'll +do any more tradin' at his store." + +Uncle Nathan stepped toward the boy who had spoken so boldly as if he +would inflict the direst punishment then and there; but he probably +realized that this would prejudice his case, and contented himself by +saying: + +"We'll see whether the people at the Run will believe a couple of boys +who have been in league with burglars, for you mustn't forget, Tim +Jones, that I have proof you helped Teddy to carry away the burglar's +money." + +"If it'll do you any good I'll own up to the fact now," the boy +replied. "It can't be so bad to do that as it is to arrest your own +nephew because he won't give you half his money." + +"Don't say anything more," Teddy whispered to his friend. "It's only +makin' matters worse, an' he's got the upper hand of us all jest now." + +"I don't know whether he has or not," the valiant Tim replied; "but at +the same time it'll do him a world of good to let him hear the truth." + +At this point Uncle Nathan appeared to understand that he was not coming +out victor in this battle of tongues, and he wisely held his peace, +saying not another word until the little party arrived at the home of +Deacon Jones. + +The manager of the fair was resting after a particularly hard day's +work. More than one of the citizens of Peach Bottom had openly said he +was responsible for the riot by allowing liquor to be sold on the +grounds, and his greeting of the visitors was not calculated to assure +the frightened Teddy. + +"Well, what do you want?" he cried, roughly, as they entered his +library. "If it's anything concerning the fair I won't open my mouth. A +man can't be driven to death with work and then disturbed at all hours +of the night, simply to give the fools in this town a chance to make +trouble." + +"All I know about it is that I arrested this boy, and he insisted on +being brought to you, saying it was Lawyer Harvey's advice," the +constable began, and the angry deacon immediately began to appear +interested. + +"Is this your nephew, Nathan?" he asked of the old man, who now had a +smirk of confidence on his face. + +"I'm sorry he is, deacon, an' after I set him up in business he goes +ag'in me by givin' information to burglars, who rob me." + +"And you have had him arrested?" + +"I felt obliged to in the interest of society." + +"That's a lie," Mr. Sweet interrupted, angrily. "He tried to make the +boy pay him half he earned on the fair grounds, and has done this thing +only because Teddy refused." + +"We won't go into the details of the case, because I am not a +magistrate," the deacon replied, with a majestic wave of the hand. "Mr. +Officer, tell the 'Squire that I am prepared to go bail to any amount, +and ask if the business can't be conducted here, for I'm too tired to go +out of doors unless it is absolutely necessary." + +"What?" the old man screamed. "Will you answer for that little villain's +appearance at court?" + +"That's what I said, Nathan. This affair is none of my business other +than I have stated; but I must say you are goin' a leetle too far, not +only in my opinion, but in that of others, an' it may prove a costly job +for somebody before it's finished." + +The old man was literally speechless. + +He could not understand why the deacon should have turned against him so +suddenly, and the last words made him decidedly uneasy. + +He was not to be silenced without a struggle, however. After the first +surprise had died away he said, with a comical assumption of dignity: + +"I will see whether I'm to be browbeaten in this manner. The 'Squire +does not dare to release the boy on bail, and I shall tell him so." + +With these words he left the house hurriedly, and the constable said to +the deacon: + +"If you will write a line to the 'Squire, saying that you're ready to go +bail, I do not think there will be any necessity of troubling you again +to-night." + +This suggestion was immediately acted upon, and the weary manager of the +fair penned the following words: + + I am ready to enter security to any amount for the appearance + at court of Edward Hargreaves, and if you should not consider + my bond sufficient, I am empowered to say that John Reaves, of + Waterville, will add his name, therefore there can be no good + reason for committing him to jail, since we are both + responsible for the prisoner until the bond can be executed. + + A. JONES. + +Having received this the constable departed with the prisoner and his +friends, and once on the outside he said, confidently: + +"The matter is settled, no matter how much old Nathan may rave. Both Mr. +Reaves an' the deacon have got the 'Squire by the nose, and he must +dance to their fiddlin'." + +That this assertion was correct Teddy realized a few moments later when +he was ushered into the 'Squire's dining-room, and the latter, without +paying the slightest attention to the prisoner, said to the officer: + +"I have just heard that you served the warrant I issued, and then took +the boy to Deacon Jones' house. Is that correct?" + +"Straight as a string, 'Squire. Lawyer Harvey told him if anything +happened to go there, an' I thought he had a right to look up bail +before being lugged off to jail. Here's what the deacon's got to say +about it." + +The 'Squire took the paper which the officer held out, and after reading +it, said benignly: + +"You were quite correct in doing what you did, Mr. Constable. This is +quite sufficient guarantee that he will be produced when wanted, and you +may let him go. Give me the papers, and I will indorse them." + +After this formality had been gone through with the constable said to +Mr. Sweet: + +"That settles the matter so far as Teddy is concerned, and with such men +as the deacon, Mr. Reaves, and Lawyer Harvey to back him, I don't +believe old Nathan will make any too much out of this job." + +"You are free to go where you please," the 'Squire added, and the young +fakir with his friends left the house, wondering very much at the amount +of influence which, unsolicited, had been exerted in Teddy's behalf. + +As for the boy himself, he was far from feeling comfortable in mind. +Unless the burglary could be brought home to Long Jim it did not seem +possible that Hazelton could be set free, and this last was absolutely +necessary in order to establish his own innocence. + +It was a great consolation for him to be with such good friends, +however, and each in turn tried to cheer him, but without success until +Mr. Sweet said: + +"There's no question of your getting out of the scrape with flying +colors, and to celebrate I'm goin' to give a regular dinner party to +every decent fakir on the grounds. Come over, boys, an' help me get +ready. Business has been so good to-day that I can afford to indulge in +a little extravagance." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_THE FAKIRS' PARTY._ + + +The idea of a party in the museum tent, where there would be no guests +save fakirs, struck Teddy as being very comical, and he laughed heartily +despite the fact that he was still virtually a prisoner in the meshes of +the law; but at the same time he did not think Mr. Sweet was really in +earnest when he made the proposition. + +It was not many moments, however, before he understood that the party +was to be given in the most elaborate manner possible. + +On arriving at the tent Mr. Sweet sent the bouncer out with invitations +to such of the fakirs as remained on the grounds all night, or lived in +the immediate vicinity, and at the same time the clown started for the +town in order to purchase refreshments. + +"Now, you boys are to take right hold an' help the best you know how," +the proprietor of the museum said as he pulled off his coat and vest +preparatory to making ready for the feast. "If them as comes want to sit +down it must be on the ground, owing to the lack of chairs, therefore +it don't make much difference if the table is a trifle high." + +[Illustration: "We have only one knife," said Mr. Sweet, to the +amusement of the boys, "and it must serve for all hands."] + +To the surprise of the boys he proceeded to convert the wagon into a +"festal board" by first pulling it into the center of the tent, and then +removing the sides. Over the floor of this newspapers were spread, and +two plates, three forks, one knife, and four tin dippers were placed on +the impromptu cloth. + +"The provisions will be cut ready for eating," Mr. Sweet explained, "so +one knife must serve for all hands, and it won't hurt any of the crowd +if they're obliged to take turns using the dippers." + +The clown returned before the guests began to assemble. He brought cold +sausage, sliced ham, cold fried potatoes, sweet crackers, cake, pie, and +a quantity of lemons and sugar. + +Contrary to his expectations, Mr. Sweet did not think this assortment +sufficient for the kind of a dinner he proposed to give, and the +messenger was forced to return in search of cheese, pickled pig's feet, +sardines, and milk for the coffee. + +Matters were in a decided state of confusion when the first of the +guests arrived. Mr. Sweet, not troubled by the absence of dishes, had +placed the various articles on the wagon-table in the brown paper +coverings as they had been received, and it was upon his skill as a +maker of coffee that he based his reputation as a host. + +Therefore everything was neglected for this one important thing, and the +proprietor was standing over the oil stove with a look of grave +responsibility on his face when the owner of the envelope game and his +assistant arrived. + +"The boys will take care of you," he said, hurriedly, bending over the +huge pot to inhale the odor, in order to know exactly how the berries +were adapting themselves to the infusion, and, much to his surprise, +Teddy found himself the one especial feature of the party. + +All on the ground had evidently heard of his arrest, for each new +arrival asked concerning the events of the evening, and, what was more +to the purpose, so far as he was concerned, all seemed to think his +troubles were only temporary. + +"You'll come out of it all right," the manager of the largest sandwich +booth said, confidently, as he entered with his hat on one side of his +head and a cigar held in his mouth at an angle of forty-five degrees. "I +heard of your uncle last year, when he tried to make trouble for a +friend of mine in the spittoon game, an' you can bet your bottom dollar +that the people here are not going to take much stock in what he says." + +"It seems they did, so far as to issue a warrant for my arrest," Teddy +replied, with a mirthless smile. + +"But that won't amount to anything. I hear you have got John Reaves as +a friend, an' he comes pretty near runnin' things to suit himself in +Peach Bottom. He helped my friend out of the scrape your uncle put him +into, an' folks say there's no love lost between him an' Nathan +Hargreaves." + +"I want to get out of my trouble simply on the ground that I am not +guilty," Teddy replied. "If I am charged with aiding burglars, there's +precious little consolation in being set free simply because people do +not like the man who made the charge." + +"Nobody believes you guilty, and for the matter of that I'm certain +Hazelton had nothing to do with the job. His game ain't exactly square; +but he don't go around breaking into stores." + +Teddy was on the point of telling that Long Jim had been arrested +because of the burglaries committed; but he remembered in time that this +fact was as yet a secret, and remained silent. + +The man who leased the only "Great African Dodger" was the next to +arrive, and he also seemed to think it necessary to condole with the +young fakir in his troubles, as did the remainder of the guests, and by +the time all were assembled Teddy began to think his experience was only +such as every other person in the tent had undergone at some time in his +career. + +"You see this is the way the matter stands," the whip man said, +confidentially, while Mr. Sweet was bending all his energies to mixing +the lemonade. "People think fakirs are the worst class of men in the +world, whereas, if the matter was sifted right down, they'd find the +class as a whole was honest because they couldn't afford to be +otherwise. I'm not talking now about those who run strong games, like +Hazelton; but ourselves who do a legitimate business. You've got canes +an' knives to sell, while I deal in whips; now all we want is a fair +show to dispose of our goods, an' we know everything must be done on the +square, or there's bound to be trouble sooner or later, consequently we +keep straight, an' take all the abuse which those who have come to +swindle the folks deserve. Why, what, I ask you, would the managers of +these fairs do if they couldn't get us to come up with our money for +privileges? They couldn't pay expenses, an' that's the whole amount of +the story. They run after us, an' yet when we come there's the same old +howl about swindlers." + +The man talked until he was literally forced to stop for lack of breath, +and Teddy had not so much as spoken; but proved a good listener, which +was all his condoler appeared to expect of him. + +When the clown returned with the last installment of eatables there was +nothing to prevent the assembled crowd from partaking of Mr. Sweet's +hospitality. The coffee was done to a turn; the lemonade was neither too +sour nor too sweet, and the proprietor of the museum summoned his +guests to the feast by saying: + +"Now turn to an' fill yourselves up. It ain't often I do this sort of +thing; but somehow or other I've got a reg'lar admiration for our +cane-board fakir, an' after comin' out as he has to-night it seems only +right we should kinder spread ourselves. There's no liquor in the tent, +which is as it should be, for I'm a temperance man, an' them as wants it +can make hogs of themselves somewhere else. Take hold hearty, an' +remember that this layout is in honor of them as did a good turn to the +whole gang by savin' the lives of the women what would likely have +drowned if there hadn't been any fakirs in the country." + +This was an unusually long speech for the proprietor of the museum, and +when it was ended he set an example to his guests by attacking the +eatables as if he had not indulged in a square meal since the fair was +opened. + +Each person present imitated him, and Tim whispered to Teddy, when his +mouth was so full of cake that it was only with the greatest difficulty +his words could be understood: + +"This is what I call a great snap, an' when I've been fakin' at the +fairs long enough to get some money ahead I'll give fellers like us a +good chance to fill up, the same as Mr. Sweet has done." + +Dan was equally enthusiastic. In all his experience, which extended +over two years at the very least, he declared that he had never seen so +much done for a boy, and concluded by saying: + +"There's no question, Teddy, but that you're a big gun here, an' I'll +advise you to keep right on in this business." + +"I've had enough of it," was the reply. "Such times as these are very +nice; but think of what may happen when I'm brought up for trial. Who +knows but Uncle Nathan can succeed in makin' folks think I'm guilty of +helpin' the burglars, an' then what'll be the consequences?" + +"I know he can't do anything of the kind, an' that's enough," was the +confident reply; but yet it failed to satisfy the boy who had been bound +over to appear at court. + +The entire party appeared to be having the jolliest kind of a jolly +time; but ever before Teddy's mental vision came the picture of himself +in prison, and even the fact that Long Jim had been arrested failed to +render him confident as to the final result. + +Again and again was he called upon to reply as one after another wished +him good luck in the case, and the amount of lemonade which was consumed +on each occasion caused the clown to make a third visit to the town in +order to purchase the wherewithal to satisfy the demands of the guests. + +It was nearly midnight when the last of the revelers departed and the +boys were called upon to help set the interior of the tent to rights. + +"It hasn't been sich a bad time after all," Mr. Sweet said, musingly, as +Teddy and Dan aided him in wheeling the wagon into place. "A man can +remember an evening like this with pleasure, when liquor has been kept +out of the bill of fare, an' who shall say that we're not better off +than if our legs were so tangled as to make walking an impossibility?" + +The barker's red nose was slightly elevated, much as if its owner could +explain why spirits were superior to lemon-juice and water; but Mr. +Sweet's question remained unanswered, and the party set about making the +final preparations for the night. + +"Poor Sam ain't here to be troubled by the goat, so we can set him +loose," the proprietor of the museum said as he unfastened the rope from +the neck of his pet. + +"He'll have a great time pickin' up odds an' ends between now an' +daylight, an' then feel so lazy that it'll be hard work to make him do +his tricks." + +"Do you suppose Uncle Nathan will be around in the morning?" Teddy asked +as he lay down by the side of Dan and Tim. + +"Not a bit of it; he got sich a dose to-night that I don't count on +seem' him ag'in till this fair is ended, an' then I'm going to take a +trip over to the Run for the express purpose of givin' him a piece of +my mind." + +"But suppose he should come, what shall I say?" + +"Pay no attention to the old fool, an' above all, don't let him trap you +into talking. Mr. Harvey will be here to-morrow, an' he can post you +better than ever I could." + +"Don't fuss about the thing at all," Dan replied, philosophically. +"There's plenty here who know you hadn't anything to do with the +burglaries, an' he won't have as much as a friend by the time the trial +is ended." + +"Dan comes pretty nigh being right," Mr. Sweet added, "an' now I want +all hands to go to sleep, for there's one more day of this fair, an' we +need to be somewhere near fresh, because to-morrow the dollars won't +tumble without a good deal of coaxing. Good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_IN HIDING._ + + +That the incidents may be related as nearly as possible in the order of +their occurrence it is time to return to the spot where the burglars are +in hiding. + +It will be remembered that we last saw Sam after Phil had fallen asleep, +and he was feigning unconsciousness lest Long Jim, having nothing else +to do, should take it into his ugly head to administer the promised +flogging. + +Although Sam's eyes were apparently closed, he took good care to keep +strict watch on the burglar; but for what seemed a very long time he saw +nothing to cause any apprehensions, and was just on the point of going +to sleep in reality when Jim asked, as he gave the boy a vicious kick on +the side: + +"Where's the grub?" + +"I don't know. You put it away after finishing your dinner." + +"Oh, I remember now," and the burglar, still considerably more than half +stupefied by the amount of liquor he had drunk, arose to his feet so +unsteadily that it seemed as if only the lightest touch would be +necessary to send him headlong. + +After a short search the man found that which he wanted, and proceeded +to make a hearty meal, regardless of the hungry glances which the boy +bestowed upon him. + +"Don't think I'm goin' to give you any," he said, with a leer, as he +concluded the repast, "You're lucky to be alive, an' that's enough for +sich a duffer. I'll put this stuff back, an' you'll have every bone in +your body broken if you so much as smell of it." + +Sam made no reply. He had already learned that there are very many times +when silence is indeed "golden." + +"I've made up my mind to see what can be done at the fair," Jim said, as +he lighted his pipe with great deliberation. "Phil thinks he's the only +smart man in the world, an' it's time to show him what a mistake he's +been makin' all his life. Why don't you say something?" he cried, +angrily, as Sam continued silent. + +"I don't know what you want me to say. If you're goin' that settles it; +I sha'n't be any better off." + +"You can stake your life on that, for while I'm a gentleman an' behave +myself as such, Phil is a reg'lar brute, an' will make things mighty +uncomfortable for a sneak like you." + +Sam thought, but was very careful not to say, that it was hardly +possible for a boy to have a worse master than the alleged gentleman in +front of him, and the burglar continued, as he arose to his feet: + +"I want to leave without wakin' Phil, but you must do it as soon as I +push off from the shore, for we don't intend to give you a chance of +slipping away. I shall watch mighty close, an' if he isn't on his feet +before I'm a dozen yards out into the creek you'll get a reminder from +this," and the man ostentatiously displayed a revolver. + +"I don't count on runnin' off," Sam, replied, thoroughly frightened by +the threat. "I can stay here till you get ready to let me go, because +I've got to, an' I'm not sich a fool as to git into any worse scrape." + +"Now you're talkin' somethin' like sense, an' if you keep on in this way +I'll see to it that you don't have any harder time than a detective +oughter expect; Phil will be on his ear when he knows I've gone, an' you +must tell me all he says. Remember that if he isn't on his feet before +I've got beyond range, I'll use your head for a target." + +With this threat the burglar staggered out of the thicket, and Sam began +to speculate as to whether he should make one supreme effort to escape +before his other captor awakened. + +A second glance at the weapon decided him in the negative, however, and +he meekly stepped to the edge of the woods in order to obey the +instructions given. + +Despite Jim's apparent intoxication he watched the boy closely, still +holding the revolver ready for use, and after pushing the boat into the +stream he cried: + +"Now go ahead, an' let me see him in about two minutes, or I'll fill you +full of bullets." + +If Sam had been a brave boy he would have made a dash for liberty at +this moment; but he was in nearly every sense of the word a coward, and +obeyed the order literally. + +"Who's there?" Phil asked, angrily, as the boy shook him vigorously. + +"Jim told me to make you get up, or he'd shoot," Sam replied, meekly. + +"Make me get up? What time is it?" + +"I don't know; but it doesn't seem to be more than three o'clock." + +"Where's Jim?" + +"Jest startin' for the fair grounds, an' if you don't show yourself +pretty soon he's sure to shoot me." + +"There wouldn't be any particular harm in that, for you deserve it; but +it can't be possible the fool is goin' to show himself in daylight when +more than one is lookin' for him." + +"That's what he said," and Sam, fearing lest the half-drunken burglar +would begin his pistol practice, seated himself behind the largest tree +that might protect him from the bullets. + +Now that Phil was awake, he did not lose any further time in talking, +but ran out to where he could command a view of the creek, and once more +Sam had an opportunity for escape which he did not dare to embrace. + +"Come back here, an' don't make a fool of yourself," Jim's partner +cried, angrily, as he saw the man pulling leisurely from the bank. + +"What's crawlin' on you? Don't I know my business?" + +"Not if you count on goin' up there before dark." + +"That's jest what I intend to do, so don't screech so much." + +"Come back, I tell you, or it'll be all up for both of us!" + +"I've been in this business long enough to know it," was the reply, as +Jim continued to row, increasing each instant the distance between +himself and the shore. + +"Now, don't spoil a good thing," Phil said, pleadingly, and, +understanding that this conversation might be continued for a short +time, Sam plucked up sufficient courage to make an attack upon the +provisions. + +He took from the general store a large piece of cheese, some crackers +and as much meat as he believed would suffice to make a hearty meal, +after which he hid the lot near the tree behind which he was hiding. + +Then he crept back to his former position, and listened to the +conversation between his captors. + +Phil alternately coaxed and threatened his partner; but all to no +purpose, as could be told by the tones of the latter's voice while he +pulled up stream, and the baffled burglar returned to the camping place +absolutely furious with rage. + +"This comes of my bein' so foolish as to bring that fool liquor," he +said half to himself. "It's mighty lucky he didn't know I had more than +one bottle." + +Then he took from one of his pockets a second flask, refreshing himself +with a portion of the contents before asking: + +"What did he say to you?" + +"Nothin' except that he was goin' up to the fair," Sam replied, timidly. + +"But what made him tell you to waken me?" + +"I s'pose that was so I couldn't have a chance to run away." + +"What else did he say?" + +"That I was to tell him jest how you took his leavin'." + +"Well, if he's lucky enough to get back, tell him I said he was the +biggest fool that ever walked on two legs. Them chums of your'n are sure +to spot him, an' it's ten to one he's pinched before sunset." + +Sam did not understand what the man meant by the term "pinched," but +under the circumstances he hardly thought it safe to inquire, and the +angry burglar continued: + +"We'll make ready to get out of this if he isn't back by daylight, an' +while there's nothin' else to do you'd better put that stuff under +ground, for there's no knowin' now when we'll be able to take it away." + +The spade was near at hand ready for use, and while Phil alternately +smoked and drank from the bottle, Sam set about burying the plunder. + +This man was quite as hard a taskmaster as the one who had just +departed, and the boy was forced to work as he had probably never done +before, until sufficient of an excavation had been made to conceal the +goods. + +Under the direction of the burglar Sam covered the different packages +with earth; did his best to hide all traces of his work, and when it was +so dark that he could no longer see to move about was allowed to rest. + +During this time Phil had been drinking and smoking, with the result +that he could hardly speak plainly when the task was accomplished, and +so intoxicated did he appear to be that Sam thought it safe to eat the +food he had concealed. + +"Keep on talkin' so's I'll know where you are, or on goes the ropes an' +gag again," Phil cried, and the boy obeyed, repeating over and over the +same words in order to satisfy his suspicious captor. + +After eating a hearty meal, Sam succeeded in mustering sufficient +courage to admit of his thinking about attempting to escape. + +From the manner in which the burglar spoke he knew it could not be very +much longer before the man would be so completely under the influence of +liquor as to render him helpless, and he said to himself: + +"If I could get the rope around his hands an' legs I'd soon be out of +this place." + +"What's that you are saying?" Phil cried, angrily. + +"Nothin'; I was only doin' as you told me, talkin' so's you'd know where +I was." + +"I'll save all that trouble," and the man lurched to his feet as he +picked up the rope. + +"Please don't tie me ag'in," Sam pleaded. "I won't try to git away." + +"I'll go bail that you don't after I'm through with you. Put out your +hands." + +Phil was yet capable of mischief, even though his brain was clouded, and +Sam did not dare to disobey. + +He suffered himself to be tied without making any remonstrance, and as +the burglar staggered to his former resting place, the boy tested the +bonds. + +Previously he had been lashed in such a manner that it was impossible to +move hand or foot, but now he soon realized that he could do both, and +the happy thought came that he might free himself with but little +difficulty if a favorable opportunity for escape should present itself. + +"Now you're fixed," Phil said, half to himself, "an' I may as well take +things comfortable till we're certain that that fool of a Jim is +settled." + +"Are you goin' to leave here to-night?" Sam asked, more for the purpose +of learning how far the man was on the road to intoxication than for +information. + +"If he ain't here by twelve o'clock we'll know the jig is up, an' skip +so's to be out of the way before any one can come sneakin' around for +the stuff." + +"Then if Jim isn't back by that time, an' he keeps on drinkin', I'll +take all the chances," Sam said to himself, and from that instant he +strained every nerve to learn how nearly the burglar had succeeded in +making a worse brute of himself than nature intended. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_A FAILURE._ + + +Tired though Teddy was, a long time elapsed after the conclusion of the +fakirs' feast before he could close his eyes in slumber. + +Now that the excitement of the party had died away, the fact that he was +a prisoner, suffered to remain outside the prison only because men of +wealth were willing to guarantee he would respond to the call of the +court, came into his mind even more vividly than at the time of the +arrest, and despite all the words of cheer which had been spoken he +really began to believe Uncle Nathan could show plausible proof of his +guilt. + +Under almost any other circumstances he would have speculated upon what +should be done with the large amount of money he had already earned, and +rejoiced at the thought that he could supply his mother with what she +might need for the present, at all events. + +The profits of the cane and knife boards were hardly thought of on this +night while the one painful fact stood before him so prominently and +menacingly. + +His companions had been asleep many hours before slumber visited his +eyelids, and so heavy was his heart even while in dreamland that he +awoke with the first dawn of day, and aroused the others to the last +day's work they would be called upon to do at the Peach Bottom fair +during the present season. + +"Why is it that you have turned out so early?" Mr. Sweet asked, in a +sleepy tone, rising to his feet as the only effectual method of driving +the drowsiness from his eyelids. + +"I sha'n't feel much like sleeping till I know how the case is coming +out," Teddy replied, sadly. + +"There is no need to worry with such friends as you have got. Put it +right out of your mind until business closes to-night, for there's a big +pile of work to be done if you expect to make much money." + +"I wish I could," Teddy said, with a long-drawn sigh as he aroused Tim +and Dan. + +Half an hour later the three boys were eating what it was believed would +be their last meal in the very unsatisfactory boarding-house, and +Teddy's place of business was the first opened on that morning. + +There were no more early visitors; but the fakirs who had been present +at the feast on the evening previous gathered around, all appearing +very eager to spend money, and trade was as lively as it had been on any +other morning. + +The crowd bought rings and threw them recklessly until each man had +spent considerably more than a dollar, when Teddy suddenly realized that +this sudden passion for canes only arose from a desire to aid him. Then +he said, decidedly: + +"There's no need of you fellows doin' this. I know you want to see me +out of the scrape; but I've made a lot of money already, an' don't want +to take yours." + +"You can't have too much, my boy," one of them said with a laugh, "and +we want to see you go away with a pile. Trade has been boomin' for all +hands, an' it would be kinder rough if we couldn't have a little fun now +the fair is the same as over." + +This did not satisfy Teddy, and he continued to expostulate against the +generosity; but all to no purpose. The fakirs played until a sufficient +number of visitors had arrived to warrant their opening the other +booths, and then Tim and Teddy were left alone, Dan having started for +the exhibition building some time previous. + +Until ten o'clock there was no more than work enough to keep one boy +moderately busy, and Teddy experienced a deep sense of relief as Mr. +Harvey came up to the stand with a cheery "good morning." + +"I hear that your Uncle Nathan succeeded in carrying out his threat," +the visitor said, as if speaking about what was a very trifling matter. + +"Yes, sir; an' do you think he can send me to prison?" + +"Not a bit of it. You are under bail, and I venture to predict that he +will not carry it to court, for he has sufficient sense to know it may +prove a very expensive job. We sent our men to the barn on the marshes +last night." + +"What did you find?" Teddy asked, eagerly. + +"More than I expected. There were no goods in the building, but some +have evidently been buried there, and this fact, together with the +evidence that boats have been drawn up on the shore recently, proves +your story as to what was seen when you boys followed the two men to be +correct." + +"The other fellow has run away, I suppose." + +"I think he is yet in the immediate vicinity, otherwise Jim would be +willing to talk." + +"Have you seen him since he was arrested?" + +"I have just come from the jail. I told him of the evidence we already +had to connect him with the burglary, and that we should push him hard +in the interest of you and Hazelton. He understands that there is an +opportunity to turn State's witness, but he absolutely refuses to speak +on any subject. Therefore I fancy his partner has not yet got away." + +"Then there has been no good done in arresting him," Teddy said, +mournfully. + +"That is where you are making a mistake. I have prepared an affidavit +for you and Dan to swear to, and shall endeavor to have a warrant issued +at once charging him with burglary, so he can't give us the slip in case +he gets clear in the matter of swindling." + +"Do you want Dan an' I now?" + +"Yes; go after him. I will only keep you ten or fifteen minutes." + +Teddy turned to go toward the exhibition buildings, but halted an +instant to ask: + +"Have you seen my uncle this morning?" + +"No, but I shall do so later in the day, and after we have a little +conversation I do not think he will be so eager to see you in prison." + +The lawyer's confident manner had very much to do with taking the load +of sorrow from Teddy's mind, and he looked almost cheerful as he asked +of the manager of the Stevens exhibit that Dan be allowed to accompany +him, explaining the reason for making the request. + +"Of course he can go," the gentleman replied, readily. "Trade won't be +so good to-day but that he can be spared as well as not, and even if it +was rushing, he should have permission to leave." + +When the boys were at the cane-board once more Mr. Harvey hurried them +away to the magistrate's office, and there a long document was read, +which described in detail all they had seen on the day when Sam first +gave an exhibition of his skill as a detective. + +They marveled not a little that the lawyer should have remembered so +well every trifling incident. Nothing, however apparently unimportant, +had escaped him, and, as Dan said: + +"It is written down better than if he had really been with us." + +This document was sworn to and signed by both, after which Mr. Harvey +told them that they might return to work, adding as he turned to Teddy: + +"The man who has been arrested on your complaint will have a hearing +to-morrow, and it is absolutely necessary you should be at this office +as early as nine o'clock. I don't know whether Dan will be allowed to +tell what he has heard Sam say regarding the matter, but he had better +come with you." + +"I'll be on hand," the young fakir replied. "Do you know when I'm to be +tried?" + +"That case won't come up for some time in view of the evidence your +lawyer is collecting," the 'Squire said. + +"Don't worry about it, for I think the real burglars will soon be +caught." + +"An' does Mr. Hazelton have to stay in jail all the time?" + +"There is no other way out of it, since he hasn't got friends who can go +bail for him." + +Teddy wanted very much to ask permission to see the prisoner, but +inasmuch as he was accused of being equally guilty with the fakir it +hardly seemed just the proper thing to make the request, and he left the +office, followed by Dan, who said, as they gained the open air: + +"You ain't goin' to have half so much trouble as you think, Teddy. +Anybody can see that even the 'Squire is on your side, although he did +issue the warrant, an' the proof must be mighty strong to make any of +'em believe you did anything against the old miser. But this keeps us +here on the grounds another day, doesn't it?" + +"Yes, an' if Mr. Sweet packs up his tent to-night, we'll have to hunt +for a place to sleep in the village." + +"That don't worry me very much. I've made a good week's work out of the +fair, an' can afford to spend a little money." + +"I shall pay all the bills, of course," Teddy replied, quickly. "It +wouldn't be any more'n right because you are goin' to stay to help me." + +Dan was quite positive he would pay his own bills, and his companion +equally certain he should not; but there was little chance for +discussion, since they had arrived opposite the grand stand by this +time, and were hailed by Deacon Jones, who looked as if he considered +himself the one important personage on the grounds as he said: + +"I want both of you boys to be here at exactly two o'clock. Don't fail +to come, no matter how much business you may have on hand." + +"What's the matter?" Teddy asked, immediately thinking some new trouble +threatened him. + +"There will be plenty of time for explanation after you get here," was +the mysterious reply, and then the deacon signified that the interview +was at an end by turning to speak with some gentlemen who had been +watching the boys closely. + +"What do you suppose is up now?" Teddy asked with a sigh, and Dan +replied, mournfully: + +"I'm sure I don't know," but in his own mind he was convinced that the +deacon intended to surrender the boy whose surety he had appeared +willing to become on the evening previous. + +Teddy was so disturbed by dismal forebodings that Dan was very careful +to hide his suspicions, since it could do only harm to discuss them, and +the two parted, feeling as if Uncle Nathan had outwitted Mr. Harvey. + +On retuning to his place of business Teddy did not have the heart to +wait upon the customers, and after telling Tim what had been said to +him, he added: + +"I can't work; it's no use to try. There must have been something new +come up, an' I won't be able to show that I'm innocent of robbing the +store." + +Dan could give him no consolation, for he also felt that matters were +approaching a dangerous crisis, and he simply said: + +"Loaf around, old fellow, an' I'll look out for the work here. Try to +put it out of your mind, for things won't be made better by worryin' +over 'em." + +Just at this moment Teddy's mother arrived. She had heard all the +particulars concerning the arrest and subsequent release, therefore +began at once to sympathize with her son. + +"Then you know what the deacon is goin' to do?" Teddy asked. + +This was something of which Mrs. Hargreaves was ignorant, but upon being +told, appeared even more distressed than her son, thus increasing +instead of lightening his troubles. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_THE TESTIMONIAL._ + + +It was impossible for Teddy to follow Tim's advice to "loaf around." + +His heart was so full of sorrow that his greatest desire was to go where +those who might believe he had been a partner of the burglars could not +see him; but since that was impossible, if he intended to obey the +deacon's injunctions and present himself at the grand stand at the +specified time, the next best thing was to remain behind the booth where +his mother tried her best to cheer him. + +"It can't be possible that anything to your disadvantage has occurred, +Teddy," she said as she held his hand for mutual sympathy. "Mr. Reaves +would have sent me word at once if that had happened." + +"Perhaps he doesn't know about it. Uncle Nathan may have been talking +with the deacon again, an' turned him against me." + +"I don't believe it would be possible for him to do such a thing. His +reputation is not so good that people could put faith in all he says, +more especially in regard to this case." + +"Then if he didn't do it some one else has, an' that makes it all the +worse," Teddy replied, as he tried to force back the tears. + +At this moment the sorrowing ones were startled by hearing the voice of +the man whom they had every reason to call their enemy, and an instant +later Uncle Nathan stood before them. + +"Well," he said in what sounded more like a snarl than anything else, +"you see the old skinflint did jest what he promised, an' he'll see to +it that the deacon don't stay on your bail very long unless I get my +rights." + +"What do you mean by your rights?" Mrs. Hargreaves asked. + +"I lent this ungrateful boy the money to start him in a business where +he's made more in a week than I ever could in a year. Then he helped +people to rob me, an' after all that I made what any man must call a +fair offer. See how much I've lost by him, an' then think of my offerin' +to straighten everything out by goin' in as his partner." + +"Why didn't you do this before the fair opened?" + +"I couldn't tell how it would turn out," the old man began, and then +realizing that he was admitting something to his discredit, he added, +quickly, "I mean I hadn't lost my money then, an' never suspected how he +would wrong me." + +It seemed as if these last words drove Teddy to desperation, and he no +longer-remembered the respect due to age. + +"Look here," he cried, angrily, rising, and standing directly in front +of Uncle Nathan, "if you believe I'm a burglar, you can't want to be my +partner. It was only after the fact of my having made considerable money +was known that you offered any trade. If the venture had been a losing +one you are the last person who would have taken hold of it. Now I'm +under arrest on a charge made by you, who know I am innocent, an' we'll +put an end to all this talk. Don't come where my mother and I am; do the +very worst you can, an' some day I'll have my innings." + +"You threaten, eh?" + +"That's exactly what I'm doing. I have leased this piece of ground until +to-morrow, and warn you that it'll be mighty uncomfortable if you show +your nose here again. Go now an' go quick!" + +"That's right, Teddy," Tim shouted in a tone of delight from the +opposite side of the booth. "Give it to him hot, an' I'll do my share. +If you don't want to tackle the job till after the trial, say the word +an' I'll sail in, for it gives me a pain to see him around." + +Teddy made no reply to this generous offer; but Uncle Nathan stepped +back very quickly as if fearing an immediate attack. + +"You won't be so bold to-morrow," he snarled, shaking his fist in +impotent rage, and then he disappeared from view amid the crowd that had +begun to gather. + +Both Teddy and his clerk thought it very singular that business should +be so good on this day, when the majority of the other fakirs were +comparatively idle, and also in view of what had been said against the +proprietor of the cane-board. + +Yet the people gathered around by scores, all intent on patronizing the +boys, and at the same time embracing every opportunity to display their +good will. + +Teddy and his mother remained partially screened from the gaze of the +curious until nearly two o'clock, when Dan, looking decidedly troubled, +arrived. + +"I suppose we've got to go to the grand stand an' find out what the +deacon wants," he said, mournfully. "My boss told me that we must be +there on time, an' we might as well start." + +"I want to have it over as soon as possible," Teddy replied. "Nothin' +that comes can be any worse than waitin' here thinkin' of what may +happen." + +The two boys walked either side of Mrs. Hargreaves as they went to meet +the deacon, and it seemed very much as if the majority of the people +present knew what was about to occur, for the sad-visaged party was +followed by crowds of the visitors as they walked steadily onward. + +It was exactly two o'clock when they arrived at the stairway leading to +the grand stand, and there they were met by the leader of the band from +the Run, who said with a mysterious manner as he opened a gate leading +to the track in front of the judges' stand: + +"You are to come this way." + +"Where's the deacon?" Teddy asked. + +"Waiting for you." + +Without further explanation the musician led the three to a spot where +all could see them, and to the intense surprise of the sorrowful-looking +party, the throng assembled on the benches greeted them with the most +hearty applause. + +"You are to come with me, Mrs. Hargreaves," the conductor said, as he +escorted her to one of the front seats, and Teddy and Dan stood as if +stupefied, gazing in dismay at the sea of faces in front of them. + +Before the boys had sufficiently recovered from their bewilderment to be +able to speculate upon what was to happen Deacon Jones came down the +steps until he reached a place where all could see him and there began a +speech which caused at least two of that assemblage to gaze at him in +open-mouthed astonishment. + +The manager of the fair did not intend to neglect any opportunity of +making himself conspicuous, and he delivered an eloquent address, +looking first at the boys and then at the audience, which cannot be +given here because of lack of space. + +He first explained to the spectators that Teddy had taken upon himself +the business of fakir simply that he might aid his widowed mother. Then +he detailed the loss of the fifteen dollars, and finally broached the +one important matter, that of the scene on the creek, when the three +women were rescued from drowning. + +By this time the cheeks of Teddy and Dan were flaming red, and if he had +been charging them with the most atrocious crimes they could not have +looked more guilty or uncomfortable. + +"As you all know," he said, in conclusion, "we have met here to see +bravery and a spirit of self-sacrifice rewarded. On behalf of the ladies +whose lives were saved by these little heroes I am about to present +Edward Hargreaves and Daniel Summers with one hundred dollars each. In +addition to that amount the managers of the fair and several gentlemen +who do not care to have their names made public, have made up a purse of +one hundred and eighty dollars to be divided equally between them. It is +most gratifying to me that I have been selected as the instrument +through whom this testimonial is presented, and in behalf of my brother +officers as well as myself I will state that these brave boys have the +freedom of the grounds whenever the Peach Bottom fair is open." + +As he concluded, the deacon walked with a majestic bearing down to the +bewildered boys, presented each with a well-filled pocketbook and then +waved his hand as a signal for the band, every member of which did his +best to make the music heard above the rounds of applause intended for +the blushing fakirs. + +In the meantime the people came down from the benches to congratulate +the life-savers, and for fully an hour the two were forced to remain +there listening to words of praise which they felt were not warranted by +their exploit on the creek. + +Among the most welcome of these enthusiastic visitors was Jacob Sweet, +and he said, heartily: + +"I heard of this little performance jest in time to get here before that +long-winded speech was begun; but what pleases me the most is that I was +ahead of the whole gang, an' started our little blow-out when it wasn't +known you had so many friends. I'll see you to-night, of course, an' I +must go now, for the bouncer has been around tellin' that you've been +sleepin' in my tent, an' I count on a good payin' crowd this afternoon." + +It was considerably past three o'clock when the boys and Mrs. Hargreaves +returned to the cane-board, looking very much different than when they +left it, and Tim cried as they came up: + +"I've heard all about it, an' what I want to know is, where was old +Nathan while that speechifyin' was goin' on?" + +"I saw him when we first arrived," Mrs. Hargreaves replied, "but he left +a few moments later, although I have no doubt that he remained where he +could hear all that was said without being seen." + +"That's where he was wise. It wouldn't be very pleasant for him to show +himself now, 'cause everybody is down on him after what the deacon +said." + +Dan was obliged to return to his duties, and he whispered to Teddy +before leaving: + +"I tell you what it is, old feller, this has been a reg'lar puddin' for +us, an' I'd give a good deal to see another jest like it." + +"You're all right, but I expect after this Uncle Nathan will be so mad +he'll make me a pile of trouble." + +"Don't worry about that; his claws are cut now. I'll be back in time to +go to supper." + +When he departed Teddy had an opportunity to say a few words to his +mother before she returned home on the stage, which was advertised to +leave at four o'clock, and while he did this all thought of being under +arrest was put far from his mind because of the joy at what he was now +able to perform. + +"Never mind what happens to me," he whispered. "I've now got nearly +money enough to pay off all we owe, an' it has been earned honestly, +too, although I believe they paid a big price for what Dan an' I did on +the creek." + +"I'm thinking more of the praise you earned than the money, Teddy. It +was very sweet to hear the deacon say so much to you before all those +people." + +"Then both of us will be awfully jolly to-night, an' to-morrow I'll be +home, an' bring Dan with me." + +"Invite him to stay just as long as he wishes, and I will have a nice +supper ready when the last stage arrives." + +Teddy gave his mother nearly all the money he had, including the +"testimonial," and as she walked away he said to Tim: + +"I'm willin' to be arrested, an' put into jail a good many days for the +sake of being able to help her as I can do now." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_THE TRIAL._ + + +It was only natural that both Teddy and Dan should feel highly elated +after this public expression of admiration which culminated in the +presentation of the purse, but they immediately returned to attend to +their several duties when the ceremonies were finished. + +Dan went back to the exhibition as if he had done nothing worth +remembering, and in less than half an hour from the time the deacon +concluded his flowery speech it would have required a very ardent +student of humanity to discover that anything out of the natural course +of events had taken place. + +At the cane-board Teddy waited upon his customers as before, and without +the slightest sign of having been honored by the magnates of the fair, +while Dan fired at the target as if he had been a boy with no other +claim upon the public's attention than his ability to hit a mark. + +Yet it must be confessed that both experienced a very pleasing sense of +having satisfied the public, and each, in his own peculiar way, knew he +had risen a little above the average boy. + +There can be no question that any one placed in the same position must +have felt gratified by the many expressions of friendship and good-will +with which these two were literally overwhelmed, and it would have been +more than could be expected of human nature had they remained unmoved +under the extravagant flattery which was showered upon them immediately +after the close of Deacon Jones' speech. + +Although there was not quite as much money flowing into the box as on +the day previous, Teddy was more than pleased with the receipts, because +every penny seemed to express just such an amount of good-will. + +Until nearly nightfall he remained at the booth, answering questions +upon the same subject till it seemed to have been worn threadbare, and +then, however great his desire to earn money, he felt a positive sense +of relief that his connection with the Peach Bottom fair had finally +come to an end. + +"This is the last time you an' I will pack up the stuff," he said to Tim +as they put into condition for removal the cane and knife boards. "I +promised to give you all that was left, and you're more than welcome to +it." + +"But you surely don't mean to give me the whole lot," Tim cried in +surprise. + +"That's exactly what I'm going to do, and I sincerely hope when you make +a stand you'll meet with the same good friends I have here." + +"I can't take these things unless you'll allow me to pay something +toward what they cost." + +"Look here, Tim," Teddy said, earnestly, "you have shown yourself to be +a friend of mine, an' every cent that has come in here you've accounted +for. Now, whatever may happen, I'm through bein' a fakir; but if you +want to follow the business, I can only hope you'll come out all right. +We'll carry this to Mr. Sweet's tent, an' I'll only be so much the +better pleased, and in case you don't, I'm bound to help you in every +way. Besides, I promised to pay a certain percentage on the profits; +that is yet to be settled." + +"It never will be," Tim replied in the most decided tone. "If I take +these goods I've got more than a fair share, an' won't listen to +anything else." + +"Very well, we'll leave it that way. You now own everything, an' I owe +you lots of good-will." + +On this basis the remnants of the two boards were packed up for removal, +and when they were about to take the goods to Mr. Sweet's tent Dan +arrived. + +"How much business did you do to-day?" he asked. + +Teddy delayed sufficiently long to count the receipts, and then +replied: + +"Forty-one dollars and fifteen cents. That gives Tim four-eleven, an' I +get more than would have been the case but for the testimonial this +afternoon. The folks crowded around to see me, rather than to get the +canes, an' so business has picked up better than any one expected." + +"It don't make any difference how the money came in so long as you have +got it," Dan replied, philosophically, "an' now the question is what are +we to do for supper, since we paid our bill at the boarding-house this +afternoon?" + +"Have you got any idea?" + +"Of course, or else I wouldn't have asked the question. Let's invite Mr. +Sweet, the bouncer, and the clown to some restaurant down town, an' try +to give them as good a time as we had last night." + +This proposition met with Teddy's approval, and the party was made up as +he suggested, the cost being divided between the two boys who had been +the recipients of the public testimonial. + +Not until a late hour in the evening did these festivities come to an +end, and then the party retired to the museum tent, where they remained +undisturbed until the present season of the Peach Bottom fair had come +to an end. + +It was an unusually late hour for fakirs to arise when Mr. Sweet +awakened the boys as he said: + +"Turn out now, lads, an' get your stuff ready for removal. I'm sorry to +part company, but we can't stay here forever, an' the museum must be +forty miles the other side of Waterville by Monday morning." + +Dan had completed and been paid for his work with the Stevens Company, +therefore he had nothing to do; Teddy no longer claimed any interest in +the canes and knives left over from the week's work; consequently he was +free to go where he pleased, and Tim had his goods in such a condition +that they could be removed at any moment, which prevented him from +feeling any anxiety regarding the future. + +Thus it was that all three of the boys were at liberty to assist the +proprietor of the museum, and this they did with a will until the +arrival of Lawyer Harvey caused them to think of what had almost been +forgotten in the bustle and confusion of breaking camp. + +"We are due at the 'Squire's office at nine o'clock, and it is time you +boys were getting over that way," he said, briskly; "our case won't come +up to-day, but it has been decided to give Hazelton a hearing, and I am +very much afraid he's going to get the worst of it." + +"What do you mean?" Teddy asked, anxiously. + +"Well, you see I have not been able to get any information in addition +to what you boys furnished, and there seems little doubt that the +'Squire must perforce bind him over for trial. The fact that he has +deliberately swindled so many people will work against him, and we can +do very little to save him." + +"What will be the result of his being bound over?" Teddy asked. + +"He must remain in jail, unless he can get bail, until next fall." + +"But that in itself will be a terrible punishment." + +"True; yet it cannot be avoided. If he had worked honestly the case +would be different; but now he will be fortunate even to get out in the +fall." + +"Yet Uncle Nathan says I am equally guilty." + +"We can easily show you had nothing to do with the robbery, and that is +our only care this morning." + +"What about Long Jim?" + +"He remains silent, refusing to answer the simplest questions, and +unless he speaks Hazelton must be bound over; the 'Squire can pursue no +other course." + +Believing as they did that Hazelton was innocent of the charge upon +which he had been arrested, both Teddy and Dan felt it was a great +hardship for the fakir to remain so long in prison; but since it was +beyond their power to give him any relief, neither expressed an opinion +other than has been recorded. + +Mr. Harvey had come for them to accompany him to the Squire's office, +and since there was nothing to detain them they set out, after first +bidding Mr. Sweet a cordial 'goodby, for he had announced his intention +of leaving Peach Bottom on the noon train. + +"I shall see one or both of you at some time in the future," he said, +with considerable feeling, "an' there'll be no complaint to make if I +never fall in with worse boys." + +The bouncer and the clown also had something to say in the form of an +adieu, and when the boys left the proprietor of the alleged wonderful +museum it was like parting with an old friend, for he had shown himself +to be a "very present help in time of trouble." + +Tim did not propose to start for the Run until his companions had +concluded their business; his goods were packed ready for removal, and +there was nothing better for him to do than accompany them to the +court-room where it seemed as if all they might say would result only in +a long term of imprisonment for Hazelton before he could be tried on the +baseless charge brought against him, simply because of the disreputable +business in which he was engaged. + +Mr. Harvey had little or nothing to say during the walk to the 'Squire's +office, and arriving there the jewelry fakir was seen looking thoroughly +despondent. + +"Can I speak with him?" Teddy asked the lawyer. "What do you want to +say?" + +"Nothing in particular, except to tell him how bad I feel because we +could do nothing to clear him." + +"Very well; but do not talk long, for it may prejudice your own case. +The people whom he has swindled are here to see that some form of +punishment is meted out to him, and it can do you no good to be seen +acting as a consoler." + +This possibility troubled Teddy very little since he was confident of +his own innocence, and he approached the prisoner as he said: + +"I wish I could do something, Mr. Hazelton, to prove you as innocent as +I believe you to be." + +"There's no need of that, my boy. I've put you in a hole already, and +you've done more for me than some others who call themselves friends." + +"I know it was Long Jim who committed the burglary; but how can it be +proven now?" + +"There was only one way, and that was to catch the real thieves with +their plunder. Mr. Harvey tells me his attempt was a failure, an' it +wouldn't surprise me if I was not only remanded for trial, but received +a sentence for something of which I am absolutely innocent. I don't +profess to be very good, my boy, as you may understand after seeing me +work on the fair grounds; but I never yet descended to do such things as +I am charged with now." + +"I am certain of that," and Teddy pressed the prisoner's hand in token +of friendship, "and only wish it was possible to aid you." + +"You have already done more than my partners did," was the grateful +reply, and then further conversation was prevented as the 'Squire called +the assembly to order. + +It was not a regular court of law; but one would have thought it the +most dignified judicial body in the country had he seen the air with +which the 'Squire took his seat at the head of the long table as he +called the case. + +"That settles Hazelton," Dan whispered as Teddy left the prisoner and +rejoined his friends. "Somebody has got to suffer in order to make the +law come out square, an' he's the feller what'll have to stand the brunt +of everything." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_AN ARRIVAL._ + + +Lawyer Harvey did not neglect anything which might work to the advantage +of his client; but in the face of the evidence his efforts appeared to +be in vain. + +Uncle Nathan, who arrived just as the case was called, swore to the fact +that Hazelton had been in his store on the Sunday afternoon prior to the +robbery, and that he had told the prisoner of his keeping large amounts +of money in the building, because of the difficulty and expense of +sending the cash to the Waterville bank. + +He also testified that Hazelton seemed unusually interested in +everything pertaining to the store, and asked many questions relative to +his (the witness') habits, such as the time when business usually began, +how late he remained in the building at night, as well as several other +things which now seemed as if the information had been sought simply for +the purpose of knowing when would be the safest time to commit the +crime. + +"How much did you lose?" Mr. Harvey asked. + +"I don't know for certain; but I stand willin' to give fifty dollars if +the goods can be recovered, an' if my nephew would tell all he +knows----" + +"That will do, Mr. Hargreaves," the lawyer said, sharply. "Teddy is not +under examination, and until he is we do not care to hear your opinion +concerning him." + +"I reckon I can tell what I want to, can't I, 'Squire?" + +"You must confine yourself to this particular case. As to whether there +is sufficient evidence to bind the prisoner over does not concern the +charge against your nephew, at least not to the extent of your telling +what you think." + +"I thought, perhaps, if he heard me say I'd give fifty dollars to know +where the goods were, an' knew I'd swear to it, he might confess, for he +has shown himself to be powerful fond of a dollar." + +"That appears to be a peculiarity of some of his relatives," Mr. Harvey +said, dryly, and at this remark the spectators laughed heartily, while +the old man growled: + +"I didn't come here to be told that I was a miser; but it seems even men +who call themselves gentlemen think sich things are all right." + +"If you have no other evidence to give we will not detain you," the +lawyer said, sharply; and as Uncle Nathan returned to his chair near the +door the proprietor of the hotel at the Run was called upon to testify. + +What he said was in favor of the prisoner rather than otherwise. + +He swore to the fact that the prisoner spent the night on which the +burglary was committed at his house; that he pretended to retire at an +early hour, and started for Peach Bottom on the first stage. + +Under Mr. Harvey's skillful cross-examination the landlord admitted that +unless a man got out of the window he could not have left the house +without the knowledge of the watchman, who kept the keys and remained in +the office all night. It was also shown that Hazelton brought and +carried away with him, so far as was known at the hotel, nothing but a +small traveling satchel. + +Then several people from the Run were called to prove that the fakir was +really in the town on this particular Sunday, and the driver of the +stage testified that the prisoner rode with him the entire distance to +Peach Bottom. The landlord of the hotel where Hazelton boarded during +the fair week, or so much of it as he was at liberty, swore to the fact +that the prisoner had never brought any quantity of baggage to his +house, and appeared to be very regular in his habits. So far as he (the +landlord) knew, the fakir remained in his room nearly all the time, +except while on the exhibition grounds. + +This ended the testimony, and Mr. Harvey argued that there was really +no evidence to connect the prisoner with the crime. + +"That he conducted a game which could hardly be called honest is +admitted," he said; "but it has nothing to do with the case. Prejudice +should not be allowed to take the place of facts, and I insist that my +client be released." + +"I reckon there's sufficient ground for suspicion," the 'Squire replied, +"an' I don't see any other way out of it. A jury must decide, an' I +shall hold him in the sum of three thousand----" + +At this moment the dignity of the court received a severe shock, as a +most unseemly disturbance suddenly occurred at the door, and the 'Squire +paused to learn who was so bold as to disturb the representative of the +law at the very instant when he was delivering an opinion. + +"It's nobody but a boy," Uncle Nathan replied as he held the door firmly +closed, while the would-be visitor kicked so vigorously as to threaten +the destruction of the panels. + +"Bring him in here, an' we'll see whether such a row can be kicked up in +a court of law with impunity." + +"Better let me throw him into the street," Uncle Nathan snarled. + +"Mr. Constable, bring that boy before me," the 'Squire said, sternly, +and an instant later, to the consternation of all those who had seen +him, the boy who was supposed to have been drowned two days before +entered, looking decidedly the worse for having existed so long without +water and soap. + +"Why, it's Sam, an' he ain't dead!" Teddy cried as he rose to his feet. + +"Of course I ain't; but it wouldn't been many days before I turned into +a corpse if I hadn't got away from them thieves," the amateur detective +replied. + +"Who are you, an' what do you want here?" the 'Squire asked, sternly, as +he rapped on the table for the spectators to remain silent. + +"Why, I'm Sam Balderston, the feller who come to the fair to work for +the Davis Boat an' Oar Company of Detroit, an' if what Long Jim told me +was true, folks have been tryin' to find me in the creek." + +"This is the boy who was reported to have been drowned on the day when +those lads," here the lawyer pointed to Teddy and Dan, "claim to have +seen two men carrying goods into an old barn on the marshes. I fancy he +can give us information relative to the true burglars." + +"You bet I can," and now that he was the central figure in the scene, +all Sam's old assurance returned. "If you mean the fellers what broke +into Teddy's uncle's store, I can flash one of them up. The other come +to the fair an' didn't get back, so Phil thought he was arrested." + +"Who do you mean by the other fellow?" Mr. Harvey asked. + +"Why, Long Jim, the same man what swindled Teddy out of his fifteen +dollars at Waterville." + +"Have you been with him since your disappearance?" + +"Most of the time he hung around, an' then ag'in Phil was there." + +"Who is Phil?" + +"Long Jim's partner. They've got a slat of stuff what has been stole +'round here, an' I know where all of it is." + +"Tell the 'Squire the whole story." + +This was Sam's opportunity, and, in order to cover himself with glory, +he slaughtered the truth in the most shocking manner. + +"Well," he said, in a consequential way, "when Dan an' me an' Teddy saw +the thieves carryin' stuff down to that old barn I wanted to rush in an' +arrest both; but the other fellows was scared an' come ashore to talk +with Hazelton so's he'd tell 'em what to do. Then I jes' made up my mind +to carry on the job myself, an' went back." + +"Where?" the 'Squire asked. + +"To the barn to get the stuff. While I was diggin' it up the men come +back, an' the minute they saw who was on their trail they got +frightened." + +"And who was on their trail?" the 'Squire interrupted. + +"Why, me, of course. They rushed in, an' I had the awfullest row; but it +was two to one, an' so I got the worst of it. They had to work mighty +hard before gettin' me tired, an' then all the stuff was dug up an' put +in the boat. My craft was upset an' sent adrift, so's to make it look as +if I was dead, an' we went down the creek six or seven miles, where we +hid in the woods. Phil came back here after more goods what had been +stolen, an' they was goin' to skip the country, when there was a big +row, an' Long Jim allowed he'd come to the fair once more. Phil was mad, +an' got pretty drunk, an' after that I had my innings. I turned to an' +lashed him up same's I'd been; but we had an' awful fight. It takes +more'n one man to git away with me." + +"Where is this fellow now?" the 'Squire interrupted again. + +"Down the creek, tied up so's he can't hardly breathe, an' he must be +pretty near sober by this time." + +"If he was very drunk I do not understand how he could have fought so +hard." + +"Well, he did; but I got the best of him, an' what's more, I know where +all the stuff that's been stolen is hid." + +"Mr. Constable, bring into court the prisoner who is charged with +swindling, and let us see if this extraordinary boy can identify him," +the 'Squire said, with an unusual amount of dignity. + +"If it's Long Jim, you bet I can," Sam said, as he turned toward the +spectators that they might have a good opportunity of seeing such a +wonderful detective as he claimed to be. + +Teddy and Dan could hardly control their impatience to speak privately +with Sam. As a matter of course, they understood that he was +embellishing the story, and both were eager to make him tell the exact +truth. + +Just at that moment, however, Sam had no time to spend on ordinary boys. +He had come out of a bad scrape with apparently flying colors, and +intended to enjoy his triumph to the utmost before sinking back to his +rightful plane. + +The jail was near at hand, and Sam had not exhibited himself as much as +he desired when Long Jim was brought in. + +On seeing the boy the burglar gave a start of surprise, and allowed the +incriminating question to escape his lips: + +"Has Phil been pinched, too?" + +"I took care of that business, an' we'll bring him in some time to-day. +Say, what about that awful lickin' you was goin' to give me?" + +"I'll cut your throat before this job is finished," was the angry reply, +and there was no longer any necessity of asking Sam if he recognized the +prisoner. + +"You say you can show us the stolen goods, and the other burglar is +where the officers can get him?" Mr. Harvey asked. + +"That's just what I can do," Sam replied, proudly. + +"Then you will have earned fifty dollars, for Mr. Hargreaves has +promised, even sworn, that he will pay that amount for the return of his +property," Mr. Harvey continued. + +"He might as well give me the money now, for I'm ready to turn the stuff +up, an' when there's more big detective work to be done, come to me." + +"I don't know about payin' any reward till I'm certain the little +villain isn't one of the thieves himself, an' is doin' this to swindle +me," Uncle Nathan cried, quickly. + +"He shall have the reward if the story is true," the 'Squire replied. +"You can't go back on what you've sworn to, an' must pay up. Mr. +Constable, get two or three men an' go with this boy. Don't lose sight +of him for a minute until he has given all the information in his +power." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_IN CONCLUSION._ + + +Sam was led away before either Teddy or Dan could speak privately with +him; but they went at once to congratulate Hazelton on his apparently +happy escape, and, in response to Mr. Harvey's request, the 'Squire +said: + +"The prisoner can remain here, or in your custody, until the party +returns. If the boy has told the truth there is nothing for me to do but +discharge him, and I am really glad that he has come out so +fortunately." + +"Don't think I'll ever forget what you've done for me," Hazelton +whispered to Teddy. + +"But it isn't me at all. Sam seems to have fixed everything." + +"I've got an idea that I know pretty near the truth of the whole story, +never mind how he tells it. At all events, we've no reason to complain, +for if the goods and the other burglar are found, we are out of our +trouble. Your uncle's charges can't hold after that." + +It was, as Teddy now realized for the first time, a happy conclusion to +the troubles of both, and his heart was lighter than it had been at any +time since the accusation was made. + +There was no question that those who had gone with Sam would be absent +several hours, and the little party in the court-room had more time at +their disposal than could well be occupied by the discussion of their +affairs. + +After the different phases of the case had been gone over in detail, +Hazelton asked Teddy: + +"How did you come out at the fair?" + +"I haven't figured up; but I know I've made a good deal, an' it must be +almost enough, countin' the money Deacon Jones gave us, to pay the debt +on the place." + +Until this moment Teddy had had so much on his mind that the principal +cause of his turning fakir was absent from his mind; but now, with +nothing better to do, he began to count up the week's work, announcing +the result a few moments later by saying: + +"I took in two hundred an' fifty-two dollars an' fifty cents during the +week. Out of that must come the money I lost at Waterville, what I paid +Uncle Nathan, the privilege, the money I paid Mr. Reaves for the stock, +Tim's wages, an' my board. That leaves one hundred an' forty-five +dollars an' ninety-eight cents. With what came in from the testimonial +I'll have enough to pay off the debt on the house, an' pretty near +eight dollars for myself, which is what I call a big week's work." + +"I'm glad you have made it," Hazelton replied, heartily. "There is a +little matter between you an' I which yet remains to be settled, and +when that has been done you should be considerably better off." + +"I don't want you to do a thing," Teddy said, quickly. "So many people +have helped me since the fair opened that it seems as if I was nothing +more or less than a beggar." + +"You come very far from deserving that title," the fakir replied, and +then the entrance of Mr. Reaves interrupted the conversation. After +talking with the lawyer, the merchant said to Teddy: + +"I am more than pleased to learn that you will be freed from all your +troubles in a short time. Next week I shall be in need of a clerk, and +if you wish to take the situation it shall be left open until you are +ready to go to work. The wages are six dollars a week for the first +year, with an increase as soon as you can earn it, and I will really be +pleased to have you in my employ." + +"I'd like to come," Teddy replied; "but it don't seem just right to +leave mother." + +"There is no necessity of doing so. You can ride back and forth on the +stage, unless your mother should decide, as I think she will eventually, +to make her home in Waterville." + +"If she approves of the plan I'll come to work next week." + +"Make it two weeks, so that there'll be plenty of time to arrange +matters, and I will expect you," the merchant replied in a tone which +showed that he was more than satisfied with the arrangement. "I only +came over to see if you needed any assistance; but Mr. Harvey says +you'll soon be free from the charge your uncle made, therefore I will go +back at once." + +About an hour after the merchant departed Sam and the constables +returned with Phil and the stolen goods. + +The amateur detective was in the best possible spirits, and now that the +burglar had been apprehended through his assistance the boy felt +absolutely certain he was the greatest detective in the country. + +As a matter of course, there was nothing the 'Squire could do save +discharge Hazelton from custody, and after Mr. Harvey had given his word +that he would take care Sam should appear when wanted as a witness, the +boy rejoined his friends, saying as he did so: + +"If you fellers had done as I wanted you'd be way up now, the same as I +am. Of course, I don't blame you for being afraid; but when you go out +on such work the only way is to hold on." + +"I wonder how long you'd have held on if the men hadn't made you stay +with them?" Dan asked. + +"Who told you that?" Sam said. "If I staid, it was because I knowed it +wouldn't be long until I got the upper hand of the gang, an I've done +it." + +Before the party separated, and while Uncle Nathan was identifying the +goods which had been stolen from him, Mr. Harvey insisted that the +reward should be paid, and although it was very much like drawing a +tooth, the old man was finally induced to make his word good. + +"It's a pile of money, but I earned it," Sam said, as he tucked Uncle +Nathan's grudgingly bestowed cash in his trousers pocket. "There ain't +many 'round this part of the country who could have done what I did, an' +it's only right detectives should be well paid." + +Then, with many protestations of friendship, the lawyer started for +home, after returning to Hazelton the money which Teddy had given Mr. +Reaves for safekeeping, and the fakir said as he walked out of the +court-room with the four boys: + +"Now, I want you to come with me, until my business is settled, and then +I'll shake the dust of Peach Bottom from my feet in the shortest +possible time." + +Not understanding what he meant, the boys accompanied him to the nearest +jewelry store, and there he bought two silver watches, which he +presented to Teddy and Dan, as he said: + +"These are only to remind you that I am grateful for what has been done. +It isn't much of a present; but it will suffice to show I'm not +ungrateful. Some time in the future I may meet you again, and then the +full debt shall be paid if I'm solid enough to do it." + +He was gone almost before the astonished boys could thank him, and with +his departure this story should properly be concluded, since Teddy has +made his last appearance as a fakir. + +A few more words, and "the end" shall be written. + +Sam, still believing himself especially designed for a detective, is yet +displaying his "style" as an oarsman in the employ of the Davis Boat and +Oar Company, and he believes he has guessed the weight of the yacht +which is so soon to be given away. + +Dan accepted an offer from Mr. Reaves last week, and he and Teddy are +learning the same business, both looking forward to the time when they +shall own a store equally as large. + +Uncle Nathan is still at the Run, but his trade has decreased very +materially, and Hazelton has not been seen since the day he left Peach +Bottom; but it is quite possible that when the fair opens this season +all the fakirs may again meet the country boy who made such a successful +venture at the country fair. + + + [THE END.] + + + +[Illustration: 53 STATE ST. + 19 KILBY ST.] + + +CHARLES E. BROWN & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS, BOSTON. + +RIDPATH'S UNITED STATES. + +Cloth 3.75 Sheep 5.00 Half Morocco 6.00 + +Size of Volumes 7-1/2 x 10-1/4 Inches. + + +[Illustration: THE UNITED STATES A HISTORY +JOHN CLARK RIDPATH L.L.D.] + +_Fac-simile Volume Reduced._ + +FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE BY THE +PUBLISHERS. + + +CHARLES E. BROWN & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS BOSTON. + +HALL'S IRELAND, 3 VOLS. IN 1. + +Cloth 3.75 Sheep 5.00 Half Morocco 6.00 + +Size of Volumes 7 1/2 x 10 1/4 Inches. + + +[Illustration: IRELAND ITS HISTORY SCENERY AND PEOPLE] + +_Fac-simile Volume Reduced._ + +FOR SALE BY ALL BOOKSELLERS OR SENT UPON RECEIPT OF PRICE BY THE +PUBLISHERS. + + +CHARLES E. 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