Prudence1 suggested to Victor to lie quite still and counterfeit2 sleep. Resistance would of course be futile3, for he was rather a delicate boy of sixteen, and the burglar was nearly six feet in height and looked as if he might weigh a hundred and eighty pounds.
The burglar, when he had effected his entrance, looked about him to get his bearings.
His glance fell on Victor.
“Ha! a boy!” he exclaimed, and with one[251] stride he reached the pallet on which the shop-boy slept.
Victor opened his eyes and looked with alarm into the rough, bearded face and fierce, forbidding eyes of the midnight intruder.
“I never saw you before.”
“That isn’t what I mean. Do you know why I am here?”
“To rob the store, I suppose,” answered Victor with a troubled look.
“Right, my chicken! Did you see me get into the window?”
“Yes.”
“And then you closed your eyes and pretended to be asleep?”
“Yes.”
“I’m on to that trick. Do you see this?” and the burglar displayed a piece of iron which Victor supposed to be a “jimmy.”
“Yes,” answered Victor, gazing at it as if fascinated.
[252]
“A little tap on your head with it and you’d be done for. That’s what I call a hint to you to act sensibly and not interfere8 with what don’t concern you. Now where’s the money?”
“I don’t think Mrs. Ferguson leaves any here. I expect she carries all away with her.”
“You expect!” repeated the burglar frowning. “Don’t you know?”
“How long have you been employed in this store?”
“I only came this afternoon.”
“That accounts for it. Are you sure there is no money here?”
“I don’t think there is.”
“I’ll look about and see. If you know what’s best for yourself you’ll keep quiet.”
Victor was compelled to look on in helpless anxiety while the burglar rummaged9 the store. He managed to find a couple of dollars in small change, which he pocketed grumblingly10. A few small ornamental11 articles he also took, and then made his exit from the window after a parting threat to Victor.
No sooner had he left the store than the latter sprang from the bed, drew on his pantaloons hurriedly, and running to the outer door unlocked it,[253] and standing12 in the doorway13 looked up and down the street.
By great good luck a policeman was just turning the corner. When he saw the boy in partial undress at the door of the bookstore he ran up, apprehending14 mischief15.
“What’s the matter, bub?” he asked.
“The store has just been entered from the rear and the burglar, after stealing what he thought worth taking, made his escape through the back yard.”
Instantly the policeman tapped for assistance and three brother officers made their appearance. After a hurried conference, two went through the store to the back, while the other two reconnoitered in front. The chances were in favor of the burglar’s escape, but apprehending no danger he had made his way into the next yard and was trying to enter the adjoining store. His imprudence cost him his liberty.
In five minutes he was brought again through the window with a stout16 policeman on each side. He scowled17 menacingly at Victor.
“You betrayed me, you young scoundrel!” he said.
“Keep your mouth shut!” said one of his captors.
[254]
“Yes,” answered Victor.
“What?” ejaculated Victor.
“He’s one of us,” said the burglar, addressing the policemen. “We got him into the store on purpose to help us. He only got the place this afternoon.”
Then for the first time Victor fell under suspicion.
“Is this true?” asked one of the officers turning to the boy.
“It is true that I got the place this afternoon.”
“And you know this man!”
“No; I never saw him before in my life.”
“That’s a lie, John Timmins, and you know it,” broke in the burglar audaciously.
“Is your name John Timmins?” asked the policeman with increased suspicion.
“No, sir. My name is Victor Wentworth.”
“Good, John. It does credit to your invention,” said the burglar laughing. “That’s a high-toned name you’ve got now.”
“Is this true that you are saying? Do you know the boy?”
[255]
“Of course I do. His father, Dick Timmins, is my pal. I thought we could trust the boy, but he’s betrayed me, the young rascal19, expectin’ a reward for his honesty. Oh, he’s a sly one, John is.”
Victor could hardly believe his ears. He understood at once that this man was acting20 from revengeful motives22, but he saw also that the story made an impression on the police.
“You’ll have to go with us,” said one of the officers. “This man has made a charge against you, and you will have to disprove it.”
Victor was compelled to dress hurriedly and accompany the officers to the station-house. He was questioned by the sergeant23, who recognized the burglar and suspected his motive21.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Victor Wentworth.”
“Do you live in Kansas City?”
“No, sir. I have been stopping here a few days at a boarding-house, but my money gave out and I was obliged to seek a situation.”
“When did you secure it?”
“This afternoon.”
“Just what I told you,” said the burglar. “It was all fixed24 that John should sleep there and open the window for me.”
[256]
“What have you to say to this?”
“That it is a lie. This man wants to punish me for calling in the police.”
“Bring him here and let him claim me if he dare!” said Victor angrily.
“Who is your father? Is his name Timmins?”
“No, sir. My father is Bradley Wentworth, of Seneca, Illinois.”
“We have an officer here who came from Seneca. He will tell us whether your statement is correct. Ah, here he is! Hilton, come here.”
A stout, pleasant-faced policeman entered the station house.
“Look at this boy and tell me if you recognize him.”
Hilton approached, and as he scanned Victor’s face, said in surprise, “Why, it’s Squire27 Wentworth’s son.”
“And he lives in Seneca?”
“Yes; I am surprised to see him here.”
Victor flushed.
“I left school without my father’s knowledge,” he said in embarrassment28.
[257]
“He is working in a bookstore here in town,” explained the sergeant. “This man who has just been caught in the act of burglary declares the boy to be John Timmins, the son of one of his pals29.”
“That isn’t true. I recognize the boy as the son of Mr. Wentworth.”
“That settles the matter. Young man, you are discharged. As for the man who has testified falsely against you, he will find that he has not improved his chances by so doing.”
Victor left the station-house, and returning to the store, resumed his interrupted night’s rest. But the last hour had been so full of excitement that it was at least two hours before he could compose himself to sleep.
“I’ve read about burglars,” thought Victor, as he called to mind sundry30 dime31 novels that he had perused32 in his boarding-school days, “but I never expected to meet one, or to be suspected of being his accomplice33.”
Before Mrs. Ferguson reached the store she had already read in great excitement an account of how her place had been entered, and gave Victor high praise for his success in causing the arrest of the burglar.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
counterfeit
|
|
| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
futile
|
|
| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
rummaged
|
|
| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的过去式和过去分词 )； 已经海关检查 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
grumblingly
|
|
| 喃喃报怨着，发牢骚着 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
11
ornamental
|
|
| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
apprehending
|
|
| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
heeding
|
|
| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
whack
|
|
| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
squire
|
|
| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
pals
|
|
| n.朋友( pal的名词复数 )；老兄；小子；（对男子的不友好的称呼）家伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
sundry
|
|
| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
dime
|
|
| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
perused
|
|
| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
accomplice
|
|
| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |