CHAPTER VII. SILAS TRIPP MAKES A DISCOVERY.

 When Silas Tripp went into his store the next day he was startled to find a window in the rear was partially¹ open.

 

"How did that window come open, Abel?" he asked, as Abel Wood entered the store.

 

"I don't know, sir."

 

"It must have been you that opened it," said his employer, sternly.

 

"I didn't do it, Mr. Tripp, honest I didn't," declared Abel, earnestly.

 

"Then how did it come open, that's what I want to know?"

 

"I am sure I can't tell."

 

"Somebody might have come in during the night and robbed the store."

 

"So there might."

 

"It's very mysterious. Such things didn't happen when Chester was here."

 

Abel made no answer, but began to sweep out the store, his first morning duty.

 

When Silas spoke² of the store being robbed he had no idea that such a robbing had taken place, but he went to the money drawer and opened it to make sure all was safe.

 

Instantly there was a cry of dismay.

 

"Abel!" he exclaimed, "I've been robbed. There's a lot of money missing."

 

Abel stopped sweeping³ and turned pale.

 

"Is that so, Mr. Tripp?" he asked, faintly.

 

"Yes, there's—lemme see. There's been burglars here. Oh, this is terrible!"

 

"Who could have done it, Mr. Tripp?"

 

"I dunno, but the store was entered last night. I never shall feel safe again," groaned⁴ Silas.

 

"Didn't they leave no traces?"

 

"Ha! here's a handkerchief," said Mr. Tripp, taking the article from the top of a flour barrel, "and yes, by gracious, it's marked Chester Rand."

 

"You don't think he took the money?" ejaculated Abel, in open-eyed wonder.

 

"Of course it must have been him! He knew just where I kept the money, and he could find his way about in the dark, he knew the store so well."

 

"I didn't think Chester would do such a thing."

 

"That's how he came by his five-dollar bill. He came in bold as brass⁵ and paid me with my own money—the young rascal⁶!"

 

"But how could he do it if the money was took last night? It was two or three days ago he paid you the five-dollar bill."

 

This was a poser, but Mr. Tripp was equal to the emergency.

 

"He must have robbed me before," he said.

 

"You haven't missed money before, have you?"

 

"Not to my knowledge, but he must have took it. Abel, I want you to go right over to the Widow Rand's and tell Chester I want to see him. I dunno but I'd better send the constable⁷ after him."

 

"Shall I carry him his handkerchief?"

 

"No, and don't tell him it's been found. I don't want to put him on his guard."

 

Abel put his broom behind the door and betook himself to the house of Mrs. Rand.

 

The widow herself opened the door.

 

"Is Chester at home?" asked Abel.

 

"Yes, he's eating his breakfast. Do you want to see him?"

 

"Well, Mr. Tripp wants to see him."

 

"Possibly he wants Chester to give him a little extra help," she thought.

 

"Won't you come in and take a cup of coffee while Chester is finishing his breakfast?" she said.

 

"Thank you, ma'am."

 

Abel was a boy who was always ready to eat and drink, and he accepted the invitation with alacrity⁸.

 

"So Mr. Tripp wants to see me?" said Chester. "Do you know what it's about?"

 

"He'll tell you," answered Abel, evasively.

 

Chester was not specially⁹ interested or excited. He finished his breakfast in a leisurely¹⁰ manner, and then taking his hat, went out with Abel. It occurred to him that Mr. Tripp might be intending to discharge Abel, and wished to see if he would return to his old place.

 

"So you don't know what he wants to see me about?" he asked.

 

"Well, I have an idea," answered Abel, in a mysterious tone.

 

"What is it, then?"

 

"Oh, I dassn't tell."

 

"Look here, Abel, I won't stir a step till you do tell me. You are acting¹¹ very strangely."

 

"Well, somethin' terrible has happened," Abel ejaculated, in excited tones.

 

"What's it?"

 

"The store was robbed last night."

 

"The store was robbed?" repeated Chester. "What was taken?"

 

"Oh, lots and lots of money was taken from the drawer, and the window in the back of the store was left open."

 

"I'm sorry to hear it. I didn't know there was anybody in Wyncombe that would do such things. Does Mr. Tripp suspect anybody?"

 

"Yes, he does."

 

"Who is it?"

 

"He thinks you done it."

 

Chester stopped abruptly¹² and looked amazed.

 

"Why, the man must be crazy! What on earth makes him think I would stoop to do such a thing?"

 

"'Cause your handkerchief was found on a flour barrel 'side of the money drawer."

 

"My handkerchief! Who says it was my handkerchief?"

 

"Your name was on it—in one corner; I seed it myself."

 

Then a light dawned upon Chester. The tramp whom he and his mother had entertained the evening before, must have picked up his handkerchief, and left it in the store to divert suspicion from himself. The detective instinct was born within Chester, and now he felt impatient to have the investigation¹³ proceed.

 

"Come on, Abel," he said, "I want to see about this matter."

 

"Well, you needn't walk so plaguy fast, wouldn't if I was you."

 

"Why not?"

 

"'Cause you'll probably have to go to jail. I'll tell you what I'd do."

 

"Well?"

 

"I'd hook it."

 

"You mean run away?"

 

"Yes."

 

"That's the last thing I'd do. Mr. Tripp would have a right to think I was guilty in that case."

 

"Well, ain't you?"

 

"Abel Wood, I have a great mind to give you a licking. Don't you know me any better than that?"

 

"Then why did you leave the handkerchief on the flour barrel?"

 

"That'll come out in due time."

 

They were near the store where Mr. Tripp was impatiently waiting for their appearance. He did not anticipate Abel's staying to breakfast, and his suspicions were excited.

 

"I'll bet Chester Rand has left town with the money," he groaned. "Oh, it's awful to have your hard earnin's carried off so sudden. I'll send Chester to jail unless he returns it—every cent of it."

 

Here Abel entered the store, followed by Chester.

1 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

4 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

6 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

7 constable   

n.(英国)警察，警官

参考例句：

• The constable conducted the suspect to the police station.警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
• The constable kept his temper,and would not be provoked.那警察压制着自己的怒气，不肯冒起火来。

8 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

9 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

10 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

13 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。