CHAPTER VIII. A SCENE IN THE GROCERY STORE.

 

 

"So you've come, have you, you young thief?" said Silas, sternly, as Chester entered the store. "Ain't you ashamed of yourself?"

 

"No, I'm not," Chester answered, boldly. "I've done nothing to be ashamed of."

 

"Oh, you hardened young villain¹. Give me the money right off, or I'll send you to jail."

 

"I hear from Abel that the store was robbed last night, and I suppose from what you say that you suspect me."

 

"So I do."

 

"Then you are mistaken. I spent all last night at home as my mother can testify."

 

"Then how came your handkerchief here?" demanded Silas, triumphantly², holding up the article.

 

"It must have been brought here."

 

"Oho, you admit that, do you? I didn't know but you'd say it came here itself."

 

"No, I don't think it did."

 

"I thought you'd own up arter a while."

 

"I own up to nothing."

 

"Isn't the handkerchief yours?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Then you stay here while Abel goes for the constable³. You've got to be punished for such doin's. But I'll give ye one chance. Give me back the money you took—thirty-seven dollars and sixty cents—and I'll forgive ye, and won't have you sent to jail."

 

"That is a very kind offer, Mr. Tripp, and if I had taken the money I would accept it, and thank you. But I didn't take it."

 

"Go for the constable, Abel, and mind you hurry. You just stay where you are, Chester Rand. Don't you go for to run away."

 

Chester smiled. He felt that he had the key to the mystery, but he chose to defer⁴ throwing light upon it.

 

"On the way, Abel," said Chester, "please call at our house and ask my mother to come to the store."

 

"All right, Chester."

 

The constable was the first to arrive.

 

"What's wanted, Silas?" he asked, for in country villages neighbors are very apt to call one another by their Christian⁵ names.

 

"There's been robbery and burglary, Mr. Boody," responded Mr. Tripp. "My store was robbed last night of thirty-seven dollars and sixty cents."

 

"Sho, Silas, how you talk!"

 

"It's true, and there stands the thief!"

 

"I am sitting, Mr. Tripp," said Chester smiling.

 

"See how he brazens it out! What a hardened young villain he is!"

 

"Come, Silas, you must be crazy," expostulated the constable, who felt very friendly to Chester. "Chester wouldn't no more steal from you than I would."

 

"I thought so myself, but when I found his handkerchief, marked with his name, on a flour barrel, I was convinced."

 

"Is that so, Chester?"

 

"Yes, the handkerchief is mine."

 

"It wasn't here last night," proceeded Silas, "and it was here this morning. It stands to reason that it couldn't have walked here itself, and so of course it was brought here."

 

By this time two other villagers entered the store.

 

"What do you say to that, Chester?" said the constable, beginning to be shaken in his conviction of Chester's innocence⁶.

 

"I agree with Mr. Tripp. It must have been brought here."

 

At this moment, Mrs. Rand and the minister whom she had met on the way, entered the store.

 

"Glad to see you, widder," said Silas Tripp, grimly. "I hope you ain't a-goin' to stand up for your son in his didoes."

 

"I shall certainly stand by Chester, Mr. Tripp. What is the trouble?"

 

"Only that he came into my store in the silent watches of last night," answered Silas, sarcastically⁷, "and made off with thirty-seven dollars and sixty cents."

 

"It's a falsehood, whoever says it," exclaimed Mrs. Rand, hotly.

 

"I supposed you'd stand up for him," sneered⁸ Silas.

 

"And for a very good reason. During the silent watches of last night, as you express it, Chester was at home and in bed to my certain knowledge."

 

"While his handkerchief walked over here and robbed the store," suggested Silas Tripp, with withering⁹ sarcasm¹⁰, as he held up the telltale evidence of Chester's dishonesty.

 

"Was this handkerchief found in the store?" asked Mrs. Rand, in surprise.

 

"Yes, ma'am, it was, and I calculate you'll find it hard to get over that evidence."

 

Mrs. Rand's face lighted up with a sudden conviction.

 

"I think I can explain it," she said, quietly.

 

"Oh, you can, can you? Maybe you can tell who took the money."

 

"I think I can."

 

All eyes were turned upon her in eager expectation.

 

"A tramp called at our house last evening," she said, "at about half-past nine, and I gave him a meal, as he professed¹¹ to be hungry and penniless. It was some minutes after ten when he left the house. He must have picked up Chester's handkerchief, and left it in your store after robbing the money drawer."

 

"That's all very fine," said Silas, incredulously, "but I don't know as there was any tramp. Nobody saw him but you."

 

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Tripp," said the minister, "but I saw him about half-past ten walking in the direction of your store. I was returning from visiting a sick parishioner when I met a man roughly dressed and of middle height, walking up the street. He was smoking a pipe."

 

"He lighted it before leaving our house," said Mrs. Rand.

 

"How did he know about my store?" demanded Silas, incredulously.

 

"He was asking questions about you while he was eating his supper."

 

Silas Tripp was forced to confess, though reluctantly, that the case against Chester was falling to the ground. But he did not like to give up.

 

"I'd like to know where Chester got the money he's been flauntin' round the last week," he said.

 

"Probably he stole it from your store last night," said the constable, with good-natured sarcasm.

 

"That ain't answerin' the question."

 

"I don't propose to answer the question," said Chester, firmly. "Where I got my money is no concern of Mr. Tripp, as long as I don't get it from him."

 

"Have I got to lose the money?" asked Silas, in a tragical¹² tone. "It's very hard on a poor man."

 

All present smiled, for Silas was one of the richest men in the village.

 

"We might take up a contribution for you, Silas," said the constable, jocosely¹³.

 

"Oh, it's all very well for you to joke about it, considerin' you didn't lose it."

 

At this moment Abel Wood, who had been sweeping¹⁴ the piazza¹⁵, entered the store in excitement.

 

"I say, there's the tramp now," he exclaimed.

 

"Where? Where?" asked one and another.

 

"Out in the street. Constable Perkins has got him."

 

"Call him in," said the minister.

 

A moment later, Constable Perkins came in, escorting the tramp, who was evidently under the influence of strong potations, and had difficulty in holding himself up.

 

"Where am I?" hiccoughed Ramsay.

 

"Where did you find him, Mr. Perkins?" asked Rev¹⁶. Mr. Morris.

 

"Just outside of Farmer Dexter's barn. He was lying on the ground, with a jug¹⁷ of whisky at his side."

 

"It was my jug," said Silas. "He must have taken it from the store. I didn't miss it before. He must have took it away with him."

 

"There warn't much whisky left in the jug. He must have absorbed most of it."

 

Now Mr. Tripp's indignation was turned against this new individual.

 

"Where is my money, you villain?" he demanded, hotly.

 

"Whaz-zer matter?" hiccoughed Ramsay.

 

"You came into my store last night and stole some money."

 

"Is zis zer store? It was jolly fun," and the inebriate¹⁸ laughed.

 

"Yes, it is. Where is the money you took?"

 

"Spent it for whisky."

 

"No, you didn't. You found the whisky here."

 

Ramsay made no reply.

 

"He must have the money about him," suggested the minister. "You'd better search his pockets, Mr. Perkins."

 

The constable thrust his hand into the pocket of his helpless charge, and drew out a roll of bills.

 

Silas Tripp uttered an exclamation¹⁹ of joy.

 

"Give it to me," he said. "It's my money."

 

The bills were counted and all were there.

 

Not one was missing. Part of the silver could not be found. It had probably slipped from his pocket, for he had no opportunity of spending any.

 

Mr. Tripp was so pleased to recover his bills that he neglected to complain of the silver coins that were missing. But still he felt incensed²⁰ against the thief.

 

"You'll suffer for this," he said, sternly, eying the tramp over his glasses.

 

"Who says I will?"

 

"I say so. You'll have to go to jail."

 

"I'm a 'spectable man," hiccoughed the tramp. "I'm an honest man. I ain't done nothin'."

 

"Why did you take my handkerchief last night?" asked Chester.

 

The tramp laughed.

 

"Good joke, wasn't it? So they'd think it was you."

 

"It came near being a bad joke for me. Do you think I robbed your store now, Mr. Tripp?"

 

To this question Silas Tripp did not find it convenient to make an answer. He was one of those men—very numerous they are, too—who dislike to own themselves mistaken.

 

"It seems to me, Mr. Tripp," said the minister, "that you owe an apology to our young friend here for your false suspicions."

 

"Anybody'd suspect him when they found his handkerchief," growled²¹ Silas.

 

"But now you know he was not concerned in the robbery you should make reparation."

 

"I don't know where he got his money," said Silas. "There's suthin' very mysterious about that five-dollar bill."

 

"I've got another, Mr. Tripp," said Chester, smiling.

 

"Like as not. Where'd you get it?"

 

"I don't feel obliged to tell."

 

"It looks bad, that's all I've got to say," said the storekeeper.

 

"I think, Mr. Tripp, you need not borrow any trouble on that score," interposed the minister. "I know where Chester's money comes from, and I can assure you that it is honestly earned, more so than that which you receive from the whisky you sell."

 

Silas Tripp was a little afraid of the minister, who was very plain-spoken, and turned away muttering.

 

The crowd dispersed²², some following Constable Perkins, who took his prisoner to the lockup.

1 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

2 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

3 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。

4 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

7 sarcastically   

adv.挖苦地，讽刺地

参考例句：

• 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
• Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。

8 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

9 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

10 sarcasm   

n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）

参考例句：

• His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
• She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。

11 professed   

公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的

参考例句：

• These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
• Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。

12 tragical   

adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的

参考例句：

• One day she was pink and flawless; another pale and tragical. 有的时候，她就娇妍、完美；另有的时候，她就灰白戚楚。
• Even Mr. Clare began to feel tragical at the dairyman's desperation. 连克莱先生看到牛奶商这样无计奈何的样子，都觉得凄惨起来。

13 jocosely   

adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地

参考例句：

14 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？

15 piazza   

n.广场；走廊

参考例句：

• Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
• They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

16 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

17 jug   

n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂

参考例句：

• He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐，保持着平衡往前走。
• She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。

18 inebriate   

v.使醉

参考例句：

• Drinking tea can inebriate people in summer.夏季饮茶不当也会让人有醉的感觉。
• He was inebriated by his phenomenal success.他陶醉于他显赫的成功。

19 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

20 incensed   

盛怒的

参考例句：

• The decision incensed the workforce. 这个决定激怒了劳工大众。
• They were incensed at the decision. 他们被这个决定激怒了。

21 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：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。