CHAPTER XI. THE TWENTY-DOLLAR BILL.

 In order to understand what followed, it is necessary to explain that the evening previous Bert and his mother found themselves out of money. About a dollar was due the latter for covering balls, but it would not be paid for three days, and meanwhile they were in an embarrassing condition.

 

"What shall we do?" asked Mrs. Barton, with a troubled look. "If Uncle Jacob were only here, I would ask his advice."

 

"He left a note to be opened if we got into trouble," said Bert, brightening up.

 

"So he did. Do you think the time has come, Bert?"

 

"I have no doubt of it. Where is it, mother?"

 

"I put it in a bureau drawer in my room."

 

"Shall I go up and get it?"

 

"No; I will do so, as I know exactly where it is."

 

She went upstairs, and returned almost immediately with the letter in her hand. Bert produced his knife and cut open the envelope78 at one end. Then, drawing out the contents, he found them to be a half sheet of note paper and a bank bill.

 

"It's a twenty-dollar bill, mother!" he exclaimed joyfully¹.

 

"Shall I read the note?"

 

"Yes, read it, Bert."

 

Bert read as follows:

 

My Dear Niece: As I know your income is small, and you are liable, in case of sickness or loss of employment to need help, I put a twenty-dollar bill into this envelope, which I wish you to use freely. Do not fear that it will inconvenience me to give it. My health is good, and I hope to earn my living for years to come.

 

Your affectionate uncle,

 

Jacob Marlowe.

 

"Dear Uncle Jacob," said the widow gratefully, "how good and kind he is. With his small savings² I don't feel that he can afford to be so generous."

 

"I will pay him back some time, mother."

 

"You think then that we are justified³ in using it, Bert?"

 

"Uncle Jacob meant us to do so. Before it is gone I shall probably find something to do,79 and then I may gradually be able to pay back the money."

 

"In that case, Bert, I am afraid we must break into it to-morrow. Probably Mr. Jones can change it for us."

 

So it happened the next evening that Bert, with the kerosene⁴ can in his hand, went to the store, entering, as already described, just as Percy left it with the bill which he had purloined⁵ on the impulse of the moment.

 

"I would like two quarts of kerosene, Mr. Jones," said Bert, handing over the can.

 

The proprietor⁶ went to one corner of the store to fill the can, and brought it back.

 

"Please take your pay out of this," said Bert, handing him the twenty-dollar bill.

 

Mr. Jones started in surprise, and his face darkened ominously⁷. He scanned the desk on which he remembered placing his own twenty-dollar bill, and it was nowhere to be seen.

 

"Why, you audacious young thief!" he exclaimed in a fury.

 

"What do you mean?" demanded Bert angrily.

 

"What do I mean?" gasped⁸ Jones. "You know what I mean well enough. I never knew such audacity⁹."

 

"Please explain yourself, Mr. Jones," said80 Bert with spirit. "I didn't come here to be insulted."

 

"You are a hardened young reprobate¹⁰! Do you mean to say you didn't steal this twenty-dollar bill from my desk, where I laid it five minutes since?"

 

"I don't know anything about any twenty-dollar bill of yours, Mr. Jones. This money is mine, or rather my mother's, and I brought it with me from home."

 

"Do you expect me to believe this bold falsehood, Bert Barton?" the store-keeper exploded wrathfully.

 

"I don't expect you to believe any falsehood at all, Mr. Jones. Will you either change that bill or give it back to me?"

 

"I will do neither."

 

"Then, sir, it is you who are the thief."

 

"You impudent¹¹ young rascal¹², now I won't have any mercy on you. For your mother's sake, I might have done so, but as you persist in brazening out your guilt¹³, I will see that you have a chance to repent¹⁴. Here is the constable¹⁵ come in just at the right moment. Mr. Drake, please come here."

 

A tall, pleasant-looking officer, who had just entered the store, approached the desk.

 

"What can I do for you, Mr. Jones?" he asked.81

 

"Arrest this boy!" said Jones, pointing with flushed face at his young customer.

 

"Arrest Bert Barton!" exclaimed Constable Drake, in amazement¹⁶. "What on earth has he done?"

 

"Stolen a twenty-dollar bill from my desk, and then presented it to me in payment for some kerosene."

 

"The charge is false!" said Bert, his eyes glowing with indignation.

 

"Hear him deny it!" said Jones, looking at the circle that had gathered around them.

 

"I find it hard to credit your charge, Mr. Jones," replied the constable. "We all know Bert Barton, and I don't believe he would be guilty of theft."

 

"I require you to arrest the boy!" persisted the store-keeper, stamping his foot in excitement.

 

"Wait a moment! Did you see him take the bill?"

 

"No," answered Jones reluctantly.

 

"Then why do you accuse him? Please state the circumstances."

 

"A few minutes since I was paid twenty dollars by Mr. Holbrook of the hotel, in settlement of his weekly bill for groceries, and being somewhat hurried I laid it down on the desk while I was filling an order."82

 

"Go on!"

 

"Five minutes since Bert Barton came in and took up his position where he is now standing¹⁷. He asked me for two quarts of kerosene. I filled his can for him, and he gave me a twenty-dollar bill from which to take payment. I was naturally surprised, and looked for the bill I had left on the desk. It was gone!"

 

Mr. Jones gazed about the circle triumphantly¹⁸.

 

"What do you say to that?" he asked.

 

Sympathetic eyes were turned upon Bert. Things certainly looked black for him.

 

"I don't think I need say any more," added the store-keeper. "I want you to arrest that boy."

 

Bert looked at the faces that encircled him. He saw that they believed him guilty, and a feeling of hot indignation possessed¹⁹ him.

 

"Bert, my boy," said Officer Drake, "what have you to say to this?"

 

"That the twenty-dollar bill I handed to Mr. Jones belongs to my mother. I know nothing of the bill he says he laid on his desk."

 

"That's a likely story!" put in Mr. Jones, in a tone of sarcasm²⁰. "How many more83 twenty-dollar bills have you got at your house? I wasn't aware that your mother was so wealthy."

 

Again opinion was unfavorable to poor Bert. His mother's straitened circumstances were well known, and it certainly did seem improbable upon the face of it that she should have a twenty-dollar bill in her possession.

 

"This was the only twenty-dollar bill that my mother had," replied Bert.

 

"Oh, indeed! I thought as much," said Mr. Jones significantly. "Mr. Drake, do you intend to arrest that boy?" he added angrily.

 

"I have no warrant," returned the officer. "If you will swear that you saw him take the bill, I will assume the responsibility."

 

"I didn't see him take it," the store-keeper again admitted reluctantly; "but it stands to reason that it is mine."

 

Here a young man in the outer circle stepped forward. He was a summer boarder at the hotel, and Bert knew him slightly.

 

"I am a lawyer," he said, "and if Bert will place his interests in my hands I will see what I can do to throw light upon this mystery."

 

"I shall be very glad to do so, Mr. Conway," answered Bert.

 

"No lawyer is needed," sputtered²¹ Jones. "The case is as plain as can be. I have no more doubt that the boy took my bill than if I had seen him do it."

 

"That isn't legal proof; it is only an assumption," said the young lawyer. "Squire²² Marlowe is, I believe, your magistrate²³ here, and I agree in behalf of my client to have the matter brought before him to-morrow morning. Meanwhile, Mr. Jones, will you hand the twenty-dollar bill in dispute to officer Drake?"

 

"Why should I? The bill is mine," said the merchant sullenly²⁴.

 

"That remains²⁵ to be proved. Do I understand that you refuse to give up the bill?"

 

"I do?" answered Jones doggedly²⁶.

 

"Then I will apply at once for a warrant for your arrest for holding property belonging to my young client," said Mr. Conway.

1 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

4 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。

5 purloined   

v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• You have chosen align yourself with those who have purloined the very seat of your existence. 你们选择了将自己与那些盗取了你们存在之真正席位的人相校准。 来自互联网

6 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

7 ominously   

adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地

参考例句：

• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mammy shook her head ominously. 嬷嬷不祥地摇着头。 来自飘（部分）

8 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

10 reprobate   

n.无赖汉；堕落的人

参考例句：

• After the fall,god begins to do the work of differentiation between his elect and the reprobate.人堕落之后，上帝开始分辨选民与被遗弃的人。
• He disowned his reprobate son.他声明与堕落的儿子脱离关系。

11 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

12 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。

13 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

14 repent   

v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔

参考例句：

• He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
• Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。

15 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。

16 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

17 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

18 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。

19 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

20 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。

21 sputtered   

v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出

参考例句：

• The candle sputtered out. 蜡烛噼啪爆响着熄灭了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The balky engine sputtered and stopped. 不听使唤的发动机劈啪作响地停了下来。 来自辞典例句

22 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

23 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

24 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

25 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

26 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。