小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Making His Mark » CHAPTER XIV A CRISIS
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER XIV A CRISIS
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 At this moment Brandon entered the store. He took in at a glance what was going on. He noticed Gerald's flushed face and he smiled inwardly.
 
"I reckon the kid finds himself in hot water," he said to himself.
 
"Come here, Mr. Brandon," said the grocer.
 
"Yes, sir," returned Brandon, innocently.
 
"Do you remember telling me that you saw Gerald take money from the drawer?"
 
"Yes, sir; I thought it my duty to tell you. At the same time, as it is probably a first offence, I hope you will forgive him."
 
"You see how considerate Brandon is," said Mr. Tubbs, turning to Gerald. "What do you think the boy says?"
 
This was, of course, addressed to Brandon.
 
"I don't know, sir. Does he deny taking the money?"
 
"Yes. He says he saw you take it!"
 
"Is it possible?" exclaimed Brandon. "I hope you don't believe the charge, Mr. Tubbs."
 
"Certainly not."
 
"You may search me if you like."
 
"Perhaps it will be well to search you both, though, of course, the note may have been spent."
 
"I am at your command, Mr. Tubbs. Stay, I will turn my pockets inside out!"
 
He proceeded to do so, but only a few silver coins were found. The fact was that the note had been paid away in the billiard-room the previous evening.
 
"Now, Gerald, it is your turn."
 
Gerald looked embarrassed. Though he was perfectly1 innocent, he knew that there was a five-dollar bill in his pocketbook—part of the money drawn2 from the savings3 bank. Mr. Barton had handed it to him only two days previous.
 
Brandon had no knowledge of this. His only idea was to subject Gerald to humiliation4. But when he saw the boy's confusion, he began to think that things were turning out unexpectedly in his favor.
 
"I don't think he wants to be searched, Mr. Tubbs," he said, pointedly5.
 
"I am willing to follow the example of Mr. Brandon," said Gerald.
 
He took out his pocketbook and handed it to the grocer.
 
The latter opened it, and drew out a five-dollar bill.
 
"Ha!" he exclaimed, in excitement, as he held it up to view. "This tells the story, Gerald Lane! You are a thief!"
 
"That's false, Mr. Tubbs!" said Gerald, hotly. "That bill is mine."
 
"That's a likely story. Of course a boy that will steal will lie."
 
"It is true," said Gerald, firmly.
 
"Then where did you get this money?" demanded the grocer, sternly.
 
"From Mr. Barton, in the savings bank."
 
"Gerald Lane, you may think I am an idiot, but you are mistaken. I will keep this bill."
 
"Then it is you who are the thief. You can ask Mr. Barton if I do not tell the truth."
 
Brandon smiled gleefully. He was very much surprised to learn that Gerald had a five-dollar bill in his possession. He knew, of course, that it was not the bill taken from the drawer; but the grocer did not know, and he saw that it would clear him from suspicion.
 
"What do you think of this boy, Brandon?" asked Mr. Tubbs.
 
"I think he yielded to temptation, and that he won't do it again. Will you do me a favor, Mr. Tubbs, and overlook his offense6?"
 
"You are very kind to him, Brandon, especially when he has charged you with robbing the money-drawer; but I cannot retain a thief in my employ."
 
"I don't wish you to keep me at Mr. Brandon's request," said Gerald, with spirit. "I do not take back my charge against him."
 
"Then, Mr. Tubbs," said Brandon, "I have no more to say," and he moved to another part of the store.
 
Things certainly looked dark for Gerald. The circumstantial evidence against him was of a serious and convincing character. But there was an unexpected witness in his favor just entering the store.
 
It was Mr. Barton.
 
Gerald's face lighted up when he saw the entrance of his friend. So did that of Mr. Tubbs.
 
"Now I shall be able to show that you were lying," said the grocer, triumphantly7.
 
"What is the matter?" asked the bank teller8, turning from one to the other.
 
"Mr. Barton," said the grocer, "you come just in good time; This boy has robbed me of a five-dollar bill."
 
"Impossible!" exclaimed the bank teller. "Gerald Lane is an honest boy."
 
"So I thought myself; but you are liable to be deceived in boys. Mr. Brandon saw him take the bill from the drawer, and told me. I have searched him and found the bill in his possession. Now he has the assurance to say that he got the bill from you."
 
"Probably he did."
 
"What!" ejaculated the grocer, starting back in amazement9.
 
"It is true. I gave Gerald a five-dollar bill."
 
"That is just what I told you, Mr. Tubbs," said Gerald, triumphantly.
 
"But," said the grocer, "Brandon says he saw him take a bill from the drawer, and I miss a five-dollar note."
 
"Then all I can say is that Mr. Brandon has probably told you what is not true."
 
"Sir!" exclaimed Brandon, nervously10.
 
"I mean what I say," said Mr. Barton, sternly.
 
"I know Gerald Lane, and I would trust him implicitly11."
 
"But a bill has been taken from my drawer," said the grocer.
 
"I am sure Gerald did not take it."
 
"Mr. Tubbs, I will thank you to give me back my money," said Gerald.
 
"I don't know that I ought to do it, after what I have heard about you," said Mr. Tubbs, hesitating. "The bill could not have gone away by itself."
 
"That is true enough, but I am not the only one employed in the store."
 
The grocer was badly confused. He had decided12 beyond a doubt that Gerald was a thief; but then Mr. Barton vouched14 for him, and Mr. Barton was a man of consideration.
 
He gave back the bill to Gerald, but with reluctance15.
 
"It seems, then," he said, "that I am to bear the loss."
 
"Yes," said Mr. Barton, "unless you discover who took your money."
 
"I shall feel uncomfortable to think I have a thief in the store."
 
"So far as I am concerned," Gerald said, proudly, "you will have no trouble. I resign my position."
 
"I guess you'd better stay till the end of the week," said Mr. Tubbs. "I can't fill your place right off."
 
"I will do so to oblige you. If another such charge is brought against me I shall leave you at once."
 
Here Mr. Barton made his purchase. As he left the store he said:
 
"Call and see me, Gerald; we can talk this matter over."
 
When the bank officer had left the store Mr. Tubbs said:
 
"There seems to be a great mystery about this robbery."
 
"Yes, sir," answered Brandon.
 
"Mr. Barton seems to vouch13 for Gerald."
 
"He is a good man, but not very sharp. He is surely taken in."
 
That evening when Gerald went home he said to his stepmother:
 
"Mrs. Lane, I have something to tell you."
 
"Well?" she responded, coldly.
 
"I am going to leave the grocery store," Gerald announced quietly.
 
"What? without my permission?" she demanded, in displeasure.
 
"Yes, Mrs. Lane."
 
"What's your reason? Are you getting lazy? Are you tired of work?"
 
"No."
 
"Then let me know the cause of your determination. Not that I shall consent to it."
 
"Mr. Tubbs charged me with taking money from the drawer."
 
"Oh-o!" said Abel. "So that's what you have been up to. I suppose he has bounced you!"
 
"Of course no one will believe it that knows me," returned Gerald, contemptuously.
 
"I'm not so sure of that."
 
"If your mother were not here I would give you a thrashing!" said Gerald, hotly.
 
"Ma wouldn't let you."
 
"All this is very discreditable, Gerald," said his stepmother. "I certainly did not think that you would descend16 to theft. Mr. Tubbs might have had you arrested."
 
"I found a friend to speak up for me—Mr. Barton."
 
"Has Mr. Tubbs discharged you, or is he willing to keep you?"
 
"I presume he is."
 
"Then you will go back," said Mrs. Lane, decisively.
 
"I shall remain till the end of the week to oblige Mr. Tubbs, but I will stay no longer."
 
"We will see about that. Now it is time to go to bed."

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
2 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
3 savings ZjbzGu     
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。
4 humiliation Jd3zW     
n.羞辱
参考例句:
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
5 pointedly JlTzBc     
adv.尖地,明显地
参考例句:
  • She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠,又刻意地看了看手表。
  • The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 offense HIvxd     
n.犯规,违法行为;冒犯,得罪
参考例句:
  • I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
  • His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。
7 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
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。
8 teller yggzeP     
n.银行出纳员;(选举)计票员
参考例句:
  • The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
  • The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。
9 amazement 7zlzBK     
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。
10 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
11 implicitly 7146d52069563dd0fc9ea894b05c6fef     
adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地
参考例句:
  • Many verbs and many words of other kinds are implicitly causal. 许多动词和许多其他类词都蕴涵着因果关系。
  • I can trust Mr. Somerville implicitly, I suppose? 我想,我可以毫无保留地信任萨莫维尔先生吧?
12 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
13 vouch nLszZ     
v.担保;断定;n.被担保者
参考例句:
  • They asked whether I was prepared to vouch for him.他们问我是否愿意为他作担保。
  • I can vouch for the fact that he is a good worker.我保证他是好员工。
14 vouched 409b5f613012fe5a63789e2d225b50d6     
v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 );担保;确定;确定地说
参考例句:
  • He vouched his words by his deeds. 他用自己的行动证明了自己的言辞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Have all those present been vouched for? 那些到场的人都有担保吗? 来自互联网
15 reluctance 8VRx8     
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿
参考例句:
  • The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
  • He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。
16 descend descend     
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降
参考例句:
  • I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
  • We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533