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CHAPTER XXI — DICK LOSES HIS BANK-BOOK
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 It was hinted at the close of the last chapter that Dick was destined1 to be disagreeably surprised on reaching home.
 
Having agreed to give further assistance to Tom Wilkins, he was naturally led to go to the drawer where he and Fosdick kept their bank-books. To his surprise and uneasiness the drawer proved to be empty!
 
"Come here a minute, Fosdick," he said.
 
"What's the matter, Dick?"
 
"I can't find my bank-book, nor yours either. What's 'come of them?"
 
"I took mine with me this morning, thinking I might want to put in a little more money. I've got it in my pocket, now."
 
"But where's mine?" asked Dick, perplexed2.
 
"I don't know. I saw it in the drawer when I took mine this morning."
 
"Are you sure?"
 
"Yes, positive, for I looked into it to see how much you had got."
 
"Did you lock it again?" asked Dick.
 
"Yes; didn't you have to unlock it just now?"
 
"So I did," said Dick. "But it's gone now. Somebody opened it with a key that fitted the lock, and then locked it ag'in."
 
"That must have been the way."
 
"It's rather hard on a feller," said Dick, who, for the first time since we became acquainted with him, began to feel down-hearted.
 
"Don't give it up, Dick. You haven't lost the money, only the bank-book."
 
"Aint that the same thing?"
 
"No. You can go to the bank to-morrow morning, as soon as it opens, and tell them you have lost the book, and ask them not to pay the money to any one except yourself."
 
"So I can," said Dick, brightening up. "That is, if the thief hasn't been to the bank to-day."
 
"If he has, they might detect him by his handwriting."
 
"I'd like to get hold of the one that stole it," said Dick, indignantly. "I'd give him a good lickin'."
 
"It must have been somebody in the house. Suppose we go and see Mrs. Mooney. She may know whether anybody came into our room to-day."
 
The two boys went downstairs, and knocked at the door of a little back sitting-room3 where Mrs. Mooney generally spent her evenings. It was a shabby little room, with a threadbare carpet on the floor, the walls covered with a certain large-figured paper, patches of which had been stripped off here and there, exposing the plaster, the remainder being defaced by dirt and grease. But Mrs. Mooney had one of those comfortable temperaments4 which are tolerant of dirt, and didn't mind it in the least. She was seated beside a small pine work-table, industriously5 engaged in mending stockings.
 
"Good-evening, Mrs. Mooney," said Fosdick, politely.
 
"Good-evening," said the landlady6. "Sit down, if you can find chairs. I'm hard at work as you see, but a poor lone7 widder can't afford to be idle."
 
"We can't stop long, Mrs. Mooney, but my friend here has had something taken from his room to-day, and we thought we'd come and see you about it."
 
"What is it?" asked the landlady. "You don't think I'd take anything? If I am poor, it's an honest name I've always had, as all my lodgers8 can testify."
 
"Certainly not, Mrs. Mooney; but there are others in the house that may not be honest. My friend has lost his bank-book. It was safe in the drawer this morning, but to-night it is not to be found."
 
"How much money was there in it?" asked Mrs. Mooney.
 
"Over a hundred dollars," said Fosdick.
 
"It was my whole fortun'," said Dick. "I was goin' to buy a house next year."
 
Mrs. Mooney was evidently surprised to learn the extent of Dick's wealth, and was disposed to regard him with increased respect.
 
"Was the drawer locked?" she asked.
 
"Yes."
 
"Then it couldn't have been Bridget. I don't think she has any keys."
 
"She wouldn't know what a bank-book was," said Fosdick. "You didn't see any of the lodgers go into our room to-day, did you?"
 
"I shouldn't wonder if it was Jim Travis," said Mrs. Mooney, suddenly.
 
This James Travis was a bar-tender in a low groggery in Mulberry Street, and had been for a few weeks an inmate9 of Mrs. Mooney's lodging-house. He was a coarse-looking fellow who, from his appearance, evidently patronized liberally the liquor he dealt out to others. He occupied a room opposite Dick's, and was often heard by the two boys reeling upstairs in a state of intoxication10, uttering shocking oaths.
 
This Travis had made several friendly overtures11 to Dick and his room-mate, and had invited them to call round at the bar-room where he tended, and take something. But this invitation had never been accepted, partly because the boys were better engaged in the evening, and partly because neither of them had taken a fancy to Mr. Travis; which certainly was not strange, for nature had not gifted him with many charms, either of personal appearance or manners. The rejection12 of his friendly proffers13 had caused him to take a dislike to Dick and Henry, whom he considered stiff and unsocial.
 
"What makes you think it was Travis?" asked Fosdick. "He isn't at home in the daytime."
 
"But he was to-day. He said he had got a bad cold, and had to come home for a clean handkerchief."
 
"Did you see him?" asked Dick.
 
"Yes," said Mrs. Mooney. "Bridget was hanging out clothes, and I went to the door to let him in."
 
"I wonder if he had a key that would fit our drawer," said Fosdick.
 
"Yes," said Mrs. Mooney. "The bureaus in the two rooms are just alike. I got 'em at auction14, and most likely the locks is the same."
 
"It must have been he," said Dick, looking towards Fosdick.
 
"Yes," said Fosdick, "it looks like it."
 
"What's to be done? That's what I'd like to know," said Dick. "Of course he'll say he hasn't got it; and he won't be such a fool as to leave it in his room."
 
"If he hasn't been to the bank, it's all right," said Fosdick. "You can go there the first thing to-morrow morning, and stop their paying any money on it."
 
"But I can't get any money on it myself," said Dick. "I told Tom Wilkins I'd let him have some more money to-morrow, or his sick mother'll have to turn out of their lodgin's."
 
"How much money were you going to give him?"
 
"I gave him three dollars to-day, and was goin' to give him two dollars to-morrow."
 
"I've got the money, Dick. I didn't go to the bank this morning."
 
"All right. I'll take it, and pay you back next week."
 
"No, Dick; if you've given three dollars, you must let me give two."
 
"No, Fosdick, I'd rather give the whole. You know I've got more money than you. No, I haven't, either," said Dick, the memory of his loss flashing upon him. "I thought I was rich this morning, but now I'm in destitoot circumstances."
 
"Cheer up, Dick; you'll get your money back."
 
"I hope so," said our hero, rather ruefully.
 
The fact was, that our friend Dick was beginning to feel what is so often experienced by men who do business of a more important character and on a larger scale than he, the bitterness of a reverse of circumstances. With one hundred dollars and over carefully laid away in the savings15 bank, he had felt quite independent. Wealth is comparative, and Dick probably felt as rich as many men who are worth a hundred thousand dollars. He was beginning to feel the advantages of his steady self-denial, and to experience the pleasures of property. Not that Dick was likely to be unduly16 attached to money. Let it be said to his credit that it had never given him so much satisfaction as when it enabled him to help Tom Wilkins in his trouble.
 
Besides this, there was another thought that troubled him. When he obtained a place he could not expect to receive as much as he was now making from blacking boots,—probably not more than three dollars a week,—while his expenses without clothing would amount to four dollars. To make up the deficiency he had confidently relied upon his savings, which would be sufficient to carry him along for a year, if necessary. If he should not recover his money, he would be compelled to continue a boot-black for at least six months longer; and this was rather a discouraging reflection. On the whole it is not to be wondered at that Dick felt unusually sober this evening, and that neither of the boys felt much like studying.
 
The two boys consulted as to whether it would be best to speak to Travis about it. It was not altogether easy to decide. Fosdick was opposed to it.
 
"It will only put him on his guard," said he, "and I don't see as it will do any good. Of course he will deny it. We'd better keep quiet, and watch him, and, by giving notice at the bank, we can make sure that he doesn't get any money on it. If he does present himself at the bank, they will know at once that he is a thief, and he can be arrested."
 
This view seemed reasonable, and Dick resolved to adopt it. On the whole, he began to think prospects17 were brighter than he had at first supposed, and his spirits rose a little.
 
"How'd he know I had any bank-book? That's what I can't make out," he said.
 
"Don't you remember?" said Fosdick, after a moment's thought, "we were speaking of our savings, two or three evenings since?"
 
"Yes," said Dick.
 
"Our door was a little open at the time, and I heard somebody come upstairs, and stop a minute in front of it. It must have been Jim Travis. In that way he probably found out about your money, and took the opportunity to-day to get hold of it."
 
This might or might not be the correct explanation. At all events it seemed probable.
 
The boys were just on the point of going to bed, later in the evening, when a knock was heard at the door, and, to their no little surprise, their neighbor, Jim Travis, proved to be the caller. He was a sallow-complexioned young man, with dark hair and bloodshot eyes.
 
He darted18 a quick glance from one to the other as he entered, which did not escape the boys' notice.
 
"How are ye, to-night?" he said, sinking into one of the two chairs with which the room was scantily19 furnished.
 
"Jolly," said Dick. "How are you?"
 
"Tired as a dog," was the reply. "Hard work and poor pay; that's the way with me. I wanted to go to the theater, to-night, but I was hard up, and couldn't raise the cash."
 
Here he darted another quick glance at the boys; but neither betrayed anything.
 
"You don't go out much, do you?" he said
 
"Not much," said Fosdick. "We spend our evenings in study."
 
"That's precious slow," said Travis, rather contemptuously. "What's the use of studying so much? You don't expect to be a lawyer, do you, or anything of that sort?"
 
"Maybe," said Dick. "I haven't made up my mind yet. If my feller-citizens should want me to go to Congress some time, I shouldn't want to disapp'int 'em; and then readin' and writin' might come handy."
 
"Well," said Travis, rather abruptly20, "I'm tired and I guess I'll turn in."
 
"Good-night," said Fosdick.
 
The boys looked at each other as their visitor left the room.
 
"He came in to see if we'd missed the bank-book," said Dick.
 
"And to turn off suspicion from himself, by letting us know he had no money," added Fosdick.
 
"That's so," said Dick. "I'd like to have searched them pockets of his."

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 destined Dunznz     
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句:
  • It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
  • The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
2 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
3 sitting-room sitting-room     
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室
参考例句:
  • The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
  • Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
4 temperaments 30614841bea08bef60cd8057527133e9     
性格( temperament的名词复数 ); (人或动物的)气质; 易冲动; (性情)暴躁
参考例句:
  • The two brothers have exactly opposite temperaments: one likes to be active while the other tends to be quiet and keep to himself. 他们弟兄两个脾气正好相反, 一个爱动,一个好静。
  • For some temperaments work is a remedy for all afflictions. 对于某些人来说,工作是医治悲伤的良药。
5 industriously f43430e7b5117654514f55499de4314a     
参考例句:
  • She paces the whole class in studying English industriously. 她在刻苦学习英语上给全班同学树立了榜样。
  • He industriously engages in unostentatious hard work. 他勤勤恳恳,埋头苦干。
6 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
7 lone Q0cxL     
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的
参考例句:
  • A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
  • She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。
8 lodgers 873866fb939d5ab097342b033a0e269d     
n.房客,租住者( lodger的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He takes in lodgers. 他招收房客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A good proportion of my lodgers is connected with the theaters. 住客里面有不少人是跟戏院子有往来的。 来自辞典例句
9 inmate l4cyN     
n.被收容者;(房屋等的)居住人;住院人
参考例句:
  • I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
  • The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。
10 intoxication qq7zL8     
n.wild excitement;drunkenness;poisoning
参考例句:
  • He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝,喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
  • Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。
11 overtures 0ed0d32776ccf6fae49696706f6020ad     
n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲
参考例句:
  • Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好,样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句
12 rejection FVpxp     
n.拒绝,被拒,抛弃,被弃
参考例句:
  • He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
  • The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。
13 proffers c689fd3fdf7d117e40af0cc52de7e1c7     
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
14 auction 3uVzy     
n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖
参考例句:
  • They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
  • They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
15 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。
16 unduly Mp4ya     
adv.过度地,不适当地
参考例句:
  • He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect.他的口气听上去对前景并不十分担忧。
  • He argued that the law was unduly restrictive.他辩称法律的约束性有些过分了。
17 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
18 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 scantily be1ceda9654bd1b9c4ad03eace2aae48     
adv.缺乏地;不充足地;吝啬地;狭窄地
参考例句:
  • The bedroom was scantily furnished. 卧室里几乎没有什么家具。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His room was scantily furnished. 他的房间陈设简陋。 来自互联网
20 abruptly iINyJ     
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。


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