CHAPTER XXII MR. BARTLETT MAKES A MOVE

 As soon as the boat had tied up at Albany, and his work was at an end, Randy attired¹ himself in his best and took a street car for the residence of the Bartletts. It was a humble² place on a side street, quite in contrast to the fine residence the family had occupied in Riverport.

 

"Hullo, Randy!" cried Jack³, as he came to the door to answer our hero's ring. "This is a surprise. Walk right in. Did you send word that you were coming?"

 

"I did not, Jack. Is your father home?"

 

"Yes, he is just finishing his supper."

 

"I want to see him."

 

"Had your supper?"

 

"Yes, I got a bite before I left the boat."

 

"All right—otherwise I know mother will welcome you at our table."

 

Jack went off to tell his father, and presently Mr. Bartlett walked in. He looked rather care-worn and tired. Evidently his new situation was a hard one to fill and did not agree with him.

 

"How do you do, Randy?" said Mr. Bartlett. "Glad to see you. Jack says you want to see me."

 

"I do, Mr. Bartlett. Can I talk to you in private?"

 

"Certainly. Come into the parlor⁴."

 

Mr. Bartlett led the way and closed the door. Then both sat down.

 

"I want to tell you something about Mr. Bangs and a man named Tuller," began Randy. "They were on the boat to-day and I overheard some of their talk."

 

"Tuller, eh?" said Mr. Bartlett, and his brow darkened.

 

As well as he could Randy repeated the talk he had heard. Jack's father listened with keen interest. He was astonished when Randy mentioned the papers which had been abstracted from his desk.

 

"So Bangs has them in his safe at home, eh?" he cried. "Well, I am going to get them, be the cost what it may. They belong to me, and I am going to take them no matter where I find them."

 

He was equally astonished to hear that a certain Mr. Robinson was not acting⁵ with Amos Bangs and certain other men, Tuller included.

 

"They gave me to understand that Robinson was with them," said Philip Bartlett. "If Robinson will only act with me, perhaps I can do a great deal."

 

"Then why don't you write to Mr. Robinson and find out?"

 

"I will go and see him."

 

"Oh, then he lives here."

 

"No, in Springfield. But our works are going to shut down for a few days, so I will have ample time. Randy, I am very thankful to you for bringing me this news."

 

"I hope it does you some good, Mr. Bartlett."

 

"I think it will. Perhaps I'll only be able to scare Bangs, but that may make him careful, so I can get something out of my stock in the iron works company."

 

"If you ever want me as a witness I will do what I can for you."

 

"Thank you, my lad; you are kind and I will remember what you say."

 

After that Mrs. Bartlett and Jack came in and learned something of what had brought our hero to the house.

 

"Good for you, Randy!" cried Jack. "Father, if I were you, I'd break into old Bangs's safe."

 

"Pray do nothing rash," pleaded Mrs. Bartlett. "Remember he is rich and has many friends."

 

"He is certainly rich," said Randy, "but I doubt if the family have many friends. All of them are too overbearing."

 

"Bangs broke into father's private desk and took the papers," went on Jack. "It would be only tit for tat to break open the safe and get the papers back."

 

"I shall see Robinson first and then make up my mind what to do," answered his father.

 

Randy spent a pleasant evening with Jack, and when it came time to go to the boat Jack walked half the distance with our hero.

 

"I wish father could get what is due him," said Jack on the way. "He can't stand the hard work he is now doing."

 

The next morning Randy sailed down the river on the steamboat. Twenty-four hours later Mr. Bartlett crossed the Hudson and took a train for Springfield. He hoped to find Mr. Robinson at one of the banks and he was not disappointed.

 

The bank official—for such Mr. Robinson was—listened with interest to all Philip Bartlett had to tell. He shook his head when Amos Bangs and Tuller were mentioned.

 

"I suspected as much," said he. "I was given to understand that Bangs had bought you out. I couldn't understand it either, for you once told me that you did not wish to leave the works. I have just gotten back from a trip to Europe and have a good deal to attend to here, but I will take this matter up as soon as I possibly can."

 

"And you will stand in with me?" asked Mr. Bartlett, anxiously.

 

"If you wish it."

 

"I do."

 

"Then we must act together."

 

"And what would be your advice regarding those papers in Bangs's private safe at his house?"

 

"Get out a search warrant and take a professional safe man along, to open the strong box," answered the bank official, promptly⁶. "And do not delay either. He may take it into his head to burn the papers up."

 

"I will do as you say," answered Mr. Bartlett with decision.

 

Some of his old-time will power had come back to him and he lost not a moment in carrying out his plans. He visited a firm dealing⁷ in safes and from them got the address of a man who claimed to be able to open any ordinary safe made. Then he called on this individual.

 

"You open safes?" he asked.

 

"I do—if I have the proper authority," answered the man.

 

"Can you open a first-class house safe?"

 

"Yes."

 

"How long will it take?"

 

"From five minutes to three hours."

 

"What are your charges?"

 

"Ten to fifty dollars. I'll have to see the safe before I can set a definite figure."

 

"Will you be at liberty to-morrow?"

 

"I'll be at your service if you engage me now."

 

"Very well, you may consider yourself engaged. I wish you to meet me in Riverport at about noon."

 

"Your own safe?"

 

"No."

 

"You'll have authority to open it?"

 

"I think so. I've got to go to court to get it, though."

 

"Ah! a legal case, eh?"

 

"Yes. You don't object, do you?"

 

"Oh, no, I have many legal cases. Had to force a safe for some lawyers in Bridgeport only last week."

 

"You will not disappoint me?"

 

"Not at all, Mr. Bartlett."

 

With this understanding Philip Bartlett left the safe opener and took a train back to his home. But, as it happened, a certain man saw him leaving the safe opener's office. This man was none other than Tuller, the friend to Amos Bangs.

 

"Bartlett, eh?" murmured Tuller to himself. "What is he doing in Springfield?"

 

He chanced to know the safe opener, whose name was Westinghouse, and presently dropped into the other's office as if by accident.

 

"How is business, Westinghouse?" he said, indifferently.

 

"Fair," was the answer. "Had two jobs last week."

 

"Good enough."

 

"How is business with you?"

 

"Booming. I suppose you get jobs ahead, is that it, or do you go out on the run, so to speak?"

 

"Sometimes I get orders ahead, but most of the jobs come in on the run—safe out of order, or something like that. I've got to go to Riverport to-morrow."

 

"Is that so? Bank?"

 

"No, a private party, I reckon. Going to have a safe opened by an order from the court, I think."

 

"Is that so! Well, I wish you luck on the job. Good-day."

 

"Good-day!" answered the safe opener.

 

Once on the street Tuller's face changed.

 

"Bartlett must have given that order, and if so he means to either open up the safe at the iron works or else the safe at Bangs's house. I must see Bangs and warn him, so that nothing is found which will do us harm!"

 

At first he thought to telegraph, but then came to the conclusion that it would be too risky⁸. A letter might not be received in time.

 

"I'll go myself," he said, and an hour later was on his way to Riverport.

1 attired   

adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bride was attired in white. 新娘穿一身洁白的礼服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is appropriate that everyone be suitably attired. 人人穿戴得体是恰当的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

5 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。

6 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。