CHAPTER XXIV. SLIPPERY DICK.

 It is not natural for a boy of Walter's age to distrust those with whom he becomes acquainted even slightly. This lesson unfortunately is learned later in life. But the words of his fellow-traveller inspired him with conviction. He could think of no other way of accounting¹ for his loss.

 

He rose from his seat.

 

"Where are you going?" asked the old gentleman.

 

"I am going to look for the thief."

 

"Do you expect to find him?"

 

"He said he was going into the smoking-car."

 

"My young friend, I strongly suspect that this was only to blind you. The cars have stopped at two stations since he left his seat, and if he took your money he has doubtless effected his escape."

 

Walter was rather taken aback by this [Pg 227]consideration. It seemed reasonable enough, and, if true, he didn't see how he was going to get back his money.

 

"I dare say you are right," he said; "but I will go into the smoking-car and see."

 

"Come back again, and let me know whether you find him."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Walter went through two cars, looking about him on either side, thinking it possible that the thief might have taken his seat in one of them. There was very little chance of this, however. Next he passed into the smoking-car, where, to his joy no less than his surprise, he found the man of whom he was in search playing cards with three other passengers.

 

He looked up carelessly as Walter approached, but did not betray the slightest confusion or sign of guilt². To let the reader into a secret, he had actually taken Walter's pocket-book, but was too cunning to keep it about him. He had taken out the money, and thrown the porte-monnaie itself from the car platform, taking an opportunity when he thought himself unobserved. As the money [Pg 228]consisted of bills, which could not be identified as Walter's, he felt that he was in no danger of detection. He thought that he could afford to be indifferent.

 

"Did you get tired of waiting?" he asked, addressing our hero.

 

"That's pretty cool if he took the money," thought Walter.

 

"May I speak to you a moment?" asked Walter.

 

"Certainly."

 

"I mean alone."

 

"If you'll wait till I have finished the game," said the pickpocket³, assuming a look of surprise. "Something private, eh?"

 

"Yes," said Walter, gravely.

 

He stood by impatiently while the game went on. He was anxious to find out as soon as possible what had become of his money, and what was the chance of recovering it.

 

At length the game was finished, and a new one was about to be commenced, when Walter tapped his late companion on the shoulder.

 

"Oh, you wanted to speak to me, did you?" he[Pg 229] said indifferently. "Can't you wait till we have finished this game?"

 

"No," said Walter, resolutely⁴, "I can't wait. It is a matter of great importance."

 

"Then, gentlemen, I must beg to be excused for five minutes," said the pickpocket, shrugging his shoulders, as if to express good-natured annoyance⁵. "Now, my young friend, I am at your service."

 

Walter proceeded to the other end of the car, which chanced to be unoccupied. Now that the moment had come, he hardly knew how to introduce the subject. Suppose that the person he addressed were innocent, it would be rather an awkward matter to charge him with the theft.

 

"Did you see anything of my pocket-book?" he said, at length.

 

"Your pocket-book?" returned the pickpocket, arching his brows. "Why, have you lost it?"

 

"Yes."

 

"When did you discover its loss?"

 

"Shortly after you left me," said Walter, significantly.

 

"Indeed! was there much money in it?"

 

[Pg 230]

 

"Over thirty dollars."

 

"That is quite a loss. I hope you have some more with you."

 

"No, it is all I have."

 

"I'm very sorry indeed. I did not see it. Have you searched on the floor?"

 

"Yes; but it isn't there."

 

"That's awkward. Was your ticket in the pocket-book?"

 

"No, I had that in my vest-pocket."

 

"That's fortunate. On my honor, I'm sorry for you. I haven't much money with me, but I'll lend you a dollar or two with the greatest of pleasure."

 

This offer quite bewildered Walter. He felt confident that the other had stolen his money, and now here he was offering to lend him some of it. He did not care to make such a compromise, or to be bought off so cheap; so, though quite penniless, he determined⁶ to reject the offer.

 

"I won't borrow," he said, coldly. "I was hoping you had seen my money."

 

"Sorry I didn't. Better let me lend you some."

 

"I would rather not borrow."

 

[Pg 231]

 

Walter could not for the life of him add "Thank you," feeling no gratitude⁷ to the man who he felt well assured had robbed him.

 

The pickpocket turned and went back to his game, and Walter slowly left the car. He had intended to ask him point-blank whether he had taken the money, but couldn't summon the necessary courage. He went back to his old seat.

 

"Well," said the old gentleman who sat behind him, "I suppose you did not find your man?"

 

"Yes, I did."

 

"You didn't get your money?" he added, in surprise.

 

"No, he said he had not seen it."

 

"Did you tax him with taking it?"

 

"No, I hardly ventured to do that."

 

"Did he show any confusion?"

 

"No, sir, he was perfectly⁸ cool. Still, I think he took it. He offered to lend me a dollar or two."

 

"That was cool, certainly."

 

"What would you advise me to do?" asked Walter.

 

[Pg 232]

 

"I hardly know what to advise," said the other, thoughtfully.

 

"I don't want him to make off with my money."

 

"Of course not. That would be far from agreeable."

 

"If he could only be searched, I might find the pocket-book on him."

 

"In order to do that, he must be charged with the robbery."

 

"That is true. It will be rather awkward for a boy like me to do that."

 

"I'll tell you what you had better do, my young friend. Speak to the conductor."

 

"I think I will," said Walter.

 

Just at that moment the conductor entered the car. As he came up the aisle⁹ Walter stopped him, and explained his loss, and the suspicions he had formed.

 

"You say the man is in the smoking-car?" said the conductor, who had listened attentively¹⁰.

 

"Yes."

 

"Could you point him out?"

 

"Yes."

 

[Pg 233]

 

"I am glad of it. I have received warning by telegraph that one of the New York swell-mob is on the train, probably intent on mischief¹¹, but no description came with it, and I had no clue to the person. I have no doubt that the man you speak of is the party. If so, he is familiarly known as 'Slippery Dick.'"

 

"Do you think you can get back my money?" asked Walter, anxiously.

 

"I think there is a chance of it. Come with me and point out your man."

 

Walter gladly accompanied the conductor to the smoking-car. His old acquaintance was busily engaged as before in a game, and laughing heartily¹² at some favorable turn.

 

"There he is," said Walter, indicating him with his finger.

 

The conductor walked up to him, and tapped him on the shoulder.

 

"What's wanted?" he asked, looking up. "You've looked at my ticket."

 

"I wish to speak to you a moment."

 

[Pg 234]

 

He rose without making any opposition¹³, and walked to the other end of the car.

 

"Well," he said, and there was a slight nervousness in his tone, "what's the matter? Wasn't my ticket all right?"

 

"No trouble about that. The thing is, will you restore this boy's pocket-book?"

 

"Sir," said the pickpocket, blustering¹⁴, "do you mean to insult me? What have I to do with his pocket-book?"

 

"You sat beside him, and he missed it directly after you left him."

 

"What is that to me? You may search me if you like. You will find only one pocket-book upon me, and that is my own."

 

"I am aware of that," said the conductor, coolly. "I saw you take the money out and throw it from the car platform."

 

The pickpocket turned pale.

 

"You are mistaken in the person," he said.

 

"No, I am not. I advise you to restore the money forthwith."

 

Without a word the thief, finding himself cornered,[Pg 235] took from his pocket a roll of bills, which he handed to Walter.

 

"Is that right?" asked the conductor.

 

"Yes," said our hero, after counting his money.

 

"So far, so good. And now, Slippery Dick," he continued, turning to the thief, "I advise you to leave the cars at the next station, or I will have you arrested. Take your choice."

 

The detected rogue¹⁵ was not long in making his choice. Already the cars had slackened their speed, and a short distance ahead appeared a small station. The place seemed to be one of very little importance. One man, however, appeared to have business there. Walter saw his quondam acquaintance jump on the platform, and congratulated himself that his only loss was a porte-monnaie whose value did not exceed one dollar.

 

I will only add that the conductor on seeing the pocket-book thrown away had thought nothing of it, supposing it to be an old one, but as soon as he heard of the robbery suspected at once the thief and his motive¹⁶.

1 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

2 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。

3 pickpocket   

n.扒手；v.扒窃

参考例句：

• The pickpocket pinched her purse and ran away.扒手偷了她的皮夹子跑了。
• He had his purse stolen by a pickpocket.他的钱包被掏了。

4 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。

5 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

8 perfectly   

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。

9 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

10 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

12 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

13 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

14 blustering   

adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹

参考例句：

• It was five and a half o'clock now, and a raw, blustering morning. 这时才五点半，正是寒气逼人，狂风咆哮的早晨。 来自辞典例句
• So sink the shadows of night, blustering, rainy, and all paths grow dark. 夜色深沉，风狂雨骤；到处途暗路黑。 来自辞典例句

15 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

16 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。