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Chapter 11 Fred Falls Under A Terrible Suspicion
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 About ten minutes before the arrival of the detective Fred woke up. He generally awoke earlier, but his long ride of the day before had fatigued1 him more than usual. It was natural for him to glance over to the opposite bed, occupied by his traveling companion. He was surprised to find it empty.

 
"He must have got up early," thought Fred. "I wonder if he has gone for good."
 
This seemed likely, for the stranger's valise had disappeared also.
 
"I wonder he didn't wake me up and bid me good-by," thought the train boy.
 
Then a momentary2 suspicion led him to search for the hundred dollars in gold which he had carefully concealed3 in his inside vest pocket. If that were taken, he would be in a quandary4, for there would be little chance of his being able to make up the loss to his friend, the Western miner.
 
He found, to his relief, that the gold had not been touched, and he reproached himself for the injustice5 he had in his thoughts, done his late room-mate.
 
"Well," soliloquized Fred, as he lazily got out of bed and drew on his clothes, "I am not sorry to have the room alone. If I could have a friend from home with me I should like it, but I don't care for the company of a stranger."
 
Fred reflected that he had all the day to himself. He could hear the roar of the famous cataract6, which he had not yet seen on account of his late arrival the night before, and he determined7 to go there immediately after breakfast, or even before breakfast if he found that it was quite near. He went to the window and looked out, but it was not in sight.
 
"I may as well put on a clean shirt," thought Fred, and he went to the table to open the bundle which he had brought from Jersey8 City. He had just unfastened the string when a quick, imperative9 knock was heard at the door of his room.
 
"Come in!" said Fred, with some surprise.
 
He turned his face to the door, and his wonder increased as it opened and he saw the clerk and a stranger standing10 on the threshold. They entered the room and closed the door behind them.
 
"What is the matter?" asked the train boy. "Has anything happened?"
 
"When did your room-mate leave?" asked the detective, not answering his question.
 
"I don't know; I only just woke up."
 
"Did you rest well?"
 
"That's a very queer question to ask me," thought Fred. "Yes," he answered, "I rested very well."
 
The detective and the clerk exchanged glances. This statement did not accord with what Fred's room-mate had said down-stairs.
 
"The bed was very comfortable," added Fred by way of compliment to the house.
 
"I am glad you found it so," said the detective dryly.
 
"Did you come upstairs to ask how I rested?' asked Fred, with a smile.
 
"You are sharp, my young friend," said the detective, "and I think I may say wonderfully cool under the circumstances."
 
"Under what circumstances?" asked Fred, his attention drawn11 to the last part of the detective's speech.
 
"There was a burglary committed yesterday afternoon in Elmira," said the detective, fastening his eyes keenly on the face of the train boy.
 
"Was there?" asked Fred, not seeing in what way this information was likely to affect him. "I thought most burglaries were committed in the night."
 
"They are, generally, but this was an exception. There was no one in the house except old Mr. Carver, who is quite hard of hearing. The burglary probably took place about five o'clock, and the burglar is supposed to have taken the 5:51 train from Elmira."
 
"Why, that is the train I was on," said Fred in surprise.
 
"By a curious coincidence," said the detective with a queer smile, "it was by your train that the burglar probably traveled."
 
His tone was so significant that Fred asked quickly, "What do you mean?"
 
"I mean, my young friend," said the detective, "that you are suspected to know something of this affair."
 
"If you are a detective," retorted Fred, "I don think much of your sharpness. I have never been in Elmira in my life."
 
"Probably not," said Ferguson, the detective, with a provoking smile.
 
"I passed through there yesterday on my way from New York. With that exception, I never saw the place."
 
"That may be true," said the detective cautiously, "or it may not. I will take the liberty of examining your luggage to see if I can find any of the stolen articles."
 
"You are welcome to do it," said Fred.
 
"Bring it out then. Where have you put it--under the bed?"
 
"All the luggage I have is in this bundle," said the train boy. "You can open that if you think it will do you any good."
 
"You are sure you have no valise?"
 
Ferguson, who, like most of his class, was suspicious, peeped under each bed, but found nothing to reward his search. Somewhat disappointed, he went to the table and opened the newspaper bundle. He did so listlessly, not really expecting to find anything, but as he unrolled Fred's shirt there was a triumphant12 look in his eyes when he uncovered the gold watch and chain.
 
"Just as I thought," he said, with a nod to the clerk.
 
"What is that?' gasped13 Fred.
 
"It appears to be a watch and chain," answered Ferguson coolly. "Possibly you can tell me how it came there."
 
"I know nothing about it," said Fred in dire14 amazement15.
 
"You do not claim it as yours, then?"
 
"Certainly not. I never saw it before in my life."
 
"Is this shirt yours?"
 
"Yes."
 
"You brought it with you?"
 
"Yes."
 
"Let me open the watch. Do you see this inscription16?"
 
Fred and the clerk approached, and on the inside of the case read the name, "Philo Carver, Elmira, 1865."
 
"You see? This is one of the articles stolen from Mr. Carver's house yesterday afternoon. It is a little odd that this young man in whose bundle I find it cannot explain its presence."
 
"You may believe me or not," said Fred desperately17, "but it is true all the same. I know nothing of this watch or chain, and I never saw either before. Can you tell me what other articles were taken by the burglar?"
 
"Some government bonds, and a small sum of bank bills."
 
"Then you had better search for them also here: I will help you all I can."
 
"Well, you are a cool hand."
 
"No; I am innocent, that is all."
 
"It is pretty clear you have nothing else with you, or you wouldn't be so willing. However, I consider it my duty to do as you suggest."
 
He hunted under the mattresses18, and finally examined Fred's pockets. At last he felt in the inside vest pocket and drew out the gold coins.
 
"Ha, we have something here!" he exclaimed.
 
"Yes," answered Fred, "but those happen to belong to me."
 
"Where did you get them?"
 
"From a friend in New York. He intrusted them to me to use if I needed. Meanwhile I was to put them in the savings19 bank."
 
"Not a very likely story," said the detective suspiciously.
 
"Likely or not, it is a true story. Does this man Carver claim to have lost any gold coins?"
 
"No."
 
"I thought not."
 
"However, we come back to the inquiry--where did you get the watch?"
 
"The man who slept in the room with me must have left it here to throw suspicion on me," said Fred, with sudden inspiration.
 
"That is possible," said the clerk, who was favorably impressed by Fred's manner.
 
"We must not jump at conclusions," said the detective warily20. "I shall feel justified21 in detaining the boy after what I have found."
 
"You won't take me to the station house?" said Fred nervously22.
 
"No; it will answer the purpose if you are locked up in this room--for the present."
 
"Then," said Fred, turning to the clerk, "I shall be much obliged if you will send me up some breakfast."
 
"It shall be done."
 
Within half an hour Fred was discussing a beefsteak and fried potatoes with hearty23 enjoyment24. It takes a good deal to spoil the appetite of a healthy boy of seventeen.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 fatigued fatigued     
adj. 疲乏的
参考例句:
  • The exercises fatigued her. 操练使她感到很疲乏。
  • The President smiled, with fatigued tolerance for a minor person's naivety. 总统笑了笑,疲惫地表现出对一个下级人员的天真想法的宽容。
2 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
3 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
4 quandary Rt1y2     
n.困惑,进迟两难之境
参考例句:
  • I was in a quandary about whether to go.我当时正犹豫到底去不去。
  • I was put in a great quandary.我陷于进退两难的窘境。
5 injustice O45yL     
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利
参考例句:
  • They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
  • All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。
6 cataract hcgyI     
n.大瀑布,奔流,洪水,白内障
参考例句:
  • He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。
  • The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。
7 determined duszmP     
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。
8 jersey Lp5zzo     
n.运动衫
参考例句:
  • He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
  • They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致,都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。
9 imperative BcdzC     
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的
参考例句:
  • He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
  • The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。
10 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
11 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。
12 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
参考例句:
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。
13 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
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》
14 dire llUz9     
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的
参考例句:
  • There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
  • We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了,但是我们渡过了困难。
15 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。
16 inscription l4ZyO     
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文
参考例句:
  • The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损,无法辨认了。
  • He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。
17 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
18 mattresses 985a5c9b3722b68c7f8529dc80173637     
褥垫,床垫( mattress的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The straw mattresses are airing there. 草垫子正在那里晾着。
  • The researchers tested more than 20 mattresses of various materials. 研究人员试验了二十多个不同材料的床垫。
19 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。
20 warily 5gvwz     
adv.留心地
参考例句:
  • He looked warily around him,pretending to look after Carrie.他小心地看了一下四周,假装是在照顾嘉莉。
  • They were heading warily to a point in the enemy line.他们正小心翼翼地向着敌人封锁线的某一处前进。
21 justified 7pSzrk     
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。
22 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。
23 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
24 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。


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