As the distance was considerable to the business part of the city, Luke boarded a car and rode downtown. It did not occur to him to open the envelope till he was half way to the end of his journey.
When he did so, he was agreeably surprised. The envelope contained a ten-dollar bill.
"Ten dollars! Hasn't Mrs. Merton made a mistake?" he said to himself. "She said it was a week's pay. But, of course, she wouldn't pay ten dollars for the little I am to do."
Luke decided1 that the extra sum was given him on account of the service he had already been fortunate enough to render the old lady.
Next to him sat rather a showily dressed woman, with keen, sharp eyes. She took notice of the bank-note which Luke drew from the envelope, and prepared to take advantage of the knowledge.
No sooner had Luke replaced the envelope in his pocket than this woman put her hand in hers, and, after a pretended search, exclaimed, in a loud voice: "There is a pickpocket2 in this car. I have been robbed!"
Of course, this statement aroused the attention of all the passengers.
"What have you lost, madam?" inquired an old gentleman.
"A ten-dollar bill," answered the woman.
"Was it in your pocketbook?"
"No," she replied, glibly3. "It was in an envelope. It was handed to me by my sister just before I left home."
As soon as Luke heard this declaration, he understood that the woman had laid a trap for him, and he realized his imprudence in displaying the money. Naturally he looked excited and disturbed. He saw that in all probability the woman's word would be taken in preference to his. He might be arrested, and find it difficult to prove his innocence4.
"Have you any suspicion as to who took it?" asked the old gentleman.
"I think this boy took it," said the woman pointing to Luke.
"It's terrible, and he so young!" said an old lady with a severe cast of countenance5, who sat next to the old gentleman. "What is the world coming to?"
"What, indeed, ma'am?" echoed the old gentleman.
Luke felt that it was time for him to say something.
"It can easily be proved," said the woman, with a cunning smile. "Let the boy show the contents of his pockets."
"Yes, that is only fair."
Luke saw that his difficulties were increasing.
"I admit that I have a ten-dollar bill in an envelope," he said.
"I told you so!" said the woman, triumphantly8.
"But it is my own."
"I am speaking the truth, sir."
"How the boy brazens it out!" murmured the sour-visaged lady.
"Return the lady her money, unless you wish to be arrested," said the old gentleman.
"I don't intend to give this person"--Luke found it hard to say lady--"what she has no claim to."
"Young man, you will find that you are making a grand mistake. Probably if you give up the money the lady will not prosecute10 you."
"No, I will have pity upon his youth," said the woman.
"I can tell exactly where I got the money," went on Luke, desperately11.
"From Mrs. Merton, of Prairie Avenue."
"What did she give it to you for?"
"I am in her employment."
"Gentlemen," said the woman, shrugging her shoulders, "you can judge whether this is a probable story."
"I refer to Mrs. Merton herself," said Luke.
"No doubt! You want to gain time. Boy, I am getting out of patience. Give me my money!"
"I have no money of yours, madam," replied Luke, provoked; "and you know that as well as I do."
"So you are impertinent, as well as a thief," said the old gentleman. "I have no more pity for you. Madam, if you will take my advice, you will have the lying rascal13 arrested."
"I would prefer that he should give up the money quietly."
"I will take it upon myself to call a policeman when the car stops."
"You do me great injustice14, sir," said Luke. "Why do you judge so severely of one whom you do not know?"
"Because, young man, I have lived too long to be easily deceived. I pride myself upon my judgment15 of faces, and I can see the guilt16 in yours."
Luke looked about him earnestly.
"Is there no one in this car who believes me innocent?" he asked.
"No," said the old gentleman. "We all believe that this very respectable lady charges you justly."
"I say amen to that," added the old maid, nodding sharply.
Next to the old maid sat a man of about thirty-five, in a business suit, who, though he had said nothing, had listened attentively17 to the charges and counter-charges. In him Luke was to find a powerful and effective friend.
"Speak for yourself, old gentleman," he said. "You certainly are old enough to have learned a lesson of Christian18 charity."
"Sir," exclaimed the old gentleman, in a lofty tone, "I don't require any instruction from you."
"Why do you think the boy a thief? Did you see him take the money?"
"No, but its presence in his pocket is proof enough for me of his guilt."
"Of course it is!" said the old maid, triumphantly.
The young man did not appear in the least disconcerted.
"I have seldom encountered more uncharitable people," he said. "You are ready to pronounce the boy guilty without any proof at all."
"Don't it occur to you that you are insulting the lady who brings the charge?" asked the old gentleman, sternly.
The young man laughed.
"The woman has brought a false charge," he said.
"Really, this is outrageous19!" cried the old maid. "If I were in her place I would make you suffer for this calumny20."
"Probably I know her better than you do. I am a salesman in Marshall Field's drygoods store, and this lady is a notorious shoplifter. She is varying her performances to-day. I have a great mind to call a policeman. She deserves arrest."
Had a bombshell exploded in the car, there would not have been a greater sensation. The woman rose without a word, and signaled to have the car stopped.
"Now, sir," went on the young man, sternly, "if you are a gentleman, you will apologize to this boy for your unworthy suspicions, and you, too, madam."
The old maid tossed her head, but could not find a word to say, while the old gentleman looked the picture of mortification21.
"We are all liable to be mistaken!" he muttered, in a confused tone.
"Then be a little more careful next time, both of you! My boy, I congratulate you on your triumphant7 vindication22."
"Thank you, sir, for it. I should have stood a very poor chance without your help."
The tide was turned, and the uncharitable pair found so many unfriendly glances fixed23 upon them that they were glad to leave the car at the next crossing.
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收听单词发音
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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pickpocket
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| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
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3
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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4
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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9
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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12
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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13
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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14
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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15
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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17
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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18
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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19
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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20
calumny
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| n.诽谤，污蔑，中伤 | |
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21
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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22
vindication
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| n.洗冤，证实 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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