Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune

“Then you counted them just before you went out?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That was rather a singular time to make the count, was it not?”

“I don’t know that it was, sir.”

“I should suppose the end of the day would be a more appropriate time.”

“I don’t think so,” answered Eben, shortly.

“Were you led to make the count because you suspected Herbert’s honesty?” asked Mr. Melville.

“That was the very reason I did it,” said Eben, with a malicious glance at Herbert.

“Isn’t it a little curious that you should have selected a boy whose honesty you doubted, to fill your place?” asked George Melville, carelessly.

“There wasn’t anybody else; he knew all about post-office work.” answered Eben.

“Very good! Now, Mr. Graham, if you have no objection, will you tell why you wanted to get away from the post office last evening?”

Eben fidgeted, for he saw what was coming, and it made him nervous.

“I wanted a little rest,” he answered, after a pause.

“Where did you go?”

“Why do you ask me that question?” asked Eben, moving about uneasily.

“Because I desire an answer.”

“You know where I went,” returned Eben, sullenly.

“Yes, but I wish you to tell me.”

“Answer the question, witness!” said the judge, briefly.

“I went to the hotel,” replied Eben, evasively.

“On whom did you call?”

“On you!” answered Eben, reluctantly.

“We have come to it at last. Now, what was your business with me?”

“To tell you that Herbert would not suit you as a companion,” said the witness, who thought this answer rather a clever one.

“Whom did you recommend in his place?” pursued the questioner, relentlessly.

Eben hesitated, but his cleverness came again to his aid.

“I told you that I would be willing to come just to oblige you,” he said.

“Did Herbert know that you were going to make this proposal?”

“No.”

“You asked him, then, to remain in the post office while you absented yourself with a view of depriving him of the position he had just secured in my employ?”

“I would have got father to take him again in the store and post office,” said Eben, defending himself from the implied charge of treachery.

“Yes, you told me so.”

Eben nodded triumphantly. Even Melville had to admit that he was not treating Herbert meanly.

“By the way,” said Melville, “isn’t it rather strange that you should have been ready to recommend in your place a boy whose honesty you doubted?”

“I didn’t know he was a thief,” said Eben, somewhat abashed.

“No, but you suspected his honesty. That was your reason for counting the money and stamps before you left the office. At least, that is the reason you have given.”

“He had been in the office before I was there,” said Eben, uneasily.

“While he was there, were any stamps missing? Was he suspected of taking any stamps or money?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Now, Mr. Graham, what answer did I make to your application?”

“What application?”

“To take you into my employ instead of Herbert.”

“You wanted to keep him,” said the witness, sullenly.

“Precisely. Having failed, then, in your application, you went home and discovered that some money and stamps had been stolen.”

“Yes, sir. I was very much surprised—”

“That will do, sir. Your discovery was remarkably well-timed. Herbert having obtained the position you sought, you straightway discovered proof of his dishonesty.”

Eben colored, for the insinuation was plain enough for even him to understand.

“The two things had nothing to do with each other!” he said.

“That may be, but I call the attention of the judge to a very remarkable coincidence. Have the missing stamps or money been found on the person of the defendant?”

“He hasn’t been searched.”