Bernard Brooks' Adventures: The Experience of a Plucky Boy

“I can guarantee that he will be ready. It’s a queer thing that the boy should be mixed up in this affair.”

“I think so myself,” said the detective, not wholly without suspicion.

At the next landing the detective got off, and sent the following telegram:

“Chief of Police, Newburg:

“Look for a young man about average height, wearing a brown ulster. Suspected in connection with the Murdock robbery in Albany. Search him.

“Hatch, Detective.

“Wire to me at central office, New York.”

In due time the boat reached New York. By special favor Bernard was allowed to go to the Grand Union Hotel with Mr. Stackpole on the guarantee of the latter that his young charge would be ready when wanted.

At the central office Detective Hatch found the following despatch from Newburg:

“Party in ulster under arrest. Bonds have been found in inside pockets of ulster – thirty-five hundred dollars.

“Smith,

“Chief of Newburg Police.”

Detective Hatch rubbed his hands in glee. He telegraphed to Murdock & Co.: “Bonds recovered and thief in custody.”

While upon this subject it may be stated that the thief was tried, convicted, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Bernard received the following letter from Murdock & Co.:

“Bernard Brooks:

“We are apprised by Detective Hatch that you have aided him in securing the bonds of which we were robbed. This has occasioned you some trouble and inconvenience, and we wish to make you some acknowledgment. We send you herewith a Waltham gold watch, and hope it may please you.

“Murdock & Co.,

“Bankers and Brokers.”

The watch was a very handsome one, and proved to be a good timekeeper. It was what Bernard had long desired, but had had very little hope of securing. Mr. Stackpole bought him a chain to go with it.

“This is my contribution,” he said.

Bernard had been a week in New York, and he thought it high time to call upon his guardian. He ascertained from the directory that Cornelius McCracken had an office in Pine Street, and he accordingly betook himself there one morning.

He went up-stairs to a room on the third floor. On a door he saw the name Cornelius McCracken, Agent.

He ventured to open the door, and found himself in a room of moderate size, provided with the usual office furniture.

At a desk in the right hand corner, beside a window, sat a man of medium size, rather portly, with scanty locks that had once been red, but were now sprinkled plentifully with gray.

Bernard paused in the doorway and finally said: “Is this Mr. McCracken?”

“Yes,” answered the agent. “Who wants me?”

“I am your ward – Bernard Brooks.”

Mr. McCracken wheeled round in his chair quickly, and fixed a pair of sharp, ferret-like eyes on Bernard.

“So you have found me at last!” he said. “And now what have you to say in extenuation of your shameful conduct?”

CHAPTER XI. MR. SNOWDON LOSES HIS PUPIL

Bernard colored, partly with indignation.

“What shameful conduct do you refer to?” he Risked.

“I have received a letter from Mr. Snowdon, your respected preceptor, telling me how you have behaved.”

“Would you allow me to read the letter?”

“Yes, though I think you won’t find it very pleasant reading.”

He lifted the lid of his desk and drew out a letter which he handed to Bernard.

Bernard opened and read it.

It ran thus:

“Cornelius McCracken, Esq.:

Respected Sir: It gives me keen anguish to reveal to you the unworthy conduct of the boy whom you intrusted to my charge. It may not wholly surprise you, for, if I remember rightly, you described Bernard Brooks to me as a “bad lot.” In truth he is so. He has been mutinous and disagreeable, and has bullied my son Septimus, whom for some reason he seems to dislike strongly. Septimus is of a very amiable disposition – he is very like me – but he was constrained to complain of Bernard’s overbearing conduct. I felt that the boy needed castigation. You remember that King Solomon approved corporal punishment. Accordingly I prepared to inflict it. Getting wind of my intention, Bernard ran away. He led me a long chase into the marshy lands to the rear of my farm, and managed to entrap me into a ditch where my wardrobe received considerable injury. Then he stayed away all night. In the morning, however, my boy Septimus found him in a hayloft in my barn and notified me.

“I immediately took a horsewhip and went out to the barn. I ascended to the loft, but he, being active and agile, managed to elude me, and escaped from the barn, removing the ladder so that I could not descend for some time. I won’t go into details, but I will mention that he ran away to the neighboring town of Poplar Plains, where I found him in the company of an escaped lunatic. I should have been able to capture him but for the presence and interference of a Western desperado, who produced a revolver and threatened my life. He is still at large and probably still in the company of this lunatic, who seems at present disposed to befriend him, but may at any time murder him, as his cousin, now in pursuit of him, gives him a very bad character.

“I have felt it my duty to lay these facts before you for your consideration. I may add that I was put to considerable expense in hiring a horse to pursue Bernard. This and some other items amount to about five dollars, which I shall be glad if you will remit to me, as my means are straitened and I cannot bear the loss.

“Yours sincerely,

“Ezekiel Snowdon.”

“What have you to say to this?” asked Mr. McCracken severely.

“Only that Mr. Snowdon is unfit to teach, and is as brutal as he dares to be. I was fully justified in running away. I don’t allow any man to horsewhip me.”

“So you abused his son, Sep – ” and Mr. McCracken referred to the letter to refresh his memory as to the name.

“Septimus? He is worse, if anything, than his father.”

“Do you expect me to send you to another school, where you can have your own way?”

“No; I would prefer to earn my own living.”