The Tin Box, and What it Contained

Harry pitied him, but was unable to offer any adequate consolation.

"Will you give me your name and address?" he said. "And, if I can hearanything of your coupons, or the man that swindled you, I'll write andlet you know."

"Will you? I'm obleeged to you," said the farmer, who had formed quite ahigh idea of our hero's sagacity from his declining the trap into whichhe himself had fallen. "My name is Simon Jones, of Crabtree Hollow, Connecticut."

Harry entered it in a little memorandum book which he carried.

At length the great city was reached, and the crowd of passengersdispersed in different directions.

It was over a year since Harry had been in the city, and he was not veryfamiliar with it, but he had a modest confidence in his ability to getalong.

"Shine yer boots, guv'nor?" asked a ragged bootblack.

"How much?" Harry asked. "Seein' it's you, I'll only ask ten cents," returned the street boy.

"Thank you. I blacked my own boots before I left home."

"Do you call that a shine?" said the boy, contemptuously, as his glancerested on Harry's shoes, which certainly did not vie in polish withthose operated upon by city bootblacks.

"It'll do for me," answered Harry, good-naturedly.

"Mornin' papers —Herald, Times, Tribune, World!" called a newsboy.

"Give me a Herald," said Harry, who suddenly bethought himself of thetin box, and was anxious to find out whether any allusion was made tothe theft in the morning papers.

He opened the paper, and his eyes ran hastily over the crowded columns.

CHAPTER XXI

A REWARD OFFERED

Harry looked over the news columns in vain for an account of therobbery, or some allusion to the tin box which he had seen concealed inthe wood.

"There may have been something about it in yesterday's paper," he saidto himself. "I must go to the office of publication and buy a copy."

It occurred to him, however, that there might be an advertisementoffering a reward for its recovery, and he began to search, with thisobject in view.

Presently his eye lighted on the following:

"Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars Reward.

"On the fifteenth instant, a Tin Box, containing a considerable sum inFive-Twenty Government and Union Pacific Bonds, was stolen from theoffice of the subscriber. The above sum will be paid for the discoveryof the thief, or for information leading to the recovery of all, or thelarger part, of the bonds. JAMES P. WHEELER,

"No. 265 Broadway, Room 10."

I do not claim to have given the correct number, for obvious reasons. Ofcourse, the address given in the advertisement was accurate.

Naturally, Harry was much pleased at his easy success. He had only to goto the office mentioned and communicate what he knew, and leave Mr. Wheeler to take the necessary steps for the recovery of the property.

Should he attend first to that, or to the sale of the coupons? On thewhole, he decided to go to Mr. Wheeler's office first, as the tin boxmight be removed at any time, if the suspicions of Vernon or Templeshould be excited.

It was, of course, perfectly easy to find any address on Broadway, andnot many minutes elapsed before Harry found himself before the door ofoffice No. 10.

Entering – for the door was ajar – he saw a large, handsomely fitted-upoffice, with a small room partitioned off at one corner.

In this room sat a man of middle age, with a keen face and a brisk air, which indicated that he was a trained man of business.

Outside, at a desk, sat a young man, evidently a clerk, who was busilyengaged in writing. It was he who looked up when Harry entered andlooked hesitatingly about.

"Well, Johnny, what can I do for you?" said the young man, patronizingly.

"Is Mr. Wheeler in the office?"

"Yes; but he is busy."

"He will see me," said Harry, with quiet confidence.

"Will he?" asked the young man, surveying our hero with some curiosity.

"Who do you come from?"

"From no one. I have business of my own with Mr. Wheeler."

"Who is it?" asked an imperative voice.

"A boy to see you, sir," answered the clerk, respectfully.

"Bring him in, then, and don't waste his time and your own inunnecessary talk."

"Waste his time, indeed," muttered the clerk, who evidently did notregard Harry's time as particularly valuable.

"Well, young man," said the lawyer – for such was his business – as Harryentered his presence. "What is it?"

"I should like a private interview, sir," said Harry, glancing at theclerk, who was hovering near.

"Shut the door, and resume your writing, Richard," said Mr. Wheeler.

Shrugging his shoulders, with a disappointed look, Richard obeyed.

"I came to see you about the advertisement," said Harry, coming to thepoint at once.

The lawyer started, and eyed Harry keenly. Could the boy be one of thethieves, or was he merely acting as a go-between?

"Do you know anything about the box of bonds?" asked Mr. Wheeler, quickly.

"Yes, sir; I know where it is concealed."

"Ha, that is important. Do you come from the parties that took them?"