CHAPTER IV.
FRANKLIN MAKES A FRIEND.
For the moment Franklin Bell did not know what to do. For the first time in his life he stood accused of a crime.
When Mrs. Mace ordered her husband to send for a policeman and have the young electrician arrested, Franklin stood at the gate, unable to move. But when Mr. Mace moved off to do as requested, the youth caught him fiercely by the arm.
"Don't—don't do it, Mr. Mace!" he gasped. "I am innocent, and—and I won't stand being arrested."
"You won't, eh?" sneered the man.
"No, sir. I didn't see the rings, and it isn't fair to treat me in this manner."
"That remains to be seen. You don't deny you were in the room?"
"No, Sir, but I did not touch the things excepting to pick up what I mentioned."
"Do you think you can make me believe my wife allowed that casket to remain open on the chair?" demanded Mr. Mace, coldly.
"I never did such a thing in my life, never!" shrieked Mrs. Mace. "Why, it's preposterous to think of such a thing!"
"Well, that is where it was," returned Franklin, stoutly.
"You took the rings, and that is all there is to it," replied the woman. "What did you do with them?"
"I said I hadn't them, Mrs. Mace," cried the young electrician, growing desperate.
"And I say you did. Search him, John!"
"You can search me if you please. I haven't got the rings."
"Maybe he threw them away when he found he was caught," suggested Mr. Mace. "It would be better for us to search around along the road in the snow."
The gentleman who had accompanied Mr. Mace, and who had thus far remained silent, now spoke up.
"I believe the young man is innocent, Jane," he said, quietly.
"What!" shrieked the woman. "Belden Brice! how can you say such a thing when I am sure—"
"Of what?"
"Sure he's the thief."
"You don't seem to prove it, Jane. The boy looks honest, and, excuse me for saying so, you are generally rather hasty in your judgments."
Mr. Belden Brice was Mrs. Place's brother. He was a speculator in patents and fairly well-to-do. He was several years older than his sister, and understood her disposition thoroughly.
Mrs. Mace pursed up her lips.
"I know what I'm doing," she replied, tartly. "That boy took those rings. I am as sure of it as that I am born!"
"Where do you keep your jewel casket?" asked Belden Brice.
"In the closet of the front room up stairs."
"And this young man was at work in that room?"
"He was, for quite a while."
"Was the door to the closet locked?"
"I suppose it was, but he could easily pick the lock, he has such a lot of tools."
"Where is the jewel casket now?"
"Standing on the chair, wide open."
"When did you place it in the closet last?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"Did you sleep in the room last night?"
"Yes; and I was in there all morning till he and Mr. Fells came."
"You were in the room till we came?" asked Franklin, curiously.
"Yes; that is, excepting a few minutes I spent in the parlor."
"Were you in the parlor just before we came?" went on the youth.
"What business is that of yours?" demanded Mrs. Mace.
"I think I have a right to know. You accuse me of stealing, and I wish to prove my innocence."
"I came down from the room about ten minutes before you arrived."
"Who was in the room after you came down?"
"No one."
"Who is in the house besides yourself?"
"Only Mary, the cook, and she was in the kitchen."
Franklin drew a long breath.
"I think I know who is guilty," he said, in rather a low tone.
"And who, pray?"
"Andrew Gresson."
"Andrew Gresson!" repeated all three of the others.
"Yes. I hate to say so, but I must do it to clear myself."
"I don't know the party, and I'm sure he hasn't been near the place, said Mrs. Mace.
"He left just as we arrived, ma'am."
"Impossible!"
"I say he did. I was wondering what he was doing about the place, and meant to mention the matter to you."
"Who is this Andrew Gresson?" questioned Belden Brice, with great interest.
"He is a man that used to work for Mr. Fells, but he was discharged for getting drunk."
"I see."
"He is angry at me for having filled his place, and he has vowed to get square with both of us."
"Humph! And you are sure you saw him leaving the house?"
"I saw him leave the garden by the side gate. He must have been in the house."
"Not necessarily. But still it looks like it."
"I don't see why you want to stick up for the boy, Belden," cried Mrs. Mace.
"Because he doesn't look like a young man who would steal," returned her brother, quietly.
"I don't believe a word he says."
"Neither do I," added John Mace.
"I do." Belden Brice turned again to Franklin. "Did you see if Gresson had anything in his hands?"
"No. He carried his left hand in his coat pocket."
"Did Mr. Fells see him?"
"I hardly think so."
There was a moment's pause, and then John Mace caught hold of Franklin and began to search his pockets.
Of course nothing was found.
"Look in the road while I look in the garden," said Mrs. Mace.
"Supposing we question your cook," said Belden Brice. "She may have seen this Gresson."
"Not likely," returned Mrs. Mace.
Nevertheless, she followed her brother around to the kitchen, and the others came after, John Mace keeping tight hold of the young electrician's arm to prevent him from running away.
They found Mary Haggerty, the cook, busy at work preparing dinner. She looked up in surprise as the little party blocked up the doorway.
"Now, tell us the truth, Mary," began Mrs. Mace. "Do you understand? I want the truth."
"Sure, mum, an' what's the matter?" gasped the Irish girl, turning pale.
"Two of my diamond rings have been stolen."
"Stholen! Saints presirve us."
"What we want to know is if you saw a strange man pass out of the side gate," put in Belden Brice, coming at once to the point.
"Oi did, sur," replied the cook.
This answer dumbfounded Mr. and Mrs. Mace.
"You did?" cried both.
"Yis, mum."
"And why didn't you speak of it before?" shrieked Mrs. Mace, catching the cook by the arm.
"Sure, an' Oi thought it was the mon as was to put up the alarm bells."
"Mr. Fells?"
"No, mum. The mon as worruks for him."
"This boy?"
"No, the other fellow."
"She means Andrew Gresson," said Franklin, triumphantly. He felt as if a great load was being lifted from his heart.
"Oi think that's his name," answered Mary Haggerty. "He's the same mon that put up the bells for Mrs. Hanson."
"That's him," said Franklin. "If you do not believe it, ask Mr. Fells."
"How long ago is it since he left?" asked Belden Brice.
"Quite a while. When I first came."
"And which way did he go?"
"That way."
"Toward the depot?"
"Yes."
Belden Brice turned to John Mace.
"Supposing we go after him, John?"
"All right."
"Let the boy go along. He can point out the man if we run across him."
"He'll run away," cried Mrs. Mace.
"No, I won't," returned Franklin. "Come on; we had better lose no time."
They were soon on their way to the depot. While they were yet a block off they heard the whistle of a locomotive.
"It's the train for Newark and New York!" cried Franklin. "Let us see if Gresson boards it."
The three broke into a run, Franklin in the lead. But they were too late. The train had made its brief stop and gone on before they arrived.
They looked around on all sides. The depot platform was deserted. Then they entered the waiting rooms, the baggage office, and other places where Gresson might be keeping himself.
The man was nowhere to be seen.
"We've missed him," said Belden Brice. "Like as not, he has gone to New York with his ill-gotten booty."
"That is, if he did really have the rings," said John Mace, significantly. "That the man was about the house proves nothing. He might have come there to see Mr. Fells."
Franklin's heart fell at these words. Evidently Mr. Mace still thought him guilty.
The trio returned to the Mace mansion. Here they found Mrs. Mace, Mary, the cook, and Silas Fells, holding an excited confab.
"Did you catch him?" demanded Silas Fells, excitedly.
"No."
The electrician turned upon Franklin.
"What kind of a fellow are you," he stormed. "Why didn't you report this matter as soon as you found the jewel casket wide open and the jewels spread all over the floor?
"I was going to report it," returned Franklin, "but you had gone to the shop and—"
"I don't want to hear another word," roared Silas Fells. "I suppose you would let somebody rob a whole house right under your nose! Go to the shop and wait till I come."
And, without another word, Silas Fells shoved Franklin out of the gate.