Rodney reported his return to Mr. Redwood, and in his company went down stairs to the office, with the package under his arm.
"Well?" said Mr. Goodnow inquiringly.
"This is the package, sir."
"And it was found in your room?"
"Yes, sir, I found it on my bed."
"Can't you account for it being there?" asked the merchant searchingly.
"No, sir."
"You must admit that its presence in your room looks bad for you.""I admit it sir; but I had nothing to do with it being there.""Have you any theory to account for it?""Only this, that some one must have carried it to my room and placed it where it was found.""Did you question your landlady as to whether she had admitted any one during the morning?""Yes, sir. She had not.""This is very unfavorable to you."
"In what way, sir?"
"It makes it probable that you carried in the parcel yourself.""That I deny," said Rodney boldly.
"I expected you to deny it" said the merchant coldly. "If this cloak were the only one that had been taken I would drop the matter. But this is by no means the case. Mr. Redwood, can you give any idea of the extent to which we have been robbed?""So far as I can estimate we have lost a dozen cloaks and about half a dozen dress patterns.""This is a serious loss, Ropes," said Mr. Goodnow. "I should think it would foot up several hundred dollars. If you can throw any light upon the thefts, or give me information by which I can get back the goods even at considerable expense, I will be as considerate with you as I can.""Mr. Goodnow," returned Rodney hotly, "I know no more about the matter than you do. I hope you will investigate, and if you can prove that I took any of the missing articles I want no consideration.
I shall expect you to have me arrested, and, if convicted, punished.""These are brave words, Ropes," said Mr. Goodnow coldly, "but they are only words. The parcel found in your room affords strong ground for suspicion that you are responsible for at least a part of the thefts. Under the circumstances there is only one thing for me to do, and that is to discharge you.""Very well, sir.""You may go to the cashier and he will pay you to the end of the week, but your connection with the store will end at once.""I don't care to be paid to the end of the week, sir. If you will give me an order for payment up to tonight, that will be sufficient.""It shall be as you say."Mr. Goodnow wrote a few words on a slip of paper and handed it to Rodney.
"I will leave my address, sir, and if I change it I will notify you.
If you should hear anything as to the real robber I will ask you as a favor to communicate with me.""Mr. Redwood, you have heard the request of Ropes, I will look to you to comply with it.""Very well, sir."The merchant turned back to his letters, and Rodney left the office, with what feelings of sorrow and humiliation may be imagined.
"I am sorry for this occurrence, Ropes," said Mr. Redwood, with a touch of sympathy in his voice.
"Do you believe me guilty, Mr. Redwood?"
"I cannot do otherwise. I hope you are innocent, and, if so, that the really guilty party will be discovered sooner or later.""Thank you, sir."When they entered the room in which Rodney had been employed Jasper came up, his face alive with curiosity.
"Well," he said, "how did you come out?"
"I am discharged," said Rodney bitterly.
"Well, you couldn't complain of that. Things looked pretty dark for you.""If I had committed the theft, I would not complain. Indeed, Iwould submit to punishment without a murmur. But it is hard to suffer while innocent.""Uncle James," said Jasper, "if Ropes is going will you ask Mr.
Goodnow to put me in his place?"
Even Mr. Redwood was disgusted by this untimely request.
"It would be more becoming," he said sharply, "if you would wait till Ropes was fairly out of the store before applying for his position.""I want to be in time. I don't want any one to get ahead of me."James Redwood did not deign a reply.
