Fame and Fortune; or, The Progress of Richard Hunter

by Jr. Horatio Alger

  CHAPTER XVII.

  DICK'S ACQUITTAL.

  After his interview with Mr. Murdock and Henry Fosdick, Dick feltconsiderably relieved. He not only saw that his friends were convincedof his innocence, but, through Tim Ryan's testimony, he saw that therewas a reasonable chance of getting clear. He had begun to set a highvalue on respectability, and he felt that now he had a character tosustain.

  The night wore away at last. The pallet on which he lay was rather hard;but Dick had so often slept in places less comfortable that he caredlittle for that. When he woke up, he did not at first remember where hewas, but he very soon recalled the circumstances, and that his trial wasclose at hand.

  "I hope Mr. Murdock won't oversleep himself," thought our hero. "If hedoes, it'll be a gone case with me."

  At an early hour the attendant of the police station went the rounds,and Dick was informed that he was wanted. Brief space was given for thearrangement of the toilet. In fact, those who avail themselves of thefree lodgings provided at the station-house rarely pay very greatattention to their dress or personal appearance. Dick, however, had acomb in his pocket, and carefully combed his hair. He also brushed offhis coat as well as he could; he also critically inspected his shoes,not forgetting his old professional habits.

  "I wish I had a brush and some blackin'," he said to himself. "My shoeswould look all the better for a good shine."

  But time was up, and, under the escort of a policeman, Dick was conveyedto the Tombs. Probably all my readers have heard of this building. It isa large stone building, with massive columns, broad on the ground, butlow. It is not only used for a prison, but there are two rooms on thefirst floor used for the holding of courts. Into the larger one of theseDick was carried. He looked around him anxiously, and to his great joyperceived that not only Mr. Murdock was on hand, but honest Tim Ryan,whose testimony was so important to his defence. Dick was taken forwardto the place provided for those awaiting trial, and was obliged to awaithis turn. One or two cases, about which there was no doubt, includingthe colored woman arrested for drunkenness, were summarily disposed of,and the next case was called. The policeman who had arrested Dickpresented himself with our hero.

  Dick was so neatly dressed, and looked so modest and self-possessed,that the judge surveyed him with some surprise.

  "What is this lad charged with?" he demanded.

  "With taking a wallet from a gentleman's pocket," said the policeman.

  "Did you arrest him?"

  "I did."

  "Did you take him in the act?"

  "No; I did not see him take it."

  "What have you to say, prisoner? Are you guilty or not guilty?" said thejudge, turning to Dick.

  "Not guilty," said Dick, quietly.

  "State why you made the arrest," said the judge.

  "I saw him with the wallet in his hand."

  "Is the gentleman who had his pocket picked, present?"

  "He is."

  "Summon him."

  The red-faced man came forward, and gave his testimony. He stated thathe was standing on the sidewalk, when he felt a hand thrust into hispocket, and forcibly withdrawn. He immediately felt for his wallet, andfound it gone. Turning, he saw a boy running, and immediately gavechase.

  "Was the boy you saw running the prisoner?"

  "I suppose it was."

  "You suppose? Don't you know?"

  "Of course it was, or he would not have been found with the wallet inhis hand."

  "But you cannot identify him from personal observation?"

  The red-faced man admitted with some reluctance that his eyesight wasvery poor, and he did not catch sight of the boy till he was too far offto be identified.

  "This is not so clear as it might be," said the judge. "Still,appearances are against the prisoner, and as the wallet was found in hispossession, he must be found guilty, unless that fact can besatisfactorily explained."

  "I have a witness who can explain it," said Dick.

  "Where is he?"

  Tim Ryan, who understood that his evidence was now wanted, came forward.

  After being sworn, the judge asked, "What is your name?"

  "Tim Ryan, sir."

  "Where do you live?"

  "In Mulberry Street."

  "Tell what you know of this case."

  "I was standing in Chatham Street, when I saw the ould gintleman withthe red face (here the prosecutor scowled at Tim, not relishing thedescription which was given of him) standing at the corner of PearlStreet. A boy came up, and put his hand into his pocket, and then runaway as fast as his legs could carry him, wid the wallet in his hand."

  "Who was this boy? Do you know him?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Tell his name."

  "It was Micky Maguire," said Tim, reluctantly.

  "And who is Micky Maguire?"

  "He blacks boots."

  "Then if this Micky Maguire took the wallet, how happened it that it wasfound in this boy's possession?"

  "I can tell that," said Tim. "I ran after Micky to see if he'd get offwid the wallet. He hadn't gone but a little way when I saw him slip itinto Dick's pocket."

  "I suppose you mean by Dick, the prisoner at the bar?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "And what became of this Micky?"

  "He stopped runnin' after he'd got rid of the pocket-book, and a minuteafter, up came the 'copp,' and took Dick."

  "Why didn't you come forward, and explain the mistake?"

  "I was afraid Micky'd beat me."

  "Do you know this Micky Maguire?" said the judge, turning to theofficer.

  "I do."

  "What is his reputation?"

  "Bad. He's been at the Island three or four times already."

  "Did you see him anywhere about when you made the arrest?"

  "I did."

  "Do you know this boy who has just testified?"

  "Yes. He is a good boy."

  "The case seems a clear one. The prisoner is discharged from custody.Arrest Micky Maguire on the same charge as early as possible."

  The next case was called, and Dick was free.

  Mr. Murdock came forward, and took him by the hand, which he shookheartily.

  "I congratulate you on your acquittal," he said.

  "I feel a little better than I did," said Dick. "Tim, you're a goodfellow," he said, clasping Tim's hand. "I wouldn't have got off, if ithadn't been for you."

  "I ought to do that much for you, Dick, when you've been so kind to me."

  "How are you getting along now, Tim?"

  "Pretty well. Mother's got so she can work and we're doin' well. Whenshe was sick, it was pretty hard."

  "Here's something to help you along," said Dick, and he drew a bill fromhis pocket.

  "Five dollars!" said Tim, in surprise.

  "You can buy some new clothes, Tim."

  "I ought not to take so much as that, Dick."

  "It's all right, Tim. There's some more where that comes from."

  They were in Centre Street by this time. Fosdick came up hurriedly.

  "Have you got off, Dick?" he asked, eagerly.

  "Yes, Fosdick. There's no chance of my being entertained at the expenseof the city."

  "I didn't expect the trial was coming off so early. Tell me all aboutit."

  "What did they say at the house at my being away?" asked Dick.

  "Miss Peyton inquired particularly after you. I said, as you directedme, that you were detained by important business."

  "What did she say then?"

  Dick was so particular in his inquiries, fearing lest any suspicionshould have been formed of the real cause which had detained him. Therewas no reason for it; but it had always been a matter of pride with himin his vagabond days that he had never been arrested on any charge, andit troubled him that he should even have been suspected of theft.

  "You are fishing for compliments, Dick," said Fosdick.

  "How do you make that out?"

  "You want to know what Miss Peyton said.
I believe you are gettinginterested in her."

  "When I am, just send me to a lunatic asylum," said Dick.

  "I am afraid you are getting sarcastic, Dick. However, not to keep youin suspense, Miss Peyton said that you were one of the wittiest youngmen she knew of, and you were quite the life of the house."

  "I suppose I ought to blush," said Dick; "but I'm a prey to hunger justnow, and it's too much of an effort."

  "I'll excuse you this time," said Fosdick. "As to the hunger, that'seasily remedied. We shall get home to breakfast, and be in good timetoo."

  Fosdick was right. They were the first to seat themselves at the table.Mr. Clifton came in directly afterwards. Dick felt a momentaryembarrassment.

  "What would he say," thought our hero, "if he knew where I passed thenight?"

  "Good-morning, Hunter," said Clifton. "You didn't favor us with yourpresence at dinner last evening."

  "No," said Dick. "I was absent on very important business."

  "Dining with your friend, the mayor, probably?"

  "Well, no, not exactly," said Dick, "but I had some business with thecity government."

  "It seems to me that you're getting to be quite an important character."

  "Thank you," said Dick. "I am glad to find that genius is sometimesappreciated."

  Here Miss Peyton entered.

  "Welcome, Mr. Hunter," she said. "We missed you last evening."

  "I hope it didn't affect your appetite much," said Dick.

  "But it did. I appeal to Mr. Fosdick whether I ate anything to speakof."

  "I thought Miss Peyton had a better appetite than usual," said Fosdick.

  "That is too bad of you, Mr. Fosdick," said Miss Peyton. "I'm sure Ididn't eat more than my canary bird."

  "Just the way it affected me," said Dick. "It always improves myappetite to see you eat, Miss Peyton."

  Miss Peyton looked as if she hardly knew whether to understand thisremark as complimentary or otherwise.

  That evening, at the dinner-table, Clifton drew a copy of the "Express"from his pocket, and said, "By Jove, Hunter, here's a capital joke onyou! I'll read it. 'A boy, named Richard Hunter, was charged withpicking a pocket on Chatham Street; but it appearing that the theft wascommitted by another party, he was released from custody.'"

  Dick's heart beat a little quicker while this was being read, but hemaintained his self-possession.

  "Of course," said he, "that was the important business that detained me.But I hope you won't mention it, for the sake of my family."

  "I'd make the young rascal change his name, if I were you," saidClifton, "if he's going to get into the Police record."

  "I think I shall," said Dick, "or maybe I'll change my own. You couldn'tmention a highly respectable name that I could take,--could you?"

  "Clifton is the most respectable name I know of," said the younggentleman owning that name.

  "If you'll make me your heir, perhaps I'll adopt it."

  "I'll divide my debts with you, and give you the biggest half," saidClifton.

  It is unnecessary to pursue the conversation. Dick found to hissatisfaction that no one at the table suspected that he was the RichardHunter referred to in the "Express."