The Vast Abyss Part 73

But all was in its ordinary state in the workshop, and after a sharp investigation, Tom was on his way to the steps, when David looked at him in a half-injured way as if disappointed.

"What, arn't nothing stole here, sir?"

"No; everything seems to be right," replied Tom.

"Well, I should ha' thought they'd ha' took the s.p.a.cklums or something while they was about it."

But matters wore a different aspect upon the laboratory being reached.

On the whole the place looked undisturbed, save that a rug or two had been kicked up, and a chair tilted over against the wall; but at the second glance Tom felt a thrill, for there facing him was the old walnut bureau, with its drawers open, and the contents tumbled over and over, the small top drawer to the right especially taking Tom's attention, for it hung nearly out and was perfectly empty.

There had not been much in it, only a few papers, but one was the large cartridge paper envelope, which contained the doc.u.ments given to him by his uncle when that strange visit was paid. These had evidently gone; what else had been taken it was impossible to say.

"They've been at it here, Master Tom, haven't they?"

"I'm afraid so, David."

"Then hadn't I better go and fetch the policeman directly, sir?"

"No," said Tom decisively. "We must wait till uncle comes back, and see what he says."

"But they'll get right away, sir, 'fore he comes back."

"I'm afraid whoever it was has got right away, David," said Tom; and he told his companion as much of the events of the past night as he thought necessary.

"Oh, why didn't you come and call me up, Master Tom?" cried the gardener reproachfully. "If I'd been there we could ha' captivated 'em, for there must ha' been two. That there ladder couldn't ha' lifted itself up again, and stood ready for the one inside to get down."

"Yes, there must have been two," said Tom thoughtfully.

"You should ha' comed and called me, sir--you should indeed. I've got as much right to take care o' master's property when he's out as you have."

"I never thought of it, David."

"It's on'y three 'undered and forty-nine yards and a half to my cottage, sir. You might have thought o' me."

"I only wish I had," said Tom warmly. "I should have been so glad to have you."

"Well, sir, there's something in that," said David, but only to repeat himself in a reproachful tone--"It was on'y three 'undered and forty-nine yards, and what's that to a young gent like you."

"It can't be helped now, David. Let's go up-stairs."

Tom felt stiffer as he went up the step-ladder, and the whole business of the struggle in the dark came back as they stood in the observatory, where all seemed to be correct, save an overturned stool, and the position of the telescope in the middle changed.

"What's gone from here, sir?" asked David.

"I don't see anything."

"Oh, but they must have took something else, sir."

"Perhaps so, but I cannot see what."

"Then that's because you disturbed 'em, sir. They was ramshacking your uncle's desk thing when you come. Tend upon it that was it. Oh, I do wish I'd been there just at the bottom of the ladder ready to nab 'em as they come down. Say, Master Tom--think your uncle kep' his money in that there old chest-o'-drawers thing?"

"I think he used to keep a little bag of change there," replied Tom thoughtfully; and it seemed more probable that the thieves were after that than in search of papers, which could have been of no earthly use to them, though the drawer was nearly empty all the same.

"You did get hold o' one of 'em, sir?" said David, after a pause.

"Oh, yes, more than once."

"And he felt like that there Pete Warboys, didn't he?"

"Yes--no--I don't know," said Tom confusedly; and David scratched his head.

"That's like asking a man a riddle, sir," he said. "Can't make much o'

that."

"Well, what can I say, David?" cried Tom impatiently. "It was pitch dark, and I was thinking of nothing else but catching him. I could see nothing but the dim-looking windows."

"But you felt him, sir."

"Oh yes, I had hold of him."

"Well, did he feel like Pete?"

"What nonsense! One lad would feel like another."

"Oh no, sir, he wouldn't. Pete's bones'd feel all loose and s.h.i.+mbly.

Bound to say you heared his jyntes keep on cracking."

"No, I don't remember that.--Yes, I do," continued Tom excitedly. "I did hear him go crack twice when we were wrestling."

"There you are, you see," cried the gardener triumphantly, "that's c'roborative evidence, and c'roborative evidence is what they make detective police on. It was Pete Warboys, sure enough."

"I thought it must be, David."

"Not a doubt 'bout it, sir. We've got him this time safe enough, and he'll be sent away for the job, and a blessing to Furzebrough, I say.

But I'll try you again, sir. Just lead you up like. Now, then, to make more sure--you smelt him too, didn't you?"

"Smelt him?" cried Tom.

"Ay, sir, that's what I said. You could smell him yards away."

"Oh no, I didn't smell him," said Tom, laughing.

"Do you mean to tell me, Master Tom, that, you didn't smell Pete the other night when you was letting go at him with that stick atop o' our wall?"

"I remember smelling onions very strong."

"There!" cried David triumphantly. "Of course you did. I like an onion roasted, or in stuffing, or the little 'uns pickled, but that chap lives on 'em. You ask anybody in the village, and they'll tell you they can't keep an onion in their gardens for him. He's a savage at 'em. And you mean to tell me that you didn't smell onions when you was fighting with him last night?"