第54章

The major sighed and glanced casually out of the window.The bank examiner changed his position, and leaned his chin upon his other hand.

"One winter," continued the major, "the money for the county taxes came pouring in so fast that I didn't have time to take the stuff to the bank for a week.I just shoved the checks into a cigar box and the money into a sack, and locked them in the big safe that belonged to the sheriff's office.

"I had been overworked that week, and was about sick, anyway.My nerves were out of order, and my sleep at night didn't seem to rest me.The doctor had some scientific name for it, and I was taking medicine.And so, added to the rest, I went to bed at night with that money on my mind.Not that there was much need of being worried, for the safe was a good one, and nobody but Bob and I knew the combination.On Friday night there was about $6,500 in cash in the bag.On Saturday morning I went to the office as usual.The safe was locked, and Bob was writing at his desk.I opened the safe, and the money was gone.I called Bob, and roused everybody in the court-house to announce the robbery.It struck me that Bob took it pretty quiet, considering how much it reflected upon both him and me.

"Two days went by and we never got a clew.It couldn't have been burglars, for the safe had been opened by the combination in the proper way.People must have begun to talk, for one afternoon in comes Alice--that's my wife--and the boy and girl, and Alice stamps her foot, and her eyes flash, and she cries out, 'The lying wretches--Tom, Tom!' and I catch her in a faint, and bring her 'round little by little, and she lays her head down and cries and cries for the first time since she took Tom Kingman's name and fortunes.And Jack and Zilla--the youngsters--they were always wild as tiger cubs to rush over Bob and climb all over him whenever they were allowed to come to the court-house--they stood and kicked their little shoes, and herded together like scared partridges.They were having their first trip down into the shadows of life.Bob was working at his desk, and he got up and went out without a word.The grand jury was in session then, and the next morning Bob went before them and confessed that he stole the money.He said he lost it in a poker game.In fifteen minutes they had found a true bill and sent me the warrant to arrest the man with whom I'd been closer than a thousand brothers for many a year.

"I did it, and then I said to Bob, pointing: 'There's my house, and here's my office, and up there's Maine, and out that way is California, and over there is Florida--and that's your range 'til court meets.You're in my charge, and I take the responsibility.You be here when you're wanted.'

"'Thanks, Tom,' he said, kind of carelessly; 'I was sort of hoping you wouldn't lock me up.Court meets next Monday, so, if you don't object, I'll just loaf around the office until then.I've got one favour to ask, if it isn't too much.If you'd let the kids come out in the yard once in a while and have a romp I'd like it.'

"'Why not?' I answered him.'They're welcome, and so are you.And come to my house, the same as ever.' You see, Mr.Nettlewick, you can't make a friend of a thief, but neither can you make a thief of a friend, all at once."

The examiner made no answer.At that moment was heard the shrill whistle of a locomotive pulling into the depot.That was the train on the little, narrow-gauge road that struck into San Rosario from the south.The major cocked his ear and listened for a moment, and looked at his watch.The narrow-gauge was in on time--10.35.The major continued:

"So Bob hung around the office, reading the papers and smoking.I put another deputy to work in his place, and after a while, the first excitement of the case wore off.

"One day when we were alone in the office Bob came over to where I was sitting.He looked sort of grim and blue--the same look he used to get when he'd been up watching for Indians all night or herd-riding.

"'Tom,' says he, 'it's harder than standing off redskins; it's harder than lying in the lava desert forty miles from water; but I'm going to stick it out to the end.You know that's been my style.But if you'd tip me the smallest kind of a sign--if you'd just say, "Bob I understand," why, it would make it lots easier.'

"I was surprised.'I don't know what you mean, Bob,' I said.'Of course, you know that I'd do anything under the sun to help you that I could.But you've got me guessing.'

"'All right, Tom,' was all he said, and he went back to his newspaper and lit another cigar.

"It was the night before court met when I found out what he meant.I went to bed that night with that same old, light-headed, nervous feeling come back upon me.I dropped off to sleep about midnight.When I awoke I was standing half dressed in one of the court-house corridors.Bob was holding one of my arms, our family doctor the other, and Alice was shaking me and half crying.She had sent for the doctor without my knowing it, and when he came they had found me out of bed and missing, and had begun a search.

"'Sleep-walking,' said the doctor.

"All of us went back to the house, and the doctor told us some remarkable stories about the strange things people had done while in that condition.I was feeling rather chilly after my trip out, and, as my wife was out of the room at the time, I pulled open the door of an old wardrobe that stood in the room and dragged out a big quilt I had seen in there.With it tumbled out the bag of money for stealing which Bob was to be tried--and convicted--in the morning.