Otis Goodnow arrived at his place of business a little earlier than usual, and set himself to looking over his mail. Among other letters was one written on paper bearing the name of the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He came to this after a time and read it.
It ran thus:
DEAR SIR:
I was once in your employ, though you may not remember my name. I was in
the department of Mr. Redwood, and there I became acquainted with Jasper
Redwood, his nephew. I was discharged, it is needless to recall why. I
had saved nothing, and of course I was greatly embarrassed. I could not
readily obtain another place, and in order to secure money to pay living
expenses I entered into an arrangement with Jasper Redwood to sell me
articles, putting in more than I paid for. These I was enabled to sell
at a profit to smaller stores. This was not as profitable as it might
have been to me, as I was obliged to pay Jasper a commission for
his agency. Well, after a time it was ascertained that articles were
missing, and search was made for the thief. Through a cunningly devised
scheme of Jasper’s the theft was ascribed to Rodney Ropes, a younger
clerk, and he was discharged. Ropes was a fine young fellow, and I have
always been sorry that he got into trouble through our agency, but there
seemed no help for it. It must rest on him or us. He protested
his innocence, but was not believed. I wish to say now that he was
absolutely innocent, and only Jasper and myself were to blame. If you
doubt my statement I will call today, and you may confront me with
Jasper. I desire that justice should be done.
PHILIP CARTON.
“Call Mr. Redwood,” said the merchant, summoning a boy.
In five minutes Mr. Redwood entered the office of his employer.
“You sent for me, sir?”
“Yes, Mr. Redwood; cast your eye over this letter.”
James Redwood read the letter, and his face showed the agitation he felt.
“I don’t know anything about this, Mr. Goodnow,” he said at last.
“It ought to be inquired into.”
“I agree with you. If my nephew is guilty I want to know it.”
“We will wait till the writer of this letter calls. Do you remember him?”
“Yes, sir; he was discharged for intemperance.”
At twelve o’clock Philip Carton made his appearance, and asked to be conducted to Mr. Goodnow’s private office.
“You are the writer of this letter?” asked the merchant.
“Yes sir.”
“And you stand by the statement it contains?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why, at this late day, have you made a confession?”
“Because I wish to do justice to Rodney Ropes, who has been unjustly accused, and also because I have been meanly treated by Jasper Redwood, who has thrown me over now that he has no further use for me.”
“Are you willing to repeat your statement before him?”
“I wish to do so.”
“Call Jasper Redwood, Sherman,” said the merchant, addressing himself to Sherman White, a boy recently taken into his employ.
Jasper entered the office, rather surprised at the summons. When he saw his accomplice, he changed color, and looked confused.
“Jasper,” said the merchant, “read this letter and tell me what you have to say in reply.”
Jasper ran his eye over the letter, while his color came and went.
“Well?”
“It’s a lie,” said Jasper hoarsely.
“Do you still insist that the articles taken from my stock were taken by Rodney Ropes?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you say, Mr. Carton?”
“Not one was taken by Rodney Ropes. Jasper and I are responsible for them all.”
“What proof can you bring?”
“Mr. James Redwood will recall the purchase I made at the time of the thefts. He will recall that I always purchased of Jasper.”
“That is true,” said Mr. Redwood in a troubled voice.
“Do you confess, Jasper Redwood?”
“No, sir.”
“If you will tell the truth, I will see that no harm comes to you. I want to clear this matter up.”
Jasper thought the matter over. He saw that the game was up—and decided rapidly that confession was the best policy.
“Very well, sir, if I must I will do so, but that man put me up to it.”
“You did not need any putting up to it. I wish young Ropes were here, that I might clear him.”
As if in answer to the wish a bronzed and manly figure appeared at the office door. It was Rodney, but taller and more robust than when he left the store nearly a year before.
“Rodney Ropes!” ejaculated Jasper in great surprise.
“Yes, Jasper, I came here to see you, and beg you to free me from the false charge which was brought against me when I was discharged from this store. I didn’t find you in your usual places, and was directed here.”
“Ropes,” said Mr. Goodnow, “your innocence has been established. This man,” indicating Philip Carton, “has confessed that it was he and Jasper who stole the missing articles.”
“I am thankful that my character has been cleared.”
“I am ready to take you back into my employ.”
“Thank you, sir, but I have now no need of a position. I shall be glad if you will retain Jasper.”
“You are very generous to one who has done so much to injure you.”
“Indirectly he put me in the way of making a fortune. If you will retain him, Mr. Goodnow, I will guarantee to make up any losses you may incur from him.”
“How is this? Are you able to make this guarantee?”
“I am worth seventy five thousand dollars in money, besides being owner of a large mining property in Montana.”
“This is truly wonderful! And you have accumulated all this since you left my store?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Rodney,” said Jasper, going up to his old rival, and offering his hand. “I am sorry I tried to injure you. It was to save myself, but I see now how meanly I acted.”
“That speech has saved you,” said the merchant. “Go back to your work. I will give you another chance.”
“Will you take me back also, Mr. Goodnow?” asked Philip Carton.
The merchant hesitated.
“No, Mr. Carton,” said Rodney. “I will look out for you. I will send you to Montana with a letter to my partner. You can do better there than here.”
Tears came into the eyes of the ex-clerk.
“Thank you,” he said gratefully. “I should prefer it. I will promise to turn over a new leaf; and justify your recommendation.”
“Come to see me this evening at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and I will arrange matters.”
“Shall you stay in the city long, Ropes?” asked the merchant.
“About a week.”
“Come and dine with me on Tuesday evening.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Later in the day Rodney sought out his old room mate Mike Flynn. He found Mike in a bad case. He had a bad cold, but did not dare to give up work, because he wouldn’t be able to meet his bills. He was still in the employ of the District Telegraph Company.
“Give the company notice, Mike,” said Rodney. “Henceforth I will take care of you. You can look upon me as your rich uncle,” he added with a smile.
“I will be your servant, Rodney.”
“Not a bit of it. You will be my friend. But you must obey me implicitly. I am going to send you to school, and give you a chance to learn something. Next week I shall return to Dr. Sampson’s boarding school and you will go with me as my friend and room mate.”
“But, Rodney, you will be ashamed of me. I am awfully shabby.”
“You won’t be long. You shall be as well dressed as I am.”
A week later the two boys reached the school. It would have been hard for any of Mike’s old friends to recognize him in the handsomely dressed boy who accompanied Rodney.
“Really, Mike, you are quite good looking, now that you are well dressed,” said Rodney.
“Oh, go away with you, Rodney? It’s fooling me you are!”
“Not a bit of it. Now I want you to improve your time and learn as fast as you can.”
“I will, Rodney.”
A year later Rodney left school, but he kept Mike there two years longer. There had been a great change in the telegraph boy, who was quick to learn. He expects, when he leaves school, to join Rodney in Montana.
I will not attempt to estimate Rodney’s present wealth, but he is already prominent in financial circles in his adopted State. Philip Carton is prospering, and is respected by his new friends, who know nothing of his earlier life.
As I write, Rodney has received a letter from his old guardian, Benjamin Fielding. The letter came from Montreal.
“My dear Rodney,” he wrote. “I have worked hard to redeem the past, and restore to you your fortune. I have just succeeded, and send you the amount with interest. It leaves me little or nothing, but my mind is relieved. I hope you have not had to suffer severely from my criminal carelessness, and that you will live long to enjoy what rightfully belongs to you.”
In reply Rodney wrote: “Please draw on me for fifty thousand dollars. I do not need it, and you do. Five years from now, if you can spare the money you may send it to me. Till then use it without interest. I am worth much more than the sum my father intrusted to you for me.”
This offer was gratefully accepted, and Mr. Fielding is now in New York, where he is likely to experience a return of his former prosperity.
As for Rodney, his trials are over. They made a man of him, and proved a blessing in disguise.
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