The Missing Tin Box Part 64

An hour later Hal was resting easier, and then Horace Sumner arose to leave and find out what the officers had done with the captured criminals.

As he turned to pick up the tin box he noticed the golden locket. He took it up rather carelessly, but suddenly a peculiar look stole into his eyes, and dropping the tin box he hurriedly opened the locket.

"My heavens!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.

The exclamation was so p.r.o.nounced that it awoke Hal, and the youth opened his eyes wide, and stared at the man.

"Where--where did you get this locket?" demanded Horace Sumner, in a voice husky with emotion.

"It is my birthright--or at least all I have of one," replied the youth.

"Your birthright?"

"That's what I call it, sir. It was around my neck when I was found on the streets of Fairham."

"Can this be true? When was this?"

"About sixteen years ago. But what--what--"

"Stop! what part of the year, Hal? answer me quickly."

"It was one Fourth of July night."

Horace Sumner staggered back.

"Fourth of July," he muttered to himself. "And little Howard disappeared on the twenty-seventh of June. Can it be----"

"You say you do not know anything about yourself?" he asked of Hal.

"No, sir. The people at Fairham tried to find out, but they didn't make a very great effort, I'm thinking, and so I--I--well, you can see how it is."

"You are not to blame, Hal. A better or more n.o.ble boy never lived--and--and I thank G.o.d that is so, for it--I will explain later. I must see Caleb Allen without delay."

And with his tin box under his arm, Horace Sumner rushed from the house, taking the golden locket with him.

When he appeared at the station-house he seemed almost like a crazy man, so eager was he to interview Allen. A private meeting between the two was speedily arranged.

"Allen, I have come on an important mission," began Horace Sumner.

"Have you? I thought you had your bonds," returned the swindler, as cooly as he could.

"I am not referring to the bonds. This matter is far more important."

"Indeed!"

"When you and the others were at the old Flack mansion Samuels mentioned a subject that lies close to my heart."

"Samuels didn't know what he was saying," growled Allen, turning pale.

"He did, Allen. I have been blind, but my eyes are now wide open. Caleb Allen, years ago you stole my son, my little baby boy."

"It's not true!" almost shouted Allen, but he trembled from head to foot.

"It is true. I have the evidence to prove it. Do you deny that you took the little one first to Philadelphia and then to the village of Fairham, and on the night of the Fourth of July----"

Caleb Allen jumped up as if shot.

"So Tommy Macklin has been blabbing, had he?" he screamed. "But it won't do you any good, Horace Sumner. The boy is lost to you--you will never hear of him again."

"So?" The old broker pulled the golden locket from his pocket. "Look at this. It was around his neck when he was stolen, and it has been the connecting link to prove his ident.i.ty. He is found, and my little boy Howard is--Hal Carson, the youth who helped to bring you to justice."

Here we must bring our tale to a close.

What Horace Sumner had said was true. Hal Carson was really his son, who had been stolen by Caleb Allen and Tommy Macklin, the latter having, even in those days, been a ready tool of the swindler.

Even after having robbed Sumner of his only son, Allen's hatred was not satisfied, and he entered into the limited partnership only for the purpose of ruining the man.

Allen had fallen in with Hardwick at a gambling house uptown, and the two soon became firm friends. At that time d.i.c.k Ferris was a great admirer of Hardwick, who found the tall boy a fellow without scruples of any kind.

Hal was amazed when he learned the truth concerning himself. At first he could not believe it, but when it came home to him he was overjoyed. He speedily recovered from the wounds Hardwick had inflicted, and one fine day in the early part of the following year Horace Sumner and Laura took him to the elegant mansion which was in future to be his home as well as theirs.

Hardwick, Allen, Macklin, and Samuels were all tried, and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Parsons escaped, and went to England.

When the police started to find d.i.c.k Ferris they found that the tall boy had shipped on a three years, whaling voyage. To this day he has not returned to New York.

The recovery of the tin box containing the railroad bonds saved Horace Sumner from ruin. He and his son are now in partnership on Wall Street, and trusty Jack McCabe is their office boy. Hal, or Howard, as he is now called, is rich, and is surrounded by friends, but it is not likely that he will ever forget the time he came to New York a poor boy, and solved the mystery of the Missing Tin Box.

THE END