Chapter XVI: Arthur's Letter

THE letter to which Mr. Irvington referred, was one Arthur wrote immediately on his return home after overhearing Willie's talk with his father. It was this:

"DEAR WILLIE:

"If you were not in trouble, I should not take the liberty to write you. But since I saw you to-night in the office with Mr. Munger, when the gas shone for a minute full on your pale, anxious face, I have not been able to forget you, no, not for a moment.

"Dear Willie, I am only a poor child whom your dear mother saved from the streets, and perhaps you will turn away from these few lines; but I have promised my Saviour I would follow his example, and do all the good I could, especially to people in trouble, as you are. I do not ask what is the cause of your sorrow and of your parents' grief. I have seen your mother growing more pale, and your father's lip quivering, when your name was mentioned. But oh, dear Willie, I do ask and beg of you to have no concealment from them. Who can feel such an interest in you, as your dear father and mother? And Willie, why will you not go to God with your troubles?

"If you have yielded to temptation, and done what you ought not, confess it to Him. When he sees your sorrow of heart, he will forgive you. I have only one word more to say, and it gives me pain to say it. Do not trust much to Mr. Munger, I fear he is not a good man. I cannot tell you what I know of him, but do be careful, and for your mother's sake, who was so good to me, forgive me for writing this.

"ARTHUR THOMPSON."

The thief who secured the ten thousand dollars, for several months escaped detection. At last, a notice came from one of the banks that a young man had made an effort to change a five-hundred-dollar bill, one of the numbers which had been stolen. These numbers had been fortunately obtained from Dixon and lodged at the different banks of the city. The cashier had managed, under plea of not having that amount of small bills, to detain the young man and begged that some one from Mr. Irvington's office would come and identify him.

It was with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow that Arthur accompanied Mr. Ross to the bank. As they entered, a youth dressed out in gaudy colors pulled down his hat and tried to escape from the room, but he fell into the hands of an officer whom Mr. Ross had stationed at the door.

It was indeed Joseph, but so changed in three months that his old companion was obliged to scrutinize him closely before he recognized him. His face was haggard and his eyes sunken from dissipation, his own hair was cut close to his head and over it he wore a flaxen-colored wig. When he found his crime was known, he gave up all but four hundred dollars of the ten thousand he had stolen; the remainder being in such large bills, he had not ventured to change them.

He scowled darkly at Arthur and with his clenched fist muttered, "I hate you," as the policeman led him away to jail.