“Undoubtedly put him in prison for a number of years,” answered the senator’s son. “And he deserves it.”
“What a misspent life!” sighed Mrs. Wadsworth.
“And what about Link Merwell?” asked Jessie.
“I don’t know what they’ll do to him. Perhaps they won’t catch him,” said Phil.
“If they don’t, I hope he turns over a new leaf and makes a real man of himself,” said Laura.
Dave had gone to the jewelry works with the men, and soon Phil and Roger followed. Here the jewels were examined with care, being checked off on a list,—the duplicate of a receipt Oliver Wadsworth had given to the owner of the gems.
“Four stones are missing,” announced the manufacturer. “And they are worth less than a thousand dollars. Dave, you certainly did well.”
“We can get back at least two of those stones,” answered Dave. “The pawnbrokers will have to give them up.”
“Then the loss will be less than five hundred dollars—a mere trifle alongside of what it might have been. Dave, I’ll not offer you a reward, for I know you won’t take it. But I thank you, my boy, I thank you most heartily!” And Mr. Wadsworth caught Dave by both hands, while tears of emotion stood in his eyes.
“It saved us all from a tight place, if not ruin,” added Dunston Porter.