The man in the ulster was terribly slow about his work. His head and his face were so close to the box that it was impossible to get a glimpse of his countenance. Besides he fingered each letter separately as if to feel and mentally calculate the amount of money enclosed in each of the envelopes. The action did not escape Herbert’s attention, and caused him to curl his lips up in a look of unutterable scorn.
“Calculating his stealings,” he muttered to himself indignantly; “considering how much money he has filched from poor girls and women who have scarcely enough to buy food to eat.”
The kneeling figure, however, knew nothing of the contempt with which he was being regarded by the warm-blooded young man behind him. Presently he finished his examination of the letters and had put them all in the little leather gripsack which he had beside him. He arose very slowly, and then turned around and came face to face with the young reporter.
The sight that met the gaze of Herbert Harkins caused him to become as pale as a sheet. His head seemed to be reeling around him, and he felt as if he could scarcely stand without support.
He looked again. The second glance only confirmed what he had seen at first.
The youth who stood before him was Arthur Black!
CHAPTER XVI
IN WHICH HERBERT LOSES HIS POSITION AND RETIRES IN DISGRACE
The shock of discovering Arthur Black so unexpectedly and under such damaging circumstances completely unnerved Herbert Harkins. For many seconds he stood there staring at Arthur as if he were some ghostly phantom who had suddenly appeared from the grave. By degrees Herbert began to realize the compromising position in which he had placed himself. The detective stood only a few yards away eagerly watching the scene and awaiting the moment when he would be called upon to place Arthur Black under arrest. Herbert did not turn around, but felt that the sleuth was there, ready to perform the act which was to be the capstone of a remarkably clever piece of newspaper work.
In that brief period of time his mind traveled with lightning like rapidity. He thought of his troubles in the country. He remembered the incident when he had punished Arthur. He recalled the threatened disgrace which had preceded his father’s sudden death. He remembered his work on the Cleverly Banner, and then by easy stages his mind reverted to his arrival in New York, his employment on the Argus, and finally to his meeting with Mary Black on that very morning. He thought of Blakeley, the city editor, impatiently waiting for the announcement that his big story was to be a success and that the Argus could pride itself not only upon a notable scoop, but also upon the exposure of a set of swindlers who had preyed remorselessly upon the public.
What should he do? His duty seemed clear and unavoidable. Surely one would have to suffer for the benefit of the many. Besides that the eyes of the detective were upon him, and his failure to do the right thing at this moment might lead to his complete downfall. From this thought his mind reverted to every detail of the impressive interview which he had held with Mary Black a little more than an hour before. A voice within him urged him to be faithful to his promise, no matter what personal loss he might suffer. He had given her his pledge that if he ever met Arthur Black he would lend him a helping hand; that if he was in trouble he would succor him; that if he was in danger he would save him. For what seemed to be a very long time he was torn with conflicting emotions. Many minutes seemed to elapse—in reality it was only a few seconds. He reached his decision quickly, and he acted promptly. Putting his arm on Arthur’s shoulder, he whispered, almost hissed, into the latter’s ear: