While Phoebe freely applauded the generous efforts of the children on behalf of Toby Clark, she realized that it would require something more than Marching Clubs to save the boy from prison.
According to Sam Parsons, Toby ought to go to prison, as a scapegoat for others; but Phoebe could not reconcile herself to the decree of so dreadful a fate for a helpless and innocent waif—just because he had no near relatives to grieve over his sacrifice.
She had promised Sam not to tell his secret, unless by telling it she could save Toby, yet after much earnest thought she decided to relate an abstract case to Cousin Judith and ask her advice. So, outlining just how much she dared say and still be true to her promise, she went one afternoon to the Little Mother’s room, taking her sewing with her, and while Judith painted, Phoebe led the conversation toward Toby Clark.
“I’m afraid,” she remarked, after pursuing the subject for a time, “that we’re not helping Toby as energetically as we ought. No one seems so much interested as we are, for neither Mr. Spaythe nor Lawyer Holbrook appear to be doing anything to find the real criminal. If things jog along this way, December will soon arrive and Toby will be tried and convicted before we realize it.”
“True,” said Judith. “I can’t account for the seeming inactivity of Mr. Holbrook and Mr. Spaythe; yet it may be all seeming, Phoebe. Have you conceived any idea on the subject?”
“I’ve speculated about it, of course. Suppose, Cousin, these men should not wish to discover the real criminal. Suppose they know who took the box, but want to shield the guilty one from disgrace, and so are willing to let Toby suffer?”
“Why, Phoebe, what a queer notion that is!”
“But it isn’t impossible, is it? Suppose one with many friends and relatives—a prominent and respectable person, you know—in a moment of weakness stole Mrs. Ritchie’s box. To save that person from the consequences, false evidence against Toby was manufactured. We know it is false evidence if Toby is innocent. Wouldn’t those in the secret think it better to let a poor and friendless boy suffer the disgrace and the prison sentence, rather than denounce one whose disgrace would drag down many others?”
Judith looked at her with a startled expression.
“Really, my dear, you may possibly have stumbled upon the truth,” she said slowly. “That is quite a reasonable hypothesis. How did you happen to think of it?”