He felt almost sure that John Hubbard intended to bring an officer there to arrest him, with the evidences of his guilt around him.
With this thought there came the temptation to restore those boxes to the secret vault from which he had taken them.
Mr. Brewster had said that no one, save himself and the man who constructed it, knew of its existence. If he should conceal those jewels and the other box, there would be no evidence, beyond John Hubbard’s word, to prove that he had attempted to take them from the bank. His word would be just as good as that of his enemy, upon whom the burden of proving his own accusations would have to rest.
“But I should have to deny all knowledge of them. I should be obliged to lie, and that I will not do, even to save my—myself from prison,” he said to himself, with an air of proud resolution. “No, I will tell the truth and take my chance; I have Mr. Brewster’s note telling me to come to him; I have also his keys, and the two taken together ought to be strong points in my defense.”
Nevertheless, these arguments were small consolation in view of his unfortunate situation.
Then his thoughts reverted to Mr. Brewster, and hot tears rushed into his eyes as he realized that the man was lying still in death, and they would never meet in this life again. He was still weak from the shock he had experienced upon learning the fact so suddenly, and he wondered what could have caused the unlooked-for attack.
He had appeared to be very comfortable, and hopeful of soon getting out again, when he had seen him the previous day, and it seemed awful to him that he should have been so ruthlessly cut down, just in the prime of life, and in the height of prosperity.
He was wild with impatience to learn the particulars, and chafed restively against his confinement in that tomb-like place.
“Poor Allison! It will be a terrible blow to her,” he mused; “she will be all alone in the world now; but she is fortunate to be left an heiress, and thus shielded from the hardships of life.”
Alas! he little thought that the fortune which would fall to the girl was destined to bring upon her dangers and trials from which he would have shrunk appalled could he have foreseen them.