The Black Forge Mills

by William P. Chipman

"You had better remain right here to-night," Mr. Carleton said, "and go home early in the morning."

"No," replied Ray; "I'll go down to my boat and crawl into the cuddy, and as soon as the storm slackens I'll drop down the bay."

He even refused the umbrella Mr. Carleton offered him, and darted off through the rain and darkness. Both of them, however, soon had reason to wish he had remained there quietly until morning.

When Ray reached the boat, he first examined the grain, to see that it was fully protected from the storm; then he crawled into the little cabin of the boat and lay down. It was not his intention to go to sleep, but it was late and he was tired, and soon a drowsiness crept over him, and in spite of every effort on his part to throw it off, he succumbed to it. He must have slept long and soundly, for it was broad daylight when he awoke. Provoked at himself for going to sleep at all, he crawled out of the cuddy, and began to make preparations for dropping down the bay. He thought, however, of his missing coat, and took a few minutes to look over the lumber for it, but without finding a trace of it. He now threw off the hindward fastening to his boat, and then stepped along to the bow to undo the fastening there, when he was attracted by a crowd up at the corner of Main and Bank Streets, and ran up there to see what the trouble was. He now learned of the burglary, and it was while he stood there that the bit of cloth was found clinging to the opening in the partition. Ray, with others, looked at it, then he turned abruptly, and hurrying from the store went down to the boat, cast off his painter, and started for Long Point Farm.

He did not arrive there until Mr. Woodhull had completed the morning chores, and that gentleman at once noticed that he seemed to be troubled and perplexed about something; but when he told of the loss of his coat, and that he had overslept himself, Mr. Woodhull thought these things fully accounted for his singular behavior. He felt sure of it when Ray said: "I never before had to have you do my work for me, and I shall take care that such a thing does not happen again."

"Oh," said Mr. Woodhull, laughingly, "I am extremely glad you have failed to be on time once; you are usually so punctual it is refreshing to find that you, like the rest of us, are sometimes obliged to yield to circumstances." And then the matter dropped.

All the forenoon Ray, while he kept busily at work, seemed to be unusually thoughtful and pre-occupied. It was not until they were at dinner that he spoke of the robbery, and then he only briefly explained that he had been attracted by the crowd around the store before he left the village, and going up to the building he had learned of the event. He answered all of the questions that were asked him concerning the affair frankly enough, but Mr. Woodhull thought, once or twice, he seemed about to speak of some additional circumstance, and then checked himself.

In the afternoon, however, he seemed like his old self, and after supper he romped and played with the children until bedtime. He then got his Bible and other helps, and sat down with the rest of the family, as he always did, to study the Sunday-school lesson for the next day. They were busily engaged over the lesson when a wagon drove hurriedly into the yard, and a moment later a loud knock was heard at the door.

All noticed that Ray suddenly grew pale and became strangely agitated as Mr. Woodhull went to the door. Whoever was there, he spoke to Mr. Woodhull in a low tone, who then went out, closing the door after him. He was gone a long time, and when he came in he looked exceedingly grave. Crossing the room to Ray's side, he laid his hand affectionately upon the boy's head, saying:

"My son, whatever trouble has come to you, remember I do not distrust you one moment, and all that I can do for you shall be done. I have no doubt of your innocence; but the officers are here to arrest you for last night's burglary."