After the first conversation, already mentioned, with the lady at his side, he supposed he should have nothing further to do with her. But in this he was mistaken. While he was busy looking out of the car window, she plunged her hand into her pocket in search of her purse, which she was unable to find. Instantly she jumped to the conclusion that it had been stolen, and her suspicions fastened upon Frank, with whom she was already provoked for “crowding her,” as she termed it.
“Conductor!” she exclaimed in a sharp voice.
“What’s wanted, ma’am?” returned that functionary.
“I want you to come here right off.”
“What’s the matter?”
“My purse has been stolen. There was four dollars and eighty cents in it. I know, because I counted it when I paid my fare.”
“Who stole it?”
“That boy,” she said pointing to Frank, who listened to the charge in the most intense astonishment. “He crowded in here on purpose to rob me, and I want you to search him right off.”
“That’s a lie!” exclaimed Dick, indignantly.
“Oh, you’re in league with him, I dare say,” said the woman spitefully. “You’re as bad as he is, I’ll be bound.”
“You’re a nice female, you be!” said Dick, ironically.
“Don’t you dare to call me a female, sir,” said the lady, furiously.
“Why, you ain’t a man in disguise, be you?” said Dick.
“You are very much mistaken, madam,” said Frank, quietly. “The conductor may search me, if you desire it.”
A charge of theft, made in a crowded car, of course made quite a sensation. Cautious passengers instinctively put their hands on their pockets, to make sure that they, too, had not been robbed. As for Frank, his face flushed, and he felt very indignant that he should even be suspected of so mean a crime. He had been carefully brought up, and been taught to regard stealing as low and wicked.
Dick, on the contrary, thought it a capital joke that such a charge should have been made against his companion. Though he had brought himself up, and known plenty of boys and men, too, who would steal, he had never done so himself. He thought it mean. But he could not be expected to regard it as Frank did. He had been too familiar with it in others to look upon it with horror.
Meanwhile the passengers rather sided with the boys. Appearances go a great ways, and Frank did not look like a thief.
“I think you must be mistaken, madam,” said a gentleman sitting opposite. “The lad does not look as if he would steal.”
“You can’t tell by looks,” said the lady, sourly. “They’re deceitful; villains are generally well dressed.”
“Be they?” said Dick. “You’d ought to see me with my Washington coat on. You’d think I was the biggest villain ever you saw.”
“I’ve no doubt you are,” said the lady, scowling in the direction of our hero.
“Thank you, ma’am,” said Dick. “‘Tisn’t often I get such fine compliments.”
“None of your impudence,” said the lady, wrathfully. “I believe you’re the worst of the two.”
Meanwhile the car had been stopped.
“How long are we going to stop here?” demanded a passenger, impatiently. “I’m in a hurry, if none of the rest of you are.”
“I want my pocket-book,” said the lady, defiantly.
“Well, ma’am, I haven’t got it, and I don’t see as it’s doing you any good detaining us all here.”
“Conductor, will you call a policeman to search that young scamp?” continued the aggrieved lady. “You don’t expect I’m going to lose my money, and do nothing about it.”
“I’ll turn my pockets inside out if you want me to,” said Frank, proudly. “There’s no need of a policeman. The conductor, or any one else, may search me.”
“Well, youngster,” said the conductor, “if the lady agrees, I’ll search you.”
The lady signified her assent.
Frank accordingly turned his pockets inside out, but nothing was revealed except his own porte-monnaie and a penknife.
“Well, ma’am, are you satisfied?” asked the conductor.
“No, I ain’t,” said she, decidedly.
“You don’t think he’s got it still?”
“No, but he’s passed it over to his confederate, that boy there that’s so full of impudence.”