Ednas Sacrifice and Other Stories | Page 7

resisted. I covered him with my pistol, and spoke
again in a tone which convinced him I was in a dangerous mood.
"'Hand me that watch.'
"Out it came; and without taking a second look at me, he left. And
thanks to my little beauty here," tapping his revolver, "I am home again,
no worse off than when I started. Now, what say you?"
"Oh, Fred! Oh, my dear, what have you done? Oh, you have robbed
that man of his watch! Yours is on the bureau. You left it home," Nellie
cried, in a voice of real agitation.
"What? No! Surely not!" exclaimed Fred, growing very red, and
starting toward the bureau.
Fannie handed to Fred his own watch, at the same time fairly shaking
with the laughter she had tried so hard to suppress.
"Oh, Fred, forgive me. I'm only human; I must laugh or die."
Peal after peal came from the merry girl, who could not restrain herself,
although Nellie looked so reproachfully, and Fred really angrily at her;
the former saying:
"Indeed, Fannie, I'm too much frightened to laugh."
Fred was too mortified to say another word for some time. At length,
turning to Fannie, who had grown a little quiet, he snappishly said:
"Pray, don't stop! I'm very happy to afford you so much amusement."
Of course Fannie began anew; and Nellie trying to stop her by looks
and motions, asked:
"What shall you do, Fred?"
"It is not a matter of such vital importance that you need look so
worried, Nellie. I'll go to the police head-quarters, explain the matter,
and leave the watch. That will be the end of it," said Fred, trying to
assume a light, careless tone.
Nellie hoped it might be the end of it; but still fearful of something
unpleasant, asked:

"Is it too late to-night to go, Fred?"
"Certainly it is," Fred answered.
Seeing Nellie's face still retain its anxious and frightened expression,
Fred broke out laughing himself, saying:
"You look as much frightened, Nell, as I imagine that man looked when
I went for his watch."
Next morning Fred was longer than usual getting off from home, and
all Nellie's urging haste seemed to have the tendency to retard instead
of accelerating his motions. But at last, to her great relief, he was off.
After getting a few rods from home, he drew forth the stolen watch, and
found of course it had run down. Having no key to fit it, he approached
a jewelry store, intending to have it wound up. He had failed to notice
the very particular attention with which a policeman was regarding him.
Just as he was about to enter the store, he was tapped on the shoulder.
Turning, he beheld the officer, a total stranger to Fred, so he knew it
was not a bit of use to explain the case to him. So to attract as little
notice as possible, he walked quietly along with his not very agreeable
companion until they reached the police head-quarters.
There he began his explanation. All were strange faces around him, on
which he saw unmistakable signs of merriment when he said it was "a
mistake." And to his immense surprise, after he had handed over the
dreadful watch, and was turning to leave, he was made to understand he
was a _prisoner_--the accusation, "Robbery and assault, with intent to
kill!"
He sank on the bench for a moment, so overwhelmed with surprise and
mortification that he could with difficulty collect his senses enough to
know what to do. Just then a gentleman entered, and said to an officer
near:
"I was surprised to hear you had caught the rascal so speedily. Where is
the scoundrel? What does he say?"
"That it was all a _mistake!_" answered the officer, with a very
significant smile. "There he is," pointing to Fred.
"Of course--the villain! And if I had been so unfortunate as not to have
had a watch to hand over, he would have murdered and robbed me of
what I might have of any value. The murderous rascal!--Ah! how are
you, Loring? You here!" advancing and shaking Fred's hand cordially,
and continuing, "Show me that cut-throat! Which is he?"

The expression on Fred's countenance may possibly be imagined, but I
cannot describe it. And when, in answer to the call, "Prisoner, stand
up," he arose, his friend's--the plaintiff's--surprise was stupendous for a
moment; and then breaking into a hearty chuckle, he exclaimed:
"Of course now I know it was a mistake."
The dignity of the place was forgotten by all then, and never was such a
shout of laughter heard before within those walls. But Fred could not
join in it, to save him. He had too lately stood in the place of an
individual bearing