CHAPTER XXVII.

THE ARREST.

The eloquent editor from whom I have just quoted told the truth when he said that Metropolisville was “the red-hot crater of a boiling and seething excitement.”  For everybody had believed in Charlton.  He was not popular.  People with vicarious consciences are not generally beloved unless they are tempered by much suavity.  And Charlton was not.  But everybody, except Mrs. Ferret, believed in his honesty and courage.  Nobody had doubted his sincerity, though Smith Westcott had uttered many innuendoes.  In truth, Westcott had had an uncomfortable time during the week that followed the drowning.  There had been much shaking of the head about little Katy’s death.  People who are not at all heroic like to have other people do sublime things, and there were few who did not think that Westcott should have drowned with Katy, like the hero of a romance.  People could not forgive him for spoiling a good story.  So Smith got the cold shoulder, and might have left the Territory, but that his land-warrant had not come.  He ceased to dance and to appear cheerful, and his he! he! took on a sneering inflection.  He grew mysterious, and intimated to his friends that he’d give Metropolisville something else to talk about before long.  By George!  He! he!  And when the deputy of the United States marshal swooped down upon the village and arrested the young post-master on a charge of abstracting Smith Westcott’s land-warrant from the mail, the whole town was agog.  “Told you so.  By George!” said Westcott.

At first the villagers were divided in opinion about Albert.  Plenty of people, like Mrs. Ferret, were ready to rejoice that he was not so good as he might be, you know.  But many others said that he wouldn’t steal.  A fellow that had thrown away all his chances of making money wouldn’t steal.  To which it was rejoined that if Charlton did not care for money he was a good hater, and that what such a man would not do for money he might do for spite.  And then, too, it was known that Albert had been very anxious to get away, and that he wanted to get away before Westcott did.  And that everything depended on which should get a land-warrant first.  What more natural than that Charlton should seize upon Smith Westcott’s land-warrant, and thus help himself and retard his rival?  This sort of reasoning staggered those who would have defended him on the ground of previous good character.

But that which shook the popular confidence in Albert most was his own behavior when arrested.  He was perfectly collected until he inquired what evidence there was against him.  The deputy marshal said that it was very clear evidence, indeed.  “The land-warrant with which you pre-empted your claim bore a certain designating number.  The prosecution can prove that that warrant was mailed at Red Owl on the 24th of August, directed to Smith Westcott, Metropolisville, and that he failed to receive it.  The stolen property appearing in your hands, you must account for it in some way.”