CHAPTER XVII.
THE GOLD PIN.
As we know, Dick Burns had been quite seriously injured on the road and during the time that Joe was playing ball had been unable to go out on his wheel.
But the lad was now much better and, Joe’s bicycle being once more in good condition, the pair one day went out for a ride of several miles around Lockport.
On their way back they passed along the road where Joe had had the dispute with Lemuel Akers, while both were on their wheels.
Our hero told Dick of it and showed his chum the exact spot where Akers had been knocked down.
“It served him right,” declared Dick. “If he don’t look out I’ll get into his wool.”
“Oh, I’m able to take my own part,” laughed Joe.
“I don’t mean on your account, but on Carrie’s. He bothers her with his attentions, and she despises him.”
While Dick was speaking he was gazing at something bright, lying but a few feet away. Suddenly he made a dash forward and secured it.
It was a gold pin shaped in the form of a new moon, with a pearl at the lower end.
“Look, Joe!” he cried.
“A gold pin, I declare! Dick, you are in luck.”
“So I am.”
The two boys examined the pin, and cleaned it off, and then Dick placed it on the lapel of his coat.
“It’s worth a couple of dollars, at least,” said Joe.
“I’ll make Carrie a present of it,” rejoined Dick. The manly boy thought a good deal of his sister.
After this the boys went on, and a little later turned homeward.
Several days went by, and nothing of special interest happened.
But one day Carrie Burns came home in a flutter and sought out her brother without delay.
“Oh! Dick!” she cried, “something strange happened to me to-day.”
“What was it?”
“I met Lemuel Akers, and he began to talk to me, and all of a sudden he got as white as a sheet and began to tremble from head to foot.”
“What under the sun was the matter with him?”
“I’m sure I don’t know.”
“Must have been overcome by your beauty and that new dress,” laughed Dick good-naturedly.
“Oh, don’t joke, Dick! I’m not in the humor for it. Lemuel was dreadfully frightened.”
“But what at?”
“I don’t know. He was talking and looking at that pin you found——”
“What!”
Dick, who was oiling his bicycle, let the can drop and sprang upright.
“Oh! Dick! how you scared me!”
“What did you say Lemuel Akers was doing?” demanded Dick Burns.
“He was looking at that pin.”
“Where is the pin now?”
“Here,” and Carrie pointed to the velvet band around her dainty throat.
“Carrie, let me have that pin again, will you?”
“But, Dick, you gave it to me.”
“I know I did, but I’m not going to have you wear something that is going to scare Lemuel Akers to death.”
“I just wish it would scare him so he wouldn’t come near me again,” pouted Carrie.
She wanted to keep the pin, but Dick would not listen to it, and at last she gave the article up.
As soon as his wheel was oiled Dick rode straight to Simon Pepper’s jewelry store.
The crabbed old watchmaker sat behind his bench, repairing several timepieces.
Dick went at what was in his mind without beating about the bush.
“Mr. Pepper, do you remember the articles stolen from your store?” he questioned.
“O’ course I do,” growled Pepper. “Stuff don’t sell so fast in Lockport but what I have a chance to keep it on hand long enough to grow familiar with it.”
“Then will you please examine this pin?”
Simon Pepper snatched the pin from Dick’s hand eagerly.
“It’s mine!” he burst out. “It’s one of three I had.”
“Did you ever sell any of them?”
“No. Where did you get this one?”
“Found it on the road.”
“Where?”
“I’ll tell you some other time.”
“But see here, Dick Burns——”
“I won’t answer any questions now, Mr. Pepper. I found it on the road, and I think I can locate the thief.”
And without waiting to see what Pepper might have to remark on this strange statement, Dick hurried from the shop.