Chapter 12 The Storm After the Calm Jo was right about their peaceful week with Bess being the calm before the storm.
Two days after she left, a moral earthquake shook Plumfield to its core.
As with a fair bit of the trouble that happened with Jo's boys, she found Tommy at its center.
Actually, it was Tommy's hens that were truly at the bottom of the trouble.
They were simply laying too many eggs.
After he sold all of them and collected a good sum, Father Bear insisted he put the money in a piggy bank.
As the little bank became heavy with coins, Tommy's imagination filled with all the wonderful things he could buy.
When Jo gave him the four quarters she owed him from the last batch of eggs, Tommy discovered that he was now just one dollar short of the five he'd promised Father Bear he would save before breaking open his bank.
Tommy raced off to show the shiny money to Nat, who was saving his own money for a new fiddle.
I wish I had those four quarters to add to my savings, Nat said.
I've only got two dollars toward a new fiddle.
Maybe I'll lynch some, Tommy said.
I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do with my coins.
Just then the boys were interrupted by a voice from outside the barn shouting for them to come and see a jolly great snake that Dan had caught.
Without thinking, Tommy set the money down beside some old farm equipment.
The snake was very interesting and the rest of the day filled up so quickly that Tommy soon forgot to retrieve his quarters from the barn.
No matter, he thought, before falling asleep, the only person who knows they are there is Nat.
The next morning, just as school was getting started, Tommy rushed into the schoolroom and said Who took my dollar?
What are you talking about?
Franz asked.
Tommy explained and Nat seconded his story.
At once, everyone declared they knew nothing about it and began to look at Nat suspiciously.
The poor boy became more upset and confused each time another boy denied taking the money.
"'Well,' Fran said, "'somebody must have taken it.'
Tommy shook his fist in front of everyone and shouted, "'Thunderturtles!
If I get a hold of the thief, he'll be sorry!'
Keep cool, Tommy, Dan said.
We shall find him out.
Thieves always get caught.
The boys all came forward with wild suggestions for what had happened, but Nat could hold his tongue no longer.
I know you think it was me.
Franz looked at him and said, You are the only one who knew where the money was.
I can't help that.
I didn't take it.
I tell you, I didn't take it.
Nat cried.
Father Bear heard the commotion and came into the classroom to ask what all the fuss was about.
A cloud came over his face when Tommy told him the whole story.
He said sternly, Sit down this instant, all of you.
Then he gave them a very good speech about the truth and the value of honesty and asked each boy just one question.
Did they take the money?
Every single boy said no.
When he came to Nat, Father Bear's voice softened, for the boy looked so sad.
"'Now, Nat,' he said, "'give me an honest answer.
Did you take the money?'
Nat said, "'No, sir.'
Father Bear was very quiet for a moment, and then he said 'I'm sorry Nat, but the evidence is quite against you.
We will not punish you until we have proof, but I urge you to tell me the truth.
If you are innocent, I will be the first to apologize.'
Nat dropped his head into his arms and sobbed.
I didn't take it.
I didn't.
There's nothing more that can be done now, Father Bear said, and we will not speak of this again.
Whoever did take the money will have a hard enough time regaining our trust.
Let's get back to our lessons now, shall we?
The next week was ever so painful for poor Nat.
The boys simply refused to talk to him.
And for a boy who loved their company, it was the worst thing that could have happened.
Only one person in all of Plumfield believed him, and that was Daisy.
She would not hear a bad word spoken against Nat by any of the boys, especially her brother Demi.
Even though he was pretty sure that Nat had taken the money, Dan stood up for him too.
Still, it made for a very lonely time for the boy.
One afternoon, Dan caught one of the boys bothering Nat by the stream.
He broke up the little fight and once the other boy was gone, Nat said That look on your face, I know when you're hiding something.
You know who did it.
You have to tell Dan.
I can't bear this much longer.
If I had anywhere to go, I'd run away, I would.
Dan could not stand to see his dear friend this upset and quickly turned away.
Muttering, You won't have to wait for long.
Over the next few days.
Dan was moody and short with people and he didn't participate in any activities.
Joe thought showing him how well he'd been doing in the conscience book would cheer him up.
He looked up at her with a strange expression on his face, a mixture of sadness and pride.
I'm afraid you'll be disappointed in me, but I'm trying.
Dan's strange behavior worried Joe, and she felt awful for how hard he was taking Nat's situation.
The next day, Tommy told Nat they could no longer be partners in the egg business.
He promptly rubbed out the and company part of his T-Bangs and company sign, which truly hurt Nat's feelings.
I just can't trust you, Tommy said, no matter how many times you tell me you didn't take the money.
I can't make you believe me, and I'd give you all of my dollars if you'd only say that you know I didn't do it.
Nat replied.
Tommy just shook his head.
You're on your honor now.
You'd better not steal any of my eggs.
Poor Nat was so hurt that he simply could not get over it.
He shuffled and moped around the house.
One thing made him feel better, and that was the fact that Tommy's hens missed Nat as much as he did them.
They hid their eggs so well that they were almost impossible for Tommy to find.
One day, Demi was moving something around in the barn and shouted Tommy Tommy, come quick, I found your quarters.
True enough, the money was there, hidden behind a broken old desk with a note sitting beside it.
Thunder Turtles, Tommy shouted, before he grabbed them and ran into the house.
Where's Nat?
He's given back my money.
Nat came into the parlor with the rest of the boys.
He looked so shocked that they soon realized Nat had nothing to do with putting the money back.
The boys examined the note, but no one could tell who wrote it.
"'Does it matter?'
Dan said, now that the money's back.
Franz was about to answer the question when Demi burst into the room with a package.
"'Mrs.
Bates next door sent it over.
It's addressed to Uncle Bear.'
Upon hearing his name, Father Bear came into the room.
He took the package from Demi's outstretched hand and opened up the brown paper.
Why, that's the book that Uncle Laurie gave to Dan, Demi said.
As Father Bear read the note, he seemed very concerned.
It says here that Dan sold her son, Jimmy, this book for a dollar last week.
She thought it was worth much more than that, so she sent it back to us.
Did you sell it, Dan?
Yes, sir.
Why?
Father Bear asked.
Dan answered.
I needed the money.
What for?
To pay someone, Dan replied.
To pay whom?
Tommy, Dan said.
A hush fell over the room.
Father Bear didn't let any of the boys talk for a moment, but called Joe, who came quickly.
What's happened? she asked.
Father Bear told her the whole story.
When he finished, she looked very upset.
Dan said quickly, I did it.
You may do to me what you like, but I won't say another word about it.
Not even that you're sorry, Father Bear said.
Dan shook his head.
I'm not sorry.
We're surprised and disappointed in you, Joe added.
Go up to your room and wait for us there.
The boys were saddened by this turn of events.
For the next few days, Father Bear and Joe talked at length about what to do.
Neither could put their finger on it, but something about Dan's story didn't quite make sense.
Finally, after another torturous week passed, Father Bear burst into the classroom one morning shouting Dan didn't take the money.
We knew he didn't.
Who did?
All the boys shouted together.
Father Bear pointed to the one empty seat where a boy named Jack used to sit.
He said Jack went home early this morning and left a note saying that he was the one who found the quarters in the barn and was afraid to tell.
He was happy to let the blame fall on Nat, but he respected Dan so much that he had to confess.
The quarters were in his room.
Father Bear handed them back to Tommy, who beamed proudly.
Dan stood up and said, I'd like to say I'm sorry now, for you do understand why I did it, for Nat.
It was a kind lie, Father Bear said.
So of course we all forgive you, although you know now that it's best to be honest, no matter what happens.
Dan nodded and the boys cheered.
By now it was impossible to continue with the lessons, so the little hero and his friends were sent outside to enjoy the rest of the morning.
Tommy proudly restored Nat to his partnership, and none were so happy as his poor hens.
