ld fellow, Bill an' Joe shall come to see
you."

"Believe I've told the truth, an' that is enough for me," Sam replied,
with a choking sob. "Tell the folks at home about it, but try to make
'em know I never stole a dollar."

Fred promised to do this, and would have accompanied his friend to the
depot but for the cashier, who said, sternly:

"I insist on your remaining here. A large amount of money is missing;
you boys have got a secret between you, and it may have some connection
with the robbery. I will not allow you to talk with the prisoner."

"Do as he says, an' don't have any row," Sam added.

"I'll stay here," was the reply, "and when Mr. Wright gets back we'll
see what he's got to say about it."

"It's time for the train," the constable interrupted.

"Go on quickly, Sam, before a crowd gathers."

Fred gazed after the accused until he was lost to view in the distance,
and then turned away with a heavy heart.

The cashier had nothing more to say about the robbery, but he found
plenty of work for the boy to do, much as if wishing to keep him in
sight until Mr. Wright came home.

It was half-past eight when the last train arrived and the
superintendent was not on it.

Fred should have been home two hours before, and his mother, always in
fear of an accident since the explosion, came in search of him.

To her the story of Sam's misfortune was told, and she at once demanded
a private interview with the cashier.

"Don't tell him why we wanted to buy land," Fred whispered, and his
mother promised to keep the secret for a short time at least.

Ten minutes' conversation with the angry official sufficed, and then the
two went to Sam's home, where the sad news was told.

Not until ten o'clock did Fred and his mother reach the little cottage
where Bill and Joe were impatiently awaiting their arrival.

"We've heard something about the trouble," the former said, "and want to
know all the perticlars."

Fred repeated what has already been told, and added:

"What he said concerning the land we talked of buying has made the
cashier more suspicious than he would have been. It's too bad to give
the secret away, but it must be done unless the money can be found."

"There's no reason why we can't wait a while," Joe said after some
thought. "I'll go to Blacktown to-morrow, an' see him."

"You surely can't think he took it?"

"Of course not, an' yet I don't understand how it could 'a been stole."

"He must have