ther party ter which
the finger of suspicion p'ints."

"Who's that?" was the chorus from the school committee.

"A party often heard of in similar cases," said Mr. Day, solemnly.
"His name is _Unknown_! Yes, sir! Some party unknown entered that
building while you fellers was down cellar, same as Nelson Haley did.
This party, Unknown, stole the coins."

"Aw, shucks, Jase!" grunted Mr. Cross Moore. "You got to give us
something more satisfactory than that if you want to shunt us off'n
Nelson Haley's trail," and the other three members of the School
Committee nodded.

CHAPTER IX

HOW NELSON TOOK IT

Something more than mere curiosity drew Janice Day's footsteps toward
the new school building. There were other people drawn in the same
direction; but their interest was not like hers.

Somehow, this newest bit of gossip in Polktown could be better
discussed at the scene of the strange robbery itself. Icivilly Sprague
and Mabel Woods walked there, arm in arm, passing Janice by with side
glances and the tossing of heads.

Icivilly and Mabel had attended Nelson's school the first term after
Miss 'Rill Scattergood gave up teaching; but finding the young
schoolmaster impervious to their charms, they had declared themselves
graduated.

They were not alone among the older girls who found Nelson provokingly
adamant. He did not flirt. Of late it had become quite apparent that
the schoolmaster had eyes only for Janice Day. Of course, that fact
did not gain Nelson friends among girls like Icivilly and Mabel in this
time of trial.

Janice knew that they were whispering about her as she passed; but her
real thought was given to more important matters. Uncle Jason had told
her just how the affair of the robbery stood. There was a mystery--a
deep, deep mystery about it.

In the group about the front gate of the school premises were Jim
Narnay and Trimmins, the woodsmen. Both had been drinking and were
rather hilarious and talkative. At least, Trimmins was so.

"Wish _we'd_ knowed there was all that cash so free and open up here in
the schoolhouse--heh, Jim?" Trimmins said, smiting his brother toper
between the shoulders. "We wouldn't be diggin' out for no swamp to
haul logs."

"You're mighty right, Trimmins! You're mighty right!" agreed the
drunken Narnay. "Gotter leave m' fambly--hate ter do it!" and he
became very lachrymose. "Ter'ble thing, Trimmins, f'r a man ter be
sep'rated from his fambly jest