ooking
visitor, but I had seen him pass close by the bank messenger. I
concluded that he had snatched up the package on the counter, and
retreated with it from the saloon. Nick had either seen the man take
the bundle, or had discovered that it was missing. No one could have
taken it but the person who was passing out of the door. On the impulse
of the moment the young bar-tender had leaped over the counter to
pursue the thief.

Of course a crowd quickly collected around the robber and the
policeman, with Nick and the messenger in the inner circle. The bank
official was very much excited, and I judged that the package contained
a considerable sum of money. Nick was hardly less disturbed. I was
interested enough to run all the way to the pier, and work myself into
the centre of the crowd before it had become very compact.

"Dat's jes like you, Buckner," said the policeman, as soon as he could
obtain breath enough to speak,--and he had not quite enough when he did
speak. "I done cotch you doin' dat same ting before."

"Doing what thing, you black spider?" demanded Buckner, who appeared to
be greatly astonished at his arrest.

"You done stole someting," protested the guardian of the peace. "What
did you run for if you don't steal someting?"

"I didn't steal anything! I run because the rest of you did, to find
out what the matter was," replied Buckner, stoutly. "What did I steal,
you black Lazarus?"

"Donno what you 'tole. I 'pose dis gemman can told what you 'tole,"
replied the policeman, turning to Peverell.

"He stole a package of bank bills I laid on the counter; that is what
he stole! And there was four thousand dollars in the package, too,"
gasped the messenger.

"Did you see me take the package?" demanded Buckner, indignantly.

"I did not; but you were the only person that came into the saloon and
left it while I was there," replied Peverell, sharply; and it was
evident that he had no doubt at all in regard to the guilty person.

"I didn't touch your package! I didn't see any package! I didn't go
near you, or even know you were in the saloon!" protested Buckner,
vehemently. "I'm a poor man, I know, and it is hard enough for me to
get a living; but I never stole the value of a penny in my life."

"But I saw him take it!" broke in Nick, with almost as much earnestness
as Buckner or Peverell, though he had no special interest in the
animated discussion. "The moment he tried to get out of the saloon, I
jumpe