't been stolen; I lost it somewheres--but where? Well, I can't
stop here any longer. I'm goin' back to the bank to have another
hunt."

He banged out again. Fortunately he did not look at his friend's
face before he went. For that face had a singular expression upon
it. Jed sat heavily down in the chair by the bench. A vivid
recollection of a recent remark made in that very shop had suddenly
come to him. Charlie Phillips had made it in answer to a question
of his own. Charlie had declared that he would do almost anything
to get five hundred dollars.

CHAPTER XVII

The next morning found Jed heavy-eyed and without appetite, going
through the form of preparing breakfast. All night, with the
exception of an hour or two, he had tossed on his bed alternately
fearing the worst and telling himself that his fears were
groundless. Of course Charlie Phillips had not stolen the four
hundred dollars. Had not he, Jed Winslow, loudly proclaimed to
Ruth Armstrong that he knew her brother to be a fine young man, one
who had been imprudent, it is true, but much more sinned against
than sinning and who would henceforth, so he was willing to swear,
be absolutely upright and honest? Of course the fact that a sum of
money was missing from the Orham National Bank, where Phillips was
employed, did not necessarily imply that the latter had taken it.

Not necessarily, that was true; but Charlie had, in Jed's presence,
expressed himself as needing money, a sum approximately that which
was missing; and he had added that he would do almost anything to
get it. And--there was no use telling oneself that the fact had no
bearing on the case, because it would bear heavily with any
unprejudiced person--Charlie's record was against him. Jed loyally
told himself over and over again that the boy was innocent, he KNEW
he was innocent. But-- The dreadful "but" came back again and
again to torment him.

All that day he went about in an alternate state of dread and hope.
Hope that the missing four hundred might be found, dread of--many
possibilities. Twice he stopped at the bank to ask Captain Sam
concerning it. The second time the captain was a trifle impatient.

"Gracious king, Jed," he snapped. "What's the matter with you?
'Tain't a million. This institution'll probably keep afloat even
if it never turns up. And 'twill turn up sooner or later; it's
bound to. There's a chance that I left it at old Sage's. Soon's
the old cu