from the bills in Jed's
hands to Jed's face and back again. The expression on his own face
was a strange one.

"You found it," he repeated. "YOU did?"

"Yes--yes, I found it, Sam. Just happened to."

"Where did you find it?"

"Over yonder behind that pile of boards. You know you said the
money was in your overcoat pocket and--and when you came in here on
your way back from Sylvester's you hove your coat over onto those
boards. I presume likely the--the money must have fell out of the
pocket then. You see, don't you, Sam?"

The tone in which the question was asked was one, almost, of
pleading. He appeared very, very anxious to have the captain
"see." But the latter seemed as puzzled as ever.

"Here's the money, Sam," urged Jed. "Take it, won't you?"

Captain Sam took it, but that is all he did. He did not count it
or put it in his pocket. He merely took it and looked at the man
who had given it to him.

Jed's confusion seemed to increase. "Don't you--don't you think
you'd better count it, Sam?" he stammered. "If--if the Major here
and Phin see you count it and--and know it's all right, then
they'll be able to contradict the stories that's goin' around about
so much bein' stolen, you know."

The captain grunted.

"Stolen?" he repeated. "You said folks were talkin' about money
bein' lost. Have they been sayin' 'twas stolen?"

It was Grover who answered. "I haven't heard any such rumors," he
said. "I believe Lieutenant Rayburn said he heard some idle report
about the bank's having lost a sum of money, but there was no hint
at dishonesty."

Captain Sam turned to Mr. Babbitt.

"YOU haven't heard any yarns about money bein' stolen at the bank,
have you?" he demanded.

Before Phineas could answer Grover's hand again fell lightly on his
shoulder.

"I'm sure he hasn't," observed the Major. The captain paid no
attention to him.

"Have you?" he repeated, addressing Babbitt.

The little man shook from head to foot. The glare with which he
regarded his hated rival might have frightened a timid person. But
Captain Sam Hunniwell was distinctly not timid.

"Have you?" he asked, for the third time.

Phineas' mouth opened, but Grover's fingers tightened on his
shoulder and what came out of that mouth was merely a savage
repetition of his favorite retort, "None of your darned business."

"Yes, 'tis my business," began Captain Sam, but Jed interrupted.

"I don't see as it makes any differenc