"It is clear," he said, "that nothing was ever written on the back of
this note in red ink."

"It might have been effaced," suggested the grocer querulously.

"The bill, since it was taken from the complainant, has been in charge
of the court," said Conway. "I hardly think the complainant will dare to
assert that it has been tampered with. And now, your honor," turning to
the presiding judge, "I submit that the charge has been completely
answered. We have shown that the bill tendered by my client was not the
bill lost by Mr. Jones. I claim his discharge."

Squire Marlowe hesitated, but he could think of no pretext for holding
Bert, since the case against him had so signally failed.

"The prisoner is discharged!" he said briefly, and rose from his seat.

Bert's friends surrounded him, and he began to fear that in their
enthusiasm they would shake his hand off. It was almost as serious as
being a Presidential candidate. It is needless to say, however, that Mr.
Jones was not one of the friends who congratulated him. He, on the other
hand, looked decidedly grumpy, and as if he had lost his best friend. He
pushed his way through the crowd up to the young lawyer.

"This is all very fine, Mr. Lawyer," he said, "but will you tell me how
I am to get my money back?"

"What money, Mr. Jones?"

"The twenty-dollar bill taken from my desk, of course."

"I wish I could, Mr. Jones, but I know no more than the man in the
moon."

"Is that all the satisfaction I am going to get?" demanded Jones
angrily.

"From me--yes. You will have to find the person who actually took the
money."

"I don't see how I am to do it. I would have sworn that it was Bert
Barton, and I am not sure now----"

"Stop there, Mr. Jones! If after my client's full vindication you
insinuate any charge of dishonesty, I shall advise him to sue you for
defamation of character."

The grocer looked startled, and Conway continued:

"But I will volunteer the suggestion that as you can now identify the
bill, you can advertise that a note so marked has been stolen from you,
and call upon any one into whose hands it may come to help you trace it
back to the thief. There is a chance that you may recover it."

CHAPTER XVI.

WHAT BECAME OF THE STOLEN NOTE.

Among the attentive listeners at Bert's trial was a tall young man with
light hair and pallid complexion, upon whose thin face there played a
shrewd smile. He seemed unusually interested, as was inde