第92章

"What's the real yarn?" he asked."What are you actin' this way for? Course I know you never found the money.Is there somebody--""No! No, no!" Jed's voice rose almost to a shout.He sprang to his feet and clutched at Captain Sam's coat-sleeve."No," he shouted."Course there ain't anybody.Wh-what makes you say such a thing as that? I--I tell you I did find the money.I did--Idid."

"Jed! Of course you didn't.I know you didn't.I KNOW.Gracious king, man, be sensible.""I did! I did! I found it and now I give it back to you.What more do you want, Sam Hunniwell? Ain't that enough?""Enough! It's a darned sight too much.I tell you I know you didn't find it.""But I did."

"Rubbish! In the first place, you and I hunted every inch behind those boards the very day the money was missin', and 'twa'n't there then.And, besides, this isn't the money I lost.""Well--well, what if 'tain't? I don't care.I--I know 'tain't.

I--I spent your money."

"You SPENT it? When? You told me you only found it this mornin'.""I--I know I did, but 'twan't so.I--I--" Jed was in an agony of alarm and frantic haste."I found your money two or three days ago.Yes, sir, that's when I found it....Er...er...""Humph! Why didn't you tell me you found it then? If you'd found it what made you keep runnin' into the bank to ask me if I'D found it? Why didn't you give it back to me right off? Oh, don't be so ridiculous, Jed.""I--I ain't.It's true.I--I didn't give it back to you because--because I--I thought first I'd keep it."

"Keep it? KEEP it? Steal it, do you mean?""Yes--yes, that's what I mean.I--I thought first I'd do that and then I got--got kind of sorry and--and scared and I got some more money--and now I'm givin' it back to you.See, don't you, Sam?

That's the reason."

Captain Sam shook his head."So you decided to be a thief, did you, Jed?" he said, slowly."Well, the average person never'd have guessed you was such a desperate character....Humph!...

Well, well!...What was you goin' to do with the four hundred, provided you had kept it? You spent the money I lost anyway; you said you did.What did you spend it for?""Oh--oh, some things I needed."

"Sho! Is that so? What things?"

Jed's shaking hand moved across his chin.

"Oh--I--I forget," he faltered.Then, after a desperate struggle, "I--I--I bought a suit of clothes."The effort of this confession was a peculiar one.Captain Sam Hunniwell put back his head and roared with laughter.He was still laughing when he picked up his hat and turned to the door.Jed sprang from his seat.

"Eh?...You're not GOIN', are you, Sam?" he cried.The captain, wiping his eyes, turned momentarily.

"Yes, Jed," he said, chokingly, "I'm goin'.Say, if--if you get time some of these days dress up in that four hundred dollar suit you bought and then send me word.I'd like to see it."He went out.The door of the outer shop slammed.Jed wiped the perspiration from his forehead and groaned helplessly and hopelessly.

The captain had reached the gate when he saw Phillips coming along the road toward him.He waited until the young man arrived.

"Hello, Captain," hailed Charles."So you decided not to come back to the bank this afternoon, after all?"His employer nodded."Yes," he said."I've been kept away on business.Funny kind of business, too.Say, Charlie," he added, "suppose likely your sister and you would be too busy to see me for a few minutes now? I'd like to see if you've got an answer to a riddle.""A riddle?"

"Um-hm.I've just had the riddle sprung on me and it's got MY head whirlin' like a bottle in a tide rip.Can I come into your house for a minute and spring it on you?"The young man looked puzzled, which was not surprising, but his invitation to come into the house was most cordial.They entered by the front door.As they came into the little hall they heard a man's voice in the living-room beyond.It was Major Grover's voice and they heard the major say:

"It doesn't matter at all.Please understand I had no thought of asking.I merely wanted you to feel that what that fellow said had no weight with me whatever, and to assure you that I will make it my business to see that he keeps his mouth shut.As for the other question, Ruth--"Ruth Armstrong's voice broke in here.

"Oh, please," she begged, "not now.I--I am so sorry I can't tell you everything, but--but it isn't my secret and--and I can't.

Perhaps some day-- But please believe that I am grateful, very, very grateful.I shall never forget it."Charlie, with an anxious glance at Captain Hunniwell, cleared his throat loudly.The captain's thoughts, however, were too busy with his "riddle" to pay attention to the voices in the living-room.As he and Phillips entered that apartment Major Grover came into the hall.He seemed a trifle embarrassed, but he nodded to Captain Sam, exchanged greetings with Phillips, and hurried out of the house.They found Ruth standing by the rear window and looking out toward the sea.

The captain plunged at once into his story.He began by asking Mrs.Armstrong if her brother had told her of the missing four hundred dollars.Charles was inclined to be indignant.

"Of course I haven't," he declared."You asked us all to keep quiet about it and not to tell a soul, and I supposed you meant just that.""Eh? So I did, Charlie, so I did.Beg your pardon, boy.I might have known you'd keep your hatches closed.Well, here's the yarn, Mrs.Armstrong.It don't make me out any too everlastin'