第94章

And confess to stealing and all that stuff? I never heard of such a thing.""Neither did anybody else.I've known Jed all my life and I never can tell what loony thing he's liable to do next.But this beats all of 'em, I will give in.""You don't suppose--you don't suppose he is doing it to help you, because you are his friend? Because he is afraid the bank--or you--may get into trouble because of--well, because of having been so careless?"Captain Sam laughed once more."No, no," he said."Gracious king, I hope my reputation's good enough to stand the losin' of four hundred dollars.And Jed knows perfectly well I could put it back myself, if 'twas necessary, without runnin' me into the poorhouse.

No, 'tain't for me he's doin' it.I ain't the reason.""And you're quite sure his story is ALL untrue.You don't imagine that he did find the money, your money, and then, for some reason or other, change it with smaller bills, and--""Sshh, sshh, Charlie, don't waste your breath.I told you I KNEWhe hadn't found the four hundred dollars I lost, didn't I? Well, Ido know it and for the very best of reasons; in fact, my stoppin'

into his shop just now was to tell him what I'd heard.You see, Charlie, old Sylvester Sage has got back from Boston and opened up his house again.And he telephoned me at two o'clock to say that the four hundred dollar packet was layin' on his sittin'-room table just where I left it when he and I parted company four days or so ago.That's how I KNOW Jed didn't find it."From the shadowy corner where Ruth Armstrong sat came a little gasp and an exclamation.Charles whistled.

"Well, by George!" he exclaimed."That certainly puts a crimp in Jed's confession.""Sartin sure it does.When Sylvester and I parted we was both pretty hot under the collar, havin' called each other's politics about every mean name we could think of.I grabbed up my gloves, and what I thought was my money from the table and slammed out of the house.Seems all I grabbed was the two five hundred packages;the four hundred one was shoved under some papers and magazines and there it stayed till Sylvester got back from his Boston cruise.

"But that don't answer my riddle," he added, impatiently."What made Jed act the way he did? Got the answer, Charlie?"The young man shook his head."No, by George, I haven't!" he replied.

"How about you, Mrs.Armstrong? Can you help us out?"Ruth's answer was brief."No, I'm afraid not," she said.There was a queer note in her voice which caused her brother to glance at her, but Captain Hunniwell did not notice.He turned to go.

"Well," he said, "I wish you'd think it over and see if you can spy land anywheres ahead.I need a pilot.This course is too crooked for me.I'm goin' home to ask Maud; maybe she can see a light.So long."He went out.When Charles returned, having accompanied his employer as far as the door, he found Ruth standing by her chair and looking at him.A glance at her face caused him to stop short and look at her.

"Why, Ruth," he asked, "what is it?"

She was pale and trembling.There were tears in her eyes.

"Oh, Charlie," she cried, "can't you see? He--he did it for you.""Did it for me? Did what? Who? What are you talking about, Sis?""Jed.Jed Winslow.Don't you see, Charlie? He pretended to have found the money and to have stolen it just to save you.He thought you--he thought you had taken it.""WHAT? Thought I had taken it? I had? Why in the devil should he think--"He stopped.When he next spoke it was in a different tone.

"Sis," he asked, slowly, "do you mean that he thought I took this money because he knew I had--had done that thing at Middleford?

Does he know--about that?"

The tears were streaming down her cheeks."Yes, Charlie," she said, "he knows.He found it out, partly by accident, before you came here.And--and think how loyal, how wonderful he has been!

It was through him that you got your opportunity there at the bank.

And now--now he has done this to save you.Oh, Charlie!"