第83章

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 KNEWhe 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 cuss gets back and I can catch him by telephone I'll find out.Meanwhile I ain't worryin' and I don't know why you should.

The main thing is not to let anybody know anything's missin'.Once let the news get out 'twill grow to a hundred thousand afore night.

There'll be a run on us if Gab Bearse or Melissa Busteed get goin'

with their throttles open.So don't you whisper a word to anybody, Jed.We'll find it pretty soon."And Jed did not whisper a word.But he anxiously watched the inmates of the little house, watched Charles' face when he came home after working hours, watched the face of his sister as she went forth on a marketing expedition, even scrutinized Babbie's laughing countenance as she came dancing into the shop, swinging Petunia by one arm.And it was from Babbie he first learned that, in spite of all Captain Hunniwell's precautions, some one had dropped a hint.It may as well be recorded here that the identity of that some one was never clearly established.There were suspicions, centering about the bank messenger, but he stoutly denied having told a living soul.

Barbara, who was on her way home from school, and had rescued the long-suffering Petunia from the front fence where she had been left suspended on a picket to await her parent's return, was bubbling over with news and giggles.

"Oh, Uncle Jed," she demanded, jumping up to perch panting upon a stack of the front elevations of birdhouses, "isn't Mr.Gabe Bearse awfully funny?"Jed sighed."Yes," he said, "Gabe's as funny as a jumpin'

toothache."

The young lady regarded him doubtfully."I see," she said, after a moment, "you're joking again.I wish you'd tell me when you're going to do it, so Petunia and I would know for sure.""All right, I'll try not to forget to remember.But how did you guess I was jokin' this time?""'Cause you just had to be.A jumping toothache isn't funny.Ihad one once and it made me almost sick.""Um-hm.W-e-e-ll, Gabe Bearse makes 'most everybody sick.What set you thinkin' about him?""'Cause I just met him on the way home and he acted so funny.

First he gave me a stick of candy."

Mr.Winslow leaned back in his chair.

"What?" he cried."He gave you a stick of candy? GAVE it to you?""Yes.He said: 'Here, little girl, don't you like candy?' And when I said I did he gave me a stick, the striped peppermint kind it was.I'd have saved a bite for you, Uncle Jed, only I and the rest ate it all before I remembered.I'm awfully sorry.""That's all right.Striped candy don't agree with me very well, anyway; I'm liable to swallow the stripes crossways, I guess likely.But tell me, did Gabe look wild or out of his head when he gave it to you?""Why, no.He just looked--oh--oh, you know, Uncle Jed--MYSter'ous--that's how he looked, MYSter'ous."

"Hum! Well, I'm glad to know he wan't crazy.I've known him a good many years and this is the first time I ever knew him to GIVEanybody anything worth while.When I went to school with him he gave me the measles, I remember, but even then they was only imitation--the German kind.And now he's givin' away candy: Tut, tut! No wonder he looked--what was it?--mysterious....Hum....

Well, he wanted somethin' for it, didn't he? What was it?""Why, he just wanted to know if I'd heard Uncle Charlie say anything about a lot of money being gone up to the bank.He said he had heard it was ever and ever so much--a hundred hundred dollars--or a thousand dollars, or something--I don't precactly remember, but it was a great, big lot.And he wanted to know if Uncle Charlie had said how much it was and what had become of it and--and everything.When I said Uncle Charlie hadn't said a word he looked so sort of disappointed and funny that it made me laugh."It did not make Jed laugh.The thought that the knowledge of the missing money had leaked out and was being industriously spread abroad by Bearse and his like was very disquieting.He watched Phillips more closely than before.He watched Ruth, and, before another day had passed, he had devised a wonderful plan, a plan to be carried out in case of alarming eventualities.