"Young man," he said, "we are ready to hear your story.
From whom did you receive this box?"
"From a man named Roland Reed," answered Luke.
The four visitors looked at each other in surprise.
"And who is Roland Reed?" asked the president of the bank.
"It seems very much like a fictitious name."
"It may be, for aught I know," said Luke, "but it is the name
given me by the person who gave me the box to keep for him."
"State the circumstances," said Mr. Beane.
"About two weeks since I was returning from the house of Miss
Almira Clark, where I had gone on an errand for my mother.
To shorten my journey, I took my way through the woods.
I had nearly passed through to the other side, when a tall
man, dark complexioned, whom I had never seen before
stepped up to me. He asked me my name, and, upon my telling
him, asked if I would do him a favor. This was to take charge
of a tin box, which he carried under his arm."
"The one before us?" asked Mr. Manning.
"Yes, sir."
"Did he give any reason for making this request?"
"He said he was about to leave the neighborhood, and wished
it taken care of. He asked me to put it under lock and key.
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