"
"Did he state why he selected you for this trust?" asked Mr. Beane.
"No, sir; he paid me for my trouble, however. He gave me
a bank-note, which, when I reached home, I found to be a
ten-dollar bill."
"And you haven't seen him since?"
"Once only."
"When was that?"
"On the evening of Florence Grant's party. On my way home
the same man came up to me and asked if the box was safe.
I answered, `Yes.' He said, `That is all--for the present,'
and disappeared. I have not seen him since."
"That is a very pretty romance," said Prince Duncan, with a sneer.
"I can confirm it," said Mrs. Larkin, calmly. "I saw Luke
bring in the box, and at his request I took charge of it.
The story he told at that time is the same that he tells now."
"Very possibly," said the bank president. "It was all cut
and dried."
"You seem very much prejudiced against Luke," said Mrs.
Larkin, indignantly.
"By no means, Mrs. Larkin. I judge him and his story from
the standpoint of common sense. Gentlemen, I presume this
story makes the same impression on you as on me?"
Mr. Beane shook his head. "It may be true; it is not impossible,"
he said.
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