"
"Well, what was the result of the trial?"
"I was obliged to let him go, though by no means satisfied of
his innocence."
"Why?"
"A man--a stranger--a very suspicious-looking person,
presented himself, and swore that the box was his, and
that he had committed it to the charge of this boy."
"Well, that seems tolerably satisfactory, doesn't it?--that is,
if he furnished evidence confirming his statement. Did he open
the box in court?"
"Yes."
"And the bonds were not there?"
"The bonds were not there only some papers, and what appeared
to be certificates of stock."
"Yet you say you are still suspicious of this man and boy."
"Yes."
"Explain your grounds."
"I thought," replied the president, rather meekly, "he might
have taken the bonds from the box and put in other papers."
"That was not very probable. Moreover, he would hardly be
likely to leave the box in the village in the charge of a boy."
"The boy might have been his confederate."
"What is the boy's reputation in the village? Has he ever
been detected in any act of dishonesty?"
"Not that I know of, but there is one suspicious circumstance
to which I would like to call your attention.
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