"
"Well?"
"Since this happened Luke has come out in new clothes, and
wears a silver watch. The family is very poor, and he could not
have had money to buy them unless he obtained some outside aid."
"What, then, do you infer?"
"That he has been handsomely paid for his complicity in the robbery."
"What explanation does he personally give of this unusual expenditure?"
"He admits that they were paid for by this suspicious stranger."
"Has the stranger--what is his name, by the way?"
"Roland Reed, he calls himself, but this, probably, is not his
real name."
"Well, has this Reed made his appearance in the village since?"
"If so, he has come during the night, and has not been seen
by any of us."
"I can't say I share your suspicion against Mr. Reed. Your theory
that he took out the bonds and substituted other papers is far-
fetched and improbable. As to the boy, I consider him honest
and reliable."
"Do you know Luke Larkin?" asked Mr. Duncan quickly.
"Last summer I observed him somewhat, and never saw anything
wrong in him."
"Appearances are deceitful," said the bank president sententiously.
"So I have heard," returned Mr.
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