"Where? Please be expeditious, Miss Sprague."
"A few days since I was calling on Mrs. Larkin--Luke"s mother--just happened in, as I may say, and, not finding her downstairs, went up into her chamber. I don"t think she heard me, for when I entered the chamber and spoke to her she seemed quite fl.u.s.tered. She was on her knees before an open trunk, and in that trunk I saw the tin box."
The directors looked at each other in surprise, and Squire Duncan looked undeniably puzzled.
"I knew the box was one such as is used to hold valuable papers and bonds," proceeded Melinda, "and, as I had always looked on the widow as very poor, I didn"t know what to make of it."
"Did you question Mrs. Larkin about the tin box?" asked Mr. Beane.
"No; she shut the trunk at once, and I concluded she didn"t want me to see it."
"Then you did not say anything about it?"
"No; but I went in just now to tell her about the bank being robbed."
"How did it seem to affect her?" asked Mr. Bailey.
"She and Luke--Luke was there, too--looked at each other in dismay.
It was evident that they were thinking of the box in the trunk."
Melinda continued her story, and the directors were somewhat impressed.
"I propose," said Mr. Manning, "that we get out a search-warrant and search Mrs. Larkin"s cottage. That box may be the one missing from the bank."
CHAPTER XI
LUKE IS ARRESTED
Just after twelve o"clock, when Luke was at home eating dinner, a knock was heard at the front door.
"I"ll go, mother," said Luke, and he rose from the table, and, going into the entry, opened the outer door.
His surprise may be imagined when he confronted Squire Duncan and the gentlemen already mentioned as directors of the Groveton bank.
"Did you wish to see mother?" he asked.
"Yes; we have come on important business," said Squire Duncan, pompously.
"Walk in, if you please."
Luke led the way into the little sitting-room, followed by the visitors. The dinner-table was spread in the kitchen adjoining.
The room looked very much filled up with the unwonted company, all being large men.
"Mother," called Luke, "here are some gentlemen who wish to see you."
The widow entered the room, and looked with surprise from one to another. All waited for Squire Duncan, as the proper person, from his official position, to introduce the subject of their visit.
"Mrs. Larkin," said the squire, pompously, "it has possibly come to your ears that the Groveton Bank, of which you are aware that I am the president, has been robbed of a box of bonds?"
"Yes, sir. I was so informed by Miss Melinda Sprague this morning."
"I am also informed that you have in your custody a tin box similar to the one that has been taken."
He expected to see Mrs. Larkin show signs of confusion, but she answered calmly: "I have a box in my custody, but whether it resembles the one lost I can"t say."
"Ha! you admit that you hold such a box?" said the squire, looking significantly at his companions.
"Certainly. Why should I not?"
"Are you willing to show it to us?"
"Yes, we are willing to show it," said Luke, taking it upon himself to answer, "but I have no idea that it will do you any good."
"That is for us to decide, young man," said Squire Duncan.
"Do you suppose it is the box missing from the bank, sir?"
"It may be."
"When did you miss the box?"
"Only this morning, but it may have been taken a month ago."
"This box has been in our possession for a fortnight."
"Such is your statement, Luke."
"It is the truth," said Luke, flushing with indignation.
"My boy," said Mr. Beane, "don"t be angry. I, for one, have no suspicion that you have done anything wrong, but it is our duty to inquire into this matter."
"Who told you that we had such a box, Mr. Beane?"
"Miss Melinda Sprague was the informant."
"I thought so, mother," said Luke. "She is a prying old maid, and it is just like her."
"Miss Sprague only did her duty," said the squire. "But we are losing time. We require you to produce the box."
"I will get it, gentlemen," said the widow, calmly.
While she was upstairs, Mr. Manning inquired: "Where did you get the box, Luke?"
"If you identify it as the box taken from the bank," answered Luke, "I will tell you. Otherwise I should prefer to say nothing, for it is a secret of another person."
"Matters look very suspicious, in my opinion, gentlemen," said Squire Duncan, turning to his a.s.sociates.