"We'll see. Tell me about it," urged the miller, staring at Helen and Tom as they approached.
Ruth told him all about it. She pointed, too, to the fact that Helen and Tom—and especially Tom's dog—had had more to do with the recovery of the cash-box than she had. Uncle Jabez listened and nodded as though he appreciated that fact. Meanwhile, however, he hunted up the key to the japanned box and unlocked it.
It was plain that the contents of the box were for the most part securities in the shape of stocks and bonds, with a good deal of currency in small notes. There was a little coin—gold and silver—packed into one compartment. Uncle Jabez counted it all with feverish anxiety.
"Right to a penny!" he gasped, when he had finished, and mopped the perspiration from his brow. "The rascal didn't touch it. He didn't dare!"
"But he'll dare something else, Uncle," said Ruth, hastily. "I believe he's going right to Mr. Cameron to make you trouble."
"Ah-ha!" exclaimed Uncle Jabez, and looked hard at Tom.
"I'm sorry if he makes trouble about that old thing, Mr. Potter," said Tom, stumblingly. "I've tried to keep his mouth shut—"
"Ah-ha!" said Uncle Jabez, again. Then he added: "And I shouldn't be at all surprised, young man, if you'd given Jasper money to keep his mouth shut—eh?"
Tom flushed and nodded "I didn't want any row—especially when Helen and I think so much of Ruth."
"You wouldn't have bought Jasper off for my sake, I reckon," said Jabez, sharply. "You wouldn't have done it for my sake?"