He related to Bucholz his visit to the barn (omitting, of course, to state who his companions were) and the finding of the money. As he mentioned the discovery of the gold pieces, Bucholz exclaimed:
"Gold pieces! I cannot tell for the world how they got there. I don't know anything about them."
It was evident that he had not examined this package prior to burying it in the ground, and Sommers suggested the possibility of their having been wrapped in the paper which enclosed the canvas-covered book.
"You were very careless to put the money in such a place," continued Sommers; "the notes were so rotten, I was almost afraid to handle them."
"You mean," said Bucholz, with a laugh, "that Schulte was careless, not me;" then starting up he walked backward and forward, exclaiming: "My God, how careless I was!"
"Yes," replied Sommers, "after risking so much, you should have taken better care of it."
Bucholz stopped in his walk, and facing his companion asked in a manner that gave every evidence of insincerity,
"Do you think that I killed him?"
"I think you know something about it," replied Sommers, gazing steadily into the eyes of his questioner. "Do you think if tramps had killed him, they would have left twenty thousand dollars upon his person?"
"Well," said Bucholz, laughing in a bewildered manner, and then, as if taking comfort from the reflection and anxious to change the conversation, "the money is all right, anyhow."