Bleeker reached down and took Lenning’s hand. The lad was weak, as yet, for it would be some time before he recovered entirely from his recent ordeal.
“Let’s go to the place where Shoup got the horse,” went on Lenning. “I want the rest of you to come, too, especially Merriwell.”
Those who had followed Shoup to the chaparral placed themselves in the lead. Bleeker and Hotch followed, with Lenning between them.
Less than twenty yards up the slope of the bank the strange party came to the edge of the chaparral.
“Pick up that stone there,” said Lenning, pointing.
A stone about the size of a man’s two fists was indicated. Clancy stooped and removed the stone. As he did so, he gave vent to a low whistle, and exclamations of astonishment came from others clustered around him.
A roll of bills had been brought into view by the removal of the stone—a large roll with a yellowback on the outside.
“You take the money, Merriwell,” said Lenning, “and give it to Blunt. It’s the roll Shoup stole from Mrs. Boorland. I didn’t know the old lady was Mrs. Boorland until I found Blunt was after us. Shoup did the stealing, and he did it without my knowledge or consent. Maybe you fellows won’t believe that, but it’s a fact. I reckon I’ve come pretty low, but I couldn’t stand for what Shoup did. All the money’s there but twenty dollars. Shoup used that to buy a supply of dope in Ophir and to hire a couple of horses.”
Lenning paused. He was getting stronger, and he drew away from Bleeker and Hotchkiss.
“I took that money from Shoup last night, while he was asleep,” Lenning went on. “We brought our horses over here before daylight, and hid them in the chaparral. When we did that, I sneaked around and got the roll under that stone, and Shoup didn’t see me. I intended to let Blunt know, in some way, where the money was. That’s something else you can believe or not, just as you please, but it’s the truth.