“Oh!” gasped Minnie Webb. “Oh, what does it mean?” and, worried and heartsick, lest she should have made a mistake, she sat looking dumbly at Viola...
CHAPTER XXI. THE LIBRARY POSTAL
“My dear, I am sorry if I have told you anything that distresses you,” said Viola gently. “But I thought—”
“Oh, yes, it is best to know,” was the low response. “Only—only I was so happy a little while ago, and now—”
“But perhaps it may all be explained!” interrupted Viola. “It is only some tiresome business deal, I'm sure. I never could understand them, and I don't want to. But it does seem queer that there is no record of that fifteen thousand dollars being paid back.”
“What does Captain Poland say about it?”
“Oh, he told Harry, very frankly, that father paid the money, and that the receipt was sent to Mr. Blossom. But the latter says it can not be found.”
“And do you suspect Mr. Blossom?” asked Minnie, and her voice held a challenge.
“Well,” answered Viola slowly, “there isn't much of which to suspect him. It isn't as if Captain Poland claimed to have paid father the fifteen thousand dollars, and the money couldn't be found. It's only a receipt for money which the captain admits having gotten back that is missing. But it makes such confusion. And there are so many other things involved—”