“Why—why that’s the one Mr. Howbridge gave me. I haven’t needed to break it.”
“And you had ’em both together?” demanded Agnes, shrewdly.
“Yes.”
“Which one did you show Mr. Crouch then?”
The question stunned Ruth for the moment. She unfolded the bill she had taken out of the purse. It was quite a new silver certificate. Agnes unfolded the other. It was an old-style United States banknote, dated long before the girls’ parents were born.
Neale, as well as the Kenway sisters, saw the significance of the discovery. The boy turned his face aside quickly and so hid the smile that automatically wreathed his lips.
“Why—why!” gasped Agnes, “if you showed Mr. Crouch that bill, of course he said it was a good one. But how about this?”
Ruth turned like a flash on Neale again. “What do you know about the money in the book? Isn’t it good?” she demanded. “I believe you’ve found out.”
“Well! what if I have?” and one would hardly recognize Neale O’Neil’s pleasant voice in the snarling tone that now answered the oldest Corner House girl.
“Oh, Neale! is it?” cried Agnes.