"I left the hundred," related Coach Carver, "but I marked the bills. The next morning I found the bills gone and, in their place, this sealed envelope which, I imagine, contains the stolen plays and signals."
"You haven't opened it?"
You'll have to take my word for it. The seal is unbroken. Of course—this could be a second envelope."
"Hardly likely," said Coach Edward, greatly fussed. "May I open it?"
"I should expect you to," said Carl. "Maybe we've both been fooled. It may be nothing but a wad of paper."
"No—it's the plays all right ... and—the signals!" gasped Coach Edward. "This is almost incredible ... and certainly brazen! I don't suppose the guilty person has been traced?"
"No—although the police in Pomeroy as well as the merchants have been quietly tipped off as to the marked bills—a tiny "X" in the right hand upper corner. You see, the idea is to out-X Mister X." Carl was smiling.
"But he's probably left the town," surmised Coach Edward.
"Yes—and he's more probably returned to Grinnell," predicted Carl. "You may find some of the marked five dollar bills in your town."
"Then you figure the thief a resident of Grinnell?"