"Mr. Middler warn't there," said Marty, quickly. "He'd gone to
Middletown."
"Joe Pellet and Crawford there?" asked Uncle Jason.
"All the committee but the parson," his son admitted.
"And all good men," Uncle Jason said reflectively. "Schoolhouse locked?"
"So they say," Marty declared. "That's what set them on Nelson. Only him and the janitor carry keys to the building."
"Who's the janitor?" asked Uncle Jason.
"Benny Thread. You know, the little crooked-backed feller—lives on Paige Street. And, anyway, there wasn't a chance for him to get at the coins. He was with the committee all the time they was out of the room."
"And are they sure Mr. Haley was in there?" asked Aunt 'Mira.
"He admits it," Marty said gloomily. "I don't know what's going to come of it all——"
"Hush!" said Uncle Jason suddenly. "Shut that door."