“That is a very kind offer, Mr. Tripp, and if I had taken the money I would accept it, and thank you. But I didn’t take it.”
“Go for the constable, Abel, and mind you hurry. You just stay where you are, Chester Rand. Don’t you go for to run away.”
Chester smiled. He felt that he had the key to the mystery, but he chose to defer throwing light upon it.
“On the way, Abel,” said Chester, “please call at our house and ask my mother to come to the store.”
“All right, Chester.”
The constable was the first to arrive.
“What’s wanted, Silas?” he asked, for in country villages neighbors are very apt to call one another by their Christian names.
“There’s been robbery and burglary, Mr. Boody,” responded Mr. Tripp. “My store was robbed last night of thirty-seven dollars and sixty cents.”
“Sho, Silas, how you talk!”
“It’s true, and there stands the thief!”