"I think my call upon this man Marks is a clever stroke!" the squire complacently continued musing to himself. "I must venture upon a still bolder, stroke, and call upon Adin Dunham, though under the circumstances I feel rather nervous about it. If that young Dean were out of the way I should feel more comfortable. It may be necessary to get rid of him, but that can wait. I understand from my boy Brandon that Dean treated him very disrespectfully, not to say insolently, only yesterday. As Brandon truly remarks, the boy is as proud as he is poor, and doesn't know his place. A working boy occupies an humble position, and owes deference to his superiors in station. I might have him arrested for taking possession of Brandon's boat by violence, but at present it would not be politic. Our turn will come after a while, and then Dean Dunham must look out!"
When Squire Bates reached Waterford he drove to the house of Adin Dunham. Dean was standing in the yard.
"Please hold my horse, Dean," said the squire pleasantly, "I am going to call upon your uncle."
"I don't know whether he can see you, sir," said Dean, doubtfully.
"At any rate I can ask. I called on Mr. Marks, from whom your uncle received the money."
"Did you learn anything, sir?"
"Yes, I learned that the money was paid in fifty-dollar bills—just twenty of them. You can see that this is important. If any one in this neighborhood offers a fifty-dollar bill in payment for any article it should be investigated."
"Yes, sir."
Dean regarded the squire with a puzzled expression. He seemed to take so much interest in the matter of the robbery, to be so desirous of throwing obstacles in the way of the thief, that Dean began to think his suspicions unwarranted. Yet there was his uncle's description of the robber, and again there was the tell-tale sleeve button in his pocket.
"It beats me!" was Dean's conclusion. "Things may clear up, but at present it seems particularly foggy."