"Yes, he was, but now he's gone. He must have got out of the window," he added, with a sudden thought.
"I don't understand it," said Meg. "How came you shut up in that closet?"
"The boy sent me in on a fool's errand, and then locked me in."
"Tell me about it, Jack."
Her husband rehearsed the story, heaping execrations upon his own folly for being outwitted by a boy.
"But you've got the pocket-book and the five dollars," said his wife, by way of comforting him.
"No, I haven't. I gave them back to him, to get him to tell me where the rest of the money was. I meant to take it away from him again."
"Then he's escaped with all his money?"
"Yes," growled Jack; "he's fooled me completely. But it isn't too late. I may catch him yet. He's hiding in the woods somewhere. If I do get hold of him, I'll give him something to remember me by. I'll learn him to fool me."
"I wouldn't go out to-night, Jack," said his wife. "It's most twelve."