"He is some acquaintance of Squire Duncan, and spent some weeks last summer at the village hotel."
"Then probably he left the box there at the suggestion of Duncan, the president."
"I don't know, sir, but I think it very likely."
"Humph! This is getting interesting. The contents of the box were government bonds, I have heard."
"I heard Squire Duncan say so."
"Were they coupon or registered?"
"What difference would that make, sir?"
"The first could be sold without trouble by the thief, while the last could not be disposed of without a formal transfer from the owner."
"Then it would not pay to steal them?"
"Just so. Luke, do you know, a strange idea has come into my head."