* * * * * * * * *
One day Luke happened to be at the depot at the time of the arrival of the train from New York. A small, elderly man stepped upon the platform whom Luke immediately recognized as John Armstrong, the owner of the missing box of bonds. He was surprised to see him, having supposed that he was still in Europe. Mr. Armstrong, as already stated, had boarded for several weeks during the preceding summer at Groveton.
He looked at Luke with a half-glance of recognition.
"Haven't I seen you before?" he said. "What is your name?"
"My name is Luke Larkin. I saw you several times last summer."
"Then you know me?"
"Yes, sir, you are Mr. Armstrong. But I thought you were in Europe."
"So I was till recently. I came home sooner than I expected."
Luke was not surprised. He supposed that intelligence of the robbery had hastened Mr. Armstrong's return.
"I suppose it was the news of your box that hurried you home," Luke ventured to say.