"Humph! What led you to think a boy had broken into the bank? That does not strike me as very sharp on your part."
"I had positive evidence that the boy in question had a tin box concealed in his house—in his mother's trunk. His poverty made it impossible that the box could be his, and I accordingly had him arrested."
"Well, what was the result of the trial?"
"I was obliged to let him go, though by no means satisfied of his innocence."
"Why?"
"A man—a stranger—a very suspicious-looking person, presented himself, and swore that the box was his, and that he had committed it to the charge of this boy."
"Well, that seems tolerably satisfactory, doesn't it?—that is, if he furnished evidence confirming his statement. Did he open the box in court?"
"Yes."
"And the bonds were not there?"
"The bonds were not there only some papers, and what appeared to be certificates of stock."