Jake had his suspicions as to who her assailant might be, but he was too cautious to make them known just yet.
CHAPTER XXIX
TEACHERS AND PUPILS
The excitement following Jean’s encounter brought up no end of surmises for the girls at school. Some said she made up the story, others declared she knew who took her purse, and check, while her friends, of course, were in deepest sympathy. For the shock really took the color from her cheeks, took all her courage, and it was difficult even for Mrs. Pangborn to interest her in anything.
Dorothy tried to show Jean that she bore her no ill feelings, and even brought some books to her room, when she was unable to attend class, but Jean would never make friends with Dorothy.
Then it became noised about that some one had seen Jean leave the post-office, had later seen her talking to the Shebad woman, and to this last fact was finally attributed, in some way, the robbery.
It was one week later, that Jake was at the general store, at Stone Bridge, when a man came in and asked the proprietor to cash a check for him.
Jake knew that checks were scarce among men of this type—for the man was none other than the husband of Madam Shebad—so he stepped close to the little office window, and watched while he listened.
“Fine day,” said Jake carelessly.
“Yep,” growled the other, turning his back directly on the Glenwood man.