Brad and Dan were at a loss for an argument. Mr. Hatfield had warned them that Mr. Merrimac might be inclined to whittle down the five hundred dollar pledge. But even the Cub leader had not expected such stiff resistance as this.
“How much have you lost?” Dan inquired. After speaking, he realized that the question was a very personal one.
“Several thousand,” Mr. Merrimac answered shortly. “It was stolen from my library. I kept the money in a metal box locked in a desk.”
“A metal box!” Dan exclaimed. “Oh, can you beat that!”
“I’m sure I don’t understand,” said Mr. Merrimac in perplexity.
“You must have heard about the Cubs finding a money box at the church,” Brad replied quietly. He was watching the elderly man very closely, wondering whether or not he might be acting a part.
“The Cubs found a money box? My box?”
“We don’t know whose box it is,” Brad said. “That’s for the police to decide.”
Mr. Merrimac had grown rather excited. “If you found a box at the church it must have been the one that was stolen from me!”
“If you can prove your claim, you’re welcome to it,” Brad returned, arising to leave. “It’s only fair to warn you though, that two other persons already have said it belongs to them.”