"You may send for the constable, if you like; but I haven't any money that belongs to you, or anybody but myself."
"Yes, you have! You have been robbing the mail!" retorted my tyrant, fiercely.
Robbing the mail! I saw through the mill-stone. The postmaster had heard from Miss Larrabee, or her brother, in regard to the missing letter, and I was accused of purloining it! No doubt Captain Fishley thought I was the robber. Probably Ham had charged the crime upon me, and his father was willing to believe him.
"I have not robbed the mail," I replied, smartly.
"Yes, you did; and I can prove it. You had better own it, and give back the money."
"I didn't take the money."
"What's the use to deny it, Buck?" said he, more mildly. "If you will own it, and give back the money, I will try and make it as easy as I can for you."
"I tell you I didn't take the money, and I won't own it when I didn't do it."
"Well, just as you like, Buck. If you won't give up the money, I shall have to hand you over to the constable, and see what he can do."
"You may hand me over to the constable as much as you please. Neither he nor anybody else can make me own up to what I didn't do."