"I don't know. I didn't miss it till this morning; and I have been to every place where I was last night; so I think I must have lost it here, when I put my horse up," replied another.
The first speaker was one of the ostlers; and the moment Harry heard the other voice he started as though a rattlesnake had rattled in his path. Was it possible? As the speaker proceeded, he was satisfied beyond the possibility of a doubt that the voice belonged to Squire Walker.
"Was there much money in it?" asked the ostler.
"About a hundred and fifty dollars; and there were notes and other papers of great value," replied Squire Walker.
"Well, I haven't seen or heard anything about it."
"I remember taking it out of my great-coat pocket, and putting it into a pocket inside of my vest, when I got out of the wagon."
"I don't think you lost it here. Some of us would have found it, if you had."
Here was a dilemma for Harry. He had determined to restore the pocketbook; but he could not do so without exposing himself. Besides, if there had been any temptation to keep the treasure before, it was ten times as great now that he knew it belonged to his enemy. It would be no sin to keep it from Squire Walker.
"It would be stealing," said the voice within.
"But if I give it to him, he will carry me back to Jacob Wire's. I'll be—I'll be hanged if I do."