"Why do you ask?" queried the farmer, turning pale, and eying the questioner with suspicion.
"Because a man who has been discharged from our show—a canvas man, named Carden—was seen by Charlie here prowling about the barn this afternoon, and trying to look under it through a crack."
Now Tarbox turned pale in earnest.
"It must have been when I was there," he said.
"Very likely; were you under it?"
"Ye-es," answered the farmer.
"Then he was watching you. You know best whether he was likely to see anything that could be of service to him."
"Is he there now?" asked Tarbox, agitated.
"I should not be at all surprised."