CHAPTER VI
STRANGE MARKS
“When I left you yesterday afternoon, after we drank the buttermilk together,” said Bob, speaking slowly, “you were going to put the brass-bound box in your chest and lock it up, weren’t you?”
Hiram Beegle nodded vigorously an assent to this.
“You did this, we’ll say,” resumed Bob, “but after I had gone, or after you had locked up your treasure, you took it out to look at it again, and count it perhaps—and you sat here in your strong room to do that—with the door open—is that it?”
Again Hiram nodded to show that this was the truth.
“While you were doing that,” continued the young detective, “some one—an enemy or a robber—slipped in and overpowered you, taking away the treasure box and locking you in the strong room. Is that how It happened? And can you tell us who it was that struck you the second time and who robbed you?”
Hiram Beegle nodded vigorously, but in both directions. Now his head indicated an affirmative and again a negative.
“What does he mean?” questioned Harry.
“He’s making queer motions,” said Ned.