htn't he?"

"Of course."

Colman was puzzled. He could not understand why he should have been
called upon to notice such a trifle; but the tailor had his reasons. He
wanted to be able to prove by Colman's testimony that the blotted bill
was actually put into his hands by Luke Harrison.

CHAPTER XXI. IN THE TAILOR'S POWER

"Is that the bill you spoke of, Walton?" asked the tailor, on Harry's
next visit to the shop.

"Yes," said Harry, eagerly. "Where did you get it?"

"You can guess."

"From Luke Harrison?"

"Yes; he paid me, last evening, fifteen dollars on account. This note
was among those he paid me."

"It is mine. I can swear to it."

"The rest of the money was yours, no doubt."

"What shall I do, Mr. Merrill?"

"The money is yours, and I will restore it to you after seeing Luke. I
will send for him to be here at seven o'clock this evening."

As Luke was at work in his shop that day, the tailor's boy came in with
a note.

Luke opened it and read as follows:

"Will you call at my shop at seven this evening about the pants you
ordered?

"Henry Merrill."

"Tell your father I'll come," said Luke.

At seven o'clock he entered the tailor's shop once more.

"Well, Merrill, what do you want to see me about?" he asked. "Have you
cut the pants?"

"No."

"You haven't? I wanted you to go to work on them at once."

"I know; but it was necessary to see you first."

"Why--didn't you take the measure right?"

"Luke," said Mr. Merrill, looking him steadily in the eye, "where did
you get that money you paid me?"

"Where did I get the money?" repeated Luke, flushing up. "What makes you
ask me that question? Isn't it good money? 'Tisn't counterfeit, is it?"

"I asked you where you got it from?"

"From the man I work for, to be sure," said Luke.

"Will you swear to that?"

"I don't see the use. Can't you take my word?"

"I may as well tell you that Harry Walton recognizes one of the bills as
a part of the money he lost."

"He does, does he?" said Luke, boldly. "That's all nonsense. Bills all
look alike."

"This one has a drop of ink just in the center. He remembered having
dropped a blot upon it."

"What have I to do with that?"

"It is hardly necessary to explain. The evening he lost the money you
were with him. Two days after, you pay me one of the bills which he
lost," said the tailor.

"Do you mean to say I stole 'em?" demanded Luke.

"It looks like it, unless you can