and down and
listening attentively.

"If I am seen with this in my possession some one will be sure to say
that I stole it and yet I must get it either to the station or up to the
Academy. It will be a considerable tug to get it up the hill and perhaps
I had better hide it till I can come after it with a car or a wagon.
That's the best thing to do."

He was looking for a place among the bushes or under the bridge to hide
the bag when he heard the sound of a car coming toward him and got
behind a tree so as not to be observed.

Then, peering out, he saw the car and recognized it as the little
runabout belonging to Dick and saw young Percival himself at the wheel.

"Hello, Dick, come here, I want to see you," he called, stepping out
and beginning to climb the bank.

"Hello! That's you, is it? And all right, of course? I was very much
afraid that I would have----"

"To do what?" for Percival suddenly stopped.

"To carry your remains back to the Academy. They told me you had fallen
down the bank and I scarcely expected to see you alive again. As quick
as I could I got out the car and came down here to look for you."

"They told you that I had fallen down the bank?" asked Jack, in the
greatest excitement.

"Yes, and you look it all right."

"Who told you that, Dick?"

"Pete Herring and Ernest Merritt. They said they had seen you fall and
had tried to warn you but were too late."

"Where did you see them?"

"In the woods. I was going there to meet you as I had promised."

"How long before had it happened, did they tell you? Did you meet them
in the woods?"

"Yes, and very soon after you fell, probably. I heard a scream and
hurried on. Then I met them and they told me what had happened."

"Yes, but not how it happened. Dick, I was thrown down the bank. It was
not an accident at all, it was a deliberate----"

"Do you know which of the two did it?" gasped Dick.

"No, but I am satisfied that one of them did it. However, never mind
that now. Come here. I want to show you something."

Dick got out of his car and followed Jack.

The boy led his friend to where he had deposited the bag, uncovered it
by throwing off the leaves he had thrown over it and said:

"That's what I found down here, a few paces away. What do you suppose is
in it?"

"I have not the least idea. What is?"

"A cash box from the Riverton bank, a packet of registered letters for
our office, some stamps, money and other things."

"And