d from view. "It would be
better if he came directly back without thinking of what will never
bring us in a cent of money."

It was too late now, however, to regret the words which had been spoken,
and Fred found plenty with which to busy himself during the remainder of
the day.

At noon a telegram came for Mr. Wright, and in response to what was
probably an imperative summons, he started for the city on the next
train; the one on which Sam would have returned had he not determined to
walk across the mountain.

An hour passed, and yet the messenger was absent.

"That boy has had time to travel twice the distance from Blacktown
here," the cashier said impatiently to Fred, and the latter could make
no reply, but he in turn was growing very anxious.

"How would it do for me to go and meet him?" he asked finally.

"That is foolish talk," was the petulant reply. "If he doesn't come soon
it will be best to send a sheriff's officer."

This remark was well calculated to make Fred yet more nervous. Not for a
moment did he believe Sam would do anything dishonest, and yet he should
have been back, even in case he had walked home, several hours before.

It was after sunset when the messenger finally made his appearance, and
Fred was about to greet him with words of jest, but the expression on
Sam's face caused him decided alarm.

"What is the matter?" he asked, anxiously.

"I have been robbed," was the reply, in a hoarse whisper.

"How?"

"I don't know. Coming across the mountain I laid down on the land we
wanted to buy, an' I fell asleep. When I awakened the money was gone,
an' that is all I know about it."

"Money gone, eh?" the bookkeeper cried. "What did you want to buy land
for?"

"That has nothing to do with the loss of the cash," Sam replied as he
looked the man full in the face. "I lost the package which was given me
at the bank, and have been hunting for it since noon."

"It will make considerable difference, as you'll find out before this
thing is cleared up," and the cashier moved toward the door as if to
prevent the boy from leaving the building. "Why not tell the truth, and
say you stole the money?"

"Because I didn't do anything of the kind."

"Tell that to the marines, for you can't make me believe it. Thieves
don't loaf around the mountain."

"They must have done so in this case, for I walked nearly back to
Blacktown, and should have found the package if it had fallen from my
pocket."

"The