o is he, sir?"

"The boy who was bringing it from the bank."

"I never saw him."

"Then how did you get these notes?"

"I never had 'em sir."

"Why, I took them out of his pocket," Fred cried, in surprise.

"Explain yourself," Mr. Wright said to the prisoner.

"Me an' Tim Sanger was goin' to camp out on the mountains while work was
slack," Gus began with an air of truthfulness. "We had a shanty built,
an' Tim went off fishin' when this feller," here he pointed to the
astonished Fred, "jumped in on me. I'd seen him in Blacktown, so didn't
think anything was out of the way till he knocked me down."

"Why did he strike you?"

"That's jest what I don't know. He tied me all up like this, an' I had
to do as he said till we met Joe Brace. Then I heard one of 'em say to
the other: 'This will get Sam out of the scrape, for we can say Gus
Dobson had the money what was stole, in his pocket.' That's all I know
about it, an' I never saw them bills till this very minute."

"It was a good scheme for Sam to give up the money in this way when he
found the case was so dead against him," the cashier said in a low tone,
as if speaking to himself; but he took care that Mr. Wright should hear
distinctly.

"What do you mean?" Joe cried fiercely.

"Nothing, nothing, I must have been thinking aloud."

"You intended we should hear every word," the miner added, excitedly.

"Be quiet, Brace, while we get the facts of this strange story," Mr.
Wright said, sharply.

"You have got the facts already sir. I told you before I left town that
this fellow was one of the thieves."

"That doesn't prove anything," the cashier replied, with a malicious
smile.

"I'll prove more than that to you, if you dare show your nose out
doors."

"Either leave the office, Brace, or hold your tongue," and now the
superintendent spoke in an angry tone.

"Fred, what have you got to say in answer to this boy's story?"

"Not a word, sir. What Joe has told you is true, and if it ain't
believed you can serve the warrant which was issued for me, as soon as
you please."

"He can't say anything," Gus added, triumphantly. "If Tim was here he
could tell you jest why we left Blacktown; but, of course, he don't know
about the job this feller is try in' to put up on me."

"Where is Tim?"

"I dunno. He'll likely come home when he can't find me."

"Are you willing to stay here until he returns?"

"Sure; there ain't any reason why I'd want to run off, if you