its associations, I
presume. It was my father's instrument and he played on it a great many
years. I--I think," said Hopewell diffidently, "that it has a
wonderfully mellow tone."

"Well," said Frank, "that black-haired fellow had it. And he looks like
a fellow that's not to be trusted. There's more than Joe Bodley around
that hotel who will bear watching, I guess."

"I will not go down to Lem Parraday's again," sighed Hopewell. "I--I
felt that I should earn all the extra money possible. You see, my little
girl may have to return to Boston for treatment."

"It's a mean shame!" muttered the civil engineer.

"Oh! I hope you are wrong about Lottie," Janice said quickly. "The dear
little thing! She seemed very bright to-night," she added, with more
cheerfulness in her tone than she really felt.

"Say, you don't want that violin stole, Hopewell," said Mr. Massey
reflectively. "Enough's been stole in Polktown to-day, I should say, to
last us one spell."

"Never mind," put in Frank Bowman, scornfully, looking full at the
druggist. "You won't have to pay for Mr. Drugg's violin if it is stolen."

"Hum! Don't I know that?" snarled Massey. "We committeemen have our
hands full with that missin' collection. Wish't we'd never voted to have
the coins brought over here. Them lectures are mighty foolish things,
anyway. That is scored up against young Haley, too. He wanted the
lecture to come here."

"And you are foolish enough to accuse Nelson of stealing the coins," said
Bowman, in a low voice. "I should think you'd have more sense."

"Hey!" exclaimed the druggist. "Who would _you_ accuse?"

"Not Haley, that's sure."

"Nobody but the committee, the janitor, and Haley knew anything about the
coins," the druggist said earnestly. "They were delivered to me last
night right here in the store by Mr. Hobart, the lecturer. He came
through from Middletown a-purpose. He took the boat this morning for the
Landing. Now, nobody else knew about the coins being in town----"

"Who was here with you, Mr. Massey, when the coins were delivered to your
keeping?" Janice Day interposed, for she had been listening.

"Warn't nobody here," said Mr. Massey promptly.

"You were alone in the store?"

"Yes, I was," quite as positively.

"What did you do with the trays?"

"Locked 'em in my safe."

"At once?" again asked Janice.

"Say! what you tryin' to get at, young lady?" snorted the druggist.
"Don't you s'pose I k