date aloud, reading it carefully from the
coin. "Why, yes, that's the date, sir," said the storekeeper.

"Don't ye know that's one of the rarest issues of ten dollar coins in
existence? Somethin' happened to the die: they only issued a few,"
Massey stammered. "Where'd you git it, Hopewell?"

"Why--why--Is it valuable?" asked Hopewell. "A rare coin, you say?"

"Rare!" shouted Massey. "Yes, I tell ye! It's rare. There ain't but
a few in existence. Mr. Hobart told me when he brought them coins over
here that night. And he pointed one of them out to me in that
collection. Where did you get this one, Hopewell--where'd you get it,
I say?"

And on completing the demand he turned sharply and stared with his
blinking, red eyes directly at Nelson Haley.

CHAPTER XX

SUSPICIONS

"Why--why--why----" stammered Hopewell Drugg, and could say no more.

The others had noted Massey's accusing glance at the schoolmaster; but
not even Walky Dexter commented upon it at the moment.

"Come, Hopewell!" exclaimed the druggist; "where did you get it?"

"Where--where did I get the gold piece?" repeated the storekeeper,
weakly.

"Yes. Who paid it in to you? Hi, man! surely you don't think for a
moment I accuse you of having stolen the coin collection--or having
guilty knowledge of the theft?"

"Oh, Mr. Massey! what are you saying?" cried the storekeeper's wife.

"The coins?" whispered Hopewell. "Is that one of them?"

"Jefers-pelters!" ejaculated Walky, "Here's a purty mess."

"Who gave it to you?" again demanded Mr. Massey.

"Why, it would be hard to say offhand," the storekeeper had sufficient
wit to reply.

"Oh, but Hopewell!" implored the druggist. "Don't ye see what I am
after? Stir yourself, man! Perhaps we are right on the trail of the
thief--this is maybe a clue," and he cast another glance at Nelson as
though he feared the schoolmaster might try to slip out of the store if
he did not watch him.

Nelson came forward to the counter. At first he had grown very red;
now he was quite pale and the look of scorn and indignation he cast
upon the druggist might have withered that person at a time of less
excitement.

"I ran 'way up here the minute my wife gave me that gold piece,
Hopewell," Massey continued. "Don't you remember how you came by it?"

"He means, Mr. Drugg," broke in Nelson, "that he suspects you got it
from me. Now tell him, if you please: Have I passed a gold piece over
your count