his beard
reflectively. "Mr. Haley's a nice young man----"

"I've knowed him since ever he come inter this town," Mr. Day
interrupted, with energy. "He's too smart ter do sech a thing, even if
he was so inclined. You fellers seem ter think he's an idiot. What!
steal them coins when he's the only person 'cept the janitor that's
knowed to have a key to the school building?

"Huh!" pursued Uncle Jason, with vast disgust. "You fellers must have
a high opinion of your own judgment, when you choosed Mr. Haley to
teach this school. Did ye hire a nincompoop, I wanter know? Why! if
he'd wanted ever so much ter steal them coins, he'd hafter been a fule
ter done it in this way."

"There's sense in what ye say, Jason," admitted Mr. Crawford.

"I sh'd hope so! But there ain't sense in what you fellers have
done--for a fac! Lettin' sech a story as this git all over town. By
jiminy! if I was Mr. Haley, I'd sue ye!"

"But what are we goin' ter do, Jason?" demanded Cross Moore. "Sit here
an' twiddle our thumbs, and let that feller 't owns the coins come down
on us for their value?"

"You'll have to make good to him anyway," said Mr. Day, bluntly. "You
four air responserble."

"Hi tunket!" exploded Joe Pellet. "And let the thief git away with
'em?"

"Better git a detecertif, an' put him on the case," said Mr. Day. "Of
course, you air all satisfied that nobody could ha' got into the
schoolhouse but Mr. Haley?"

"He an' Benny is all that has keys," said Massey.

"Sure about this here janitor?" asked Uncle Jason, slowly.

"Why, he was with us all the time," said Crawford, in disgust.

"And he's a hardworkin' little feller, too," Massey added. "Not a
thing wrong with Benny but his back. That is crooked; but he's as
straight as a string."

"How's his fambly?" asked Uncle Jason.

"Ain't got none--but a wife. A decent, hard-working woman," proclaimed
the druggist. "No children. Her brother boards with 'em. That's all."

"Well, sir!" said Uncle Jason, oracularly. "There air some things in
this worl' ye kin be sure of, besides death and taxes. There's a few
things connected with this case that ye kin pin down. F'r instance:
The janitor didn't do it. Nelse Haley didn't do it. None o' you four
fellers done it."

"Say! you goin' to drag us under suspicion, Jase?" drawled Cross Moore.

"If you keep on sputterin' about Nelse Haley--yes," snapped Mr. Day,
nodding vigorously. "Howsomever, there's still ano