k was turned and do what they liked with the letters;
but such a thing has never happened before. Now, whoever committed the
robbery has seen that Neil was in the post-office that evening, turning
over the letters; and he saw that Neil got a money order to send away.
All this made him think that Neil was the one to fasten the guilt on
to, so after breaking into the post-office that night he slipped into
the house, unknown to Neil or his mother, and put the order where Neil
was likely to take it for his own.'

Allan nodded approvingly when the coastguard paused in what was an
unusually long effort for him.

There's something in that,' he said. 'But who would have done such a
thing?'

'There is one man on the island who might have done it, and that man
has had every opportunity.'

'Who is that?'

'Do you know a lad called Andrew MacPeters? He works for the
MacAlisters sometimes.'

'I know him,' said Reggie, who had been listening but saying little.
'A red-headed man with foxy eyes.'

'The same,' said Euan. 'He is always in and out of the house; and most
likely he was there that night and saw everything that went on. He has
always hated Neil since he was a lad, and got a beating from Neil, who
was much smaller than himself. He would only be too pleased to do him
an ill turn. It shows a nasty, mean disposition that he should have
taken the trouble to break open the box and throw the letters all about
the shop when he only had to open it and take out what he wanted. Keep
a look-out on that man, young ladies and gentlemen, if you want to find
out what is at the bottom of the whole affair.'

'We will,' they all said.

'And if you could find out anything before the case comes up,' said
Euan, 'you might be the means of saving the lad and his mother too; for
she will be heart-broken if her son is not cleared, and that quickly.'

'We'll do all we can,' said Marjorie.

'Yes,' said Allan slowly and deliberately; 'I vote we all make up our
minds not to rest until we find out who did it and get Neil cleared.'

'We will, we will,' cried all the others in a chorus.

'How are we going to manage it?' asked Tricksy, with eyes and mouth
open.

The others did not reply.

'We will make a compact,' cried Marjorie, rising with sparkling eyes,
'and we'll all sign an agreement; something like this: "We hereby
promise never to rest until we find out who committed the robbery and
show that Neil didn't do it."'

'Yes,'