m to look
anxious; on the contrary Dick smiled broadly as he immediately answered:

"I wish you would, then, Mr. Goodwyn, or get them on the long distance
'phone. I would like to ask you one thing, first, sir; it might save you
the expense of such a call."

"Well, what is it?" coldly.

"I said that the letter was torn out of my hand by a sudden gust of
wind, and carried over the fence toward the river, and that I had no
time just then to try and find it again?"

"Yes, that is what you told us as near as I can remember--go on."

"If that letter could be found on the meadow somewhere, and brought to
you, sir, would it help clear me in your eyes?" anxiously.

The cashier considered.

"It might go a long ways toward making me believe you spoke the truth
about having a friend in that office; the contents of the letter might
also help. But I could not think of letting you go after it by yourself,
you understand," as a sudden suspicion flashed into his mind that Dick
might manufacture some sort of letter and try and palm it off for the
original.

"Of course not. I was just going to ask if you would have some one you
could _fully_ trust go with me, sir," the boy went on, laying an
emphasis on that word that somehow made the gentleman wince.

"Very well, Richard. I will take the place of Mr. Winslow for a time,
and he can accompany you down to the river. I shall instruct him not to
leave you alone for a minute--for your sake as well as my own
satisfaction. If you are going to be cleared of this suspicion it must
be thoroughly done."

"Thank you, sir," was all Dick said, but the smile he gave Mr. Graylock
seemed to irritate that gentleman more than a little.

So the receiving teller was called in and put in possession of such
facts as seemed necessary for him to know, and in another minute he and
Dick left the bank, heading down the street toward the river, and
leaving Mr. Graylock still sitting there, trying to pour poison into the
ears of the cashier concerning the wily ways of all boys in general,
though in so doing he rather disgusted Mr. Goodwyn, who it happened had
a couple of little kids at home himself.

Mr. Winslow seemed to be worried as he strode along at the side of the
messenger.

"I really hope there's nothing in this affair, Dick," he said, kindly.

"Make your mind easy on that, sir; there isn't an atom of truth about
it. I know nothing about the package or what it contained, any more than
you do.