Part 24 (1/2)
After closing up the sale that night, the wagon was once ht be on the way at an early hour The stock on hand was growing lighter, and they were glad to know that oods would await the famously,” remarked Andy ”If we keep on we shall soon be rich”
”I want to pay back Miss Bartlett what she loaned me as soon as I can”
”I reckon she is in no hurry You had better keep soency”
The work of selling goods and packing the wagon had tired Matt considerably, but his o to sleep at once, and so he started out for a short walk before retiring
He knew very little of the roads around the village, but he was confident that he would not get lost, especially as it was a bright starlight night
He passed the shop where the sales had been conducted, and then branched off on a road that but a short distance away crossed a tiny brook
At the brook he paused, and then, struck with a sudden fancy, he left the bridge to go down and bathe his hands and face in the cool, running water
He had hardly leaped froe to the rocks belohen a sudden noise beside him caused him to start back Ale and was lost to view in the bushes beyond It looked somewhat like the form of a ht the young auctioneer, as he paused, in perplexity ”Was that a man, or only some animal?”
Disturbed at the occurrence, Matt leaped up upon the bridge again, without having touched the water He had hardly co toward him from the road
”Who's that?” cried one of the men
”That nized Isaac Marvelling's voice ”Catch hold of him, Jackson”
In another nized the young auctioneer, Isaac Marvelling set up a cry of surprise and triumph
”I told you so!” he declared ”I said them auction felloeren't no better than thieves! This is the chap that broke in my store, Jackson, I feel sure of it! I want hiet away frooods!”
CHAPTER XXI
THE TELL-TALE CAP
For the moment Matt could do little more than stare at the two men that confronted hi's store had been entered and robbed, and that the uilty party
”Are you a-holding hi anxiously
”Look out, or he h,” returned Jackson, one of the local constables ”He'll have hard work to get away”
”What does thisauctioneer, aroused at last to the necessity of doing soo of me!”
”Oh, no, not just yet!” returned Jackson ”You're wanted, and you know it”
”That's right, Jackson, don't let hiood talker, but don't let that count with you”
”Will you tellhis store and stealing a lot of cutlery and jewelry,”