Part 25 (2/2)
Isaac Marvelling grumbled, but at last consented, and soon all three were down under the bridge Here it was pitch-dark, and the feeble rays of the lantern only lit up a circle that was less than three yards in dia hi in the recovery of the goods, Matt set to ith a will
”Here is another spoon,” he said presently, and he handed over a silver-plated affair, which at the most was not worth fifteen cents, wholesale
”Here are a couple of knives,” added Jackson ”And here is a bit of paper some of the stuff must have been wrapped in”
”Look here!” suddenly cried Matt, as he pointed down into the water
”Here's a man's cap, and it looks as if it had just fallen in, for one side of the peak is not yet wet”
”Let me see that cap,” returned the constable quickly
He snatched it from Matt's hand and turned with it to the lantern His exa, have you seen anything of old Joe Yedley lately?” he asked, turning to the store-keeper
”Yedley? Why, yes; he was in the store begging, only yesterday,” was the reply ”But what has he----”
”Did you give hi wrathfully ”Not a cent! I told hiain I have no use for beggars”
”Did he go near the case with the cutlery and jewelry in it?”
”Humph! I suppose he did But what has he to do with this?”
”This is Joe Yedley's cap; I would know it out of a thousand He is an old offender, and it is more than likely that he is the thief!”
CHAPTER XXII
THE SHANTY IN THE WOODS
The reader may rest assured that Matt listened with deep interest to the words of the constable He knew nothing of the man that had beento believe Jackson's supposition true
”That Joe Yedley's cap?” returned Isaac Marvelling slowly
”Certainly You ought to knoell enough He has worn nothing else for years”
”Huet here?”
”The et ahen I ca hurry”
”That's most likely it,” said the constable ”To tell the truth, it looks just like a piece of Yedley's work,” he added slowly ”He did it in order to get square, ascalled a beggar”