Part 10 (2/2)
”Dunno. A lot of money. Some says two thousand and some says five thousand. Whichever it is, they'll put him under big bail if they arrest him.”
”Why, they wouldn't dare!” gasped Mrs. Day.
”Say! Ma.s.sey and them others has got to save their own hides, ain't they?” demanded the suspicious Marty.
”Wal. 'Tain't common sense that any of the School Committee should have stolen the coins,” Uncle Jason said slowly. ”Mr. Ma.s.sey, and Cross Moore, and Mr. Middler----”
”Mr. Middler warn't there,” said Marty, quickly. ”He'd gone to Middletown.”
”Joe Pellet and Crawford there?” asked Uncle Jason.
”All the committee but the parson,” his son admitted.
”And all good men,” Uncle Jason said reflectively. ”Schoolhouse locked?”
”So they say,” Marty declared. ”That's what set them on Nelson. Only him and the janitor carry keys to the building.”
”Who's the janitor?” asked Uncle Jason.
”Benny Thread. You know, the little crooked-backed feller--lives on Paige Street. And, anyway, there wasn't a chance for him to get at the coins. He was with the committee all the time they was out of the room.”
”And are they sure Mr. Haley was in there?” asked Aunt 'Mira.
”He admits it,” Marty said gloomily. ”I don't know what's going to come of it all----”
”Hus.h.!.+” said Uncle Jason suddenly. ”Shut that door.”
But it was too late, Janice had heard all. She came down into the kitchen, pale-faced and with eyes that blazed with indignation. She had not removed her hat.
”Come, Uncle Jason,” she said, brokenly. ”I want you to go downtown with me. If Nelson is in trouble we must help him.”
”Drat that boy!” growled Uncle Jason, scowling at Marty. ”He's a reg'lar big mouth! He has to tell ev'rything he knows all over the shop.”
CHAPTER VIII
REAL TROUBLE
It seemed to Janice Day as though the drift of trouble, which had set her way with the announcement by her father of his unfortunate situation among the Yaqui Indians, had now risen to an overwhelming height.
'Rill's secret misgivings regarding Hopewell Drugg, little Lottie's peril of blindness, the general tendency of Polktown as a whole to suffer the bad effects of liquor selling at the tavern--all these things had added to Janice's anxiety.
Now, on the crest of the threatening wave, rode this happening to Nelson Haley, an account of which Marty had brought home.
”Come, Uncle Jason,” she said again to Mr. Day. ”You must come with me. If Nelson is arrested and taken before Justice Little, the justice will listen to _you_. You are a property owner. If they put Nelson under bail----”
”Hold your hosses,” interrupted Uncle Jason, yet not unkindly. ”Noah didn't build the ark in a day. We'd best go slow about this.”
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