Struggling Upward, or Luke Larkin's Luck. Alger Horatio Jr.
At any rate, they will have to tell how the box came into their possession, and what it contains. I'll go to the bank and speak to Squire Duncan."
Prince Duncan had called an extra meeting of the directors to consider the loss which had been discovered, and they were now seated in the bank parlor. There were three of them present, all of whom resided in Groveton—Mr. Manning, the hotelkeeper; Mr. Bailey, a storekeeper, and Mr. Beane, the Groveton lawyer.
Miss Sprague entered the bank and went up to the little window presided over by the paying-teller.
"Is Squire Duncan in the bank?" she asked.
"Yes, Miss Sprague."
"I would like to speak with him."
"That is impossible. He is presiding at a directors' meeting."
"Still, I would like to see him," persisted Melinda.
"You will have to wait," said the paying-teller, coldly. He had no particular respect or regard for Miss Sprague, being quite familiar with her general reputation as a gossip and busybody.
"I think he would like to see me," said Melinda, nodding her head with mysterious significance. "There has been a robbery at the bank, hasn't there?"
"Do you know anything about it, Miss Sprague?" demanded the teller, in surprise.
"Maybe I do, and maybe I don't; but I've got a secret to tell to Squire Duncan."
"I don't believe it amounts to anything," thought the teller. "Well, I will speak to Squire Duncan," he said aloud.
He went to the door of the directors' room, and after a brief conference with Prince Duncan he returned with the message, "You may go in, Miss Sprague."
She nodded triumphantly, and with an air of conscious importance walked to the bank parlor.
Prince Duncan and his associates were sitting round a mahogany table.
Melinda made a formal curtsy and stood facing them.
"I understand, Miss Sprague, that you have something to communicate to us in reference to the loss the bank has just sustained," said the squire, clearing his throat.
"I thought it my duty to come and tell you all I knew, Squire Duncan and gentlemen," said Melinda.
"Quite right, Miss Sprague. Now, what can you tell us?"
"The article lost was a tin box, was it not?"
"Yes."
"About so long?" continued Miss Sprague, indicating a length of about fifteen inches.
"Yes."
"What was there in it?"
"Government bonds."
"I know where there is such a box," said Miss Sprague, slowly.
"Where? Please be expeditious, Miss Sprague."
"A few days since I was calling on Mrs. Larkin—Luke's mother—just happened in, as I may say, and, not finding her downstairs, went up into her chamber. I don't think she heard me, for when I entered the chamber and spoke to her she seemed quite flustered. She was on her knees before an open trunk, and in that trunk I saw the tin box."
The directors looked at each other in surprise, and Squire Duncan looked undeniably puzzled.
"I knew the box was one such as is used to hold valuable papers and bonds," proceeded Melinda, "and, as I had always looked on the widow as very poor, I didn't know what to make of it."
"Did you question Mrs. Larkin about the tin box?" asked Mr. Beane.
"No; she shut the trunk at once, and I concluded she didn't want me to see it."
"Then you did not say anything about it?"
"No; but I went in just now to tell her about the bank being robbed."
"How did it seem to affect her?" asked Mr. Bailey.
"She and Luke—Luke was there, too—looked at each other in dismay.
It was evident that they were thinking of the box in the trunk."
Melinda continued her story, and the directors were somewhat impressed.
"I propose," said Mr. Manning, "that we get out a search-warrant and search Mrs. Larkin's cottage. That box may be the one missing from the bank."
CHAPTER XI
LUKE IS ARRESTED
Just after twelve o'clock, when Luke was at home eating dinner, a knock was heard at the front door.
"I'll go, mother," said Luke, and he rose from the table, and, going into the entry, opened the outer door.
His surprise may be imagined when he confronted Squire Duncan and the gentlemen already mentioned as directors of the Groveton bank.
"Did you wish to see mother?" he asked.
"Yes; we have come on important business," said Squire Duncan, pompously.
"Walk in, if you please."
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