He noticed in detail the entry on the messenger’s slip.  The prepaid charges on the Martin & Company consignment were seven dollars and seventy-five cents, or five cents for every hundred dollars or fraction of it over the first fifty dollars, which was charged for at regular tariff rates, twenty-five cents.

“It is fifteen thousand dollars, right enough!” mused Bart.  “Now, to make sure of the form of receipt.”

He filled out a special receipt that acknowledged besides the usual delivery, a verification of the amount of the inclosure, its acceptance as correct, and left a blank for the names of two witnesses.

Bart was now ready to sally forth on his peculiar errand, and had fully decided in his mind the persons he would get to act as his witnesses.

“What is that!” he questioned, suddenly and sharply.

He could hear a springy vehicle bound over the near tracks, and then its wheels cut the loose cindered road leading up to the express office.

It halted.  He could catch the quick, labored breathing of two horses, a carriage door creaked! some low voices made a brief hum of conversation, and the vehicle seemed to depart.

Bart stood stock-still, wondering and guessing.  Footsteps sounded on the platform.  There came a thundering thump as of a heavy cane on the office door.

“Who is there?” demanded Bart.

“Colonel Harrington.  I’ve got to see you.”

“Come in,” Bart said, unbolting the door.

Colonel Harrington was red of face and fussy of manner.  He threw the door shut with his foot, and sank to a bench, breathing heavily.

“Was there something you wanted to say to me, Colonel Harrington?” inquired Bart.

“Yes there was!” snapped out the rich man of Pleasantville.  “Anxious to see you!  Just drove up to your house.  They told me you were here.  I once offered you a hundred dollars.”

Bart nodded, with a faint smile.

“It wasn’t enough,” stumbled on the colonel.  “I am now going to make it a thousand.”

“Why, what for, Colonel Harrington?” demanded Bart in surprise.

“Because you can earn it.”

“How?”

“Shall I be blunt and plain?”

“It is always the best way.”

“Very well, then,” resumed the colonel desperately.  “A certain unclaimed express package was sold here to-day, marked A.A.  Adams.  You’ve got it.”

“How do you know that?”

“Oh, you know it and I want it.  Hand it over, and here”—­the colonel made a dive for his pocketbook—­“here’s your thousand dollars.”

Bart made a signal of remonstrance with his hand, his face grave and decided.

“Stop right there, Colonel Harrington,” he said forcibly.  “Are you aware that you are offering a bribe to a bonded representative of the express company?”

“Rot take your express company!” growled the colonel angrily.  “I am one of its stock-holders.  I could buy the whole concern out, if I wanted to!”