“The one before us?” asked Mr. Manning.

“Yes, sir.”

“Did he give any reason for making this request?”

“He said he was about to leave the neighborhood, and wished it taken care of.  He asked me to put it under lock and key.”

“Did he state why he selected you for this trust?” asked Mr. Beane.

“No, sir; he paid me for my trouble, however.  He gave me a bank-note, which, when I reached home, I found to be a ten-dollar bill.”

“And you haven’t seen him since?”

“Once only.”

“When was that?”

“On the evening of Florence Grant’s party.  On my way home the same man came up to me and asked if the box was safe.  I answered, ‘Yes.’  He said, ‘That is all—­for the present,’ and disappeared.  I have not seen him since.”

“That is a very pretty romance,” said Prince Duncan, with a sneer.

“I can confirm it,” said Mrs. Larkin, calmly.  “I saw Luke bring in the box, and at his request I took charge of it.  The story he told at that time is the same that he tells now.”

“Very possibly,” said the bank president.  “It was all cut and dried.”

“You seem very much prejudiced against Luke,” said Mrs. Larkin, indignantly.

“By no means, Mrs. Larkin.  I judge him and his story from the standpoint of common sense.  Gentlemen, I presume this story makes the same impression on you as on me?”

Mr. Beane shook his head.  “It may be true; it is not impossible,” he said.

“You believe, then, there is such a man as Roland Reed?”

“There may be a man who calls himself such.”

“If there is such a man, he is a thief.”

“It may be so, but that does not necessarily implicate Luke.”

“He would be a receiver of stolen property.”

“Not knowing it to be such.”

“At all events, I feel amply justified in causing the arrest of Luke Larkin on his own statement.”

“Surely you don’t mean this?” exclaimed Mrs. Larkin, in dismay.

“Don’t be alarmed, mother,” said Luke, calmly.  “I am innocent of wrong, and no harm will befall me.”

CHAPTER XII

LUKE AS A PRISONER

Prince Duncan, who was a magistrate, directed the arrest of Luke on a charge of robbing the Groveton Bank.  The constable who was called upon to make the arrest performed the duty unwillingly.

“I don’t believe a word of it, Luke,” he said.  “It’s perfect nonsense to say you have robbed the bank.  I’d as soon believe myself guilty.”

Luke was not taken to the lock-up, but was put in the personal custody of Constable Perkins, who undertook to be responsible for his appearance at the trial.

“You mustn’t run away, or you’ll get me into trouble, Luke,” said the good-natured constable.

“It’s the last thing I’d be willing to do, Mr. Perkins,” said Luke, promptly.  “Then everybody would decide that I was guilty.  I am innocent, and want a chance to prove it.”