After I took it down to put this
money in it I put it back on a different shelf. I just found it
now by accident."
As the captain was leaving Jed asked one more question. "Sam," he
asked, "about this bank job now? If you had a chance to get a
bright, smart young man with experience in bank work, you'd hire
him, wouldn't you?"
Captain Hunniwell's answer was emphatic.
"You bet I would!" he declared. "If I liked his looks and his
references were good I'd hire him in two minutes. And salary, any
reasonable salary, wouldn't part us, either. . . . Eh? What makes
you look like that?"
For Jed's expression had changed; his hand moved across his chin.
"Eh--er--references?" he repeated.
"Why, why, of course. I'd want references from the folks he'd
worked for, statin' that he was honest and capable and all that.
With those I'd hire him in two minutes, as I said. You fetch him
along and see. So long, Jed. See you later."
He hustled out, stopping to tear from the outer door the placard
directing callers to call at Abijah Thompson's. Jed returned to
his box and sat down once more to ponder. In his innocence it had
not occurred to him that references would be required.
That evening, about nine, he crossed the yard and knocked at the
back door of the little house. Mrs. Armstrong answered the knock;
Barbara, of course, was in bed and asleep.
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