"Stolen?" he repeated. "You said folks were talkin' about money
bein' lost. Have they been sayin' 'twas stolen?"
It was Grover who answered. "I haven't heard any such rumors," he
said. "I believe Lieutenant Rayburn said he heard some idle report
about the bank's having lost a sum of money, but there was no hint
at dishonesty."
Captain Sam turned to Mr. Babbitt.
"YOU haven't heard any yarns about money bein' stolen at the bank,
have you?" he demanded.
Before Phineas could answer Grover's hand again fell lightly on his
shoulder.
"I'm sure he hasn't," observed the Major. The captain paid no
attention to him.
"Have you?" he repeated, addressing Babbitt.
The little man shook from head to foot. The glare with which he
regarded his hated rival might have frightened a timid person. But
Captain Sam Hunniwell was distinctly not timid.
"Have you?" he asked, for the third time.
Phineas' mouth opened, but Grover's fingers tightened on his
shoulder and what came out of that mouth was merely a savage
repetition of his favorite retort, "None of your darned business."
"Yes, 'tis my business," began Captain Sam, but Jed interrupted.
"I don't see as it makes any difference whether he's heard anything
or not, Sam," he suggested eagerly. "No matter what he's heard, it
ain't so, because there couldn't have been anything stolen.
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