What did you spend it for?"
"Oh--oh, some things I needed."
"Sho! Is that so? What things?"
Jed's shaking hand moved across his chin.
"Oh--I--I forget," he faltered. Then, after a desperate struggle,
"I--I--I bought a suit of clothes."
The effort of this confession was a peculiar one. Captain Sam
Hunniwell put back his head and roared with laughter. He was still
laughing when he picked up his hat and turned to the door. Jed
sprang from his seat.
"Eh? . . . You're not GOIN', are you, Sam?" he cried. The
captain, wiping his eyes, turned momentarily.
"Yes, Jed," he said, chokingly, "I'm goin'. Say, if--if you get
time some of these days dress up in that four hundred dollar suit
you bought and then send me word. I'd like to see it."
He went out. The door of the outer shop slammed. Jed wiped the
perspiration from his forehead and groaned helplessly and
hopelessly.
The captain had reached the gate when he saw Phillips coming along
the road toward him. He waited until the young man arrived.
"Hello, Captain," hailed Charles. "So you decided not to come back
to the bank this afternoon, after all?"
His employer nodded. "Yes," he said. "I've been kept away on
business. Funny kind of business, too. Say, Charlie," he added,
"suppose likely your sister and you would be too busy to see me for
a few minutes now? I'd like to see if you've got an answer to a
riddle.
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