"Of course, of course," said the squire, rather annoyed to be
reminded of his duty by this stranger.
This being done, Mr. Beane questioned the witness in the interest
of his client.
"Do you know anything about the tin box found in the possession
of Luke Larkin?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you commit it to his charge for safe-keeping?"
"I did."
"Were you previously acquainted with Luke?"
"I was not."
"Was it not rather a singular proceeding to commit what is
presumably of considerable value to an unknown boy?"
"It would generally be considered so, but I do many strange things.
I had seen the boy by daylight, though he had never seen me, and I
was sure I could trust him."
"Why, if you desired a place of safe-keeping for your box, did you
not select the bank vaults?"
Roland Reed laughed, and glanced at the presiding justice.
"It might have been stolen," he said.
"Does the box contain documents of value?"
"The contents are valuable to me, at any rate."
"Mr. Beane," said Squire Duncan, irritably, "I think you are
treating the witness too indulgently. I believe this box to be
the one taken from the bank."
"You heard the remark of the justice," said the lawyer. "Is this the
box taken from the bank?"
"It is not," answered the witness, contemptuously, "and no one knows
this better than Mr. Duncan."
The justice flushed angrily.
"You are impertinent, witness," he said. "It is all very well to
claim this box as yours, but I shall require you to prove ownership.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76