"
"But he says he is your guardian."
"He is no more my guardian than you are. Indeed, I would much sooner
select you."
"How did you get acquainted?"
"He introduced himself to me as a traveler for H. B. Claflin, of
New York. I did not doubt his statement at the time, but now I do,
especially after what happened in the night."
"What was that?" asked the clerk, pricking up his ears.
Luke went on to describe Coleman's search of his pockets.
"Did you say anything?"
"No. I wished to see what he was after. As I had left nearly all
my money with you, I was not afraid of being robbed."
"I presume your story is correct. In fact, I detected him in a
misstatement as to the time of giving you the money. But I don't
want to get into trouble."
"Ask him how much money I deposited with you," suggested Luke.
"He has no idea, and will have to guess."
"I have asked him the question once, but will do so again."
The clerk returned to the office with Luke. Coleman eyed them
uneasily, as if he suspected them of having been engaged in a
conspiracy against him.
"Well," he said, "are you going to give me my money?"
"State the amount," said the clerk, in a businesslike manner.
"I have already told you that I can't state exactly. I handed
the money to Luke without counting it."
"You must have some idea, at any rate," said the clerk.
"Of course I have. There was somewhere around seventy-five dollars."
This he said with a confidence which he did not feel, for it
was, of course, a mere guess.
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