Haste and Waste | Page 9

always carry it in a pocket inside of my vest,"
continued the director, putting his hand in the place indicated; "but this
is a new vest, and hasn't any such pocket. Things don't look all right to
me. Is the ferryman your father?"
"Yes, sir; he is."
"Well, the money's gone," added Mr. Randall. "We will go back to the
ferry-boat."
"Did you find it?" asked John Wilford, as the bank director stepped into
the bateau.
"No; but I'm certain it has not gone to the bottom."
"Where is it, then?"
"I don't know; can you tell me?"
Mr. Randall looked at the ferryman very sharply. His manner indicated
that he had some suspicions.
"How can I tell you?" replied John Wilford.

"The money was in the coat pocket when you picked it up in the
water-- I know it was."
"Do you mean to say I took it out?" demanded the ferryman angrily.
"If you didn't, I don't see what has become of it."
"Do you mean to accuse my father of stealing?" said Lawry
indignantly.
"I don't accuse him of anything; but here are the facts, and you can all
see for yourselves."
"You throw your coat down anywhere. It would have gone overboard
from the sloop if I hadn't saved it; and it won't do for so careless a man
as you are to accuse anybody of stealing your money," added Lawry
angrily.
"Very likely you lost it out of the pocket before you got into the
ferry-boat."
"Never mind him, Lawry. I haven't got his pocketbook," interposed the
ferryman.
"I know you haven't, father; and it makes me mad to hear him accuse
you of stealing it."
"Mr. Randall, if you think I've got your money, I want you to satisfy
yourself on the point at once," continued John Wilford, turning to the
director.
"I hope you haven't."
"But you think I have. Search me, then."
Greatly to the indignation of Lawry, Mr. Randall did search the
ferryman; turned out his pockets, and examined every part of his wet
garments. The pocketbook was not upon his person; and the loser, in
spite of the laws of specific gravity, which he had just demonstrated,

was almost compelled to believe that his money had gone to the bottom
of the lake.
CHAPTER IV
THE STEAMER "WOODVILLE"
Mr. Randall, now that his money was lost, declared that he had no
business in Shoreham, and it was useless for him to go there. The six
thousand dollars belonged to his bank, and, having an opportunity to
put this sum in circulation, where it would be "kept out" for several
weeks, he was making this journey to accomplish the business. He
facetiously remarked that it was likely to be kept out longer than was
desirable.
Lawry was so sure Mr. Randall had dropped the pocketbook on the
shore before he got into the ferry-boat, that he insisted upon returning
to Pork Rock and having the ground searched. Though the bank
director was satisfied that the pocketbook was safe in his possession
when he entered the bateau, he was willing to return, since the object of
his journey had been defeated, and Lawry pulled him back to the
landing-place. The ground under the tree, and over which Mr. Randall
had walked while waiting for the ferryman, was carefully examined,
but the lost pocketbook could not be found.
The bank director had very little to say after he left the ferry-boat; but
he was very thoughtful, as a man who had lost six thousand dollars
might reasonably be. After the search on shore was completed, he
walked off toward the village without mentioning his intentions, but he
looked as though he purposed to do something.
"What's the matter, Lawry?" asked Mrs. Wilford, who had been
watching the movements of Mr. Randall and her son from the window,
as she came out of the house.
"The gentleman has lost his money--six thousand dollars," replied
Lawry.

"Lost it!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilford, recalling the conversation with her
husband at dinner.
"His coat fell overboard, and the pocketbook dropped out."
"Fell into the lake," added she, with a feeling of relief.
"Yes; father swam out and got the coat, but the money was gone."
Mrs. Wilford returned to the house. Perhaps she had some misgivings,
and felt more than before that those who make haste to be rich are often
ruined; but she said nothing. Lawry was perplexed at the disappearance
of the money. Mr. Randall had proved that a pocketbook with nothing
but paper in it would not sink within a reasonable time. If the lost
treasure had fallen into the water, he would certainly have found it. If it
had been dropped on shore or in the ferry-boat, it would not have
disappeared so strangely.
Lawry was so