"What account did he give of the robbery—if there was one?" asked Squire Bates, his face expressing keen interest. "He said that a man stopped his horse, climbed into the buggy, assaulted and robbed him." "Humph!" said the squire, with an expression difficult to read. "Did he describe the person?" Dean hesitated. Should he or should he not, let Squire Bates know that he was suspected! He decided to half reveal the secret. "He thought it was some one that he knew," he answered briefly. "Any one living around here?" asked Squire Bates, nervously. "Excuse me, Squire Bates, but at present I think I would rather not tell. The party may be perfectly innocent, and my uncle's mind may be affected." "Very true! It would not be at all surprising if that were the case. If you do care to take any one into your confidence, please remember that I am your uncle's friend, and might have it in my power to help you in your search." "Yes, sir, I will remember that. I shall probably sometime wish to consult you about the matter." There was a significance in Dean's tone that made the lawyer uneasy, but he had self-control enough not to show his feeling. "As we are on the spot suppose we make a search, as each of us proposed. Did your uncle lose anything except the money—his watch, for instance?" "No, his watch was all right." This had not occurred before to Dean as singular. Now it tended to confirm him in the thought that it might have been Squire Bates, and not some common thief, that had robbed his uncle. The plain silver watch, never very valuable, which Adin Dunham had carried for twenty-five years, might have presented a temptation to an ordinary tramp. A genteel highwayman would not have thought it worth his while to take it. "Really that is very singular," said the squire. "Thieves generally take whatever they find, and are not very likely to leave a watch behind." "It seems to show that the thief was no ordinary one," said Dean. "What do you mean by that?" asked the lawyer suspiciously. "It was a high-toned robber who wouldn't care to be burdened with an old silver watch such as Uncle Adin carried." "True! Your remark shows penetration. I shouldn't have thought of that. Perhaps, however, there was another reason." "What?" asked Dean, his curiosity aroused. "The watch would easily have been identified, and might have led to the apprehension of the robber." "Yes, there is something in that." Meanwhile Dean and the squire continued their investigations. Dean, however, merely made a show of searching. He felt convinced that the only thing worth discovering he had already found, but of course he had no intention of making this known to his companion. "It would be refreshing if we could find your uncle's lost wallet—did he carry his money in a wallet?" "Yes, I believe so." "But we can hardly expect it." "No, there is very little chance of it, I am afraid."