The arresting officer was directed to bring in the money, and the moment it was deposited on the table both boys stared at the paper wrapped around it. "I think we know some of the figures on that paper," said Ralph. The colonel looked at the boys incredulously. "If you do," he said, "I should call it some pretty fine detective work." "There are figures here," said the officer, unwrapping the paper. "Do you see 42 there?" asked Ralph. "Yes," replied the officer. "Now, right next to it or very near, is there a figure 8, and then 3?" The officer looked at Ralph in amazement. "That is just what I note here, and in the order you have given," he said. "Now look for the following numbers, which ought to be up somewhere above those you have just mentioned: 10, 8 and 6. Do you find them there?" asked Alfred. "Yes," replied the officer. "But there is another amount here, 14." "That represents the fourteen unpacked aeroplanes," said Alfred. "What do you know about them?" asked the colonel. "Joe told me there were that many in the cases," answered Alfred. "Well, I wonder where that fellow has hidden himself?" said Ralph. "How did you know about the numbers on that paper?" asked the colonel. "We saw him put them down; and that is what created the suspicion in our minds," said Alfred. "One thing more," said Ralph. "May I examine the paper?" He scanned it from top to bottom, then turned to the colonel. "How many men," he asked, "were in the regiment that came in about an hour ago?" The colonel turned to the orderly. The latter replied: "890, according to the rolls, if you mean the 23d Essex." "There it is," said Ralph, pointing to the figures. The colonel stooped over. "Where is 890? What you are pointing to is 8.90, and it may have reference to the sales he made to the members of the regiment," he observed. "But he didn't make any sales to any of the fellows there," said Alfred. "Are you sure of that?" asked the colonel. "We are both sure of that," replied Ralph, "and what is still more, here is 23 right above it with an X following. Doesn't that mean the 23d Essex regiment?" "Well, I consider that a pretty piece of reasoning from observation," said the colonel. The boys turned to the colonel and fairly stared at him. "I hope I have not offended you." "No; we didn't feel that way about your remark, but it reminded me of the lesson that the captain of the artillery company gave us one night on the value of observation," said Alfred. "Bring in the man; I think we have a clear case," ordered the colonel. He was ushered in and the colonel addressed him. "When did you come into the grounds?" "About an hour ago," was the reply. "Were you on the grounds when the Essex regiment arrived?" "Yes." "This paper which was wrapped around your money contains an account of the sales you made at various times; is that so?" "Yes." "What was the sum total of the sales you made to the regiment?"