"
"Very well, then," resumed the colonel desperately. "A certain
unclaimed express package was sold here to-day, marked A.A. Adams.
You've got it."
"How do you know that?"
"Oh, you know it and I want it. Hand it over, and here"--the colonel
made a dive for his pocketbook--"here's your thousand dollars."
Bart made a signal of remonstrance with his hand, his face grave and
decided.
"Stop right there, Colonel Harrington," he said forcibly. "Are you aware
that you are offering a bribe to a bonded representative of the express
company?"
"Rot take your express company!" growled the colonel angrily. "I am one
of its stock-holders. I could buy the whole concern out, if I wanted
to!"
"Until you do, I obey official instructions," announced Bart. "Please do
not degrade yourself and embarrass me, Colonel Harrington, by saying
anything further on this score. I will not sell my honor, nor swerve a
hair's breadth from a line of duty plain and clear. The package you
refer to was legally purchased by the highest bidder, I hold it
temporarily in trust for him. It is as safe and sacred with me as if it
was the property of the First National Bank of Pleasantville.
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