He had no suspicion of any
one, for there was not a pupil in the school who for a moment he would
have believed capable of such an act. He ordered perfect silence in the
room and in as few words as possible explained what had happened;
desiring if any one present possessed the least knowledge of the matter
they would at once make it known to him; saying at the same time, if any
boy had been tempted to take the money, if he would then come forward,
and own the theft, and give up the bill, he would forgive him and the
matter should go no further. Mr. Oswald granted us fifteen minutes, in
which to reveal any thing we might know concerning the affair. A pin
might have been heard to fall in the room during those fifteen minutes,
and seeing that nothing was to be learned in that way Mr. Oswald rose
and stepping from his desk said, "a duty is before me and it must be
performed, no matter how unpleasant it may be, but this matter must not
rest as it is. If you are all innocent you need not fear, but I shall
certainly take the liberty of searching the pockets of every boy in this
room, for, if any boy took that money, he has it now.
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