" Assisted by Mr.
Lawrence he proceeded to search the pockets of each boy, keeping a sharp
watch that no one had a chance to make way with the money if he had it
in his possession. The boys were very willing their pockets should be
searched, and none more so than I, who was anxious that even a shadow of
suspicion should be removed from me.
It happened to be Mr. Oswald himself who examined my pockets, and,
uttering an exclamation of surprise, almost of horror, he turned deadly
pale, for with his own hand he drew from my vest pocket the missing
bill. Had a bomb-shell burst in the school room the shock would not
have been more unexpected than was occasioned by this discovery. My
countenance must have expressed unbounded astonishment and dismay, but
certainly not guilt. With a face of deep sorrow, and a voice tremulous
with emotion, Mr. Oswald exclaimed: "Can it be possible! Walter Harland,
that this is true? That you whom I would have trusted with uncounted
gold have been led to commit this act. Would that the case admitted
even of a doubt, but with my own hand I have taken from your pocket what
I know is the money I placed in my desk this morning for, as is my
custom, I noticed the number of the bill when I received it.
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