"It cannot
have been done since you came," I said. "There is no one in the house but
ourselves."
"Of course not, of course not!" said the Panther, eager to show that he
had no suspicion of his friends.
"Did you stop anywhere on your way?"
"Yes," said he with some slight embarrassment. "Stop at Ryan's,"
mentioning a low tavern on the borders of the reservation, which was a
terrible thorn in the side of all the missionary's efforts. "Stop a minute
light my pipe, but no drink one drop," he added with great earnestness;
"but they ask me good deal."
"Did you put your gun down?"
"Guess so," he said after a moment's reflection. "Yes, know did put it
down a minute or two."
"Then that was when the mischief was done, you may be sure. This lock was
never broken by accident. It must have been a mere piece of spite because
you would not stay. I wonder you did not notice it when you came out."
"In a hurry, and kept the buckskin over it, not to git it wet. Wish knew
who did that," said he, with a look not good to see. "Guess not do it
again."
"I am very sorry, but it can easily be mended."
I spread out on the floor for him the comfortable and blankets I had
brought for his use, and hung up his woolen hunting-frock, now quite dry.
As I took it into my hand, I felt something very heavy in the pocket.
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