Page:The Young Auctioneers.djvu/179

Rh Isaac Marvelling grumbled, but at last consented, and soon all three were down under the bridge. Here it was pitch-dark, and the feeble rays of the lantern only lit up a circle that was less than three yards in diameter.

In hopes of clearing himself, more than for the purpose of aiding Isaac Marvelling in the recovery of the goods, Matt set to work with a will.

"Here is another spoon," he said presently, and he handed over a silver-plated affair, which at the most was not worth fifteen cents, wholesale.

"Here are a couple of knives," added Jackson. "And here is a bit of paper some of the stuff must have been wrapped in."

"Look here!" suddenly cried Matt, as he pointed down into the water. "Here's a man's cap, and it looks as if it had just fallen in, for one side of the peak is not yet wet."

"Let me see that cap," returned the constable quickly.

He snatched it from Matt's hand and turned with it to the lantern. His examination lasted but a few seconds.

"Say, Marvelling, have you seen anything of old Joe Yedley lately?" he asked, turning to the storekeeper.

"Yedley? Why, yes; he was in the store