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."

What could I do, what could I say, against such proof positive, and yet
till my teacher drew the bill from my pocket, I had not the slightest
knowledge of it's being there. I felt that to declare my ignorance of
the matter would be almost useless, and yet, conscious of my own
innocence, I could not keep silent. Looking Mr. Oswald boldly in the
face I said, "whether you believe me or not I speak the truth when I
tell you I never saw that bill till you took it from my pocket; how it
came there I know not, but again I tell you I never took the money from
your desk." I could say no more, and burst into tears. Mr. Oswald
remained silent for a time, trying, I presume, to decide in his own mind