human
You do not know how thankful I am that you came, said the assistant, warmly.
gpt
I--I imagine things were getting black for me.
human
Let me go! thundered the man called Bart.
gpt
I want my million dollars!
human
Do you know these men at all?
gpt
I do, sir. I am sorry to say they are distant relatives of mine--third cousins. Both of them used to be rich, but they went into an oil speculation, and it failed, and they lost almost all of their money. That seemed to turn their heads, and somehow they got a notion that I was holding back a family treasure from them, a treasure they said was worth one or two million dollars.
human
Is there such a treasure?
gpt
I don't think so, although the story is told in our family that one of my ancestors, during the Revolution, buried a pot of gold to keep the English soldiers from getting it. But the amount could not have been anything like a million.
human
Those men were around the Hall a number of times, said Jack.
gpt
They were the mysterious fellows I mentioned a long time ago.
human
Yes, they came to see me on the sly if they could. I believe, had they gotten the chance, they would have carried me off in their sloop.
gpt
They ought to be put in an asylum, said Captain Putnam.
human
It is not safe to allow them their liberty.
gpt
With your permission. I'll turn them over to some of my relatives in the West, answered George Strong.
human
I know they can manage them.
gpt
As you please--but keep them away from the Hall in the future.
human
We wanted only our rights, whined one.
gpt
If I had a million dollars, I could take an air-ship to the North Pole or the moon, or anywhere.
human
He is certainly mad, said Andy.
gpt
What a dreadful condition to be in.
human
They may be crazy, but they told me something which I think may be true, said the assistant teacher to the boys.
gpt
They said they were watching around the school at the time you had the big snow house, and they saw three cadets run up on top and cave it in. I questioned them, and I am almost certain Coulter was one of the boys and Baxter another.
human
It would be just like that crowd, exclaimed Pepper, bitterly.
gpt
If Baxter and Coulter were in it the other fellow must have been Paxton or Mumps,--I mean Fenwick, sir.
human
They said they were all big boys.
gpt
Then it must have been Paxton. That crowd always hangs together for mischief.
human
So, Coulter, it was you who helped to cave in that snow house, eh?
gpt
Who--er--told you,
human
Oh, don't deny it.
gpt
I'm not denying it, was the bold reply.
human
What are you going to do about it?
gpt
That!