`` I wish I had 'em to put with my three dollars , then I 'd soon get enough to buy my fiddle , '' he said , looking wistfully at the money . `` P'raps I 'll lend you some . I have n't decided yet what I 'll do with mine , '' said Tommy , tossing up his quarters and catching them as they fell . `` Hi ! boys ! come down to the brook and see what a jolly great snake Dan 's got ! '' called a voice from behind the barn . `` Come on , '' said Tommy ; and , laying his money inside the old winnowing machine , away he ran , followed by Nat . The snake was very interesting , and then a long chase after a lame crow , and its capture , so absorbed Tommy 's mind and time , that he never thought of his money till he was safely in bed that night . `` Never mind , no one but Nat knows where it is , '' said the easy-going lad , and fell asleep untroubled by any anxiety about his property . Next morning , just as the boys assembled for school , Tommy rushed into the room breathlessly , demanding , `` I say , who has got my dollar ? '' `` What are you talking about ? '' asked Franz . Tommy explained , and Nat corroborated his statement . Every one else declared they knew nothing about it , and began to look suspiciously at Nat , who got more and more alarmed and confused with each denial . `` Somebody must have taken it , '' said Franz , as Tommy shook his fist at the whole party , and wrathfully declared that , `` By thunder turtles ! if I get hold of the thief , I 'll give him what he wo n't forget in a hurry . '' `` Keep cool , Tom ; we shall find him out ; thieves always come to grief , '' said Dan , as one who knew something of the matter . `` May be some tramp slept in the barn and took it , '' suggested Ned . `` No , Silas do n't allow that ; besides , a tramp would n't go looking in that old machine for money , '' said Emil , with scorn .
`` Was n't it XXXXX himself ? ''
Dan Franz Nat Ned P'raps Silas Tommy dollars night winnowing