As he mentioned the discovery of the gold pieces, Bucholz exclaimed: "Gold pieces! I cannot tell for the world how they got there.

I don't know anything about them." It was evident that he had not examined this package prior to burying it in the ground, and Sommers suggested the possibility of their having been wrapped in the paper which enclosed the canvas-covered book.
"You were very careless to put the money in such a place," continued Sommers; "the notes were so rotten, I was almost afraid to handle them." "You mean," said Bucholz, with a laugh, "that Schulte was careless, not me;" then starting up he walked backward and forward, exclaiming: "My God, how careless I was!" "Yes," replied Sommers, "after risking so much, you should have taken better care of it." Bucholz stopped in his walk, and facing his companion asked in a manner that gave every evidence of insincerity, "Do you think that I killed him ?" "I think you know something about it," replied Sommers, gazing steadily into the eyes of his questioner.

"Do you think if tramps had killed him, they would have left twenty thousand dollars upon his person ?" "Well," said Bucholz, laughing in a bewildered manner, and then, as if taking comfort from the reflection and anxious to change the conversation, "the money is all right, anyhow." Yes, the money was, indeed, all right, but not in the sense he deluded himself by believing.
They then discussed the various measures that were to be adopted in order to deceive the officers of the State.
It was arranged that the two pocket-books should be thrown behind a large rock that stood by the railroad track, directly opposite the path which led through the woods and along which the old man and himself were in the habit of traveling.

Bucholz seemed over joyed at this proposition, and with many flattering expressions complimented his companion upon the wisdom of his suggestions.

They would have continued further, but the time had arrived for closing the jail, and Sommers was compelled to take his departure.
Upon the occasion of his next visit he found a marked change in William Bucholz.