CHAPTER XXIV.
SUSPICION.
“Not—not the man?” muttered Piper, still staring at the unconsciouscaptive. “Why, he must be the man—he must be! He can’t be anybody else.”
“He’s not the one I talked with,” reiterated Hooker. “I never saw himbefore. That man was larger, taller, better looking.”
“Wait a minute,” said Sleuth, thrusting his hand into his pocket andbringing out a clipping from a newspaper. “Here’s the description ofJames Wilson. About twenty-six years of age, five feet ten inches inheight, weight one hundred and sixty pounds, hair slightly curly, eyesblue, teeth white and even.”
“Doesn’t come within a thousand miles of fitting this fellow,” assertedHooker. “This man is thirty-five, if he’s a minute. He doesn’t standmore than five feet seven or eight, and he won’t weigh a pound over onehundred and forty-five. His hair is coarse, black and bristly. Can’t seethe color of his eyes, but look at those teeth! You’d never call themwhite and even, would you?”
“I should say not,” acknowledged Piper, in a tone of profound regret.“This isn’t Gentleman Jim, but it must be one of his pals. Do yourealize what that means, Roy?”
“It means that we’ve caught the wrong bird and won’t get our fingers onthat reward money,” sighed the other boy regretfully.
“It means,” said Sleuth grimly, “that Fred Sage was concerned inassisting to escape a member of that gang, to whom he is in no wayrelated. It means that he’s an accomplice. There would be an excuse forhis aiding his brother, but not for rendering assistance to any othermember of the gang. It looks pretty bad for Fred.”
“I can’t believe it,” muttered Roy—“I can’t believe he’d make himselfthe accomplice of criminals.”
“I don’t want to believe it, but what else are we to believe?”
“I hope he can explain.”
“_I_ hope he won’t have to.”
“Look out, Pipe, this fellow is coming round.”
The man’s breast heaved, and a faint groan issued from his lips,following which his eyelids fluttered a bit and then lifted slowly. Helay there staring dumbly at the two boys, each of whom menaced him witha loaded pistol. For the time being he did not seem to realize what hadhappened.
“It’s no use to try to kick up,” Piper stated warningly. “We’ve got you,and we’ll have to plug you if you try any tricks.”
Slowly comprehension seemed to creep into the man’s brain, and presentlyhe made a weak effort, as if trying to sit up, but fell back with asmothered cry that ended in a groan.
“It’s pretty tough,” said Piper; “but you’ll have to make the best ofit, my man. Fellows engaged in your line of business have to take theirmedicine when they run afoul of calamity. What’s your name?”
Until Sleuth had repeated this question three times the man made noattempt to reply. After the third demand he growled falteringly andharshly:
“None of your business.”
“Thanks,” said Piper. “I guess your picture is in the rogues’ gallerysomewhere, and your identity will be learned all right when you’replaced on trial. We’ve disarmed you so you can’t make any sort of afight of it, and we’re going to take you back to Oakdale. Our greatregret is that you’re not Gentleman Jim.”
The man looked at them queerly. “Who’s Gentleman Jim?” he growled.
“Bluff,” said Piper—“pure bluff. He’s your pal, and, doubtless, theleader of the gang who broke into the Oakdale bank last night and blewopen the vault. Poor job, that. It’s tough to be pinched without everhaving lifted a dollar from that bank.”
“You’re a wise young brat!” sneered the man.
“Hark!” exclaimed Hooker at this moment, rising quickly to his feet. “Ihear voices. It must be some of the searchers.”
“I hope so,” said Sleuth, who likewise could hear the sound of voices,evidently approaching. “I’ll keep this fellow covered, Roy. See who theyare.”
It proved to be a posse headed by Constable Abel Hubbard. From thisarmed body of men the captive had fled, having discovered them ahead ofhim in the woods. Hooker, seeing and recognizing the men, raised a shoutthat brought them hurrying to the gully, and soon the two boys werevainly trying to answer a score of questions hurled at thempromiscuously.
“Well, I swan to man!” spluttered Constable Hubbard when he presentlyunderstood the situation. “I swan to man, if these two younkers ain’tketched one of the rascals! That’s purty clever work for boys, fellercitizens.”
With scarcely an exception they agreed that it was, and Sleuth and Roywere showered with congratulations.
“We’re rather glad you turned up, constable,” said Piper pompously. “Itrelieves us of the trouble of marching this poor wretch back to thelockup. We’ll turn him over to you with the understanding that we’re toreceive the reward, in case there’s one offered for his apprehension.”
After a time the prisoner was lifted to his feet and boosted out of thegully, to be marched away toward town by the rejoicing posse. Theshortest route was pursued, which led them down across the fields to theBarville road and thence into Lake Street.
Piper and Hooker followed.
The appearance of the party in the village created a great sensation;but when the citizens were informed that Sleuth and Roy had effected theman’s capture, the sensation was even greater. The boys were plied withquestions. Hooker felt like running away, but Piper seemed to enjoy itall hugely, and was tireless in describing how the man had been trailed,although, for some reason, to the relief of his companion, he avoidedmentioning Fred Sage or speaking of the telltale pool of blood upon thefloor of Andrew Sage’s stable.
The captive was confined under guard in the village lockup, and a doctorwas called to give his injury proper attention.
The boys could not learn that anything further in connection with thebank robbery had transpired. Several armed posses were still searchingin the vicinity of Oakdale, and the surrounding country and towns hadbeen warned by telephoning, which made it seem most improbable that theassociates of the captured burglar could escape.
“I’m going home for breakfast,” Hooker finally announced.
“I’ve just discovered that I’m hungry myself,” said Sleuth.
At a street corner, having gotten away from the crowd, they paused amoment. Piper, who had borne himself with no small amount of pridebeneath the eyes of the townspeople, now betrayed a disposition to besomewhat downcast and gloomy.
“Look here,” said Roy, “I took special notice that you didn’t mentionFred Sage in connection with the matter. You dodged that, and so I keptstill, too.”
“I was in hopes you’d follow my lead, Hook. Forgot to warn you until itwas too late.”
“But what’s your idea in shielding Sage, if you think he’s guilty?”
“Is he guilty?”
“Why, you know it certainly seems that——”
“It seems so,” nodded Piper; “but, still, I can’t bring myself tobelieve that our respected schoolmate and comrade would make himself theaccomplice of criminals. I had this thing figured down to a fine point,Roy, but I’m willing to admit that my calculations were decidedly upset.I don’t want to make any charges against Fred until I talk with him faceto face.”
“I’m glad,” breathed Roy—“I’m mighty glad of that. I thought you wereabsolutely positive. I own up it does look queer for Fred, but perhapshe can explain. I’m sure he can. I’ll go to him——”
“No, you won’t,” interrupted Sleuth sharply. “You keep away from him,Hooker. You let me do this. You’d make a mess of it. There are otherfeatures of this affair that puzzle me a bit. For instance, there arethe missing securities. Queer business that a bank vault which was onlypartly broken open should be discovered short to the extent of twentythousand dollars in negotiable securities.”
“Haven’t you any theory at all, Sleuth?”
“Only one. As long as I’ve tru
sted you this far, I may as well go thelimit. Swear silence.”
“All right.”
“Cross your heart.”
“Here goes.”
“Then listen,” whispered Sleuth, after an unnecessary glance around, asif to make sure no one was within earshot. “I’ve never had muchconfidence in that smug, smooth-faced, canting cashier, Timmick. I knowUrian Eliot trusts him, but I wouldn’t. I thought he acted queer while Iwas watching him in the bank after the attempted robbery wasdiscovered.”
“By Jove!” cried Hooker. “I’ve always said he was a sneak. I told Sageso myself. You’ve hit it—I’ll bet you’ve hit it, Sleuth!”
“Not so loud! Cautious! cautious!” warned Piper. “Now don’t forget youroath. Don’t breathe this suspicion to a soul. If the robbers didn’t getthose securities last night, and it’s a certain fact that they didn’t,someone removed them from the vault at an earlier date. Theinvestigation by the president and the directors led to the discoverythat they were gone.”
“Timmick did it,” said Hooker. “He’s the man.”